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Since 2013, loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus 1758) nesting has been observed further north along the Italian coast, reaching the Tuscan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea). The four nesting events that occurred in Tuscany in the summer of 2019 spurred the scientific community to monitor these occurrences more carefully, following them from egg deposition to hatching. This provided an opportunity to collect samples for conducting multidisciplinary investigations, including the toxicological investigations of the biological material collected from the four nests. The aim of this study was to conduct an initial assessment of persistent organic pollutants in the eggs laid in Tuscany, aiming to establish a baseline on this topic for subsequent nesting events that have occurred until today. Organochlorine compounds (OCs), specifically polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were analyzed and detected in unhatched eggs, embryos, and chorio-allantoic membranes (CAMs). OCs were detected in all samples, with PCBs > DDTs » HCB. A significant spatial variation in pollutant levels and profiles among sea turtle nesting locations was found. Embryos showed higher levels of contamination than egg contents regardless of the developmental stages. Depth of the laying chamber and egg mass were not significant factors in OC bioaccumulation. For the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, this study assessed the role of CAM in the transfer of contaminants to the embryo. Overall, the OC levels found were lower compared to the results from other studies conducted worldwide on loggerhead sea turtle biological material. This was the first assessment of nest biological material for the North-Western coast of Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corruption is a plague with serious economic and social consequences and has a greater impact than people perceive. The impacts on business are severe but often underestimated. The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of public governance environment on the strategical opportunistic use of related party transactions in family firms. Considering corruption as a good indicator of conditions that boost unethical behavior, the study investigates whether high standard of public governance quality at a regional level, as well as low corruption, helps to reduce specific types of opportunistic transactions. Based on a regression analysis on European‐listed family firms in Italy, France, and Germany, we find that high public governance quality at the regional level reduces companies' opportunistic transactions. The study addresses a gap in the literature, first, because it empirically shows a link between the quality of the context and some unethical business strategies, confirming that a negative context leaves room for opportunistic behaviors and that high standards in the public governance quality discourage firms' opportunistic behaviors through specific transactions and, second, because it focuses on family firms suggesting that a strong family power that controls strategy and decision‐making process, if operate in a bad public quality context, may be involved in opportunistic behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the link between audit quality and in-court debt restructuring. The aim is to understand whether the confirmation of debt restructuring plans is affected by audit quality, which, in the light of agency theory, reduces information asymmetries between outsiders (creditors and the court) and insiders (shareholders and managers) of the debtor company. Design/methodology/approach: A logistic regression is performed to test whether higher audit quality is associated with an increased probability of successfully completing a debt restructuring proceeding (RP). Consistent with the literature, audit quality is assessed ex ante based on auditor size, which is used as a proxy for independence. The analysis considers private Italian companies. Findings: Audit quality positively affects debt restructuring. Among financially distressed companies, those audited by an audit company are more likely to succeed in RPs than those audited by a single practitioner. There is no evidence of a Big N effect. Originality/value: This study fills a gap in literature as, in contrast to other financial and governance characteristics, audit quality has never been studied before as a determinant of efficient restructuring. It contributes to the literature on auditing and governance by highlighting the importance of audit quality in complex situations such as RPs, and it expands on debt restructuring literature by considering the importance of the information exchanged during RPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A benefit corporation (BC) is a for‐profit company that pursues common benefits for stakeholders. Adopting institutional theory, we analyse the characteristics of the company in relation to the common benefits a BC pursue and how BC model fits with corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices defined in literature. BCs were introduced by a 2016 law in Italy, that was the first European country to approve legislation for BCs, under which