117,345 research outputs found
Inhaled Corticosteroids and Long-Acting β2 Receptor Agonists for Preterm-Born Children - New Insights but Still Many Questions
No full textLung growth and pulmonary function after prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia
No full textBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) still carries a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality in survivors of extreme prematurity. The disease is characterized by simplification of the alveolar structure, involving a smaller number of enlarged alveoli due to decreased septation and a dysmorphic pulmonary microvessel growth. These changes lead to persistent abnormalities mainly affecting the smaller airways, lung parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature, which can be assessed with lung function tests and imaging techniques. Several longitudinal lung function studies have demonstrated that most preterm-born subjects with BPD embark on a low lung function trajectory, never achieving their full airway growth potential. They are consequently at higher risk of developing a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like phenotype later in life. Studies based on computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, have also shown that in these patients there is a persistence of lung abnormalities like emphysematous areas, bronchial wall thickening, interstitial opacities, and mosaic lung attenuation also in adult age. This review aims to outline the current knowledge of pulmonary and vascular growth in survivors of BPD and the evidence of their lung function and imaging up to adulthood
Assessing the spermiotoxicity of butyltin compounds (TBT and DBT) in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus Lmk
No full textDespite legislative restrictions about the use of paints containing organotins introduced in
Europe at the end of the ’80, contamination levels in marine coastal environment are still
relevant and represent a cause of concern for aquatic life. In the present study, the spermiotoxic
effects of tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) were assessed in the sea urchin Paracentrotus
lividus. A series of preliminary experiments were performed in order to determine the
appropriate sperm:egg ratio for this species which allows to enhance the sensitivity of the test.
As indicated by various standard protocols for other species, we chose the lowest sperm:egg
ratio (1250:1) giving a fertilisation success of approximately 90%. For each compound, six
replicated experiments were carried out at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 lg/l for
TBT, and from 0.5 to 20 lg/l for DBT. A significant reduction of fertilisation was observed
from 0.1 lg TBT/l (p<0.05); with respect to controls, the fertilised eggs were 48% at 1 lg TBT/l
and 0.75% at 10 lg TBT/l. As for DBT, the lowest concentration tested (0.5 lg DBT/l) caused
a slight but significant reduction in the percentage of fertilised eggs (p < 0.05) that fell to 86%
at 1 lg DBT/l and to 7% at the highest concentration tested (20 lg DBT/l). Spermiotoxic
effects were demonstrated at environmentally realistic levels for both compounds, the higher
toxicity of TBT being confirmed. Nevertheless, with reference to our previous studies, TBT
and DBT exhibited higher embryotoxic than spermiotoxic effects
Spermotoxicity and embryotoxicity of triphenyltin (TPT) to the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus Lmk
No full textThe most important sources of pollution by triphenyltin (TPT) in marine coastal ecosystems are its employment as a fungicide in agriculture and, in association with tributyltin, as a biocide in anti-fouling paints. In this study, spermiotoxicity and embryotoxicity (from post-fertilisation to pluteus stage) experiments were carried out to better clarify the ecotoxicological effects of TPT during the development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.
Sperm exposed to triphenyltin acetate (TPTA) for 60 minutes showed a significantly reduced capability to fertilise eggs even at the lowest concentration of 0.1 μg TPTA l-1. In proportion to increasing concentrations, the percentage of fertilised eggs decreased, falling to 45% at 10 μg TPTA l-1, the maximum tested concentration.
In embryotoxicity experiments at 48 h post-fertilisation, the length of the pluteus somatic rods was significantly reduced (P<0.001) from 1.5 μg l-1. Progressive increases in skeletal anomalies were also detected, highly significant (P <0.001) at 2 μg l-1. Embryonic development was greatly slowed at the highest TPT concentrations: embryos never reached the pluteus stage at 5 μg l-1, and development was blocked at the gastrula stage at 10 μg l-1.
As observed in previous experiments using butyltin compounds, embryotoxic effects on both skeletal deposition and blocked development are presumed to be due to interference of TPT with intracellular calcium homeostasis.
