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Despite advances in treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), many patients suffer significant myocardial damage with cardiac dysfunction. Sympathetic renal denervation (RD) may reduce adrenergic activation following AMI. To investigate the potential role of RD limiting myocardial damage and remodeling when performed immediately after AMI. Sixteen farm pigs underwent 90 min left anterior descending artery balloon occlusion. Eight pigs underwent RD immediately after reperfusion. LV function, extent of myocardium at risk, and myocardial necrosis were quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance 5 and 30 days after AMI. 123I-MIBG scintigraphy was performed 31 days after AMI to image myocardial sympathetic innervation. Heart norepinephrine was quantified (from necrotic, border and remote zone). RD and control did not differ in myocardium at risk extent (59 ± 9 vs 55 ± 11% of LV mass) at 5 days. At 30 days CMR, RD pigs had smaller necrotic areas than control as assessed by gadolinium delay enhancement (18 ± 7 vs 30 ± 12% of LV mass, p = 0.021) resulting in improved myocardial salvage index (60 ± 11 vs 44 ± 27%, p

Continuous and reliable cardiac function monitoring could improve medication adherence in patients at risk of heart failure. This work presents an innovative implantable Fiber Bragg Grating-based soft sensor designed to sense mechanical cardiac activity. The sensor was tested in an isolated beating ovine heart platform, with 3 different hearts operated in wide-ranging conditions. In order to investigate the sensor capability to track the ventricular beats in real-time, two causal algorithms were proposed for detecting the beats from sensor data and to discriminate artifacts. The first based on dynamic thresholds while the second is a hybrid convolutional and recurrent Neural Network. An error of 2.7 +/- 0.7 beats per minute was achieved in tracking the heart rate. Finally, we have confirmed the sensor reliability in monitoring the heart activity of healthy adult minipig with an error systematically lower than 1 Bpm.

Bioelectronic medicine is opening new perspectives for the treatment of some major chronic diseases through the physical modulation of autonomic nervous system activity. Being the main peripheral route for electrical signals between central nervous system and visceral organs, the vagus nerve (VN) is one of the most promising targets. Closed-loop neuromodulation would be crucial to increase effectiveness and reduce side effects, but it depends on the possibility of extracting useful physiological information from VN electrical activity, which is currently very limited.Here, we present a new decoding algorithm properly detecting different functional changes from VN signals. They were recorded using intraneural electrodes in anaesthetized pigs during cardiovascular and respiratory challenges mimicking increases in arterial blood pressure, tidal volume and respiratory rate. A novel decoding algorithm was developed combining discrete wavelet transformation, principal component analysis, and ensemble learning made of classification trees. It robustly achieved high accuracy levels in identifying different functional changes and discriminating among them. We also introduced a new index for the characterization of recording and decoding performance of neural interfaces. Finally, by combining an anatomically validated hybrid neural model and discrimination analysis, we provided new evidence suggesting a functional topographical organization of VN fascicles. This study represents an important step towards the comprehension of VN signaling, paving the way to the development of effective closed-loop bioelectronic systems.

Objective. The implantation of intraneural electrodes in amputees has been observed to be effective in providing subjects with sensory feedback. However, this implantation is challenging and time consuming. Surgeons must be especially trained to execute the implantation. Therefore, we aimed at developing a novel peripheral intraneural electrode and insertion mechanism, which could drastically reduce the overall implantation time while achieving a high neural selectivity. Approach. A new insertion method based on hollow microneedles was developed to realize the prompt and effective simultaneous implantation of up to 14 active sites in a transversal manner. Each needle guided two Pt/Ir microwires through the nervous tissue. After the insertion, the microneedles were released, leaving behind the microwires. Each microwire had one active site, which was coated with poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) to enhance the electrochemical properties. The active sites were characterized by evaluating the impedance, charge storage capacity, and maximum injectable charge. Twelve quick to implant peripheral intraneural electrodes (Q-PINEs) were implanted in four pig sciatic nerves to evaluate the implantation time and neural selectivity. We compared the stimulation of the sciatic nerve with that of its branches. Main results. The average surgical access time was 23 min. The insertion time for 12 electrodes was 6.7 min (std. ±1.6 min). The overall implantation time was reduced by 40.3 min compared to the previously reported values. The Q-PINE system demonstrated a satisfactory performance during in vitro and in vivo characterization. The electrochemical results showed that the PEDOT coating successfully increased the electrochemical parameters of the active sites. Significance. With an average impedance of 1.7 kΩ, a maximum charge level of 76.2 nC could be achieved per active site. EMG recruitment curves showed that 46% of the active sites exhibited selective stimulation of four out of six muscles. The histological analysis indicated that the microwires successfully penetrated the nerve and single fascicles.

