New high-performance liquid chromatography-dad method for analytical determination of arbutin and hydroquinone in rat plasma

Natural substances present in herbal preparations should be carefully used because they can give toxic or therapeutic effects despite of their amount or the way of administration. The safety of products of vegetable origin must be assessed before commercialisation by monitoring the active ingredients and their metabolites. This study was therefore designed to identify and quantify arbutin and its metabolite hydroquinone, naturally present in Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng plant in rat plasma, after an acute and subacute administration of aqueous arbutin solution in Wistar rats. For this purpose a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection was developed to assess the pharmacokinetic of arbutin and hydroquinone in plasma of female rats treated with aqueous arbutin solutions. The detection (arbutin: 0.0617 µg/ml and hydroquinone 0.0120 µg/ml) and quantification (arbutin: 0.2060 µg/ml and hydroquinone: 0.0400 µg/ml) limits were determined. At the arbutin concentration level of 10.7 µg/ml repeatability was 13.33% and its recovery 93.4±6.93%, while at the hydroquinone concentration level of 10.6 µg/ml repeatability was 11.66% and its recovery 92.9±7.75%. Furthermore the method was fully validated and the obtained data indicate that the new method provides good performances

RECENT SEISMICITY (2000-2007) IN THE TIBURTINI-PRENESTINI MOUNTAINS REGION (LATIUM, ITALY)

A detailed knowledge of the seismicity distribution enables us to gain a better understanding of the recent tectonic evolution and the present-day state of stress of the Tiburtini and Prenestini Mountains region, whose seismic importance is related with the nearness to the town of Rome. It has been carried out an analysis of the seismicity of the region using the data recorded by the permanent stations belonging to the Italian National Seismic Network (RSNC) from 2000, and subsequently integrated with data of local seismic network from 2003 to 2007. The increase of the number of stations in the last years allow us to obtain better quality earthquake localization as before done. We have produced a large database of re-picked events collecting arrival times of P and S waves of local earthquakes with magnitude larger than 2.0, belonging to the 2000-2007 period. The work is subdivided into three step. The first one consists in the determination of the VP/VS ratio using the modified Wadati method. In the second step we perform the analysis of the 1D velocity model that better approximates the structure of the crust in the studied area using the VELEST code (Kissling et al., 1995). Finally, we have the step with earthquake locations and focal mechanisms computation using the first motion polarities method. Fault plane solutions are selected following the two quality factors defined by the FPFIT code (Reasenberg and Oppenheimer, 1985). For the determination of the regional stress field it is used the focal mechanism inversion method elaborated by Gephart and Forsyth (1984). These results are compared with those available from the historical seismicity that struck the region under study

Early ultrasonographic finding of septic thrombophlebitis is the main indicator of central venous catheter removal to reduce infection-related mortality in neutropenic patients with bloodstream infection.

BACKGROUND: Septic thrombophlebitis increases patient morbidity and mortality following metastatic infections, pulmonary emboli, and/or septic shock. Central venous catheter (CVC) removal for occult septic thrombophlebitis challenges current strategy in neutropenic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated infection-related mortality in 100 acute leukemia patients, with CVC-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) after chemotherapy, who systematically underwent ultrasonography to identify the need for catheter removal. Their infection-related mortality was compared with that of a historical cohort of 100 acute leukemia patients, with CRBSI after chemotherapy, managed with a clinically driven strategy. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy was administered in all patients analyzed. RESULTS: In the prospective series, 30/100 patients required catheter removal for ultrasonography-detected septic thrombophlebitis after 1 median day from BSI onset; 70/100 patients without septic thrombophlebitis retained their CVC. In the historical cohort, 60/100 patients removed the catheter (persistent fever, 40 patients; persistent BSI, 10 patients; or clinically manifest septic thrombophlebitis, 10 patients) after 8 median days from BSI onset; 40/100 patients retained the CVC because they had not clinical findings of complicated infection. At 30 days median follow-up, one patient died for infection in the ultrasonography-assisted group versus 17 patients in the historical cohort (P < 0.01). With the ultrasonography-driven strategy, early septic thrombophlebitis detection and prompt CVC removal decrease infection-related mortality, whereas clinically driven strategy leads to inappropriate number, reasons, and timeliness of CVC removal. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is an easy imaging diagnostic tool enabling effective and safe management of patients with acute leukemia and CRBSI

King´s theory and its interface with the "family health" program

This study of epistemological intention is about King's goal achievement theory and its contributions on knowledge and practicing for nurses who work in the "Family Health" Program (FHP), Brazil. The analysis component, based on the Meleis' Method of Theory Analysis concerning critical thought on the theory, was applied as well as reading and thoughts on FHP guidelines and proposals in order to verify the interface between the two paradigms in the study. The outcome of the study proves that the two approaching proposals are coherent. Such coherence drives authors to recommend the adoption of King's teachings concerning FHP practice for nursing to obtain greater and better results in its actions.Trata-se de estudo de intenção epistemológica acerca da teoria do alcance de metas de King e suas contribuições para o conhecimento e prática de enfermeiros que atuam no Programa "Saúde da Família" (PSF), Brasil. Aplicou-se o componente Análise, do Método de Análise de Teorias de Meleis na reflexão crítica sobre a teoria, e tomou-se de leituras e reflexões quanto às diretrizes e propostas do PSF para perceber a interface entre os dois paradigmas em estudo. Identificou-se haver coerência entre as duas propostas de abordagem, o que leva as autoras a recomendarem a adoção dos ensinamentos de King na prática do PSF, no sentido da enfermagem obter maiores e melhores resultados de suas ações.Se trata de un estudio de intención epistemológica respecto a la teoría del alcance de metas de King y sus contribuciones al conocimiento y la práctica de los enfermeros que actúan en el Programa "Salud de la Familia" (PSF), Brasil. Se utilizó el componente Análisis, del Método de Análisis de Teorías de Meleis, al referirse a la reflexión crítica sobre la teoría; también se tomaron las lecturas y reflexiones relacionadas a las directrices y propuestas del PSF para percibir la interface entre los dos paradigmas en estudio. Se identificó que hay coherencia entre las dos propuestas abordadas, lo cual condujo a las autoras a recomendar la adopción de las enseñanzas de King dentro de la práctica de PSF, con la idea de que la enfermería obtenga mayores y mejores resultados en sus acciones

Environmental pre-exploitation monitoring of Torre Alfina geothermal system (Central Italy)

An interesting project of geothermal pilot plant, with no-gas emission in atmosphere, has been submitted for approval in the medium-enthalpy geothermal field of Torre Alfina. This prompted us to develop a geochemical and geophysical monitoring of the area with the aim of establishing a background information to reco-gnize anomalous gas emission, induced seismicity and subsidence, possibly related to the field exploitation. The exploration conducted by Enel in the years ‘70 - '80, including the drilling of 9 deep wells, has shown the existence of a medium-enthalpy geothermal field in the Torre Alfina zone, in central Italy. The area has been affected by a very complex geological evolution during the Neogene. It was affected by the Quaternary volcanism of the Tyrrhenian margin which, reached its climax between 0.6 and 0.3 Ma. The present stress field around Quaternary volcanoes of central Italy has a NE to ENE direction of extension, in agreement with the alignment of Quaternary volcanoes and earthquake fault plane solutions, with T axes preferentially oriented between NE and ENE.PublishedPrague, Czech Republic, June 22 to July 2, 20156T. Sismicità indotta e caratterizzazione sismica dei sistemi naturaliope

Discrepancy of p16 immunohistochemical expression and HPV RNA in penile cancer. A multiplex in situ hybridization/immunohistochemistry approach study

Background: The high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection represents one of the main etiologic pathways of penile carcinogenesis in approximately 30–50 % of cases. Several techniques for the detection of HPV are currently available including Polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, DNA and RNA in situ hybridization (ISH), p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC). The multiplex HPV RNA ISH/p16 IHC is a novel technique for the simultaneous detection of HPV E6/E7 transcripts and p16INK4a overexpression on the same slide in a single assay. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the discrepancy of p16 IHC expression relatively to HPV RNA ISH in penile cancer tissue. Methods: We collected a series of 60 PCs. HPV has been analysed through the RNA ISH, p16 IHC and the multiplex HPV RNA ISH/p16 IHC. Results: The multiplex HPV RNA ISH /p16 IHC results in the series were in complete agreement with the previous results obtained through the classic p16 IHC and HPV RNA scope carried out on two different slides. The multiplex HPV RNA ISH /p16 IHC showed that HPV positivity in our series is more frequently in usual squamous cell carcinoma than in special histotypes (19 out of 60 − 15 %- versus 6 out of 60 − 10 %-), in high-grade than in moderate/low grade carcinomas (6 out of 60 − 10 %- versus 4 out of 60 − 6.7 %-). In addition, our data revealed that in 5 out of 20 cases with p16 high intensity expression is not associated with HPV RNA ISH positivity. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize that the use of p16 as a surrogate of HPV positivity was unsuccessful in approximatively 8 % of cases analysed in our series. Indeed, p16 IHC showed a sensitivity of 100 % and a specificity of 71 %, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 54 % and a negative predictive value of 100 %; when considering high intensity, p16 IHC showed a sensitivity of 100 %, a specificity of 89 %, with a PPV of 75 % and NPV of 100 %. Since HPV positivity could represent a relevant prognostic and predictive value, the correct characterization offered by this approach appears to be of paramount importance

