Search

The authors regret the incorrect publication of legend for Table 1 and Table 3 in black/white in the original article. The complete legend for Table 1 and Table 3 with colours, indicating degree of significance, are presented below.

Presentazione fatta da V. Catania a Innovabiomed 2021.

Nutritional and environmental factors had been reporting in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we focused our intervention in the correlation between the folate status and the progression of HCC in patients with chronic virus C (HCV) infection. Nine-eight patients, HCV positive with HCC and one hundred of patients with HCV positive liver cirrhosis (LC) and one hundred patients with HCV positive chronic hepatitis (CHC) and one hundred control subjects were enrolled. The viremia for hepatitis C patients (HCV) was determined by HCV RNA with polymerase chain reaction. HCV was confirmed by HCV RNA or a positive anti-HCV test with chronic liver disease. The comparison of folate serum levels in HCC patients vs Liver Cirrhosis (LC) patients showed a significant decrease of 1.16 ng/ml P = 0.0006 (95% CI-1.925 to − 0.395), in HCC patients versus CHC a decrease of 1.40 ng/ml P P P P P

La betulla dell’Etna (Betula aetnensis Rafin), è una delle specie arboree che durante le ultime glaciazioni si è spinta verso sud e dove oggi costituisce popolazioni pressoché relitte localizzate esclusivamente in Sicilia sulla sommità dell’Etna. I betulleti sono presenti sui versanti orientali ed occidentali dell’Etna, ad un’altitudine compresa tra 1.400 e 2.000 m s.l.m. Si tratta di popolamenti pionieri che colonizzano substrati vulcanici inalterati e/o poco evoluti dove costituiscono a volte dei piccoli boschi puri o misti a pino laricio. Questi boschi in passato erano sottoposti a ceduazioni, che dal 1987 non sono state più eseguite a seguito della istituzione del Parco Regionale dell’Etna. Negli ultimi anni è stato osservato un progressivo declino della specie reso evidente dalla limitata presenza di rinnovazione naturale e dall’incremento di processi di deperimento a carico delle piante adulte. Molti popolamenti risultano infatti attaccati da patogeni fungini (ad esempio del genere Heterobasidion e Armillaria) che ne stanno causando la sparizione. In ragione del notevole interesse scientifico e biogeografico di Betula aetnensis, e considerando le crescenti minacce che la caratterizzano, è stata avviata una indagine multidisciplinare per studiare diversi aspetti. dell’ecologia della specie, ivi compreso l’entità ed il ruolo delle simbiosi micorriziche e tenendo in considerazione anche i rischi per la conservazione della Betulla, tra i quali i cambiamenti climatici. È noto, infatti, che i funghi micorrizici possono avere molteplici effetti positivi sulla crescita di specie minacciate, sulla produttività, e sul loro stato di salute. Tuttavia lo stato delle simbiosi micorriziche della Betulla dell’Etna, e della maggior parte delle specie minacciate, non è stato ad oggi valutato. Obiettivo del presente lavoro è stato quello di valutare il grado di deperimento dei betulleti, le interazioni della betulla con i funghi simbionti (endomicorrize ed ectomicorrize), e verificare se realmente i cambiamenti climatici incidano sulla crescita e la sopravvivenza della pianta. Le aree di saggio in cui sono presenti popolamenti puri di betulla o mista al pino laricio e in buone condizioni sono state confrontate con aree con evidenti effetti del declino. Il rilievo della rinnovazione in ciascuna area di studio ha evidenziato la totale mancanza di rinnovazione nei substrati più alterati confermando il ruolo pioniero della specie, Il campionamento dendrocronologico ha fornito informazioni sull’età delle piante, sulla dinamica degli accrescimenti e la sensibilità delle betulle ai fattori climatici quali le piogge e le temperature. Etna birch (Betula aetnensis Rafin) is one of the tree species that during the last glaciations has moved southward, where currently it establishes populations that can be considered relicts because they are present exclusively on the summit of Etna Mount. Etna birch stands are present on the eastern and western slopes of Etna, at an altitude between 1,400 and 2,000 m a.s.l.. These are pioneer populations that colonize unaltered and/or poorly developed volcanic substrates where they establishes small, pure or mixed stands together with Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica (Loud.) A.E. Murray. In the past, such woods were subject to coppice management, but only until 1987, following the establishment of the Etna Regional Park. In recent years, a progressive decline in Etna birch natural populations has been observed, resulting evident from the limited occurrence of natural regeneration and from the increase in decay processes of adult plants. Many natural populations are attacked by fungal pathogens (for example of the genus Heterobasidion and Armillaria) that are causing their disappearance. Due to the remarkable scientific and biogeographical interest of Betula aetnensis, and considering the growing threats that characterize it, a multidisciplinary investigation has been launched to study various aspects of the ecology of the species, including the extent and role of mycorrhizal symbioses, and taking into account also the risks for the conservation of the species, among which also climatic change. In fact, it is well known that mycorrhizal fungi can have multiple positive effects on the growth of endangered species, on their productivity, as well as on plant health. However, up to now the mycorrhizal status of Etna birch, and that of most of threatened species, has not yet been evaluated. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the degree of decay of Betula aetnensis, its interactions with symbiotic fungi (endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae), and to verify whether or not climatic change actually affects the plant growth and survival. The study areas in which pure birch or mixed stands with Calabrian pine are in good conditions have been compared to areas with clear effects of decay. The survey of the regeneration in each study area showed the total lack of regeneration in the most altered substrates, confirming the strong pioneer role of the species. The dendrochronological sampling provided information on plant age, growth dynamics and the sensitivity of birches to climate factors such as rainfall and temperatures.

