‘Hartite’ renamed branchite

Historical samples of branchite, described by the Tuscan naturalist Paolo Savi (1798–1871) at the end of the 1830s, were re-examined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, showing their identity with hartite, C20H34, a hydrocarbon mineral described by Haidinger in 1841. The refined unit-cell parameters are a = 11.4116(7), b = 20.9688(12), c = 7.4100(4) Å, α = 93.947(2), β = 100.734(2), γ = 80.524(2)°, V = 1716.99(17) Å3 and Z = 4; space group P1. The crystal structure was solved and refined up to R1 = 0.0424 for 13512 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 1265 refined parameters. As the name ‘branchite’ has priority over ‘hartite’, the reinstatement of the former name and the discreditation of the latter were approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA–CNMNC). Branchite is one of only eleven minerals formed by C and H listed in the official IMA List of Minerals. The type locality of branchite is the Botro di Lavajano, Monte Vaso, Chianni, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. Neotype material is kept in the Natural History Museum of the Pisa University under catalogue number 14426

Changes in Artery Diameters and Fetal Growth in Cases of Isolated Single Umbilical Artery

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting data in the international literature on the risks of abnormal fetal growth in fetuses presenting an isolated single umbilical artery (SUA), and the pathophysiology of this complication is poorly understood. Objective—To evaluate if changes in diameter of the remaining umbilical artery in fetuses presenting an isolated SUA are associated with different fetal growth patterns. STUDY DESIGN: This was a two-center prospective longitudinal observational study including 164 fetuses diagnosed with a SUA at the 20–22-week detailed ultrasound examination and 200 control fetuses with a three-vessel cord. In all cases, the diameters of the cord vessels were measured in a transverse view of the central portion of the umbilical cord, and the number of cord vessels was confirmed at delivery. Logistic regression and nonparametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were carried out to evaluate the association of the umbilical artery diameter in a single artery with small for-gestational age (SGA) and with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The impact of artery dimension was adjusted for maternal BMI, parity, ethnicity, side of the remaining umbilical artery and umbilical resistance index (RI) in the regression model. RESULTS: A significantly (p 3.1 mm was found to be associated with a lower risk of FGR, but this association failed to be statistical significant (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.33–1.09, p value = 0.089). We also found that the mean vein-to-artery area ratio was significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the SUA group as compared with the controls (2.4 ± 1.8 vs. 1.8 ± 0.9; mean difference = 0.6; Cohen’s d = 0.46). CONCLUSION: In most fetuses with isolate SUA, the remaining artery diameter at 20-22 weeks is significantly larger than in controls. When there are no changes in the diameter and, in particular, if it remains <3.1 mm, the risk of abnormal fetal growth is higher, and measurements of the diameter of the remaining artery could be used to identify fetuses at risk of FGR later in pregnancy

Changes in Artery Diameters and Fetal Growth in Cases of Isolated Single Umbilical Artery

Background—There are conflicting data in the international literature on the risks of abnormal fetal growth in fetuses presenting an isolated single umbilical artery (SUA), and the pathophysiology of this complication is poorly understood. Objective—To evaluate if changes in diameter of the remaining umbilical artery in fetuses presenting an isolated SUA are associated with different fetal growth patterns. Study design—This was a two-center prospective longitudinal observational study including 164 fetuses diagnosed with a SUA at the 20–22-week detailed ultrasound examination and 200 control fetuses with a three-vessel cord. In all cases, the diameters of the cord vessels were measured in a transverse view of the central portion of the umbilical cord, and the number of cord vessels was confirmed at delivery. Logistic regression and nonparametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were carried out to evaluate the association of the umbilical artery diameter in a single artery with small for-gestational age (SGA) and with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The impact of artery dimension was adjusted for maternal BMI, parity, ethnicity, side of the remaining umbilical artery and umbilical resistance index (RI) in the regression model. Results—A significantly (p &lt; 0.001) larger mean diameter was found for the remaining artery in fetuses with SUA compared with controls (3.0 ± 0.9 vs. 2.5 ± 0.6 mm). After controlling for BMI and parity, we found no difference in umbilical resistance and side of the remaining umbilical artery between the SUA and control groups. A remaining umbilical artery diameter of &gt;3.1 mm was found to be associated with a lower risk of FGR, but this association failed to be statistical significant (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.33–1.09, p value = 0.089). We also found that the mean vein-to-artery area ratio was significantly (p &lt; 0.001) increased in the SUA group as compared with the controls (2.4 ± 1.8 vs. 1.8 ± 0.9; mean difference = 0.6; Cohen’s d = 0.46). Conclusion—In most fetuses with isolate SUA, the remaining artery diameter at 20-22 weeks is significantly larger than in controls. When there are no changes in the diameter and, in particular, if it remains &lt;3.1 mm, the risk of abnormal fetal growth is higher, and measurements of the diameter of the remaining artery could be used to identify fetuses at risk of FGR later in pregnancy

