Prilog poznavanju kseno-raznolikosti životinja duž obale Kalabrije (južna Italija, srednji Mediteran)

In this paper a contribution to the knowledge of marine and brackish water alien species recorded along the Calabrian coasts (Southern Italy, Central Mediterranean) during the period 2000-2013 is given. The study area is located in the center of the Mediterranean. Records of alien species come from 13 years of both field and opportunistic fishing surveys. Also a bibliographical search in the scientific literature and public and private archives was performed. Eighteen of marine alien species recorded: 1 cnidarian, 11 molluscs, 3 crustaceans, and 4 bony fishes; in addition to these, was considered also the presence of four bony fish, that have naturally spread into the Mediterranean: Sphoeroides pachygaster, Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus and Zenopsis conchifera. The highest number of records comes from the Messina Strait. The most common and widest observed species were Percnon gibbesi, Callinectes sapidus, Fistularia commersonii and Procambarus clarckii. The record of Ruditapes philippinarum in the Foce Crati is the first for the Ionian Sea and for the Central Mediterranean. Gymnothorax moringa is here recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean.Ovaj rad predstavlja prilog poznavanju stranih vrsta pronađenih u morskoj i boćatoj vodi duž Kalabrijske obale (južna Italija, Središnji Mediteran) u razdoblju od 2000. do 2013. godine. Područje istraživanja se nalazi u središtu Mediterana. Evidencija stranih vrsta je proizišla iz 13 godina terenskog rada i oportunističkih istraživanja. Također su izvršena bibliografska pretraživanja u znanstvenoj literaturi u javnim i privatnim arhivima. Ukupno je zabilježeno 18 morskih stranih vrsta: 1 cnidaria, 11 mekušaca, 3 raka i 4 ribe koštunjače koje su se prirodno proširile u Mediteranu: Sphoeroides pachygaster, Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus i Zenopsis conchifera. Najveći broj nalaza dolazi iz Mesinskog tjesnaca. Najčešće i najšire promatrane vrste su Percnon gibbesi, Callinectes sapidus, Fistularia commersonii i Procambarus clarkii. Zapis o nalazu vrste Ruditapes philippinarum, kod mjesta Foce Crati, je prvi za Jonsko more i središnji Mediteran. Gymnothorax moringaje po prvi put zabilježena u Mediteranu

Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management

Type 2 Deiodinase Thr92Ala Polymorphism and Aging Are Associated with a Decreased Pituitary Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone

: Background: The DIO2 Thr92Ala polymorphism (rs225014), which occurs in about 15-30% of Caucasian people, determines a less efficient type 2 deiodinase (D2) enzyme. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of DIO2 Thr92Ala polymorphism on the serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels in thyroidectomized patients with hypothyroidism and to evaluate whether TSH levels and aging could be related, at pituitary level, to D2 activity. Methods: This prospective study was performed on 145 thyroid cancer patients, treated with total thyroidectomy, and undergoing radioiodine treatment after 3 weeks of levothyroxine (LT4) withdrawal. A mouse model has been used to determine D2 protein and mRNA levels in pituitary during aging. Results: Genetic analysis identified DIO2 Thr92Ala polymorphism in 56% of participants: 64/145 (44%) patients were homozygous wild type (WT) (Thr/Thr), 64 (44%) heterozygous (Thr/Ala), and 17 (12%) homozygous mutant (Ala/Ala). A significant negative relationship was observed between aging and the rise in serum TSH levels during LT4 withdrawal. However, this negative correlation found in WT was reduced in heterozygous and lost in mutant homozygous patients (Thr/Thr r = -0.45, p = 0.0002, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.63 to -0.23; Ala/Thr r = -0.39, p = 0.0012, CI -0.60 to -0.67; and Ala/Ala r = -0.30, p = 0.2347; CI -0.70 to 0.20). Accordingly, when we compared the TSH measured in each patient to its theoretical value predicted from age, the TSH did not reach its putative target in 47% of WT patients, in 70% of Ala/Thr, and 76% of Ala/Ala carrying patients (p = 0.0036). This difference was lost in individuals older than 60 years, suggesting a decline of D2 associated with aging. The hypothesis that the pituitary D2 decreases with age was confirmed by the evidence that D2 mRNA and protein levels were lower in pituitary from old versus young mice. Conclusion: An age-related decline in TSH production in response to hypothyroidism was correlated with decreased D2 levels in pituitary. The presence of DIO2 homozygous Ala/Ala polymorphism was associated with a reduced level of TSH secretion in response to hypothyroidism, indicating a decreased pituitary sensitivity to serum thyroxine variation (Institutional Research Ethics board approval number no. 433/21)

The great debate: Surgical outcomes of laparoscopic versus laparotomic myomectomy. A meta-analysis to critically evaluate current evidence and look over the horizon

Myomectomy is one of the most common surgical procedure in the field of gynecology. However, the role of laparoscopic myomectomy is still debated for many factors, including surgical considerations, safety and fertility concerns, long-term outcomes, and cost-related issues. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical peri- and post -operative outcomes of laparoscopic and abdominal myomectomy. A systematic search for studies was performed up to June 2023 through MEDLINE, Pubmed, Embase. Studies reporting the comparison of surgical and obstetrical outcomes in laparoscopic versus laparotomic myomectomy were included for the following outcomes: time of surgery, estimated blood loss, decrease of postoperative hemoglobin, hospital stay, intraoperative complication rates, postoperative complications rates, postoperative analgesic use, postoperative pain at 24 h and pregnancy rate. The meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Review software. Fifty-six relevant articles were retrieved through the process of evidence acquisition. Eleven articles met inclusion criteria, for a total of 2,133 patients undergoing laparoscopic or laparotomic myomectomy. The estimated blood loss [standard mean differences (SMD) 0.72, IC 95 % 0.22 to 1.22], the hospital stays [SMD 3.12, IC 95 % 0.57 to 4.28], were significantly lower in laparoscopic than in open group. No statistically significant difference in intraoperative and post -operative complication rates, in pregnancy rate and others obstetrical outcomes between two surgical approaches were found. The findings of present metanalysis suggest that laparoscopic myomectomy offers multiple benefits, including reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and less postoperative analgesic need, without a significant increase in complication rates and similar results in obstetrical outcomes when compared to abdominal myomectomy. However, the presence of few randomized studies on selected population may limit the generalizability of the findings to the entire population. Therefore, more well-designed studies or large population program data to draw definitive conclusions are therefore warranted