Nel progetto la costruzione di modelli di sviluppo aziendale che adottano tecniche e misure di adattamento capaci di preparare le aree più a rischio.

Betula aetnensis Raf. is an endemic tree species of particular conservation value. It only thrives in the north-eastern slopes of Mount Etna (Sicily), from 1200 to 2100 m a.s.l. This pioneer plant is able to begin primary succession on nutrient-poor and water-limited soils (C = 0.17%; N = 0.05 ‰; P2O5 = 4.1 ppm), where beneficial mycorrhizal fungi (MF) may play a crucial role. In order to investigate MF role in B. aetnensis, plant roots from natural sites and nursery grown specimens were analyzed for both ectomycorrhizal and endomycorrhizal structures. Typical structures of both symbiosis were detected by root staining and morphological observations. Ectomycorrhizae (EM) were more abundant in natural sites (≈88%) than in nursery (≈77%). Clear morphological differences in the EM root tips suggest the occurrence of different fungal species. About 50% of roots had arbuscular structures, both in natural habitats and nursery. The community structure of EM and AM fungal symbionts was characterized by DGGE analysis. Mycorrhizal dependence trials are in progress to elucidate the relative importance of ectoand endomycorrhizal symbionts for this endemism, whose conservation could be strongly linked to mutualistic associations established at root level.

The gastropod Dendropoma cristatum is a biogenic engineer of the central Mediterranean, forming reefs along the lower rocky intertidal fringe with a remarkable ecological role. To understand whether reef-associated biofilm cultivable bacterial and biofilm ageing may trigger the settlement of the juvenile snails, a combination of laboratory techniques and field experiments was used. Reef-associated biofilm cultivable bacteria were isolated, and a settlement-choice experiment was performed in situ on artificial biofilms composed of i) a mixture of six biofilm-forming selected isolates, ii) all the cultivable bacteria, and iii) 13-, 23-, 32-day old biofilms formed under naturalconditions. Overall,settlement ratesignificantlydifferedamong biofilmtreatments(p < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation between biofilm ageing and juvenile D. cristatum settlement was assessed (r=0.69 (p < 0.001), whereas the biofilm bacterial composition (relatively to the cultivable fraction) did not show any effect on the vermetid's settlement rate.

The mechanism for hypercoagulability in malignancy is not entirely understood. Although several studies report contrasting finding about the link between elevated plasma levels of the lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and the possible recurrence of venous thromboembolism, we perform a study to evaluate the impact of the Lp(a) in the development of portal vein thromboembolism (PVT) in patients with HCC. We compared 44 PVT patients with 50 healthy subjects and 50 HCC patients. The comparison between PVT patients and HCC showed in the former the mean value of serum lipoprotein levels was higher than 37.3 mg/dl (p = 0.000). The comparison between PVT versus healthy controls showed that in the former, mean value of serum lipoprotein levels was higher than 75 mg/dl (p = 0.000). The predictive value test of serum lipoprotein(a) on PVT was 0.72 and on HCC was 0.83. The odds ratio of lipoprotein(a) was 9.21 on PVT and 6.33 on HCC. Patients with PVT and HCC showed a statistical significant serum lipoprotein(a) level higher than the subjects with HCC and no PVT or the healthy subject. So we assume a role of lipoprotein(a) as predictor of venous thromboembolism in neoplastic patients.

