Population structure of modern-day Italians reveals patterns of ancient and archaic ancestries in Southern Europe

European populations display low genetic differentiation as the result of long-term blending of their ancient founding ancestries. However, it is unclear how the combination of ancient ancestries related to early foragers, Neolithic farmers, and Bronze Age nomadic pastoralists can explain the distribution of genetic variation across Europe. Populations in natural crossroads like the Italian peninsula are expected to recapitulate the continental diversity, but have been systematically understudied. Here, we characterize the ancestry profiles of Italian populations using a genome-wide dataset representative of modern and ancient samples from across Italy, Europe, and the rest of the world. Italian genomes capture several ancient signatures, including a non-steppe contribution derived ultimately from the Caucasus. Differences in ancestry composition, as the result of migration and admixture, have generated in Italy the largest degree of population structure detected so far in the continent, as well as shaping the amount of Neanderthal DNA in modern-day populations.

Life-history traits of the long-nosed skate Dipturus oxyrinchus

This work investigates life-history traits of the long-nosed skate Dipturus oxyrinchus, which is a common by-catch in Sardinian waters. The reproductive variables were analysed from 979 specimens sampled during scientific and commercial hauls. Females (10·4-117·5 cm total length, L_T ) attained larger sizes than males (14·5-99·5 cm L_T ). To evaluate age and growth, a sub-sample of 130 individuals (76 females and 54 males) were used. The age was estimated by annuli counts of sectioned vertebral centra. Four models were used for the length-at-age data: the von Bertalanffy, the exponential, the Gompertz and the logistic functions. According to the Akaike's information criterion, the Gompertz model seemed to provide the best fitting curve (L_∞ mean ± s.e.: 127·55 ± 4·90 cm, k: 0·14 ± 0·09, IP: 3·97 ± 0·90 years). The oldest female and male were aged 17 (115·5 cm L_T ) and 15 years (96·0 cm L_T ), respectively. Lengths at maturity were 103·5 cm for females and 91·0 cm for males, corresponding to 90% of the maximum observed length in both sexes. The monthly distribution of maturity stages highlighted an extended reproductive cycle, with spawning females and active males being present almost throughout the year, as confirmed by the gonado-somatic index. Ovarian fecundity reached a maximum of 26 yolked follicles with a mean ± s.e. size of 19·7 ± 6·5 mm.

Somatic, positive and negative domains of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is moderately heritable, however genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for MDD, as well as for related continuous outcomes, have not shown consistent results. Attempts to elucidate the genetic basis of MDD may be hindered by heterogeneity in diagnosis. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale provides a widely used tool for measuring depressive symptoms clustered in four different domains which can be combined together into a total score but also can be analysed as separate symptom domains.

METHOD

We performed a meta-analysis of GWAS of the CES-D symptom clusters. We recruited 12 cohorts with the 20- or 10-item CES-D scale (32 528 persons).

RESULTS

One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs713224, located near the brain-expressed melatonin receptor (MTNR1A) gene, was associated with the somatic complaints domain of depression symptoms, with borderline genome-wide significance (p discovery = 3.82 × 10-8). The SNP was analysed in an additional five cohorts comprising the replication sample (6813 persons). However, the association was not consistent among the replication sample (p discovery+replication = 1.10 × 10-6) with evidence of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the effort to harmonize the phenotypes across cohorts and participants, our study is still underpowered to detect consistent association for depression, even by means of symptom classification. On the contrary, the SNP-based heritability and co-heritability estimation results suggest that a very minor part of the variation could be captured by GWAS, explaining the reason of sparse findings.

