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Abstract: Intertidal area is characterized by several fluctuations in natural agents and anthropogenic factors (oxygen levels, temperature, salinity, B[a]P presence) that cause a noticeable increase in the expression rate of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). HSPs acting as molecular chaperones and their induction represent a specific cellular defence mechanism in response to several stress. Chamelea gallina specimens from the North Adriatic coast were exposed to different experimental conditions: varying oxygen levels (48h of anoxia followed by 24h of normoxic recovery), temperatures (20, 25, 30°C for 7days), salinity (28, 34, 40‰ for 7days) and B[a]P concentrations (0.5mg/L for 24h, 7 and 12days). Following the extraction of the digestive gland and gills, HSP70 levels were identified in the cytosolic fraction by immunoblotting using primary monoclonal antibodies. An increase in the rate of HSP70 expression under anoxic conditions in the digestive gland was observed at high temperatures, at low salinity and in the presence of B[a]P. The protein was overexpressed in the absence of oxygen and after 12days of B[a]P exposure, while it was underexpressed in hyposaline conditions in the gills. HSP70 induction can be considered an adaptation mechanism associated with changes in environmental parameters, but also with xenobiotic presence. The overexpression of HSP70 is therefore induced by protein damage due to stressogenic factors. HSP recruitment renders them available for the processes of folding and refolding of denatured proteins or for their transport to a degradation system. The evident sensitivity of HSP70 to natural and anthropogenic stressogenic agents was examined in the present research. The results of this research revealed an interesting response of heat shock protein 70 in C. gallina, underlining the sensitivity of this important commercial species to natural and anthropogenic stress agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article shows the results of a longitudinal study aimed to explore the institutional therapeutic alliance (ITA) that is the alliance formed by a patient and all the therapeutic staff. Fifty five patients who have psychiatric disorders in partial hospitalization were evaluated at admission (global functional level, social support, symptomatic condition, and treatment expectancies), at discharge, and after 3 months. ITA was assessed after 1 week of treatment and at discharge, from patient's and staff's perspectives. Preliminary findings suggest that the ITA represents a specific phenomenon different from the classical therapeutic alliance (patienttherapist), which would be particularly relevant for the treatment of patients who are severely disturbed.

The relationship between a supposed effect of molluscan extracts on bioluminescent bacteria and metal concentrations in the extracts was investigated. For this purpose a biotoxicological assay based on bioluminescent bacteria (BLB) and extracts from metal exposed molluscs, Scapharca inaequivalvis, was optimized to monitor Cd and Cu marine pollution. Cu and Cd concentrations increased in tissues of experimentally exposed molluscs. Molluscan extracts inhibited the bacterial luminescence, the inhibition decreasing as the time of mollusc exposure to metals increased, suggesting a reduction of the "bioactive" metals. In regard to the use of BLB test in environmental monitoring, the analysis of Cu, Cd, and metallothionein (MT) was first performed in tissues from molluscs collected in three different areas of Northern Adriatic Sea. Metal concentrations reached maximum values in the gills, while Cd was mostly bound to MT in the kidney. Significant differences in metals and MT concentrations were found depending on the sampling sites. The biotoxicological assay resulted slightly correlated with the biochemical parameters.

We have measured the concentrations of heavy metals in soils, earthworms and tissues of woodcocks in Quaderna Valley, northern Italy. The soil concentration of metals analysed in this research is consistent with data reported by other authors for uncontaminated or slightly contaminated soils. In earthworms, metals were mostly accumulated in the encapsulating chloragogenous tissue; the positive correlation between Cu concentration in the soil and in earthworms is noteworthy. Heavy metal distribution in the tissues of woodcock showed that Cd accumulation in the kidney was linked to the diet. Cu and Fe were preferentially concentrated in the liver and Zn in the testis. Kidney Cd and Zn concentrations were higher in adults than in juveniles. In addition, a main kidney metallothionein isoform, containing Cd and Zn, was isolated. In the kidney, Cd levels were linearly correlated with the concentration of metallothionein. Of the investigated metals, Cd raises the greatest concern, due to the increasing soil contamination by human activities.