Osservazioni ecologiche preliminari su Petagnia saniculifolia Guss., raro endemismo siculo

Abstract

Preliminary ecological observations on Petagnia saniculifolia Guss., a rare sicilian endemism. — The Authors present the preliminary results of some observations on the anatomy and ecology of Petagnia saniculifolia Guss. and a synthetic phytosociological table in which some species of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Querco-Fagetea are present. The particular needs of this species and the precarious environmental conditions are pointed out.     

3D conformal hypofractionated radical radiotherapy in early glottic cancer

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate acute and late toxicity and the locoregional control in patients treated with hypofractionated radical radiotherapy 2.25 Gy/fraction/day for early glottic carcinoma.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis was performed of 27 patients, stage T1–T2 N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma, that underwent radical RT from April 2008 to October 2011. The mean age was 64.6 years (range 36–81). Seventeen patients were staged T1a, 3 patients T1b and 7 patients T2. All patients were 3D planned and treated in a 6 MV LINAC, 2.25 Gy/fraction/5 days per week, to a total dose between 63 Gy and 67.5 Gy. Biological Effective Dose (BED (α/β = 10)) ranged from 77.18 Gy to 82.69 Gy and EQD2 from 64.31 Gy to 68.91 Gy. Patients were evaluated in periodic follow-up. Toxicity was evaluated according to RTOG Toxicities Scales.

Results

With a median follow-time of 24.7 months (range 3.6–44.2 months), no evidence of locoregional recurrence was observed. The treatment was well tolerated and no unscheduled interruptions in treatments for toxicity were documented, with the median overall treatment time of 41 days (range 38–48). Only grades 1 and 2 acute toxicity were observed and no evidence of severe late toxicity.

Conclusion

The authors believe that this moderately hypofractionated scheme can provide a good locoregional control for T1–T2 glottic carcinomas with no increase of toxicity. As the limitation of this work is the reduced number of patients and the lack of long term follow-up, the authors hope to update this retrospective study in the future in order to improve the power of the results.     

Catchment-Scale Conservation Units Identified for the Threatened Yarra Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca obscura) in Highly Modified River Systems

Habitat fragmentation caused by human activities alters metapopulation dynamics and decreases biological connectivity through reduced migration and gene flow, leading to lowered levels of population genetic diversity and to local extinctions. The threatened Yarra pygmy perch, Nannoperca obscura, is a poor disperser found in small, isolated populations in wetlands and streams of southeastern Australia. Modifications to natural flow regimes in anthropogenically-impacted river systems have recently reduced the amount of habitat for this species and likely further limited its opportunity to disperse. We employed highly resolving microsatellite DNA markers to assess genetic variation, population structure and the spatial scale that dispersal takes place across the distribution of this freshwater fish and used this information to identify conservation units for management. The levels of genetic variation found for N. obscura are amongst the lowest reported for a fish species (mean heterozygosity of 0.318 and mean allelic richness of 1.92). We identified very strong population genetic structure, nil to little evidence of recent migration among demes and a minimum of 11 units for conservation management, hierarchically nested within four major genetic lineages. A combination of spatial analytical methods revealed hierarchical genetic structure corresponding with catchment boundaries and also demonstrated significant isolation by riverine distance. Our findings have implications for the national recovery plan of this species by demonstrating that N. obscura populations should be managed at a catchment level and highlighting the need to restore habitat and avoid further alteration of the natural hydrology.     

Predictors of Raised Viral Load during Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients with and without Prior Antiretroviral Use: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives

In Lagos, Nigeria, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) commenced free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in a hospital-based clinic. We performed a cross-sectional study to compare factors associated with raised viral load between patients with (“experienced”) and without (“naïve”) prior antiretroviral (ARV) exposure at commencement of ART at the clinic. We also examined factors influencing ARV adherence in experienced patients prior to clinic entry.

