299 research outputs found
Composition and structure of planktonic and benthic communities as a basic information in fishpond culture
Zooplankton and zoobenthos of two fishponds were studied in order to define their
seasonal patterns and community structures. The ponds PI and P2, of similar depth
and surface, were interconnected, annually fertilized and mostly utilized for grey
mullet rearing. P2 was less eutrophic than PI which received further nutrient inputs
from the surrounding cultivated area by means of a drainage canal.
A total of 25 zooplanktonic species and 14 zoobenthic taxa was recorded, most of
which were typical of eutrophic waters. The comparison of the invertebrate fauna
between the two ponds showed a strong similarity in the qualitative composition and
significant differences in density of some taxa and in the community structure.
The results suggest that the analysis of these communities can be a good tool to
monitor eutrophication in fishponds in the same way as observed in lakes, and could
provide some basic information to improve fishpond management.peer-reviewe
Applicazione del laser scanner terrestre per la valutazione della condizione delle chiome in Quercus suber L.
The objective of this paper is to show the first results on the evaluation of the possible use of this technique for the estimation of crown condition in cork oak stands (Quercus suber L.). The results show that the TLS (Terrestrial laser Scanner) technology has good potential applications for the deciduous woodlands. The next objective will be to evaluate the performance of this approach in the estimation of the damage caused by insects
Long-term salvage therapy with cyclosporin A in refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Treatment of severe, chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) refractory to most usual therapies is a difficult challenge. Little information exists on the clinical use of cyclosporin A (CyA) in the treatment of ITP. This report describes long-term treatment with CyA (median, 40 months) and follow-up (median, 36.8 months) in 12 adult patients with resistant ITP. CyA used in relatively low doses (2.5-3 mg/kg of body weight per day) led to a clinical improvement in 10 patients (83.3%). Five had a complete response (41.1%), 4 a complete response to maintenance therapy (33.3%), and one a partial response (8.3%). Two patients had no response. Most patients with a response (60%) had a long-term remission (mean, 28.6 months) after discontinuation of CyA. One patient had a relapse of ITP 4 years after CyA therapy was stopped. Side effects were moderate and transient, even in patients dependent on continued CyA treatment. CyA seems to represent reasonable salvage treatment in severe, potentially life-threatening, refractory ITP
G protein-coupled receptors at the crossroad between physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis : old paradigms and emerging concepts
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been implicated in transmitting signals across the extra- and intra-cellular compartments, thus allowing environmental stimuli to elicit critical biological responses. As GPCRs can be activated by an extensive range of factors including hormones, neurotransmitters, phospholipids and other stimuli, their involvement in a plethora of physiological functions is not surprising. Aberrant GPCR signaling has been regarded as a major contributor to diverse pathologic conditions, such as inflammatory, cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. In this regard, solid tumors have been demonstrated to activate an angiogenic program that relies on GPCR action to support cancer growth and metastatic dissemination. Therefore, the manipulation of aberrant GPCR signaling could represent a promising target in anticancer therapy. Here, we highlight the GPCR-mediated angiogenic function focusing on the molecular mechanisms and transduction effectors driving the patho-physiological vasculogenesis. Specifically, we describe evidence for the role of heptahelic receptors and associated G proteins in promoting angiogenic responses in pathologic conditions, especially tumor angiogenesis and progression. Likewise, we discuss opportunities to manipulate aberrant GPCR-mediated angiogenic signaling for therapeutic benefit using innovative GPCR-targeted and patient-tailored pharmacological strategies
Efficacy of somatostatine analogues in survival and quality of life of a frail patient with poorly differentiated biliary neuroendocrine tumour
We describe the case of a 71-year-old woman with poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of third distal biliary duct and osteolytic metastasis. The patient was evaluated as a third stage of Balducci’s criteria for the recognition of frailty. The patient received radiotherapy and octreotide LAR. This treatment allowed a good tumour progression rate (18 months), a good quality of life and a good survival (35 months). The case report describes the role of octreotide in the therapy of neuroendocrine tumours, and underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary management of cancer in frail patients
classification of the ecological status of volcanic lakes in central italy
A synthesis is made of biological data collected in the last three decades on five volcanic lakes in Central Italy with the aim of evaluating their environmental status by means of biological parameters related to zooplankton, littoral and profundal zoobenthos frequently used to detect water quality changes in lakes. A number of bioindicators and bioindices were selected for this purpose, as far as possible following an integrated approach using information drawn from physical and chemical variables. Our results allowed the lakes to be classified according to their biological quality level, which proved to be in good agreement with physical and chemical diagnoses. Lake Bracciano exhibited the best environmental quality, due to the presence of a ring waste water collecting system, to its large size and depth, and to its strong hydrodynamism. Lake Martignano followed, with some symptoms of stress in the hypolimnion due to a marked summer deoxygenation. Oxygen depletion in the profundal characterized also Lake Vico, which showed a mesotrophic condition in the sixties, and 20 years later now shows clear signs of increased trophy (meso-eutrophy). Lake Albano seemed meso-eutrophic with total absence of fauna below a depth of 120 m due to a meromictic status. Finally Lake Nemi, exposed to domestic wastes in the 70s, suffered a heavy eutrophication with dramatic algal blooms and fish kills. Following the diversion of discharges that occurred in the early 90s, today this lake is characterized by the partial improvement of many ecological features. The need for integration between physical and chemical analyses and biological data in order to obtain a reliable evaluation of lake environmental quality is stressed, especially as far as routine implementation in managing and recovery procedures is concerned
Use of the directional atherectomy for the treatment of femoro-popliteal lesions in patients with critical lower limb ischemia
Femoro-popliteal PTA for the treatment
of critical limb ischemia is frequently associated
with unsatisfactory procedural success rates while
directional atherectomy (DCA) has improved
success rate since claudicant patients undergoing
percutaneous treatment of femoro-popliteal
obstructive disease. The aim of this prospective
study is to evaluate the safety, efficacy and
procedural success of DCA, at one year, in the
percutaneous treatment of femoro-popliteal
obstructive disease in patients with critical limb
ischemia.
