Physical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols by in-situ and radiometric measurements

Physical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols collected by using a high resolution (1.5 nm) spectroradiometer (spectral range 400–800 nm), a 13-stage Dekati Low Pressure Impactor (size range 30 nm–10 μm), and an AE31 Aethalometer (7 wavelenghts from 370 nm to 950 nm), have been examined in a semi-rural site in Southwest Italy (Tito Scalo, 40°35' N, 15°41' E, 750 m a.s.l.). In particular, daily averaged values of AOD and Ångström turbidity parameters from radiometric data together with mass-size distributions from impactor data and Black Carbon (BC) concentrations have been analyzed from May to October 2008. Furthermore, by inverting direct solar radiances, aerosol columnar number and volume size distributions have been obtained for the same period. The comparison of different observation methods, allowed to verify if, and in what conditions, changes in aerosol properties measured at ground are representative of columnar properties variations. Agreement between columnar and in-situ measurements has been obtained in case of anthropogenic aerosol loading, while in case of Saharan dust intrusions some discrepancies have been found when dust particles were located at high layers in the atmosphere (4–8 km) thus affecting columnar properties more than surface ones. For anthropogenic aerosols, a good correlation has been confirmed through the comparison of fine aerosol fraction contribution as measured by radiometer, impactor and aethalometer, suggesting that, in this case, the particles are more homogeneously distributed over the lower layers of atmosphere and columnar aerosol optical properties are dominated by surface measured component

Community-based perceptions of emergency care in Kenya

Access to quality emergency services is an essential component of the human right to health, but barriers to emergency care are found throughout Africa and the wider world. Data to support the development of emergency care are essential to improve access to care and further infrastructure development. We undertook this study to understand the community\u27s emergency care needs and the barriers they face when trying to access care and to engage community members with developing high impact solutions to expand access to essential emergency services. To accomplish this, we used a qualitative research methodology to conduct 59 focus groups with 528 total Kenyan community member participants. Data were coded, aggregated, and analysed using the content analysis approach. Participants were uniformly selected from all eight of the historical Kenyan provinces (Central. Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western), with equal rural and urban community representation. We found that socioeconomic and cultural factors play a major role both in seeking and reaching emergency care. Community members in Kenya experience a wide range of medical emergencies and seem to understand their time-critical nature. They rely on one another for assistance in the face of substantial barriers to care: a lack of a structured system, resources, transportation, trained healthcare providers, and initial care on scene. The results of this study indicate the need for specific interventions to reduce barriers to access essential emergency services in Kenya. Access to emergency care can be improved by encouraging recognition and initial treatment of emergent illness in the community, strengthening the pre­-hospital care system, improving emergency care delivery at health facilities, and creating new policies at both county and national levels

Effect of Chemical Vapor Deposition WS2 on Viability and Differentiation of SH-SY5Y Cells

In recent years, transition metal dichalcogenides have been attracting an increasing interest in the biomedical field, thus implying the need of a deeper understanding of their impact on cell behavior. In this study we investigate tungsten disulfide (WS2) grown via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on a transparent substrate (sapphire) as a platform for neural-like cell culture. We culture SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells on WS2, using graphene, sapphire and standard culture well as controls. The quality, thickness and homogeneity of the materials is analyzed using atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The cytocompatibility of CVD WS2 is investigated for the first time by cell viability and differentiation assessment on SH-SY5Y cells. We find that cells differentiated on WS2, displaying a viability and neurite length comparable with the controls. These findings shine light on the possibility of using WS2 as a cytocompatible material for interfacing neural cells

Clinical usefulness of dual orexin receptor antagonism beyond insomnia: Neurological and psychiatric comorbidities

Orexin is a neurotransmitter produced by a small group of hypothalamic neurons. Besides its well-known role in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, the orexin system was shown to be relevant in several physiological functions including cognition, mood and emotion modulation, and energy homeostasis. Indeed, the implication of orexin neurotransmission in neurological and psychiatric diseases has been hypothesized via a direct effect exerted by the projections of orexin neurons to several brain areas, and via an indirect effect through orexin-mediated modulation of sleep and wake. Along with the growing evidence concerning the use of dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) in the treatment of insomnia, studies assessing their efficacy in insomnia comorbid with psychiatric and neurological diseases have been set in order to investigate the potential impact of DORAs on both sleep-related symptoms and disease-specific manifestations. This narrative review aimed at summarizing the current evidence on the use of DORAs in neurological and psychiatric conditions comorbid with insomnia, also discussing the possible implication of modulating the orexin system for improving the burden of symptoms and the pathological mechanisms of these disorders. Target searches were performed on PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases and ongoing studies registered on Clinicaltrials.gov were reviewed. Despite some contradictory findings, preclinical studies seemingly support the possible beneficial role of orexin antagonism in the management of the most common neurological and psychiatric diseases with sleep-related comorbidities. However, clinical research is still limited and further studies are needed for corroborating these promising preliminary results

Inflammatory response modulation by vitamin c in an mptp mouse model of parkinson’s disease

Vitamin C (Vit C) is anutrient present in many foods, particularly citrus fruits, green vegetables, tomatoes, and potatoes. Vit C is studied for its applications in the prevention and management of different pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a defense mechanism activated by a stimulus or an insult that is aimed at the preservation of the brain by promoting tissue repair and removing cellular debris; however, persistent inflammatory responses are detrimental and may lead to the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease. PD is one of the most common chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorders, and oxidative stress is one of the most important factors involved in its pathogenesis and progression.Due to this, research on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds is an important target for counteracting neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. In the central nervous system, the presence of Vit C in the brain is higher than in other body districts, but why and how this occurs is still unknown. In this research, Vit C, with its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, is studied to better understand its contribution to brain protection; in particular, we have investigated the neuroprotective effects of Vit C in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced animal model of PD and its role in the modulation of neuroinflammation. First, we observed that Vit C significantly decreased the MPTP-induced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neuronal cells in the substantia nigra, as well as microglial cell activation and astrogliosis. Furthermore, gait and spontaneous locomotor activity, evaluated by an automated treadmill and the Open Field test, respectively, were partially ameliorated by Vit C treatment in MPTP-intoxicated animals. In relation to neuroinflammation, results show that Vit C reduced the protein and mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TLR4, TNF-α, iNOS, and CD40, while anti-inflammatory proteins such as IL-10, CD163, TGF-β, and IL-4 increased. Interestingly, we show for the first time that Vit C reduces neuroinflammation by modulating microglial polarization and astrocyte activation. Moreover, Vit C was able to reduce NLRP3 activation, which is linked to the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, including neuroinflammatory disorders. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that Vit C may represent a new promising dietary supplement for the prevention and alleviation of the inflammatory cascade of PD, thus contributing to neuroprotection

Tumor BRCA Test for Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: The Role of Molecular Pathology in the Era of PARP Inhibitor Therapy

The PARP inhibitor olaparib has been approved in the maintenance setting of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer patients with germline or somatic BRCA1/2 mutation. Therefore, the availability of a tumor BRCA test has become a clinical need. We report the results of the clinical implementation of a tumor BRCA test within the frame of an institutional workflow for the management of patients with nonmucinous and nonborderline epithelial ovarian cancer. In total, 223 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were prospectively analyzed. BRCA1/2 status was evaluated on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens using next-generation sequencing technology. The tumor BRCA test had a success rate of 99.1% (221 of 223 successfully analyzed cases) and a median turnaround time of 17 calendar days. Among the 221 cases, BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations were found in 62 (28.1%) cases and variants of uncertain significance in 25 (11.3%) cases. The concordance rate between tumor BRCA test results and germline BRCA1/2 status was 87%, with five cases harboring pathogenic/likely pathogenic somatic-only mutations. The next-generation, sequencing-based tumor BRCA test showed a high success rate and a turnaround time compatible with clinical purposes. The tumor BRCA test could be implemented in a molecular diagnostic setting and it may guide the clinical management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer

Spectrally resolved observations of atmospheric emitted radiance in the H2O rotation band

This paper presents the project Earth Cooling by Water Vapor Radiation, an observational programme, which aims at developing a database of spectrally resolved far infrared observations, in atmospheric dry conditions, in order to validate radiative transfer models and test the quality of water vapor continuum and line parameters. The project provides the very first set of far-infrared spectral downwelling radiance measurements, in dry atmospheric conditions, which are complemented with Raman Lidar-derived temperature and water vapor profiles

Patient-reported outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures in interstitial lung disease: Where to go from here?

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), tools to assess patient self-report of health status, are now increasingly used in research, care and policymaking. While there are two well-developed disease-specific PROMs for interstitial lung diseases (ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), many unmet and urgent needs remain. In December 2019, 64 international ILD experts convened in Erice, Italy to deliberate on many topics, including PROMs in ILD. This review summarises the history of PROMs in ILD, shortcomings of the existing tools, challenges of development, validation and implementation of their use in clinical trials, and the discussion held during the meeting. Development of disease-specific PROMs for ILD including IPF with robust methodology and validation in concordance with guidance from regulatory authorities have increased user confidence in PROMs. Minimal clinically important difference for bidirectional changes may need to be developed. Cross-cultural validation and linguistic adaptations are necessary in addition to robust psychometric properties for effective PROM use in multinational clinical trials. PROM burden of use should be reduced through appropriate use of digital technologies and computerised adaptive testing. Active patient engagement in all stages from development, testing, choosing and implementation of PROMs can help improve probability of success and further growth

Prevalence and predictor factors of respiratory impairment in a large cohort of patients with Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1): A retrospective, cross sectional study

Introduction: Respiratory complications are relevant in DM1, leading to a significantly increased morbidity and mortality risk in these patients; however, so far only few studies concerning respiratory function have been conducted in DM1 patients. We report a retrospective, multicenter, cross sectional study on a large cohort of DM1 patients widely characterized in the phenotype, to assess prevalence and identify predictors of restrictive respiratory syndrome. Methods: 268 DM1 subjects aged >18 years, who had recently performed spirometric tests were included; restrictive syndrome was diagnosed if forced vital capacity (FVC) <80% of predicted. This cut-off was used for statistical univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: 51.9% patients showed a restrictive syndrome, and half of them had indication to non-invasive ventilation (NIV), yet only 50% resulted compliant to NIV. CTG expansion size in leukocytes, clinical muscle severity, most functional parameters of respiratory muscle involvement, presence of cardiac conduction disturbances, pacemaker (PMK), exertion dyspnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and indication and compliance to NIV were all significantly associated with restrictive syndrome at the univariate analysis; in the multivariate model only the first two factors resulted independent predictors. Discussion: A high prevalence of restrictive syndrome in our DM1 cohort, mainly due to respiratory muscles weakness, was observed and documented; the severity of muscle impairment and the CTG expansion size confirmed to be independent predictors of respiratory restriction. Our data suggest that optimization of respiratory therapeutic management, particularly regarding launching of NIV, might help to reduce the rate of deaths due to respiratory complications in DM1