Sea urchin gametes are more sensitive to TPT than embryos, this condition emphasising the environmental risk due to TPT contamination
Early-life origin and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
No full textChronic obstructive respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have their roots in the womb. Together with a genetic predisposition, prenatal and early-life factors, including maternal smoking, prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), have a pivotal role in later respiratory health. Then, inappropriate responses to respiratory viruses (especially respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus) and early allergic sensitization are the strongest contributors to the inception of wheezing and early-onset asthma. There is an urgent need for early disease biomarkers to identify profiles at higher risk of chronic respiratory conditions. Applying the “-omic” technologies to urine, blood and breath condensate, and non-invasive inflammometry seem promising in this regard. The description of specific risk profiles may be the key to the use of targeted personalized therapies
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Brand extensions into the hospitality industry by luxury fashion labels and national identity: the cases of Hotel Missoni Edinburgh and Maison Moschino
No full textThe luxury fashion industry is closely intertwined with the phenomenon of brand extension. Italian labels have been particularly active in this regard, consistently associating their name with a variety of products and extending into sectors that are sometimes rather distant from the core where they operate, like in the hospitality business. This thesis gives an insight into this phenomenon that sees Italian luxury fashion labels expand their brands into hôtellerie by unpacking the relationship it holds with Italianicity. Examining the cases of two iconic Italian luxury fashion labels, Missoni and Moschino, and the hotels associated with their names, Hotel Missoni Edinburgh and Maison Moschino, this thesis investigates the different ways in which they refer to Italy and its culture. It is contended that within Hotel Missoni Edinburgh and Maison Moschino there are corporate strategies at play that are aimed at deploying their Italianicity as a means to increase their prestige and strengthen their association with the identity of their parent brands. Moreover, it is contended that the hotels employ strategies of cultural opportunism that see the deployment of characteristic traits associated with Italy and its culture as a way to augment their offerings, maximising the brand extension potential of those labels. However, while Missoni Hotel Edinburgh and Maison Moschino rely on traits of Italianicity for their identity, they also contribute to the construction of ideas of Italianicity
Long-term effects of fishing on physiological performance of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in the Lagoon of Venice
No full textThe Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) is an important economic resource for fisheries in the Lagoon of Venice, where this species is fished and farmed. With the aim of evaluating possible fishing-induced long-term effects undergone by clam populations subjected to fishing efforts, physiological biomarkers were measured at organism level (clearance and respiration rates, scope for growth and survival-in-air test). Clams were collected on a seasonal basis from sites characterized by various fishing management practices: a free fishing area at S. Angelo and an area licensed for clam farming at Chioggia, where a non-fishing sub-area was established. R. philippinarum collected at S. Angelo generally showed reduced filtering activity and higher oxygen consumption, revealing general worsening in clam well-being in comparison with individuals from both Chioggia areas. This condition, resulting in lower standardized scope for growth values, may be explained by both environmental and fishing effort differences. Comparing Chioggia samples, better physiological performances were exhibited by clams from the non-fishing area, though no significant differences were observed. In winter, the survival-in-air test revealed the detrimental effects of fishing on clams, whereas in the other seasons this response generally seemed to be mostly related to other exogenous and endogenous factors. Although differences among sites and seasons were always statistically significant, all physiological parameters indicate the great tolerance of R. philippinarum to changing environmental conditions
Seasonal changes in physiological responses and evaluation of “well-being†in the Venus clam Chamelea gallina from the Northern Adriatic Sea.
No full textChamelea gallina is an infaunal bivalve, widespread in sandy bottoms along Mediterranean coasts. It is an important economic resource for
fisheries in the Adriatic, although in recent years over-fishing, and other concurrent factors, have dramatically decreased clam harvesting. In this
context, it is of great interest to gain information on seasonal variations in the physiological performance of clams, for an overall evaluation of
their well-being. In this study, laboratory experiments were performed to define allometric relationships and effects of temperature on clearance
and respiration rates of C. gallina. The mean values of b coefficients were calculated and used to correlate physiological measurements to
‘standard’ body mass, when seasonally collected clams were analysed. The highest clearance rate (0.42 L h−1) was measured in clams collected in
July 2000; the highest respiration rate (12.22 μmol O2 h−1) was observed in July 2001, leading to a negative scope for growth (−2.8 J h−1). The
influence of environmental and endogenous factors, mostly reproduction, was discussed. Survival in air and condition indices, showing higher
stress conditions in December 2000 and July 2001, were in good agreement with the other physiological measurements. The physiological
responses examined in this study appear to be suitable for providing detailed indications on the well-being of C. gallina and may be useful for
future studies aimed at eco-sustainable management of the resource
Shell-shape and morphometric variability in Mytilus galloprovincialis from micro-tidal environments: responses to different hydrodynamic drivers
No full textTidal conditions differently influence inter-tidal organisms in terms of generalphysiological and metabolic responses. In this study we investigated the mor-phological response in shells of Mytilus galloprovincialis native to differentmicro-tidal coastal environments in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Our purposewas to highlight the ecophenotypic variability across tidal levels and to eluci-date how tidal currents and waves produced by anthropogenic activities mayplay a part in modulating shell morphology. Three sampling sites were selected:an open-sea area 15 km off-shore and two sites within the lagoon of Venice,the first near one of its three inlets, and the other one in the proximity of Ven-ice city centre. At each sampling site, organisms were seasonally collected atdifferent depths within their vertical zonation, either in the inter-tidal zone –i.e. at both the highest and lowest tide zonation limits, and subtidally. Themussel shells were analysed by investigation of their morphometric relation-ships (height/length and width/length ratios) and by elliptic Fourier analysis ofthe shell contours. Shell thickness and condition index were also evaluated fora better comprehension of energy allocation/partitioning. Estimates based onlong-term measurements, visual observation, wind statistics and wave growthlaws allowed an evaluation of the forces acting on shells. At the open-sea site,the observed phenotypic variability of both shell shape and thickness wasclearly related to the tidal vertical zonation. At the two lagoon sites, the cur-rents generated by tidal flow through the inlet and the waves caused by the fre-quent passage of boats influenced both shell shape and thickness. A trade-offbetween protection and growth was apparent along the tide gradient, asemphasized by the differences in the partitioning and allocation of energybetween shell and flesh production
EMBRYOTOXICITY OF BUTYLTIN COMPOUNDS TO THE SEA URCHIN PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS LMK
No full textTributyltin (TBT) has been widely employed in marine anti-fouling paints as a biocide, although it represents a serious risk, particularly in estuarine and coastal water/sediment
ecosystems. In this study, the embryotoxic effects of TBT and its degradation products, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), were analyzed during the development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus from post-fertilization to the pluteus stage, to better clarify eco-
toxicological impact. The embryotoxicity of butyltins is concentration-dependent and increases proportionally with number of butyl groups. Significant growth reduction was observed at TBT concentrations as low as 0.01 μg l-1; 1 μg l-1 was the maximum concentration allowing
embryos to reach the pluteus stage at 48 h post-fertilization. Development was blocked at the morula or blastula stage with higher TBT concentrations. DBT and MBT are less toxic: slowed development and a decrease in pluteus size occurred at 10 μg l-1 DBT and 0.5 μg l-1
MBT. Effects on both skeletal deposition and blocked embryonic development are suggested to be due to the interference of organotin compounds with intracellular calcium homeostasis
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