Effects of mixed of a ketogenic diet in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a commonly occurring endocrine disorder characterized by hirsutism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Often comorbid with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and obesity, it also carries significant risk for the development of cardiovascular and metabolic sequelae, including diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The relationship between central obesity and the development of insulin resistance is widely verified. Adipose tissue excess and the coexistent dysregulation of adipocyte functions directly contribute to the pathogenesis of the metabolic complications observed in women with PCOS. In the light of these evidence, the most therapeutic option prescribed to obese women with PCOS, regardless of the phenotype e from the severity of clinical expression, is lifestyle correction by diet and physical activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in 17 obese women with PCOS. Our results showed that the ketogenic diet inducing therapeutic ketosis, improves the anthropometric and many biochemical parameters such as LH, FSH, SHBG, insulin sensitivity and HOMA index. In addition, it induces a reduction in androgenic production, whereas the contextual reduction of fat mass reduced the acyclic production of estrogens deriving from the aromatization in the adipose tissue of the androgenic excess, with an improvement of the LH/FSH ratio. This is the first study on the effects of the ketogenic diet on PCOS, however, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying ketogenic diet effects

Trade-off between photovoltaic systems installation and agricultural practices on arable lands: An environmental and socio-economic impact analysis for Italy

The paper introduces and discusses an open-source spatial-based model (called r.green.solar) able to quantify the energy production from solar photovoltaic (PV) ground-mounted panels. Socio-economic and environmental impacts can be evaluated by the model. The model starts from the theoretical quantity of solar PV potential energy and estimates a reduction of total amount of energy based on legal, technical, recommended and economic constraints. Model outputs were used for a trade-off analysis between energy production and traditional crops for food/feed cultivation on not irrigated arable land. The model was tested at regional level for a Mediterranean context (Italy). The results confirm that the economic profitability of PV systems follows a north-south gradient, but the main impacts are related to local peculiarities – such as the disposal of not irrigated arable land and the presence of constraints, in particular the landscape maintenance, the morphological variables and the specialization index – and crop yields. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rightsreserved

Why Me? To Be an Ultra-Responder to Antiplatelet Therapy: A Case Report

Background: Platelet function testing is a valid tool to investigate the clinical response to antiplatelet therapy in different clinical settings; in particular, it might supply helpful information in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Oral antiplatelet treatment, such as Aspirin (ASA) and Clopidogrel, is the gold standard in secondary stroke prevention of non-cardiogenic ischemic stroke; conversely, its application as a primary prevention therapy is not routinely recommended in patients with vascular risk factors. Multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (MEA) impedance aggregometer is a validated device to test platelet inhibition induced by ASA or Clopidogrel. Case Report: We report the case of a 78-year-old patient without relevant clinical history, taking ASA as primary prevention strategy, who was admitted for sudden onset of dysarthria and left facial hyposthenia during physical effort. Brain CT revealed two small subcortical bilateral spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages. Platelet aggregometry with MEA performed upon admission revealed a very strong platelet inhibition induced by ASA (result of the ASPI Test was 5 U, consistent with an ultra-responsiveness to ASA, and the cutoff value of correct responsiveness is <40 U). MRI at longitudinal follow-up revealed the presence of two small cavernous angioma underlying hemorrhagic spots. Conclusion: The evaluation of platelet reactivity in stroke patients undergoing antiplatelet therapies, not commonly performed in clinical practice, could be useful to optimize prevention strategies; the verification of the biological effectiveness of ASA or Clopidogrel could be a valid tool in the definition of each patient's risk profile, particularly in patients with cerebrovascular disease known to be at increased risk for both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications

Alternative 3' UTRs direct localization of functionally diverse protein isoforms in neuronal compartments

