Dune plants as a sink for beach litter: The species-specific role and edge effect on litter entrapment by plants

Anthropogenic litter accumulates along coasts worldwide. In addition to the flowing litter load, wind, sea currents, geomorphology and vegetation determine the distribution of litter trapped on the sandy coasts. Although some studies highlighted the role of dune plants in trapping marine litter, little is known about their efficiency as sinks and about the small-scale spatial distribution of litter across the dune area. Here, we explore these gaps by analysing six plant species widespread in Mediterranean coastal habitats, namely Echinophora spinosa, Limbarda crithmoides, Anthemis maritima, Pancratium maritimum, Thinopyrum junceum, and Salsola kali. The present study analyses for the first time the capture of litter by dune vegetation at a multi-species level, considering their morphological structure. Data on plastic accumulation on dune plants were compared with unvegetated control plots located at embryo-dune and foredune belts. We found that dunal plants mainly entrapped macrolitter (> 0.5 cm). Particularly, E. spinosa, L. crithmoides, A. maritima and P. maritimum mostly accumulated litter in the embryo dune while T. junceum and S. kali entrapped more in the foredune area. Moreover, beach litter was mainly blocked at the edge of the plant patches rather than in the core, highlighting the ‘Plant-edge litter effect’. As A. maritima and S. kali entrapped respectively more litter in embryo and foredune habitats, these species could be used to monitor and recollect litter. In this light, our findings provide further insight into the role of dune plants in the beach litter dynamics, suppling useful information for beach clean-up actions

Conserving indigenous crayfish: stock assessment and habitat requirements in the threatened Austropotamobius italicus.

International audienceAs part of the Austropotamobius pallipes species complex, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is a species of community interest whose preservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (Annex II, EU Habitats Directive). This study aimed at (1) assessing the conservation status of this threatened indigenous species by stock assessment in central Italy and (2) identifying some aspects of its elective habitat

Performance of the first reverse electrodialysis pilot plant for power production from saline waters and concentrated brines

This work reports experimental data collected for the first time on a full-scale RED pilot plant operated with natural streams in a real environment. The plant - located in the South of Italy - represents the final accomplishment of the REAPower project (www.reapower.eu). A RED unit equipped with almost 50m2 of IEMs (125 cell pairs, 44x44cm2) was tested, using both artificial and natural feed solutions, these latter corresponding to brackish water (≈0.03M NaClequivalent) and saturated brine (4-5M NaClequivalent). A power output up to around 40W (i.e. 1.6W/m2 of cell pair) was reached using natural solutions, while an increase of 60% was observed when testing the system with artificial NaCl solutions, reaching up to ≈65W (2.7W/m2 of cell pair). The unit performance was monitored over a period of five months under, and no significant performance losses were observed due to scaling, fouling or ageing phenomena. Such results are of paramount importance to assess the potential of the technology, towards the successful development on the industrial scale. A scale-up of the pilot plant is planned through the installation of two additional RED modules, with an expected power output in the order of 1 kW

The activity of intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate administration on urothelial gene expression. Preliminary results on the epidermal growth factor receptor and fibronectin gene expression evaluated in bladder washings of patients affected by non muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Introduction & Objectives Hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) are two major constituents of the bladder glycosaminoglycan layer. Recent data show that Fibronectin (FN) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene expression can be measured in bladder washings and could represent potential biomarkers of urothelial damage and tumor aggressiveness, respectively (1,2). The aim of our study was to investigate the interference of a single intravesical instillation of HA-CS solution on the expression of FN and EGFR genes in patients affected by non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Material & Methods A prospective double-blinded study included patients undergoing adjuvant intravesical therapy for NMIBC and age matched healthy controls. For EGFR evaluation, a single HA-CS solution was administered intravesically 14 days after transurethral resection of high risk NMIBC, before the start of the adjuvant therapy. For FN evaluation, a single HA-CS instillation was administered to patients showing local toxicity secondary to intravesical adjuvant therapy. Samples of bladder washings were collected before and one week after the HA-CS instillation, obtaining a cellular pellet stored at -80 °C. Cellular RNA was isolated by a miRNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen®) and cDNA, obtained using a “High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit” (Life Technologies®) was used to perform a gene expression analysis by a Real Time PCR. EGFR and FN gene expression values were expressed in FOLDs of change compared to healthy controls (FN and EGFR=1). Results Thirty-eight patients and 5 controls entered the study. Seventeen and 21 patients were evaluated for FN and EGFR respectively. In 21 patients with high risk NMIBC, the median EGFR expression decreased from 2.4 folds (range: 0.1-39.0) to 1.0 fold (range: 0.05-36.8) showing a statistically significant decrease of 58.3% (p<0.02). In patients showing clinically relevant toxicity secondary to intravesical adjuvant therapy (BCG in 9 and Epirubicin in 8 patients) the median FN expression value dropped from 1.8 folds (range: 0.07-8.1) to 0.9 fold (range: 0.1-7.5) after HA-CS administration with a statistically significant decrease of 50% (p<0.05). Conclusions FN gene expression in bladder washings appears related to the intensity of the urothelial damage, reaching higher expression levels in case of severe toxicity induced by intravesical adjuvant therapy (2). In our experience the FN gene expression significantly decreases a week after the administration of HA-CS solution with contemporary symptomatic relief. Moreover the urothelial EGFR gene expression resulted significantly lowered one week after the HA-CS intravesical administration. The reduced availability of its receptor could limit the proliferative activity of EGF on the urothelium promoting recurrence and progression. Acknowledgements: GSTU Foundation References: 1. Serretta V, et al. Feasibility of EGFR evaluation in bladder washings of patients affected by non muscle-invasive bladder cancer. J Urol, 2016. 195 (4S): e327. 2. Alonge V, et al. Correlation between Fibronectin gene expression and local toxicity induced by adjuvant intravesical therapy. J Urol, 2015. 193 (4S): e53

