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AbstractBackgroundThe Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a marine reptile belonging to a monophyletic group of chelonians. As these animals are long-lived, they have the ability to accumulate pollutants.AimTo collect epidemiological data on toxic metals in marine Loggerhead sea turtles.Materials and MethodsForty Loggerhead sea turtles comprising 25 males and 15 females stranded freshly dead between 2013 and 2018 along the coasts of Sicily, Southern Italy, were examined for arsenic, cadmium, and lead accumulation in muscle and adipose tissues by means of a validated ICP-MS method. A modified K index as a growth condition factor, namely Fulton’s K index, was used. Samples were tested in duplicate. A Wilcoxon rank sum test was carried out to evaluate metal contents differences between muscle and adipose tissues and between genders.ResultsThe Fulton’s K index suggested a good body condition of the C. carettarecovered with mean values of 5.34 ± 3.40 (n = 40; ±SD). Detectable concentrations of lead were found in 70% of the samples analysed with mean values of 0.65 ± 1.67 mg/kg wet weight and 0.51 ± 1.29 mg/kg wet weight in muscle and adipose tissues, respectively. No significant differences in arsenic, cadmium, and lead were detected between genders. In addition, no significant correlation was found between modified K index and concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead.Clinical relevanceFindings on muscle and adipose tissues suggest chronic exposure of Caretta carettato high concentrations of especially lead which might negatively affect health and welfare of these marine turtles although body condition was good.

Background: Hypermetabolism, insulin resistance, and diabetes are common in patients with liver cirrhosis. Objective: We assessed whether diabetes and insulin resistance influence postabsorptive energy homeostasis in these patients and whether liver transplantation (LTx) and immunosuppressive drugs affect these relations. Design: Twenty-six patients with liver cirrhosis (16 with and 10 without diabetes) were studied with an insulin clamp and indirect calorimetry. Eleven of these subjects were studied 9 mo after LTx to longitudinally assess its effects. To cross-sectionally explore a longer follow-up period, we studied 65 patients 6, 14, and 32 mo after LTx. Seven patients with chronic uveitis (receiving immunosuppressive therapy) and 20 healthy subjects served as control subjects. Results: Diabetic and nondiabetic patients with cirrhosis had insulin resistance ([S.sub.I(clamp)]; P < 0.03) and higher measured resting energy expenditure (REE) as a percentage of predicted REE than did healthy subjects (107.6 [+ or -] 1.8% compared with 97.4 [+ or -] 2.3%; P < 0.03), and these 2 alterations were associated ([R.sup.2] = 0. 119, P = 0.0002). The longitudinal study showed an improvement in the 2 variables after LTx, but full restoration was not achieved. The cross-sectional analysis confirmed this observation in patients studied 6 mo (n = 28) after LTx. In patients studied 14 (n = 21) and 32 mo (n = 16) after LTx, [S.sub.I(clamp)] and measured REE as a percentage of predicted REE were not significantly different from those in control subjects. Conclusions: In patients with liver cirrhosis, higher-than-normal postabsorptive REE was associated with insulin resistance regardless of diabetes. This abnormality persisted in patients studied 6-9 mo after LTx but improved simultaneously with the improvement in insulin sensitivity thereafter. KEY WORDS Resting energy expenditure, liver cirrhosis, insulin resistance, liver transplantation, lipid oxidation, immunosuppressive therapy, diabetes

In total, 4,615 fresh and processed fish samples collected from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed for histamine by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Histamine levels were detected in 352 (7.6%) samples, with a maximum of 4,110 mg kg−1and mean values of 908.9 ± 1,226.79 and 344.01±451.18 mg kg−1for fresh and processed fish samples, respectively. No histamine levels were found in canned tuna and smoked fish samples in contrast to most of the data reported in the literature. A low percentage (2.79%) of noncompliant samples was found. The highest mean values were found during 2011 and 2015 for fresh and processed fish samples, respectively, showing a significant (P< 0.05) difference between the sampling years. The histamine contents found in fresh fish samples were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than those of processed samples. Most of the positive samples came from street vendors, suggesting the need to improve inspection measures in these commercial categories to ensure fish product safety.

The current concern about meat consumption tackles many aspects: health, social life, food behaviours, animal welfare, natural resources exploitation. People are more sensitive about these topics and they are shifting individual food habits in favour of a more plant-based diet. Surveys provide a concise view of the increasing percentage of both vegetarians and vegans. The aim of the present research was to develop adequate recipes to prepare food products that mimic the shape and the texture of traditional würstel and Mortadella, focusing on the Italian market. The challenge faced was multiple: firstly, to maintain the similar characteristics of the traditional foods; secondly, to accomplish the consumer's requests; thirdly, to enlarge the market share of the food industries. The results obtained demonstrated that “mimic- würstel” and “mimic-mortadella” were created with vegan allowed ingredients and proteins of vegetal origin. In the case of “mimic-mortadella” the addition of tofu cubes tried to recreate the visual effect of fat globules.

