Relazione tecnica sulle attività della Campagna oceanografica "Ancheva 2008"

La presente relazione riporta le attività di ricerca svolte nella Campagna oceanografica "Ancheva 2008", nel periodo dal 4 al 14 Agosto 2008 a bordo della N/O "G. Dallaporta". Le suddette attività sono state parte integrante del Progetto "lAboratori di testing per dispositivi eLettroacustici, sensorI oceanograFici e metodologie finalizzati al monitoraggio dello stato delle risorse biologiche del mare" (ALIF), finanziato dal CIPE attraverso l’Assessorato Industria della Regione Sicilia. Alla Campagna oceanografica hanno partecipato i seguenti Enti: 1. Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC), CNR, U.O. (TP); 2. Istituto Scienze Marine (ISMAR–CNR), Sezione Pesca Marittima, CNR, Ancona; 3. FAO - MedSudMed Project; 4. Malta Centre for Fisheries Sciences (MCFS), Fort S. Lucjan, MarsaXlokk, Malta. L'obiettivo della Campagna oceanografica è stato quello di valutare la distribuzione e l’abbondanza di piccoli pelagici, prevalentemente sardina (Sardina pilchardus) e acciuga (Engraulis encrasicolus), con l’impiego di strumentazione elettroacustica. Nella prima parte, l’area di lavoro è stata delimitata dalla piattaforma meridionale della Sicilia (da Marsala a oltre Capo Passero), nella seconda parte è stata poi studiata la piattaforma continentale di Malta. Le attività svolte sono di seguito descritte sinteticamente: - Rilevazioni acustiche degli stock di piccoli pelagici con echosounder scientifico “Simrad EK60”, con trasduttori split beam a scafo; - Campionamenti biologici di piccoli pelagici con rete pelagica dotata di sistema acustico “Simrad ITI” per il controllo della geometria della rete durante le attività di campionamento; - Campionamento acqua per la misurazione dei parametri fisico-chimici della colonna d’acqua con la sonda multiparametrica “Seabird 9/11”

Investigation of Industrial Polyurethane Foams Modified with Antimicrobial Copper Nanoparticles

Antimicrobial copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were electrosynthetized and applied to the controlled impregnation of industrial polyurethane foams used as padding in the textile production or as filters for air conditioning systems. CuNP-modified materials were investigated and characterized morphologically and spectroscopically, by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The release of copper ions in solution was studied by Electro-Thermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ETAAS). Finally, the antimicrobial activity of freshly prepared, as well as aged samples—stored for two months—was demonstrated towards different target microorganisms

Gene editing of DNAH11 restores normal cilia motility in primary ciliary dyskinesia

Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterised by dysfunction of motile cilia. Ciliary dysmotility causes poor mucociliary clearance and leads to impairment of pulmonary function and severe respiratory infections. PCD has no specific therapy. With the aim to permanently restore gene function and normalise ciliary motility, we used gene editing to replace mutated with wild-type sequence in defective cells. Methods: The target gene was dynein heavy chain 11 (DNAH11), an essential component of ciliary structure. Airway ciliated cells were collected from two patients with PCD with DNAH11 nonsense mutations and altered ciliary beating and pattern. Repair of the genetic defect was performed ex vivo by site-specific recombination using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Results: In an epithelial cell line engineered to contain the DNAH11 target site, TALENs cleaved over 80% of the mutated DNAH11 sequence and replaced the mutated sequence with wild-type sequence in about 50% of cells. In airway ciliated cells of patients with PCD, site-specific recombination and normalisation of ciliary beating and pattern occurred in 33% and 29% of cells, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that gene editing can rescue ciliary beating ex vivo, opening up new avenues for treating PCD

Postresuscitation treatment with argon improves early neurological recovery in a porcine model of cardiac arrest

INTRODUCTION: Effects of postresuscitation treatment with argon on neurologic recovery were investigated in a porcine model of cardiac arrest (CA) with an underlying acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded in 12 pigs, and CA was induced. After 8 min of untreated CA, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 5 min before defibrillation. Following resuscitation, animals were subjected to 4-h ventilation with 70% argon/30% oxygen or 70% nitrogen/30% oxygen. Myocardial function was echocardiographically assessed, and serum neuron-specific enolase was measured. Animals were observed up to 72 h for assessment of survival and neurologic recovery. RESULTS: All the animals were resuscitated and survived for 72 h, except for a control pig. Ventilation with argon did not have any detrimental effects on hemodynamics and respiratory gas exchange. All the six argon-treated animals had a fast and complete 72-h neurologic recovery, in contrast to only two of the six controls (P < 0.05). Seventy-two-hour neurologic alertness score and neurologic deficit score were, respectively, 100 and 0 in the argon group and 79 and 29 in the control one (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). Significantly lower increases in serum neuron-specific enolase (12% vs. 234%) and minimal histological brain injury (neuronal degeneration: 0 vs. 1) were also observed in argon-treated animals, in comparison to controls. CONCLUSIONS: In this model, postresuscitation treatment with argon allowed for a faster and complete neurologic recovery, without detrimental effects on hemodynamics and respiratory gas exchanges