Background/Aims Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains the leading cause of in-hospital death in acute coronary syndromes. In the AMI-CS pig model we tested the efficacy of temporary percutaneous cardiorespiratory assist device (PCRA) in rescuing the failing heart and reducing early mortality. Methods In open-chest pigs we induced AMI by proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation. Eight animals without PCRA (C group) were compared with 12 animals otherwise treated with PCRA (T group), starting approximately at 60 minutes post-occlusion and lasting 120–180 minutes. In 3 animals of the T group, regional myocardial oxygen content was also imaged by two-dimensional near infrared spectroscopy (2D-NIRS) with and without PCRA, before and after LAD reperfusion. Results All animals without PCRA died despite unrelenting resuscitation maneuvers (120 minutes average survival time). Conversely, animals treated with PCRA showed a reduction in life-threatening arrhythmia and maintenance of aortic pressure, allowing interruption of PCRA in all cases early in the experiments, with sound hemodynamics at the end of the observation period. During LAD occlusion, NIRS showed severe de-oxygenation of the LAD territory that improved with PCRA. After PCRA suspension and LAD reperfusion, the residual de-oxygenated area proved to be smaller than the initial risk area. Conclusions In AMI, PCRA initiated during advanced CS drastically reduced early mortality from 100% to 0% in a 4–5 hour observation period. PCRA promoted oxygenation of the ischemic area during LAD occlusion. Results support the use of PCRA as first line of treatment in AMI-CS, improving myocardial rescue and short-term survival.

Prompt coronary catheterization and revascularization have dramatically improved the outcome of myocardial infarction, but also have resulted in a growing number of survived patients with permanent structural damage of the heart, which frequently leads to heart failure. Finding new treatments for this condition is a largely unmet clinical need 1, especially because of the incapacity of cardiomyocytes to replicate after birth and thus achieve regeneration of the lost contractile tissue 2. Here we show that expression of human microRNA-199a in infarcted pig hearts is capable of stimulating cardiac repair. One month after myocardial infarction and delivery of this microRNA through an adeno-associated viral vector, the treated animals showed marked improvements in both global and regional contractility, increased muscle mass and reduced scar size. These functional and morphological findings correlated with cardiomyocyte de-differentiation and proliferation. At longer follow-up, however, persistent and uncontrolled expression of the microRNA resulted in sudden arrhythmic death of most of the treated pigs. Such events were concurrent with myocardial infiltration of proliferating cells displaying a poorly differentiated myoblastic phenotype. These results show that achieving cardiac repair through the stimulation of endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation is attainable in large mammals, however this therapy needs to be tightly dosed.

The current use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy is associated with the clinical need of monitoring patient-pump interaction. To this aim, the present work investigated the possibility of getting useful information about the status of the assisted left ventricle using electrocardiographic (ECG) data. A total of six animals, undergoing Gyro Centrifugal Pump 2 implantation (a new version of Gyro Centrifugal Pump C1E3 [Kyocera Corporation, Kyoto, Japan]) and CircuLite Synergy Micropump (CircuLite, Inc., Saddlebrooke, NJ, USA) in atrio-aortic connection, were analyzed. Data refer to different LVAD speeds with consequently different levels of ventricular unloading. From ECG signal, the R wave peak was individuated together with the corresponding left ventricular volume. Then on both signals, a moving average analysis was performed to reduce the effect of the ventilation. A regression and correlation analysis performed on the two resulting signals evidenced that the R wave peak and the ventricular volume are strictly related. Specifically, any change of LVAD speed, inducing a change in ventricular volume, is associated with a change in R wave peak value. The present work is a first step in investigating the usefulness of the ECG signal during LVAD therapy, for the monitoring of mechanical parameters of the heart such as the ventricular volumes. The correlation found between the ECG and the ventricular volume can be a promising starting point for possible future noninvasive LVAD patient monitoring.