Viaspan (University of Wisconsin UW) solution is the gold standard for abdominal organ preservation. Celsior (CEL) is an extracellular-type, low-potassium, low-viscosity solution, initially used for heart and lung preservation. We have performed a prospective multicenter study to compare the role of these cold-storage solutions on kidney and liver recovery after transplantation.

Insulin resistance is a key factor in the pathogenesis of hepatogenous diabetes and influences the prognosis of chronic liver diseases. In vivo assessment of insulin resistance in humans is expensive; therefore, surrogate indices based on a fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations (HOMA-IS, QUICKI) were proposed. This study aimed to test whether these simple indices are reliable measures of insulin sensitivity in patients with liver cirrhosis before and after liver transplantation (LTx).

Saccharomyces uvarumis proposed as a proper species within the complex Saccharomycessensu stricto. Molecular characteristics including the similarity of the restriction profile of the non‐transcribed spacer 2 (NTS2) and of the D1/D2 sequences of the rDNA, as well as other genotypic and phenotypic characteristics confirm that this group of strains is highly homogeneous and distinguishable from other species of the Saccharomycessensu stricto group.

A natural subgroup (that we refer to as Saccharomyces uvarum) was identified, within the heterogeneous species Saccharomyces bayanus. The typical electrophoretic karyotype, interfertility of hybrids between strains, distinctive sugar fermentation pattern, and uniform fermentation characteristics in must, indicated that this subgroup was not only highly homogeneous, but also clearly distinguishable from other species within the Saccharomyces sensu strictogroup. Investigation of the S. bayanustype strain and other strains that have been classified as S. bayanus, confirmed the apparent lack of homogeneity and, in some cases, supported the hypothesis that they are natural hybrids.

Purpose:Prototypes of Gianturco-Rosch Z-stents coated with polycarbonate urethane (PCU) were placed in the biliary tree of pigs, in order to test their biomechanical behavior, stability, and biocompatibility.

This study investigated the psychosocial adjustment in 40 patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT)for several endstage liver diseases. Twenty patients were grafted because they suffered from liver cancer as well as cirrhosis. Particular attention was paid to evaluating whether cancer could affect recipients' coping with transplant. Each patient underwent a semi-structured interview to obtain information on their psychosocial life, relationship with the donor, organ acceptance and life expectancy. Interview was performed I year after transplantation. A psychodiagnostic evaluation was also performed using a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and a Human Figure Test. Psychosocial adaptation in everyday life following liver transplantation seemed good in most of the patients, whatever the indication for transplantation might be. It can be seen that by replacing the diseased organ a high percentage of oncological patients overcame their fear of cancer.

Objectives: To study retinol binding protein variation in the serum of patients who have undergone liver transplantation.

Abstract:: A series of 132 patients who underwent liver transplantation for primary liver cancer was collected from three different Italian hospitals and studied for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver replacement. Twenty-one patients (15.9%) had a neoplastic recurrence after an average follow-up period of 7.8 months after transplantation (range, 1–25 months); 15 (71%) occurred within the first 18 months after transplant and only two recurred later than 2 years. The sites of recurrence were grafted liver (19%), lung (19%), bone (14%), and other (5%). Eight patients (38%) had multiple organ involvement at the onset. After 1, 2, 3, and 4 years the overall survival rates were 62%, 43%, 29%, and 23%, respectively. The tumor factors related to early cancer recurrence after transplantation were diameter of nodules more than 3 cm (P < 0.05), tumor stage not meeting the "Milan criteria" (P < 0.03), and presence of peri-tumoral capsule (P < 0.05); the number of nodules, TNM stage, presence of vascular invasion, alpha-fetoprotein level more than 150 UI/l, pre-transplant chemoembolization and resectability of cancer deposits did not seem to be related to early recurrence. The prognosis differed in the 7 patients with resectable recurrences (57% 4-year survival) and the 14 patients with unresectable disease (14% 4-year survival) (P < 0.02). Better patient selection and new combined medical strategies could reduce the incidence of and mortality from liver cancer recurrence after transplantation. The role of surgical resection of recurrence should be further investigated.

AbstractInferior vena cava thrombosis after liver transplantation is uncommon. We describe a case of this unusual complication occurring after piggy‐back (end‐to‐side) graft implantation. Renal failure, lower limb edema, and hemodynamic instability were the presenting symptoms requiring immediate surgical correction with a left renal‐to‐splenic vein shunt over a ringed 2.5‐cm prosthesis. The decision to go ahead with the shunt was preceded by an intraoperative confirmation of a 10‐cm H2O pressure gradient between the caval and portal circulations. This gradient, unlike that observed in liver cirrhosis, ultimately turned a splenorenal shunt into a renal‐splenic one. Six months after the procedure, the patient is alive and well with normal liver and renal function. The technique described may be useful in the management of other clinical conditions of acute infrahepatic caval hypertension.