A complete spectroscopic catalogue of local galaxies in the Northern spring sky -- Gas properties and nuclear activity in different environments

With the aim of providing the complete demography of galaxies in the local Universe, including their nuclear properties, we present SPRING, a complete census of local galaxies limited to the spring quarter of the Northern sky (10h< RA <16h; 0< Dec <65). The SPRING catalogue is a flux- and volume-limited sample (r < 17.7 mag, cz < 10000 km/s) of 30597 galaxies, including the Virgo, Coma and A1367 clusters. To inspect possible secular and environmental dependencies of the various nuclear excitation properties (SF vs. AGN), we perform a multidimensional analysis by dividing the sample according to (i) their position in the (NUV-i) vs. M* diagram,(ii) local galaxy density, (iii) stellar-mass, (iv) halo-mass of the group to which galaxies belong, and (v) neutral Hydrogen content. We present a new calibration of the optical diameter-based HI-deficiency parameter employing a reference sample of isolated galaxies. At intermediate distances between Virgo and Coma, we identify a ring-like structure of galaxies constituted by three large filaments. The fraction of HI-deficient galaxies within the filament suggests that filaments are a transitioning environment between field and cluster in terms of HI content. We classify the nuclear spectra according to the four-line BPT and the two-line WHAN diagrams, and investigate the variation in the fraction of AGN with stellar-mass, as well as their colours and environments. In general, we observe that the mass-dependency of the fraction of Seyfert nuclei is little sensitive to the environment, whereas the fraction of star-forming nuclei is a steeper function of M* in lower-density environments and in blue-cloud galaxies. We find that the fraction of LINERs depends on galaxy colour and, for logM* > 9.5-10, increases in galaxies belonging to the green valley.Comment: 26 pages, 22 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Lentikat®-based Biocatalysts: Effective Tools for Inulin Hydrolysis

A commercial inulinase preparation from Aspergillus niger was immobilized into polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel lenticular particles (Lentikats®) and into hemispheric-shaped capsules, both based on the use of LentiKat® liquid. The characterization of the resulting biocatalysts, aiming at inulin hydrolysis to fructose, was performed, and the two methods of immobilization were compared. Temperature and pH profiles, as well as kinetic constants were determined, for both free and immobilized enzyme preparations. A broader-shaped curve was observed for the pH-activity profile when immobilized forms were compared to the free form. The apparent KM of inulinase increased roughly 2-fold upon immobilization in either form of the support particles, suggesting diffusion limitations of inulin inside the gel. Long-term operation with immobilized enzymes proved unfeasible above 55 °C, due to the lack of mechanical stability of the supports tested. When the temperature of incubation was lowered to 50 °C, the hemispheric form of the immobilized enzyme displayed considerable long-term operational stability, since it allowed 20 repeated, consecutive batch-mode runs, with a final decay in product yield of 20 %. When inulinase immobilized in Lentikats® particles was used, the final decay in product yield was roughly 70 %

Feasibility of laparoscopy for small bowel obstruction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adherential pathology is the most common cause of small bowel obstruction. Laparoscopy in small bowel obstruction does not have a clear role yet; surely it doesn't always represent only a therapeutic act, but it is always a diagnostic act, which doesn't interfere with abdominal wall integrity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a review without any language restrictions considering international literature indexed from 1980 to 2007 in Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library. We analyzed the reference lists of the key manuscripts. We also added a review based on international non-indexed sources.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The feasibility of diagnostic laparoscopy is high (60–100%), while that of therapeutic laparoscopy is low (40–88%). The frequency of laparotomic conversions is variable ranging from 0 to 52%, depending on patient selection and surgical skill. The first cause of laparotomic conversion is a difficult exposition and treatment of band adhesions. The incidence of laparotomic conversions is major in patients with anterior peritoneal band adhesions. Other main causes for laparotomic conversion are the presence of bowel necrosis and accidental enterotomies. The predictive factors for successful laparoscopic adhesiolysis are: number of previous laparotomies ≤ 2, non-median previous laparotomy, appendectomy as previous surgical treatment causing adherences, unique band adhesion as phatogenetic mechanism of small bowel obstruction, early laparoscopic management within 24 hours from the onset of symptoms, no signs of peritonitis on physical examination, experience of the surgeon.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Laparoscopic adhesiolysis in small bowel obstruction is feasible but can be convenient only if performed by skilled surgeons in selected patients. The laparoscopic adhesiolysis for small bowel obstruction is satisfactorily carried out when early indicated in patients with a low number of laparotomies resulting in a short hospital stay and a lower postoperative morbidity. Although a higher small bowel obstruction recurrence remains the major postoperative risk of the laparoscopic management of these patients.</p

Virtual colonoscopy in stenosing colorectal cancer

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

A severe case of hemobilia and biliary fistula following an open urgent cholecystectomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cholecystectomy has been the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones, but remains the greatest source of post-operative biliary injuries. Laparoscopic approach has been recently preferred because of short hospitalisation and low morbidity but has an higher incidence of biliary leakages and bile duct injuries than open one due to a technical error or misinterpretation of the anatomy. Even open cholecystectomy presents a small number of complications especially if it was performed in urgency. Hemobilia is one of the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from the biliary ducts into the gastrointestinal tract due to trauma, advent of invasive procedures such as percutaneous liver biopsy, transhepatic cholangiography, and biliary drainage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We report here a case of massive hemobilia in a 60-year-old man who underwent an urgent open cholecystectomy and a subsequent placement of a transhepatic biliary drainage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The management of these complications enclose endoscopic, percutaneous and surgical therapies. After a diagnosis of biliary fistula, it's most important to assess the adequacy of bile drainage to determine a controlled fistula and to avoid bile collection and peritonitis. Transarterial embolization is the first line of intervention to stop hemobilia while surgical intervention should be considered if embolization fails or is contraindicated.</p