Long-term mechanical circulatory assistance opened new problems in ventricular assist device-patient interaction, especially in relation to autonomic controls. Modeling studies, based on adequate models, could be a feasible approach of investigation. The aim of this work is the exploitation of a hybrid (hydronumerical) cardiovascular simulator to reproduce and analyze in vivo experimental data acquired during a continuous flow left ventricular assistance. The hybrid cardiovascular simulator embeds three submodels: a computational cardiovascular submodel, a computational baroreflex submodel, and a hydronumerical interface submodel. The last one comprises two impedance transformers playing the role of physical interfaces able to provide a hydraulic connection with specific cardiovascular sites (in this article, the left atrium and the ascending/descending aorta). The impedance transformers are used to connect a continuous flow pump for partial left ventricular support (Synergy Micropump, CircuLite, Inc., Saddlebrooke, NJ, USA) to the hybrid cardiovascular simulator. Data collected from five animals in physiological, pathological, and assisted conditions were reproduced using the hybrid cardiovascular simulator. All parameters useful to characterize and tune the hybrid cardiovascular simulator to a specific hemodynamic condition were extracted from experimental data. Results show that the simulator is able to reproduce animal-specific hemodynamic status both in physiological and pathological conditions, to reproduce cardiovascular left ventricular assist device (LVAD) interaction and the progressive unloading of the left ventricle for different pump speeds, and to investigate the effects of the LVAD on baroreflex activity. Results in chronic heart failure conditions show that an increment of LVAD speed from 20 000 to 22 000 rpm provokes a decrement of left ventricular flow of 35% (from 2 to 1.3 L/min). Thanks to its flexibility and modular structure, the simulator is a platform potentially useful to test different assist devices, thus providing clinicians additional information about LVAD therapy strategy.

Studies on disturbance regimes involving carabid beetles have mainly focused on forest habitats. We therefore decided to analyze the effects of disturbance on carabid communities in a wetland remnant (Lake Chiusi, central Italy). Results highlighted the presence of a disturbance gradient affecting the species richness and trait-displacement of carabid communities. Carabids were sampled with pitfall traps from March to October 2008 at nine randomly selected sample stations; a set of landscape attributes were also collected. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to link the distribution of carabid life-history traits and species richness with the most informative combination of landscape attributes. The first PCA axis (PC1) showed significant correlation with “distance to the lake shoreline” and “perimeter-area ratio”, highlighting the presence of a disturbance-axis. The second and third axes accounted only for a trivial portion of the total variance. GLMMs revealed a progressive decrease in the number of hygrophilous species from the core of the wetland to its outer areas. Similar trends were observed for species richness and for predator species with good dispersal ability and larval period in summer. Our results highlight the importance of taking into account community-wide functional implications in landscape ecology studies.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) results in myocardial damage and increased risk of cardiac dysfunction, despite advances in treatment. Sympathetic renal denervation (RD) might represent an innovative approach to reduce adverse adrenergic activation after AMI, increase myocardial salvage and

Summary Objectives: Mathematical modeling of the cardiovascular system is a powerful tool to extract physiologically relevant information from multi-parametric experiments. The purpose of the present work was to reproduce by means of a computer simulator, systemic and coronary measurements obtained by in vivo experiments in the pig. Methods: We monitored in anesthetized open-chest pig the phasic blood flow of the left descending coronary artery, aortic pressure, left ventricular pressure and volume. Data were acquired before, during, and after caval occlusion.Inside the software simulator (CARDIOSIM©) of the cardiovascular system, coronary circulation was modeled in three parallel branching sections. Both systemic and pulmonary circulations were simulated using a lumped parameter mathematical model. Variable elastance model reproduced Starling’s law of the heart. Results: Different left ventricular pressure-volume loops during experimental caval occlusion and simulated cardiac loops are presented. The sequence of coronary flow-aortic pressure loops obtained in vivo during caval occlusion together with the simulated loops reproduced by the software simulator are reported. Finally experimental and simulated instantaneous coronary blood flow waveforms are shown. Conclusions: The lumped parameter model of the coronary circulation, together with the cardiovascular system model, is capable of reproducing the changes during caval occlusion, with the profound shape deformation of the flow signal observed during the in vivo experiment. In perspectives, the results of the present model could offer new tool for studying the role of the different determinants of myocardial perfusion, by using the coronary loop shape as a “sensor” of ventricular mechanics in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