Diet and feeding behaviour of longnosed skate Dipturus oxyrinchus

A total of 255 longnosed skate Dipturus oxyrinchus caught in Sardinian waters (central-western Mediterranean Sea), was analysed with respect to fish total length (LT ), season and depth, in order to provide information on diet and feeding behaviour. Specimens ranging from 93 to 1153 mm LT , were collected at depths between 121 and 671 m, during experimental trawl surveys carried out from 2005 to 2010. The diet comprised crustaceans [prey specific index of relative importance (%IPSRI ) = 72·69], teleosts (%IPSRI  = 10·28) and molluscs (%IPSRI  = 10·94). Levins' index (Bi ) showed a narrow niche breadth (Bi  = 0·35). The mean ± s.e. trophic level (TL ) was 3·63 ± 0·50. The analysis showed major ontogenetic changes in the feeding behaviour. Early life stages were characterized by a benthic diet, which changed to benthopelagic during growth. Mysids, particularly Lophogaster typicus (%IPSRI  = 34·51), were the main prey items of immature individuals, replaced by euphausiids, mainly Meganyctiphanes norvegica (%IPSRI  = 13·19), in maturing fish. Crustaceans became less important in mature specimens, being replaced by molluscs (%IPSRI  = 28·99) and teleosts (%IPSRI  = 24·56). A concomitant increase of the TL was recorded (mean ± s.e. = 3·41 ± 0·44, 3·75 ± 0·54 and 4·28 ± 0·61 for immature, maturing and mature individuals). These feeding patterns ensured low levels of intraspecific competition. This study provides new information about the role that the D. oxyrinchus plays in the marine food chain and data now essential to formulate new and effective management plans for this species.

First record of Chilomycterus reticulatus (Osteichthyes: Diodontidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

The spotfin burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus (405 mm standard length) is recorded for the first time on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. The adult specimen was found dried on a beach near the south Sardinian Sea (S. Antioco's Island). Photographs and morphometrics of the specimen are given.

Dopamine-dependent behavioural stimulation by non-peptide delta opioids BW373U86 and SNC 80: 1. Locomotion, rearing and stereotypies in intact rats

The unconditioned behavioural effects of two non-peptide delta-opioid receptor agonists, BW 373U86 and SNC 80, were studied in the intact rat. BW 373U86 (0.1-2.5 mg/kg s.c.) and SNC 80 (2.5-10 mg/kg s.c.) dose-dependently elicited locomotion, rearing, stereotyped sniffing, licking and gnawing. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with the delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole (5.0 mg/kg s.c.). In view of the phenomenological similarities between this syndrome and that elicited by dopamine-receptor agonists, the role played by dopamine receptors was investigated. The specific dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 and the specific dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist raclopride reduced or even abolished the behavioural stimulation induced by lower doses of BW 373U86 and SNC 80. When higher doses of BW 373U86 were used (2.5 mg/kg), however, raclopride, even at high cataleptic doses (6.0 mg/kg), only partly prevented the behavioural stimulation induced by the delta-opioid receptor agonist. The behavioural stimulation remaining after high doses of raclopride was abolished by the administration of SCH 23390. These results show that delta-opioid receptor stimulation elicits dopamine-dependent behavioural activation in the rat that depends on dopamine receptors, particularly of the D1 subtype.

Dopamine-dependent behavioural stimulation by non-peptide delta opioids BW373U86 and SNC 80: 2. Place-preference and brain microdialysis studies in rats

The motivational properties of the non-peptide delta-opioid receptor agonists BW373U86 and SNC 80 were investigated using the place-conditioning paradigm. BW373U86 (0.5-1.0 mg/kg s.c.) and SNC 80 (1.25-5.0 mg/kg s.c.) elicited significant preference for the drug-paired compartment, in a dose-related fashion. Naltrindole (5.0 mg/kg s.c.) pretreatment, while failing to modify preference when given alone, completely prevented place-preference induced by BW373U86 (1.0 mg/kg s.c.) and SNC 80 (1.25 mg/kg s.c.). The dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390, given at doses that do not affect place-preference (0.012 mg/kg s.c.), completely prevented the place-preference induced by BW373U86 and SNC 80. At the doses effective in eliciting place-preference, BW373U86 and SNC 80 failed to modify extracellular dopamine in the medial nucleus accumbens, while in the dorso-lateral caudate-putamen BW373U86 (1.0 and 2.5 mg/kg s.c.) reduced extracellular dopamine, and this effect was prevented by naltrindole (5.0 mg/kg s.c.). SNC 80, only at the dose of 5 mg/kg s.c., significantly reduced extracellular DA in the dorso-lateral caudate-putamen. The results indicate that stimulation of delta-opioid receptors has incentive properties that might be related to an indirect amplification of post-synaptic dopamine transmission.

