1,721,002 research outputs found
Le meduse: nuova emergenza ecologica e sanitaria
No full textCon questo corposo volume, il Liceo Classico Statale “Francesca Capece” di Maglie (LE) dimostra la propria vivacità culturale, grazie ai contributi di personale e contatti esterni, per una scuola che sia aggiornata e promotrice della crescita degli alunni e del territorio
Health impact determined by jellyfish outbreaks along the coast of Salento (Italy)
No full textThe aim of the present study was to determine the epidemiology of jellyfish stings in the Province of Lecce (Italy) in the bathing seasons of years 2007-2011, in order to estimate the presence of these organisms along the coast of the Salento and assess its socio-health implications. The study involved the gathering and processing of data on patients seeking medical treatment at summer first aid centres and hospitals along the coast of the Salento following contact with jellyfish. The analysis of reports showed that in the period 2007-2011 1733 stung bathers sought medical assistance, accounting for 3% of all medical services provided at first aid centres. In addition, jellyfish stings were observed to be the main cause of human pathologies arising from contact with marine organisms. 25.7% of total cases were reported in summer 2007, 22.5% in 2008, 24.7% in 2009, 17.6% in 2010 and 9.5% in 2011. The spatial distribution indicates a greater frequency of stings sustained along the Adriatic coast (65%); this trend is related to wind direction. Most of the injuries were seen in persons aged between 1 and 10. In the majority of cases the symptoms were not severe, being confined to local and cutaneous reactions. In 8.7% of cases however, there were complications, mainly allergic reactions (6.2%). The main drugs used are corticosteroids, locally applied and systemic (46% and 43%, respectively), while non-pharmacological treatments mainly consisted of rinsing with ammonia (74%). In the five-year period under study, an average of 8.1 cases/km of coastline was recorded, ranging from a maximum of 18.4 cases/km along the Adriatic coast to a minimum of 2.6 cases/km on the Lower Ionian, with an estimated cost of the health services provided of about 391,658 Euros. Overall, a slightly decreasing trend of jellyfish stings was observed from 2007 to 2011 along the coasts of Salento. Nevertheless, in the light of the significant economic costs and the socio-health impact reported in this study and given the importance of the bathing tourism in the Salento, there is a need to identify suitable strategies that will guarantee the best response in terms of both prevention and treatment
Dietary habits and health among university students living at or away from home in southern Italy
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the eating habits of a group of university students, to highlight any differences
between students living at and away from home and to examine aspects of their health and nutritional status. One hundred
and ninety-three undergraduate students at the University of Salento (Lecce, Italy) completed a self-administered
food habits questionnaire divided into three major sections: demographic, social and cultural characteristics, eating
habits, health information. Students living at home got more physical exercise and consumed higher quantities of
cooked vegetables, fish, meat products, chips, bread/cereals, pulses, cooked meals and sandwiches. In contrast, students
living away from home were characterized by higher consumption of raw vegetables, beer and alcoholic drinks, raw/cold
meals, frozen meals and ready meals. Moreover, students living alone reported a greater number of episodes of gastroenteritis
and perceived that they had a larger body mass. Student lifestyles and living arrangements were associated
with a shift away from the Mediterranean diet and would appear to expose students to the risk of food-borne illness.
This appeared more evident among students living away from home, for whom the assumption of primary responsibility
for food shopping and preparation can lead to unhealthy dietary habits
Rotavirus detection in environmental water samples by tangential flow ultrafiltration and RT-nested PCR
No full textEnvironmental monitoring was conducted in Otranto (Italy), from January 2006 to April 2007, to monitor the circulation of rotaviruses in various water matrices (raw and treated sewage, surface waters and seawater) and to identify any correlation with the traditional bacteriological indices (faecal coliforms). The viruses were detected using tangential flow ultrafiltration and reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction, whilst detection of feaecal coliform was performed according to standard methods. The results showed widespread viral contamination, particularly in spring, of the matrices tested, with the exception of seawater, which at all times tested negative for the presence of rotaviruses. The typing of the rotavirus strains identified the circulation in the studied area of only two genotypes: G1 (22%) and G2 (78%). The bacterial recoveries confirmed the presence of faecal pollution indicators in all examined samples, sometimes with high values. A very weak correlation was found between the presence of faecal coliforms and the circulation of rotaviruses in the environment. The presence of rotaviruses in the environmental water samples may constitute a potential health risk for the local populatio
Phenotypic characterization of culturable marine luminous bacteria isolated from coastal waters of the southern Adriatic Sea (Otranto, Italy).