This paper presents a multiple channel, bidirectional and implantable biotelemetric platform, suitable for real time in vivo monitoring of several physiological parameters. This system consists of an implantable unit, an external host and a user terminal. The ZigBee wireless technology, functioning as telemetric link, enables long battery lifetime and offers the opportunity to build up complex wireless networks of implantable and wearable sensors. A smart Analog Front End, that allows a real time optimization of the signals output dynamics, is also described. Different kinds of sensors, ranging from resistive to current or voltage output sensors, can be directly connected to the front end. The firmware code of the implanted unit can be reprogrammed through the telemetric link, thus enabling active interactions between the system and the end user. For the code development, particular attention was devoted to reducing power consumption: a theoretical maximum battery life of several years, suitable for chronic implants, can be achieved. In order to validate the platform, a ZigBee point to point wireless connection between the implant and the external unit was implemented. Two different sensors were used, i.e. a temperature sensor and a pressure transducer. The system performances were assessed through several in vivo tests. In particular, aortic and ventricular real time pressure and temperature monitoring are reported with the system implanted in farm pigs. Data acquisition was validated by comparison with medical golden standard for pressure monitoring. Finally, the lowest level of transmission power required to establish a reliable communication by using a ZigBee compliant hardware implanted under skin has been quantified as 13.33 μW during an in vivo experiment in an anesthetized pig. This value is fully compliant with the reference level for general public exposure to time varying electric and magnetic fields.

This study reports the development of a new open external vascular stent: the lock stent device (LSD). It enables a novel end-to-end sleeve anastomotic technique, named locked anastomosis (LA). The LA technique consists of inserting a graft sleeve within an artery, secured in place by an internal stent and an external LSD. The internal stent, graft, vessel wall, and LSD are fastened together with single sutures. The LSD placement does not require a complete transection of the vessel wall as it can be enlarged and then relaxed to clasp the vessel neck. The tensile strength of the LA technique was accurately measured ex vivo and its stability successfully tested in vivo by acute pressure peak tests and mid-term survival studies. Ex vivo, the ratio between the tensile strength of the LA technique with two, three, and six stitches and that of hand-sewn anastomoses was 0.41 +/- 0.02, 0.59 +/- 0.17, and 1.03 +/- 0.04. In vivo, LA anastomoses tolerated marked increases in blood pressure (peak systolic pressure 195-230 mm Hg) for periods of 15-25 min without leakage. Five pigs survived 10 weeks with abdominal aorto-aortic bypass performed according to the LA technique with three stitches. Aortograms showed no narrowing or thromboses, and histological findings confirm uniform flattening of the aortic wall at the anastomosis, with proliferating neointima and uniformly hypotrophic media. Minimal changes were observed in the adventitia.

The scorpion of Montecristo Island (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy): Euscorpius carpathicus oglasae Di Caporiacco, 1950, is a poorly known taxon. We redescribe and illustrate the insular endemism of E. c. oglasae for the first time, and elevate this subspecies to the rank of species following a thorough study of the comparative morphology of 372 specimens (including 7 related taxa). Euscorpius oglasae stat. nov. is an oligotrichous form that differs from the related species by the inner proximal surface of pedipalp movable finger, with a reduced lobe and a slightly swollen telson vesicle in males. Attention was given to the analysis of the hemispermatophore and peg sensilla of pectens. The hemispermatophore is small, with the basal lobe bearing a very short spine. We also discuss aspects of the ecology, conservation and biogeography of this species. To cite this article: V. Vignoli et al., C. R. Biologies 330 (2007).

International audience; The current use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy is associated with the clinical need of monitoring patient-pump interaction. To this aim, the present work investigated the possibility of getting useful information about the status of the assisted left ventricle using electrocardiographic (ECG) data. A total of six animals, undergoing Gyro Centrifugal Pump 2 implantation (a new version of Gyro Centrifugal Pump C1E3 [Kyocera Corporation, Kyoto, Japan]) and CircuLite Synergy Micropump (CircuLite, Inc., Saddlebrooke, NJ, USA) in atrio-aortic connection, were analyzed. Data refer to different LVAD speeds with consequently different levels of ventricular unloading. From ECG signal, the R wave peak was individuated together with the corresponding left ventricular volume. Then on both signals, a moving average analysis was performed to reduce the effect of the ventilation. A regression and correlation analysis performed on the two resulting signals evidenced that the R wave peak and the ventricular volume are strictly related. Specifically, any change of LVAD speed, inducing a change in ventricular volume, is associated with a change in R wave peak value. The present work is a first step in investigating the usefulness of the ECG signal during LVAD therapy, for the monitoring of mechanical parameters of the heart such as the ventricular volumes. The correlation found between the ECG and the ventricular volume can be a promising starting point for possible future noninvasive LVAD patient monitoring.

Sites of intracellular metal deposition in the midgut ventriculus and in the proventricular glands of Xenillus tegeocranus (Hermann, 1804) (Acari: Oribatida) were studied by TEM. The study aimed to obtain new information on the ultrastructural features of heavy metal compartmentalisation and elimination mechanisms in oribatid mites. Specimens of X. tegeocranus were collected from an abandoned mining and smelting area and from an unpolluted site. A large number of electron-dense granules (EDGs) were detected: concentric spherocrystals were observed mainly in the epithelium of the midgut ventriculus, while homogeneous dark granules were found exclusively in proventricular gland cells. The elemental composition of EDGs, studied by X-ray microanalysis, showed that midgut cells of X. tegeocranus can store metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, and Cu) in granules. The chemical composition of EDGs seems to be influenced by the presence and bioavailability of heavy metals in soil, with different kinds of metals accumulating in different types of granules.

The effects of spatial scale on the assessment of soil biodiversity were investigated through a field study conducted in the Pelagian Islands, Sicilian Channel, southern Mediterranean. The oribatid mite community in this archipelago was investigated from both an ecological and a biogeographical point of view. The following hierarchically nested spatial scales were considered: 1—archipelago (γ-diversity); 2—island (α- and β-diversity between the islands); 3—sites (α- and β-diversity within each island). Quantitative and semi-quantitative soil sample replicates were collected during the wet season (autumn, 1999) in Lampedusa and Linosa, the two major islands of the archipelago. Data revealed that the sample α-diversity of the two islands is similar. The density of species followed a geometrical trend (a few dominant species with the remainder fairly uncommon) typical of communities in which a single environmental factor dominates species ecology. Community structure differed significantly between the two islands. Species turnover (β-diversity) was very high at every spatial scale, from the sites to the archipelago. Biogeographical results highlighted great differences between faunas in the two islands. The formulation of hypotheses for biodiversity patterns is strongly scale dependent: the heuristic and conservation value of the biogeographical approach increases from local to regional scales, because the importance of historical factors increases while that of ecological factors decreases.

Summary Clay pigeon shooting ranges can be an important source of heavy metal contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The pellets contained in spent ammunition are mainly composed of lead (Pb) and antimony (Sb). Total concentrations of these metals were measured in soils from seven sampling sites within a clay pigeon shooting range and compared with two controls to investigate the effects of their increased levels on the oribatid mites and Collembola community. We found that the spatial distribution of Pb and Sb contamination in the fall-out area is strongly related to the flight path of pellets. Oribatid and Collembola communities are able to survive at levels of heavy metals far higher than the lethal concentration for the most tolerant plants but oribatid mites seem to be affected by heavy metals more than springtails. Collembola and oribatid mites exhibit a wide range of responses to disturbance and many species are more strongly influenced by microhabitat characteristics than levels of pollution. The effects of annual cultivations conducted in the shooting range and those of heavy metal pollution result in a simplification and homogeneity of community composition. Among arthropods, oribatid mites and springtails have a great potential as bioindicators of environmental conditions; the issue remains as to whether differences in population structure can be used to determine the type of disturbance.

the idea underscoring our proposed development is to take advantage of the good properties of both polyurethanes (pu) and silicones (pdms). the attributes which make polyurethanes attractive as materials for biomedical applications are their excellent physical–chemical properties, and their relatively good biocompatibility. against their use is the phenomenon of biodegradation that occurs after long-term implantation. silicones, on the other end, are known to have long-term biostability and good haemocompatibility subsequent to their use in several biomedical settings.

Species richness, abundance and diversity of oribatid mites and springtails in soil and litter were investigated at four sites in the area of Orio al Serio Airport (Bergamo, Italy). A total of 60 oribatid mite and 35 springtail species were collected from the sites. The general low diversity and evenness along with high dominance may be related to the sensitivity of these edaphic zoocoenoses to soil impoverishment which has been occurring in this part of the Italian pre-Alps for many years. Quantitative and qualitative differences were found among the investigated areas. Results show that less frequently disturbed soils are capable of restoring oribatid and springtail populations, leading to greater equilibrium. Results show that less frequently disturbed soils allow the restoration of more equilibrated oribatid and springtail populations. Species were divided into 8 autoecological and 11 chorological categories. Correspondence Analysis arranged these categories among the sites, confirming the above-mentioned trend.