Influence of polymerization time on properties of dual-curing cements in combination with high translucency monolithic zirconia

Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to assess conversion degree (DC), micro-hardness (MH) and bond strength of two dual-curing resin cements employed under translucent monolithic zirconia irradiated with different time protocols. Methods: 84 square shaped samples of 1 mm thickness were prepared from high translucency zirconia blocks and divided into two groups (n = 24) according to the cement employed: (1) Rely-X Ultimate; (2) Panavia SA. Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups (n = 8) according to the irradiation time: (a) no light; (b) 20 s; (c) 120 s. Light curing was performed 60 s after the sample was placed on the diamond support of a FT-IR spectrophotometer with a high power multiLED lamp. Final DC% were calculated after 10 min. After 24 h, Vickers Test on the cement layer was performed. The same protocol was used to lute composite cylinders in order to evaluate microshear bond-strength test. ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were performed to find differences between MH and bond-strength to zirconia, while for DC% the Scheirer\u2013Ray\u2013Hare two-way test was used. Results: The two cements reached higher DC% in subgroup (b) and (c). As concern MH, statistics showed an increase in curing time was able to improve MH significantly. Bond-strength was not affected by irradiation time only for Panavia SA. Conclusions: The first null hypothesis has to be rejected since DC% and MH of the dual-cements tested were influenced by the curing time. The second null hypothesis is partially rejected since the bond strength was influenced by the curing time only for Rely-X Ultimate

Influence of Storage Temperature on Radiochemical Purity of 99mTc-Radiopharmaceuticals

The influence of effective room temperature on the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals was reported. This study was born from the observation that in the isolators used for the preparation of the 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals the temperatures can be higher than those reported in the commercial illustrative leaflets of the kits. This is due, in particular, to the small size of the work area, the presence of instruments for heating, the continuous activation of air filtration, in addition to the fact that the environment of the isolator used for the 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals preparation and storage is completely isolated and not conditioned. A total of 244 99mTc-radiopharmaceutical preparations (seven different types) have been tested and the radiochemical purity was checked at the end of preparation and until the expiry time. Moreover, we found that the mean temperature into the isolator was significantly higher than 25 C, the temperature, in general, required for the preparation and storage of 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals. Results confirmed the radiochemical stability of radiopharmaceutical products. However, as required in the field of quality assurance, the impact that different conditions than those required by the manufacturer on the radiopharmaceuticals quality have to be verified before human administration

Isolation and characterization of murine mammary cell lines with differentiated aggressive phenotype

Breast cancer is the first cause of death from female cancer. The recurrence of the disease originated at the level of secondary organs, or metastasis, is responsible for 90% of deaths from cancer. The factors that endow these cells with metastatic functions are largely unknown. One of the limitations in the study of tumor cells with metastatic phenotypes is that cell lines maintained in culture lose this ability to invade and colonize tissues. On the other hand, it has been shown that reinjection of cells in animals can lead to their enrichment with aggressive phenotypes. The aim of this work was the isolation and characterization of different cell populations with differentiated metastatic capacities. Following inoculation of the F3II murine mammary carcinoma cell lines, we established cell populations in vitro, one from the primary tumor and another from a metastatic nodule, F3II TP and F3II NM cell lines respectively. To determine their aggressiveness, a series of additional characteristics were compared between these lines and F3II. The three lines showed variations in morphology in culture and a different doubling time, with F3II NM having the highest one. Moreover, F3II NM presented major adhesion capacity and lower clonogenic potential. This could be explained by the differential expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as integrins or cadherins analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, the migration capacity was analyzed by transwell assay and the results showed differences in this process. Finally, we compared the behavior in vivo and we detected variations in tumor progression such as latency, frequency of ulceration, tumor growth and the presence of pulmonary nodules. All things considered, the establishment and characterization of these two new different cell lines with differentiated metastatic capacities will allow us to determine molecular differences involved in the metastatic process.Fil: Sidabra, Johanna Elena. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Capobianco, Carla Sabrina. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gottardo, María Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Daniel Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Farina, Hernán Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaLXIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica (SAIC), LXVI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología (SAI) y Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Fisiología (SAFIS)ArgentinaSociedad Argentina de InmunologíaSociedad Argentina de Fisiologí