Search

BACKGROUND Allergic contact dermatitis to rubber accelerators in gloves has been well described in the literature. In response to this, glove manufacturers have recently marketed "accelerator-free" gloves. Little research has been done, to confirm whether these gloves are truly free from the accelerators known to cause contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to verify use of accelerators in reportedly accelerator-free/low-dermatitis-potential gloves. METHODS A total of 16 commercially available medical gloves touted as "accelerator-free," "sensitive," or "low dermatitis potential" were obtained and analyzed via mass spectrometry (liquid chromatography heated electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography heated electrospray high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry) to determine whether any of the 9 known rubber accelerators were present (thiurams, carbamates, mercaptobenzothiazole, and diphenylguanidine). RESULTS Despite marketing claims to the contrary, all tested gloves had at least 1 accelerant detected. Dipentamethylenethiuram disulfide, a thiuram, was found in all 16 gloves. Half of the gloves (8/16) contained more than 1 accelerator, with 1 glove having 5 rubber accelerators present. CONCLUSION Patients with allergic contact dermatitis to accelerators should be aware potentially sensitizing accelerators may be present in gloves that are reported to not contain them.

A striking abundance of cryptic and pseudocryptic species was highlighted in marine invertebrates by a number of studies, the majority of which focused however on cryptic diversity as such, without inferring on evolutionary drivers involved in organism diversification. The widespread polychaete Syllis gracilis Grube, 1840 was identified as a possible species complex by MALTAGLIATI et al. (2000), who identified Mediterranean marine and brackish populations as putative cryptic species on the basis of allozyme data. More recently, sequence data allowed to consider the allegedly cosmopolitan S. gracilis as a paraphyletic species complex, including at least three distinct Mediterranean lineages. To understand the role of biogeographical and ecological factors in the differentiation of the complex, populations of S. gracilis were sampled from eleven Mediterranean localities, and a combined morphological and molecular characterisation was carried out. Multivariate and univariate analyses on the morphological dataset highlighted that the majority of traits are fixed at population level, but it is possible to distinguish two morphotypes, one with short cirri, associated with intertidal coralline algae, and one with long cirri occurring on Sabellaria reefs and in brackish environments. On the other hand, 16S rDNA sequences highlighted the occurrence of three separated lineages, of which only two correspond to those identified by Álvarez-Campos et al. (2017). Therefore, S. gracilis includes at least four cryptic lineages. Molecular lineages did not show any correspondence with morphological diversity, and natural populations of S. gracilis usually included at least two cryptic lineages, without a clear distinction between marine and brackish-water populations. This outcome suggests that the relationship between the molecular pattern detected and ecological and biogeographical features is not straightforward. The observed morphological pattern is most likely due to local adaptations and phenotypic plasticity, while the separation between molecular lineages is possibly due to ancient geological events. The diversity and evolution of marine invertebrates is shaped by a number of different processes working and interacting at different spatial and temporal scales. The reconstruction of evolutionary processes should therefore take into consideration as many different evidence lines as possible. Although the inconsistent pattern detected make the integration of morphological and molecular patterns difficult, these patterns are the consequence of unpredictable interactions between different evolutionary drivers, thus representing an interesting case of irreducible evolutionary complexity in marine systems.

Background Rubber accelerators play a significant role in glove-related occupational contact dermatitis, especially among health care workers. Currently, there is limited information readily available outlining the accelerators used in specific medical examination and surgical gloves. Objective The aim of this study was to ascertain the accelerators used in medical examination and surgical gloves for major glove manufacturers within the United States. Methods An initial Internet-based search was performed to establish relevant manufacturers and product lines, with subsequent inquiry with each corresponding company regarding accelerators used in each medical and surgical glove line. Results Eleven glove manufacturers were identified and contacted. Responses were obtained from all manufacturers, but because of legal limitations, changes in product lines, or inability to supply necessary data, only 8 companies were able to be included in the final analysis, totaling data for 190 gloves. Carbamates were the most common accelerator, used in 90.5% (172/190) of gloves, whereas thiurams were used in only 11 gloves (5.8%). Eight companies surveyed are now advertising and offering touted accelerator-free gloves. Conclusions Accelerators are used in most examination and surgical gloves; however, manufacturers are now expanding their product offerings to include accelerator-free options.