The proper subcellular localization of RNAs and local translational regulation is crucial in highly compartmentalized cells, such as neurons. RNA localization is mediated by specific cis-regulatory elements usually found in mRNA 3'UTRs. Therefore, processes that generate alternative 3'UTRs-alternative splicing and polyadenylation-have the potential to diversify mRNA localization patterns in neurons. Here, we performed mapping of alternative 3'UTRs in neurites and soma isolated from mESC-derived neurons. Our analysis identified 593 genes with differentially localized 3'UTR isoforms. In particular, we have shown that two isoforms of Cdc42 gene with distinct functions in neuronal polarity are differentially localized between neurites and soma of mESC-derived and mouse primary cortical neurons, at both mRNA and protein level. Using reporter assays and 3'UTR swapping experiments, we have identified the role of alternative 3'UTRs and mRNA transport in differential localization of alternative CDC42 protein isoforms. Moreover, we used SILAC to identify isoform-specific Cdc42 3'UTR-bound proteome with potential role in Cdc42 localization and translation. Our analysis points to usage of alternative 3'UTR isoforms as a novel mechanism to provide for differential localization of functionally diverse alternative protein isoforms

MAPPING COVID-19 EPIDEMIC DATA USING FOSS

The recognition of spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution of a pandemic plays a pivotal role in guiding policy approaches to its management, containment and elimination. For this purpose, a database has been built for the COVID-19 pandemic in the Trentino Province, in the eastern Italian alps, near the border between Italy and Austria. The database management system and the WebGIS mapping these data is based on Free and Open Source Software. The Data Base Management System (DBMS) runs on MySQL, available under the GNU General Public License, storing and processing geographic data. A custom procedure has been created to update the dataset, with the capability to import data from suitably formatted spreadsheets by an authenticated administrator. To ensure flexibility and responsiveness on desktop and mobile devices, the WebGIS has been created with a client-side approach, using the Leaflet and Bootstrap JavaScript language libraries, available with Open Source Licenses. These libraries, with additional custom scripts, create the user interface and render geographic data into maps. The exchange of data between the DBMS server and the client is performed using geojson tables. To protect the privacy of the patients, WebGIS users cannot access the source data even though maps and graphs can be downloaded as pictures. Geo-statistical analysis aimed at the detection of spatial and temporal patters is underway

The structure of 2D semi-simple field theories

I classify all cohomological 2D field theories based on a semi-simple complex Frobenius algebra A. They are controlled by a linear combination of kappa-classes and by an extension datum to the Deligne-Mumford boundary. Their effect on the Gromov-Witten potential is described by Givental's Fock space formulae. This leads to the reconstruction of Gromov-Witten invariants from the quantum cup-product at a single semi-simple point and from the first Chern class, confirming Givental's higher-genus reconstruction conjecture. The proof uses the Mumford conjecture proved by Madsen and Weiss.Comment: Small errors corrected in v3. Agrees with published versio

Footprints and Ootheca of Lycorma delicatula Influence Host-Searching and -Acceptance of the Egg-Parasitoid Anastatus orientalis.

AbstractThe spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula White (1845) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is an invasive insect that was first reported in North America in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014. It is a polyphagous phloem feeder that attacks over 70 plant species, threatening the agricultural, lumber, and ornamental industries of North America. Infestations of the pest have been reported in several U.S. counties, and a lack of endemic predators and parasitoids feeding on L. delicatula suggests a release from natural enemies in the invaded range. An egg-parasitoid Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) was reported attacking L. delicatula at high rates in its native range and may play a key role in reducing its populations there. To better understand the foraging behavior of A. orientalis, a series of behavioral experiments were conducted to determine successful parasitism and behavioral responses to traces left by adult L. delicatula and to the oothecae which cover their eggs. Our results suggest that wasps detected chemical traces left by L. delicatula adults while walking on surfaces and exhibited a strong arrestment response. Moreover, wasps preferred to oviposit in egg masses with intact oothecae. The implications of these findings are herein discussed with regard to the exploitation of host kairomones by foraging wasps, as well as to its ability to overcome host structural defenses