Body composition as a predictor of chemotherapy-related toxicity in ovarian cancer patients: a systematic review

Objectives:The main objective of this systematic review was to examine the literature evaluating association of image-based body composition with chemotherapy-related toxicity in ovarian cancer patients. A secondary objective was to evaluate the different definitions of sarcopenia across studies. Methods:This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA-DTA statement and the protocol was registered on Prospero. A comprehensive literature search of 3 electronic databases was performed by two authors. For each eligible article, information was collected concerning the clinical setting; basic study data; population characteristics; technical aspects; body composition features; chemotherapy drugs administered; association of body composition values and toxicities. The overall quality of the included studies was critically evaluated. Results:After the initial retrieval of 812 articles, the systematic review included 6 articles (5/6 studies were retrospective; one was prospective). The number of patients ranged between 69 and 239; mean/median age ranged between 55 and 65 years; the percentage of sarcopenic patients ranged between 25% and 54%. The cut-off values to define sarcopenia and the vertebral levels for evaluation of body composition were different. Five studies included chemotherapy based on carboplatin and paclitaxel, 1 included chemotherapy based on pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Among the studies including carboplatin and paclitaxel, 3/5 demonstrated an association with toxicity, whereas 2/5 did not. Altogether, 4/6 papers demonstrated an association between the body composition values and the development of chemotherapy-related toxicities. Conclusions:There is a wide variability of results about the association of body composition and chemotherapy-related toxicity in ovarian cancer patients. Therefore further studies, possibly including a comprehensive assessment of body compartments and where the definition of body composition cut-offs is constant, are warranted to better understand this association

Two dimensional electron gas confined over a spherical surface: Magnetic moment

Magnetism of capped nanoparticles, NPs, of non- magnetic substances as Au and ZnO is briefly reviewed. The source of the magnetization is discussed on the light of recent X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments. As magnetic dichroism analysis has pointed out impurity atoms bonded to the surface act as donor or acceptor of electrons that occupy the surface states. It is proposed that mesoscopic collective orbital magnetic moments induced at the surface states can account for the experimental magnetism characteristic of these nanoparticles. The total magnetic moment of the surface originated at the unfilled Fermi level can reach values as large as 10(2) or 10(3) Bohr magnetons

Metallic magnetic nanoparticles

In this paper, we reviewed some relevant aspects of the magnetic properties of metallic nanoparticles with small size ( below 4 nm), covering the size effects in nanoparticles of magnetic materials, as well as the appearance of magnetism at the nanoscale in materials that are nonferromagnetic in bulk. These results are distributed along the text that has been organized around three important items: fundamental magnetic properties, different fabrication procedures, and characterization techniques. A general introduction and some experimental results recently obtained in Pd and Au nanoparticles have also been included. Finally, the more promising applications of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine are indicated. Special care was taken to complete the literature available on the subject

Whole-body composition features by computed tomography in ovarian cancer: pilot data on survival correlations

Background: The primary objective of this study was to assess the associations of computed tomography (CT)-based whole-body composition values with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. The secondary objective was the association of body composition with chemotherapy-related toxicity. Methods: Thirty-four patients (median age 64.9 years; interquartile range 55.4–75.4) with EOC and thorax and abdomen CT scans were included. Clinical data recorded: age; weight; height; stage; chemotherapy-related toxicity; and date of last contact, progression and death. Automatic extraction of body composition values was performed by dedicated software. Sarcopenia was defined according to predefined cutoffs. Statistical analysis included univariate tests to investigate associations of sarcopenia and body composition with chemotoxicity. Association of body composition parameters and OS/PFS was evaluated by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model. Multivariate models were adjusted for FIGO stage and/or age at diagnosis. Results: We found significant associations of skeletal muscle volume with OS (p = 0.04) and PFS (p = 0.04); intramuscular fat volume with PFS (p = 0.03); and visceral adipose tissue, epicardial and paracardial fat with PFS (p = 0.04, 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). We found no significant associations between body composition parameters and chemotherapy-related toxicity. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, we found significant associations of whole-body composition parameters with OS and PFS. These results open a window to the possibility to perform body composition profiling without approximate estimations

