The use of x-ray CT and MRI in the study of sacroiliac joints in patients with Behcet disease and acute anterior uveitis

Objective: It's controversial if Behcet Disease (BD) must be included in the group of seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA). Our aim was to establish the prevalence of sacroiliitis (SI) in patients with BD using X-Ray, CT and MRI, in comparison with patients with Acute Anterior Uveitis (AAU), that is known to belong to the subgroups of SpA. Methods: We considered, in the period from 04/2006 to 04/2009, 21 consecutive patients with BD, positive for HLA B51 and 28 consecutive patients with AAU, positive for HLA B27. These patients were previously selected by our Rheumatological Ward. Altogether we evaluated 98 sacroiliac joints (SIJ); each side of any patient was graded separately. Results: X-ray of the pelvis showed advanced SI (grade 4) in 14% of the cases in patients with AAU; in BD group only 7% CT showed advanced SI in 14% within AAU patients versus 6-12% of advanced SI (right to left) within BD patients. MR showed 14% of advanced SI (bilateral) within AAU versus 6-11% of advanced SI (right to left) in BD patients. Conclusions: This study supports the trend to not consider BD within the SpA, being the prevalence of SI in BD patients not very different from general population and anyway lower than that observed in patients with AAU. On the other side the prevalence of SI in AAU patients is higher than in BD patients and very similar to the one observed in patients with seronegative arthritis, and anyway high enough to consider joint involvement as an important feature of the disease

Clinical predictive factors of pathologic complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer

Background: Predictive factors of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are still not identified. The purpose of this study was to define them. Materials and Methods: Data from consecutive LARC patients treated between January 2008 and June 2014 at our Institution were included in the analysis. All patients were treated with a long course of nCRT. Demographics, initial diagnosis and tumor extension details, as well as treatment modalities characteristics were included in the univariate and logistic regression analysis. Results: In total 99 patients received nCRT, of whom 23 patients (23.2%) achieved pCR. Patients with and without pCR were similar in term of age, sex, comobidities, BMI and tumor characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that pre-treatment tumor size <= 5 cm was a significant predictor for pCR (p = 0.035), whereas clinical N stage only showed a positive trend (p = 0.084). Conclusions: Tumor size at diagnosis could be used to predict pCR, and thus to individualize therapy in LARC patients management. Validation in other studies is needed

Fully Bio-Based Nanocomposite: Formulations For Packaging Application

The effect of a small amount of organoclay (OMMT) on mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, barrier and thermal properties of blown films based on blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11) was investigated. The addition of PA11 results in a decrease of elastic modulus (E) and tensile strength (σR) compared to neat PLA, which suggests poor interfacial adhesion between the polymer phases. Besides an enhancement of E and σR, the addition of 1 wt% of OMMT brings about a significant increase of the elongation at break. Neither blending with PA11 nor adding OMMT cause appreciable alterations of the barrier properties of the films, which remain essentially the same as those of pure PLA. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the onset of thermal degradation of the OMMT-filed blend is 15°C higher than of neat PLA. This improvement is probably due to the labyrinth effect of the PA11 phase. Finally, the OMMT brings about a slight enhancement of the glassy modulus compared to the unfilled blend, which suggests that the clay may exert some compatibilizing action. Such a beneficial effect of the OMMT endures up to the glass transition of PLA. he testing methods such as CCT, RCT, FCT, COBB, bursting etc. are supported by statistical technique and do not provide accurate results. The reason is the deviation of testing results. The same problem can be defined at the classification of different paper materials and qualities. This paper describes a new possible testing method to analyze the chemical and thermo-analytical nature of papers. This method can be used to specify effectively the limits of a given paper quality using in packaging industry and can help to ensure the exact traceability of paper identification. The results show that the this method on the one hand can be helpful to testing the paper during packaging producing process on the other hand after using as a packaging. To the testing a DSC measurement device was used as a thermo-analytical method to observe new specifics of paper based packaging

Analytical and Numerical Models of the Sound Radiated by Fully Clamped Rectangular Vibrating Plates

