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The expected bioremediation effect, driven by the conversion of an inshore mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, which could mitigate the fish farm impact, related to the accumulation of organic matter on the seabed, has been studied. The ecological quality status was studied following a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design and variation measured through M-AMBI and compared with the results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance, to evaluate the sensitivity of the two methodologies. Results from M-AMBI indicated a sharp change in the ecological quality status, just after one year of the conversion of the plant. By contrast, although changes were detected also utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, the natural temporal variability characterizing the area partially masked evidence of environmental amelioration.

The Taranto Seas of Italy, considered a hotspot of nonindigenous species (NIS) diversity, are also among the best locales in the Mediterranean to study marine fouling communities. This environment is an ideal space to study how artificial structures are utilised by NIS for further dispersion into the surrounding environment after their initial introduction. In the present study, the fouling communities found on several types of substrates (including small artificial, mobile structures and more stable, larger structures) in a quiet enclosed part of the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea) were analysed and compared in terms of the contribution of NIS. The assemblages differed according to the age and size of the substrate, but also according to the depth and distance from a possible source of organic enrichment. As expected, NIS were abundant, especially on small ephemeral substrates, with a high number of pioneer species; by contrast, very few NIS were found on less transient substrates, which were dominated by macroalgae. This work highlights that substrate type is an important predictor of the types of NIS present, even in environments considered to be particularly vulnerable to biological invasions, such as ports and other confined environments subject to elevated human pressure.

Fouling assemblage colonizing fish-farms is considered mostly to produce negative impacts causing financial loss. By contrast, large evidences emerged on the bioremediation role by biofouling associated to aquaculture facilities, even if the fouling assemblages thriving in the water column was poorly investigated. The aim of the present work was to investigate the macrofouling assemblages over one year of immersion, in order to single out the fouling species, which play the most remarkable role for the bioremediation of the marine areas affected by aquaculture activities. With this in mind, we studied the fouling community dynamics in two Mediterranean maricultural facilities, respectively in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea) and in the Gulf of Gaeta (Tyrrhenian Sea), using the same experimental design and time frame. Two experiments were carried out using artificial panels anchored to two finfish cages. The one-year old fouling communities in the two sites were compared at four seasons of immersion, four submersion durations and three depths, both communities from structural and functional points of view. Notwithstanding the quite similar species composition of fouling of the two sites, the biofouling showed the highest biodiversity in the Mar Grande of Taranto. In the Gulf of Gaeta mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, dominated at all the times and depths, whilst in the Mar Grande of Taranto they were especially abundant at the surface with the deepest panels being largely colonized by polychaete sabellids. The co-occurrence of the filter-feeders Mytilus-sabellids recorded in the Gulf of Taranto also highlighted the highest filtration capability. Our results suggest two different fouling assemblages as candidates for bioremediation in integrated multitrophic aquaculture facilities: both a monospecific system dominated by mussels and a multi-specific system with sabellids and mussels as most abundant filter-feeders.

Background We evaluated two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography longitudinal strain (L2DSE) in functionally single left ventricles (LV). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 21 patients with functionally single LV. We divided patients into two groups according to pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization data: group 1, adequate data for Fontan procedure and group 2, inadequate data. Results LV strain correlated with predicted pressure in the Fontan system (r = 0.64; P = 0.003), pressure in the Glenn system (r = 0.57; P = 0.010), and transpulmonary gradient (r = 0.59; P = 0.008), but not with left atrial pressure (r = 0.292; P = 0.226) or ejection fraction (r = 0.254; P = 0.294). In multiple regression analysis, four-chamber LV strain was correlated with predicted pressure in the Fontan (β = 0.642: P = 0.003), whereas no association was found with LV ejection fraction (β = 0.254; P = 0.294), or time from Glenn palliation (β = 0.082; P = 0.893). When dividing the population into two groups according to catheterization data, significantly lower four-chamber longitudinal 2DSE (-25.8 ± 3.2 vs.-19.5 ± 5.1; P = 0.004) was found to be not suitable for the Fontan procedure, as compared with those who underwent successful Fontan completion. Conclusion Regardless of ejection fraction, four-chamber L2DSE is associated with high predicted pressure in the Fontan system. Patients with hemodynamic data unsuitable for Fontan operation have significantly lower mean longitudinal strain parameters. 2DSE may represent a valuable tool in assessing patients with single LV physiology and might provide useful pre-Fontan information.

