Preferential patterns of myocardial iron deposit by multislice multiecho T2* CMR in thalassemia major patients

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Infezione da virus dell'epatite E nel suino e nell'uomo: aggiornamento sulle metodiche diagnostiche di laboratorio

The first part of the thesis is a brief review on the most important aspects of HEV infection in human and swine, followed by an update on the laboratory techniques currently in use for the diagnosis of HEV infections in humans and animals. The second part refers on the results of two investigations carried out on the presence of HEV infection in swine farms in Toscana and Piemonte and on the presence of HEV infection in pigs and humans in some rural communities in Bolivia. HEV strains isolated from swine herds in Toscana and Piemonte were all included in the genotype 3, showing particular homology with Dutch porcine isolates, Spanish porcine and human isolates and British human isolates. The investigation carried out, with a random sampling, in the province of Cuneo, detected HEV infection with a prevalence of 46% on farms with a number of pigs greater than 500. HEV was detected in pigs and humans in rural communities in Bolivia and all the viral isolate were included in the genotype 3. Aminoacidic homology of human and swine isolates was estimated to be 92%. Results on the development of a Real Time RT-PCR to detect HEV are also reported. The used Real Time RT-PCR protocols, one step and two steps, exhibited good sensitivity to detect several Italian swine HEV strains with high rate of genetic variability

Epidemiological study on the Trichinellosis of the fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Tuscany (Central Italy)

<strong>Abstract</strong>
 During the years 2004-2005, 112 foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) and 4 badgers (<em>Meles meles</em>) were caught in different areas of Tuscany (Central Italy) and examined for <em>Trichinella</em> infection, using the diagnostic technique of artificial digestion through Stomacher. No animal was positive for <em>Trichinella</em> larvae. According to our results, Tuscany can be considered a low-risk area for trichinellosis in the fox. In this region the presence of the parasite cannot be ruled out, two cases of infection being reported in 1993.
 
 <strong>Riassunto</strong>
 <strong>Epidemiologia della trichinellosi della volpe (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) in Toscana (Italia centrale).</strong>
 Nel corso degli anni 2004-2005, 112 volpi (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) e 4 tassi (<em>Meles meles</em>) sono stati catturati ed esaminati per la presenza di infestione da <em>Trichinella</em> in differenti aree della Toscana (Italia centrale). L'indagine di laboratorio è stata condotta mediante digestione artificiale tramite Stomacher. Nessun animale è risultato positivo. Da questi risultati si può ritenere la Toscana una regione a basso rischio di infezione. La presenza del parassita non può però essere esclusa totalmente. Infatti, nel 1993 sono stati riportati due casi di infestione

Cramer-Rao lower bounds for precision in T2* assessment for myocardial iron overload measurements by T2* multi-echo CMR

none15nonePositano V; Meloni A; Pepe A; Santarelli M F; De Marchi D; Menichetti L; Dell’Amico M C; Favilli B; Milanesi M; Valeri G; Natale L; Tassi C; Casini T; Landini L; Lombardi MPositano, V; Meloni, A; Pepe, A; Santarelli, M F; De Marchi, D; Menichetti, L; Dell’Amico, M C; Favilli, B; Milanesi, M; Valeri, G; Natale, L; Tassi, C; Casini, T; Landini, L; Lombardi,