Healthy assemblages of Isidella elongata unintentionally protected from trawling offshore of Asinara Island (northwestern Sardinia, NW Mediterranean Sea).

Deep-sea coral assemblages are marine biodiversity hot spots. Because of their life history traits, deep-sea corals are highly vulnerable to the impacts of human activities such as fishing. The critically endangered "bamboo coral" Isidella elongata is a key structuring species of deep muddy bottoms that is susceptible to habitat destruction, particularly from trawling. A shallow population of this species was recently discovered by a multibeam and ROV survey offshore of the Asinara Island marine protected area (MPA) (northwestern Sardinia, NW Mediterranean Sea). This vulnerable marine assemblage has been found under healthy conditions at depths ranging from 110 to 298 m. Isidella elongata occurs on a muddy seafloor locally characterised by boulders associated with black coral species (Parantipathes larix and Antipathes dichotoma). The lush colonies of I. elongata seem to be related to natural protection from bottom trawling activity; nevertheless, the presence of lost fishing artisanal nets has been observed in the study area. These structuring species are indicators of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and their conservation is essential for preserving marine biodiversity. Therefore, enlarging the perimeter of the Asinara Island MPA into its deeper western waters is suggested to ensure the protection of these valuable and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Safety of new DAAs for chronic HCV infection in a real life experience: role of a surveillance network based on clinician and hospital pharmacist.

BACKGROUND: Direct Antiviral Agents (DAAs) for HCV therapy represents a step ahead in the cure of chronic hepatitis C. Notwithstanding the promising results in several clinical trials, few data are available on adverse effects in real life settings. METHODS: We have evaluated 170 patients with persistent infection and on those eligible to treatment we have followed up them through a network managed by clinician and hospital pharmacist. RESULTS: According to our data we have found that 41% (32 out of 78) of enrolled patients experienced adverse reactions, of these 40% were in those under 65 years while 60% was in patients older than 65 years, SVR was achieved in 88% of the patients (including drop-out). We had 4 drop-out treatment due to major adverse reaction (heart and lung related). CONCLUSION: Even if new antiviral drugs seem to be promising, according to SVR, they require careful follow-up, possibly managed by clinician and hospital pharmacist, to avoid unrecognized side effects which may affect adherence and the real impact of these drugs on chronically infected subjects.

Relevance of intravenous cocaine use in relation to prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus markers among intravenous drug abusers in southern Italy.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between intravenous (i.v) drug use practices and the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 146 heterosexual male i.v. drug users (IVDUs) attending a methadone-maintainance treatment program in Catanzaro, Southern Italy. One hundred and forty-six heterosexual male IVDUs attending a methadone-maintainance treatment program in Catanzaro were interviewed in order to obtain the following information: age, number of drug injections (calculated by multiplying the mean number of daily injections by 365 and then by the number of years of injections), number of injection equipment-sharing partners in the last year, number of sexual partners in the last year and possible IV cocaine use. Their sera were studied for the presence of antibodies to HIV, HBV and HCV by commercial enzyme-linked-immuno-sorbent assays run in duplicate. HIV positive samples were confirmed by Western Blot assay. Sixteen per cent of IVDUs were anti-HIV positive, 40% were anti-HBc positive and 68% were anti-HCV positive. Twenty-three per cent were seronegative and 12% were seropositive for all 3 viral markers. Multiple logistic analysis of HIV, HBV and HCV seropositivities in relation to age, number of drug injections, i.v. cocaine use and presence of injection equipment-sharing partners in the last year, showed that: a) older age (more than 27 years) was significantly associated with all 3 viral infections (mainly with HIV); b) i.v. cocaine use was associated with HBV, but even more with HIV; c) injection equipment-sharing partners in the last year was directly associated with HCV and inversely with HIV. No significant association was observed with the number of drug injections and the number of sexual partners. In conclusion, this study: a) demonstrates a difference of prevalence for HIV, HBV and HCV serum markers in this group of IVDUs from Catanzaro, Southern Italy; b) underlines the importance of i.v. cocaine use in the spreading of HIV; c) emphasizes the need of preventive strategies.

Stimulation of LH release from cultured pituitary cells by saponins of Petersianthus macrocarpus: a permeabilizing effect.

Aqueous extracts from stem bark of Petersianthus macrocarpus contain substances exhibiting both estrogenic and antiestrogenic potency. Triterpenic saponins were identified and extracted as a bulk. Their action on the in vitro LH released by cultured rat pituitary cells was investigated. P. macrocarpus saponins stimulated the LH release in a dose-dependent manner (from 10 micrograms/ml to 300 micrograms/ml). When added simultaneously, saponins and LHRH exerted initial additive effects on LH release, demonstrating independent mechanisms of stimulation. If cells were pre-treated with saponins for 15 min, the amount of LH released under a subsequent LHRH stimulation was lowered, presumably due to a partial depletion of the cells in hormone (data not presented). However, the action of saponins on LH release did not appear specific since a general permeabilizing effect of the cell membrane was evidenced both by trypan blue exclusion and by analysis of the total protein output. When using low concentrations of saponins (10 micrograms/ml), scanning electron microscopy did not reveal any significant alteration of the cell structure, which explains why the cells remain responsive to LHRH after withdrawal of saponins. With higher concentrations (greater than 30 micrograms/ml), the same analytical studies evidenced numerous perforations of the cell membrane, with subsequent cell death. Two highly purified saponin species were tested on LH release by cultured cells; one of them (petersaponin I) appeared responsible for the observed biological effects in vitro. But as cells were shown to be efficiently protected from saponin effects by the presence of serum, it may be concluded that saponins of P. macrocarpus extracts are probably not candidate molecules promoting the in vivo estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects.

