Multivariate tools to investigate the spatial contaminant distribution in a highly anthropized area (Gulf of Naples, Italy).

The Gulf of Naples located in a high anthropized coastal area is subjected to an infrastructural intervention for the installation of a submarine power pipeline. In order to evaluate the distribution of contaminants in the seafloor sediments, a preliminary study has been conducted in the area using multivariate techniques. The statistic approach was performed to gain insights on the occurrence of organic and inorganic contaminants within the area, aiming to identify the relevant hot spots. Three geographical sub-areas influenced by different contaminant association were recognized: Torre Annunziata (TA), Capri (CA), and middle offshore (MO). TA and CA resulted marked by a severe contamination pattern due to anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the influence of the depositional basin in governing the contamination trend has been pointed out. The supervised technique PLS_DA resulted to be a powerful tool in addressing the complexity of the huge dataset acquired during the marine survey, highlighting the main trends in the variability of quality indicators, orienting thus the deeper investigations during follow-up monitoring activities.

Estudio de eficacia de una intervención psicoeducativa para la reducción de la sobrecarga del cuidador principal de personas con discapacidad intelectual: análisis de línea base del estudio EDUCA-IV / No disponible

La sobrecarga del cuidador es un aspecto importante en la asistencia a personas con dependencia. Está documentado su impacto sobre la salud tanto del cuidador como de la persona cuidada. Objetivo: estudiar la sobrecarga de cuidadores de personas con discapacidad intelectual y desarrollar una herramienta de intervención, para la prevención o reducción de dicha sobrecarga. La herramienta de intervención (EDUCA-DIS) se basa en la encuesta realizada a 244 familias que cuidan a personas con discapacidad intelectual y en las intervenciones psicoeducativas del programa EDUCA. Métodos: análisis de la línea base del estudio experimental multicéntrico, prospectivo y aleatorizado. Se recogieron datos de 183 cuidadores en 7 centros de atención diurna. La variable principal fue la sobrecarga del cuidador (ZBI). Las variables secundarias fueron el estado de salud mental del cuidador (GHQ-28), el estado de ánimo (CES-D) y el estado de ansiedad (STAI); Se recogieron datos del estado conductual y funcional de la persona cuidada mediante el ICAP. Resultados: El perfil del cuidador principal fue una mujer adulta, que convive con el familiar con un nivel de sobrecarga leve-moderado. Los datos del nivel de distress indicaron que la puntuación más baja está en la subescala de depresión y la más alta en la subescala de ansiedad/ insomnio. El nivel de sobrecarga del cuidador correlacionó negativamente con la capacidad de independencia de la persona atendida, tanto por estado funcional como por la gravedad de problemas de conducta. Conclusiones: el cuidador de la persona con discapacidad presenta síntomas de malestar emocional y es necesario un abordaje de esta problemática asistencial

Caregiver burden is a relevant issue in dependent's assistance. It is well documented its impact in caregiver’s and patient’s health. Aim: EDUCA-IV project study the caregiver burden of mental disability patients and the development of a intervention program to diminish the caregiver burden. The program was based on the surveys of 244 families of patients with intelectual disability and on the previous EDUCA programs. Methods: baseline analyses of a multicentre randomized control trial. Data was obtained from 183 caregivers of 7 daycare centres. Principal outcome was caregiver burden (ZBI-22). Secondary outcomes were mental health (GHQ-28), depression (CES-D), and anxiety (STAI). Behavioural and functionality data of patients were obtained with ICAP questionnaire. Results: Caregiver profile was an adult woman who lives with the patient and shows a low moderate level of burden. GHQ-28 results indicate that caregivers are affected of insomnia/anxiety symptoms. Caregiver burden correlates negatively with the level of independency of patient. Conclusions: Caregivers of intellectual disability patient show burden and psychological distress. It is necessary to act and implement an interventional program

Gene polymorphisms and elite athletic performance.

Endurance and power performance capacities show much interindividual variation, even among well trained athletes. In the past few years the research was focus on the analysis of the relationship between physiology, biochemistry and genetics in the field of physical exercise, investigating on the inheritance of some traits of performance, on the genetic and molecular basis of training adaptation and on the different indicators of performance.Recently, several studies have shown evidence of the important role of gene polymorphisms in athletic performance. Genetic analysis can be considered a crucial predictive factor only when the gene under scrutiny has a strong influence in a specific physiological pathway or when physiological tests are weakly predictive of adult performance. It is noteworthy that genetic association studies must always be interpreted with caution, for several reasons. It is necessary to verify if the association is attributable to chance or is a false positive result. The association between gene and performance phenotype could even be a consequence of a lack of homogeneity in the genetic substrate of the samples under scrutiny, which could be from different ethnic groups. The number of genes potentially correlated with sport performance is increasing steadily: today it includes 165 autosomal genes and five on the X chromosome. Moreover, there are 17 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes in which sequence variants influence both fitness and performance phenotypes. Here we review some of the most studied genes on autosomes and in mtDNA that are correlated with potential performance or fitness phenotypes.

Italian isolates today: geographic and linguistic factors shaping human biodiversity.

We briefly review the current status of anthropological and genetic studies of isolated populations and of their micro-evolutionary and biomedical applications, with particular emphasis on European populations. Thereafter, we describe the ongoing collaborative research project "Isolating the Isolates: geographic and cultural factors of human genetic variation" regarding Italian extant geographical and/or linguistic isolates, aimed at overcoming the limitations of previous studies regarding geographical coverage of isolates, number and type of genetic polymorphisms under study and suitability of the experimental design to investigate gene-culture coevolutionary processes. An interdisciplinary sampling approach will make it possible to collect several linguistic isolates and their geographic neighbours from Trentino, Veneto, Friuli, Tuscany, Sardinia and Calabria. This will be coupled with a shared genotyping strategy based on mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal polymorphisms. The results will be analyzed with a focus on the role of geographical and cultural factors in shaping human biodiversity. The aims of the project go beyond the simple reconstruction of the genetic structure and history of the examined groups. In fact, the study will also include an assessment for future bio-medical studies and the development of genetic and bio-demographic databases. Ethical and educational aspects are also foreseen by the project, by using informed consents together with disseminating activities in loco, completed by the creation of a dedicated web site for both scientific and public audiences.