Decadal timescale shift in the ^14C record of a central equatorial Pacific coral

Coral skeletal radiocarbon records reflect seawater Δ^14C and are useful for reconstructing the history of water mass movement and ventilation in the tropical oceans. Here, we reconstructed the inter-annual variability in central equatorial Pacific surface water Δ^14C from 1922–1956 using near-monthly 14C measurements in a Porites sp. coral skeleton (FI5A) from the windward side of Fanning Island (3°54'32"N, 159°18'88"W). The most pronounced feature in this record is a large, positive shift in the Δ^14C between 1947 and 1956 that coincides with the switch of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) from a positive to a negative phase in the mid-1940s. Although the absolute Δ^14C values from 1950–1955 in FI5A differ from the Δ^14C values of another coral core collected from the opposite side of the island, both records show a large, positive shift in their Δ^14C records at that time. The relative increase in the Δ^14C of each record is consistent with the premise that a common mechanism is controlling the Δ^14C records within each coral record. Overall, the Fanning Δ^14C data support the notion that a significant amount of subtropical seawater is arriving at the Equator, but does not allow us to determine the mechanism for its transport

GH therapy in adult GH deficiency: a review of treatment schedules and the evidence for low starting doses.

Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) has been licensed for use in adult patients with GH deficiency (GHD) for over 15 years. Early weight- and surface area-based dosing regimens were effective but resulted in supraphysiological levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and increased incidence of side effects. Current practice has moved towards individualized regimens, starting with low GH doses and gradually titrating the dose according to the level of serum IGF-I to achieve an optimal dose. Here we present the evidence supporting the dosing recommendations of current guidelines and consider factors affecting dose responsiveness and parameters of treatment response. The published data discussed here lend support for the use of low GH dosing regimens in adult GHD. The range of doses defined as 'low dose' in the studies discussed here (~1-4 mg/week) is in accordance with those recommended in current guidelines and encompasses the dose range recommended by product labels

FRI0499 ACROMEGALY ARTROPATHY: IS THERE SOMETHING MORE BEHIND THE PAIN? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY TO EVALUATE RHEUMATIC DISEASE IN GROWTH HORMONE SECRETING TUMOR PATIENTS

Background:Acromegaly is a rare disease with a remarkable impact on patients, both in terms of life expectancy and quality of life. Osteo-articular complications are one of the most frequently reported bothers. The "acromegaly artropathy" characterizes more than 70% of patients at diagnosis. Artropathy affects both spine and peripheral joints. A recent prospective study documented progression of acromegalic arthropathy identified as a worsening of osteophytes and joint space narrowing in 72–74% of patients despite long-term biochemical control. In addiction the Literature has occasionally reported cases of simultaneous presence of rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, undifferentiated connective tissue diseases) and acromegaly and in all these cases the treatment has been delayed, because of wrong symptoms attribution to acromegaly artropathy.Objectives:The primary goal of the study is to better characterize joint pain in acromegaly patients and to evaluate the prevalence of rheumatic disease in growth hormone (GH) secreting pituitary tumor patients.Methods:We enrolled 20 acromegaly subjects (AS) and 20 control subjects (CS). In each subject immunological pattern (rheumatoid factor – RF; antinuclear antibodies - ANA, ENA; anti-citrullinated protein antibodies - ACPA; erythrocyte sedimentation rate – ESR) has been evaluated; they, also, underwent bilateral joint ultrasound of hands and wrists and nail capillaroscopy. The Chi square test and the Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the association between binary variables, while the Spearman's test to evaluate the correlation of continuous ones. A multiple or logistic regression model was calculated in order to define the association between the capillaroscopic alterations and other detected variables.Results:Articular pain emerged as significantly more frequent in AS (p = 0.0269). No statistically significant differences are detected regarding immunological pattern. ANA and ENA screening resulted positive in 10% in AS and in 5% in CS. No IgA ACPA were detected in AS or CS, while IgG ACPA were positive only in one AS subject. No significant differences were detected between IgM and IgG RFin the two groups (AS 5% and CS 0%). Three fold higher IgG FR in AS compared to CS were detected. ESR levels were significantly higher than CS (p = 0.0405), as well as increased power doppler (PWD) articular uptake (AS 30% vs CS 5% p 0.081). The capillaroscopic evaluation showed a significant difference in almost each parameter that has been evaluated (logistic regression: number of enlargement p 0.004, hemorragies p 0.01 and capillaries p 0.001), showing a moderate-severe microangiopathy in AS. Interestingly, analyzing only the acromegaly cohort, we noticed higher GH levels at the enrollment in patients which developed capillary enlargements (GH: 0.95 ng/ml IQ 0,6-1,6) compared to other ones (GH: 0.55 ng/ml IQ 0.4-0.7; p = 0.08) and a significant lower number of hemorrhages (p = 0.02) in patients treated with GH antagonist pegvisomant.Conclusion:Our results demonstrated that joint damage in acromegaly does not seem to have an autoimmune etiology. Therefore, articular damage is mechanical and increased ESR and PWD alterations seems to confirm the presence of an inflammatory component. In addition, acromegaly is characterized by a microvascular pattern of moderate-severe microangiopathy, without correlation to IGF-I, but GH levels. Although requiring further confirmatory studies, our preliminary results seem to indicate how the capillaroscopic examination could be useful to detect earlier microangiopathy and to identify patients with a greater risk of macroangiopathy development..References:[1]Claessen KMJA et al. Bone and joint disorders in acromegaly. Neuroendocrinology. 2016;103(1):86-95.[2]Örük G et al. Is every joint symptom related to acromegaly? Endocrine. 2013 Apr;43(2):404-11.Disclosure of Interests:None declare

FusaHelp. A web site program for the morphological identification of Fusarium species

Fusarium is one of the most important phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural and human concern. More than 300 species have been described, many of which are pathogenic to important crops, flowers, forest trees, animals, and humans. Species belonging to this genus have been detected in all environments: grassland, desert, littoral, agricultural, alpine zones, aquatic, man-made, and hospitals. Despite the importance of molecular techniques for the identification of a fungal species, morphological criteria still have an important role, including for Fusarium species, for which morphological identification of species requires adequate training and experience. In this paper, we present FusaHelp, a computer-based, user-friendly tool for the morphological identification of common Fusarium species, based on the wide experience of the authors who have devoted most of their scientific careers to the identification and characterization of these species. The web-location of FusaHelp (https://www.fusahelp.com) will greatly facilitate morphological identification and is intended to provide support for all those people who work with this important genus and need a quick clue on the identification, even incomplete, of the Fusarium species that they are working with. © 2023, The Author(s)