Spinodal decomposition of Fe-Cu nanocrystals: Control of atomic-magnetic-moment and magnetic properties

Experimental results corresponding to the saturation magnetization and coercive field during the decomposition, upon annealing, of bcc and fcc Fe_xCu_(1-x), obtained by mechanical alloying are reported. The overall behavior points out that the decomposition takes place in two steps: (i) at low temperatures a decrease of the saturation magnetic moment as well as an anomalous thermal dependence of coercive field are observed, however, no phase transformation is detected, and (ii) for further annealing temperatures a new phase appears; the magnetization tends to increase and the coercive field abruptly increases. The analysis of the results leads us to conclude that the first step corresponds to a spinodal decomposition. Fluctuations in the local composition give rise to coexistence of adjacent regions with Curie temperature varying continuously in a range of 1000 K across distances of a few nanometers, thus allowing the tailoring of the magnetic nanostructures

The neurobiological foundations of learning disabilities

Learning disabilities constitute a heterogeneous group of disorders that involve significant alterations in different cognitive domains (acquisition and use of language, reasoning, mathematical skills, visuospatial abilities, and so forth) that are not accounted for by a low level of intelligence, inadequate sociocultural development or lack of academic opportunities. They result from an alteration in basic psychological processes, developmentally linked to an alteration in the central nervous system. Current functional neuroimaging techniques have made it possible to develop a new type of approach to the neurofunctional foundations underlying these disorders, especially with regard to difficulties in the realm of reading/writing (developmental dyslexia) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which have their highest incidence among the infantile population of school-age children. Development. Neuroimaging studies have revealed a pattern of atypical activity in both kinds of disorders. In the case of dyslexia, alterations have been observed in the perisylvian circuits that underlie the mechanisms involved in reading skills. Studies into ADHD suggest a fronto-striatal dysfunction linked to the difficulties encountered to achieve inhibitory control, as well as alterations in the inferior parietal and posterior temporal cortex. Conclusions. Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that the clinical manifestations of these disorders are not only due to a dysfunction in specific areas of the brain, but also to alterations in the pattern of connectivityLas dificultades de aprendizaje comprenden un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos que implican alteraciones significativas en diferentes dominios cognitivos (adquisición y uso del lenguaje, razonamiento, habilidades matemáticas, visuoespaciales, etc.) no justificadas por bajo nivel intelectual, desarrollo sociocultural inadecuado o falta de oportunidades académicas. Éstas son el resultado de una alteración en los procesos psicológicos básicos, evolutivamente ligados a una alteración del sistema nervioso central. Las actuales técnicas de neuroimagen funcional han permitido un nuevo tipo de acercamiento a las bases neurofuncionales de estos trastornos, particularmente de las dificultades en el ámbito de la lectoescritura (dislexia evolutiva) y del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH), los cuales tienen el mayor nivel de incidencia en la población escolar infantil. Desarrollo. Los estudios de neuroimagen han revelado un patrón de actividad atípico en ambos tipos de trastorno. En el caso de la dislexia, se han observado alteraciones de los circuitos perisilvianos que sustentan los mecanismos de lectura. Los estudios sobre TDAH sugieren una disfunción frontoestriatal ligada a las dificultades para el control inhibitorio, así como alteraciones en la corteza temporal posterior y parietal inferior. Conclusiones. Los estudios de neuroimagen funcional revelan que las manifestaciones clínicas de estos trastornos no se deben sólo a la disfunción de áreas cerebrales concretas, sino también a alteraciones en el patrón de conectividadAs dificuldades de aprendizagem compreendem um grupo heterogéneo de perturbações que implicam alterações significativas em diferentes domínios cognitivos (aquisição e uso da linguagem, raciocínio, habilidades matemáticas, visuo-espaciais, etc.) não justificadas por baixo nível intelectual, desenvolvimento sócio-cultural inadequado ou falta de oportunidades académicas. Estas são o resultado de uma alteração nos processos psicológicos básicos, evolutivamente ligados a uma alteração do sistema nervoso central. As técnicas actuais de neuroimagem funcional permitiram um novo tipo de abordagem às bases neuro-funcionais destas perturbações, particularmente das dificuldades no âmbito da leitura e da escrita (dislexia evolutiva) e da perturbação por défice de atenção e hiperactividade (PDAH), as quais têm o maior nível de incidência na população escolar infantil. Desenvolvimento. Os estudos das neuroimagens revelaram um padrão de actividade atípico em ambos os tipos de perturbação. No caso da dislexia, foram observadas alterações dos circuitos perisilvícos que sustentam os mecanismos de leitura. Os estudos sobre o PDAH sugerem uma disfunção fronto-estriatal ligada às dificuldades no controlo inibitório, assim como alterações no córtex temporal posterior e parietal inferior. Conclusões. Os estudos de neuroimagem funcional revelam que as manifestações clínicas destas perturbações não se devem apenas à disfunção de áreas cerebrais concretas, como também a alterações no padrão de conectividad

