Seasonal dynamics of prokaryotic abundance and activities in relation to environmental parameters in a transitional aquatic ecosystem (Cape Peloro, Italy).

This study examines the effects of temporal changes on microbial parameters in a brackish aquatic ecosystem. To this aim, the abundances of prokaryotes and vibrios together with the rates of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins by leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), polysaccharides by ß-glucosidase (GLU) and organic phosphates by alkaline phosphatase (AP), heterotrophic prokaryotic production (HPP), respiration (R), were seasonally investigated, during a 2-year period in the coastal area of Cape Peloro (Messina, Italy), constituted by two brackish lakes (Faro and Ganzirri). In addition, physical and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, nutrients) and particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC, PN) were measured. The influence of multiple factors on prokaryotic abundances and activities was analysed. The results showed that Cape Peloro area is characterised by high seasonal variability of the microbial parameters that is higher than the spatial one. Combined changes in particulate matter and temperature (T), could explain the variability in vibrios abundance, GLU and R activities in both lakes, indicating a direct stimulation of the warm season on the heterotrophic prokaryotic metabolism. Positive correlations between T (from 13.3 to 29.6 °C) and HPP, LAP, AP, POC, PN are also observed in Ganzirri Lake. Moreover, the trophic status index and most of the microbial parameters show significant seasonal differences. This study demonstrates that vibrios abundance and microbial activities are responsive to the spatial and seasonal changes of examined area. The combined effects of temperature and trophic conditions on the microbial parameters lead us to suggest their use as potential indicators of the prokaryotic response to climate changes in temperate brackish areas.

Assessment of the ecological status of transitional waters in Sicily (Italy): first characterisation and classification according to a multiparametric approach.

A 1-year cycle of observations was performed in four Sicilian transitional water systems (Oliveri-Tindari, Cape Peloro, Vendicari and Marsala) to characterise their ecological status. A panel of variables among which trophic and microbial (enzyme activities, abundance of hetetrophic bacteria and of bacterial pollution indicators) parameters, were selected. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) contents defined the trophic state, while microbial hydrolysis rates and abundance gave insights on microbial community efficiency in organic matter transformation and on allochthonous inputs. To classify the trophic state of examined waters, the synthetic trophic state index (TRIX) was calculated. Microbial hydrolysis rates correlated positively with POC and Chl-a, which increased along the eutrophication gradient. The significant relationships among TRIX, trophic and microbial parameters suggested the use of leucine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and POC as suitable parameters to implement the Water Framework Directive when assessing the ecological status of transitional water systems.

Bacteriologic, histologic and ultrasonographic findings in strictures recurring after urethrotomy. A preliminary study.

Twelve men with recurrent anterior urethral stricture after endoscopic urethrotomy (2-12 attempts) underwent open urethroplasty with en bloc removal of diseased urethral segments. Bacteriologic and histologic studies of the excised urethral tracts (mucosa and spongiosum tissue) were performed. The bacteriologic findings were compared with the results of preoperative urine cultures and urethral swabs for chlamydia. The histologic findings were related to preoperative ultrasonographic observations, in order to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in depicting structural changes in spongiosum around the strictured urethral tract. Beta-haemolytic streptococci and Streptococcus faecalis were cultured from the excised spongiosum, without correlation to the preoperative culture results. The histologic studies confirmed the usefulness of urethral ultrasonography for accurate demonstration of the inflammatory changes involving spongiosum around the strictures.

[Adenomatoid tumor of the epididymis]. / Il tumore adenomatoide dell'epididimo.

Adenomatoid tumor of the epididymis is an uncommon lesion accounting for approximately 30% of all the paratesticular neoplasms. One case observed in this Urological Department is reported and a review of our series of paratesticular neoplasms treated in the last 10 years has been considered.

[Importance of antigliadin antibodies determination during the follow-up of childhood coeliac disease]. / Importanza del dosaggio degli anticorpi antigliadina nel follow-up della malattia celiaca del bambino.

