NPY Levels In Type 1 Diabetic Men of Different Duration.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the different duration of type 1 diabetes mellitus influences basal NPY secretion. Design: The NPY concentrations were measured in sixty-eight men with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (duration: group 1 (n.21) <5 years (range 2-4 years); group 2 (n.24) >5 years and <10 years (range: 6-9 years); group 3 (n.29) >10 years (range: 11-14 years)) and in age matched normal control subjects (n. 30). Results: The NPY levels were significantly lower in group 3 than in group 2 and 1 and in the control group, in group 2 than in group 1 and in the control group and in group 1 than control group. Conclusion: These results support the view that the duration of diabetes may have a modulatory role in the decreased basal NPY secretion observed in diabetics

Cryogenic Characterization of FBK HD Near-UV Sensitive SiPMs

We report on the characterization of near-ultraviolet high density silicon photomultiplier (\SiPM) developed at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (\FBK) at cryogenic temperature. A dedicated setup was built to measure the primary dark noise and correlated noise of the \SiPMs\ between 40 and 300~K. Moreover, an analysis program and data acquisition system were developed to allow the precise characterization of these parameters, some of which can vary up to 7 orders of magnitude between room temperature and 40~K. We demonstrate that it is possible to operate the \FBK\ near-ultraviolet high density \SiPMs\ at temperatures lower than 100~K with a dark rate below 0.01 cps/mm$^2$ and total correlated noise probability below 35\% at an over-voltage of 6~V. These results are relevant for the development of future cryogenic particle detectors using \SiPMs\ as photosensors

Maintenance deep transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions are associated with reduced depressive relapses in patients with unipolar or bipolar depression

Introduction: Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is a new form of TMS allowing safe stimulation of deep brain regions. The objective of this preliminary study was to assess the role of dTMS maintenance sessions in protecting patients with bipolar disorder (BD) or recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) from developing depressive or manic relapses in a 12-month follow-up period. Methods: Twenty-four drug-resistant patients with a current depressive episode and a diagnosis of MDD or BD have been enrolled in the study. All the participants underwent daily dTMS sessions for 4 weeks. One group (maintenance - M group) received additional maintenance dTMS sessions weekly or twice a week. Results: After the first dTMS cycle, a significant reduction of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores was observed in all participants. Subsequently, the HDRS mean scores did not significantly change over time in the M group, while it significantly increased in the non-M-group after 6 and 12 months. Discussion: This study confirms previous evidence of a positive therapeutic effect of dTMS on depressive symptoms and suggests that, after recovery from acute episodes, maintenance dTMS sessions may be helpful in maintaining euthymia in a 12-month follow-up period

Circulating Levels of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 and Arterial Stiffness in a Large Population Sample: Data From the Brisighella Heart Study

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) circulating levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between circulating levels of PCSK9 and arterial stiffness, an early instrumental biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk, in a large sample of overall healthy participants

From the Imaginary Money to Metal Standards. The Italian contribution to monetary and financial thought in the 18th century.

The dissertation explores the "imaginary money" system, in which the unit of account was separate from the physical means of payment. This allowed rulers to stabilize and manage the monetary system more flexibly than later metal standards, which were more rigid. The study highlights the transition from imaginary money to metal standards like the English gold standard and the French bimetallic standard, which, while initially stabilizing currency, eventually led to deflationary pressures and rigid constraints, as Keynes’ critique demonstrates. The dissertation investigates why imaginary money was abandoned in favor of these rigid standards, considering economic, political, and ideological factors. It reviews academic debates on imaginary money, tracing the views of historians and economists like Marc Bloch and Luigi Einaudi, and follows key discussions from the Great Recoinage in England to the political debates in 18th-century Italy. A significant result is the categorization of economic and monetary thought into four main schools that emerged in England and France between the late 17th and early 18th centuries: Lockean conventionalism: John Locke supported a fixed monetary standard, equating the unit of account with the weight of precious metals, forming the foundation for the gold standard. Newtonian naturalism: Isaac Newton, following Copernican ideas, argued that the value of money depended on the value of its metal content, determined by its relative scarcity and market price. Barbon’s nominalism: Nicholas Barbon argued that money’s value depended on its face value, regardless of intrinsic value, relying on legal enforcement. Law’s Chartalism: John Law’s chartalist theory held that the value of money was determined by supply and demand, advocating paper money backed by stable assets. The dissertation then turns to 18th-century Italy, situating Italian monetary theories within these international frameworks. Italian economists generally adhered to naturalism, but after Locke’s writings were translated, they adopted his views. Economists like Neri and Carli in Milan argued that a metal-based currency was essential for stability, while Verri and Beccaria proposed adjusting the legal value of coins to reflect their intrinsic worth. In Naples, Ferdinando Galiani defended "money enhancement" (increasing face value over intrinsic value) to support the government and productive class during times of debt and deflation. Galiani’s approach, although chartalist, still believed in precious metals as “universal money,” a secure asset for international trade. The dissertation also explores the rise of “political economy” in the 18th-century Italian debate. Milanese economists Verri and Beccaria developed a growth model based on a positive trade balance, viewing money as a commodity. They did not see an increase in money as an end, but as a means to stimulate competition and investment by lowering interest rates and raising wages. Galiani, from a chartalist perspective, saw money primarily as a unit of account, and suggested that "money enhancement" could resolve solvency and liquidity crises by redistributing wealth between debtors (farmers and craftsmen) and creditors (nobles and merchants), stimulating the economy. Ultimately, the dissertation argues that imaginary money served as a transitional tool, allowing governments to adjust monetary policy to economic and financial conditions, particularly in increasing the money supply. While valuable, its flexibility led to inflation and harmed creditors. As a result, the gold and silver standard, with its stabilizing power, ultimately prevailed. However, this shift destroyed the ancient monetary system based on complementary currencies, such as "low money" (copper and alloy), "noble money" (gold and silver), and bank money used in international credit settlements. The gold standard, although less flexible, outperformed other systems due to the revolutionary role of the Bank of England, which introduced government debt as its primary asset, allowing it to expand the money supply beyond metal reserves. This transition marks the growing importance of fixed standards in modern monetary policy, paving the way for contemporary financial systems prioritizing stability over the adaptable benefits of imaginary money

Antibody-mediated blockade of JMJD6 interaction with collagen I exerts antifibrotic and antimetastatic activities

JMJD6 is known to localize in the nucleus, exerting histone arginine demethylase and lysyl hydroxylase activities. A novel localization of JMJD6 in the extracellular matrix, resulting from its secretion as a soluble protein, was unveiled by a new anti-JMJD6 mAb called P4E11, which was developed to identify new targets in the stroma. Recombinant JMJD6 binds with collagen type I (Coll-I), and distinct JMJD6 peptides interfere with collagen fibrillogenesis, collagen-fibronectin interaction, and adhesion of human tumor cells to the collagen substrate. P4E11 and collagen binding to JMJD6 are mutually exclusive because the amino acid sequences of JMJD6 necessary for the interaction with Coll-I are part of the conformational epitope recognized by P4E11. In mice injected with mouse 4T1 breast carcinoma cells, treatment with P4E11 reduced fibrosis at the primary tumor and prevented lung metastases. Reduction of fibrosis has also been documented in human breast and ovarian tumors (MDA-MB-231 and IGROV1, respectively) xenotransplanted into immunodeficient mice treated with P4E11. In summary, this study uncovers a new localization and function for JMJD6 that is most likely independent from its canonical enzymatic activities, and demonstrates that JMJD6 can functionally interact with Coll-I. P4E11 mAb, inhibiting JMJD6/Coll-I interaction, represents a new opportunity to target fibrotic and tumor diseases

numerical evaluation of internal heat generation of roller coaster polyurethane wheels

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Quantitative value of aldosterone-renin ratio for detection of aldosterone-producing adenoma: The Aldosterone-Renin Ratio for Primary Aldosteronism (AQUARR) study

Background Current guidelines recommend use of the aldosterone\u2010renin ratio (ARR) for the case detection of primary aldosteronism followed by confirmatory tests to exclude false\u2010positive results from further diagnostic workup. We investigated the hypothesis that this could be unnecessary in patients with a high ARR value if the quantitative information carried by the ARR is taken into due consideration. Methods and Results We interrogated 2 large data sets of prospectively collected patients studied with the same predefined protocol, which included the captopril challenge test. We used an unambiguous diagnosis of aldosterone\u2010producing adenoma as reference index. We also assessed whether the post\u2010captopril ARR and plasma aldosterone concentration fall furnished a diagnostic gain over baseline ARR values. We found that the false\u2010positive rate fell exponentially, and, conversely, the specificity increased with rising ARR values. At receiver operating characteristics curves and diagnostic odds ratio analysis, the high baseline ARR values implied very high positive likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio values. The baseline and post\u2010captopril ARR showed similar diagnostic accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve) in both the exploratory and validation cohorts, indicating lack of diagnostic gain with this confirmatory test (between\u2010area under the curve difference, 0.005; 95% CI, 120.031 to 0.040; P=0.7 for comparison, and 0.05; 95% CI, 120.061 to 0.064; P=0.051 for comparison, respectively). Conclusions These results indicate that the ARR conveys key quantitative information that, if properly used, can simplify the diagnostic workup, resulting in saving of money and resources. This can offer the chance of diagnosis and ensuing adrenalectomy to a larger number of hypertensive patients, ultimately resulting in better control of blood pressure