Molecular imaging in Parkinson's disease

The present work explores brain functional changes in drug-naïve Parkinson's disease (PD) patients by means of molecular imaging techniques. Thirty-one consecutive drug-naïve PD patients from the Neurological Clinic of the University of Flor-ence underwent clinical assessment, neuropsychological assessment, MRI, [123I]FP-CIT SPECT, [18F]FDG PET. First, [18F]FDG-PET was employed to identify in drug-naïve PD patients brain metabolic alteration uniquely related to disease process and not modulated by anti-parkinsonian therapeutic intervention. Second, [18F]FDG-PET and [123I]FP-CIT SPECT were employed together to explore the early functional changes in brain function related to dopaminergic depletion in the putamen and in the caudate nucleus

THE POLITICS OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES: Borders control and the making of data citizens in Africa

Biometric technologies are complex hardware and software infrastructures that link biometric data such as fingerprints, iris scans, face scans, or DNA data with personal data. A handful of foreign private actors have implemented biometric solutions in more than half of African countries. This paper investigates the politics of biometric artifacts, it looks at how biometric data furnish the basis for the emergence and institutionalization of certain political discourses and power configurations. To this aim, we link the study of biometric data artifacts to the role of private contractors and the full-scale involvement of public institutions in the establishment of border control markets. The empirical context of the research is the work practices of the actors involved in the export of biometric technologies for border security solutions in Namibia. Preliminary findings suggest that the technological and political rationalities of biometric solutions introduce a set of novel problems in the making and management of data profiles. Border control as a political issue seems to be increasingly intermeshed with a logic of economic profit and technological efficiency raising questions of data justice and political accountability

Stifle anatomic, tomographic and biomechanical features of growing dogs affected by quadriceps contracture.

Quadriceps contracture is a debilitating and uncommon condition, mostly affecting young dogs. Itcan be congenital or acquired ) and is reported to induce muscular hypotrophy/fibrosis, progressive degenerative joint disease, bone hypoplasia and limb hyperextension. The aim of this study was to elucidate anatomic, tomographic and biomechanical features of stifles affected by quadriceps contracture.Seven 2-month-old dead Dobermann Pinschers with unilateral quadriceps contracture were included. Before gross anatomic evaluation, all stifles underwent Computed Tomography before and after intra-articular administration of iodinated contrast medium. Images were acquired in double positioning (stifle extension and flexion) to identify articular cartilage, Ossification Centres’ (OCs) and menisci abnormalities, which were compared between affected and unaffected limbs. In all affected limbs the stifle was back-turned, the distal femur was extra-rotated and the patella was luxated proximo-medially. Severe lack of physiological stifle movements (rolling, gliding, spinning) was observed, so that affected joints could not be flexed. The articular cartilage of the femur was flattened and irregular in thickness, the femoral trochlea was hypoplasic and sloping, the menisci were misshaped. The OC of the distal femur and proximal tibia were misshaped; the tibial plateau was oriented caudodorsally-cranioventrally and significantly smaller (P<0,05). Quadriceps contracture influenced stifle development. The action of quadriceps insertion on the tibia prevented normal development of the plateau, causing wedging and abnormal orientation. Constant compression also induced external rotation of the distal femur (unable to develop distally) and patellar luxation, ending up in genu recurvatum. Static compression was likely responsible for femoral trochlea hypoplasia, articular cartilage and meniscal deformation, due to the lack of physiological stifle movements.Quadriceps contracture induces severe alterations of stifle development in affected puppies. Histology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry may better define the nature of such bone, cartilage and meniscal alterations

Eucalyptus cinerea and E. nicholii by-Products as Source of Bioactive Compounds for Agricultural Applications

The cultivation of different species of Eucalyptus has recently expanded in Liguria (Italy) due to the growing demand of the North European floricultural market. Eucalyptus tree branches are cut and selected for their quality, resulting in large amounts of waste biomass to be disposed of. The aim of our study was to evaluate the phytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of essential oils (EOs) from pruning wastes of E. cinerea (EC) and E. nicholii (EN), for potential applications in agriculture. Phytochemical analyses showed eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) as the major component in both EOs, but the EO yield of EN was higher than that of EC, in agreement with a significantly higher oil gland density on EN leaves. EOs from both species showed phytotoxicity on both weeds tested, but no significant inhibition on horticultural crop seed germination, except for Raphanus sativus. The EO from EC showed the strongest antibacterial activity, while the EO from EN showed the strongest antifungal activity. Concluding, EOs from Eucalyptus pruning may be used as possible alternatives to synthetic herbicides and pesticides, acting as antimicrobial and antifungal agents, thus representing a safe strategy for crop management programs

Swine cortical and cancellous bone: histomorphometric and densitometric characterisation

Introduction: Swine bone morphology, composition and remodelling are similar to humans’, therefore they are considered good models in bone-related research. They have been used for several studies involving bone growth, bone and cartilage fractures and femoral head osteonecrosis. Nevertheless, the literature about pig normal bone features is incomplete. This work aims to fill the literature gaps on the microarchitecture and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) of swine femoral diaphysis and distal epiphysis and tibial plateau and diaphysis.Materials and methods: Five hind limbs were collected from slaughtered 80-100 kg pigs. Microscopic analysis of cortical and cancellous bone from middle/distal femur and proximal/middle tibia was performed to determine basic histomorphometric parameters at different sites. Dual-energy X-Rays Absorptiometry was also employed to evaluate BMD. ANOVA and correlation between BMD, bone area (BA) and cortical thickness were performed.Results and discussion: Diaphyseal cortical bone was mostly plexiform both in the tibia and the femur; primary/secondary osteons without clear organization were also found. Mean values for bone area, bone perimeter, trabecular width, number and separation and BMD at different anatomical sites were defined. No significant difference was found for these values at different anatomical sites. BMD proved to be positively correlated with cortical thickness (r=0,80; p<0,01). Despite the small sample size, these results seem homogeneous. They could therefore represent reference values for normal bone parameters in pigs. Applied anatomy and regenerative medicine, in fact, demand very precise information about bone micromorphology, composition and density to provide reliable indication in bone substitutes building. Moreover, since the interpretation of bone abnormalities is based on mastering normal bone characteristics, the definition of reference parameters is mandatory to avoid misinterpretation and allow comparative evaluation.Conclusion: The results of this study, although preliminary, may be considered a dependable starting point for the definition of normal bone features in pigs

ORCHID (Outcome Registry for CHIldren with severe congenital heart Disease) a Swiss, nationwide, prospective, population-based, neurodevelopmental paediatric patient registry: framework, regulations and implementation

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most frequent birth defect. As survival has significantly improved, attention has turned to neurodevelopmental outcomes of children undergoing heart surgery in early infancy. Since multiple risk factors contribute to neurodevelopmental alterations, a nationwide registry collecting data on medical characteristics, interventions, clinical course and neurodevelopment until school-age is needed to improve the quality of management, identify risk- and protective factors affecting neurodevelopment, and facilitate multicentre trials. Methods and analysis: The Swiss Outcome Registry for CHIldren with severe congenital heart Disease (ORCHID) is a nationwide, prospective, population-based patient registry developed (1) to collect baseline characteristics and clinical data of CHD patients operated with bypass-surgery or hybrid procedures in the first 6 weeks of life in Switzerland, (2) to monitor long-term neurodevelopment, and (3) to relate clinical characteristics and neurodevelopment to identify risk and protective factors in these children. This registry started data collection relating to pregnancy, birth, preoperative course, catheter-based and surgical treatment, postoperative course and reinterventions in 2019. The primary outcome includes standardised neurodevelopmental assessments at 9 to 12 months, 18 to 24 months and 5.5 to 6 years. We expect to include 80 to 100 children per year. Correlation and regression analyses will be used to investigate risk- and protective factors influencing neurodevelopment. Ethics and dissemination of results: Swiss ORCHID received support by the Accentus Charitable Foundation, the Anna Mueller Grocholoski Stiftung, the Swiss Society of Paediatric Cardiology, the Verein Kinderherzforschung, and the Corelina - Stiftung für das Kinderherz, and was approved by the cantonal ethics committees. Findings will be presented at national and international scientific meetings, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Results will also be shared with patient organizations, primary health care providers, and public health stakeholders to ensure a widespread dissemination of the results

Implicações Psicológicas das Lesões Esportivas em Atletas de Judô Paralímpico

Uma lesão isola o atleta de sua atividade, ou, pelo menos, coloca-o em condições de não poder levar a efeito, com toda sua amplitude, os requerimentos da execução esportiva. Por isso, as lesões esportivas, em qualquer parte do corpo em que ocorram, influirão, sempre, em toda a pessoa do desportista. Assim, compreender e reconhecer as implicações psicológicas das lesões desportivas é muito importante, porque cada lesão apresenta um cenário de ajuste psicológico ao trauma físico. O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar as implicações psicológicas das lesões esportivas em atletas de Judô Paralímpico com deficiência visual, bem como o processo de reabilitação. Foram avaliados 10 atletas, de ambos os sexos, com média de idade de 28,5 (±7,25) anos, por meio de uma entrevista semiestruturada composta por 13 perguntas formuladas pelos pesquisadores. As respostas às entrevistas foram gravadas e, posteriormente, transcritas e analisadas à luz da análise do discurso. Os resultados mostraram sentimentos de medo, frustração, tristeza e pessimismo frente à lesão, bem como impaciência pelo retorno à prática esportiva. Na etapa de reabilitação, alguns atletas mostraram preocupação em não conseguir executar movimentos antes realizados. Já no retorno às atividades esportivas, apontaram medo e insegurança em ter uma nova lesão. Esses resultados levam a concluir que as respostas psicológicas frente aos traumas físicos são determinadas por um processo dinâmico de avaliação cognitiva, por parte do atleta, acerca da situação da lesão e de outros fatores relevantes. Ele avalia a intensidade e os efeitos da lesão e responde emocional e comportamentalmente a ela