Summary - The animal and plant biodiversity of the Italian territory is known to be one of the richest in the Mediterranean basin and Europe as a whole, but does the genetic diversity of extant human populations show a comparable pattern? According to a number of studies, the genetic structure of Italian populations retains the signatures of complex peopling processes which took place from the Paleolithic to modern era. Although the observed patterns highlight a remarkable degree of genetic heterogeneity, they do not, however, take into account an important source of variation. In fact, Italy is home to numerous ethnolinguistic minorities which have yet to be studied systematically. Due to their difference in geographical origin and demographic history, such groups not only signal the cultural and social diversity of our country, but they are also potential contributors to its bio-anthropological heterogeneity. To fill this gap, research groups from four Italian Universities (Bologna, Cagliari, Pisa and Roma Sapienza) started a collaborative study in 2007, which was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and received partial support by the Istituto Italiano di Antropologia. In this paper, we present an account of the results obtained in the course of this initiative. Four case-studies relative to linguistic minorities from the Eastern Alps, Sardinia, Apennines and Southern Italy are first described and discussed, focusing on their micro-evolutionary and anthropological implications. Thereafter, we present the results of a systematic analysis of the relations between linguistic, geographic and genetic isolation. Integrating the data obtained in the course of the long-term study with literature and unpublished results on Italian populations, we show that a combination of linguistic and geographic factors is probably responsible for the presence of the most robust signatures of genetic isolation. Finally, we evaluate the magnitude of the diversity of Italian populations in the European context. The human genetic diversity of our country was found to be greater than observed throughout the continent at short (0-200 km) and intermediate (700-800km) distances, and accounted for most of the highest values of genetic distances observed at all geographic ranges. Interestingly, an important contribution to this pattern comes from the “linguistic islands” (e.g. German speaking groups of Sappada and Luserna from the Eastern Italian Alps), further proof of the importance of considering social and cultural factors when studying human genetic variation.

The exploitation of food industry by-products has gaining an increasing interest. At present, the disposal of food processing by-products represents a major problem for industries, since it is a cost to the food processor and has severe pollution problems besides representing a loss of valuable biomass and nutrients. Amongst the bioactive molecules still extractable from food by-products, phenolic compounds play a major role due to their high antioxidant, anti-allergenic, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is an evergreen shrub widespread in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This plant has a broad spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic effects associated with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In the Mediterranean area, myrtle berries are mainly employed for the production of the sweet liqueur obtained by hydro-alcoholic extraction of the berries. The myrtle processing industry produces large quantities (more than 30.000 kg/year) of berry residues left after the separation from the hydro-alcoholic extract that represent large potential resources for the high concentration of bioactive compounds. By the fact that at present the use of these biomasses is still limited being underexploited as compost for agricultural purposes, the aim of this research was is to chemically characterize and to evaluate the functional potential of myrtle by-products. Total phenolic content, concentration of flavonoids and anthocyanins, along with the antioxidant capacity were assessed in ethanol-water extract. Phenolic compounds were characterized and quantified by LC-DAD-MS, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using in vitro model systems such as DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and cholesterol oxidation assays. The extract had significant antioxidant activity in all assays showing, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, the ability to scavenge DPPHo and peroxyl (ROOo) and hydroxyl (HOo ) radicals. Therefore, the reported data point out that the valorization of myrtle by-products as a source of bioactive compounds has a great potential on the social wellbeing and the agricultural sustainability.

