Evidence of Covid-19 lockdown effects on riverine dissolved organic matter dynamics provides a proof-of-concept for needed regulations of anthropogenic emissions.

The fast spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus in Italy resulted in a 3-months lockdown of the entire country. During this period, the effect of the relieved anthropogenic activities on the environment was plainly clear all over the country. Herein, we provide the first evidence of the lockdown effects on riverine dissolved organic matter (DOM) dynamics. The strong reduction in anthropogenic activities resulted in a marked decrease in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in the Arno River (-44%) and the coastal area affected by its input (-15%), compared to previous conditions. The DOM optical properties (absorption and fluorescence) showed a change in its quality, with a shift toward smaller and less aromatic molecules during the lockdown. The reduced human activity and the consequent change in DOM dynamics affected the abundance and annual dynamics of heterotrophic prokaryotes. The results of this study highlight the extent to which DOM dynamics in small rivers is affected by secondary and tertiary human activities as well as the quite short time scales to return to the impacted conditions. Our work also supports the importance of long-term research to disentangle the effects of casual events from the natural variability.

A rare iatrogenic association of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rhabdomyolysis.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is considered the prevalent cause of hyponatremia in hospitalized patients. Neuroleptic malign syndrome (NMS) is an idiosyncratic drug reaction showing fever, dysautonomia and rigidity with increased levels of Creatinine-phosphokinase (CPK) dependent on leakage of muscle contents into the circulation and defined as rhabdomyolysis. Although different diagnostic criteria for NMS have been established, it should be recognized that atypical presentations occur, particularly during treatment with atypical antipsychotics. We here present a case report of a psychiatric patient affected by a SIADH complicated with NMS/rhabdomyolysis, induced by second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic drugs in combination with carbamazepine and promazine.

Localized herpes zoster infection: a rare cause of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality observed in clinical practice and syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is diagnosed in nearly 40% of the hospitalized hyponatremic patients. We present a case report of herpes zoster infection causing a severe hyponatremia/hypokalemia. This rare association between SIADH and varicella-zoster virus infection is described in only few case in the literature. In our case report, the associated hypokalemia was not related to the use of diuretics but, probably, dependent on the frank serum hyposmolality able to induce an aldosterone release.

Choline-Containing Phospholipids: Structure-Activity Relationships Versus Therapeutic Applications.

Choline is a quaternary ammonium salt, and being an essential component of different membrane phospholipids (PLs) contributes to the structural integrity of cell membranes. Choline-containing phospholipids (CCPLs) include phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), and choline alphoscerate (GPC). PC is the major phospholipid in most eukaryotic cells. It is involved in SM synthesis, choline/choline metabolite re-generation, and fatty acid/GPC formation. This paper has reviewed chemical, biological and therapeutic features of CCPLs by analyzing: a) effects of exogenous CCPLs, b) influence of GPC treatment on brain cholinergic neurotransmission, and c) neuroprotective effects of GPC alone or in association with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in animal models of brain vascular injury, d) synthesis of the choline analogs, containing a short alkyl chain instead of a methyl group. Cytidine-diphosphocholine and GPC, protect cell membranes and could be helpful in the sequelae of cerebrovascular accident treatment. Moreover, cellular membrane breakdown is suggested as a feature of neurodegeneration both in acute (stroke) and in chronic (Alzheimer and vascular dementia) brain disorders. Published data were focused to a larger extent on the biosynthesis, relevant role in cell life, and crucial involvement of CCPLs in cholinergic neurotransmission. The possibility of their use in the treatment of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders is suggested by published clinical studies. In line with these potential practical applications in pharmacotherapy, the need of further research in the field of the synthesis of new choline derivatives with possible activity in nervous system diseases characterized by cholinergic impairment is discussed.

Biophysical processes affecting DOM dynamics at the Arno river mouth (Tyrrhenian Sea).

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and optical properties (absorption and fluorescence) of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were measured in October 2012, at the Arno river mouth and in a coastal station close to it. The data reported indicates that the Arno river represents an important source of DOC and CDOM to this coastal area, with a total DOC flux of 11.23-12.04 · 10(9)g C · y(-1). Moving from the river to the sea, CDOM absorption and fluorescence decreased, while the spectral slope increased, suggesting a change in the molecular properties of CDOM. Mineralization experiments were carried out in order to investigate the main processes of DOM removal and/or transformation in riverine and coastal water. DOC removal rates were 20 µM · month(-1) in the river and 3 µM · month(-1) in the seawater, while CDOM was released during the first 30 days and removed in the following 40 days.

