Renal parenchymal thickness is both related to vascular endothelial growth factor and intrarenal stiffness in systemic sclerosis

Questa Letter con dati originali dimostra che nei pazienti sclerodermia lo spessore parenchima, valutato ecograficamente, dipende sia dalla stiffess intrarenale , valutata mediante Doppler delle arterie renali, che dall'angiogenesi, valutata mediante il dosaggio sferico del vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Lo spessore parenchima renale nella sclerosi sistemica mostra una correlazione lineare negativa sia con l'indice di resistenza renale che con l dosaggio sferico del VEGF. E' ipotizzabile che la ridotta neoangiogenesi e l'aumento degli indici di resistenza renale siano la causa di una riduzione dello spessore parenchima renale

Correlation between <em>Phragmites australis</em> growth and seasonal lake level variations in Lake Maggiore (Italy/Switzerland): common reed management guidelines

The present study investigates the impact of water level regulation on the growth of common reed (Phragmites australis), a globally widespread helophytic plant. The investigation has been carried out in the Bolle di Magadino (municipalities of Locarno, Gambarogno, Gordola and Tenero; Ticino, Switzerland), a lacustrine-riparian nature reserve in the context of the Lake Maggiore (that stretches between Italy and Switzerland). This is an oligotrophic, artificially regulated lake. Our initial hypothesis was that variation in water table regulation is the most influential factor for explaining observed local reed dieback. To test this, culm height of P. australis was measured at each significant change in lake water level (water table height increase greater than 20 cm), or monthly in the case of a relatively constant lake level. The study took place between 2020 and 2022, monitoring 14 plots of 400 m2, placed at three different relative elevation classes with respect to the level of the lake (5 plots at low elevation, 193.701 m). The results showed that P. australis growth is significantly influenced by the lake water level and thus the relative elevation of the stands, with lower lake levels leading to better growth, especially during the early phases of the growing season. On the other hand, prolonged flooding of shoots significantly impaired common reed growth. The study identifies two relevant relative elevation thresholds for winter mowing, a management practice that enhances reedbeds health. Mowing below 193.20 m elevation is considered risky, as no healthy reedbeds have been observed below this threshold. Mowing below an elevation of 193.50 m was defined as possibly risky, due to observed dieback in some areas as well as healthy reedbeds in other locations at the same or lower elevations. The research also discussed the potential impact of future changes in water level regulation, including the planned change in the spring regulation threshold (+1.50 m above the hydrometric zero in Sesto Calende). This is expected to result in a further rearrangement in lacustrine vegetation, with the growth optimum for P. australis becoming higher and an increase in clumping habit. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of water level regulation on the growth of P. australis in the Bolle di Magadino nature reserve. The research highlights the need for careful management of water level regulation to preserve the reedbed ecosystem and identifies relevant elevation thresholds for winter mowing to mitigate the risks of reed dieback. The findings can inform future management strategies for the Bolle di Magadino reserve and other similar ecosystems facing the challenges of artificial regulation of water levels

Clinical pharmacokinetics of tramadol and main metabolites in horses undergoing orchiectomy.

Tramadol is a synthetic codeine analogue used as an analgesic in human and veterinary medicine. It is not approved for use in horses, but could represent a valid tool for pain treatment in this species.The serum pharmacokinetic profile and urinary excretion of tramadol and its metabolites (O-desmethyltramadol [M1], N-desmethyltramadol [M2] and N,O-desmethyltramadol [M5]) was investigated in a multidrug anaesthetic and analgesic approach for orchiectomy in horses. The evaluation of the degree of cardiovascular stability, the intraoperative effect and postoperative analgesia obtained by the visual analogue scale are also reported. Animal and methods: Tramadol (4 mg/kg BW) was administered intravenously to eight male yearlings as a bolus over 60 seconds, 5 min after intubation and 15 min prior to surgery. Drug quantification was performed in serum and urine for tramadol, M1, M2 and M5 by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.Mean tramadol concentration was 14.87 ± 11.14 μg/mL at 0.08 h, and 0.05 ± 0.06 μg/mL at 10 h. Serum concentrations of M1 and M2 metabolites were quite limited. For M1 and M2, median maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to achieve maximum concentration (Tmax) were 0.05 μg/mL and 0.75 h, and 0.08 μg/mL and 2 h, respectively; M5 was never detected. In urine, tramadol was the most recovered compound, followed by M1, M2 and M5.Showing no adverse events and based on the kinetic behaviour, pre-operative tramadol IV at a dose of 4 mg/kg BW might be useful and safe as analgesic in horses undergoing surgery