No full textTo determine the abundance and species composition of luminous bacteria in the coastal waters of the southern Adriatic Sea (Otranto, Italy), samples were collected from three sites affected by different degrees of anthropogenic pollution. A total of 116 strains of marine luminous bacteria were isolated and subjected to phenotypic characterization, which included 36 biochemical tests. Numerical analysis of the data revealed five clusters with > 86% similarity, which were readily identified as Photobacterium leiognathi, Vibrio fischeri, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio splendidus biovar I, and Shewanella hanedai. The relative abundance of each species shows that culturable luminous bacteria in the monitored waters are composed mainly of V. harveyi (69.0%), followed by V. fischeri (13.8%) and P. leiognathi (12.1%). In addition, human activity appears to affect the total abundance of luminous bacteria but not the selection of individual species, since the frequencies of the bacteria were similar at all examined sites
Identificazione dei genotipi G e P di rotavirus isolati in un campione di bambini del Camerun
No full textImpatto sanitario determinato dalla presenza di meduse lungo la costa salentina (Italia)
No full textOBIETTIVI: L'interesse verso le meduse è notevolmente cresciuto negli ultimi anni in seguito a proliferazioni “anomale” segnalate sempre più di frequente in tutti i mari. Questo è un rilevante problema ecologico le cui cause possono essere individuate nei cambiamenti climatici, nel numero sempre più esiguo di nemici naturali, nell’inquinamento. La presenza delle meduse lungo le coste, inoltre, rappresenta un serio problema economico per le implicazioni sull’attività turistica e sanitario a causa degli effetti tossici conseguenti il contatto con esse. L’Obiettivo è di valutare l’epidemiologia delle punture da medusa nella Provincia di Lecce nelle stagioni balneari degli anni 2007-2011, al fine di stimare la presenza di questi organismi lungo la costa salentina e valutarne le implicazioni socio-sanitarie.
METODI: Lo studio ha riguardato l’acquisizione e l’elaborazione dei dati relativi ai soggetti che, in seguito al contatto con meduse, hanno fatto ricorso alle cure mediche presso i presidi di Pronto Soccorso Estivo situati lungo la costa del Salento.
RISULTATI: Dall’analisi dei dati raccolti è emerso negli anni 2007-2011 (1 Luglio-31 Agosto di ciascun anno), 1733 bagnanti hanno fatto ricorso alle cure mediche per puntura da medusa, pari all’1.2% del totale delle prestazioni mediche effettuate su 215 Km di costa osservata. Il 25.7% dei casi totali di punture si sono verificati nell’estate del 2007, 22.5% nel 2008, 24.7% nel 2009, 17.6% nel 2010 e 9.5% nel 2011. Le lesioni sono state maggiormente riscontrate nella fascia d’età 1-10 anni e nei soggetti di sesso femminile. Il 62% dei soggetti colpiti risiedevano in Provincia di Lecce, il 35% erano turisti italiani, mentre il 3% turisti stranieri. Nel periodo di osservazione l’incidenza del fenomeno è risultata pari a 8,1 casi/Km di costa. Possiamo quindi stimare, ipotizzando la stessa incidenza su tutto il territorio italiano, circa 40.000 casi potenziali di ustioni da medusa sui 4970 Km totali di costa balneabile in Italia, con un conseguente significativo impatto sul Sistema Sanitario.
CONCLUSIONI: Alla luce del significativo numero di casi registrati, vi è la necessità di individuare opportune strategie preventive sia ecologiche che sanitarie (ad es. pianificazione di interventi anti-medusa, potenziamento attività di monitoraggio e organizzazione punti di primo soccorso in spiaggia), al fine di ridurre i costi sociali di un fenomeno ecologico in costante aumento.
Questo studio ha beneficiato di un finanziamento dal Settimo programma quadro della Comunità Europea (FP7/2007-2013; Grant Agreement No.266445) per il progetto:Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors (VECTORS)
Valutazione dello stato microbiologico delle risorse idriche profonde in un'area centrale del Salento attraverso l'applicazione del modello DPSIR.
No full textOBIETTIVI: Le scarse precipitazioni e l’assenza di riserve idriche superficiali, parallelamente alla crescente richiesta idrica nel settore civile e produttivo, hanno determinato, nelle aree centrali del Salento ed in particolare nella Grecia Salentina, l’incremento dello sfruttamento della falda profonda. Contemporaneamente si sono registrati fenomeni di antropizzazione del territorio individuabili nell’urbanizzazione delle zone rurali, nell’introduzione di tecnologie di produzione agricola sempre più intensiva e nell’industrializzazione, che sommati alla vulnerabilità intrinseca degli acquiferi profondi, hanno determinato un potenziale impatto negativo sulla qualità delle acque con possibili conseguenze sanitarie ed economiche. L’obiettivo dello studio è stato quello valutare lo stato microbiologico delle risorse idriche profonde nella Grecia Salentina e identificare eventuali criticità determinate da fattori di rischio presenti sul territorio.
