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Recent studies have shown that the Mediterranean white sea bream Diplodus sargus includes the invasive green alga Caulerpa cylindracea in its diet, with consequent metabolic and enzymatic alterations. As a result of this novel alimentary habit, the bioactive algal red pigment caulerpin has been detected in its tissues. However, this may not be an isolated case: other fish species have also been reported to feed on C. cylindracea, although the possible accumulation of caulerpin in their tissues has not yet been investigated. In this report, we analysed stomach contents and caulerpin levels in the native sparid species Spondyliosoma cantharus, Sarpa salpa, and Diplodus vulgaris, and in the scarid Sparisoma cretense, along with the Lessepsian siganid Siganus luridus. C. cylindracea was found in the stomachs of all but one fish species, the exception being S. cretense, in which prey items could not be determined due to the high degree of digestion. Chemical analysis of fish tissues revealed that only S. cantharus and S. salpa accumulated caulerpin, while no traces of the compound were detected in the other species. Despite intense research efforts on natural products obtained from C. cylindracea, a complete picture of the impacts caused by fish including this alga in their diet has not been elucidated. The identification of caulerpin in other Mediterranean native fish suggests a need for further research in order to assess the possible transfer of such molecules to humans through seafood consumption.

The impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis on newly diagnosed individuals remains so far little explored. Our aim is to outline affective, personality and quality of life (QoL) correlates of MS patients shortly after MS diagnosis. Thirty-eight (22 F and 16 M) newly-diagnosed MS patients (mean interval from diagnosis communication 4.7 ± 3.8 months, range 1-12 months) underwent the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and a comprehensive psychological evaluation: Beck Depression Inventory-II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Psychophysiological Questionnaire-Revised, Fear Survey Schedule, Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Personal Meaning Questionnaire, Problem Solving Inventory and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54. The Expanded Disability Status Scale was assessed during the neurological examination. Depressive symptomatology, only partially related to disability, was observed in approximately 40% of patients. The prevalent approach to MS diagnosis was one of avoidance in 65.8% of cases. QoL reductions in self-perception and psychological wellbeing emerged, together with a peculiar perception of change in health that was not related to neurological disability. With regard to personality assessment, depressive personal meaning organization correlates inversely with important QoL measures. Newly-diagnosed patients go through a complex network of psychological changes still in the initial phases immediately after diagnosis. A thorough understanding of these adjusting aspects by the neurologist could be crucial in improving patients' QoL, participation in relevant disease decisions and adherence to pharmacological therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Lessepsian migrations excite the interest of biologists who are devoted to inferring the effects of selection on the genetic structure of immigrants. The bluespotted cornetfishFistularia commersoniiis an Indo-Pacific species that was first recorded in the Levantine cost of Mediterranean, and within a few years, it rapidly expanded throughout the entire basin. Studies on its genetic variability, performed via mitochondrial sequencing of the Mediterranean specimens, suggest that a limited number of mitochondrial lineages passed through the Suez Canal. However, nuclear markers provide a scenario, with a high genetic variability among the MediterraneanF. commersoniimigrants, along with the occurrence of haplotype sharing between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The aim of this study was to enlarge the number of Mediterranean sites in order to evaluate if the rapid expansion and different patterns of spread ofF. commersoniiin the basin could have led to a genetic structuring. The analysis was carried out by sequencing mitochondrial D-loop I in individuals from Sardinia, Sicily, Tunisia, Lampedusa, Libya and Lebanon. Sequences available from previous studies were included in the data set, allowing us to obtain a data set that likely represents the entire distribution range of the species. Results suggest the possible occurrence of two mitochondrial lineages involved in the Mediterranean invasion ofF. commersonii, a bottleneck may have caused a loss in the genetic variation, leading to the fixation of specific lineages as an adaptive response to the new environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feeding habits of the bathypelagic, non-migratory myctophidDiaphus metopoclampusfrom a shrimp fishing ground area in the Strait of Sicily were analyzed. Overall, 296 adult specimens ranging from 50.8 to 92.8 mm standard length (SL) (mean SL = 72.9 ± 8.0 mm) were collected during two trawl surveys (October 2010 and May 2011) and their stomach contents were examined in order to provide new information on prey composition and feeding