Azathioprine-Induced Peripheral T Cell Apoptosis And Drug Response In Patients With Crohn’s Disease

Background and Aim: the long time interval for a trial of thioupurine therapy and the potential side effects in spite of the proven efficacy, do not encourage their use as early therapeutic option in Crohn’s Disease (CD). The development of tests predictive of responsiveness represents a major attempt in the clinical management of CD patients. Azathioprine (AZA) is able to induce apoptosis of T cells; therefore we analyzed the “in vitro” thiopurine-induced T cells apoptosis in a group of CD patients with known response to a previous treatment with AZA. Methods: peripheral CD4+ T cells from 16 CD patients were stimulated with antiCD3/CD28 mAbs in the presence or absence of AZA or 6-MP or 6-thioguanine; apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V staining. Results: Apoptosis stimulation index (% of apoptotic cells in the presence of thiopurine / % of apoptotic cells in their absence) was significantly lower in non responder when compared to responder patients (1.46 (0.97-1.8) vs. 2.19 (1.58-2.65) median (range), respectively; p=0.002 by Mann Whitney test). Conclusions: evaluation of apoptosis stimulation index of peripheral CD4+T cell induced by AZA might represent a parameter useful for a proper selection of CD patients candidate to thiopurine treatment

Lo Stato trofico dello stagno di Platamona

Seasonal changes of nutrient concentrations and other chemical and biological parameters in Platamona's pond were investigated to asses its trophic level. The pond shows eutrophic. There is a large range of seasonal variations of totale alcalinity concentrations (3.3 - 6.9 meq l-1). The littoral and submersed macrophytes are very plentiful and the mean annual value of clorophyll a (16 mg m-3) is high. Nevertheless the mean of concentrations of nitrate nitrogen (106 mg m-3), ammonia nitrogen (30 mg m-3) and reactive phosphorus (4 m-3) are low

Sulla presenza di <i>Caulerpa racemosa</i> (Forsskål) J. Agardh in Sardegna

Nel presente contributo viene segnalato un nuovo sito di rinvenimento di Caulerpa racemosa, localizzato a sud della Sardegna nel Golfo di Cagliari, nelle adiacenze dell'area industriale di Sarroch. È significativa la presenza dell'alga in prossimità del porto industriale dove attraccano numerose petroliere provenienti dal Golfo Persico via Suez. È possibile quindi che data la grande resistenza dell'alga, frammenti del tallo possano essere rimasti impigliati nell'ancora. L'area marina risulta particolarmente adatta all'insediamento dell'alga perché risente della pressione antropica della vicina zona industriale, dell'elevata densità insediativa e della presenza di stagni e lagune di ampie dimensioni nelle immediate vicinanze. Il fondale da una prima prospezione è ricoperto da matte morta di notevoli proporzioni con radi ciuffi di Posidonia e con vaste zone di accumulo di materia organica particellata. Il sito presenta un' elevata torbidità dovuta al tipo di sedimento e bassi fondali. Il presente contributo analizza inoltre l'espansione di Caulerpa racemosa in Mediterraneo, riportando alcune considerazioni biogeografiche

Interventi comuni per la difesa dell'ambiente marino quale elemento unificante del parco transfrontaliero

Si riportano alcune esperienze di ricerca ambientale e gestionale propedeutiche alla creazione del Parco Internazionale delle Bocche di Bonifacio tra i ricercatori del Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena e del Parco Regionale della Corsica

Fitoplancton, nutrienti algali e stato trofico del lago Bunnari (Sardegna settentrionale)

Seasonal changes of nutrient concentrations, density and composition of phytoplankton and chlorophyll a contents in Bunnari lake were investigated to assess limnological conditions and trophyc status. Only 19 phytoplanktonic species are identified and only 2 species, during the seasonal succession, show high density and biomass; however seasonal succession is altered by a Cupper treatment with purpose of algal control. The 100% dominance of some species allow a good evaluation of chlorophyll aphytoplankton volume ratios. Since many of species found in the lake are typical of productive environments and the values of phytoplankton density and biomass, chlorophyll a and nutrient concentrations are very high, it has been argued a high eutrophic level of the lake

Variations of biofouling communities in an off-shore fish cage farm from North-Western Sardinia = Variazioni del biofouling in un allevamento ittico in gabbie off-shore della Sardegna nord-occidentale

Biofouling variations were studied in a fish farming facility near Alghero (Italy) between November 2007 and November 2008. Net panels suitable for the settlement of encrusting organisms were immersed in cages in which large and small gilthead seabream specimens were reared. Significant differences in biofouling biomass and coverage were observed between cages containing fish and controls. The results obtained revealed that gilthead seabream can exert a crucial role in controlling biofouling growth, independently from its size

Definizione delle situazioni geomorfologiche rilevanti in due diverse AMP secondo la metodologia CARLIT = Definition of relevant geomorphological situations in two different MPAs with CARLIT methodology

Macroalgae is a biological key element for the assessment of the Ecological Status in coastal waters according to the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). Here we propose the monitoring of North Sardinia coastal water quality based on CARLIT methodology. A study on the geomorphological factors of two MPAs was made as a first step for the assessment of Reference Conditions fulfils the requirements of the WFD

<i>Posidonia oceanica</i> (L.) Delile in Sardinia: knowledges and perspectives

A summary of the research regarding Posidonia oceanica in Sardinia is presented; this consists of a series of studies regarding the phenology of the plant and some considerations on the conservation of the prairies. Finally, the Authors describe a proposition for the protection of the plant in Sardinia

Il Lago Omodeo: caratteristiche fisiche e chimiche

The chemical and physical data collected in Lago Omodeo (Central Sardinia) during 1976 are presented. Particulary temperature and oxygen distributions show the influences of the deep water withdrawl. The high winter nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations and their seasonal changes, the dissolved oxygen depletion in deep waters are importat indices of high eutrophic conditions

Produttività primaria del Lago di Baratz

Il presente lavoro si inquadra in una più vasta ricerca di carattere paleolimnologico, limnologico, floristico e fitogeografico dell'unico lago naturale della Sardegna. In particolare, le ricerche riguardano l'attuazione del metodo che in ambiente acquatico permette la stima della produttività primaria in situ e in generale definisce il metabolismo della comunità dell'ambiente lacustre