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Discards remain among the main negative impacts of fishing activities, and their reductions are strengthened by the European Common Fisheries Policy (European Regulation 1380/2013). Trammel net fisheries appear more sustainable compared with other fishing techniques, especially from an ecological viewpoint. Despite this, reports show that trammel net fisheries deliver discard quantities between 10% and 43% of the total catch biomass. To supplement existing information, this current work attempts to address the discard reduction using guarding net in the small-scale fisheries of Egadi Islands MPA (Western Sicily, Central Mediterranean Sea). To assess the reduction of unwanted catches, 48 experimental fishing trials were conducted within a 6-month period. The experimental fishing trial employed a trammel net made up of 20 panels alternated with two different net configurations. The control panels (CN) held a large outer (180 mm) and small inner (31.25 mm) meshes. The test panels (GN) with guarding net constituted a three-mesh-high (50-mm mesh size) net placed between trammel net panels and a lead line. A total of 3,310 individuals belonging to 106 taxa and nine phyla were caught. Crustaceans were the most abundant unwanted catches in the control panels, whereas bioconstructions occurred in the guarding net panels. The discard ratios of CN and GN panels were statistically different (t-value = –2.55; p< 0.05). The analysis of catch per unit effort showed higher catches of CN panels for both commercial and discard fractions (p< 0.05). Moreover, the guarding net panels caught the main discarded species at 20% lower compared with the control. The overall value of the catch at the CN panels (€ 3,366.90) was higher than the total income (€ 2,043.70) generated using the GN panels, which suggests a significant commercial loss of 40% (p< 0.05).

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. The MCC incidence rate has rapidly grown over the last years, with Italy showing the highest increase among European countries. This malignancy has been the focus of active scientific research over the last years, focusing mainly on pathogenesis, new therapeutic trials and diagnosis. A national expert board developed 28 consensus statements that delineated the evolution of disease management and highlighted the paradigm shift towards the use of immunological strategies, which were then presented to a national MCC specialists panel for review. Sixty-five panelists answered both rounds of the questionnaire. The statements were divided into five areas: a high level of agreement was reached in the area of guidelines and multidisciplinary management, even if in real life the multidisciplinary team was not always represented by all the specialists. In the diagnostic pathway area, imaging played a crucial role in diagnosis and initial staging, planning for surgery or radiation therapy, assessment of treatment response and surveillance of recurrence and metastases. Concerning diagnosis, the usefulness of Merkel cell polyomavirus is recognized, but the agreement and consensus regarding the need for cytokeratin evaluation appears greater. Regarding the areas of clinical management and follow-up, patients with MCC require customized treatment. There was a wide dispersion of results and the suggestion to increase awareness about the adjuvant radiation therapy. The panelists unanimously agreed that the information concerning avelumab provided by the JAVELIN Merkel 200 study is adequate and reliable and that the expanded access program data could have concrete clinical implications. An immunocompromised patient with advanced MCC can be treated with immunotherapy after multidisciplinary risk/benefit assessment, as evidenced by real-world analysis and highlighted in the guidelines. A very high consensus regarding the addition of radiotherapy to treat the ongoing focal progression of immunotherapy was observed. This paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication among the interprofessional team members and encourages managing patients with MCC within dedicated multidisciplinary teams. New insights in the treatment of this challenging cancer needs the contribution of many and different experts.