I movimenti verticali nell’area di Briatico: evidenze da indicatori archeologici marittimi nell’area del terremoto del 1905

Le variazioni del livello del mare lungo le coste italiane e più in generale del mare Mediterraneo, dipendono dalla somma di movimenti eustatici, glacio-idro-isostatici e tettonici. I primi sono dovuti all’alternanza di fasi climatiche fredde (glaciazioni) con fasi più calde (periodi interglaciali) che provocano rispettivamente l’accrescimento e la riduzione delle calotte polari con conseguenti variazioni del livello degli oceani. La presenza di indicatori archeologici tra la foce del fiume Trainiti e Briatico, area attualmente in sollevamento, permette di stimare le variazioni relative tra terra e mare avvenute negli ultimi 2000 anni lungo questo tratto di costa della Calabria tirrenica. Le informazioni desunte dai dati archeologici sono state anche confrontate con osservazioni geomorfologiche. La quota dei marker archeologici è stata misurata e corretta per il livello del mare al momento delle misure. La interpretazione degli impianti ha fornito dati originali sui movimenti relativi tra terra e mare per tettonica e glacio-idro-isostasia

Mechanically driven alloying of immiscible elements (Comment)

In conclusion we have proven that the fact that both fcc FeCu and bcc Fe magnetization agree at 300 K is simply an accident and our data at low temperature show clearly that the Fe contribution after precipitation from the metastable phase has a deficiency in magnetization of at least 20% with respect to the Fe state in fcc FeCu metastable solid solution

Correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced bone perfusion with morphologic ultra-short echo time MR imaging in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MR bone perfusion could serve as surrogate for morphologic ultra-short echo time (UTE) bone images and to correlate perfusion with morphologic hallmarks in histologically proven foci of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). METHODS: Retrospective study including 20 patients with established diagnosis of MRONJ. Qualitative consensus assessment of predefined jaw regions by two radiologists was used as reference standard using Likert scale (0-3) for standard imaging hallmarks in MRONJ (osteolysis, sclerosis, periosteal thickening). DCE-MRI measurements performed in corresponding regions of the mandible were then correlated with qualitative scores. Regions were grouped into "non-affected" and "pathologic" based on binarized Likert scores of different imaging hallmarks (0-1 vs 2-3). DCE-MRI measurements among hallmarks were compared using Mann-Whitney-U-testing. ROC (receiver-operating-characteristic) analysis was performed for each of the perfusion parameters to assess diagnostic performance for identification of MRONJ using morphologic ratings as reference standard. RESULTS: Median perfusion measurements of "pathologic" regions in wash-in, peak enhancement intensity and integrated area under the curve are significantly higher than those of "non-affected" regions, irrespective of reference imaging hallmark (p < 0.05). No significant perfusion differences were found between "pathologic" regions with and without osteolysis (p = 0.180). ROC analysis showed fair diagnostic performance of DCE-MRI parameters for identification of MRONJ (AUC 0.626-0.727). CONCLUSIONS: DCE bone perfusion parameters are significantly increased in MRONJ compared to non-affected regions, irrespective of osteolysis. Due to certain overlap DCE-MRI bone perfusion cannot serve as full surrogate for UTE bone imaging but may enhance reader confidence