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Abstract Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus 1767) is a polychaete able to build bioconstructions of different thickness, size and patchiness, in intertidal and subtidal environments. Its biological features have been the object of numerous studies worldwide. The worm reefs are formed by millions of tubes built by sand and shells (whole or in fragments) bonded together with a strong glue produced by the worm itself. Hence, Sabellaria alveolata represents a sedimentological asset for the coastal protection, since it contributes to create natural barriers against storm waves and erosion, and supplies the beach with new sandy deposits. This work shows a multidisciplinary approach to studying a bioconstruction of Sabellaria alveolata along the Latium coast (Ostia, Tyrrhenian Sea, central Italy), proposing image analysis as a novel technique to investigate worm reefs, along with classical sedimentological/ecological tools. The Sabellaria bioconstructions have been analysed at different scales of observation, suggesting the more appropriate strategies to develop a reliable model illustrating the different growth steps of these bioconstructions.

Sabellaria spinulosa (Leukhart, 1849) is a suspension feeding polychaeta that lives in tubes consisting of terrigenous particles captured by the worm itself. They form impressive reefs containing millions of worm tubes. In temperate marine areas, under optimal environmental conditions, these structures can become natural breakwaters and can play an active role in sandy beaches’ defense. In this work, we report procedures aimed to analyze the growth of S. spinulosa bioconstructions in laboratory. By collecting biological replicas from a wild reef, this study aimed to identify sedimentological characteristics of sands that induce faster tube growth. During the tank experiments, the grain size and mineralogy of the sand were modified. By employing thin sections and X-ray microtomography analyses, the structures observed and measured during and after the tests were analogous to those naturally formed. The fastest growth was recorded in the presence of bioclastic sands with a grain size between 125 and 350 μm. Defining the physical conditions that induce faster growth is fundamental for the defense of these vulnerable habitats but also the surrounding marine environment. This study also lays the foundations for coastal protection interventions in which bioconstructions grown in the tank could be directly implanted on submerged natural and artificial substrates that are already present in situ.

The use of marine sponges dates back thousands of years, and interest in these animals is increasing as new applications are discovered. Their potential is extensive, both in their ancient and still popular use as bath sponges for cosmetics and regarding the more recent discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites mainly of interest for the pharmaceutical industry and the less developed aquariology. Despite their proven biofiltration and ecosystem restoration ability and the biomass supply problem for the interested industries, few integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems incorporate these invertebrates in their facilities. Therefore, in this brief review, the benefits that marine sponges could bring to rapidly growing IMTA systems are summarized, highlighting their suitability for a circular blue economy.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has long been considered a rare disease, but recent advancements in diagnostic tools have led to a reconsideration of the epidemiology of CA. Amyloid light-chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidoses are the most common forms of cardiac amyloidosis. Due to the distinct treatments and the different prognoses, amyloid typing is crucial. Although a non-biopsy diagnosis can be obtained in ATTR amyloidosis when certain diagnostic criteria are fulfilled, tissue characterization still represents the gold standard for the diagnosis and typing of CA, particularly in AL amyloidosis. The present review focuses on the status of tissue characterization in cardiac amyloidosis, from histochemistry to immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry, as well as on its future directions.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory condition causing itching skin, with a significant psychosocial impact on patients and relatives. AD affects 15 to 30% of children and 2 to 10% of adults. AD significantly affects patients’ quality of life (QoL) given the chronicity and symptoms of the disease. Most AD patients have reported that the disease affects daily life, resulting in limited social contact and a strong impact on sexual health (SH), especially in moderate–severe cases. Materials and methods: We performed a prospective study from 1 May 2020 to 1 May 2022; the aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of moderate to severe AD on sexual desire, seduction, and partner relationships, and describe how it varies following dupilumab therapy. We used the Sexual Desire Inventory-2 (SDI-2), a validated instrument consisting of 14 items; moreover, we used a second questionnaire with eight items, an unvalidated instrument created specifically for this study, to obtain the assessment of the influence of AD on the body image, sexuality, and self-perception of those affected. Results and Conclusions: The impact of AD on sexual desire assessed using SDI-2 showed a significant improvement in both sexes during dupilumab treatment from the baseline to W4 and W16. Similar results were obtained with our questionnaire.

Illegal wildlife trade is considered one of the most serious threats to biodiversity worldwide, along with habitat loss/degradation and overfishing of wild stocks. Seahorses are considered at high risk as these fish represent an important component of traditional Chinese medicine but are also sold as curios and ornamental fish. On a worldwide level, illegal trade is controlled by numerous laws and regulations, but it seems to continue by assuming more dynamic routes. In the Mediterranean Sea, Hippocampus guttulatus formed one of the largest populations at Mar Piccolo di Taranto in South-Eastern Italy. During the routine monitoring of this population in 2016, a dramatic density decrease was observed. By using questionnaires and long-term datasets, the present study determined possible causes of this decline by investigating habitat changes, temperature trends and the existence of seahorse trafficking while also examining abundance trends during the last decade. The results indicated a sharp density decline starting from 2015, co-occurring with the period of high temperatures, while habitats remained almost constant. However, interviews with main stakeholders described both illegal and legal fishing activities as the main drivers for the declining seahorse density. Indeed, at one of the studied sites, which was under strict military control, seahorse abundance started to decline only after the intensification of fishing pressure in the basin. The study suggests that Mar Piccolo di Taranto could be one of the sources for international seahorse trade, thus highlighting the need for more intense and effective actions to prevent and combat illegal poaching, while threatened populations are requiring continuous and close monitoring. Due to unfavorable socio-economic conditions, a viable and thriving seahorse population at Mar Piccolo di Taranto could contribute to the revitalization of the coastal economy and the development of environmental awareness.

Coralligenous bioconstructions are one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive and biodiverse marine habitats. This research aimed to provide a preliminary characterization of macrobenthic coralligenous assemblages at four sites located in the Marine National Park of Karaburun-Sazan in Albania. We analyzed images obtained from videos recorded along underwater transects at two different depths. Over a total of 61 taxa (3 Rhodophyta, 2 Ochrophyta, 6 Chlorophyta, 30 Porifera, 5 Cnidaria, 3 Mollusca, 2 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 4 Bryozoa, 4 Echinodermata, and 1 Chordata), 53 were identified at the species level using taxonomic and semi-quantitative video image analysis, thus allowing an update to the Albanian coralligenous species list with 34 new species. This study revealed differences in species richness and composition among the investigated sites and between depths, with a high number of taxa exclusive to one site and a few taxa common to all sites. Seven taxa are protected by law, among which are the echinoderm Centrostephanus longispinus, included in the Bern (Annex II) and Barcelona (Annex II) Conventions and Habitat Directive (92/43 EEC) (Annex IV), and the sponges Spongia (Spongia) officinalis and S. (S.) lamella, included in Annex III of the Bern Convention. Only the alga Caulerpa cylindracea can be considered an alien species. Although preliminary, the present research indicated the occurrence of rich and diversified macrobenthic assemblages in the study area. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that video analysis can provide a biodiversity baseline within MPAs, where traditional methods involving invasive sampling cannot be applied, particularly in areas such as the Albanian coasts, where anthropogenic impacts have been historically significant. Finally, this work provides a first estimate of the structural biodiversity in a recently established marine protected area, thus representing the basis for subsequent monitoring.

The Multi-Trait selection index (MTSI) has been used to select highly productive and stable faba bean landraces across various traits. Fifteen productive, morphological, and phenological traits with desired and undesired selection gains (SGs) were evaluated in fifteen faba bean landraces under Mediterranean field conditions between 2019–2021. According to our results, most of the faba bean traits are influenced by the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) effects. Banner length (BL), seed yield (SY), diameter (D), number of flowers per inflorescence (NFI), branch number (BRN), and 100 seed weight (HSW) were found to be highly influenced by the environment, the proportions of variance explained by environmental factors were arranged between 83.21% and 74.08%, and only seed number per pod (SNP) was the highest genotypic effect (54.02%). According to the MTSI index, only three landraces (Gaada Mascara (G4), Oued zentai (G13), and Khmakhem (G15)) were considered to be highly yield-productive and to have a broad adaptability across Mediterranean environments. When numerous traits were evaluated, the MTSI index provided a strong and powerful tool for developing improved selection techniques for Faba bean studies.

