Feasibility study (I stage) of CO2 geological storage by ECBM tecniques in the Sulcis Coal Province (SW Sardinia).

An ECBM feasibility study started for the Sulcis Coal Province (SW Sardinia, Italy): available geochemical, structural-geology, stratigraphic and reservoir engineering considerations as well as the newly gathered experimental data are discussed, including: fluid geochemistry (major and minor elements, dissolved gases, C and He isotopic ratios) of different strata/reservoir, coal composition and experimental data on CO2/CH4 adsorption-desorption on coal. A MapInfo GIS structure was built up including stratigraphic, geo-structural, hydro-geochemical, coal-compositional and environmental-impact information as well as the CO2 sources location and typology. Despite preliminary, these data highlighted both the challenging positive and negative aspects of the Sulcis Coal Province versus the exploitation of the ECBM technique. The most important objective of this phase I of the project is the selection of the best Sulcis ECBM test-pilot site, which will be followed (Phase II-2007) by the choice of a scaled up site and possibly by a future network (Phase III-2008). CO2 geological storage and CH4 production potentials in Sulcis have been grossly evaluated as a whole, in the frame of the Sardinia region CO2 sources, including the coal-fired power plants, both existent and foreseen (hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 are possible to be stored underground in the next decades).UnpublishedTrondheim, Norway4.4. Scenari e mitigazione del rischio ambientaleope

Feasibility study (I stage) of CO2 geological storage by ECBM tecniques in the Sulcis Coal Province (SW Sardinia).

An ECBM feasibility study started for the Sulcis Coal Province (SW Sardinia, Italy): available geochemical, structural-geology, stratigraphic and reservoir engineering considerations as well as the newly gathered experimental data are discussed, including: fluid geochemistry (major and minor elements, dissolved gases, C and He isotopic ratios) of different strata/reservoir, coal composition and experimental data on CO2/CH4 adsorption-desorption on coal. A MapInfo GIS structure was built up including stratigraphic, geo-structural, hydro-geochemical, coal-compositional and environmental-impact information as well as the CO2 sources location and typology. Despite preliminary, these data highlighted both the challenging positive and negative aspects of the Sulcis Coal Province versus the exploitation of the ECBM technique. The most important objective of this phase I of the project is the selection of the best Sulcis ECBM test-pilot site, which will be followed (Phase II-2007) by the choice of a scaled up site and possibly by a future network (Phase III-2008). CO2 geological storage and CH4 production potentials in Sulcis have been grossly evaluated as a whole, in the frame of the Sardinia region CO2 sources, including the coal-fired power plants, both existent and foreseen (hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 are possible to be stored underground in the next decades)

New insights into the classification and nomenclature of cortical GABAergic interneurons.

A systematic classification and accepted nomenclature of neuron types is much needed but is currently lacking. This article describes a possible taxonomical solution for classifying GABAergic interneurons of the cerebral cortex based on a novel, web-based interactive system that allows experts to classify neurons with pre-determined criteria. Using Bayesian analysis and clustering algorithms on the resulting data, we investigated the suitability of several anatomical terms and neuron names for cortical GABAergic interneurons. Moreover, we show that supervised classification models could automatically categorize interneurons in agreement with experts' assignments. These results demonstrate a practical and objective approach to the naming, characterization and classification of neurons based on community consensus

OP0223 DEVELOPMENT AND PRELIMINARY VALIDATION OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DISEASE ACTIVITY AND DAMAGE SCORES IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM THE UPSTREAM (ULTRASOUND IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS TREATMENT) STUDY

Background:The UPSTREAM (NCT03330769) is a 24-month multi-center prospective cohort study that primarily aims to evaluate the additional value of musculoskeletal ultrasound (msk-US) over clinical examination in predicting 6-month minimal disease activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). (1)Objectives:To develop and preliminarily validate an activity msk-US score and a damage msk-US score for PsA using the UPSTREAM database.Methods:Patients classified with PsA according to CASPAR criteria and starting a new course of therapy for clinically active peripheral joint disease were eligible. The information regarding objectives, study design, clinical and US assessment has already been published (1). The msk-US examination was performed in 42 joints, 36 tendons, 12 entheses and 2 bursae defined through a web-based exercise (2). The sonographic elementary lesions were allocated to disease activity [i.e. synovitis (sy), tenosynovitis (ts), peritendinitis (pt), bursitis (bs) all evaluated both in Grey Scale (GS) and Power Doppler (PD) and active enthesitis (en)] and to damage (i.e. joint erosion, bone proliferation, tendon tear, enthesophyte, calcification and irregular enthesis bone profile). Hands and feet X-ray were assessed using the modified Sharp-Van der Heijde (mSVH) score. A principal component (PC) analysis (PCA) was performed for each score and the number of PCs was defined by means of parallel analysis using baseline data. Each PC was normalized (n) taking into account the proportion between the observed value (e.g. sy-GS count) and the maximum expected value (e.g. 42 for sy-GS). Spearman' correlation was used to investigate the construct and discrimination validity of the new scores.Results:Between February 2017 and May 2020, 312 PsA patients (155 men), with a mean (SD) age of 52.8 13.4, were enrolled from 19 centers; 22 expert sonographers were involved with substantial agreement for US lesions evaluated (k ≥0.7). The median [IQR] disease duration was 1.3 [0.1-6.1] years and the median [IQR] tender joint and swollen joint counts were 6 [3-13] and 2 [1-5], respectively. The weight derived from PCA for each sonographic lesions and the final equation for calculating the scores are reported in Figure 1 (1A activity and 1B damage). The final msk-US activity score [n(ts-GS + ts-PD)*2.87] + [n(bs-GS + bs-PD)*1.76] + [n(pt-GS + pt-PD)*1.43] + [n(active en)*1.00] + [n(sy-GS)*0.83] + [n(sy-PD)*0.45] has the best construct and discrimination validities according to a significant correlation with all clinical variables usually related to clinical activity (Table 1). The msk-US damage score correlated with mSVH score, HAQ and other clinical variables (Table 1).Table 1.VariablesMsk-US activity scoreMsk-US damage scoreSpearman correlationP-valueSpearman correlationP-valueESR0.1960.0020.0750.235CRP0.209<0.0010.0680.254TJC0.338<0.0010.286<0.001SJC0.338<0.0010.0720.221Dactylitis count0.284<0.001-0.0610.306LEI0.1940.0010.214<0.001Physician GA0.150.0120.0160.793Patient GA activity0.1380.018-0.0730.221Patient GA pain0.1990.001-0.0270.648HAQ0.238<0.0010.1460.014BASDAI0.237<0.0010.1750.003PSAID-90.70.0040.1480.013DAPSA0.392<0.0010.228<0.001Sharp van Der Heijde score0.1150.20.2660.003Figure 1.Conclusion:These newly developed and preliminary validated msk-US activity and damage scores could be used in patients with PsA in the context of observational and controlled trials.References:[1]Canzoni M et al. BMJ Open. 2018;8:e021942.[2]Zabotti A et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2018;77:1537–1538.Acknowledgements:Alberto Batticciotto; Oscar Massimiliano Epis; Luisa Arcarese; Luca Navarini; Marta Caprioli; Mirco Magnani; Roberta Ramonda; Marco Amedeo CimminoDisclosure of Interests:Alen Zabotti: None declared, Matteo Piga: None declared, Anna Zanetti: None declared, Marco Canzoni: None declared, nicola boffini: None declared, valentina picerno: None declared, Giovanni Zanframundo: None declared, Ettore Silvagni: None declared, Ivan Giovannini: None declared, BERND RAFFEINER: None declared, Palma Scolieri: None declared, Paola Mancini: None declared, Simone Parisi: None declared, Alessandra Bortoluzzi Grant/research support from: GSK, Garifallia Sakellariou Consultant of: Consultant for Abbvie and Novartis, Orazio De Lucia: None declared, Ilaria Tinazzi: None declared, Fabiana Figus: None declared, Luca Idolazzi Speakers bureau: Received grants as speaker for Eli Lilly, UCB, Celgene, MSD, Abbvie, Novartis, Paid instructor for: Paid instructor for UCB during Product specialist Meeting, Mariagrazia Lorenzin: None declared, Sara Zandonella Callegher: None declared, Alberto Cauli: None declared, Greta Carrara: None declared, Carlo Alberto Scirè: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco: None declare

Post hoc immunostaining of GABAergic neuronal subtypes following in vivo two-photon calcium imaging in mouse neocortex

GABAergic neurons in the neocortex are diverse with regard to morphology, physiology, and axonal targeting pattern, indicating functional specializations within the cortical microcircuitry. Little information is available, however, about functional properties of distinct subtypes of GABAergic neurons in the intact brain. Here, we combined in vivo two-photon calcium imaging in supragranular layers of the mouse neocortex with post hoc immunohistochemistry against the three calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calretinin, and calbindin in order to assign subtype marker profiles to neuronal activity. Following coronal sectioning of fixed brains, we matched cells in corresponding volumes of image stacks acquired in vivo and in fixed brain slices. In GAD67-GFP mice, more than 95% of the GABAergic cells could be unambiguously matched, even in large volumes comprising more than a thousand interneurons. Triple immunostaining revealed a depth-dependent distribution of interneuron subtypes with increasing abundance of PV-positive neurons with depth. Most importantly, the triple-labeling approach was compatible with previous in vivo calcium imaging following bulk loading of Oregon Green 488 BAPTA-1, which allowed us to classify spontaneous calcium transients recorded in vivo according to the neurochemically defined GABAergic subtypes. Moreover, we demonstrate that post hoc immunostaining can also be applied to wild-type mice expressing the genetically encoded calcium indicator Yellow Cameleon 3.60 in cortical neurons. Our approach is a general and flexible method to distinguish GABAergic subtypes in cell populations previously imaged in the living animal. It should thus facilitate dissecting the functional roles of these subtypes in neural circuitry

B Cell Synovitis and Clinical Phenotypes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Relationship to Disease Stages and Drug Exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To define the relationship of synovial B cells to clinical phenotypes at different stages of disease evolution and drug exposure in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Synovial biopsy specimens and demographic and clinical data were collected from 2 RA cohorts (n = 329), one of patients with untreated early RA (n = 165) and one of patients with established RA with an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR; n = 164). Synovial tissue was subjected to hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining and semiquantitative assessment for the degree of synovitis (on a scale of 0-9) and of CD20+ B cell infiltrate (on a scale of 0-4). B cell scores were validated by digital image analysis and B cell lineage-specific transcript analysis (RNA-Seq) in the early RA (n = 91) and TNFi-IR (n = 127) cohorts. Semiquantitative CD20 scores were used to classify patients as B cell rich (≥2) or B cell poor (<2). RESULTS: Semiquantitative B cell scores correlated with digital image analysis quantitative measurements and B cell lineage-specific transcripts. B cell-rich synovitis was present in 35% of patients in the early RA cohort and 47.7% of patients in the TNFi-IR cohort (P = 0.025). B cell-rich patients showed higher levels of disease activity and seropositivity for rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibody in early RA but not in established RA, while significantly higher histologic synovitis scores in B cell-rich patients were demonstrated in both cohorts. CONCLUSION: We describe a robust semiquantitative histologic B cell score that closely replicates the quantification of B cells by digital or molecular analyses. Our findings indicate an ongoing B cell-rich synovitis, which does not seem to be captured by standard clinimetric assessment, in a larger proportion of patients with established RA than early RA

Real-world effectiveness and persistence of golimumab as second-line anti-TNFα drug in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis patients in Italy: GO-BEYOND, a 12-month prospective observational study

A high proportion of patients may fail a first-line anti-TNF drug, necessitating the switch to another anti-TNF treatment. After 12 months of GLM treatment, 80% of RA patients achieved low disease activity (LDA), 37.1% with PsA achieved minimal disease activity and 55.3% with axSpA achieved LDA while persistence at 12 months in all patients was 77.7%. In this 1-year analysis of the GO-BEYOND study in Italy, GLM had a favorable benefit: risk profile and high retention rate in patients with PsA, RA and axSpA

Effectiveness of Golimumab as Second Anti-TNFα Drug in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthritis in Italy: GO-BEYOND, a Prospective Real-World Observational Study

In this prospective observational study, data were collected from 34 rheumatology clinics in Italy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who started golimumab (GLM) as a second anti-TNFα drug. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of GLM after 6 months. Changes in quality of life using the EQ-5D-5L were also assessed. A total of 194 patients aged 53.2 ± 12 years started GLM as a second anti-TNF drug: 39 (20.1%) with RA, 91 (46.9%) with PsA and 64 (32.9%) with axSpA. After 6 months of GLM treatment, 68% of RA patients achieved low disease activity (LDA; DAS28-CRP ≤ 3.2), 31.9% of PsA patients achieved minimal disease activity and 32.5% of axSpA patients achieved LDA (ASDAS-CRP &lt; 2.1). Good/moderate EULAR response was achieved in 61.9% and 73.8% of patients with RA and PsA, respectively, and 16% of axSpA patients achieved a 50% improvement in BASDAI. Across all indications, improvements in disease activity measures and EQ-5D-5L domains were observed over 6 months. The main reasons for GLM interruption were lack/loss of efficacy (7.2%) or adverse events (2%). This study confirms the effectiveness of GLM as a second-line anti-TNF for the treatment of RA, PsA and axSpA in a real-world setting in Italy

Characterisation of CART-containing neurons and cells in the porcine pancreas, gastro-intestinal tract, adrenal and thyroid glands

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The peptide CART is widely expressed in central and peripheral neurons, as well as in endocrine cells. Known peripheral sites of expression include the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the pancreas, and the adrenal glands. In rodent pancreas CART is expressed both in islet endocrine cells and in nerve fibers, some of which innervate the islets. Recent data show that CART is a regulator of islet hormone secretion, and that CART null mutant mice have islet dysfunction. CART also effects GI motility, mainly via central routes. In addition, CART participates in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis. We investigated CART expression in porcine pancreas, GI-tract, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland using immunocytochemistry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CART immunoreactive (IR) nerve cell bodies and fibers were numerous in pancreatic and enteric ganglia. The majority of these were also VIP IR. The finding of intrinsic CART containing neurons indicates that pancreatic and GI CART IR nerve fibers have an intrinsic origin. No CART IR endocrine cells were detected in the pancreas or in the GI tract. The adrenal medulla harboured numerous CART IR endocrine cells, most of which were adrenaline producing. In addition CART IR fibers were frequently seen in the adrenal cortex and capsule. The capsule also contained CART IR nerve cell bodies. The majority of the adrenal CART IR neuronal elements were also VIP IR. CART IR was also seen in a substantial proportion of the C-cells in the thyroid gland. The majority of these cells were also somatostatin IR, and/or 5-HT IR, and/or VIP IR.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CART is a major neuropeptide in intrinsic neurons of the porcine GI-tract and pancreas, a major constituent of adrenaline producing adrenomedullary cells, and a novel peptide of the thyroid C-cells. CART is suggested to be a regulatory peptide in the porcine pancreas, GI-tract, adrenal gland and thyroid.</p