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The yellowmouth barracuda, Sphyraena viridensis, is a Mediterranean native species whose exact distribution is uncertain due to a long-term taxonomic confusion with Sphyraena sphyraena. Records of this species in the Mediterranean Sea have recently increased, and a northwards expansion of its distribution has been suggested. Three mt DNA regions, namely cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome b and the control region, were analysed in S. viridensis samples from Italian coastal regions to provide molecular markers useful in species identification, in phylogenetic analysis and in detecting the distribution of genetic variability of the yellowmouth barracuda in this area. The data clearly distinguish S. viridensis from S. sphyraena and the other four (one native and three Lessepsian) Mediterranean Sphyraena species and identify two clearly distinct lineages that diverged during the Pleistocene but are currently panmictic in the investigated area. Both lineages retain signatures of historical population expansion. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 635-641. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its remarkable sediment pollution caused by past industrial activities, the Mediterranean coastal area facing the town of Cogoleto (near Genoa) has been declared of “national interest”. Seven sediment cores were analysed to provide information on history and trend of heavy metal inputs, with a particular focus on Cr. Grain-size compositions and Pb chronologies account for a strong influence of terrigenous inputs near the coast and the mouth of the Lerone Creek (draining the industrial settlement), with sand contents and accumulation rates varying from 40.3% and 0.7 cm year near shore to 2.5% and 0.1 cm year offshore. Heavy metal concentrations are high, notably Cr and Ni, and to a lesser extent, Ag, Hg, Pb, Cu and Zn. Cr, that shows past values up to 3,642 µg g, presents only minor recent decreases. In the area, it has both natural and anthropogenic sources and their relative contributions were distinguished on the basis of Cr/Ni ratios. These are 1–1.5 in soils and rocks of the Lerone Creek catchment area but reach very high values (up to 10) in marine sediments due to the anthropogenic contribution. The anthropogenic influence is higher near the creek mouth, gradually decreases offshore and is negligible at the most distal site (ca. 2.9 km from the coast). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons are resilient and productive ecosystems that support high biological and habitat diversity, but are increasingly affected by several threats due to human exploitation. Many resident species of these environments show a restricted geographical range and a strict association with specific habitats, thus they could represent ecological indicators of these ecosystems. Data on the genetic variability distribution in populations of these species are crucial to identify the presence of different evolutionary units across their geographical distribution ranges and to plan actions for their management and conservation. In this context, the assessment of the genetic variability and structure of Italian specimens of the Adriatic dwarf goby Knipowitschia panizzae, a brackish species endemic in the Adriatic Sea, and included among the species of Community interest in Annex II of Habitats Directive, was carried out. To this purpose, goby samples were collected both from Italian sites where the species is native (Adriatic) and non-native (Tyrrhenian), probably introduced due to the practice of stocking lakes and coastal lagoons with juvenile of euryhaline species to sustain local fisheries. Results show the presence of high values of haplotype diversity, and no shared haplotypes between fish from sites where the species is native or introduced. Moreover, in Tyrrhenian Italian lagoons we identified an allochthonous species of Knipowitschia , previously undetected in Italy: the Corfu dwarf goby K. goerneri. This species was originally described as endemic to the Korission Lagoon catchment on Corfu Island, but recently found also in Butrinti lagoon in Albania. The presence of this species, that almost totally replaced Adriatic dwarf goby in the Tyrrhenian lagoons under study, can be ascribed to the stockings of wild fry of commercially important species originating from Balkan countries. • Coastal lagoons support high biodiversity and habitats but are increasingly threatened. • Genetic data of a species are crucial for conservation actions. • Molecular tools represent an easy resource to support classical taxonomy. • Non-native species can be translocated by stocking coastal lagoons. • Fish introductions might compromise the survival and integrity of local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: The current organ allocation system for liver transplantation (LT) creates an imbalance between patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We describe a model designed to re-establish allocation equity among patient groups using transplant benefit as the common endpoint., Methods: We enrolled consecutive adult patients entering the waiting list (WL group, n=2697) and undergoing LT (LT group, n=1702) during the period 2004-2009 in the North Italy Transplant program area. Independent multivariable regressions (WL and LT models) were created for patients without HCC and for those with stage T2 HCC. Monte Carlo simulation was used to create distributions of transplant benefit, and covariates such as Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were combined in regression equations. These equations were then calibrated to create an "MELD equivalent" which matches HCC patients to non-HCC patients having the same numerical MELD score., Results: Median 5 year transplant benefit was 15.12 months (8.75-25.35) for the non-HCC patients, and 28.18 months (15.11-36.38) for the T2-HCC patients (p<0.001). Independent predictors of transplant benefit were MELD score (estimate=0.89, p<0.001) among non-HCC patients, and MELD (estimate=1.14, p<0.001) and logAFP (estimate=-0.46, p<0.001) among HCC patients. The equation "HCC-MELD"=1.27∗MELD - 0.51∗logAFP+4.59 calculates a numerical score for HCC patients, whereby their transplant benefit is equal to that of non-HCC patients with the same numerical value for MELD., Conclusions: We describe a method for calibrating HCC and non-HCC patients according to survival benefit, and propose that this method has the potential, if externally validated, to restore equity to the organ allocation system., (Copyright © 2013 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate screening patterns within organized cervical screening programs (OCSPs) and survival of women with invasive cervical cancer (ICC)., Methods: A population-based study was conducted in Italian areas covered by cancer registries and OCSPs. The study included all women aged 25-65 years diagnosed with ICC between 1995 and 2008, and their screening histories within OCSPs were retrieved. Hazard ratios (HR) of death and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed according to screening pattern, using Cox models adjusted for age, ICC stage, and major confounders., Results: Among 3268 women with ICC, 20% were never-invited to OCSP, 36% were never-compliant with OCSP's invitation, 33% were compliant and had a screen-detected ICC within OCSP (i.e., after a positive cytology), and 11% were compliant but had a non-screen-detected ICC. Screen-detected ICCs were more frequently micro-invasive (42%) compared to non-screen-detected ones (14%). Compared to women with screen-detected ICC, the adjusted HRs of death were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.4) for those never-invited, 2.0 (95% CI 1.6-2.5) for never-compliant, and 1.7 (95% CI 1.3-2.4) for compliant women having non-screen-detected ICC., Conclusion: Prolonged survival, beyond down-staging, of women with ICC detected within OCSPs in Italy, further calls for improvements of OCSPs' invitational coverage and participation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)