Capitate-trapezoid synostosis: analysis of an Early Bronze Age case and review of the literature

Background: Carpal synostoses are congenital defects characterised by complete or incomplete coalition of two or more carpal bones. Although most of these defects are discovered only incidentally, sometimes they become clinically manifest. Among the different types of carpal coalition, the synostosis between capitate and trapezoid bones is quite rare, with only sparse data available in the literature. The aim of this report was to describe a case of capitate-trapezoid synostosis (CTS) observed in an ancient human skeleton, as well as to scrutinise the pertinent literature in order to assess for the characteristics of this type of defect, including its potential relevance to clinical practice. Materials and methods: We studied the skeletal remains of an Early Bronze Age male warrior affected by incomplete CTS. Macroscopic and radiological examination of the defect was carried out. We also performed a comprehensive PubMed search in the Medline and other specialty literature databases to retrieve and analyse data relevant to the subject under consideration. Results and Conclusions: The present case is the most ancient CTS ever found. In those literature-reported cases accompanied by careful anatomical description, such as the present one, incomplete coalition invariably occurs between the dorsal surfaces of the two bones, this characteristic emerging as a distinctive morphological trait. Literature analysis further suggests that the true prevalence of CTS is likely to be higher than estimates based on data gathered from radiology series, and that this defect may be associated with pain and carpal bossing more frequently than generally though

Reentry vehicles: evaluation of plasma effects on RF propagation

In the frame of communication technology relevant to the re-entry vehicles, the communication black-out occurring in the presence of plasma is one of the main challenging issues. The re-entry plasma is a complex physical system, where the ionization derives from a shock-wave and non-equilibrium phenomena. As discussed elsewhere, the time scales of plasma dynamics (including its evolution along mission trajectory) and radio wave propagation are well separated so that radio wave propagation is solved at an appropriate number of time "snapshots" in which plasma dynamics is held unchanged and considered as known. In this activity, a consistent effort has been devoted to model the electromagnetic problem. For the involved range of oprative frequencies and expected densities, the plasma can be considered as an inhomogeneous dielectric. The associated electromagnetic problem is solved in two steps, via use of the field equivalence principle. The vehicle-plasma system is substituted by equivalent (Love's) currents on its boundary, radiating in free space; the fields at the boundary are obtained by solving the propagation problem from the antenna, installed on the spacecraft, up to the plasma boundary, through the Eikonal approximation. Radiation is then obtained without further approximations. Unlike other well-known numerical methods (e.g. FEM), this technique is not intrinsecally limited by the electrical dimension of the vehicle-plasma system. This enables to analyze high frequency problems. Since the formation of the re-entry plasma critically depends on the re-entry vehicle shape and kinematics, the related model has been directly derived from the output data of the Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations. All the results of the above mentioned activities have been collected in a new software, the AIPT (Antenna In Plasma Tool, integrated into ADF-EMS Antenna Design Framework Electromagnetic Satellite) able to predict the electromagnetic propagation in the presence of plasma

Reentry vehicles: evaluation of plasma effects on RF propagation

In the frame of communication technology relevant to the re-entry vehicles, the communication black-out occurring in the presence of plasma is one of the main challenging issues. The re-entry plasma is a complex physical system, where the ionization derives from a shock-wave and non-equilibrium phenomena. As discussed elsewhere, the time scales of plasma dynamics (including its evolution along mission trajectory) and radio wave propagation are well separated so that radio wave propagation is solved at an appropriate number of time "snapshots" in which plasma dynamics is held unchanged and considered as known. In this activity, a consistent effort has been devoted to model the electromagnetic problem. For the involved range of oprative frequencies and expected densities, the plasma can be considered as an inhomogeneous dielectric. The associated electromagnetic problem is solved in two steps, via use of the field equivalence principle. The vehicle-plasma system is substituted by equivalent (Love's) currents on its boundary, radiating in free space; the fields at the boundary are obtained by solving the propagation problem from the antenna, installed on the spacecraft, up to the plasma boundary, through the Eikonal approximation. Radiation is then obtained without further approximations. Unlike other well-known numerical methods (e.g. FEM), this technique is not intrinsecally limited by the electrical dimension of the vehicle-plasma system. This enables to analyze high frequency problems. Since the formation of the re-entry plasma critically depends on the re-entry vehicle shape and kinematics, the related model has been directly derived from the output data of the Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations. All the results of the above mentioned activities have been collected in a new software, the AIPT (Antenna In Plasma Tool, integrated into ADF-EMS Antenna Design Framework Electromagnetic Satellite) able to predict the electromagnetic propagation in the presence of plasm

Rna interference strategies for future management of plant pathogenic fungi: Prospects and challenges

Plant pathogenic fungi are the largest group of disease-causing agents on crop plants and represent a persistent and significant threat to agriculture worldwide. Conventional approaches based on the use of pesticides raise social concern for the impact on the environment and human health and alternative control methods are urgently needed. The rapid improvement and extensive implementation of RNA interference (RNAi) technology for various model and non-model organisms has provided the initial framework to adapt this post-transcriptional gene silencing technology for the management of fungal pathogens. Recent studies showed that the exogenous application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules on plants targeting fungal growth and virulence-related genes provided disease attenuation of pathogens like Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Fusarium graminearum in different hosts. Such results highlight that the exogenous RNAi holds great potential for RNAi-mediated plant pathogenic fungal disease control. Production of dsRNA can be possible by using either in-vitro or in-vivo synthesis. In this review, we describe exogenous RNAi involved in plant pathogenic fungi and discuss dsRNA production, formulation, and RNAi delivery methods. Potential challenges that are faced while developing a RNAi strategy for fungal pathogens, such as off-target and epigenetic effects, with their possible solutions are also discussed