Recent Advances in Time-resolved Nir Spectroscopy for Nondestructive Assessment of Fruit Quality

Non-destructive monitoring of food internal attributes by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is typically performed by the continuous wave (CW) technique, where steady state light sources (e.g. lamp or LED with constant intensity in time) and photodetectors (e.g. photodiode or charge coupled device camera) are used to measure light attenuation. Indeed light scattering can largely affect light attenuation resulting in the need of calibration for each new batch of samples. To tackle this effect time-resolved NIRS (TRS) has been proposed to improve the classical CW approach to NIRS. The main feature of TRS is its ability to retrieve information on photon path-length in a diffusive medium (generally much larger than the geometrical distance between source and detector). The use of TRS in combination with proper physical models for photon migration allows for the complete optical characterisation with the simultaneous non-destructive measurement of the optical properties (absorption and scattering) of a diffusive medium. This can be of special interest for most fruits and vegetables as well as for other foods (e.g. meat, fish, and cheese), because information derived by TRS refers to the internal properties of the medium, and is not so much affected by surface features as is the case for CW spectroscopy. In the past TRS measurements were possible only with complex laboratory instrumentation consisting of picosecond pulsed lasers, water cooled photomultiplier tubes, and electronic chain for timecorrelated single photon counting. In this work we present the recent advances in TRS technology (laser, detectors and acquisition electronics) that allow the design of portable instrumentation for use in the preharvest (i.e. in the field) and post-harvest

SpectroCube: a European 6U nanosatellite spectroscopy platform for astrobiology and astrochemistry

SpectroCube is a CubeSat-based miniaturized in-situ space exposure platform for astrochemistry and astrobiology research. Within a 6 unit (6U, with 1U corresponding to 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) nanosatellite structure, an infrared spectrometer is interfaced with a sample handling system to measure photochemical changes of organic molecules, representing important biomarkers for the detection of life in our solar system and beyond. Monitoring degradation profiles and photochemical reaction kinetics of such biomarkers allows to identify suitable search targets for current and future planetary exploration and life-detection missions. SpectroCube is designed to be launched into a highly elliptical orbit around Earth and therefore allows to expose samples to higher solar UV and energetic particle radiation levels than previous exposure platforms in low Earth orbit, as for example on the International Space Station. In-situ data will be telemetered back to Earth and compared with solar and planetary simulation experiments in ground-based laboratory. We here present the design of SpectroCube, the scientific payload and its subsystems. We demonstrate that with the miniaturisation potential of infrared spectroscopy it is possible to fit the entire optical setup plus a sample handling system for up to 60 individually contained and hermetically sealed samples within less than half of the volume of a 6U CubeSat structure. Therefore, the remaining volume can be entirely used for additional subsystems such as attitude control, propulsion, fuel, onboard computer and telemetry. The design of the scientific payload is based on a commercial off-the-shelf miniaturised Fourier-transform spectrometer consisting of an infrared light source, an interferometer and infrared detector units. The mechanical robustness and suitability of such a system for space applications was assessed. Shock and vibration testing of the mechanically most sensitive unit, the interferometer, was performed and revealed that with adequate damping the spectroscopic performance can be maintained. Additional measurements of test samples conducted with the selected commercial off-the-shelf spectrometer candidate showed that the spectroscopic range, resolution and sensitivity is capable to monitor in situ the photochemical kinetics of important classes of organic molecules and biomarkers for astrobiology and astrochemistry research