Anti-HBs detection: a modified passive haemagglutination assay.

Modification of a commercial haemagglutination assay for the detection of anti-HBs has reduced the test time from over one hour to approximately 25 min. increased sensitivity ten-fold without any prozoning, maintained specificity and reduced costs by 90%. The modification consists of diluting the reagent cells ten-fold; these are then added to dilutions of test serum in a V-well microplate. After incubation, plates are centrifuged and then inclined at 70 degrees. Positive and negative reactions can be clearly distinguished within approximately 10 minutes.

Anti-hepatitis C antibody prevalence among intravenous drug addicts in the Catanzaro area.

A higher seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (63.4%) was found in 41 intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) when compared to 220 controls (1.8%). Life style is an important risk factor for HCV transmission among IVDA.

Inhibitory effects of saponins from Tetrapleura tetraptera on the LH released by cultured rat pituitary cells.

Ethanolic extracts from stem bark of Tetrapleura tetraptera exerted an inhibitory effect on the luteinizing hormone (LH) released by cultured rat pituitary cells. These extracts contained triterpenic saponins, tannins, and flavonoids as estimated through phytochemical screening. Saponins were extracted. They apparently inhibited the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-induced LH release, the inhibition level being dose-dependent. Yet, the intracellular LH content remained constant whatever the saponin concentration, which demonstrated a lack of effect on the true release process. Accordingly, an interaction between saponins and LH released into the medium was demonstrated, which led to a decrease in the amount of immunoassayable hormone. This decrease was both time- and dose-dependent. It occurred even in the presence of serum in the medium, which suggests that the inactivation process may occur in vivo. Taken together, these results could explain the anti-gonadotrope properties of T. tetraptera extracts that are used as natural contraceptives in Ivory Coast pharmacopoeia.

Combretodendron Africanum bark extract as an antifertility agent. I: Estrogenic effects in vivo and LH release by cultured gonadotrope cells.

An aqueous extract from the stem bark of Combretodendron africanum was prepared to investigate its potency as a regulator of fertility. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was 95.2 +/- 4.3 mg/kg. Daily i.p. injections of 50 mg/kg promoted a significant increase in the uterine weight of 25 day-old female rats while pituitary weight remained unaffected. Similar injections for 21 days to mature females blocked the estrous cycle in the luteal phase with a mean length of efficiency of 15 days and decreased plasma LH and FSH levels. Regular cycles were restored 10 days following the last injection. C. africanum extract was shown to compete with estradiol and with progesterone on uterine receptors. Consequently, it is thought to contain substances exhibiting estrogenic (and possibly anti-estrogenic) potency. The effects of the extract on LHRH-induced release were investigated on cultured pituitary cells. Although gonadotropin release was amplified, the extract itself appeared as to be a potent secretagogue not requiring LHRH receptors. It follows that the active molecules contained in C. africanum extracts may be different from classical steroid estrogens.

Screening plasma donors for high-titre antibody to cytomegalovirus using a latex agglutination test.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause severe morbidity in immunosuppressed patients. Regional transfusion centres in the UK are required to supply high-titre anti-CMV plasma to the Blood Products Laboratory (BPL), now called 'Bio-Products Laboratory', for the production of specific intravenous immunoglobulin at the Protein Fractionation Centre in Scotland. For this purpose, 703 plasmapheresis donors were screened by a modified latex agglutination test to assess their suitability as donors with high-titre anti-CMV. CMV antibodies were found in 48% of the donors. Seropositivity increased with age ranging from 33% in the 20- to 29-year age group to 57% in the 40-49 age group, although the 50-59 age group showed a slight decline to 53%. In all age ranges except the 40-49 group, seropositivity was highest in the female population. With the latex test, 14% of the total donors screened had a titre greater than or equal to 1 in 64, 7% greater than or equal to 1 in 128 and 4.2% greater than or equal to 1 in 256. Samples from 18 donors with titres greater than or equal to 1 in 128 were sent to BPL and all samples were found to have a sufficiently high titre for the production of CMV immune plasma. For BPL the 'cut-off' level for CMV immune plasma is a titre greater than or equal to 1 in 64 by complement fixation. Since the establishment of a panel of donors with high-titre anti-CMV plasma, more than 10 kg of plasma are dispatched monthly from our centre to BPL.

[Natural substances regulating fertility. Effect of plant extracts in the Ivory Coast pharmacopoeia on the release of LH by hypophyseal cells in culture]. / Substances naturelles régulatrices de la fécondité. Action d'extraits de plantes issues de la pharmacopée ivoirienne sur la libération de LH par des cellules hypophysaires en culture.

The in vitro action of hydro-alcoholic extracts of plants from Ivory Coast pharmacopoeia was analyzed on cultured rat pituitary cells. Cells were treated for 24 hours with various doses of extracts and then stimulated for 4 hours with 10(-8) M LHRH. Extracts from Afrormosia laxiflora, Cola nitida, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Tetrapleura tetraptera inhibit the LHRH-induced release of LH. On the contrary, extract from Combretodendron africanum stimulates the basal release of LH and this increase is added to the LHRH-induced release. Therefore, the natural substances contained in these plants may in vitro exert a regulation of the gonadotropin release.