a company must indicate its specific common benefit in its articles of association (AoAs). We run a multivariate regression on data from a content analysis on companies' AoA and then use questionnaire data to perform a cluster analysis and interviews to provide additional information. We show that larger and profitable firms focus on customers, while mature firm focus on the environment in the definition of common benefit in AoA. There is resistance to profit sharing. Industry and location specific are important drivers. Among first evidences, it is interesting to see that the most frequent perceived advantage of BC status is differentiation, BC and BCorp do not in practice overlap, and ownership is the main promoter of the change to become BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The VISIONARY study examined the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy and tolerability of the preservative-free fixed-dose combination of tafluprost (0.0015%) and timolol (0.5%) (PF tafluprost/timolol FC) in a real-world setting. The country-level data reported herein comprise the largest and first observational study of PF tafluprost/timolol FC therapy in Italy. Methods: An observational, multicenter, prospective study included adult Italian patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) demonstrating insufficient response or poor tolerability with topical prostaglandin analogue (PGA) or beta-blocker monotherapy. Treatment was switched to PF tafluprost/timolol FC therapy at baseline. Primary endpoint was the absolute mean IOP change from baseline at Month 6. Exploratory and safety endpoints included change in IOP at Weeks 4 and 12, ocular signs, symptom severity and reporting of adverse events (AEs). Results: Overall, 160 OAG/OHT patients were included. Mean ± standard deviation IOP was reduced from 19.6 ± 3.6 mmHg at baseline to 14.5 ± 2.6 mmHg at Month 6 (reduction of 5.1 ± 3.7 mmHg; 24.1%; p < 0.0001). IOP reduction was also statistically significant at Week 4 (23.1%; p < 0.0001) and Week 12 (24.7%; p < 0.0001). Based on data cutoff values for mean IOP change of ≥ 20%, ≥ 25%, ≥ 30% and ≥ 35%, respective Month 6 responder rates were 68.1%, 48.7%, 36.2% and 26.9%. Most ocular signs and symptoms were significantly reduced in severity from baseline at Month 6. Two non-serious and mild AEs were reported during the study period, among which, one AE was treatment-related (eyelash growth).   Conclusion: Italian OAG and OHT patients demonstrated a significant IOP reduction from baseline at Week 4 that was maintained over a 6-month period following a switch from topical PGA or beta-blocker monotherapy to PF tafluprost/timolol FC therapy. Severity of most ocular signs and symptoms was significantly reduced during the study period, and PF tafluprost/timolol FC was generally well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term anti-inflammatory effect of dexamethasone/netilmicin fixed combination in the management of ocular inflammation after cataract surgery. Patients and Methods: Open-label, randomized, active-controlled, clinical study conducted in 6 sites in Italy; 238 patients were randomized 2:1 to dexamethasone/netilmicin (dexa/net, n=158) or betamethasone/chloramphenicol (beta/chl, n=80). Treatment started the day of surgery and continued 4 times daily for 7 days. The primary efficacy parameter was the anterior chamber (AC) flare. The percentage of patients displaying none or mild (ie, only barely detectable) AC flare was defined as "efficacy rate", whereas the percentage of patients showing a decrease of AC flare score from baseline was defined as "percentage of responders". Additional parameters evaluated were AC cells, conjunctival hyperaemia, corneal and lid oedema, symptoms of ocular discomfort, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure. Dexa/net was considered effective if the efficacy rate was not inferior (by means of 97.5% confidence interval) to that of beta/chl. Results: After 7 days of treatment, no AC flare was observed in 92.8% (dexa/net) and 92.3% (beta/chl) of patients, whereas no AC cells were observed in 91.5% (dexa/net) and 93.6% (beta/chl) of patients, respectively. The "efficacy rate" was 100% in both groups, whereas the "percentage of responders" was 94.1% in the dexa/net and 93.6% in the beta/chl group. The p-value to reject the null hypothesis of inferiority was < 0.001. Other efficacy parameters confirmed both treatments as highly effective, despite their difference in steroid content (2 mg/mL for beta/chl vs 1 mg/mL for dexa/net). IOP and visual acuity at the end of the study were comparable. Two cases of allergic conjunctivitis were considered adverse events and were both related to dexa/net. Conclusion: Short-term use of dexa/net fixed combination is safe and effective in the control of post-operative inflammation following uncomplicated cataract surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the risks and protective factors in mental health in 825 emerging adults aged from 18 to 25 years old in Belgium and in Italy. Resilience, loneliness and social, and family context were explored to determine their specific role in coping with the emotional distress that spread worldwide during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. We conducted an online survey