Le Gang Giovanili in Italia

Questo studio nasce dalla collaborazione fra il centro di ricerca interuniversitario sulla criminalità transnazionale Transcrime dell’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna e Università degli Studi di Perugia, il Servizio Analisi Criminale del Dipartimento della Pubblica Sicurezza del Ministero dell’Interno e il Dipartimento per la Giustizia Minorile e di Comunità del Ministero della Giustizia, con particolare riferimento agli Uffici di Servizio Sociale per i Minorenni. Il rapporto inizia con la definizione di gang giovanile utilizzata in questa ricerca e le modalità con le quali è stata condotta la raccolta delle informazioni. In seguito, fornisce una panoramica dei risultati ottenuti e una descrizione dei vari tipi di gang giovanili individuati con dei brevi approfondimenti su alcuni casi rilevanti. Sono infine riassunte delle riflessioni sui potenziali fattori alla base di questo fenomeno e alcune proposte di intervento per la sua prevenzione e contrasto

EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on prevention and management of bleeding and thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis

: The prevention and management of bleeding and thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis poses several difficult clinical questions. These Clinical Practice Guidelines have been developed to provide practical guidance on debated topics, including current views on haemostasis in liver disease, controversy regarding the need to correct thrombocytopenia and abnormalities in the coagulation system in patients undergoing invasive procedures, and the need for thromboprophylaxis in hospitalised patients with haemostatic abnormalities. Multiple recommendations in this document are based on interventions that the panel feels are not useful, even though widely applied in clinical practice

Safety and efficacy of bentonite as a feed additive for all animal species

The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) received a request from the European Commission to assess the safety and efficacy of bentonite when used as a technological feed additive (substances for reduction of the contamination of feed by mycotoxins) for all animal species. The applicant, EUBA aisbl (European Bentonite Association) representing six companies, submitted to EFSA a technical dossier to support the application. The applicant proposes to use bentonite at the maximum level of 20,000 mg/kg complete feed. The additive apparently interferes with the analysis of aflatoxin B1 in feed. The safety of the additive was already evaluated by the Panel in an opinion delivered in 2012. Bentonites are safe for all animal species, the consumers and the environment when used at a maximum level of 20,000 mg/kg complete feed. The results of a new genotoxicity study reinforced the previous conclusion that smectites are non-genotoxic. Bentonites are not skin irritants but might be mildly irritant to the eye; based on a new study submitted, the additive is not a skin sensitiser. Owing to its silica content, the additive is a hazard by inhalation for the users. The in vitro study showed that the di- and tri-octahedral smectites tested can adsorb aflatoxin B1 at different concentrations and at pH 5; however, no adequate in vivo studies were available. Therefore, the Panel cannot draw conclusions on the additive\u2019s efficacy. The Panel further considers the safety and efficacy conclusions to apply equally to the di- and tri-octahedral smectites under assessment. The FEEDAP Panel posted some recommendations regarding the maximum content of other minerals in the additive and the incompatibilities of the additive with other medicinal substances. The Panel also drew a remark concerning the denomination of the additive and the current regulatory definition of Bentonite

Safety of the fermentation product of Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 458 (Amaferm®) as a feed additive for dairy cows (Biozyme Inc.)

[EN] Amaferm® is a fermentation product produced by Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 458, containing alpha-amylase and cellulase enzyme activities, authorised for use as a feed additive for dairy cows. In 2016, the applicant requested for the renewal of the authorisation and the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) issued an opinion at that regard in 2020. In that opinion, the Panel could not confirm the previously drawn conclusions (EFSA, 2006) regarding the safety of the production strain, and consequently could not confirm the safety of the additive for the target species and consumers. In the current submission, the applicant provided supplementary information that allowed the Panel to conclude on the identity of the production strain, redefine the specifications of the additive, and finally to conclude on its safety. Therefore, the new data provided permit to conclude that Amaferm® complies with the conditions of the authorisation. However, the Panel noted that there is the need to change the specification and description of the cellulase and amylase units in the authorisation act. The data provided in the previous (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2020) and the current assessments support that Amaferm® remains safe under the approved conditions for target species, consumers and the environment. The additive is non-irritant to skin and eyes, or a dermal sensitiser but should be considered a potential respiratory sensitiser.SIThe Panel wishes to thank the following for the support provided to this scientific output (in alphabetical order of the last name): Working Group on Animal Nutrition and Working Group on Microbiology, Rosella Brozzi, Christina Cuomo and Jordi Tarres Call