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Porifera are one of the dominant components of the marine benthic communities in the Antarctic Sea (44% of the total species are endemic). Despite these data and the various studies on marine biodiversity, the abundance and diversity of sponges on shallow Antarctic reefs and in the deep sea are likely significantly underestimated. In this context, our work deals with the description of Antarctic sponges inhabiting Tethys Bay (Ross Sea). A total of 46 sponge specimens were collected at different depths during three separate Italian Antarctic Expeditions and identified into 15 species within the Demospongiae and Hexactinellida classes. More importantly, we report on finding two species, i.e. Haliclona scotti and Mycale (Aegogropila) denticulata, for the first time after 114 and 16 years, respectively, from their original description. More details are also given on their taxonomic re-description and molecular characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objectives of the study were to analyse the robotic approach and ultrasound-guided paravertebral block compared to thoracoscopic intercostal nerve block after robotic pulmonary lobectomy on postoperative pain and opioids use. The secondary objectives were to analyse and compare patients' necessity of additional antalgic drugs and patients' performance during respiratory therapy, following robotic surgery and in the two groups. Consecutively, 52 patients undergoing robotic pulmonary lobectomies were treated either with ropivacaine-based intercostal nerve block or paravertebral block from February 2022 to October 2022. When necessary, morphine was administered at day 1. Acetaminophen was administered as an additional antalgic drug on demand up to 3 g per day. Pain was measured 1 h after the end of the surgical procedure and daily through the pain numeric rating scale (NRS). Morphine administration rate and per day and total additional administrations of acetaminophen were recorded. Pain and opioids administration was measured 1 month after the procedure. Data were analysed in the overall population and in the intercostal nerve block group VS paravertebral block group. Overall, 34.6% of the patients required morphine administration and 51.7% of the patients required at least daily acetaminophen administration up to discharge. At 1 month postoperatively, four patients presented with chronic pain and one still was under opioid medication. At intergroup analysis, the paravertebral block group demonstrated lower NRS at fixed time points (p < 0.0001) and lower morphine consumption (45.7%VS11.8%; p = 0.02). Acetaminophen rescue administration at fixed time points was lower in the paravertebral block group (p < 0.0001) and mobility and dynamic pain resulted in better results (p = 0.03; p = 0.04). At 1 month, no differences were found between study groups. Similarly to other minimally invasive techniques, postoperative pain may arise after robotic pulmonary lobectomy. Paravertebral bloc can help to reduce postoperative pain as well as morphine and antalgic drugs administration and improve early mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Porifera (sponges) are known to produce several bioactive metabolites having a biotechnological potential, mostly derived from their bacterial symbionts; however, current knowledge on the production of metabolites such as enzymes and antibacterial molecules in sponges living in Antarctic environments is not fully exhaustive and needs further deepened investigation. The interest in discovering the broad spectrum of natural products potentially derived from species adapted to colonize extreme environments stimulates the research toward Antarctic sponge bioprospection. In this study, whole homogenates of Antarctic Demospongiae, belonging to five different species [Haliclona (Rhizoniera) sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) dancoi, Microxina sarai, Dendrilla antarctica, and Mycale acerata] were collected from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) and examined for presence and activity of enzymes, including lysozyme, and antibacterial substances. Enzyme activities (leucine aminopeptidase, beta-glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase) were measured using fluorogenic substrates; lysozyme content was determined on plates containing lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls as a substrate. Homogenates were screened in microtiter plates for their antibacterial activity against Antarctic bacterial isolates, and the absorbance reduction was measured with a microplate reader. All homogenates exhibited proteolytic, glycolytic, and phosphatasic activities, lysozyme and antibacterial activities at near "in situ" temperature (5 °C), with some differences among the examined species. Results confirmed that Antarctic sponge homogenates are interesting sources of different bioactive substances, likely produced from associated bacterial symbionts, and that could have great potential to be used in medicine or industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic impact over the Pasvik River (Arctic Norway) is mainly caused by emissions from runoff from smelter and mine wastes, as well as by domestic sewage from the Russian, Norwegian, and Finnish settlements situated on its catchment area. In this study, sediment samples from sites within the Pasvik River area with different histories of metal input were analyzed for metal contamination and occurrence of metal-resistant bacteria in