Today, irrigated agriculture is even more influenced by climate change with consequent negative effects on food security. The Mediterranean area is most affected by climate change, leading to greater exposure to uncertainty and production risks. In these environments, water stress, rainfall variability, and soil salinization have been accentuated. Improving crop productivity by minimizing such effects is possible through intelligent climate farming practices (CSFP). Towards resilient and sustainable integrated agro-ecosystems through appropriate climate-smart farming practices (TRUSTFATM) is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program with the aim to design integrated agro-ecosystems by conserving natural resources and using the principles of the circular economy for developing climate-resilient production systems in Egypt, Morocco, Italy, France, and Senegal. The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DISAAT) of the University of Bari is responsible for coordinating the activities (starting in 2022) related to the introduction of new crop varieties and management of water and efficient irrigation systems, such as deficit irrigation, use of marginal quality (saline water) irrigation water, and introduction of abiotic stress-tolerant crops.

Agriculture in south Europe is facing the negative effect of abiotic stresses such as salinity that mostly affect the seed production and seed quality of traditional crops. Under these conditions, quinoa represent a good alternative to ensure the production of high-protein-quality seeds thanks to its tolerance to abiotic stresses. In 2015–2017, a sweet variety of quinoa, “Vikinga”, was tested in Italy within the PROTEIN2FOOD project (EU Horizon2020) as high-quality-protein crop to enhance food protein production in Europe. A field trial was carried out at the experimental farm of CNR-ISAFOM in South Italy, to evaluate the combined effect of drought and salinity on quinoa Vikinga; both freshwater and saline water were used for irrigation. The plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The main yield parameters (seed yield, aboveground dry biomass 1000 seed weight), the protein content and other quality traits were analyzed at harvest, to evaluate the effect of applied treatments. The results showed that, in general, different treatments did not affect the main production and quality traits of quinoa “Vikinga”.

The expansion of aquaculture practices in coastal areas can alter the balance of microbial communities in nearby marine ecosystems with negative impacts on both farmed and natural species, as well as on human health through their consumption. Among marine filter-feeder invertebrates, poriferans are known as effective microbial bioremediators, even though they are currently still underutilized in association with fish mariculture plants. In this study, we investigate the microbial bioremediation capability of the demosponge Hymeniacidon perlevis in an experimental land-based fish farm where this species occurred consistently in the drainage conduit of the wastewater. Microbiological analyses of cultivable vibrios, total culturable bacteria (37 °C), fecal and total coliforms, and fecal enterococci were carried out on the fish farm wastewater in two sampling periods: autumn and spring. The results showed that H. perlevis is able to filter and remove all the considered bacterial groups from the wastewater, including human potential pathogens, in both sampling periods. This finding sustains the hypothesis of H. perlevis use as a bioremediator in land-based aquaculture plants as well.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a dermatological condition characterized by nodular hyperkeratotic lesions mainly on the legs and arms. Asymmetrical PN is a rare dermatological condition often associated with paralysis and stroke. In this paper, we present the case of a 77-year-old woman who developed post-ictal PN which responded to dupilumab, an anti-interleukin-4/13 drug approved for the management of AD, with an extreme reduction in itch sensation. Dupilumab and other therapies reducing Th2 inflammation may, in the future, become an alternative treatment for post-ictal pruritus/PN nonresponding to traditional therapies. Of course, larger studies will be necessary to confirm our case’s findings.