on the secured platform Research Electronic Data Capture©. Data were collected between April 7th and May 4th, 2020. The primary outcomes were the resilience scale for adults (RSA) and the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. The secondary outcomes included mental health status in terms of professional help seeking, use of psychotropic drugs, admission to a psychiatric department before and during lockdown measures. Responders were divided into three groups following the mental healthcare needs (MHCN) before and after the lockdown measures. The group who experienced an increase in MHCN represented almost 5% of the assessed youth. Statistically significant differences were found in means of RSA total score and RSA perception of self. This study enlightens the possibly traumatic impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on at‐risk youth's mental health. Early detection and intervention should be structured in large‐scale disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate governance has long been the subject of interest for researchers in business administration. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices decided by boards of directors are now a key issue in the decision‐making process of companies. The relationship between the governance structure and CSR policies is crucial to defining the companies' strategic view. In this paper, we identify how the characteristics of corporate governance impact CSR disclosure. Our findings show that a large board of directors reduces the probability of adhering to practices that involve stakeholders more closely in company activity, while companies with more independent directors have a higher level of stakeholder protection almost by definition. Thus, there is a need for additional ways of involving stakeholders in company activity. Our results also reveal that an overlap between the roles of the CEO and the board chairman is an undesirable influence on a CSR report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the arenaceous reefs by the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa and addresses microplastics pollution. The main aim is to assess microplastics amount in a bioconstruction located in the Adriatic coast of Italy (Mediterranean Sea) through a comparative approach: sea-floor sediment and bioconstruction samples were analysed to quantify microplastics absolute abundance in both substrates. A total of 431 MPs were found in the investigated substrates: respectively 85 % fibers and 15 % fragments. Multivariate analysis indicates that MPs within bioconstruction occur in higher abundances and with different morphologies than in sediment samples. The analysis of bioconstruction polished sections allowed for observation of MPs agglutinated in their original position: higher concentration is reported in inter-tube areas. Results suggest that physical characteristics of MPs could play a key-role in bioconstruction inclusion processes and raise questions on effective role of sabellariid bioconstructions as a trap for this pollutant in the littoral environment. [Display omitted] • The absolute abundance of microplastics was quantified through a comparative approach. • Microplastics are much more abundant in bioconstruction than in sediment samples. • Sabellariid bioconstructions can act as a trap for MPs. • The bioconstruction could temporarily storage MPs on the coast. • The work defines a new step-by-step protocol for MPs investigation of environmental matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differences of the epidemiology (incidence, case-to-death rate, mortality, etc) of COVID-19 between USA and Italy are analyzed taking into account the social, economic and sanitary characteristics of the two countries, both severely hit be the pandemic; and the causes of the so many different behaviors of the disease in each of them are discussed and explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The lagoon of Venice is a mosaic resulting from the interaction of several biotic and abiotic factors. A qualitative scheme of such a mosaic was proposed in literature; it subdivided the lagoon into six ecological sectors (“lagoon mouths”, “vivified lagoon”, “rough eutrophic”, “calm eutrophic”, “urban”, “estuarine”), related with current velocity, salinity, eutrophication and pollution, and expressed by means of the sessile macrobenthos living on wooden piles. In this paper, we present the conversion of that scheme into a fuzzy logic model, which considers four input variables: abundance of marine species; abundance of lagoon species; abundance of oligohaline species and total abundance of the sessile macrozoobenthos. Three fuzzy sets describe abundance levels (low, medium, high) for each one of the four variables; the 81 (34) resulting combinations have been associated to the six ecological sectors, for a total of 486 “if … then” rules. We have used two different interpretations of the inference process, and combined their results with the “crisp weighting” technique to obtain the fuzzy membership grades to the six ecological sectors. The model, built on data from the lagoon of Venice in 1993–1994, has been validated with more recent data from the same stations and from the nearby lagoon of Grado-Marano; the results are in agreement with the literature information. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The certified quality ensures full recognition from consumers and the firm competition in the market. The certification can be understood as a net of relationships along the supply chain able to guarantee a transparency of the product, in order to reduce the information asymmetries. The research focuses on the olive oil sector, excellence of Italian food market, through the viewpoint of small and medium firms of South Italy It aims to investigate the management mechanisms behind certified quality and firm choice to implement traceability systems or quality certification. The analysis is carried out through a logistic modelling. From the results the strategic factors in the management and recognition of the quality of oil products are outlined. The study aims to contribute to the analysis of management of quality products and their impact in a competitive market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. HLAs have been extensively associated with SSc susceptibility but their role in the progression of the disease is poorly understood. In 2013 the ACR and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) jointly defined criteria for the classification of SSc that allow the early identification of definite SSc patients. In this study we investigated the role of HLA class II antigens in the progression from early to definite SSc. Methods. One hundred and fifty-eight subjects with early SSc according to LeRoy and Medsger criteria and no other manifestation indicative of definite SSc at referral were considered. All the patients underwent high-resolution HLA class II typing and the appraisal of definite SSc was retrospectively conducted in a prospective manner. Lifetime analysis was conducted to gauge the effect of genetic and clinical characteristics on progression of the disease. Results. The median estimated time to progression was 45 months from referral; the 5 and 10 year estimates of progression were 59.8% and 80%, respectively. ACAs were associated with a reduced risk of progression [median survival 55 vs 23 months for ACA-positive vs ACA-negative patients, P = 0.035; hazard ratio (HR) 0.67 (95% CI 0.458, 0.979)]. HLA alleles within the HLA DQ5-DR1 haplotype [HLA-DRB1*0101-HLA-DQA1*0101(4)-HLA-DQB1*0501] reduced the risk of progression of the disease [median survival 108 vs 44 months for DQ5-DR1 carriers vs DQ5-DR1 non-carriers; HR 0.388 (CI 0.211, 0.712), P = 0.001, corrected P = 0.014]. In multivariate models, the effect of genetics was found to be independent of ACA positivity or other baseline factors; additive risks were observed when the DQ5-DR1 haplotype and ACA were jointly considered. Conclusion. HLA class II alleles within the HLA DQ5-DR1 haplotype are associated with lower rates of progression from early to definite SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The functional diversity index has shown that the functional diversity of the macrobenthic community increased along a spatial gradient of distance from the Po river delta (Emilia-Romagna coast, Italy, North-Adriatic Sea), which suggests that riverine inputs have a detrimental effect on community functioning. This study focuses on two different depths along a southward gradient of increasing distance from the Po river delta where the Po river is the main source of freshwater and nutrient inputs in the North-Adriatic Sea. A Biological Traits Analysis (BTA) was used to examine a dataset of 156 soft-bottom macrobenthic species that were collected at eight stations in this area. Instead of comparing communities on the basis of their taxonomic composition, BTA uses a series of life history, morphological and behavioural characteristics of species to indicate aspects of their ecological functioning. The variability of the Emilia-Romagna dataset was governed by relatively few biological traits: growth form, trophic group, type of movement, habit, adult mobility and bioturbation activity. The community closer to the coastline was mainly composed of moderately mobile vermiform organisms with burrowing or tube-dwelling behaviour, and deposit feeding behaviour. However, the offshore community was mainly characterized by organisms with a laterally compressed or globose body and tube-dwelling behaviour; filter feeders and deposit feeders were dominant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective. To determine the role of Class II HLAs in SSc patients from Italy and Spain and in SSc patients of Caucasian ancestry.Methods. Nine hundred and forty-four SSc patients (Italy 392 patients; Spain 452 patients) and 1320 ethnically matched healthy controls (Italy 398 patients; Spain 922 patients) were genotyped up to the fourth digit by PCR with sequence-specific oligonucleotides for HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 loci. Patients included 390 ACA-positive and 254 anti-topo I-positive subjects. Associations between SSc or SSc-specific antibodies and HLA alleles or HLA haplotypes were sought via the chi-square test after 10 000-fold permutation testing. A meta-analysis including this study cohort and other Caucasoids samples was also conducted.Results. In both the cohorts, the strongest association was observed between the HLA-DRB1*1104 allele