A fine physical map of the CACNA1A gene region on 19p13.1-p13.2 chromosome

The P/Q-type Ca(2+) channel alpha(1A) subunit gene (CACNA1A) was cloned on the short arm of chromosome 19 between the markers D19S221 and D19S179 and found to be responsible for Episodic Ataxia type 2, Familial Hemiplegic Migraine and Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 6. This region was physically mapped by 11 cosmid contigs spanning about 1. 4Mb, corresponding to less than 70% of the whole region. The cosmid contig used to characterize the CACNA1A gene accounted only for the coding region of the gene lacking, therefore, the promoter and possible regulation regions. The present study improves the physical map around and within the CACNA1A by giving a complete cosmid or BAC contig coverage of the D19S221-D19S179 interval. A number of new STSs, whether polymorphic or not, were characterized and physically mapped within this region. Four ESTs were also assigned to cosmids belonging to specific contigs

Double-Stranded RNA Targeting Dicer-Like Genes Compromises the Pathogenicity of Plasmopara viticola on Grapevine

Downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola is one of the most devastating diseases of grapevine, attacking all green parts of the plant. The damage is severe when the infection at flowering stage is left uncontrolled. P. viticola management consumes a significant amount of classical pesticides applied in vineyards, requiring efficient and environmentally safe disease management options. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), through the application of exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), has shown promising results for the management of diseases in crops. Here, we developed and tested the potential of dsRNA targeting P. viticola Dicer-like (DCL) genes for SIGS-based crop protection strategy. The exogenous application of PvDCL1/2 dsRNA, a chimera of PvDCL1 and PvDCL2, highly affected the virulence of P. viticola. The reduced expression level of PvDCL1 and PvDCL2 transcripts in infected leaves, treated with PvDCL1/2 dsRNA, was an indication of an active RNA interference mechanism inside the pathogen to compromise its virulence. Besides the protective property, the PvDCL1/2 dsRNA also exhibited a curative role by reducing the disease progress rate of already established infection. Our data provide a promising future for PvDCL1/2 dsRNA as a new generation of RNA-based resistant plants or RNA-based agrochemical for the management of downy mildew disease in grapevine

Monitoraggio biologico ed esposizione a silice: applicazione di nuovi indicatori di dose e di effetto

In 16 addetti alla produzione di marmi ricomposti è stato misurato Si-CAE, è stata eseguita una spirometria e sono stati dosati 8oxoGua, 8oxoGuo, 8oxodGuo, SP-A, SP-D, CC16 e HO-1. Si sono osservati valori spirometrici (FVC e FEV1) più bassi nei lavoratori rispetto ai controlli. Nei lavoratori abbiamo osservato livelli più elevati dei seguenti marcatori: Si-CAE, 8oxoGuo ed espressione di HO-1. Lo studio evidenzia che l’esposizione a silice può aumentare i livelli di Si-CAE, che può essere usato per stimare la dose al bersaglio. Infine si evidenziavano aspecifiche alterazioni spirometriche ed un aumento di biomarcatori d’effetto

FDG uptake by prosthetic arterial grafts in large vessel vasculitis Is not specific for active disease

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the incidence and clinical significance of arterial graft-associated uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose in large-vessel vasculitis (LVV). BACKGROUND: The role of (18)F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([(18)F]FDG-PET/CT) in the management of LVV remains to be defined. Although [(18)F]FDG uptake at arterial graft sites raises concerns regarding active arteritis or infection, its clinical significance in LVV has never been formally studied. METHODS: An observational prospective study sought to identify patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) undergoing [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT more than 6 months after graft surgery from a large cohort of patients from 2 tertiary referral centers. [(18)F]FDG uptake by the graft and native arteries was scored on a scale of 0 to 3 relative to hepatic uptake, and periprosthetic maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was calculated. Periprosthetic [(18)F]FDG uptake in active disease was compared with that in inactive disease, and arterial progression was assessed by prospective magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects with TA were enrolled. All were afebrile with negative blood culture. Periprosthetic uptake was significant in 23 of 26 patients, and the mean SUVmax was 4.21 ± 1.46. Median periprosthetic [(18)F]FDG uptake score (3; interquartile range [IQR]: 3 to 3) was higher than in native aorta (1; IQR: 0 to 1; p < 0.001). Graft-specific [(18)F]FDG uptake was unrelated to disease activity. Despite the high frequency of graft-associated [(18)F]FDG uptake, sequential MRAs did not reveal arterial progression in 25 of 26 patients; the 1 remaining case showed minor progression limited to native arteries. Nine patients underwent repeated PET/CT scanning without showing changes in graft-specific uptake, despite increased treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Significant [(18)F]FDG uptake that is confined to arterial graft sites in patients with LVV does not reflect clinically relevant disease activity or progression. To minimize exposure to immunosuppression and in the face of negative blood culture, clinically quiescent arteritis, normal or stably raised C-reactive protein levels, we elected not to escalate treatment and monitor progression with MRA

Application of microarray technology in pulmonary diseases

Microarrays are a powerful tool that have multiple applications both in clinical and cell biology arenas of common lung diseases. To exemplify how this tool can be useful, in this review, we will provide an overview of the application of microarray technology in research relevant to common lung diseases and present some of the future perspectives