Questa rassegna si prefigge di tracciare un quadro della ricerca psicologica, quale si è sviluppata nel nostro Paese e più specificatamente in Sicilia, a partire dai primi anni Cinquanta del Novecento. Negli anni precedenti, l'ideologia fascista, unitamente alla cultura idealista, aveva ostacolato lo sviluppo della psicologia in Italia, finendo con il relegare l'attività degli psicologi al settore della psicotecnica. È solo a partire dal secondo dopoguerra che gli studiosi nostrani concentrano i loro sforzi nel tentativo di colmare il profondo gap venutosi a creare rispetto alla ricerca internazionale che nel frattempo aveva esteso i propri interessi a diversi ambiti di studio come la psicometria, la psicologia clinica, la psicologia sociale. In particolare, i ricercatori siciliani, danno ragione dei loro lavori, pubblicando i loro resoconti di ricerca su diversi periodici dell'epoca, tra cui, a partire dal 1957, Igiene Mentale, intorno alla quale ruota questa rassegna

Petroleum hydrocarbons are the most widespread contaminants in the marine environment. The fate of petroleum in sea water is largely controlled by mechanical, physical and chemical factors which influencing the natural transformation of petroleum (oil weathering) and oil bio-degradation. On the basis of these considerations, bioremediation techniques have been developed and improved for cleaning up oil-polluted marine environment as alternative to chemical and physical techniques. To elucidate the cooperative action of mixed microbial populations in the biodegradation of crude oil, we constructed artificial consortia composed of two to three bacteria (Alcanivorax borkumensis strain SK2, Rhodococcus erythropolis HS4 and Pseudomonas stutzeriSDM) capable to degrade oil hydrocarbons. Using these consortia, we investigated the mechanism by which efficient biodegradation of crude oil could be accomplished by the mixed populations for application in natural environment (bioaugmentation). All experiments were carried out in microcosms systems containing seawater (with and without inorganic nutrients) and oil was used as sole carbon source. All data obtained (Total DAPI Count, Live/Dead staining, Card-FISH and GC-FID hydrocarbons analysis) confirmed the fundamental role of bacteria belonging to Alcanivorax genus in degradation of linear hydrocarbons in oil polluted environments. Indeed, in all experimentations carried out in seawater with or without inorganic nutrients showed as rates of oil degradation are almost total in presence of this bacterium.

Metabolic specialization is a general biological principle that shapes the assembly of microbial communities. Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (HCB) are marine bacteria that are specialised in hydrocarbon degradation and use hydrocarbons almost exclusively as unique C and energy source. HCB become dominant in oil-­‐impacted environments and are particularly adapted for removal of hydrocarbons from contaminated sites through bioremediation treatments. The petrochemical site of Priolo-­‐Augusta-­‐Melilli (Sicily, Italy), is a Site of National Interest (SIN) due to high levels of environmental contamination of the coastline and a specific "national program of environmental remediation and restoration" was developed in order to allow remediation and restoration of contaminated sites. In order to to identify the key hydrocarbon degraders and explore the natural bioremediation potential of the contaminated area, a total of six sediment and sea water cores were collected inside the Priolo Harbour (SR, Italy). After biological (bacterial population diversity, PCR-­‐DGGE) and chemical-­‐physical characterisation (quali-­‐, quantitative measures of hydrocarbons and heavy metals) samples were used, separately, to set enrichment cultures on mineral broth containing different mixtures of linear (C16, C18, C20) and aromatic (phenatrene, pyrene, biphenyl and dibenzothiophene) hydrocarbons and Crude Oil (Arabian Ligth Crude Oil). A total of 159 isolates (82 from seawater and 77 from sediments) were obtained. The sequencing of 16S rDNA showed the most of the isolates belonged to, Alcanivorax (44 %), Marinobacter (17%) and Oleibacter (9%) genera. Data obtained from assays of biodegradation revealed as more interesting bacteria present a very high potential of application in bioremediation techniques; furthermore data obtained give a deeper understanding of the biochemical causes of metabolic specialization and could serve as a foundation for the field of synthetic ecology, where the objective would be to rationally engineer the assembly of a microbial community to perform a desired biotransformation.