Background and objectives: Facial telangiectasias are dilated blood vessels that can represent a cosmetic issue for patients. They may be associated with other conditions, such as rosacea. Laser and light treatments are nowadays becoming a cornerstone in the management of these lesions. Materials and Methods: In total, 68 patients seeking medical treatment for facial telangiectasias were enrolled from 1 March 2019 to 1 March 2020 at the Dermatological Unit of Magna Graecia University (Catanzaro, Italy). A protocol consisting of a 1064 Nd:YAG laser for darker blue telangiectasias and 532 nm Nd:YAG for red lesions followed by intense pulsed light with an optimized spectrum for vascular lesion 3 weeks after the first procedure was proposed. A three-month follow-up visit assessed patient’s satisfaction using a visual analog scale (VAS). Two dermatologists measured clinical results using a 4-point scale, comparing pictures before treatment and at follow-up. Results: A total of 68 patients (32 males and 36 females) completed the study, performing all requested treatments. No severe side effects were reported. Patient satisfaction was very high (8.15 ± 1.05 out of a 10-point VAS scale), as well as dermatologists’ clinical evaluations (2.19 ± 0.74 out of 3). Conclusions: The combination of vascular lasers and Vascular Intense Pulsed Light acting specifically on small blood vessels may help to improve the aesthetic outcome, reducing side effects. A prospective study with a larger number of participants will be necessary to confirm this study’s findings.

The results of an ex-ante survey aiming to assess the impact of a fish farm in the Mar Grande of Taranto (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) on the surrounding environment are reported. There, the implementation of an innovative IMTA plant was planned, with the goals of environment bioremediation and commercially exploitable biomass production. Analyses were conducted in February and July 2018. Both seawater and sediments were sampled at the four corners of the fish farm to detect the existing biological and physico-chemical features. The investigation was performed to identify the best area of the farming plant for positioning the bioremediating system, but also to obtain a data baseline, to compare to the environmental status after the bioremediating action. Data were also analyzed by canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP). All the measurements, in particular, microbiology and macrobenthic community characterization using AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and the Multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) indices, suggest that the effect of fish farm waste was concentrated and limited to a small portion of the investigated area in relation to the direction of the main current. A site named A3, which was found to be the most impacted by the aquaculture activities, especially during the summer season, was chosen to place the bioremediation system.

A large part of the world’s population suffers from Striae distensae (SD) or stretch marks, which create physical and psychological discomfort in people. We evaluate the SD clinical improvement by using a non-ablative fractional Nd:YAP 1340 nm laser. The research was performed on 25 patients of both sexes, with a mean age of 31 ± 13.09 years. Each patient underwent from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 4 treatments, with an Nd:YAP (1340 nm) medical device, every four weeks, with 3- and 6-month follow-up, in these areas: back, abdomen, breast, flanks, lower limbs, buttocks, and thighs. Manchester Scar Scale assessed stretch marks improvement. Side effects, patient pain, and SD overall appearance improvement were also recorded for all patients. Digital photographs measured the aesthetic results. Treatment was well-tolerated (pain score 1.08 ± 0.76) by all patients. There were no long-term side effects, and 88% of patients revealed an SD excellent improvement showing good aesthetic results achieved by the treatment. The total mean pretreatment Manchester Scar Scale score decreased from 13.80 (±1.58) to 10.36 (±1.70) after 3 months (p < 0.01) and to 8.36 (±1.07) after 6 months (p < 0.01). An Nd:YAP (1340 nm) laser seems to be a safe and effective treatment, showing a higher security profile with no side effects.

Background: The most frequent inflammatory skin diseases are psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and acne. Their management is challenging for dermatologists since their relapsing chronic clinical course is associated with a great impact on quality of life. Nevertheless, the recent introduction of novel therapies, such as biological drugs and small molecules has been changing the history of these diseases. Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature of case reports, case series, epidemiological studies, reviews, and systematic reviews regarding teledermatology and inflammatory skin disease. Studies were identified, screened, and extracted for relevant data following the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines. Results: A total of 69 cases articles were included in the review. Conclusions: As we have shown in the review, several experiences of teledermatology for patients affected by inflammatory skin diseases have been demonstrated to increase due to clinical access to hospital and specialized health care services, allowing better access to specialized dermatology care for people living in remote areas, and saving costs and money with health care.

COVID Vaccine Arm (CVA) is an adverse drug reaction from mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. CVA is characterized by erythema and edema on the vaccination site (usually deltoid area) that appears from 5 to 10 days after vaccination and is sometimes associated with itching or pain. The exact etiology of CVA is still unclear, but delayed hypersensitivity against an excipient seems to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. This work performs a systematic literature review on CVA using three different databases containing articles published until 10 November 2021. The literature review includes eight papers reporting single cases or case series of CVA. Moreover, it also addresses, other cutaneous reactions following COVID 19 vaccinations as well as possible differential diagnosis. CVA migrans-like erythema is characterized by a ring-shaped rash in the injection area, which appears some days after the injection and disappears in about 10 days. This reaction may appear more rapidly in subsequent doses.