[Intermediate medications in endodontics: a quantitative in-vitro evaluation of 2 phenolic derivatives]

In a series of in vitro experiments with dental elements obtained after an extraction, the persistence in the pulpal chamber of two phenolic compounds largely used as dental medicaments has been evaluated. The substances, p-chlorophenol and eugenol were put in a small piece of cotton inside the dental elements where they were left for 7 days. Spectrophotometric UV determination of p-chlorophenol and eugenol were made after 3 and 7 days. Our results indicate that 25% of the initial amount of p-chlorophenol is found after three days and nearly 1/5 after 7 days. The figures for eugenol are: 1/3 after three days and 1/6 of the initial amount after 7 days. The authors therefore suggest the substances under study be used as dental medicaments with an optimum of three days of interval between two medications, even if a longer interval may be observed due to the good in situ persistence of the two phenols.

[Phenolic derivatives in intermediate medications in endodontics. 1. A review of the literature]

The authors review the literature on phenolic derivatives, a widely used compound antiseptic for intermediate endodontic medication. There is interest in these substances owing to the frequency of their clinical application in order to maintain the antiseptic conditions obtained during the course of the chemico-mechanical preparation of the radicular canal.

(D-Ala2)deltorphin II: D1-dependent stereotypies and stimulation of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens

In order to investigate the relative role of central delta- and mu-opioid receptors in behavior, the effects of (D-Ala2)deltorphin II, a natural delta-opioid peptide, and PL017, a beta-casomorphin derivative specific for mu receptors, were compared after local intracerebral and intraventricular administration. Intracerebral infusion of the two peptides was done bilaterally in the limbic nucleus accumbens and in the ventral and dorsal caudate putamen of freely moving rats through chronic intracerebral cannulas. After intra-accumbens infusion, the two peptides elicited marked but opposite behavioral effects: while (D-Ala2)deltorphin II evoked dose-dependent motor stimulation characterized by locomotion, sniffing, and oral stereotypies, PL017 elicited motor inhibition with rigidity and catalepsy. These effects were site specific because they could not be evoked from the ventral or from the dorsal caudate. Low doses of naloxone (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) blocked the effects of PL017 but not those of (D-Ala2)deltorphin II, which instead were reduced by high doses of naloxone (1.0 mg/kg) and by the putative delta-antagonist naltrindole; this drug failed to affect the catalepsy induced by PL017. Therefore, while (D-Ala2)deltorphin II effects were delta-mediated, PL017 effects were mu-mediated. Blockade of dopamine D1 receptors by SCH 23390 abolished (D-Ala2)deltorphin II effects, while blockade of dopamine D2 receptors by raclopride or by haloperidol was without effect. Local application by reverse dialysis of (D-Ala2)deltorphin II (5 microM) to the accumbens resulted in a naloxone-sensitive increase of extracellular dopamine concentrations; these effects could not be evoked from the caudate, nor by PL017 in the accumbens. Intracerebroventricular administration of (D-Ala2)deltorphin II or of PL017 elicited behavioral effects qualitatively similar to those obtained from the accumbens.

SKF 38393 potentiates yawning induced by LY 171555: further evidence against the autoreceptor hypothesis of yawning

The effect of concurrent D-1 receptor stimulation by SKF 38393 on the expression of yawning elicited by D-2 receptor stimulation with LY 171555 was studied in the rat. A low dose of SKF 38393 (2.5 mg/kg SC), while failed to elicit yawning, potentiated the effectiveness of LY 171555 in eliciting yawning at all the doses tested (12.5, 25 and 50 micrograms/kg SC) and this effect was abolished by SCH 23390 (0.012 mg/kg SC). The results indicate that in analogy with typical post-synaptic dopaminergic effects (hypermotility-stereotypy), yawning elicited by a D-2 agonist is facilitated by concurrent stimulation of D-1 receptors and therefore is consistent with previous evidence that yawning in response to a D-2 agonist is not mediated by autoreceptors.