and SSc or anti-topo I antibodies. The HLA-DRB1*1104 -DQA1*0501 -DQB1*0301 haplotype was overrepresented in Italian [odds ratio (OR) = 2.069, 95% asymptotic CIs (CI95) 1.486, 2.881; P < 0.001] and in Spanish patients (OR = 6.707, CI95 3.974, 11.319; P < 0.001) as well as in anti-topo-positive patients: Italy (OR = 2.642, CI95 1.78, 3.924; P < 0.001) and Spain (OR = 20.625, CI95 11.536, 36.876; P < 0.001). In both the populations we also identified an additional risk allele (HLA-DQB1*03) and a protective allele (HLA-DQB1*0501) in anti-topo-positive patients. The meta-analysis showed different statistically significant associations, the most interesting being the differential association between HLA-DRB1*01 alleles and ACAs (OR = 1.724, CI95 1.482, 2.005; P < 0.001) or topo I antibodies (OR = 0.5, CI95 0.384, 0.651; P < 0.001).Conclusions. We describe multiple robust associations between SSc and HLA Class II antigens in Caucasoids that may help to understand the genetic architecture of SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: According to the European Water Framework Directive, the ecological status (ES) of a water body is determined by comparing observation data with undisturbed Reference Conditions (RCs). Defining RCs is crucial when evaluating the ES of a water body as it strongly affects the final outcome of any index application. Identifying RCs by observing real sites is not feasible in many marine environments, such as the Emilia-Romagna coast (Italy, N-Adriatic Sea). We used a statistical approach on a large dataset to derive RCs for the application of the benthic index M-AMBI in this area. We then applied M-AMBI to samples collected along a gradient of presumed environmental disturbance. The results put 14.8% of the Emilia-Romagna samples in “High” ES, 60.2% in “Good”, 23.0% in “Moderate” and 2.0% in “Poor”, showing a spatial gradient of improving quality. These results are in agreement with the extensive ecological knowledge available for this area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

According to WHO estimates, varicella disease is responsible of a worldwide significant burden in terms of hospitalizations, complications, and deaths, with more than 90% of cases under 12 years old. This study aims at evaluating the clinical, epidemiological, and economic burden of varicella in Ligurian children, about comorbidities, organizational variables, and vaccination coverages from 2010 to 2017, in terms of Emergency Department accesses and hospitalizations. The overall hospitalization rate was 179.76 (per 100,000 inhab.), with a gradual but significant decline since 2015, when universal varicella vaccination was introduced in Liguria (p < 0.0001). The risk of being hospitalized for complicated varicella in subjects with at least one comorbidity was significantly higher than in subjects without comorbidities (p = 0.0016). The economic analysis showed higher costs in subjects with complicated varicella who were 0–3 years old. This age group showed higher costs also considering extra-hospital costs for both outpatient procedures and pharmaceutical costs (p < 0.0001). The results confirm the relevant burden of varicella, especially in the 0–3 age group and in children with comorbidities. Thus, vaccination with the achievement of adequate vaccination coverages is confirmed to be a necessary control strategy to reduce hospitalizations and associated complications with important economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) requires assessing the ecological quality status of water bodies, and gives great importance to the biological components of the ecosystem. Within this framework, a multimetric, fuzzy-based index for the evaluation of environmental quality (FINE: fuzzy index of ecosystem integrity) has been developed using data from several Italian coastal lagoons, gathered with seasonal frequency at diverse sites in each lagoon. The rationale of FINE is that certain attributes, selected on the basis of established principles of benthic ecology, are fundamental for lagoon ecosystem function. FINE is composed of seven ecosystem attributes (variables) each of which have ecological relevance for lagoon ecosystems. Individually, all these attributes are themselves useful indices of environmental conditions. However, the combination of these attributes into a single fuzzy index, provides a more robust, overall index of the response of the natural communities to environmental perturbations and avoids misleading or ambiguous results. Each variable is not represented by a single numerical value, but by several categories that describe its properties: in the present model we considered a total of seven variables: two with four modalities ( low–medium–high–very high), one with three ( low–medium–high) and three with two ( low–high), plus a qualitative variable ( yes–no), that altogether generate 768 rules. FINE is a low-cost, flexible and robust routine index of lagoon ecosystem impairment and could be of particular benefit to environmental managers and policymakers who require tools capable of expressing the degree of degradation or environmental quality of different lagoon habitats. For its relative simplicity in the application, FINE could be a good candidate to assess the environmental quality of Mediterranean transitional ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soft-bottom communities of eight Italian lagoons were analyzed for eight biological traits (feeding, mobility, adult life habitat, body size, life span, reproductive technique, type of larva and reproductive frequency) in order to identify the dominant traits in different transitional environments. We considered the ecological quality status (EcoQS) of the stations, assessed by two biotic indices, AMBI and Bentix. Stations were categorized into EcoQS classes to investigate the relationship between biological functions and ecological quality. The results indicate that the variability of the data was governed by traits linked to resource utilization rather than to life cycle. Lagoons affected by chronic disturbance displayed a poor functional composition, which usually corresponded to poor EcoQS in some cases, correlations between ecological groups and traits modalities were ecologically relevant; however, classes of EcoQS were found to be relatively independent from the functional structure of the considered stations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The spatial distribution and temporal changes of demosponges and bryozoans in the northern basin of the Venice Lagoon were studied from samples collected from wooden piles and artificial rocks in June and October 2001. Twenty species of demosponges and 18 species of bryozoans were recorded. Sponges were found at 10 out of 11 sampling stations, while bryozoans were found at all 11 sampling stations. The studied taxocoenoses showed a high percentage cover of the lagoon hard bottoms. Eleven out of the 20 detected species of sponges were reported in a previous study on this taxocoenosis carried out on material collected in 1954–1955. Moreover, the most abundant species were also recorded during a study in 1989. These observations suggest a remarkable degree of persistence of the sponge community. Among bryozoans, the comparison with literature data showed a wider variation in species composition, with the occurrence of five new species in the studied area. The Indo-Pacific invasive Tricellaria inopinata replaced the native Bugula spp. in the role of dominant species. Finally, a significant increase in species richness along the salinity gradient, more evident for sponges than for bryozoans, was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health, particularly among young adults, has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, partially because of both forced social isolation measures and loneliness. Numerous papers on the short-term consequences of lockdown measures reported high psychological distress, as well as an increase of depressive and anxiety symptoms and psychotropic drug use. This study evaluated potential risk and protective factors, such as resilience, loneliness, social and family context, in order to detect vulnerable individuals. Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was carried out in a two phase survey: the first one, during lockdown in Spring 2020 (T1), and, the second one, in Summer 2020 (T2), when restrictive measures were slackened. The main outcomes included the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. The secondary outcomes included mental health care needs (MHCN), use of psychotropic drugs and family and social contacts. Results: This study evaluated risks and protective factors in mental health in 825 emerging adults aged from 18 to 25 years old in Belgium and in Italy. Participants were divided into three groups according to their MHCN before and after lockdown measures. 5% of the participants experienced an increase in MHCN at T1, including the start of a psychotropic treatment. At T1, statistically significant differences were found in mean RSA total scores and RSA Perception of Self scores between groups. At T2, the group who experienced an increase in MHCN displayed a significant decrease of mean loneliness scores compared with the other groups. This decrease is linearly correlated with resilience competencies. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictive measures cause a negative impact on youth’s mental health, particularly among vulnerable individuals. Resilience and social contacts are protective factors that need to be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MicroWave Ablation (MWA) is a mini-invasive technique, based on dielectric heating, used to treat small hepatic tumors or liver metastases in the adult population. The heat-energy is delivered to the target area, causing tumor necrosis, usually under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance. This procedure can be performed as pure percutaneous or with laparoscopic assistance. A laparoscopic US-guided microwave ablation of the pancreatoblastoma hepatic metastasis was performed in an 11-year old girl. A standard three-port laparoscopic technique was used: the camera port at the umbilicus, and two working port at the upper right quadrant. After adhesiolysis, the intra-operative liver ultrasonography confirmed the pre-operative morphological imaging study and the nodules ablation was performed by using microwaves (MWA), emitted by AMICA probe (Apparatus for MICrowave Ablation; HS Hospital Service, Aprilia, LT, Italy), set at 40 W. Laparoscopic MWA is a tissue-sparing technique to treat in a mini-invasive fashion unresectable liver tumors or metastases. This technique has been extensively described in adult population, and rarely in children. These preliminary and satisfactory results make MWA promising when treating pediatric patients with malignant primary or secondary liver tumors. Further studies may provide data on its long-term efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although meningococcal disease has a low incidence in Italy, it is a public health concern owing to its high lethality rate and high frequency of transitory and/or permanent sequelae among survivors. The highest incidence rates are recorded in infants, children and adolescents, and most of the cases are due to Neisseria meningitidis B. In Italy, anti-meningococcal B (anti-MenB) vaccination is free for infants but, despite the considerable disease burden in adolescents, no national recommendation to vaccinate in this age-group is currently available. The aim of this study was to assess the main available scientific evidence to support the Italian health authorities in implementing a program of free anti-MenB vaccination for adolescents. We conducted an overview of the scientific literature on epidemiology, disease burden, immunogenicity and safety of available vaccines, and economic evaluations of vaccination strategies. Each case of invasive meningococcal disease generates a considerable health burden (lethality rate: 9%; up to 60% of patients experience at least one sequela) in terms of impaired quality of life for survivors and high direct and indirect costs (the mean overall cost of acute phase for a single case amounts to about EUR 13,952; the costs for post-acute and the long-term phases may vary widely depending of the type of sequela, reaching an annual cost of about EUR 100,000 in cases of severe neurological damage). Furthermore, vaccination against meningococcus B in adolescence proved cost-effective. The study highlights the need to actively offer the anti-MenB vaccination during adolescence at a national level. This would make it possible to avoid premature deaths and reduce the high costs borne by the National Health Service and by society of supporting survivors who suffer temporary and/or permanent sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyme disease (LD), caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in many regions of Eurasia. Antibody detection is the most frequently used laboratory test, favoring a two-step serodiagnostic algorithm; immunoenzymatic detection of antibodies to C6 has been shown to perform similarly to a standard two-step workflow. The aim of this study was the performance evaluation of the C6 Lyme ELISA kit compared to a standard two-step algorithm in three laboratories located in the northeastern region of Italy which cater to areas with different LD epidemiology. A total of 804 samples were tested, of which 695 gave concordant results between C6 testing and routine workflow (564 negative, 131 positive). Wherever available, clinical presentation and additional laboratory tests were analyzed to solve discrepancies. The C6 based method showed a good concordance with the standard two-step algorithm (Cohen's κ = 0.619), however, the distribution of discrepancies seems to point towards a slightly lower specificity of C6 testing, which is supported by literature and could impact on patient management. The C6 ELISA, therefore, is not an ideal stand-alone test; however, if integrated into a two-step algorithm, it might play a part in achieving a sensitive, specific laboratory diagnosis of LD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The genetic background may predispose systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients to the development of digital ulcers (DUs). Methods: Twenty-two functional cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 3 HLA class I and II antigens were typed at the genomic level by polymerase chain reaction in 200 Italian SSc patients. Associations with DUs were sought by parametric models and with the Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) algorithm to depict the presence of epistasis. Biological models consistent with MDR results were built by means of Petri nets to describe the metabolic significance of our findings. Results: On the exploratory analysis, the diffuse cutaneous subset (dcSSc) was the only single factor statistically associated with DUs (p =0.045, ns after Bonferroni correction). Gene–gene analysis showed that a 3-factor model comprising the IL-6 C-174G, the IL-2 G-330T SNPs and the HLA-B*3501 allele was predictive for the occurrence of DUs in our population (testing accuracy=66.9%; p <0.0001, permutation testing). Conclusion: Biological interpretation via Petri net showed that IL-6 is a key factor in determining DUs occurrence and that this cytokines may synergise with HLA-B*3501 to determine DUs onset. Owing to the limited number of patients included in the study, future research are needed to replicate our statistical findings as well as to better determine their functional meaning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The contribution of non-indigenous species to the transfer of contaminants in invaded food webs represents an active research area. Here we measured trace metals and CN stable isotopes in five populations of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus and in baseline bivalve species from Spain, Italy and Greece. They were used to estimate trophic transfer effects and the trophic position and isotopic niche of C. sapidus. Maximum trophic transfer effects occurred where the crab showed the largest isotopic niches and highest trophic positions; furthermore, the consistency of trace metal profiles between bivalves and crabs co-varied with the trophic position of the latters. Omnivory may influence the success of an invasive species, but also limit its effectiveness for biomonitoring. However, our results indicated that stable isotopes analysis provides a clarifying background where to cast patterns of contamination of the blue crab as well as of other omnivorous biomonitor species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The recreational boating sector is a major vector for the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) via biofouling. Despite applying control measures to prevent the growth of fouling communities, most vessels are NIS carriers. This study assessed the effectiveness of different antifouling strategies in a manipulative experiment by testing two common coating typologies (biocide-based and foul-release coatings), accompanied with simulated maintenance practices. The experiment was carried out in the Gulf of La Spezia (Italy) and samples were collected at two different periods. Results showed significant differences among antifouling treatments regarding community structure, diversity, coverage and biovolume of the sessile component, alongside a significant decrease in the performance of biocide-based coating with time. Interestingly, peracarid NIS/native species ratio was higher for biocide-based treatments, suggesting potential biocide resistance. This study highlights the urgent need to develop common and feasible biofouling management plans and provides insights towards identification of best practices for recreational vessels., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Early tracheotomy, defined as a procedure performed within 10 days from intubation, is associated with more ventilator free days, shorter ICU stay, and lower mortality than late tracheotomy. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it was especially important to save operating room resources and to have a shorter ICU stay for patients, when ICUs had insufficient beds. In this context of limited resources, early percutaneous tracheostomy could be an effective way to manage mechanically ventilated patients. Nevertheless, current recommendations suggest delaying or avoiding the tracheotomy in coronavirus disease 2019 patients. Aim of the study was to analyze the hospital mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 patients who had received early percutaneous tracheostomy and factors associated with removal of tracheostomy cannula at ICU discharge., Design: Cohort study., Setting: Coronavirus disease 2019 ICU., Patients: Adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 3 days after ICU admission., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Three days after ICU admission, 164 patients were present in ICU and included in the analysis. One-hundred and twenty-one patients (74%) were tracheostomized, whereas the other 43 (26%) were managed with translaryngeal intubation only. In multivariable analysis, early percutaneous tracheostomy was associated with lower hospital mortality. Sixty-six of tracheostomized patients (55%) were discharged alive from the hospital. Age and male sex were the only characteristics that were independently associated with mortality in the tracheostomized patients (45.5% and 62.8% in tracheostomized and nontracheostomized patients, respectively; p = 0.009). Tracheostomy tube was removed in 47 of the tracheostomized patients (71%). The only variable independently associated with weaning from tracheostomy at ICU discharge was a faster start of spontaneous breathing after tracheotomy was performed., Conclusions: Early percutaneous tracheostomy was safe and effective in coronavirus disease 2019 patients, giving a good chance of survival and of weaning from tracheostomy cannula at ICU discharge., Competing Interests: The authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

The sessile and mobile macrobenthos on artificial hard bottoms was studied in 12 stations of the Sacca di Goro lagoon, a brackish, highly stressed water basin in the delta of the river Po, open to the Northwestern Adriatic Sea. Three sampling surveys were carried out in June and September 2000 and June 2001 in order to make three types of temporal comparisons: (i) on a seasonal scale, before and after a summer dystrophic event; (ii) on an annual basis, before and after the works of excavation of a canal through the outer sand bank; (iii) on a multiannual scale, comparing the data with those of a survey carried out in 1988. The biocoenoses did not show large fluctuations after a moderately severe summer dystrophic crisis, while the digging of the canal caused clear changes in the macrobenthos community structure after one year. The long-term comparison showed a shift in the community patterns after a decade.