A covariant investigation of Neutral Vector Mesons: dynamical properties and electromagnetic decay widths

A simple, but fully-covariant model for describing neutral Vector Mesons, in both light and heavy sectors, is briefly illustrated. The main ingredients of our relativistic constituent model are i) an Ansatz for the Bethe-Salpeter vertex for Vector Mesons, and ii) a Mandelstam-like formula for the electromagnetic decay widths. The free parameters of our approach are fixed through a comparison with the valence transverse-momentum distribution, $n(k_\perp)$, obtained within phenomenological Light-Front Hamiltonian Dynamics models reproducing the mass spectra. Preliminary results for the transverse-momentum distributions, the parton distribution and the electromagnetic decay constants are shown.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of LC2009, to appear in Nucl. Phys. B supp

Risk assessment of the occurrence of black aspergilli on grapes grown in an alpine region under a climate change scenario

Members of the Aspergillus section Nigri, also known as black aspergilli, are responsible for the ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins contamination of wine. The presence of black aspergilli in vineyards has been investigated extensively in warm climates, in which the incidence of these aspergilli on grapes and levels of OTA contamination of wines are commonly high. However, a detailed description of black aspergilli populations is needed in wine-producing cool regions to establish a baseline in view of the strengthening of temperature increase and in case of summer rainfall decrease. With this in mind, we isolated and characterized black aspergilli from grapes grown in an alpine region in Northern Italy (Trentino) during a 3-year sampling. Black aspergilli were isolated from around 10% of the grape berries and most of the isolates were classified as A. niger, A. tubingensis and A. uvarum. A. carbonarius was isolated only once. OTA production was detected only in the A. carbonarius isolate and in one A. niger. Most of A. niger isolates were able to produce fumonisins. The presence of mycotoxins biosynthesis genes was assessed in A. niger isolates. An15g07920, a polyketide synthase (PKS) gene involved in OTA biosynthesis, was detected by PCR only in the single ochratoxigenic isolate. This strong correlation was not observed for anfum1, anfum6 and anfum8, three genes included in the A. niger fumonisin biosynthesis gene cluster, which were detected in different A. niger isolates not able to produce fumonisins. Projections of mean daily temperatures and monthly rainfall indicate that the presence of black aspergilli on grapes grown in vineyards of these valleys will probably increase in the futur

Comparison among single-phase test, automated screening method and GC/MS for the traceability of ketamine in urine

BACKGROUND The use of ketamine, for non-medical purpose, results widespread also in Italy. This drug is not searched by institutional centers, charged of the responsibility to realize the execution of toxicological analysis based on the article 187 of The New Italian Highway Code. We evaluated the reliability of the single-phase test comparing it with an automated screening method and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to search the presence of ketamine on casualty patients involved in car accidents in Rome.METHODS The screening analysis were performed by a single-phase test (with a cut-off settled at 1000 ng/ml), and an automated immunoenzymatic assay (cut-off settled at 330 ng/ml). The confirmation tests have been realized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.RESULTSThe single-phase test highlighted ten positive samples out of 294. The automated instrument confirmed only six out of ten previous positive samples, meanwhile the instrument found further four positive samples, considered negative by the single-phase test. The presence of ketamine is confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry only in seven samples out of fourteen resulted positives from both screening analysis. Three samples out of seven confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were positive only to ketamine.CONCLUSION Following the law indications, ketamine is not searched: this limit does not make the authorities able to apply the penalties expected for road laws violations. The automation is essential to guarantee the reliability of toxicological screening tests, especially to medico-legal significance. This results highlight the absolutely necessity of the execution of the confirmation test, successively to screening analysis

X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets. What the orthopedic surgeon needs to know

Purpose: X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is a rare genetic disease characterized by an increase in fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) expression. The skeleton is one of the systems most affected and deformities of the lower limbs are one of the first reasons for consulting an orthopedic surgeon. The aim of the present study was to offer practical advice for a comprehensive orthopedic approach to XLH. Materials: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, a freely available and cost-effective database. The articles included in the study were discussed by a research group with specific expertise in bone metabolism and pediatric deformities, in order to answer three fundamental questions and thus provide the orthopedic specialist with guidance on XLH: (1) How should the physician complete the diagnosis of XLH?; (2) When might a surgical procedure be recommended?; (3) What kind of surgical procedure should be performed? Results: Sixty-three articles were included and discussed by the research group. Conclusions: A correct and timely diagnosis of XLH is essential to appropriately manage affected patients. To complete this diagnosis a detailed medical history of the patient, a comprehensive clinical and radiographic evaluation, and specific biochemical tests are needed. Pharmacological treatment is based on supplementation of both phosphate and vitamin D, however, a monoclonal antibody that inactivates FGF23 (burosumab), has recently been introduced with promising results. Orthopedic surgery is needed in cases of moderate or severe deformities, to allow physiological growth and prevent early osteoarthritis and gait alterations. Surgical options are osteotomies and hemiepiphysiodesis, which is preferred whenever possible. Three different devices for temporary hemiepiphysiodesis are available (staples, transphyseal screws and tension band plates). Obviously, surgical procedures need an appropriate medical therapy to be effective. In conclusion, the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of XLH require a multidisciplinary approach and a comprehensive evaluation of anamnestic, clinical and radiographic data

Effects of abutment materials on peri-implant soft tissue health and stability: A network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of the abutment material on peri-implant soft tissue health and stability. STUDY SELECTION An electronic and hand search was conducted until February 2022. Only prospective randomized trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing titanium abutments with abutments made of different materials, with a follow-up of at least 6 months, were selected by two independent reviewers. Data on marginal bone loss (MBL) and peri-implant tissue indexes, i.e., plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and recession (REC), were collected. The risk of bias for RCTs and non-RCTs was evaluated according to the tool reported in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the ROBINS-I tool, respectively. Both pairwise and network meta-analyses (NMA) were performed. RESULTS We included 18 relevant studies from 1,437 identified studies. Overall, 612 patients were treated, and 848 abutments were inserted. Five studies presented a low risk of bias. Pairwise meta-analysis showed that, as compared to titanium, zirconia abutments presented a significantly reduced MBL (0.20 mm, 95% Confidence Interval CI [0.14-0.26], P < 0.00001). No significant differences were found for the other outcomes. In the NMA, zirconia abutments demonstrated an 83.3% probability of achieving the highest rank in PI, an 87.0% in BOP, and a 65.0% in PD outcome, suggesting that zirconia abutments generally performed better than titanium and alumina abutments. CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of the present study, zirconia abutments seem a viable alternative to titanium ones

Drivers of diversity of arable plant communities in one of their european conservation hotspots

The changes of agriculture led to deep transformations of arable plant diversity. The features of arable plant communities are determined by many anthropic, environmental, and geographic drivers. Understanding the relative importance of such drivers is essential for conservation and restoration purposes. In this work, we assessed the effects of agronomic, climatic, geographic, and landscape features on α-diversity, β-diversity, and composition of winter arable plant communities across continental Italy, a European hotspot of arable plant diversity. Using redundancy analysis and variation partitioning, we observe that the selected groups of variables explained a restrained to moderate proportion of the variation in diversity and composition, depending on the response (5.5–23.5%). We confirm previous evidence that climate and geographic location stand out in determining the features of arable plant communities in the country, followed by the type of rural area. The surrounding landscape has a subordinate influence but affects both α and β-diversity. The α-diversity is higher in traditional agricultural areas and in landscapes rich in woody vegetation, while it is lower in warmer areas. Species composition is determined by climate, latitude, and the type of rural area, but not by landscape. Total β-diversity is mainly explained by climate and latitude, and subordinately by the agricultural context and landscape. Its components are explained by latitude and climate (replacement) and agricultural context and climate (richness difference). The local contribution to β-diversity of single sites suggested a good conservation status of the studied communities. We discuss the implications of our findings in the light of conservation and restoration of vanishing arable plant communities

Quantitative patterns of Hsps in tubular adenoma compared with normal and tumor tissues reveal the value of Hsp10 and Hsp60 in early diagnosis of large bowel cancer

Large bowel carcinogenesis involves accumulation of genetic alterations leading to transformation of normal mucosa into dysplasia and, lastly, adenocarcinoma. It is pertinent to elucidate the molecular changes occurring in the pre-neoplastic lesions to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. Heat shock proteins (Hsps), many of which are molecular chaperones, are implicated in carcinogenesis, and their variations with tumor progression encourage their study as biomarkers. There are many reports on Hsps and cancer but none to our knowledge on their systematic quantification in pre-neoplastic lesions of the large bowel. We performed immunohistochemical determinations of Hsp10, Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90 in biopsies of large bowel tubular adenomas with moderate grade of dysplasia and compared to normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma with a moderate grade of differentiation (G2). A significant elevation of Hsp10 and Hsp60 only, i.e., in the absence of elevation of Hsp70 or Hsp90, in both epithelium and lamina propria was found in tubular adenoma by comparison with normal mucosa. In contrast, adenocarcinoma was characterized by the highest levels of Hsp10 and Hsp60 in epithelium and lamina propria, accompanied by the highest levels of Hsp70 only in epithelium and of Hsp90 only in lamina propria, by comparison with normal and tubular adenoma counterparts. Hsp10 and Hsp60 are promising biomarkers for early diagnosis of tubular adenoma and for its differentiation from more advanced malignant lesions. Hsp10 and Hsp60 may be implicated in carcinogenesis from its very early steps and, thus, are potentially convenient targets for therapy

Prevalence of Coronary Microvascular Disease and Coronary Vasospasm in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background A relevant proportion of patients with suspected coronary artery disease undergo invasive coronary angiography showing normal or nonobstructive coronary arteries. However, the prevalence of coronary microvascular disease (CMD) and coronary spasm in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease remains to be determined. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of coronary CMD and coronary vasospastic angina in patients with no obstructive coronary artery disease. Methods and Results A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing the prevalence of CMD and vasospastic angina in patients with no obstructive coronary artery disease was performed. Random-effects models were used to determine the prevalence of these 2 disease entities. Fifty-six studies comprising 14 427 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of CMD was 0.41 (95% CI, 0.36-0.47), epicardial vasospasm 0.40 (95% CI, 0.34-0.46) and microvascular spasm 24% (95% CI, 0.21-0.28). The prevalence of combined CMD and vasospastic angina was 0.23 (95% CI, 0.17-0.31). Female patients had a higher risk of presenting with CMD compared with male patients (risk ratio, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.11-1.90]). CMD prevalence was similar when assessed using noninvasive or invasive diagnostic methods. Conclusions In patients with no obstructive coronary artery disease, approximately half of the cases were reported to have CMD and/or coronary spasm. CMD was more prevalent among female patients. Greater awareness among physicians of ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries is urgently needed for accurate diagnosis and patient-tailored management. Keywords: angina with nonobstructive coronary artery disease; ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease; vasospastic angina