Human pressures on marine ecosystems have caused extensive degradation of marine habitats and several local extinctions. Overexploitation and destructive fishing practices are responsible for biodiversity loss in many coastal ecosystems. The definition of conservation programs in marine fish requires comprehensive knowledge on large-scale geographical distribution, while considering distribution/abundance patterns in relation to key environmental variables. Due to their life-cycle traits, the two European seahorses (Hippocampus guttulatus and H. hippocampus), as with other congeneric species, are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic activities and habitat changes. However, information on the ecological distribution of these two species is scattered, patchy, and mainly focused on small-scale studies. In this paper, we followed an international standard protocol for systematic reviews (the PRISMA protocol) to provide a detailed assessment of the two species’ geographical distribution in relation to the environmental characteristics. According to the 134 analyzed studies, Hippocampus guttulatus is more common in confined areas, while H. hippocampus is found in marine shelf waters. With several interspecific differences, seagrasses were the most used holdfasts of both species. The EUNIS codes (European nature information system) referring to a specific and unique habitat were discussed as a potential tool for defining the ecological distribution of the two species. The obtained results and their future implementation could help plan conservation actions.

(1) Background: Colchicine is a natural alkaloid with anti-inflammatory properties used to treat various disorders, including some skin diseases. This paper aims to incorporate all the available studies proposing colchicine as a treatment alternative in the management of cutaneous conditions. (2) Methods: In this systematic review, the available articles present in various databases (PubMed, Scopus-Embase, and Web of Science), proposing colchicine as a treatment for cutaneous pathological conditions, have been selected. Exclusion criteria included a non-English language and non-human studies. (3) Results: Ninety-six studies were included. Most of them were case reports and case series studies describing colchicine as single therapy, or in combination with other drugs. Hidradenitis suppurativa, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum, erythema induratum, storage diseases, perforating dermatosis, bullous diseases, psoriasis, vasculitis, acne, urticaria, stomatitis, actinic keratosis, and pustular dermatosis were the main diseases discussed in literature. Although the therapeutic outcomes were variable, most of the studies reported, on average, good clinical results (4) Conclusions: Colchicine could be, as a single therapy or in combination with other drugs, a possible treatment to manage several skin diseases.

Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease which predominately affects children and usually clears up during infancy or childhood. However, AD may persist with a chronic relapsing course until adulthood or develop at a later age. AD treatment can often be complicated. Treating moderate-to-severe AD can be challenging: only a few therapeutic options are available, with cyclosporine being the only approved and labeled systemic drug. In the last few years, advances in the knowledge of AD pathogenesis have been made that can provide the basis for developing new topical and systemic drugs. Among them, biologic drugs targeting specific cytokines involved in the development of the disease will probably revolutionize AD therapy. Currently, dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to the shared alpha chain subunit of the receptors for IL-4 and IL-13, is the only biologic drug licensed for the treatment of AD in adults. However, other biologic drugs that selectively target some key cytokines in AD pathogenesis (IL-13, IL-31, and IL-22) are also being studied. In this review, we discuss all of the biologic drugs that have been studied for AD treatment.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) is an evolutionary transcription factor which acts as a crucial sensor of different exogenous and endogenous molecules Recent data indicate that AhR is implicated in several physiological processes such as cell physiology, host defense, proliferation and differentiation of immune cells, and detoxification. Moreover, AhR involvement has been reported in the development and maintenance of several pathological conditions. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have accumulated highlighting the regulatory role of AhR in the physiology of the skin. However, there is evidence of both beneficial and harmful effects of AHR signaling. At present, most of the evidence concerns inflammatory skin diseases, in particular atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa. This review exam-ines the role of AhR in skin homeostasis and the therapeutic implication of its pharmacological modulation in these cutaneous inflammatory diseases.