The oribatid mite Carabodes reticulatus Berlese, 1913 is redescribed from typical and topotypical material. A new species, C. tyrrhenicus , widespread in Sardinia and other Tyrrhenian islands, is also described on the basis of morphological evidence. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study intra- and inter-specific variation, in order to determine diagnostic characters. The morphology-based taxonomy was tested through allozyme analysis of the two species and of two closely related species, namely C. coriaceus C. L. Koch, 1836 and C. arduinii Valle, 1955. Allozyme data are largely congruent with morphological evidence, indicating that the four entities represent well-differentiated evolutionary lineages. Molecular results show large inter-specific genetic differentiation, suggesting that these taxa arose from ancient cladogenetic events.

Long-term mechanical circulatory assistance opened new problems in ventricular assist device-patient interaction, especially in relation to autonomic controls. Modeling studies, based on adequate models, could be a feasible approach of investigation. The aim of this work is the exploitation of a hybrid (hydronumerical) cardiovascular simulator to reproduce and analyze in vivo experimental data acquired during a continuous flow left ventricular assistance. The hybrid cardiovascular simulator embeds three submodels: a computational cardiovascular submodel, a computational baroreflex submodel, and a hydronumerical interface submodel. The last one comprises two impedance transformers playing the role of physical interfaces able to provide a hydraulic connection with specific cardiovascular sites (in this article, the left atrium and the ascending/descending aorta). The impedance transformers are used to connect a continuous flow pump for partial left ventricular support (Synergy Micropump, CircuLite, Inc., Saddlebrooke, NJ, USA) to the hybrid cardiovascular simulator. Data collected from five animals in physiological, pathological, and assisted conditions were reproduced using the hybrid cardiovascular simulator. All parameters useful to characterize and tune the hybrid cardiovascular simulator to a specific hemodynamic condition were extracted from experimental data. Results show that the simulator is able to reproduce animal-specific hemodynamic status both in physiological and pathological conditions, to reproduce cardiovascular left ventricular assist device (LVAD) interaction and the progressive unloading of the left ventricle for different pump speeds, and to investigate the effects of the LVAD on baroreflex activity. Results in chronic heart failure conditions show that an increment of LVAD speed from 20 000 to 22 000 rpm provokes a decrement of left ventricular flow of 35% (from 2 to 1.3 L/min). Thanks to its flexibility and modular structure, the simulator is a platform potentially useful to test different assist devices, thus providing clinicians additional information about LVAD therapy strategy.

Background The role of systemic and myocardial adiponectin (ADN) in dilated cardiomyopathy is still debated. We tested the regulation of both systemic and myocardial ADN and the relationship with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in a swine model of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods and results Cardiac tissue was collected from seven instrumented adult male minipigs by pacing the left ventricular (LV) free wall (180 beats/min, 3 weeks), both from pacing (PS) and opposite sites (OS), and from five controls. Circulating ADN levels were inversely related to global and regional cardiac function. Myocardial ADN in PS was down-regulated compared to control (p < 0.05), yet ADN receptor 1 was significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05). No modifications of AMPK were observed in either region of the failing heart. Similarly, myocardial mRNA levels of PPARγ, PPARα, TNFα, iNOS were unchanged compared to controls. Conclusions Paradoxically, circulating ADN did not show any cardioprotective effect, confirming its role as negative prognostic biomarker of heart failure. Myocardial ADN was reduced in PS compared to control in an AMPK-independent fashion, suggesting the occurrence of novel mechanisms by which reduced cardiac ADN levels may regionally mediate the decline of cardiac function.

Two steganacarid species, Steganacarus (Steganacarus)tenerifensis and S. (S.)carlosi, the first endemic to Tenerife and the second to La Gomera and Tenerife, were found to have such wide morphological variability as to cast doubt on their specific limits. Cluster analysis and MDS ordering were used to quantify morphological variation, and biochemical procedures were used to assess genetic variation in the two entities. The results revealed disagreement between the morphological and genetic data as reported in previous studies on steganacarid mites. Morphological traits were highly heterogeneous in the Canary island populations and genetic structure was homogeneous with very low heterozygosity. The separation of the two Canary island species, not to mention the phenotypes close to carlosi, is difficult to justify due to their very high genetic identity. The presence of morphological intermediates suggests the same conclusion. However, the sympatry of some phenotypes and previous data on this animal group are a source of doubt and suggest that further investigations are needed before conclusions can be reached in this regard. Correlations between morphological differentiation and known palaeogeographic events are suggested in the light of the possible evolutionary history of the steganacarid mites on the Canary islands.