Due to their low genetic complexity and relative environmental and socio-cultural uniformity, geographical and/or cultural isolates provide an unique opportunity to reconstruct processes shaping human biodiversity. Groups with remarkable historic and linguistic peculiarities, often living in a mountainous setting, are widely dispersed in the Italian territory from the Alps to the main islands. Following and developing previous work by the same research network, the project initiative “Human biodiversity in Italy: micro-evolutionary patterns” is aimed at achieving an extensive genetic characterization of these populations and studying the relations between patterns of genetic diversity and cultural, historical and demographic factors. To this purpose, research units from the Universities of Bologna, Cagliari, Pisa and Roma Sapienza are collaborating in a multidisciplinary framework. The innovative aspects of this project are represented by: i) an accurate sampling strategy based on the history and the demographic structure of the populations; ii) a complete genotyping of uniparental and autosomal markers; iii) a participative involvement of the interested communities.

This study provides data on the genetic structuring of the pipefish Syngnathus abaster in the western Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. A total of 109 specimens were collected in brackish-water biotopes. The control region and three other regions of the mitochondrial genome were analysed. The most relevant result was the high genetic structuring found by Bayesian inference (BI), maximum likelihood (ML) and network analyses, which were consistent in showing three well-separated clusters of S. abaster populations. Furthermore, BI and ML did not support the monophyly of the taxon S. abaster. These results suggest the occurrence of a species complex in the study area, whose differentiation may have occurred since the Pleistocene. The results also show a very high genetic variability at the inter-population level, with no shared haplotypes among sites. Evolutionary forces due to the fragmented nature of the brackish-water habitats may account for the high genetic divergence found among the groups and populations. Finally, although dispersal by rafting over long distances may occasionally occur, this study suggests linear stepping-stone model of colonization to be most likely. The complexity of the results obtained suggests that further studies are needed to elucidate the phylogeny of S. abaster. This work was supported by MIUR (Ministero per l’Istruzione, l’Università e la Ricerca) FAR grants to M.C. and P.F.

The knowledge of the evolution of the human genome is strictly dependent on the availability of appropriate genetic markers and their relative coverage of genetic variation which refine the phylogenetic reconstruction. While autosomal markers are particularly valuable for recognizing correspondence between genetic and geographic distances, markers on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or Non Recombining Portion of Y Chromosome (NRY), because of their unilinear transmission, can effectively trace diachronical patterns of the human peopling. The maximum extent of polymorphism coverage has already been reached for the very small mitochondrial genome (about 16,5 Kbp), whereas the first studies based on RFLPs (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms) (Cann et al., 1987) and on sequencing of the hypervariable regions (Vigliant et al., 1991), were then combined to get higher resolution (Torroni et al., 1996), and finally the complete genome sequencing is now routinely performed (Achilli et al., 2004, Pala et al., 2009), in order to detect the whole mtDNA variation. A similar approach cannot be used yet at population level for the by far larger nuclear genome. However, advances in genotyping technology have dramatically enhanced the resolution of the analysis at genome-wide level, and recent papers significantly improved the knowledge of the relationships among European populations, using 300 to 500 K SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) on microarrays chips (Tian et al., 2008; Novembre et al., 2008). As to the NRY, most of the studies before the year 2000 were performed using Alu insertion (Hammer, 1995) or STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) (De Knijff et al., 1997; Pritchard et al., 1999) with the known limitations due to recurrence and reversion of this kind of polymorphisms. Using D-HPLC (Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography) technology, Underhill and coworkers (1997) discovered 22 new SNP biallelic markers, rapidly raising in number to 167 (Underhill et al., 2000), 242 (YCC, 2002), about 600 (Karafet et al., 2008), up to more than 725 presently listed in the Y-DNA SNP Index 2009, (www.isogg. org), and the knowledge of Y chromosome phylogeny and of the spread worldwide of human populations raised proportionally. The next goal of the research on Y chromosome will be the use of specific microarrays that can genotype a much higher number of SNPs than nowadays routinely performed, and, ultimately, the complete Y chromosome sequencing. Waiting for future developments, this short note reports the state of the art of the phylogenetic (“history”) and phylogeographic (“geography”) research on Y chromosome SNP analyses in Europe, updating the review published in this Journal by Francalacci & Sanna at the beginning of 2008.