A polygenic inheritance involving high, medium and low penetrance genes has been suggested for melanoma susceptibility in adults, but genetic information is scarce for paediatric patients.We aim to analyse the major high and intermediate melanoma risk genes, CDKN2A, CDK4, POT1, MITF and MC1R, in a large multicentre cohort of Italian children and adolescents in order to explore the genetic context of paediatric melanoma and to reveal potential differences in heritability between children and adolescents.One-hundred-twenty-three patients (21 years) from nine Italian centres were analysed for the CDKN2A, CDK4, POT1, MITF, and MC1R melanoma predisposing genes. The rate of gene variants was compared between sporadic, familial and multiple melanoma patients and between children and adolescents, and their association with clinico-pathological characteristics was evaluated.Most patients carried MC1R variants (67%), while CDKN2A pathogenic variants were found in 9% of the cases, the MITF E318K in 2% of patients and none carried CDK4 or the POT1 S270N pathogenic variant. Sporadic melanoma patients significantly differed from familial and multiple cases for the young age at diagnosis, infrequent red hair colour, low number of nevi, low frequency of CDKN2A pathogenic variants and of the MC1R R160W variant. Melanoma in children (≤12 years) had more frequently spitzoid histotype, were located on the head/neck and upper limbs and had higher Breslow thickness. The MC1R V92M variant was more common in children than in adolescents. CDKN2A common polymorphisms and MC1R variants were associated with a high number of nevi.Our results confirm the scarce involvement of the major high-risk susceptibility genes in paediatric melanoma and suggest the implication of MC1R gene variants especially in the children population.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely hampered the functioning of any health system, absorbing a considerable amount of resources and with the threat of widespread infection in the health services. The present survey has been carried out in Italy to evaluate if and how COVID-19 also affected skin melanoma management. We enrolled 13 Italian centres highly qualified in the diagnosis and care of skin melanoma. We compared a set of information evaluating the amount of activity for melanoma performed during February-April 2020 with the same quarter in 2019. The number of new melanoma diagnosis, biopsies, wide local excisions, overall pathology reports decreased. However, the most severe cases seem promptly managed with sentinel lymph node biopsies, new systemic treatments (north) and the total number of (advanced) treated patients (centre-south). The COVID-19 experience has underlined the need to exploit the help which may come from telemedicine.

Introduction : Les céphalées constituent l’un des motifs les plus fréquents en consultation médicale. Elles affectent toutes les tranches d’âge y compris les enfants en âge scolaire. Elles peuvent être à l’origine d’absentéisme et d’une baisse de rendement scolaire. Objectifs : Ce travail avait pour but d’étudier les céphalées en milieu scolaire dans la ville de Garoua. Méthodologie : Il s’agissait d’une étude prospective transversale avec un échantillonnage en grappe des établissements secondaires de la ville de Garoua ; qui a duré 6 mois allant de décembre 2014 à Mai 2015. Les données recueillies étaient : les caractéristiques sociodémographiques (l’âge, le sexe, la classe, le type d’enseignement), les caractéristiques cliniques des céphalées définies par l’International Headache Society, les antécédents médicaux. L’impact sur la qualité de vie des élèves souffrant de céphalées chroniques quotidiennes (CCQ) a été évalué par le HIT-6 (Headache Impact Test) et le MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment). Résultat : Dix établissements sur 33 étaient retenus avec un total de 29800 élèves. 1210 élèves étaient inclus dont 59% de garçon, l’âge moyen était de 16,92± 3,25 ans avec des extrêmes de 10 et 27 ans. La prévalence des céphalées était de 54,14%. Les étiologies étaient dominées par les céphalées de tension (68,50%), la migraine (14,4%) et les céphalées secondaires (10%). Le nombre moyen d’absentéisme était de 2,1 jours ; selon le Questionnaire MIDAS une perte de productivité de degrés II et III correspondant respectivement à un retentissement léger et modéré des céphalées ont été observé chez 17% des élèves souffrant de CCQ. 48% des élèves avaient un score HIT-6 supérieur à 55, correspondant à un impact important des céphalées dans la qualité de vie ; dont nécessitant un suivie par un médecin. Les facteurs associés à la survenue des céphalées étaient le sexe féminin (P=0,003), l’enseignement technique, l’anxiété (P=0,019), le manque de sommeil (P=0,030), l’utilisation des contraceptifs oraux chez les filles (P=0,020) le tabac (P=0,049). Conclusion : Plus d’un élève sur 2 est céphalalgique à Garoua. Cette proportion élevée pourrait justifier la mise en place de centres de soins dotés d’un personnel formé au diagnostic des céphalées.Mots clés : Céphalée, milieu scolaire, impact, Garoua. English Title: Headaches in schools in the city of Garoua in CameroonIntroduction: Headache is one of the most frequent presenting complaints in medicine. It affects all age groups, including children of school age. Could be responsible for absenteeism and a decrease in school performance. Objective: This work aimed to study headaches in schools in the city of Garoua. Methodology: this was a prospective and crosssectional study with cluster sampling of secondary schools in the city of Garoua from December 2014 to May 2015. Sociodemographic data (age, gender, class and type of teaching), clinical characteristics of headache was defined by international headache society and past medical were recorded. Impact on quality of life of students suffering from chronic daily headaches was assessed using HIT-6 (the headache impact test) and MIDAS (Migraine Disability assessment). Results: 10 of 33 schools were selected with 29800 students. 1.210 students were included with a male predominance (59%). Mean age was 16, 92± 3, 25 years with extremes of 10 and 27 years. The prevalence of headache was 54.14%. Causes were tension headache (68.50%), migraine (14.4%), and secondary headache (10%). The mean number of absences was 2.1 days. Following the MIDAS questionnaire, a decrease in productivity of second and third order corresponding to mild and moderate headaches was observed in 17% of students suffering from chronic daily headaches. 48% of students had HIT-6 greater than 55 therefore having an impact on quality life requiring medical follow up. Factors associated with onset of headaches were female genders (P=0.003), anxiety (P=0.019), absence of sleep (P=0.030), smoking (0.049). Conclusion: More than one out of two children complain of headaches in Garoua city. This high level of cases should justified the creation of specialized centre with dedicated staff. Key words: Headache, school environment, Impact, Garoua.

