HIV awareness: A kap study among students in Italy reveals that preventive campaigns still represent a public health priority

Background. Improving knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young people is crucial for preventing new infections. The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HIV infection among students attending university courses related to the healthcare professions, in order to better target future preventive and informative HIV campaigns tailored for young people. Study Design. A knowledge, attitude and practices study was conducted among university students attending the following university courses in Bari (Southern Italy): Medicine and Surgery (MS), Dentistry and Dental Prostheses, Health Assistance, Motor Activities and Sports Sciences, Sciences and Technology of Herbal and Health Products, Nursing, Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, and Dietetics. Methods. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge/attitudes re/ HIV and their own sexual practices. The general part of the questionnaire requested information about age, gender, nationality, religion and marital status. The second part included questions asking about knowledge, attitude and practices with respect to HIV, which required true/false answers or graduated answers (reported as agree, quite agree, quite disagree, and disagree). Results. Four hundred students were invited to fill in the questionnaire. The response rate was 91.2% (n=365). Almost all students were aware that HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse and blood, but only 34% knew that breastfeeding is a route of transmission. Of the respondents, 86.8% referred to previous sexual intercourse (25.8% reported using a condom in all cases of sexual intercourse, 43.5% in most cases, 18.6% rarely and 12.1 never). Sexual intercourse with casual partners was reported by 37.5% of these students and 63.9% of them did not always use a condom. Conclusions. The results of the study show that knowledge about some aspects of HIV is insufficient even though the students participating in the present study are students attending university courses related to the healthcare professions. Moreover, high-risk behaviors as the lack of the use of condom during sexual intercourse with casual partners are also common among interviewed students. Programs aimed at providing information that can prevent/reduce transmission of HIV in young people and new strategies to improve knowledge should be stressed as a public health priority

Status of the Cylindical-GEM project for the KLOE-2 Inner Tracker

The status of the R&D on the Cylindrical-GEM (CGEM) detector foreseen as Inner Tracker for KLOE-2, the upgrade of the KLOE experiment at the DAFNE phi-factory, will be presented. The R&D includes several activities: i) the construction and complete characterization of the full-size CGEM prototype, equipped with 650 microns pitch 1-D longitudinal strips; ii) the study of the 2-D readout with XV patterned strips and operation in magnetic field (up to 1.5T), performed with small planar prototypes in a dedicated test at the H4-SPS beam facility; iii) the characterization of the single-mask GEM technology for the realization of large-area GEM foils.Comment: 4 pages, 10 figures, Presented at Vienna Conference on Instrumentation (Feb 15-20, 2010, Vienna, Austria). Submitted to the Proceeding

Multicolor photometry of ten Seyfert 1 galaxies

We present BVI photometry of ten Seyfert 1 galaxies and narrow band H-alpha images for six of these objects as well. The results indicate that the luminosity sample distribution has an amplitude of almost 4 magnitudes with an average of M_B=-20.7. The observed morphologies are confined to early type galaxies. A barred structure is found in only 2 objects. Despite that early morphological types are dominant in this sample, integrated (B-V) colors are very blue. For instance, the SO galaxies show, on average, a (B-V)=0.78. This effect seems to be caused by the luminosity contribution of the active nucleus and/or the disk to the total luminosity of the galaxy. In the B band, the contribution of the active galactic nucleus to the total luminosity of the galaxy varies from 3% to almost 60% and the bulge to disk luminosity ratio (L_bulge/L_disk) ranges from 0.6 to 22. Signs of tidal interactions seems to be a common characteristic since they are observed in 6 of the objects and one of them seems to be located in a poor cluster not yet identified in the literature. H_alpha extended emission is rare, with only 1 galaxy showing clear evidence of it. Luminosity profile decomposition shows that the model Gauss + bulge + disk properly reproduces the surface brightness of the galaxies. However, in order to account for the luminosity profile, most of the disk galaxies needs the inner truncated exponential form with a central cutoff radius ranging from 3 to 10 kpc. This is interpreted in terms of reddened regions that are well identified in the B-V color maps. These regions present very similar colors among them, with (B-V)~1.2. This fact could be associated to the presence of dust confined in the inner regions of the galaxies.Comment: 14 pages, 25 figures. Accepted to Astronomy & Astrophysic

GSK3 Inhibits Macropinocytosis and Lysosomal Activity through the Wnt Destruction Complex Machinery

Summary: Canonical Wnt signaling is emerging as a major regulator of endocytosis. Here, we report that Wnt-induced macropinocytosis is regulated through glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and the β-catenin destruction complex. We find that mutation of Axin1, a tumor suppressor and component of the destruction complex, results in the activation of macropinocytosis. Surprisingly, inhibition of GSK3 by lithium chloride (LiCl), CHIR99021, or dominant-negative GSK3 triggers macropinocytosis. GSK3 inhibition causes a rapid increase in acidic endolysosomes that is independent of new protein synthesis. GSK3 inhibition or Axin1 mutation increases lysosomal activity, which can be followed with tracers of active cathepsin D, β-glucosidase, and ovalbumin degradation. Microinjection of LiCl into the blastula cavity of Xenopus embryos causes a striking increase in dextran macropinocytosis. The effects of GSK3 inhibition on protein degradation in endolysosomes are blocked by the macropinocytosis inhibitors EIPA or IPA-3, suggesting that increases in membrane trafficking drive lysosomal activity

Nuclear activity in galaxy pairs: a spectroscopic analysis of 48 UZC-BGPs

Galaxy pairs are ideal sites in which to investigate the role of interaction on nuclear activity. For this reason we have undertaken a spectroscopic survey of a large homogeneous sample of galaxy pairs (UZC-BGP) and we present the results of the nuclear spectral classification of 48 pairs (more than half of the whole sample). The fraction of emission line galaxies is extremely large, especially among spirals (84 % and 95 %, for early and late spirals respectively). SB is the most frequent type of nuclear activity encountered (30 % of galaxies) while AGNs are only 19%. The fractions raise to 45 % and 22 % when considering only spirals. Late spirals are characterized by both an unusual increase (35 %) of AGN activity and high luminosity (44 % have M_B <-20.0 + 5log h). LLAGNs are only 8% of the total number of galaxies, but this activity could be present in another 10 % of the galaxies (LLAGN candidates). Absorption line galaxies reside mostly (61 %) in S0 galaxies and display the lowest B luminosity in the sample, only 18 % of them have M_B < -20 + 5 log h, but together with LLAGNs they are the most massive galaxies in the sample. Intense-SB nuclei are found in galaxy pairs with galaxy-galaxy projected separations up to 160 h^{-1} kpc suggesting that in bright isolated galaxy pairs interaction may be at work and effective up to that distance. AGNs are characterized by an advanced morphology while SB phenomenon occurs with the same frequency in early and late spirals. LLAGNs and LLAGN candidates do not always show similar properties, a finding which might confirm the heterogeneous nature of this class of objects. Half LLAGNs are hosted in galaxies showing visible signs of interaction with fainter companions, suggesting that minor interactions might be a driving mechanism for a relevant fraction of LLAGNs.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted by A&

Frequency of human papillomavirus infection and genotype distribution among women with known cytological diagnosis in a Southern Italian region

Introduction. In the Puglia region (South Italy) about 200 new hospitalizations for cervical cancer are registered every year. The study investigated the frequency of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the genotype distribution of HPV in a sample of women with known cytology attending the outpatient clinics of four Gynecological Departments of the University of Bari over a four-year period (2005-2008). Methods. Cervical samples from 1,168 women were analyzed for the presence of HPV-DNA through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in L1 region and reverse hybridization. The cytological results were associated with HPV positivity and type-specific prevalence. Results. Overall, HPV infection was found in 355 (30.4%) women. HPV-DNA was found in 34.4% of women with a cytological diagnosis of ASCUS, in 46.8% of women with Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) and in 87.0% of women with High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL)/carcinoma. Also 16.0% of women with normal Pap smear were found to be HPV-DNA positive. The most common HPV genotype was type 16 found in 27.3% of positives, followed by type 53 (11.5%), type 66 (9.2%) and type 31 (9.0%). HPV genotype 18 was found in 6.4% of positives. Types 16 or 18 were detected in about 34% (120/355) of all infected women, in about 33% of LSIL and in 60% of HSIL/ carcinoma HPV-positive women. Among low risk (LR) genotypes, type 61 was found in 10.7% of HPV positive women, type 62 in 8.4%, type 42 in 8.1% and type CP6108 in 7.8%. Discussion and conclusions. The findings of the study give evidence that HPV infection is frequent in the studied cohort of women. The most widespread genotypes found were 16 and 53. These data may represent a benchmark for future evaluation after the recent introduction of vaccination against HPV in 12-year-old girls

A new limit on the CP violating decay KS -> 3pi0 with the KLOE experiment

We have carried out a new direct search for the CP violating decay KS -> 3pi0 with 1.7 fb^-1 of e+e- collisions collected by the KLOE detector at the phi-factory DAFNE. We have searched for this decay in a sample of about 5.9 x 10^8 KS KL events tagging the KS by means of the KL interaction in the calorimeter and requiring six prompt photons. With respect to our previous search, the analysis has been improved by increasing of a factor four the tagged sample and by a more effective background rejection of fake KS tags and spurious clusters. We find no candidates in data and simulated background samples, while we expect 0.12 standard model events. Normalizing to the number of KS -> 2pi0 events in the same sample, we set the upper limit on BR(KS -> 3pi0 < 2.6 x 10^-8 at 90% C.L., five times lower than the previous limit. We also set the upper limit on the eta_000 parameter, |eta_000 | < 0.0088 at 90% C.L., improving by a factor two the latest direct measurement.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physics Letters B (15 pages, 13 figures

Clinical-cytological-grading and phenotyping in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: The relevance in clinical practice

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) includes two main phenotypes: without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). CRSwNP may be associated with comorbidity, mainly concerning asthma, aspirin intolerance, and allergy. CRSwNP patients may also be evaluated by clinical-cytological grading (CCG). The current study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of the different CCG and phenotypes in CRSwNP outpatients examined in clinical practice. This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 791 consecutive CRSwNP outpatients (424 males, mean age 48.8 years). In the total population, asthma was a common comorbidity (30.8%) as well as aspirin intolerance (24.8%), and allergy (50.8%). As concerns CCG-grading, 210 (26.5%) outpatients had low-grade, 366 (46.3%) medium, and 215 (27.2%) high. As regards cytological phenotypes, 87 (11%) had neutrophilic type, 371 (46.3%) eosinophilic, 112 (14.2%) mast cell, and 221 (27.9%) mixed. High-grade CCG was significantly associated with more frequent asthma, aspirin intolerance, allergy, recurrent surgery, and mixed cytological phenotype. Low-grade CCG was characterized by fewer comorbidities and operations, and neutrophilic phenotype. Therefore, the present study confirmed that CCG is a useful tool in the management of outpatients with CRSwNP. CRSwNP is frequently associated with asthma, aspirin intolerance, and allergy comorbidity. High-grade CCG is frequently characterized by a mixed cytological phenotype, thus, by more severe progress. These real-world outcomes underline that CRSwNP deserves adequate attention for careful management and optimal identification of the best-tailored therapy; CCG and cytological phenotyping could be fruitful tools in clinical practice. Asthma and aspirin intolerance should be adequately investigated in all CRS patients

Precision measurement of σ(e+e−→π+π−γ)/σ(e+e−→μ+μ−γ)\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma)/\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma) and determination of the π+π−\pi^+\pi^- contribution to the muon anomaly with the KLOE detector

We have measured the ratio $\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma)/\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma)$, with the KLOE detector at DA$\Phi$NE for a total integrated luminosity of $\sim$ 240 pb$^{-1}$. From this ratio we obtain the cross section $\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-)$. From the cross section we determine the pion form factor $|F_\pi|^2$ and the two-pion contribution to the muon anomaly $a_\mu$ for $0.592<M_{\pi\pi}<0.975$ GeV, $\Delta^{\pi\pi} a_\mu$= $({\rm 385.1\pm1.1_{stat}\pm2.7_{sys+theo}})\times10^{-10}$. This result confirms the current discrepancy between the Standard Model calculation and the experimental measurement of the muon anomaly.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, minor text corrections, one table added, version to appear on Physics Letters