A new species of carabodid mites, Odontocepheus oglasae, is described from Montecristo island (Tuscan Archipelago) and O. curtiseta Ruiz, Subias and Kahwash, a closely related Spanish taxon, is redescribed in detail. The two Mediterranean species are compared and O. oglasae is found to be clearly distinguishable from the other odontocepheid mites by virtue of its dorsal microsculpture and the length of its sensilli. An identification key for the species of the genus is given.

Aims Pre-treating placenta-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (FMhMSCs) with a hyaluronan mixed ester of butyric and retinoic acid (HBR) potentiates their reparative capacity in rodent hearts. Our aim was to test FMhMSCs in a large-animal model by employing a novel combination of in vivo and ex vivo analyses. Methods and results Matched regional quantifications of myocardial function and viability were performed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) 4weeks after myocardial infarction combined with intramyocardial injection of FMhMSCs ( n = 7), or HBR-pre-treated FMhMSCs (HBR-FMhMSCs, n = 6), or saline solution (PBS, n = 7). Sham-operated pigs ( n = 4) were used as control animals. Despite no differences in the ejection fraction and haemodynamics, regional MRI revealed, in pigs treated with HBR-FMhMSCs compared with the other infarcted groups, a 40% smaller infarct scar size and a significant improvement of the end-systolic wall thickening and circumferential shortening of the infarct border zone. Consistently, PET showed that myocardial perfusion and glucose uptake were, respectively, 35 and 23% higher in the border zone of pigs treated with HBR-FMhMSCs compared with the other infarcted groups. Histology supported in vivo imaging; the delivery of HBR-FMhMSCs significantly enhanced capillary density and decreased fibrous tissue by approximately 68%. Moreover, proteomic analysis of the border zone in the HBR-FMhMSCs group and the FMhMSCs group indicated, respectively, 45 and 30% phenotypic homology with healthy tissue, while this homology was only 26% in the border zone of the PBS group. Conclusion Our results support a more pronounced reparative potential of HBR-pre-treated FMhMSCs in a clinically relevant animal model of infarction and highlight the necessity of using combined diagnostic imaging to avoid underestimations of stem cell therapeutic effects in the heart.

The classical species, Steganacarus (Steganacarus) similis Willmann, 1939, is redescribed on the basis of material from the type locality, the island of Madeira. The diagnostic character-states indicate that this species belongs to the magnus group of steganacarid taxa. Another species, S. (Rhacaplacarus) ortizi Perez-Inigo, 1969, is reported for the first time on Madeira. The origin of these species on the island is discussed.

Sustained left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony can lead to heart failure (HF) in the absence of coronary artery stenosis. We tested whether myocardial hibernation underlies the LV functional impairment caused by high-frequency pacing, an established model of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.Regional LV contractile and perfusion reserve were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, respectively, as end-systolic wall thickening (LVESWT) and myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) at rest and during low-dose dobutamine stress (LDDS, 10 microg.kg.min intravenously for 10minutes) in failing minipigs (n=8). LV tissue was analyzed for glycogen deposits and other molecular hallmarks of hibernation. LDDS caused a marked increase in LVESWT (27+/-2.98 vs. 7.15+/-3 %, P.05) and MPRI (2.1+/-0.5 vs. 1.3+/-0.3 P.05) in the region that was activated first (pacing site) compared with the opposite region. Myocardial glycogen content was markedly increased in the pacing site (P.05 vs. opposite region). In addition, gene expression of glycogen phosphorylase was reduced in pacing site compared with opposite regions (0.71+/-0.1 vs. 1.03+/-0.3, P.05), whereas that of hexokinase type II was globally reduced by 83%.The combination of high heart rate and sustained dyssynchronous LV contraction causes asymmetrical myocardial hibernation, in absence of coronary artery stenosis.

The species of cepheid mites (Acarida, Oribatida, Cepheidae) from Maghrebian soils are listed and taxonomically revised. The six species, including two new entities, one of which represents the new genus Tereticepheus, offer interesting data for a biogeographical discussion of faunal movements in the western Mediterranean area during the last 20 million years.

The oribatid mite Punctoribates (Minunthozetes) latus Schweizer, 1956 is redescribed on the basis of the holotypus from the Swiss Alps and specimens newly collected from Spain and the Tuscan Archipelago (Italy). The redescription enables the authors to redefine the genus Feiderzetes and discuss its relationships in the framework of the Mycobatidae.

