Effects of different operating conditions on sediment slurry sequencing batch reactors treating marine port sediments contaminated by PAHs

Due to intensive anthropic activities, marine port sediments are often contaminated by organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which represent a significant environmental threat. In this study, two sediment slurry sequencing batch reactors (SS-SBRs) were used to biologically degrade a mixture of PAHs (namely fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene) from marine sediments dredged from Cagliari (Italy) and El Kantaoui (Tunisia) ports. To enhance PAHs removal by biostimulation, nutrients were added in both sediments, acetate was used as co-substrate (El Kantaoui, SS-SBR1), and saponins were used as surfactants (Cagliari, SS-SBR2). Moreover, different levels of contamination (up to 200 mgPAHtot/kgdw in SS-SBR1; up to 400 mgPAHtot/kgdw in SS-SBR2) and solid to liquid ratios (S/L, up to 0.2 in SS-SBR1; up to 0.1 in SS-SBR2) were applied. As to SS-SBR1, the highest removal efficiencies (99-100% and 98-100% for 3- and 4-ring PAHs, respectively) were achieved when the level of contamination and S/L were set at 200 mgPAH-tot/kgdw and 0.1, 150 mgPAH-tot/kgdw and 0.13, and 150 mgPAH-tot/kgdw and 0.20, respectively; as to SS-SBR2, very high removal efficiencies (99÷100% and 98÷100% for 3- and 4-ring PAHs, respectively) were observed during the whole experimental campaign. Such results are promising and provide a useful background for testing other important operating parameters (e.g., the volumetric exchange ratio)

Neuropsychiatric, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging features in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder: The importance of MCI

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is frequently diagnosed in patients with isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), although the extent of MCI-associated neuropathology has not yet been quantified. The present study compared the differences in neuropsychiatric, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging markers of neurodegeneration in MCI-iRBD and iRBD patients with normal cognition

Processing of SiC multilayer by tape casting and sintering

6° Conv. Naz. Sulla Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, Perugia 12-15 Giugno 2007, Atti del convegn

Nursing home staff members’ knowledge, experience and attitudes regarding advance care planning: a cross-sectional study involving 12 Italian nursing homes

Background: Advance care planning may be beneficial for nursing home residents, but its implementation is suboptimal in several countries. Aims: To investigate knowledge of, attitudes towards, and experience with advance care planning of nursing home staff members in Italy. Methods: Cross-sectional survey involving all healthcare professionals working in 12 Italian nursing homes. Statistical analyses investigated interactions between participants’ characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and frequency of advance care planning discussion with residents. Results: Of the 185 participants (80.5% female, mean age 43.6 ± 9.2 years), 29.7% reported that they had heard of advance care planning, but their actual knowledge was suboptimal. Participants had positive attitudes towards advance care planning, and most of them clearly recognized its benefits. Apprehension about upsetting the patient or their family, or that patients were not ready for these conversations were the main concerns. Only 16% of respondents discussed advance care planning at least sometimes, usually upon patient/family input. Greater knowledge was significantly correlated with more positive attitudes towards advance care planning. The issues of healthcare professionals’ knowledge and training in advance care planning, and of knowledge and awareness of advance care planning in patients, their families, and the general population were considered either main barriers or facilitators. Discussion: Nursing home staff members’ concerns towards advance care planning seemed to be related to a misconception about patient and family willingness to discuss it. Conclusions: A multifaceted strategy including educational and training programmes and the increase of public awareness is needed to implement advance care planning in Italian nursing homes

A new germline RET mutation apparently devoid of transforming activity serendipitously discovered in a patient with atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis and primary ovarian failure

Gain-of-function RET mutations are responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes (MEN) 2A and 2B and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC), whereas loss-of-function mutations are found in Hirschsprung disease. We report a new RET point mutation [R694Q (CGG3CAG)], serendipitously found in a 23-yr-oldwomanwith hypothyroidism due to atrophic Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and primary ovarian failure, without altered calcitonin secretion. Familial history and clinical and biochemical evaluation of first-degree relatives were negative for FMTC, MEN 2A and 2B, and Hirschsprung disease. Genetic analysis showed that the mutation was inherited from the mother, who was submitted 2 yr before to thyroidectomy for goitrous Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Histological revision and immunohistochemical studies documented normal C cell number and morphology. We cloned the mutation in an expression vector encoding a full-length RET protein. The construct was transiently expressed in 293T cells in parallel with a wild-type RET and a C634RMEN2A-associated RET mutant. Proteins were harvested from transfected cells, and tyrosine phosphorylation levels were assayed. The mutation did not exert significant potentiating effects on RET kinase. A focus assay was also performed on NIH3T3 fibroblasts; the mutant did not exert significant transforming activity. In conclusion, a new RET mutation was found in two subjects without any evidence ofMENand FMTC. In keeping with clinical data, transfection studies confirmed lack of activating activity. This serendipitous discovery, apparently devoid of oncogenic potential, underscores the problems that may be encountered in genomic studies on RE

Sleep Dysregulation Is Associated with 18F-FDG PET and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease

background: sleep impairment has been commonly reported in alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. the association between sleep dysregulation and AD biomarkers has been separately explored in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients. objective: the present study investigated cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) and F-18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (F-18-FDG-PET) biomarkers inMCIandADpatients in order to explore their association with sleep parameters measured with polysomnography (PSG). Methods: MCI and AD patients underwent PSG, F-18-FDG-PET, and CSF analysis for detecting and correlating these biomarkers with sleep architecture. results: thirty-five patients were included in the study (9 MCI and 26 AD patients). F-18-FDG uptake in left brodmann area 31 (owing to the posterior cingulate cortex) correlated negatively withREMsleep latency (p = 0.013) and positively withREM sleep (p = 0.033). F-18-FDG uptake in the hippocampus was negatively associated with sleep onset latency (p = 0.041). Higher CSF orexin levels were associated with higher sleep onset latency ( p = 0.042), Non-REM stage 1 of sleep ( p = 0.031), wake after sleep onset ( p = 0.028), and lower sleep efficiency ( p = 0.045). CSF levels of A beta(42) correlated negatively with the wake bouts index (p = 0.002). CSF total-tau and phosphorylated tau levels correlated positively with total sleep time ( p = 0.045) and time in bed ( p = 0.031), respectively. conclusion: sleep impairment, namely sleep fragmentation, REM sleep dysregulation, and difficulty in initiating sleep correlates with AD biomarkers, suggesting an effect of sleep on the pathological processes in different AD stages. targeting sleep for counteracting the AD pathological processes represents a timely need for clinicians and researchers