late spring and summer of 2014. The major differences in microbial and chemical parameters were mostly dependent on local inputs than seasonality. Higher concentrations of metals were generally detected in July rather than May, with inner stations that became particularly enriched in Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn, but without significant differences. Bacterial resistance to metals, which resulted from viable counts on amended agar plates, was in the order Ni2+>Pb2+>Co2+>Zn2+>Cu2+>Cd2+>Hg2+, with higher values that were generally determined at inner stations. Among a total of 286 bacterial isolates (mainly achieved from Ni- and Pb-amended plates), the 7.2% showed multiresistance at increasing metal concentration (up to 10,000 ppm). Selected multiresistant isolates belonged to the genera Stenotrophomonas, Arthrobacter, and Serratia. Results highlighted that bacteria, rapidly responding to changing conditions, could be considered as true indicators of the harmful effect caused by contaminants on human health and environment and suggested their potential application in bioremediation processes of metal-polluted cold sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victoria Land permafrost harbours a potentially large pool of cold-affected microorganisms whose metabolic potential still remains underestimated. Three cores (BC-1, BC-2 and BC-3) drilled at different depths in Boulder Clay (Northern Victoria Land) and one sample (DY) collected from a core in the Dry Valleys (Upper Victoria Valley) were analysed to assess the prokaryotic abundance, viability, physiological profiles and potential metabolic rates. The cores drilled at Boulder Clay were a template of different ecological conditions (different temperature regime, ice content, exchanges with atmosphere and with liquid water) in the same small basin while the Dry Valleys site was very similar to BC-2 conditions but with a complete different geological history and ground ice type. Image analysis was adopted to determine cell abundance, size and shape as well as to quantify the potential viable and respiring cells by live/dead and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl-tetrazolium chloride staining, respectively. Subpopulation recognition by apparent nucleic acid contents was obtained by flow cytometry. Moreover, the physiological profiles at community level by Biolog-Ecoplate™ as well as the ectoenzymatic potential rates on proteinaceous (leucine-aminopeptidase) and glucidic (ß-glucosidase) organic matter and on organic phosphates (alkaline-phosphatase) by fluorogenic substrates were tested. The adopted methodological approach gave useful information regarding viability and metabolic performances of microbial community in permafrost. The occurrence of a multifaceted prokaryotic community in the Victoria Land permafrost and a large number of potentially viable and respiring cells (in the order of 10-10) were recognised. Subpopulations with a different apparent DNA content within the different samples were observed. The physiological profiles stressed various potential metabolic pathways among the samples and intense utilisation rates of polymeric carbon compounds and carbohydrates, mainly in deep samples. The measured enzymatic activity rates suggested the potential capability of the microbial community to decompose proteins and polysaccharides. The microbial community seems to be appropriate to contribute to biogeochemical cycling in this extreme environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prokaryotic abundance and diversity in three cold, oligotrophic Patagonian lakes (Témpanos, Las Torres and Mercedes) in the northern region Aysén (Chile) were compared in winter and summer using 16S rRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technique. Prokaryotic abundances, numerically dominated by Bacteria, were quite similar in the three lakes, but higher in sediments than in waters, and they were also higher in summer than in winter. The relative contribution of Archaea was greater in waters than in sediments, and in winter rather than in summer. Despite the phylogenetic analysis indicated that most sequences were affiliated to a few taxonomic groups, mainly referred to Proteobacteria (consisting of Beta-, Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria) and Euryarchaeota (mainly related to uncultured methanogens), their relative abundances differed in each sample, resulting in different bacterial and archaeal assemblages. In winter, the abundance of the dominant bacterial phylotypes were mainly regulated by the increasing levels of total organic carbon in waters. Archaeal abundance and richness appeared mostly influenced by pH in winter and total nitrogen content in summer. The prokaryotic community composition at Témpanos lake, located most northerly and closer to a glacier, greatly differed in respect to the other two lakes. In this lake was detected the highest bacterial diversity, being Betaproteobacteria the most abundant group, whereas Alphaproteobacteria were distinctive of Mercedes. Archaeal community associated with sediments was mainly represent by members related to the order of Methanosarcinales at Mercedes and Las Torres lakes, and by Crenarchaeota at Témpanos lake. Our results indicate that the proximity to the glacier and the seasonality shape the composition of the prokaryotic communities in these remote lakes. These results may be used as baseline information to follow the microbial community responses to potential global changes and to anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body growth was studied in 32 subjects with vesicoureteric reflux (VUR), diagnosed following the prenatal finding of urinary tract dilatation, who had normal renal filtration function and who received antibacterial prophylaxis by the first few days of life. They were followed for 1-5 years (mean 2.3 years). Most had persistent VUR during the 1st year of life. Body growth performance was compared with that of 94 subjects with VUR diagnosed and treated by us after the neonatal period. During the follow-up period, none of the patients with prenatally detected VUR had a height Z score below -2, nor a weight-for-height index below 90%, and 1 had variations in height Z score ≥1. The difference in the percentage of patients with prenatally detected VUR (1/32) and those with VUR diagnosed and treated after the neonatal period (20/94) who had variations in height Z score ≥1 was significant (P=0.035). Patients with prenatally detected VUR and normal renal filtration function, given antibacterial prophylaxis by the first few days of life, have normal body growth, although VUR still persists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition of children at greatest risk for urolithiasis may allow early detection or prevention of stone formation. We report clinical data from 196 children aged 0.9-15.9 years in whom renal ultrasound examination revealed hyperechogenic spots in renal calyces less than 3 mm in diameter. We called this finding "calyceal microlithiasis" (CM). There was a history of urolithiasis in 70.4% of patients in at least one first- or second-degree relative. Presenting symptoms were recurrent abdominal pain, dysuria, and hematuria, occurring alone or in combination. Hematuria was the presenting symptom in 41% of patients and was the only urinary finding in more than one-third. Hypercalciuria was present in about one-third and hyperuricuria in one-fifth of the patients. Of 29 patients who were followed for at least 2 years, 9 developed calculi 4-7 mm in diameter. CM possibly represents the first step in calculus formation. The finding of CM might explain a number of symptoms and signs that are often mild and non-specific, thus reducing invasive diagnostic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal retrospective study of height Z score (HZ score) and weight-for-height index (WHI) was performed on 94 pre-pubertal children with vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) and normal creatinine clearance followed for 1-6.8 years (mean 3.1 years). Thirty patients had bilateral VUR with scintigraphic signs of renal scarring (B+), 17 had bilateral VUR without renal scarring (B-), 27 had unilateral VUR with (U+) and 20 unilateral VUR without (U-) renal scarring. Thirty-three patients received only antimicrobial medication and 61 underwent successful antireflux operation. The increase in HZ score and WHI during the 1st year of follow-up was significantly (P=0.001 and 0.00003, respectively) higher than during the 2nd year. At first visit, B+ subjects had an average WHI and HZ score that were significantly (P=0.02 and 0.04, respectively) lower than the other groups of patients together. At last visit this difference was not significant. In B+ subjects, the WHI and HZ score at last visit were significantly (P=0.04 for both) higher than at the first visit. B+ patients fully recover their body growth deficit compared with other groups of VUR subjects after medical and/or surgical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sponges represent important habitats for a community of associated (micro)organisms. Even if sponges dominate vast areas of the Antarctic shelves, few investigations have been performed on Antarctic sponge-associated bacteria. Using a culture-dependent approach, the composition of the bacterial communities associated with 14 Antarctic sponge species from different sites within the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) area was analyzed. Overall, isolates were mainly affiliated to Gammaproteobacteria, followed by Actinobacteria and CF group of Bacteroidetes, being the genera Pseudoalteromonas, Arthrobacter and Gillisia predominant, respectively. Alphaproteobacteria and Firmicutes were less represented. Cluster analyses highlighted similarities/differences among the sponge-associated bacterial communities, also in relation to the sampling site. The gammaproteobacterial Pseudoalteromonas sp. SER45, Psychrobacter sp. SER48, and Shewanella sp. SER50, and the actinobacterial Arthrobacter sp. SER44 phylotypes occurred in association with almost all the analyzed sponge species. However, except for SER50, these phylotypes were retrieved also in seawater, indicating that they may be transient within the sponge body. The differences encountered within the bacterial communities may depend on the different sites of origin, highlighting the importance of the habitat in structuring the composition of the associated bacterial assemblages. Our data support the hypothesis of specific ecological interactions between bacteria and Porifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-year-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis had chronic interstitial cystitis (CIC) early in the course of SLE. The early occurrence of CIC, the lack of intestinal symptoms, the association with vesicoureteric reflux, and the improvement of CIC during therapy with cyclosporin A were the prominent features of the patient reported here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]