strategy of this poorly known lanternfish. Differences in diet depending on fish size and time (daylight and night) were also checked by statistical analysis.D. metopoclampusis a zooplanktivorous predator, consuming mainly Crustacea, but also Mollusca, Polychaeta, Chaetognatha, Taliacea and Actinopterygii, and showing a moderate opportunistic feeding strategy.D. metopoclampuscan be ascribed to the group of acyclic predators, since it seems to be a non-migrator myctophid that feeds when prey are available. Statistical analysis indicated a size-related shift in the diet ofD. metopoclampusfrom smaller prey organisms (e.g, Metridinidae) to larger ones (e.g, Euphausiidae and Myctophidae). Some differences in prey composition between daylight and night were highlighted: euphausiids and myctophids were more abundant during night, Metridinidae during daylight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe two cases, both presenting with a 2-year history of isolated language disorders, one compatible with logopenic variant and the other with non-fluent variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Afterwards, each developed a corticobasal syndrome (CBS) with alien limb phenomenon and a multi-domain cognitive impairment. Regional cerebral perfusion (rCBF) study using 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) revealed hypoperfusion patterns consistent with these aphasia types and with the presence of limb apraxia. We report two cases of PPA variants associated with CBS and we suggest that SPECT rCBF correlates can be useful in making a differential diagnosis within the PPA spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited information on fatigue and its clinical and psychosocial correlates in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective: To assess the relationships between fatigue, cognitive functioning and depression in paediatric MS.Methods: The study cohort consisted of patients with MS recruited for an Italian collaborative study on cognitive and psychosocial functioning in paediatric MS. The present assessment included evaluation of fatigue on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, cognitive functioning on an extensive neuropsychological battery and depression on the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). A psychiatric interview through the Kiddie-SADS-Present and Lifetime Version was also administered.Results: In total, 57 patients with relapsing–remitting MS were compared with 70 healthy controls. Percentages of fatigued patients ranged from 9% to 14% according to self-reports, and from 23% to 39% according to parent reports. Fatigue was significantly related with higher scores on the CDI (p < 0.03). Higher levels of self-reported cognitive fatigue were associated with impaired performance on a problem-solving test, whereas higher levels of parent-reported cognitive fatigue were associated with impairment on tests of verbal learning, processing speed, complex attention and verbal comprehension.Conclusions: Our data show that fatigue can affect a sizeable proportion of paediatric MS patients, and confirm the association between fatigue and depressive symptoms in MS. They also highlight the difficulties of fatigue assessment in the paediatric population and provide a few clues to further research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age and growth of pearly razorfish Xyrichtys novacula (Labridae) were determined in specimens caught on sandy bottoms by surrounding nets and lines (depth range 5–30 m) between January 2000 and December 2002. The study location was in the central Mediterranean Sea. For this purpose the annual growth increments (annuli) in sagittae were analysed. A total of 470 individuals of X. novacula, ranging from 49 to 200 mm TL (total length), were examined. Conversion between total length and standard length was calculated and represented by the relationship: . Edge analysis on otoliths was carried out to validate seasonality deposition. Seven age-classes were determined from 0+ to 6+. The linear relationship between maximum otolith length (OL) and TL was summarized in the equation . The estimated parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function were L ∞ = 175.05 mm, k = 0.80 year−1, t0 =−0.73 years and the growth performance index calculated as ( Φ = 2.39). The length–weight relationship W = 0.0139 TL2.9326 described an isometric growth for the species in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diet of pearly razorfish Xyrichtys novacula, caught monthly along the shores of the Island of Lampedusa, appeared to be mainly composed of crustaceans, followed by colonial ascidians, molluscs and polychaetes. Among prey, sand dwellers and phanerogam-associated species were recorded. In winter months, the diet was characterized by a small number of prey items, dominated by colonial ascidians, while in spring and summer a wider prey array was recorded. Dietary indices show that X. novacula do not strictly exploit benthic prey but also pelagic organisms, such as copepods. This feeding behaviour reached its peak in March and October, when the abundance of primary consumers was at its highest after phytoplankton blooms. Furthermore, X. novacula caught prey organisms according to their availability and seasonal patterns during their life cycles, irrespective of fish size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]