Mycotoxins nivalenol and deoxynivalenol differently modulate cytokine mRNA expression in Jurkat T cells.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its hydroxylated form nivalenol (NIV) are Fusarium mycotoxins that occur in cereal grains alone or in combination. Several studies have shown that these metabolites affect lymphocyte functions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their activities are still partially known. To address this issue, we examined the influence of NIV and DON in modulating IFNc, IL-2 and IL-8 mRNA levels in Jurkat T cells. In PMA/ionomycin stimulated cells, pre-incubated with increasing concentrations of NIV, transcription was induced in the range 0.06–2 lM; higher concentrations of NIV were found non-stimulating (4 lM) or inhibitory (8 lM) for IFNc and IL-2 whereas IL-8 was still induced. DON administration elicited a similar profile for IL-8 and IFNc, whilst IL-2 mRNA was induced in a broader range of concentrations. Combination of NIV and DON at 1:1 and 1:10 ratios essentially restored the cytokine transcriptional pattern observed with NIV alone but the level of transcripts, with the exception of IL-8, peaked at lower concentrations suggesting interactive effects. Moreover both mycotoxins caused inhibition of cell proliferation, mediated by induction of apoptosis, confirming previous results and highlighting the usefulness of Jurkat as a T-cell model to study the effects of mycotoxins on the immune functions in humans

A decrease of calcitonin serum concentrations less than 50 percent 30 minutes after thyroid surgery suggests incomplete C-cell tumor tissue removal

The prognosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) depends on the completeness of the first surgical treatment. To date, it is not possible to predict whether the tumor has been completely removed after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of an intraoperative calcitonin monitoring as a predictor of the final outcome after surgery in patients with MTC

Variability of Cerebral Deep Venous System in Preterm and Term Neonates Evaluated on MR SWI Venography

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midbrain hindbrain involvement in septo optic dysplasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Midbrain-hindbrain involvement in septo-optic dysplasia has not been well described, despite reported mutations of genes regulating brain stem patterning. We aimed to describe midbrain-hindbrain involvement in patients with septo-optic dysplasia and to identify possible clinical-neuroimaging correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using MR imaging, we categorized 38 patients (21 males) based on the presence (group A, 21 patients) or absence (group B, 17 patients) of visible brain stem anomalies. We measured height and anteroposterior diameter of midbrain, pons, and medulla, anteroposterior midbrain/pons diameter (M/P ratio), vermian height, and tegmento-vermian angle, and compared the results with 114 healthy age-matched controls. Furthermore, patients were subdivided based on the type of midline anomalies. The associations between clinical and neuroradiological features were investigated. Post hoc tests were corrected according to Bonferroni adjustment (pB). RESULTS: Patients with brain stem abnormalities had smaller anteroposterior pons diameter than controls (pB CONCLUSION: Midbrain-hindbrain abnormalities are a significant, albeit underrecognized, component of the septo-optic dysplasia spectrum, and are significantly associated with developmental delay in affected patients

Scaling analysis of water retention curves: a multi-fractal approach

Water retention curve (WRC) is analyzed by means of the fractal geometry approach. Three models accounting for the fractal distribution of either the pore and solid phase of unsaturated porous media have been considered. By using data collected during a field scale internal drainage, we determine the functional relationship between the WRC, and the fractal dimension(s). In particular, it is shown that the fractal scaling of the WRC is feasible provided that a large enough set of measurements at the lowest water contents is available. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Heavy metals in the muscle and hepatopancreas of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in campania (italy)

The aim of this study was to carry out a quali-quantitative analysis of the presence of non-essential and essential trace elements in freshwater crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) edible tissues to establish the healthiness of this product and to evaluate the pollution status of the sampling sites included in the present study. P. clarkii is one of the most common species of freshwater crustaceans in Italy, regularly consumed by local people. Moreover, the crayfish, due to its trophic position and diet, can be considered as an excellent bioindicator of the health status of the ecosystem. We collected sixty crayfish samples from two different sites in Campania (Italy): Villa Literno and Sessa Aurunca. Concentrations of trace elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Our data showed low concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb, with values below the European Commission MRL (Commission Regulation (EC) 1881/2006). We suggest that data obtained from this study showed that crayfish collected from Villa Literno and Sessa Aurunca were safe for human consumption. Furthermore, the results of this research indicated mild contamination of heavy metals of the sampling sites, indicating a good health status of the area’s aquatic ecosystem

A Variable Kinematic One-Dimensional Model for the Hygro-Mechanical Analysis of Composite Materials

Composite materials are widely used in many engineering fields. Their mechanical properties allow very stiff structures to be obtained with a mass reduction with respect to metallic materials. These materials are built using a polymeric matrix reinforced with high strength fibres, e.g. carbon fibres. The use of a polymeric matrix makes composite materials subject to aging effects and in particular their properties and performances may be reduced because of the moisture absorption. An accurate prediction of the deformations and of the internal stress field due to the hygro-mechanical effects is mandatory in the design of a composite structure exposed to a moisture concentration. Classical structural models, beams and plates, cannot provide a complete three-dimensional stress field because their kinematic assumption, e.g. rigid crosssection for the beam of constant thickness for the plates. These limitations make the classical models inaccurate when complex three-dimensional stress fields have to be evaluated as in the case of the hygro-mechanical problem, that is, a full three-dimensional model must be used. The present paper proposes to use a refined one-dimensional model with variable kinematic, developed in the frameworks of the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF), for the hygromechanical analysis of composite structures. Refined one-dimensional models are able to overcome the limitations of the classical beam models thanks to a refined kinematic fields, used over the cross-section, able to provide a full three-dimensional solution. In this work a model based on Lagrange functions is used. The hygro-mechanical model has been derived in the CUF frameworks, that is, the moisture concentration can be considered as a variable of the problem. The moisture concentration has been evaluated solving analytically the Fick law that is able to provide the moisture distribution after a certain time of exposure. The moisture concentration has been used as boundary condition in the hygro-mechanical problem in order to evaluate the displacement and stress fields. The model has been assessed and the results have been compare with those from classical threedimensional FE models. Displacements field, stress field and the volume variation have been used to compare the accuracy of the solution. The results show that the refined one-dimensional models are able to provide an accurate solution with a lower computational cost with respect to the full three-dimensional FE models

Noninvasive Assessment of Hemodynamic Stress Distribution after Indirect Revascularization for Pediatric Moyamoya Vasculopathy

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Levels of heavy metals in liver and kidney of dogs from urban environment

Lead, cadmium and mercury were detected in liver and kidney tissue of dogs from an urban habitat. Samples were digested in a microwave system and analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results of the current study showed that at least one of the three heavy metals was detected in tissues of all examined dogs. These findings make us suppose that humans are exposed to the same heavy metals similar to those of dogs that are exposed since they share the same environment. Mercury concentrations detected in kidney of household dogs were higher than stray dogs, therefore the involvement of pet food in exposure to mercury can be supposed