Methods

We included adult patients receiving ART from MSF who answered a questionnaire about previous antiretroviral use. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for raised viral load (≥1000 copies/mL).

Results

1246 (96%) patients answered: 1075 (86%) reported no, and 171 (14%) some, prior ARV exposure. ARV-naïve patients were more immunosuppressed at baseline: 65% vs 37% (p<0.001) had CD4<200; 17% vs 9% (p = 0.013) were WHO stage 4. Proportionately more experienced than naïve patients had raised viral loads (20% vs 9%, p<0.001) on ART in the MSF/MoH clinic. Raised viral load was associated with prior ARV experience (adjusted OR = 3.74, 95%CI 2.09–6.70, p<0.001) and complete interruption of current ART (adjusted OR = 3.71, 95%CI 2.06–6.68, p<0.001). Higher CD4 at time of VL and a higher self-rated score of recent adherence were associated with lower OR of a raised viral load. Among experienced patients who missed pills before joining MSF/MoH, most common reasons were because ARVS were not affordable (58%) or available (33%), with raised viral load associated with being unsure how to take them (OR = 3.16, 95%CI 1.10–9.12, p = 0.033).

Conclusions

Patients previously exposed to ARVs had increased OR of raised viral load. The cost and availability of ARVs were common reasons for missing ARVs before joining the MSF/MoH clinic, and inadequate patient knowledge was associated with raised viral load.     

Insulin Sensitivity from Preschool to School Age in Patients with Severe Obesity

Background

Insulin sensitivity decreases at puberty transition, but little information has been provided on its earlier time-course. Aim of the present study was to describe the time-course of insulin sensitivity in severely obese children at the transition from preschool to school age.

Research design and methods

Retrospective study of a cohort of 47 severely obese [Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥99° percentile] preschoolers evaluated twice, once between 2 and 6 years of age, and once before age 8. Glucose tolerance, Whole Body Insulin Sensitivity Index (WBISI), Insulinogenic Index (IGI); β-cell demand index (BCDI) and Insulin Secretion-Sensitivity Index 2 (ISSI-2) were longitudinally estimated during the oral glucose tolerance test.

Results

After a median follow-up of 2.23 (1–4.52) y, obese patients showed significant decrease in WBISI (p<0.0001), and increase in fasting (p = 0.005) and 2 h glucose (2HG, p = 0.001). One child in preschool age and 4 school age children presented with 2HG between 7.8–11.1 mmol/l. Best predictors of WBISI, 2HG and BCDI in the school age were changes in BMI z-score (R² = 0.309; p = 0.002; β = −0.556), ISSI-2 (R² = 0.465; p<0.0001; β = −0.682), and BMI z-score (R² = 0.246; p = 0.008; 0.496), respectively.

Conclusions

In morbidly obese children, insulin sensitivity seems to decline even before pubertal transition, but changes in total adiposity can only partially explain this variation.     

A genome‐wide association study for reading and language abilities in two population cohorts

Candidate genes have been identified for both reading and language, but most of the heritable variance in these traits remains unexplained. Here, we report a genome‐wide association meta‐analysis of two large cohorts: population samples of Australian twins and siblings aged 12–25 years (n = 1177 from 538 families), and a younger cohort of children of the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and their Children (aged 8 and 9 years; maximum n = 5472). Suggestive association was indicated for reading measures and non‐word repetition (NWR), with the greatest support found for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pseudogene, ABCC13 (P = 7.34 × 10^?8), and the gene, DAZAP1 (P = 1.32 × 10^?6). Gene‐based analyses showed significant association (P < 2.8 × 10^?6) for reading and spelling with genes CD2L1, CDC2L2 and RCAN3 in two loci on chromosome 1. Some support was found for the same SNPs having effects on both reading skill and NWR, which is compatible with behavior genetic evidence for influences of reading acquisition on phonological‐task performance. The results implicate novel candidates for study in additional cohorts for reading and language abilities.