Food intolerance and chronic constipation: manometry and histology study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic constipation in children can be caused by cows' milk intolerance (CMI), but its pathogenesis is unknown. AIMS: To evaluate the histology and manometry pattern in patients with food intolerance-related constipation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive children with chronic constipation were enrolled. All underwent an elimination diet and successive double-blind food challenge. All underwent rectal biopsy and anorectal manometry. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients were found to be suffering from CMI and three from multiple food intolerance. They had a normal stool frequency on elimination diet, whereas constipation recurred on food challenge. The patients with food intolerance showed a significantly higher frequency of erosions of the mucosa, and the number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes and eosinophils. The rectal mucous gel layer showed that the food-intolerant patients had a significantly lower thickness of mucus than the other subjects studied. Manometry showed a higher anal sphincter resting pressure and a lower critical volume in food intolerance patients than in the others suffering from constipation unrelated to food intolerance. Both histology and manometry abnormalities disappeared on the elimination diet. CONCLUSIONS: Food intolerance-related constipation is characterized by proctitis. Increased anal resting pressure and a reduced mucous gel layer can be considered to be contributory factors in the pathogenesis of constipation

Anti-Transglutaminase Antibody Assay of the Culture Medium of Intestinal Biopsy Specimen Can Improve the Accuracy of Celiac Disease Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: We measured anti-transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibody in the culture medium of intestinal biopsy specimens from patients with suspected celiac disease (CD) and evaluated the relationship between antibody production and severity of intestinal mucosal damage. METHODS: We performed diagnostic testing for CD on 273 consecutive patients. In addition to routine histologic evaluation of duodenal biopsy specimens, we assayed anti-tTG antibodies in serum and in the culture medium of duodenal biopsy specimens. RESULTS: CD was diagnosed in 191 of the 273 patients. Sensitivity and specificity of the serum anti-endomysium (EmA) and anti-tTG assays were 83% and 85% and 99% and 95%, respectively, and both had 88% diagnostic accuracy. EmA and anti-tTG assayed in the culture medium had 98% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 98% diagnostic accuracy (vs serum assays; P <0.0001). Twenty-nine CD patient specimens (16%) were negative for serum anti-tTG and EmA; for 24 of these patients, anti-tTG assay of the culture medium was positive. The CD patients whose biopsy specimens were positive for serum antibodies showed the following intestinal histologies: total villous atrophy, 35%; severe villous atrophy, 25%; mild atrophy, 25%; villi with no atrophy but with increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, 15%. None of the CD patients whose specimens were negative for serum antibodies showed total or severe villous atrophy; 77% had mild villous atrophy, and 23% had no villous atrophy but had increased intraepithelial lymphocyte counts. Mild villous atrophy was also seen in specimens from approximately 15% of patients without CD. CONCLUSION: Anti-tTG assay of the culture medium of biopsy specimens can improve the accuracy of CD diagnosis in patients negative for serum antibodies

RAD6 promotes DNA repair and stem cell signaling in ovarian cancer and is a promising therapeutic target to prevent and treat acquired chemoresistance

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most deadly gynecological cancer and unlike most other neoplasms, survival rates for OC have not significantly improved in recent decades. We show that RAD6, an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, is significantly overexpressed in ovarian tumors and its expression increases in response to carboplatin chemotherapy. RAD6 expression correlated strongly with acquired chemoresistance and malignant behavior of OC cells, expression of stem cell genes and poor prognosis of OC patients, suggesting an important role for RAD6 in ovarian tumor progression. Upregulated RAD6 enhances DNA damage tolerance and repair efficiency of OC cells and promotes their survival. Increased RAD6 levels cause histone 2B ubiquitination-mediated epigenetic changes that stimulate transcription of stem cell genes, including ALDH1A1 and SOX2, leading to a cancer stem cell phenotype, which is implicated in disease recurrence and metastasis. Downregulation of RAD6 or its inhibition using a small molecule inhibitor attenuated DNA repair signaling and expression of cancer stem cells markers and sensitized chemoresistant OC cells to carboplatin. Together, these results suggest that RAD6 could be a therapeutic target to prevent and treat acquired chemoresistance and disease recurrence in OC and enhance the efficacy of standard chemotherapy