Prevalence of entanglements of seabirds in marine debris in the central Portuguese coast.

Plastic pollution and the subsequent entanglement of marine animals is a global and increasing problem. In this study we present an analysis of the seabirds recorded as entangled by a rehabilitation centre and an associated marine animal stranding network, along the central coast of Portugal, between 2008 and 2018. Results show a high annual rate of entangled seabirds (average 6.9%) compared to other studies and fisheries related materials are a relevant cause of seabird entanglement (82%) compared to other debris. When comparing age classes, juveniles were more vulnerable to entanglement than other age classes in the species studied. Regarding the rehabilitation of entangled seabirds, the release rate was higher in non-fishing material entanglement cases. In conclusion, this study highlights the impact of fisheries related material on marine fauna and the need for reinforcement of the existing legislation for protecting seabirds and the implementation of mitigation measures associated with fishing activities.

Stone recurrence after lithotripsy in patients with recurrent idiopathic calcium urolithiasis: efficacy of treatment with fiuggi water.

A multicentric study was carried out on 384 patients (231 males, mean age 28.3 years; 153 females, mean age 40.8 years) previously treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for recurrent idiopathic calcium urolithiasis. Patients were selected and submitted to different types of high fluid intake treatment (oligomineral water with a calcium content of 15 mg/l vs. tap water with a calcium content ranging between 55 and 130 mg/l) to evaluate stone recurrence and to identify any potential risk factors. During follow-up (range 14-34 months, mean 19 months) 44 (23%) of the 192 patients treated with tap water presented recurrence versus 32 (17%) of the 192 patients treated with Fiuggi mineral water, the difference in incidence between the two groups being 6%. Of the possible predictors of recurrence, evaluated at the beginning of follow-up and analyzed in a multivariate statistical study, the 24-hour diuresis and calciuria were seen to be directly related to the recurrence.

Incidence and prediction of stone recurrence after lithotripsy in idiopathic calcium stone patients: a multivariate approach.

In order to evaluate the recurrence of calcium kidney stones, 520 patients (275 males and 245 females), aged 14-79 years, previously treated with lithotripsy were followed up for 23 months on average (median = 24 months; range = 12-48 months), and 101 relapses (10%/year) were recorded. Among the possible predictors of recurrence, measured at the beginning of the follow-up and analyzed in univariate and multivariate statistical ways, age was inversely related with occurrence of event (multivariate t value = -2.12) whereas urinary calcium (UC; t = 2.78), alkaline phosphatase (AP; t = 3.55) and history of previous relapses (t = 2.07) were directly related to the recurrence. The levels of UC were not correlated to those of AP (linear correlation coefficient r = 0.0032), but the combination of their high levels increased the risk of recurrences. The contribution of the other considered factors to stone formation were not significant (sex, family history of stone disease, gallstone, renal failure, serum calcium, phosphate, uric acid, sodium and proteins, urinary phosphate, sodium, magnesium and uric acid.

[Prevention of renal calculosis: efficacy of Fiuggi water cure. Research Group on Renal Calculosis]. / Profilassi della calcolosi renale: efficacia della terapia idropinica con l'acqua di Fiuggi. Gruppo di Ricerca per la Calcolosi Renale.

High fluid intake is the only nutritional modification that is universally agreed to be useful in all forms of nephrolithiasis. Particularly the use of oligomineral waters seems to be important as they can obtain a high urine volume with a low electrolytes concentration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an oligomineral water (Fiuggi) on some urinary parameters on different regimens of therapy. Out of 200 patients (118 M., 82 F., mean age 53 +/- 13 years), arrived to our outpatient Kidney Stone Center in Fiuggi, a random of 100 was submitted to water cure with more than 1500 ml/die of Fiuggi water for a period of 7 and 14 days, the other 100 patients to less than 1500 ml/die for the same periods. All the patients had a history of stone disease. Urinary values of calcium, phosphate, uric acid, magnesium, potassium, pH and density were measured in all groups of patients before and after water cure. Data were analyzed in unvaried method and were presented as mean +/- S.D. To evaluate the statistical differences between the values before and after therapy, the paired t test was used. Moreover, the percent changes of the considered parameters in relation to their basal values was considered. The 50-70% of all patients showed a reduction of the considered urinary parameters, with a statistical significance in patients who drunk more than 1500 ml of water. Urinary pH and Mg+/Ca++ ratio increased significantly in both groups of patients. The sex and the length of therapy didn't show any significant power on these results.

DNA markers in diagnosis of adult dominant polycystic kidney disease.

We report the results of a biological and molecular study carried out on 11 Italian families, with a total of 111 individuals in which adult dominant polycystic kidney disease segregates. A restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed. Two families have shown a genetic heterogeneity even if not phenotypically different from the other ones: they resulted unlinked to 16p markers. A prenatal diagnosis has been performed in a family of the linked type.

Perfusion of uremic blood ultrafiltrate on uncoated charcoal.

A granular uncoated charcoal removes from uremic blood ultrafiltrates many chemical species that are not removed by dialysis. Charcoal treatment dramatically improves the general condition of the patients and normalizes their blood pressure. To obtain a rapid depuration, the initial treatment should be intensive (at least 16 daily treatments) and the effects prolonged over time by once-a-week charcoal treatment between two standard hemodialyses. Biogel P2 chromatography documents well all the events of a depurative treatment that cannot be monitored by hematochemical analyses.

Evaluation of blood toxicity in chronic uremia by an improved chromatographic method.

Biogel P2 gel chromatography of ultrafiltrate from chronic uremic patients leads to better resolution of the compounds present than so far reported in the literature. Reproducibility is good. Toxicity, evaluated by cell cultures, was detected in only one chromatographic fraction. Further purification of this fraction with HPLC on a RP18 column revealed two toxic fractions, to the better defined of which a polyol structure was ascribed.