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Renato Cannizzaro,1 Stefania Maiero,1 Mara Fornasarig,1 Vincenzo Canzonieri,2 Raffaella Magris,1 Giovanni Guarnieri,1 Martina Urbani,3 Angela Buonadonna,4 Tanja Baresic,5 Paola Spessotto61Oncological Gastroenterology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy; 2Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy; 3Oncologic Radiation Therapy and Diagnostic Imaging, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy; 4Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy; 5Nuclear Medicine, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy; 6Molecular Oncology, Department of Translational Research, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, ItalyAbstract: The potential role of the probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) has been analyzed in different pathologic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we analyzed a case of extrapulmonary high grade neuroendocrine rectal carcinoma (HGNEC) using, for the first time, the pCLE system. A 72-year old man was diagnosed with an 8 cm diameter rectal HGNEC by standard colonoscopy integrated with the pCLE system. The diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma was confirmed by immunohistochemical analyses. By using the pCLE system, we well defined and resolved vascular structures and mucosal architecture. An altered mucosal pattern and vascular defects, peculiar for HGNEC, were observed at high magnification, allowing the identification of a pattern which was quite different from that observed in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas (PDA) where tissues appear darker, very irregular, even if glandular structures can still be recognized. This underlines the usefulness of pCLE in discriminating HGNECs from PDAs. In conclusion, pCLE could represent a valid and helpful method for in vivo HGNEC diagnosis, allowing prompt and careful management of the patient.Keywords: probe-based confocal endomicroscopy, neoangiogenesis, extrapulmonary high grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma

Magris, R. A., Fernandes, L.F. Loureiro (2011): Diversity and distribution of assemblages of estuarine decapod larvae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura, Brachyura) in tropical southeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 2758 (1): 26-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2758.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2758.1.2

Global marine conservation remains fractured by an imbalance in research efforts and policy actions, limiting progression towards sustainability. Rhodolith beds represent a prime example, as they have ecological importance on a global scale, provide a wealth of ecosystem functions and services, including biodiversity provision and potential climate change mitigation, but remain disproportionately understudied, compared to other coastal ecosystems (tropical coral reefs, kelp forests, mangroves, seagrasses). Although rhodolith beds have gained some recognition, as important and sensitive habitats at national/regional levels during the last decade, there is still a notable lack of information and, consequently, specific conservation efforts. We argue that the lack of information about these habitats, and the significant ecosystem services they provide, is hindering the development of effective conservation measures and limiting wider marine conservation success. This is becoming a pressing issue, considering the multiple severe pressures and threats these habitats are exposed to (e.g., pollution, fishing activities, climate change), which may lead to an erosion of their ecological function and ecosystem services. By synthesizing the current knowledge, we provide arguments to highlight the importance and urgency of levelling-up research efforts focused on rhodolith beds, combating rhodolith bed degradation and avoiding the loss of associated biodiversity, thus ensuring the sustainability of future conservation programs.

Autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AAG) is associated with an increased risk of certain types of gastric cancer (GC). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may have a role in the induction and/or maintenance of AAG and GC. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are essential for H. pylori recognition and subsequent innate and adaptive immunity responses. This study therefore aimed to characterize TLR polymorphisms, and features of bacterial flagellin A in samples from patients with AAG (n = 67), GC (n = 114) and healthy donors (HD, n = 97). TLR5 rs5744174 C/C genotype was associated with GC, lower IgG anti H. pylori response and a higher H. pylori flagellin A abundance and motility. In a subset of patients with AAG, H. pylori strains showed a reduction of the flagellin A abundance and a moderate motility compared with strains from GC patients, a prerequisite for active colonization of the deeper layers of the mucosa, host immune response and inflammation. TLR9 rs5743836 T allele showed an association with serum gastrin G17. In conclusion, our study suggests that alterations of flaA protein, moderate motility in H. pylori and two polymorphisms in TLR5 and TLR9 may favor the onset of AAG and GC, at least in a subset of patients. These findings corroborate the function of pathogen&ndash, host cell interactions and responses, likely influencing the pathogenetic process.