I n the present work, fully clamped rectangular isotropic plates are investigated: the response under steady-state excitation determined by harmonic point force application is calculated, and the consequent sound radiation is evaluated. The study is carried out both analytically and numeri cally. At first, the analytical solution of the clamped-clamped plate motion equation is calculated by means of a MATLAB implementation. The solution is based on the Principle of Virtual Work, calculating the displacement as a function of frequency at the nodes of a rectangular mesh. The monopole approximation of Rayleigh’s integral is then used to estimate the sound radiation in free field propagation. The numerical solution is evaluated using COMSOL Multiphysics, employing the Finite Elements Method (FEM). The clamped plate is modeled as a shell and “Acoustic-Structure Boundary” coupling is employed. Furthermore, the optimization of force application point is performed, with the aim of maximizing the radiated sound pressure level or flattening the frequency response. Very good matching between analytical and numerical methods has been found. In conclusion, a reliable prediction model of the sound pressure radiated by clamped plates in the low frequency range is achieved

MRI Appearance of Focal Lesions in Liver Iron Overload

Liver iron overload is defined as an accumulation of the chemical element Fe in the hepatic parenchyma that exceeds the normal storage. When iron accumulates, it can be toxic for the liver by producing inflammation and cell damage. This can potentially lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as to other liver lesions depending on the underlying condition associated to liver iron overload. The correct assessment of liver iron storage is pivotal to drive the best treatment and prevent complication. Nowadays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best non-invasive modality to detect and quantify liver iron overload. However, due to its superparamagnetic properties, iron provides a natural source of contrast enhancement that can make challenging the differential diagnosis between different focal liver lesions (FLLs). To date, a fully comprehensive description of MRI features of liver lesions commonly found in iron-overloaded liver is lacking in the literature. Through an extensive review of the published literature, we aim to summarize the MRI signal intensity and enhancement pattern of the most common FLLs that can occur in liver iron overload

Urinary levels of enniatin B and its phase I metabolites: First human pilot biomonitoring study

Enniatins (Enns) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. and are widely distributed contaminants of cereals and derivate products. Among the different identified enniatins, Enn B is the most relevant analogue in cereals in Europe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the occurrence of Enn B and Enn B phase I metabolites in 300 human urine samples throughout an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) methodology. Three different sample preparation procedures were evaluated and salting-out liquid-liquid extraction showed satisfactory validation results. Enn B was quantified in 83.7% of samples ranging from 0.006 to 0.391 ng/mL (average content: 0.016 ng/mL). In line with the in vitro observations with human liver microsomes, in the here analyzed samples the Enn B monooxygenated, N-demethylated and dioxygenated metabolites were tentatively found in 87.7%, 96.3% and 6.7% of samples. The data of this pilot biomonitoring survey indicate a frequent intake of enniatins in Italy, supporting further toxicological studies to provide better basis for understanding their potential effects in humans

Target analysis and retrospective screening of mycotoxins and pharmacologically active substances in milk using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry approach

Milk is a nutritious food suitable for infants and adults, and it plays an important role in the human diet. However, it may also be a vehicle for food contaminants. In this report, we developed a method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) for simultaneous identification of target pharmacologically active substances and mycotoxins in milk. We also used the Q-Orbitrap operating in full scan mode to identify other possible drugs and microbial metabolites that occurred in samples. Fifty-six commercially available milk samples from the Italian market were analyzed. Investigated analytes were extracted using a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) approach. Method detection and quantification limits and performance criteria set by European regulations were fulfilled. Pharmacologically active substances were detected in 49% of samples (range 0.007–4.53 ng/mL), including nontarget mycotoxins. Retrospective analysis allowed us to identify other antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances, as well as nonregulated fungal/bacterial metabolites at a relatively high incidence. From the obtained values, the need for continuous monitoring of contaminants in the milk production chain is clear. This is the first study to assess the presence of pharmacologically active substances, mycotoxins, and other microbial metabolites in Italian milk samples using the UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS system