The concentrations of trace elements were studied in roots, rhizomes, stems, and leaves of
Phragmites australis stands (common reeds), and in the corresponding samples of water and sediment from the ...mouth of the Imera Meridionale River (Sicily, Italy), an area affected by massive urbanization and intensive agriculture. The elements considered were Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Co, Fe, Mo, Pd, Pt, Rh, Sb, Se, Sr, Tl, and V. Concentrations in belowground organs were usually higher than aboveground tissues, and the general decreasing trend of element content was root>rhizome>leaf>stem. Trace element mobility was generally higher within the organs than in sediment to plant. Regarding Al, Fe, and V, the phytotoxic levels in roots and the low plant/root mobility, may indicate that roots are inherently tolerant to these metals, and act as filters to prevent toxic distribution in the plant. The high uptake of Pd and Rh showed that emissions of catalytic converters are one of the main health hazards of the study area.
P. australis showed a direct response to the environmental conditions, and its application as a biomonitor should be considered.
Abstract
At Mount Etna volcano, the focus point of persistent tectonic extension is represented by the Summit Craters. A muographic telescope has been installed at the base of the North-East Crater ...from August 2017 to October 2019, with the specific aim to find time related variations in the density of volcanic edifice. The results are significant, since the elaborated images show the opening and evolution of different tectonic elements; in 2017, a cavity was detected months before the collapse of the crater floor and in 2018 a set of underground fractures was identified, at the tip of which, in June 2019, a new eruptive vent started its explosive activity, still going on (February, 2020). Although this is the pilot experiment of the project, the results confirm that muography could be a turning point in the comprehension of the plumbing system of the volcano and a fundamental step forward to do mid-term (weeks/months) predictions of eruptions. We are confident that an increment in the number of telescopes could lead to the realization of a monitoring system, which would keep under control the evolution of the internal dynamic of the uppermost section of the feeding system of an active volcano such as Mount Etna.
•PCR assays to detect key mutations of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are described•Discrimination of Variants of Concern (VOCs) and other variants is achieved•The assays detected key mutations of ...20I/501Y.V1 and 20 J/501Y.V3 in sewage in Italy•The method allows rapid and cost-effective detection of VOCs in sewage for WBE•The described approach can be used for rapid screening in clinical samples
New SARS-CoV-2 mutations are constantly emerging, raising concerns of increased transmissibility, virulence or escape from host immune response.
We describe a nested RT-PCR assay (~1500 bps) to detect multiple nucleotide changes resulting in key spike protein mutations distinctive of the major known circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the three Variants of Concern (VOCs) 20I/501Y.V1 (United Kingdom), 20H/501Y.V2 (South Africa), and 20 J/501Y.V3 (Brazil), as well as the 20E.EU1 variant (Spain), the CAL.20C recently identified in California, and the mink-associated variant (GR, lineage B.1.1.298). Prior to application to field samples, the discriminatory potential of this PCR assay was explored using GISAID and Nextclade. To extend variant detection to challenging matrices such as sewage, where the amplification of long fragments is problematic, two short nested RT-PCR assays (~300 bps) were also designed, targeting portions of the region spanned by the long nested assay.
The three newly-designed assays were then tested on field samples, including 31 clinical samples (7 fully-sequenced swab samples, and 24 uncharacterized ones) and 34 urban wastewater samples, some of which collected in areas where circulation of VOCs had been reported.
The long assay successfully amplified 29 of the 31 swabs (93%), allowing the correct identification of variants 20I/501Y.V1 and 20E.EU1 present in the panel of previously characterized samples. The Spanish variant was detected in 14/24 of the uncharacterized samples as well. The sequences obtained using the short assays were consistent with those obtained with the long assay. Mutations characteristic of VOCs (UK and Brazilian variant) and of other variant (Spanish) were detected in sewage samples. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the presence of sequences harboring key mutations of 20I/501Y.V1 and 20 J/501Y.V3 in urban wastewaters, highlighting the potential contribution of wastewater surveillance to explore SARS-CoV-2 diversity.
The developed nested RT-PCR assays can be used as an initial rapid screening test to select clinical samples containing mutations of interest. This can speed up diagnosis and optimize resources since it allows full genome sequencing to be done only on clinically relevant specimens. The assays can be also employed for a rapid and cost-effective detection of VOCs or other variants in sewage for the purposes of wastewater-based epidemiology. The approach proposed here can be used to better understand SARS-CoV-2 variant diversity, geographic distribution and impact worldwide.
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Saffold virus (SAFV) is an emerging human cardiovirus associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal infection, and, more recently, to symptoms related to the endocrine, cardiovascular, and ...neurological systems. Information about SAFV circulation in Italy is scarce. In order to provide insights into the epidemiology of SAFV in Italy, 141 raw sewage samples collected throughout Italy were tested using broad‐range nested RT‐PCR primers targeting the 5′‐NC region. Seven samples (5·0%) were confirmed as SAFV in samples collected in North, Centre and Southern Italy. Typing was attempted through amplification of the VP1 coding region, using both published and newly designed primers, and one sample was characterized as SAFV‐2.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Prevalence, genetic diversity and geographic distribution of SAFV in Italy is currently unknown. This study represents the first detection of SAFV in sewage samples in Italy, suggesting that it is circulating in the population despite lack of clinical reporting. Whether the virus is associated with asymptomatic cases or with undetected gastroenteritis or respiratory illness is unknown. Further studies are needed to investigate on the occurrence and persistence of SAFV in water environments and its waterborne transmission potential.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Prevalence, genetic diversity and geographic distribution of SAFV in Italy is currently unknown. This study represents the first detection of SAFV in sewage samples in Italy, suggesting that it is circulating in the population despite lack of clinical reporting. Whether the virus is associated with asymptomatic cases or with undetected gastroenteritis or respiratory illness is unknown. Further studies are needed to investigate on the occurrence and persistence of SAFV in water environments and its waterborne transmission potential.
Hemorrhagic shock (HS) management is based on a timely, rapid, definitive source control of bleeding/s and on blood loss replacement. Stopping the hemorrhage from progressing from any named and ...visible vessel is the main stem fundamental praxis of efficacy and effectiveness and an essential, obligatory, life-saving step. Blood loss replacement serves the purpose of preventing ischemia/reperfusion toxemia and optimizing tissue oxygenation and microcirculation dynamics. The "physiological classification of HS" dictates the timely management and suits the 'titrated hypotensive resuscitation' tactics and the 'damage control surgery' strategy. In any hypotensive but not yet critical shock, the body's response to a fluid load test determines the cut-off point between compensation and progression between the time for adopting conservative treatment and preparing for surgery or rushing to the theater for rapid bleeding source control. Up to 20% of the total blood volume is given to refill the unstressed venous return volume. In any critical level of shock where, ab initio, the patient manifests signs indicating critical physiology and impending cardiac arrest or cardiovascular accident, the balance between the life-saving reflexes stretched to the maximum and the insufficient distal perfusion (blood, oxygen, and substrates) remains in a liable and delicate equilibrium, susceptible to any minimal change or interfering variable. In a cardiac arrest by exsanguination, the core of the physiological issue remains the rapid restoration of a sufficient venous return, allowing the heart to pump it back into systemic circulation either by open massage via sternotomy or anterolateral thoracotomy or spontaneously after aorta clamping in the chest or in the abdomen at the epigastrium under extracorporeal resuscitation and induced hypothermia. This is the only way to prevent ischemic damage to the brain and the heart. This is accomplishable rapidly and efficiently only by a direct approach, which is a crush laparotomy if the bleeding is coming from an abdominal +/- lower limb site or rapid sternotomy/anterolateral thoracotomy if the bleeding is coming from a chest +/- upper limbs site. Without first stopping the bleeding and refilling the heart, any further exercise is doomed to failure. Direct source control via laparotomy/thoracotomy, with the concomitant or soon following venous refilling, are the two essential, initial life-saving steps.
Microbial safety of recreational waters is a significant public health issue. In this study we assessed the occurrence and quantity of enteric viruses in bathing and non-bathing waters in Italy, in ...parallel with microbial faecal indicators, somatic coliphages and Vibrio spp.
Enteric viruses (aichivirus, norovirus and enterovirus) were detected in 55% of bathing water samples, including samples with bacterial indicator concentrations compliant with the European bathing water Directive. Aichivirus was the most frequent and abundant virus. Adenovirus was detected only in non-bathing waters. Somatic coliphages were identified in 50% bathing water samples, 80% of which showed simultaneous presence of viruses.
Vibrio species were ubiquitous, with 9 species identified, including potential pathogens (V. cholerae, V. parahaemoylticus and V. vulnificus).
This is the first study showing the occurrence and high concentration of Aichivirus in bathing waters and provides original information, useful in view of a future revision of the European Directive.