The management of patients with aortic disease that involves the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending aorta represent a surgical challenge. Open surgical repair remains the gold standard for aortic arch pathologies. However, this operation requires a cardiopulmonary bypass and a period of profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest, which carries a substantial rate of mortality and morbidity. For these reasons, hybrid arch repair that involves a combination of open surgery with endovascular aortic stent graft placement has been introduced as a therapeutic alternative for those patients deemed unfit for open surgical procedures. Hybrid repair requires varying degrees of invasiveness and can be performed as a single-stage procedure or as a two-stage procedure. The choice of the technique is multifactorial, depending on the characteristics of the diseased arch with regard to position of the stent graft proximal landing zone, patient fitness and comorbid status, as well as surgical expertise and hospital facilities. Among the evolving hybrid procedures is the so-called “frozen” or stented elephant trunk technique. Adapted from the classical elephant trunk technique, this approach facilitates the repair of a concomitant aortic arch and proximal descending aortic aneurysms in a single stage under circulatory arrest. This technique is increasingly being used to treat extensive thoracic aortic disease and has shown promising results.

Background and Aims: Vitamin D counteracts the reduction in the peripheral conversion of tiroxine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3), which is the mechanism of low T3 syndrome (LT3) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between LT3 and hypovitaminosis D in AMI patients. Methods and Results: One hundred and twenty-four AMI patients were enrolled. Blood samples were taken at admission, and at 3, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after admission. LT3 was defined as a value of fT3 ≤ 2.2 pg/mL, occurring within 3 days of hospital admission. Levels were defined as follows: sufficiency as a value of ±30 ng/mL, vitamin D insufficiency as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) between 21 and 29 ng/mL, deficiency in 25(OH)D as below 20 ng/mL, and severe deficiency as values under 10 ng/mL. The percentage of subjects with severe 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly higher in the LT3 group (33% vs. 13%, p < 0.01). When LT3S was evaluated as a dependent variable, severe 25(OH)D deficiency (OR 2.6: 95%CI 1–6.7, p < 0.05) remained as an independent determinant after logistic multivariate adjustment together with age (>69 yrs, 50th percentile; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–8.3, p < 0.01), but not female gender (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.7–4.2, p = ns). Conclusions: This pilot study shows a relationship between hypovitaminosis D and LT3 in AMI patients. This association opens potential therapeutic challenges concerning the restoration of euthyroidism through vitamin D administration, together with the normalization of hypovitaminosis.

(1) Introduction: The Erbium laser is a very versatile laser system used in dermatology. Its ability to be almost selectively absorbed by water makes it a perfect device for managing various cutaneous skin conditions. (2) Methods: In this paper, we report our twenty-five years’ experience with the Erbium laser. More than three thousand patients were treated for common skin disorders such as flat warts, seborrheic keratosis, xanthelasmas, and scars. (3) Results: A complete response was observed in 89.6%, without significant side effects. Local anesthesia was used in only a tiny percentage of patients. (4) Conclusions: This study confirms that the Erbium laser is a valuable and flexible procedure for laser surgery with excellent safety and short healing times.