Environmental pre-exploitation monitoring of Torre Alfina geothermal system (Central Italy)

An interesting project of geothermal pilot plant, with no-gas emission in atmosphere, has been submitted for approval in the medium-enthalpy geothermal field of Torre Alfina. This prompted us to develop a geochemical and geophysical monitoring of the area with the aim of establishing a background information to reco-gnize anomalous gas emission, induced seismicity and subsidence, possibly related to the field exploitation. The exploration conducted by Enel in the years ‘70 - '80, including the drilling of 9 deep wells, has shown the existence of a medium-enthalpy geothermal field in the Torre Alfina zone, in central Italy. The area has been affected by a very complex geological evolution during the Neogene. It was affected by the Quaternary volcanism of the Tyrrhenian margin which, reached its climax between 0.6 and 0.3 Ma. The present stress field around Quaternary volcanoes of central Italy has a NE to ENE direction of extension, in agreement with the alignment of Quaternary volcanoes and earthquake fault plane solutions, with T axes preferentially oriented between NE and ENE

The monitoring of seismic activity at Nyiragongo volcano through telemetered seismic network Goma Volcano Observatory (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The eruption, in January 2002, of Mount Nyiragongo in eastern Congo, and the humanitarian disaster that followed in its wake, underlined the critical importance of accurate seismology to predict when such events will take place. Thus, a seismic telemeterd network, with centre in Goma Observatory, was built across Virunga area to help the moniotring of Volcano. Mount Nyiragongo is a volcano in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Great Rift Valley. The most prominent feature of the Democratic Republic of Congo's geology is the Western Rift Zone (WRZ), which runs through its eastern border regions and neighbouring countries (e.g. Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania) between 28°E to 32°E and 4°N to 12°S. The WRZ extends over a 1600 km arc, including lakes Albert, Eduard, Kivu and Tanganyika, until it joins the eastern branch. The Western Rift Valley of Africa has experienced severe earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in recent historical times. Earthquakes with magnitude >=6 are not frequent, but may cause significant destruction. They occur mostly in DRC and neighbouring countries (e.g. Uganda and Tanzania). In 1991, IAVCEI selected the Nyiragongo volcano as the ‘African decade volcano’ for the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) program. Nyiragongo is located about 20 km north of Lake Kivu and 15 km north of Goma, a city of about 500,000 inhabitants. Goma is twinned to Gisenyi in Rwanda, which has a population of about 100,000. Several small villages are also located on the flank of the volcano. Population growth and poor or non-existent planning has led to relatively uncontrolled use of land for building, and the development of sites vulnerable to earthquake and/or volcanic risk.EUROPEAN CENTER FOR GEODYNAMICS AND SEISMOLOGY Royal Museum for Central Africa, B National Museum of Nat. History, LUnpublishedLuxembourg1.4. TTC - Sorveglianza sismologica delle aree vulcaniche attiveope

BAG3 protein regulates stress- induced apoptosis in normal and neoplastic leukocytes

Co-chaperone proteins that share the Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) domain are characterized by their interaction with a variety of partners, such as heat shock proteins (Hsp), steroid hormone receptors, Bcl-2, Raf-1 and others, involved in regulating protein folding and a number of cellular processes, including proliferation and apoptosis. Among BAG family members there is BAG3, also known as CAIR-1 or Bis. BAG3 forms a complex with Hsp70,1,2,4,6 a protein able to modulate apoptosis by interfering with cytochrome c release, apoptosome assembly and other events in the death process. In addition, BAG3 polypeptide binds to phospholipase C-g (PLC-g)4 or Bcl-2 protein.3,5 Due to such interaction with more than one apoptosis-modulating factor, BAG3 can participate in apoptosis regulation. Indeed, its hyperexpression can decrease apoptosis induced via Bax or Fas in the human epithelial cell line HeLa3 or by IL-3 deprivation in the murine hematopoietic cell line 32D.5 Furthermore, we recently showed that BAG3 downmodulation enhances the apoptotic response to chemotherapy in human primary B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell