Risposte biochimiche nel granchio Pachygrapsus marmoratus per la valutazione della contaminazione ambientale del porto di Livorno (Italia).

The main purpose of the present investigation was to assess the health status of Livorno harbour, through the responses of a set of biomarkers in the crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787). This investigation is part of the IMPACT project (Port Impact on Marine Protected Area: crossborder co-operative actions), and the aim is to debug cross-borders management plans in order to actually protect the Marine Protected Areas. Male and female of the crabs were collected from two different areas: Livorno harbour, considered the polluted area, and the control area, the Marine Protected Area “Secche della Meloria”, located just a few miles from the Livorno harbour. A battery of biomarkers was employed to assess neurotoxic effects (acetylcholinesterase, AChE activity), energy metabolism (isocitrate dehydrogenease, IDH; lactate dehydrogenease, LDH), oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, LPO; glutathione S-transferase, GST; glutathione peroxidase, GPX; glutathione reductase, GR; catalase, CAT; glutathione, GSH) and DNA damage (erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities, ENAs assay). Moreover, the levels of trace elements and PAHs were evaluated in the specimens. The results of LPO, CAT, GST, GSH and ENA assay showed that the crabs sampled in Livorno harbour are exposed to contaminants able to cause oxidative stress and genotoxic effects. The average values of LPO and ENA assay showed a statistically significant difference between specimens collected into Livorno harbour and those collected in the marine protected area. The average values of LPO were about three times higher in crabs sampled in polluted area in comparison to those sampled in the control area. Although the females showed higher values in comparison with the males, no significant differences between sex were found. A statistically significant difference was found between the two sampling sites regarding energetic metabolism biomarkers. The crab P. marmoratus, used as a bioindicator to investigate the contamination in a port area using a multi biomarker approach, can be considered a good model organism for marine coastal environment monitoring

Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products and organizations

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Imaging in gynecological disease (15): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcoma

Objective To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcomas.Methods This was a retrospective multicenter study. From the databases of 13 ultrasound centers, we identified patients with a histological diagnosis of uterine sarcoma with available ultrasound reports and ultrasound images who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination between 1996 and 2016. As the first step, each author collected information from the original ultrasound reports from his/her own center on predefined ultrasound features of the tumors and by reviewing the ultrasound images to identify information on variables not described in the original report. As the second step, 16 ultrasound examiners reviewed the images electronically in a consensus meeting and described them using predetermined terminology.Results We identified 116 patients with leiomyosarcoma, 48 with endometrial stromal sarcoma and 31 with undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma. Median age of the patients was 56 years (range, 26-86 years). Most patients were symptomatic at diagnosis (164/183 (89.6%)), the most frequent presenting symptom being abnormal vaginal bleeding (91/183 (49.7%)). Patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma were younger than those with leiomyosarcoma and undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (median age, 46 years vs 57 and 60 years, respectively). According to the assessment by the original ultrasound examiners, the median diameter of the largest tumor was 91mm (range, 7-321 mm). Visible normal myometrium was reported in 149/195 (76.4%) cases, and 80.0% (156/195) of lesions were solitary. Most sarcomas (155/195 (79.5%)) were solid masses (> 80% solid tissue), and most manifested inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue (151/195 (77.4%)); one sarcoma was multilocular without solid components. Cystic areas were described in 87/195 (44.6%) tumors and most cyst cavities had irregular walls (67/87 (77.0%)). Internal shadowing was observed in 42/192 (21.9%) sarcomas and fan-shaped shadowing in 4/192 (2.1%). Moderate or rich vascularization was found on color-Doppler examination in 127/187 (67.9%) cases. In 153/195 (78.5%) sarcomas, the original ultrasound examiner suspected malignancy. Though there were some differences, the results of the first and second steps of the analysis were broadly similar.Conclusions Uterine sarcomas typically appear as solid masses with inhomogeneous echogenicity, sometimes with irregular cystic areas but only very occasionally with fan-shaped shadowing. Most are moderately or very well vascularized. Copyright (C) 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Imaging of gynecological disease: clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcomas

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcomas. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicenter study. From the databases of 13 ultrasound centers, we identified patients with a histological diagnosis of uterine sarcoma with available ultrasound reports and ultrasound images who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination between 1996 and 2016. As a first step, each author collected information from the original ultrasound reports on predefined ultrasound features of the tumors from his/her own center and by checking the ultrasound images to find information on variables not described in the original report. As a second step, 16 ultrasound examiners reviewed electronic ultrasound images in a consensus meeting and described them using a predetermined terminology. RESULTS: We identified 116 patients with a leiomyosarcoma, 48 with endometrial stromal sarcoma, and 31 with undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma. Median age of the patients was 56 (range, 26-86) years. Most patients were symptomatic at diagnosis (164/183, 89.6%), the most frequent presenting symptom being abnormal vaginal bleeding (91/183, 49.7%). Patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma were younger than patients with leiomyosarcoma or undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (median age 46 years vs 57 vs 60). The results of the first and second step of analysis were similar. According to the assessment by the original ultrasound examiners, the median largest tumor diameter was 91 (range 7-321) mm. Visible normal myometrium was reported in 149/195 (76.4%) cases, and 80% (156/195) of lesions were solitary. Most sarcomas were solid masses (>80% solid tissue) (155/195, 79.5%) and most manifested inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue (151/195, 77.4%), one sarcoma was multicystic without solid components. Cystic areas were described in 87/195 (44.6%) tumors and most cyst cavities had irregular walls (67/87, 77.0%). Internal shadowing was observed in 42/192 (21.9%) sarcomas and fan shaped shadowing in 4/192 (2.1%). Moderate or rich vascularization was found on color Doppler in 127/187 (67.9%) cases. In 153/195 (78.5%) sarcomas the original ultrasound examiner suspected malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine sarcomas typically appear as solid masses with inhomogeneous echogenicity, sometimes with irregular cystic areas but rarely with fan shaped shadowing. Most are moderately or very well vascularized. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Imaging of gynecological disease: clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcomas

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of uterine sarcomas. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicenter study. From the databases of 13 ultrasound centers, we identified patients with a histological diagnosis of uterine sarcoma with available ultrasound reports and ultrasound images who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination between 1996 and 2016. As a first step, each author collected information from the original ultrasound reports on predefined ultrasound features of the tumors from his/her own center and by checking the ultrasound images to find information on variables not described in the original report. As a second step, 16 ultrasound examiners reviewed electronic ultrasound images in a consensus meeting and described them using a predetermined terminology. RESULTS: We identified 116 patients with a leiomyosarcoma, 48 with endometrial stromal sarcoma, and 31 with undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma. Median age of the patients was 56 (range, 26-86) years. Most patients were symptomatic at diagnosis (164/183, 89.6%), the most frequent presenting symptom being abnormal vaginal bleeding (91/183, 49.7%). Patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma were younger than patients with leiomyosarcoma or undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (median age 46 years vs 57 vs 60). The results of the first and second step of analysis were similar. According to the assessment by the original ultrasound examiners, the median largest tumor diameter was 91 (range 7-321) mm. Visible normal myometrium was reported in 149/195 (76.4%) cases, and 80% (156/195) of lesions were solitary. Most sarcomas were solid masses (>80% solid tissue) (155/195, 79.5%) and most manifested inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue (151/195, 77.4%), one sarcoma was multicystic without solid components. Cystic areas were described in 87/195 (44.6%) tumors and most cyst cavities had irregular walls (67/87, 77.0%). Internal shadowing was observed in 42/192 (21.9%) sarcomas and fan shaped shadowing in 4/192 (2.1%). Moderate or rich vascularization was found on color Doppler in 127/187 (67.9%) cases. In 153/195 (78.5%) sarcomas the original ultrasound examiner suspected malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine sarcomas typically appear as solid masses with inhomogeneous echogenicity, sometimes with irregular cystic areas but rarely with fan shaped shadowing. Most are moderately or very well vascularized. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Development and implementation of the AIDA International Registry for patients with Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and cervical Adenitis syndrome

Objective: Aim of this paper is to illustrate the methodology, design, and development of the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) International Registry dedicated to patients with the Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome. Methods: This is a physician-driven, population- and electronic-based registry proposed to gather real-world demographics, clinical, laboratory, instrumental and socioeconomic data from patients suffering from PFAPA syndrome. Data recruitment is realized through the on-line Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool. This registry is thought to collect standardized information for clinical research leading to solid real-life evidence. The international scope and the flexibility of the registry will facilitate the realization of cutting-edge study projects through the constant updating of variables - as required by future scientific acquisitions - and the possible merging and transfer of data between current and future registries devoted to this disease. Results: One hundred and twelve centers have already been involved from 23 countries and 4 continents starting from August 24th, 2021, to March 21st, 2022. Fifty-five out of 112 have already obtained the formal approval from their local Ethics Committees. At current, the platform counts 287 users (108 principal investigators, 179 site investigators, 2 lead investigators, and 2 data managers). The registry collects retrospective and prospective data using 3845 fields organized into 24 instruments, including PFAPA patient’s demographics, medical histories, symptoms, triggers/risk factors, therapies, and impact on the healthcare systems. Conclusions: The development of the AIDA International Registry for patients with PFAPA syndrome will enable the on-line collection of standardized data prompting real-life studies through the connection of worldwide groups of physicians and researchers. This project can be found on https://clinicaltrials.gov NCT 0520071