Confined marine environments are particularly susceptible to climate change and anthropic pressures. Indeed, the long-term monitoring of benthic assemblages in these environments allows us to understand the direction of changes over time. The demosponge Geodia cydonium is a suitable study case, since it is widely represented in many Mediterranean environments, while being a long-living and important habitat-forming species. Here, we report the results of a descriptive study on temporal and spatial variations of this demosponge in three semi-enclosed environments along the Italian coast: Marsala Lagoon, Porto Cesareo Bay, and Mar Piccolo of Taranto. At Marsala and Porto Cesareo, the study compares the present data with those reported by the literature at the end of the 1990s. Caused by the modification of its preferential habitats, the data indicated the loss and a remarkable regression of this species at Porto Cesareo and Marsala, respectively. In addition, we hypothesized that the increase in severe weather phenomena in the small Bay of Porto Cesareo recorded during the last 20 years may have had a marked impact on water mass, thus affecting the sponge assemblages. At Taranto, despite a remarkable environmental degradation, G. cydonium has appeared stable and persistent in the last 45 years, thus representing one of the richest and most well-preserved populations in the Mediterranean Sea.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.To assess long-term risk of local tumor regrowth, we report updated organ preservation rate and oncologic outcomes of the OPRA trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02008656). Patients with stage II/III rectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation (INCT-CRT) or chemoradiation followed by consolidation chemotherapy (CRT-CNCT). Patients who achieved a complete or near-complete response after finishing treatment were offered watch-and-wait (WW). Total mesorectal excision (TME) was recommended for those who achieved an incomplete response. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary end point was TME-free survival. In total, 324 patients were randomly assigned (INCT-CRT, n = 158; CRT-CNCT, n = 166). Median follow-up was 5.1 years. The 5-year DFS rates were 71% (95% CI, 64 to 79) and 69% (95% CI, 62 to 77) for INCT-CRT and CRT-CNCT, respectively (P = .68). TME-free survival was 39% (95% CI, 32 to 48) in the INCT-CRT group and 54% (95% CI, 46 to 62) in the CRT-CNCT group (P = .012). Of 81 patients with regrowth, 94% occurred within 2 years and 99% occurred within 3 years. DFS was similar for patients who underwent TME after restaging (64% [95% CI, 53 to 78]) and patients in WW who underwent TME after regrowth (64% [95% CI, 53 to 78]; P = .94). Updated analysis continues to show long-term organ preservation in half of the patients with rectal cancer treated with total neoadjuvant therapy. In patients who enter WW, most cases of tumor regrowth occur in the first 2 years.

Background: Tattoo removal is becoming increasingly popular, and Q-switched lasers represent the gold standard in the treatment of this condition. In this study, we report our experience with a new Q-switched picosecond laser device, evaluating its effectiveness and safety. Methods: A total of 34 patients asking for tattoo removal were consecutively enrolled in this open study. The clinicians decided on operating settings based on the Fitzpatrick phototype, the type of tattoo, and the tattoo location. A maximum of seven sessions, with a minimum interval of eight weeks between each session, were performed. At the six month follow-up visit following the last treatment session, patient satisfaction was assessed using a visual analogue scale and two dermatologists evaluated the aesthetic outcome based on pictures taken before and after treatment. Results: A total of 34 patients were included and analyzed: 17 females (50%) and 17 males (50%). The mean patient age was 43.6 ± 11 years. Participants’ Fitzpatrick skin type ranged from II to IV. The mean number of treatment sessions performed was 3.3 ± 2.0 per patient. Over 40% of patients showed complete removal of the tattoo, with most of the patients indicating satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusions: The Q-switched 1064/532 nm laser may be considered the gold standard treatment for tattoo removal. Picosecond pulses seem to guarantee fewer sessions and excellent results when compared to other laser systems in tattoo removal.

Sabellaria species are among the most important frame-builders in temperate, shallow marine areas. These polychaetes are suspension feeders able to build bioconstructions using sand and shell fragments cemented with a sticky mucous. Such feature makes these invertebrates “unusual bioconstructors”, as they do not produce calcium carbonate. Sabellaridae reefs are widespread in the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coast of Europe, but their sedimentological aspects are still poorly known. Over short time intervals, these bioconstructions can rapidly alternate between phases of growth, stasis and destruction during different seasons. In this paper, we compare reefs of two Sabellaria species (S. alveolata—Ostia, Roma and Tyrrhenian Sea; S. spinulosa—Torre Mileto, Foggia and Adriatic Sea) found at two different sites along the Italian coast. We describe the morphology of worm tubes at the macro- and microscale. Similarities and differences are discussed based on eco-biological features and physical environmental conditions. This work shows a measurement and observation scheme for this type of bioconstructions that has been verified at both the macro- and microscale and which was shown to be useful for defining evolutionary trends of sabellarian bioconstructions. The monitoring parameters were identified and verified over a long period.

Morphological and functional skin alterations secondary to the action of ionizing radiation are well documented. In addition to its application in the medical field, ionizing radiation represents a public health problem for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes due to the potential risk of exposure to unexpected events, such as nuclear accidents or malicious acts. With regard to the use of ionizing radiations in the medical field, today, they constitute a fundamental therapeutic method for various neoplastic pathologies. Therefore, the onset of adverse skin events induced by radiation represents a widespread and not negligible problem, affecting 95% of patients undergoing radiotherapy. A systematic literature search was performed from July 2021 up to August 2021 using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Articles were screened by title, abstract and full text as needed. A manual search among the references of the included papers was also performed. This systematic review describes the various skin reactions that can arise following exposure to ionizing radiation and which significantly impact the quality of life, especially in cancer patients.