Background. Surgical treatment of isolated pulmonary valve stenosis in infants and children has evolved over the years, shifting from the original exclusive aim at lowering right ventricle pressure to the current concomitant focus on preserving pulmonary valve function. In our study, we sought to analyze the effect of such evolving philosophy on mid-term results.Methods. 123 consecutive patients were treated in our center between 07/1983 and 03/2019. Mean age and weight were 3.0 ± 0.36 years and 16.6 ± 1.7 kg, respectively. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the onset of sparing valve techniques (1995). Short- and long-term mortality, freedom from reintervention on the right outflow tract, transvalvular mean pressure gradient decrease and pulmonary valve insufficiency were analyzed.Results. Early mortality occurred exclusively before 1995 (Group 1, 3.76%, p=ns). Transvalvular mean pressure gradient decreased in the entire patient population (from 63.28 ± 12.9 mmHg to 16.46 ± 7.9 mmHg), but right outflow tract reintervention rate was greater in Group 1 (14.10% vs 2.3%, p = 0.04). At a mean follow-up interval of 4.9 ± 33 years, pulmonary valve insufficiency was severe in 2.47% of patients in Group 1, whereas it was mild to moderate in 33.3% of patients in Group 2, the latter having undergone unsuccessful percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty prior to surgery in the vast majority of cases (14/20 vs 6/22, p=0.023).Conclusions. Current pulmonary valve sparing techniques are associated with better results, both in terms of survival and freedom from re-intervention at follow-up. Balloon valvuloplasty prior to surgery may worsen operative results, promoting pulmonary insufficiency and therefore should probably be avoided in all patients in whom anatomical characteristics predict failure of percutaneous therapy.

The family Syllidae, aside from representing the most species-rich family in Annelida, is characterized by a number of sexual and asexual reproductive strategies. With the exception of a few viviparous species, the subfamily Syllinae is characterized by schizogamous reproduction with pelagic larval stages and without parental care. Laboratory rearing of ripe specimens ofSyllis roseashowed a different reproductive strategy, hitherto unknown in this subfamily. While male stolons rapidly degenerated after fertilization, female ones released large eggs in a gelatinous cluster attached to the middle-posterior chaetigers. The gel mass progressively compacted as a cocoon wrapped by the stolon body; 7 days after the deposition the larvae hatched out from the cocoon at the metatrochophore stage and the female stolon died after a few days. After hatching the larvae remained associated to the stolon, and young specimens ofS. roseasurvived up to the 3-chaetiger stage. Until now cocoon brooding by the stolon has only been reported for some Autolytinae. The production of gelatinous egg masses and parental care are known in basally branching clades within Syllidae, suggesting that this reproduction mode might retain some ancestral features. The scarce knowledge about reproductive cycles in Syllinae does not allow clarification whether this strategy is unique forS. rosea, or it occurs in other congeneric species. Further research is needed to understand possible relationships between sexual reproduction and phylogeny, stolon morphology and its adaptation to parental care, and ultimately between reproductive strategies and ecology.

Non-indigenous species (NIS) represent one of the most relevant threats to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and human activities, and their occurrence and spread have been the subject of numerous works and revisions. However, the information available is rather confused for several taxa, including polychaetes, which are characterised by having a high number of cryptogenic and questionable species. This work aims at providing a revised checklist of alien polychaetes occurring along the coasts of Italy, based on the examination of newly collected and deposited material and on the critical analysis of published and gray literature, and whenever possible on the re-examination of historical material. Of the 86 polychaete species reported as NIS in Italian waters, 25 are confirmed as alien species, while 3 are cryptogenic, and 40 should be considered questionable. Finally, 18 species were excluded from non-indigenous species checklists, either because they are native, or because they represent misidentifications of other species. The high number of cryptogenic and questionable species points at the need of molecular studies and taxonomic revisions for the majority of polychaete taxa reported as NIS, in order to clarify their taxonomy, origin, introduction pathways and spreading patterns.

The Taranto Seas of Italy, considered a hotspot of nonindigenous species (NIS) diversity, are also among the best locales in the Mediterranean to study marine fouling communities. This environment is an ideal space to study how artificial structures are utilised by NIS for further dispersion into the surrounding environment after their initial introduction. In the present study, the fouling communities found on several types of substrates (including small artificial, mobile structures and more stable, larger structures) in a quiet enclosed part of the Mar Grande of Taranto (Ionian Sea) were analysed and compared in terms of the contribution of NIS. The assemblages differed according to the age and size of the substrate, but also according to the depth and distance from a possible source of organic enrichment. As expected, NIS were abundant, especially on small ephemeral substrates, with a high number of pioneer species; by contrast, very few NIS were found on less transient substrates, which were dominated by macroalgae. This work highlights that substrate type is an important predictor of the types of NIS present, even in environments considered to be particularly vulnerable to biological invasions, such as ports and other confined environments subject to elevated human pressure.

Right ventricular (RV) evaluation represents one of the major clinical tasks in the follow-up of repaired tetralogy of Fallot patients (rToF) with pulmonary valve regurgitation, as both severe RV dilatation and dysfunction are key factors in defining the need of pulmonary valve replacement. The aim of our study was to report the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography in the identification of rToF patients with severely dilated and/or depressed RV as compared to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Among our patients with rToF, a subgroup of 95 (17.6 ± 6.8 years; 60% male), who underwent right ventricular qualitative and quantitative evaluation with CMR following echocardiographic suspicion of severe dilation/dysfunction, were included in the analysis. When comparing echocardiographic RV functional parameters to CMR findings, we found no association between CMR-ejection fraction (EF) and either tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSe) nor tissue Doppler systolic tricuspid excursion velocity (all p = ns). In contrast RVFAC was strongly associated with CMR-EF (r = 0.44; p