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•Enteric viruses were detected in both bathing and non-bathing water samples.•Aichivirus was the most abundant and frequently detected virus.•80% of samples with somatic coliphages were positive for enteric viruses.•Vibrio species were ubiquitous and numerous, with higher counts in August and September.
The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. Several studies ...have shown that detecting SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater can be a useful tool to identify new outbreaks, establish outbreak trends, and assess the prevalence of infections. On 06 May 2021, over a year into the pandemic, we conducted a scoping review aiming to summarize research data on SARS-CoV-2 in sewage. Papers dealing with raw sewage collected at wastewater treatment plants, sewer networks, septic tanks, and sludge treatment facilities were included in this review. We also reviewed studies on sewage collected in community settings such as private or municipal hospitals, healthcare facilities, nursing homes, dormitories, campuses, airports, aircraft, and cruise ships. The literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Web Science Core Collection. This comprehensive research yielded 1090 results, 66 of which met the inclusion criteria and are discussed in this review. Studies from 26 countries worldwide have investigated the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage of different origin. The percentage of positive samples in sewage ranged from 11.6 to 100%, with viral concentrations ranging from ˂LOD to 4.6 × 10
8
genome copies/L. This review outlines the evidence currently available on wastewater surveillance: (i) as an early warning system capable of predicting COVID-19 outbreaks days or weeks before clinical cases; (ii) as a tool capable of establishing trends in current outbreaks; (iii) estimating the prevalence of infections; and (iv) studying SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity. In conclusion, as a cost-effective, rapid, and reliable source of information on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in the population, wastewater surveillance can enhance genomic and epidemiological surveillance with independent and complementary data to inform public health decision-making during the ongoing pandemic.
Graphic Abstract
In this paper we present some existence and multiplicity results for a class of anisotropic
p⃗
-Laplacian problems with Dirichlet boundary conditions. In particular, the existence of three solutions ...is pointed out. The approach is based on variational methods and our main tool is a three critical point theorem.
Aims
Human Sapoviruses (HSaVs) are etiological agents of sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in humans of all ages. Evidence of worldwide distribution of HSaV has been documented; ...however, little is known about HSaV circulation in Italy. To study their occurrence and genetic diversity a nation‐wide environmental surveillance was undertaken.
Methods and Results
One hundred and sixty‐six raw sewage samples, collected from 16 wastewater treatment plants throughout Italy, were processed and analysed by a RT‐nested PCR targeting the capsid region, followed by amplicon sequencing. HSaV was detected in 56 of 166 (33·7%) samples, characterized as genotypes GI.1 (n = 30 samples), GI.2 (n = 3), GI.3 (n = 2) and GII.1 (n = 1). Mixed electropherograms were detected in 20 samples. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based amplicon sequencing was performed on pools of PCR amplicons to detect viruses in mixed samples and less prevalent genotypes undetectable by conventional Sanger sequencing. NGS revealed three additional genotypes (GI.6, GII.6 and GV.1) beyond the four detected by Sanger sequencing.
Conclusions
Our results show a significant circulation of HSaV in Italy with three genogroups (GI, GII and GV) and seven genotypes detected. The high detection rate in sewage samples suggests that HSaV infection in Italy could be underestimated or associated with asymptomatic or mild cases.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The study detected HSaV in a relevant proportion of raw sewage samples, reflecting a considerable circulation of these viruses in the Italian population, pointing to the usefulness of including HSaV in testing patients with gastroenteritis. Furthermore, our results confirm that wastewater surveillance coupled with NGS is a powerful tool to study the molecular epidemiology of enteric viruses.
Stress and glucocorticoids alter glutamatergic transmission, and the outcome of stress may range from plasticity enhancing effects to noxious, maladaptive changes. We have previously demonstrated ...that acute stress rapidly increases glutamate release in prefrontal and frontal cortex via glucocorticoid receptor and accumulation of presynaptic SNARE complex. Here we compared the ex vivo effects of acute stress on glutamate release with those of in vitro application of corticosterone, to analyze whether acute effect of stress on glutamatergic transmission is mediated by local synaptic action of corticosterone. We found that acute stress increases both the readily releasable pool (RRP) of vesicles and depolarization-evoked glutamate release, while application in vitro of corticosterone rapidly increases the RRP, an effect dependent on synaptic receptors for the hormone, but does not induce glutamate release for up to 20 min. These findings indicate that corticosterone mediates the enhancement of glutamate release induced by acute stress, and the rapid non-genomic action of the hormone is necessary but not sufficient for this effect.
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