Since their introduction in clinical practice, antigliadin antibodies (AGA) have simplified the diagnostic iter of coeliac disease. In addition they have allowed us to recognize an even high number of new cases and also to identify new clinical forms. While AGA are widely used in the diagnostic phase, their determination during follow-up of the disease has been always limited. With the present work we observe the behaviour of AGA during the various phases of coeliac disease. The study was carried out on 288 coeliac children divided as follows: 96 at diagnosis, 136 on gluten-free-diet (75 diet adherent and 61 non adherent) and 56 on gluten-challenge. 145 healthy children were also studied as a control group. In all children AGA (IgA and IgG) were determined, with a micro-ELISA method, every two months in the children on gluten-free-diet and monthly in the children on gluten-challenge. Data obtained showed AGA behaviour strictly related to the diet. In fact while children with good compliance to the diet had AGA normalization within the 2nd and 6th month, respectively for IgA and IgG, children with poor adherence to diet had constantly positive AGA. Noteworthy was the AGA behaviour during challenge. Gluten introduction determined a rapid increase of IgA and a slow increase of IgG. Our results confirm the usefulness of AGA determination during the follow-up of coeliac children giving us the possibility to avoid one or more biopsies included in the ESPGAN protocol.

Changes in coeliac disease behaviour over the years.

We performed a retrospective study of 325 coeliac children (179 females and 146 males, F/M ratio 1:2), diagnosed from 1984 to 1989. The children were divided into two groups; group A were diagnosed between 1984 and 1986 and group B were diagnosed between 1987 and 1989, when the antigliadin antibody test had been introduced in our routine. The data showed a difference between the number of diagnoses in the two groups, 117 in group A versus 208 in group B, with a yearly increment of new cases. In both groups, the onset of the disease occurred within the 2nd year of life, in most cases (group A, 88.9%; group B 89.4%) showing a mode at approximately the 9th month. Diagnosis was made within the 2nd year of life in the majority of cases (group A, 80.3%; group B, 87.4%), showing a mode of approximately the 12th month. In both groups, chronic diarrhoea was the most frequent symptom (75.2% in group A and 70.2% in group B), while minor symptoms, such as isolated short stature, pallor, delayed puberty and others, did not show any important change. We conclude that in Sicily, in recent years, the incidence of coeliac disease has been increasing. The most representative clinical form is the classic one, with onset within the 2nd year of life, and chronic diarrhoea, growth failure and abdominal distention as key symptoms.

[Cisapride efficacy in gastroesophageal reflux in children]. / Efficacia della cisapride nella malattia da reflusso gastroesofageo del bambino.

In the last years gastroesophageal reflux disease received more attentions, due to an improving in diagnostic techniques. Motility disorders, such as reduced competence of lower esophageal sphincter, motor esophageal disorders, delayed gastric emptying are important factors in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore therapy using prokinetic agents has been considered useful. A variety of drugs such as bethanecol, metoclopramide and domperidone have been used. There are conflicting report on the effects of these drugs and it should also be emphasized that they are not devoid of side effects related to dopamine antagonism. Recently cisapride, prokinetic agent which acts through facilitation of acetylcholine release, has been considered effective and well tolerate drug for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this view we investigated the effects of oral administration of cisapride in 12 children (age range 3-40 months), 7 females and 5 males, suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease diagnosed on the bases of: clinic criteria, barium swallow radiological examination, 24-hour intraesophageal pH monitoring. After diagnosis a treatment with cisapride (1 mg/kg/die) before feedings for 8 weeks was started in all children. At the end of the trial clinical assessment and 24-hour intraesophageal pH test were performed. Clinical assessment was determined through weight, length and a clinical score calculated using the following parameters: regurgitation, vomiting, irritability, nocturnal weeping, meteorism, respiratory complaints. The total score was evaluated at diagnosis and during the follow-up (1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th week).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The predictive value of antigliadin antibodies (AGA) in the diagnosis of non-celiac gastrointestinal disease in children]. / Il valore predittivo degli anticorpi antigliadina (AGA) nella diagnosi di malattia gastrointestinale non celiaca del bambino.

Recent antigliadin antibody (AGA) determination has become an important diagnostic tool in coeliac disease (CD). Although this test has high sensibility for the disease, it is less specific, especially for IgG class, because of its having been found in some acute and chronic common intestinal childhood diseases. We studied the behaviour of AGA, IgA and IgG, in 234 children affected by various gastrointestinal diseases, comparing the results with those obtained in 125 coeliac children and 788 normal children. The intestinal diseases were as follows: irritable bowel syndrome, cow's milk protein intolerance, acute infectious diarrhoea, parasitosis, lactase deficiency, recurrent abdominal pain, cystic fibrosis, chronic constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, intestinal lymphangiectasia, chronic intractable diarrhoea and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. Our results showed that while AGA-IgA were absent in all children studied, with the exception of 3 cases of acute diarrhoea, a moderate percentage of AGA-IgG was observed in subjects with cow's milk protein intolerance, acute diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, lactase deficiency, chronic intractable diarrhoea and in a low percentage of children with parasitosis, intestinal lymphangiectasia and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. There was no antibody movement in subjects with cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent abdominal pains and chronic constipation. The different behaviour of the two antibody classes could be explained by the fact that AGA-IgG were detected in diseases where scattered areas of mucosal damage could allow the permeability of the macromolecules inducing passage of gliadin through the mucosal barrier and immune system-induced antibody stimulation.