The D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 stimulates while the D-1 agonist SKF 38393 fails to affect dopamine release in the dorsal caudate of freely moving rats

SCH 23390, from doses of 0.012 mg/kg s.c., dose dependently stimulated the release of dopamine (DA) and the output of its metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, in the dorsal caudate of freely moving rats implanted with transcerebral dialysis fibers. SKF 38393 failed to modify DA release and metabolism at doses of 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg s.c. but at 25 mg/kg s.c. it abolished the effect of 0.025 mg/kg of SCH 23390. Administration of gamma-butyrolactone (700 mg/kg s.c.), which blocks the firing of DA neurons, prevented the effect of 0.050 mg/kg s.c. SCH 23390. The results indicate that D-1 receptors control the release of DA, probably through stimulation of the firing of DA neurons.

In vitro changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid output from the cerebral cortex induced by inhibitors of gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake and metabolism

The effects of inhibitors of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism or uptake on GABA output from the cerebral cortex was studied by means of a collecting cup placed on the exposed cortex of rats anaesthetized with urethane. GABA was identified and quantified by a mass-fragmentographic method. Ethanolamine-O-sulphate (10(-2) M) applied directly on the cerebral cortex caused a long-lasting twofold increase in GABA output, whereas DL-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (5 X 10(-3) M) caused a sevenfold increase and beta-alanine was active. The results indicate that glial uptake has little effect on GABA inactivation in the cerebral cortex. The inhibition of neuronal uptake seems a more effective tool to increase GABA concentration in the synaptic cleft, and consequently also in GABA output, than the inhibition of GABA metabolism.

[Our experience with peridural anesthesia in labor]

A clinical study has been carried out on 86 child-bearing mothers, continuous lumbar peridural block being employed, in the light of personal experience, to induce analgesia during labour. The results were positive on the whole as regards duration and the algogenous intensity measured during the dilatation phase and during expulsion.

Ipsiversive turning behaviour after discrete unilateral lesions of the dorsal mesencephalic reticular formation by kainic acid

Discrete axon-sparing lesions were placed unilaterally in the mesencephalon by the local injection of kainic acid. Unilateral lesions of the dorsal reticular formation just beneath the superior colliculus and lateral to the periacqueductal grey resulted in consistent ipsiversive apomorphine-induced circling. Only weak motor asymmetries were observed after unilateral lesions restricted to the superior colliculus or to the periacqueductal grey. The results indicate that the dorsal mesencephalic reticular formation plays an essential role as an output station for striatal postural functions.

Changes in regional brain acetylcholine levels during drug-induced convulsions

Acetylcholine (ACh) levels were determined in the brain of rats killed by decapitation or focussed microwave radiation during drug-induced convulsions. During metrazol or strychnine-induced convulsions a diffuse decrease in ACh levels was found in rats killed by decapitation. When the rats were killed by radiation and the brain was only divided into three large regions, strychnine caused no changes in ACh levels; metrazol caused a decrease in the cerebral cortex and lower brainstem. When discrete brain regions were investigated in rats killed by radiation, metrazol-induced convulsions were associated with a decrease in ACh level in all regions dissected and strychnine-induced convulsions with a decrease in the hippocampus and caudate nucleus only. Picrotoxin-induced convulsions were associated with a decrease in ACh level in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and medulla-pons, those induced by bicuculline with an increase in ACh level in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and medulla-pons, by dimefline with an increase in the frontal cortex, midbrain and medulla-pons and a decrease in the caudate nucleus. The experiments show that each type of convulsant affects ACh levels in discrete brain regions in a different way.