This work stems from the results of a recent phylogenetic investigation on the Euscorpius carpathicus species complex from the Italian peninsula (Salomone et al. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships between the sibling species Euscorpius tergestinus and E. sicanus (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae) as inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. In: Proceedings of the16th Congress of Arachnology, August 2–7, 2004, Ghent University, Belgium, 268pp.; Salomone et al. in prep.). Molecular investigation produced interesting and unexpected findings on the scorpion Euscorpius tergestinus (C.L. Koch, 1837). Both nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data provided evidence of substantial genetic differentiation in specimens identified as Euscorpius tergestinus according to recent taxonomical changes (Fet and Soleglad 2002. Morphology analysis supports presence of more than one species in the “ Euscorpius carpathicus ” complex (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Euscorpius 3, 51pp.). These specimens clearly belong to two well-differentiated evolutionary lineages. Molecular results highlighted the need for a new morphological investigation. The present study undertook the morphological analysis of specimens belonging to both genotypes with the aim of identifying morphological characteristics able to discriminate between the two taxa. The analysis of trichobothria patterns, morphometric ratios, granulation patterns and the observation of the pectinal sensilla confirm the difficulty in distinguishing these two genotypes and the high polymorphism of the subgenus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876. The length of pedipalp segments and dorsal patellar spurs (DPS), as well as femur leg granulation, are the main diagnostic characters; other ratios together with body color also help to distinguish the different genotypes. This study confirms the presence in Italy of two different cryptic species belonging to the “ Euscorpius tergestinus ” complex. Euscorpius tergestinus is a reddish, slender euscorpiid with a large dorsal patellar spine (DPS). A darker and generally squat phenotype with a short DPS, which corresponds to Euscorpius carpathicus concinnus sensu Caporiacco (1950), is elevated to the species level: Euscorpius concinnus (C.L. Koch, 1837). These two species are sympatric in several Italian regions, and their distribution pattern is possibly determined by intraguild predaction interaction.

Soils in clay pigeon shooting ranges can be seriously contaminated by heavy metals. The pellets contained in ammunition are composed of Pb, Sb, Ni, Zn, Mn and Cu. The total concentrations of these metals in soils, and the effects of their increasing levels on the arthropod community were investigated at seven sampling sites in a clay pigeon shooting range and compared with two controls. Research revealed that the spatial distribution of Pb and Sb contamination in the shot-fall area was strongly correlated with the flight path of the pellets. Ordination obtained through Redundance Analysis showed that Collembola, Protura and Diplura were positively correlated with major detected contaminants (Pb, Sb), while Symphyla showed a negative correlation with these pollutants. Determination of the soluble lead fraction in soil, and of its bioaccumulation in the saprophagous Armadillidium sordidum (Isopoda) and the predator Ocypus olens (Coleoptera), showed that a significant portion of metallic Pb from spent pellets is bioavailable in the soil and can be bioaccumulated by edaphic organisms, entering the soil trophic network, but without biomagnification.

Ten populations representing four species of the 'Carabodes marginatus' group, as C. marginatus, C. affinis, C. quadrangulus and C. montanus from central Italy have been studied for genetic variation at 16 enzymatic loci by electrophoresis. Morphotypes close to C. marginatus but easily distinguishable by the shorter marginal notogastral setae were also included in the analysis to evaluate their systematic status. Carabodes arduinii, a very different species from the 'coriaceus' group, was employed as an out-group. Phylogenetic relationships among different species were studied and inferred data demonstrated that cladogenetic events occurred, even though rates of molecular and morphological evolution do not correlate. Morphotypes related to C. marginatus were genetically very close to the type specimens, but a different pattern of allele frequency was observed in sympatric populations of the two setal forms. Possible explanations for this finding are suggested in relation to historical processes. The rate of gene flow among populations of the two morphs was estimated by both Wright's Fst and Slatkin's Nm methods. These two different procedures yielded contradictory results.

Sequences from a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene were used to analyze the population structure and phylogeography of the genus Steganacarus from Tenerife. The island has an oceanic origin; it became a single entity only in the Pleistocene (~2.0 Ma) as a result of the volcanic evolution of the Teide-Pico Viejo central complex which joined the earlier three massifs of Anaga, Roque del Conde and Teno. The mtDNA haplotype distribution and the estimates of sequence divergence among populations of S. carlosi reveal the presence of different lineages with strong phylogeographic structures which reflect the disjunct volcanic evolution of the island. The high levels of intra-specific differentiation suggest that biogeographic boundaries have an impact on the genetic structure of this low dispersal genus by limiting gene-flow among populations and determining isolated demes in which mutation and genetic drift may facilitate differentiation.