Enzymatic activities and prokaryotic abundance in relation to organic matter along a West-East Mediterranean transect (TRANSMED cruise).

The distribution of extracellular enzymatic activities (EEA) [leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), ß-glucosidase (GLU), alkaline phosphatase (AP)], as well as that of prokaryotic abundance (PA) and biomass (PB), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon and particulate total nitrogen (POC, PTN), was determined in the epi-, meso-, and bathypelagic waters of the Mediterranean Sea along a West-East transect and at one Atlantic station located outside the Strait of Gibraltar. This study represents a synoptical evaluation of the microbial metabolism during early summer. Decreasing trends with depth were observed for most of the parameters (PA, PB, AP, DOC, POC, PTN). Significant differences between the western and eastern basins of the Mediterranean Sea were found, displaying higher rates of LAP and GLU and lower C/N ratios more in the eastern than in the western areas. Conversely, in the epipelagic layer, PA and PB were found to be higher in the western than in the eastern basins. PB was significantly related to DOC concentration (all data, n = 145, r = 0.53, P < 0.01), while significant correlations of EEA with POC and PTN were found in the epipelagic layer, indicating an active response of microbial metabolism to organic substrates. Specific enzyme activities normalized to cell abundance pointed out high values of LAP and GLU in the bathypelagic layer, especially in the eastern basin, while cell-specific AP was high in the epi- and bathypelagic zone of the eastern basin indicating a rapid regeneration of inorganic P for both prokaryotes and phytoplankton needs. Low activity and abundance characterized the Atlantic station, while opposite trends of these parameters were observed along the Mediterranean transect, showing the uncoupling between abundance and activity data. In the east Mediterranean Sea, decomposition processes increased probably in response to mesoscale structures which lead to organic matter downwelling.

[Synchronous adenomas of the stomach and rectum with severe protein-losing syndrome]. / Adenomi sincroni dello stomaco e del retto con grave sindrome da proteinodispersione.

The authors report a case of generalized edema with low colloidal osmotic pressure of plasma in an elderly man. After the exclusion of malnutrition and any myocadic, renal or hepatic involvement it has been shown that the physiopathogenetic mechanism is based on protein-losing enteropathy. Upper and lower endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract reveals double synchronous villous adenomas of the rectum and stomach (the latter rare but often associated with the former). It is likely that these two lesions may play an important role in the development of "anasarca" but only complete reversal of symptoms after surgical excision of tumors would demonstrate the causative relationship. The study confirms two findings already observed in the literature. The first is the increased risk of villous adenoma malignant transformation, especially where rarely located, such as in the gastric site. The other depends upon the variety of villous adenoma symptomatology. The effects of low plasmatic protein levels are prominent in this case, but clinical manifestations range form insidious signs of occult bleeding, to frank diarrhea and/or rectal bleeding, up to unusual cases of secretory diarrhea with profound dehydration and hypokalemia or malabsorption.

Propafenone in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome at risk.

We present our experience on the efficacy of propafenone in ten symptomatic patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The symptoms were dizziness in seven patients and syncope in three patients. While experiencing the symptoms, three of them presented an episode of atrial fibrillation, the shortest preexcited RR intervals being 140, 190, and 200 ms. In the other seven patients, the ECG was not recorded during the symptoms, but an episode of atrial fibrillation was subsequently induced by transesophageal pacing. The shortest preexcited RR intervals during induced atrial fibrillation were 180, 200, 270, 240, 230, 250, and 200 ms. Seven patients had both atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia. Propafenone (1-2 mg/kg) administered IV in only the patients with sustained atrial fibrillation (spontaneous in two and induced in one patient) prolonged the shortest preexcited RR intervals from 190, 200, and 180 ms to 340, 335, and 340 ms. In the other seven patients, propafenone was not given IV because atrial fibrillation rapidly deteriorated into ventricular fibrillation (one patient) or spontaneously reverted within 1-2 minutes to sinus rhythm (six patients). After oral propafenone, serial trans-esophageal pacing studies reinduced atrial fibrillation in 4 of 6 patients (the shortest preexcited RR intervals increased from 190, 180, 200, and 270 ms to 420, 320, 340, and 380 ms); only in one patient was it possible after propafenone to induce an atrial flutter without preexcitation. After propafenone therapy in 4 of 7 patients, supraventricular tachycardia was not inducible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)