The stroma is a relevant player in driving and supporting the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and a large body of evidence highlights its role in hindering the efficacy of current therapies. In fact, the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) characterizing this tumor acts as a natural physical barrier, impairing drug penetration. Consequently, all of the approaches combining stroma-targeting and anticancer therapy constitute an appealing option for improving drug penetration. Several strategies have been adopted in order to target the PDAC stroma, such as the depletion of ECM components and the targeting of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are responsible for the increased matrix deposition in cancer. Additionally, the leaky and collapsing blood vessels characterizing the tumor might be normalized, thus restoring blood perfusion and allowing drug penetration. Even though many stroma-targeting strategies have reported disappointing results in clinical trials, the ECM offers a wide range of potential therapeutic targets that are now being investigated. The dense ECM might be bypassed by implementing nanoparticle-based systems or by using mesenchymal stem cells as drug carriers. The present review aims to provide an overview of the principal mechanisms involved in the ECM remodeling and of new promising therapeutic strategies for PDAC.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a popular legume crop in the Mediterranean region, widely grown for its nutritious seeds and improving soil fertility. Lentil yield is a critical and challenging trait for crop genetic improvement because it is influenced by various factors that have detrimental effects on seed yields and seed quality traits. This research was carried out in Italy between 2017 and 2019 to identify high-performing stable genotypes presenting multiple desirable traits and to assess the seed quality of 13 lentil accessions in the field. According to the results of the multi-trait stability index (MTSI), (1) only three accessions (Altamura, Easton, and Caltagirone) fared better in various environmental conditions, and (2) the selected accessions had strength toward seed yield (SY), above-ground biomass (AGB), and 1000-seed weight (THS). The genotype × environment interaction (GEI) effects were highly significant for all traits. During the third growing season, most lentil accessions were sensitive to frost. There was no correlation between lentil seed yield and protein concentration. The MTSI is a useful tool for breeders interested in selecting accessions based on their mean performance and stability, as well as desirable traits and minimum multicollinearity issues.

Seahorses are considered a flagship species for conservation efforts and due to their conservation status, improving knowledge on their dietary composition while applying a non-invasive approach, could be useful. Using Hippocampus guttulatus as a case study, the present study represents pioneering research into investigating the diet of seahorses by NGS-based DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples. The study developed and tested the protocol for fecal DNA metabarcoding during the feeding trials where captive seahorses were fed on a diet of known composition; the process was subsequently applied on fecal samples collected from wild individuals. The analysis of samples collected during the feeding trials indicated the reliability of the applied molecular approach by allowing the characterization of the effectively ingested prey. In the field study, among detected prey species, results revealed that the majority of the seahorse samples contained taxa such as Amphipoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, and Calanoida, while less common prey taxa were Gastropoda and Polyplacophora. As only a small amount of starting fecal material is needed and the sampling procedure is neither invasive nor lethal. The present study indicates DNA metabarcoding as useful for investigating seahorse diet and could help define management and conservation actions.

Background: Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute cutaneous eruption often associated with infections and more rarely with drugs. This review aimed to evaluate the association between erythema multiforme and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scimago Scopus, and ISI/Web of Science was performed. Original articles, case series, or case reports were evaluated and selected. Results: Fourteen articles were selected, describing a total of 70 patients. EM is a cutaneous eruption rarely occurring in COVID-19 and is, in most cases, associated with a hypersensitivity reaction to the virus. In these cases, EM seems to affect patients younger than 30 years or older than 55 years. Infrequently, some drugs used in the management of COVID-19 may induce EM, especially hydroxychloroquine. The three groups of patients seem to have different clinical characteristics and courses. Conclusions: From these data, it is possible to preliminarily propose that EM or EM-like eruptions linked to COVID-19 might be divided into three types: the virus-related juvenile type (affecting patients 55 years), and the drug-induced type. The occurrence of a skin rash does not seem to be related to the severity and clinical course of COVID-19.