METODI: Il metodo di riferimento adottato in questo studio è stato il modello concettuale DPSIR secondo cui i fattori antropici (D) esercitano pressioni (P) sull’ambiente tali da modificarne lo stato di qualità (S) e produrre impatti negativi (I) sulla salute umana e sugli ecosistemi, per cui vengono richieste delle risposte (R) di tutela ambientale. Pertanto, oltre alla valutazione dello stato microbiologico delle risorse idriche profonde, sono stati presi in considerazione indicatori ambientali relativi a caratteristiche idrogeologiche, aspetti demografici, sociali ed economici, consumo idrico, produzione di fattori inquinanti, aspetti sanitari dell’ambiente e della popolazione, strategie di tutela dell’ambiente. RISULTATI E CONCLUSIONI: I risultati hanno evidenziato uno stato microbiologico eterogeneo riconducibile ad una contaminazione di origine fecale, elevata e diffusa in gran parte del territorio, durante l’estate e modesta e puntiforme nel corso delle altre stagioni. In alcune aree i fenomeni di degrado sono particolarmente evidenti a causa della presenza di fattori antropici che, in associazione alla vulnerabilità del territorio, determinano condizioni di pericolo tali da compromettere la salubrità delle risorse idriche: insediamenti abitativi extraurbani ad uso prevalentemente estivo, non serviti dalla rete fognaria; aree urbane con basso numero di allacci fognari; depuratori sottodimensionati; aree industriali. Lo stato sanitario delle acque profonde ne condiziona la loro fruibilità sia per scopi potabili che per quelli irrigui. Tali circostanze impongono la tempestiva realizzazione di interventi finalizzati al recupero della situazione di degrado e ripristino degli standards minimi di qualità ambientale
Identification of HEV in symptom-free migrants and environmental samples in Italy.
No full textSUMMARY. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging pathogen in industrialized countries. The occurrence of HEV genotypes in samples of faeces from asymptomatic migrants arriving on the coasts of South Italy and environmental samples was investigated. Analyses of sequences were used to compare human and environmental genotypes.
A total of 40 stool specimens, 12 samples of
untreated urban sewage, 12 samples of treated urban sewage and 12 samples of surface water were analysed.
Viruses were concentrated from water samples by the tangential flow ultrafiltration technique. The presence of HEV RNA was detected by nested RT-PCR. Viral isolates were sequenced and phylogenetically characterized. Two (5%) of the 40 faecal samples tested were found to be positive for HEV RNA (G1 and G3 genotypes). The virus was detected in 25% (3/12) of the untreated sewage samples and 25% (3/12) of the surface water samples: all isolates belonged to G3 genotype. None of the treated sewage samples were found to be HEV RNA positive. The virus was detected in the faeces of two asymptomatic subjects, suggesting a potential role for symptom-free HEV carriers as a human reservoir. G3 HEV strains were detected in the untreated sewage, as observed in similar studies conducted in other European countries but differing from another study conducted in Italy recently. Moreover, our results show the first case of HEV isolated from fresh surface waters
The clinical potential of blood-proteomics in multiple sclerosis
Full text linkBackground: The aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unknown. This hampers molecular diagnosis and the discovery of bio-molecular markers. Consequently, MS diagnostic procedures are complex and criteria for assessing
therapeutic efficacy are controversial, suggesting that a pathophysiological rather than an aetiological approach to
the disease would be more appropriate. In this regard, blood-proteomics represents a still-unexplored tool. We
investigated the potential of proteomics as applied to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for
differentiating treatment-naive RR-MS patients from healthy controls and from IFN-treated RR-MS patients.
Methods: A comparative analysis of PBMC proteins isolated from 13 unselected IFN-treated RR-MS patients,
6 IFN-untreated RR-MS patients and 14 matched healthy controls was performed using two-dimensional gel
electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. We considered the volume of each spot, expressed as a
percentage of the total volume of all spots in the gel. Heuristic clustering was applied to a composite population
made up of a random sequence of gels from the different groups in comparison. For the differentially expressed
proteins, we applied the Student's t-test to identify only those down- or up-regulated at least 2.5-fold
[Ratio(R) ≥ 2.5] with respect to the homologous spots of the compared groups.
Results: Rho-GDI2, Rab2 and Cofilin1 were found to be associated with down-regulated and naïve group
phenotypes; Cortactin and Fibrinogen beta-Chain Precursor were found to be associated with down-regulated and
group-related IFN-treated RR-MS phenotypes. Thus, by means of similarity analysis, the proteomes were
homogeneously segregated into three distinct groups corresponding to naive, IFN-treated and healthy control
subjects. Interestingly, no separation was found between IFN-treated and healthy controls. Moreover, the molecular
phenotypes were consistent with disease pathogenesis.
Conclusions: We demonstrated for the first time, albeit only with preliminary data, the aprioristic possibility of
distinguishing naive and IFN-treated MS groups from controls, and naive from IFN-treated MS patients using a
blood sample-based methodology (i.e. proteomics) alone. The functional profile of the identified molecules
provides new pathophysiological insight into MS. Future development of these techniques could open up novel
applications in terms of molecular diagnosis and therapy monitoring in MS patients
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