Meta-analysis of 36,760 cases and 375,188 controls identifies 54 loci associated with susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma. Further analysis combining nevus count and hair color GWAS results provide insights into the genetic architecture of melanoma. Most genetic susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma remains to be discovered. Meta-analysis genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 36,760 cases of melanoma (67% newly genotyped) and 375,188 controls identified 54 significant (P < 5 x 10(-8)) loci with 68 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms. Analysis of risk estimates across geographical regions and host factors suggests the acral melanoma subtype is uniquely unrelated to pigmentation. Combining this meta-analysis with GWAS of nevus count and hair color, and transcriptome association approaches, uncovered 31 potential secondary loci for a total of 85 cutaneous melanoma susceptibility loci. These findings provide insights into cutaneous melanoma genetic architecture, reinforcing the importance of nevogenesis, pigmentation and telomere maintenance, together with identifying potential new pathways for cutaneous melanoma pathogenesis.

Most genetic susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma remains to be discovered. Meta-analysis genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 36,760 cases of melanoma (67% newly genotyped) and 375,188 controls identified 54 significant (P < 5 × 10−8) loci with 68 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms. Analysis of risk estimates across geographical regions and host factors suggests the acral melanoma subtype is uniquely unrelated to pigmentation. Combining this meta-analysis with GWAS of nevus count and hair color, and transcriptome association approaches, uncovered 31 potential secondary loci for a total of 85 cutaneous melanoma susceptibility loci. These findings provide insights into cutaneous melanoma genetic architecture, reinforcing the importance of nevogenesis, pigmentation and telomere maintenance, together with identifying potential new pathways for cutaneous melanoma pathogenesis. © 2020, This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.

Background Identification of somatic mutations in key oncogenes in melanoma is important to lead the effective and efficient use of personalized anticancer treatment. Conventional methods focus on few genes per run and, therefore, are unable to screen for multiple genes simultaneously. The use of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies enables sequencing of multiple cancer-driving genes in a single assay, with reduced costs and DNA quantity needed and increased mutation detection sensitivity. Methods We designed a customized IMI somatic gene panel for targeted sequencing of actionable melanoma mutations; this panel was tested on three different NGS platforms using 11 metastatic melanoma tissue samples in blinded manner between two EMQN quality certificated laboratory. Results The detection limit of our assay was set-up to a Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) of 10% with a coverage of at least 200x. All somatic variants detected by all NGS platforms with a VAF ≥ 10%, were also validated by an independent method. The IMI panel achieved a very good concordance among the three NGS platforms. Conclusion This study demonstrated that, using the main sequencing platforms currently available in the diagnostic setting, the IMI panel can be adopted among different centers providing comparable results.