[Blood beta-carotene after oral administration of carotenoids. A dynamic test of lipid absorption]. / Beta-carotenemia da carico orale di carotinoidi. Prova dinamica di assorbimento dei lipidi.

Authors report a method on the functional investigation of intestinal epithelium, based upon the dosage of serum carotene levels after administration of carotenoids. This test takes advantage of the modality of beta-carotene absorption that it behaves like a lipid. The "beta-carotene test" has demonstrated, as regards to T.A.R.T., great sensibility and specificity over 90%. It doesn't show value overlapping between normal and coeliac children and also it shows good compliance of children and simplicity in laboratory determination. For all these characteristics the Authors suggest the utilization of "beta-carotene test" as screening tool of malabsorption.

[Significance of milk antibodies in cow's milk protein intolerance]. / Significato degli anticorpi antilatte nella intolleranza alle proteine del latte vaccino.

Cow's Milk Protein Intolerance (CMPI) is the most common food intolerance in childhood. The I, III and IV type of the immunological mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis. Nowadays there are no diagnostic tests with good reliability excluding the IgE-mediated clinical pictures. Recently the evaluation of antibodies (IgA and IgG classes) versus milk proteins has been proposed as reliable test. In order to establish the pattern of antibody response against milk proteins we studied 37 children (17 males and 20 females), aged from 3 months to 6 years, divided as follows: 23 with CMPI of which 16 suffering from gastrointestinal complaints (GI) and 7 from cutaneous ones (CT); 5 children with coeliac disease; 9 normal healthy children without any clinical manifestation. All children at the time of the assessment assuming a diet containing cow's milk proteins. IgA, IgG and IgM antibody classes against cow's milk proteins such as alpha-lactoalbumin (alpha LA), beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG), casein (CAS) and pooled proteins (PPL) were measured using an ELISA method. The results obtained in the various groups were as follows: CMPI-GI group: the percentage of positivity for alpha LA-IgA was 43.8% and alpha LA-IgG 68.7%, for beta LG-IgA was 50% and beta LG-IgG 75%, for CAS-IgA was 43.8% and CAS-IgG 68.7%, for PPL-IgA was 37.5% and PPL-IgG 62.5%. CMPI-CT group: the percentage of positivity for alpha LA-IgA was 42.8% and alpha LA-IgG 57.1%, for beta LG-IgA was 71.4% and beta LG-IgG 42.8%, for CAS-IgA and CAS-IgG was 85.7%, for PPL-IgA was 71.4% and PPL-IgG 57.1%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Comparison of two methods to determine beta-lactoglobulin antibodies in children with cow's milk protein intolerance]. / Comparazione tra due metodiche di determinazione degli anticorpi anti-beta-lattoglobulina in bambini affetti da intolleranza alle proteine del latte vaccino.

In the last years the evaluation of IgG against beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG-IgG) has been proposed as reliable test to diagnose Cow's Milk Protein Intolerance (CMPI). This test, associated with other diagnostic tools (such as eosinophilia, hemoccult, RAST, challenge, etc.) showed a good sensibility, but less specificity. In fact antibodies against beta-lactoglobulin were found in other gastrointestinal diseases (coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, cystic fibrosis, etc.). To determine the specificity of the test some Authors attributed great importance to the laboratory method (IFL, ELISA). They retained IFL more specific. In order to verify the behaviour of the two methods and their concordance we carried out a double bind determination of IgG against beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG-IgG) on serum samples from children affected by CMPI. For this study we chose 16 children, aged from 3 months and 6 years, suffering from CMPI of which 11 with gastrointestinal complaints and 5 from extraintestinal ones. All children were diagnosed on the basis of the following criteria: clinical picture, blood eosinophilia, positivity of hemoccult, amelioration after the withdrawal of cow's milk proteins from the diet, positivity of challenge test. All children at the time of the assessment assuming a diet containing cow's milk proteins. beta LG-IgG were measured using simultaneously immunofluorescent and micro-ELISA methods. The obtained data showed that 12 children (75%) had IgG versus beta-lactoglobulin in the serum. This result was obtained both with IFL and ELISA methods, showing a 100% of concordance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)