Methods. From March 2012 to March 2013 18
consecutive patients with critical limb ischemia were
treated with DCA (Turbohawk/Covidien-ev3
Endovascular Inc., North Plymouth, Minnesota,
USA) for the treatment of femoro-popliteal
obstructive disease. Patients were evaluated at 12
months.
Results. Technical and procedural success was
achieved in every patient. No in-hospital major
adverse cardiovascular events occurred. Primary
endpoint: freedom from any amputation was
obtained in all patients. Secondary endpoints:
clinical (Rutherford class improvement) and
hemodynamic success (Ankle-brachial index
improvement) was achieved in all patients.
Conclusion. The use of DCA for the treatment of
femoro-popliteal obstructive disease is a safe and
effective therapeutic strategy for patients with
critical limb ischemia. The data included in our study
should be considered hypothesis-generating in order
to design of a randomized trial comparison with
conventional PTA
Lack of the Actin Capping Protein, Eps8, Affects NMDA-Type Glutamate Receptor Function and Composition
Actin-based remodeling underlines spine morphogenesis and plasticity and is crucially involved in the processes that constantly reshape the circuitry of the adult brain in response to external stimuli, leading to learning and memory formation and supporting cognitive functions. Hence spine morphology and synaptic strength are tightly linked and indeed abnormalities in spine number and morphology have been described in a number of neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), schizophrenia and intellectual disabilities. We have recently demonstrated that the actin regulating protein, Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8), is essential for spine growth and long term potentiation. Indeed, mice lacking Eps8 display immature filopodia-like spines, which are unable to undergo potentiation, and are impaired in cognitive functions. Furthermore, reduced levels of Eps8 have been found in the brain of a cohort of patients affected by ASD compared to controls. Here we investigated whether the lack of Eps8, which is also part of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, affects the functional maturation of the postsynaptic compartment. Our results demonstrate that Eps8 knock out mice (Eps8 KO) neurons display altered synaptic expression and subunit composition of NMDA receptors (i.e., increased GluN2B-, decreased GluN2A-containing receptors) and impaired GluN2B to GluN2A subunit shift. Indeed Eps8 KO neurons display increased content of GluN2B containing NMDA receptors both at the synaptic and extrasynaptic level. Furthermore, Eps8 KO neurons display an increased content of extra-synaptic GluN2B-containing receptors, suggesting that also the synaptic targeting of NMDA receptors is affected by the lack of Eps8. These data demonstrate that, besides regulation of spine morphogenesis, Eps8 also regulates the synaptic balance of NMDA receptors subunits GluN2A and GluN2B
A large scale hearing loss screen reveals an extensive unexplored genetic landscape for auditory dysfunction
The developmental and physiological complexity of the auditory system is likely reflected in the underlying set of genes involved in auditory function. In humans, over 150 non-syndromic loci have been identified, and there are more than 400 human genetic syndromes with a hearing loss component. Over 100 non-syndromic hearing loss genes have been identified in mouse and human, but we remain ignorant of the full extent of the genetic landscape involved in auditory dysfunction. As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, we undertook a hearing loss screen in a cohort of 3006 mouse knockout strains. In total, we identify 67 candidate hearing loss genes. We detect known hearing loss genes, but the vast majority, 52, of the candidate genes were novel. Our analysis reveals a large and unexplored genetic landscape involved with auditory function
Real-world data to build explainable trustworthy artificial intelligence models for prediction of immunotherapy efficacy in NSCLC patients
IntroductionArtificial Intelligence (AI) methods are being increasingly investigated as a means to generate predictive models applicable in the clinical practice. In this study, we developed a model to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy (IO) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using eXplainable AI (XAI) Machine Learning (ML) methods. MethodsWe prospectively collected real-world data from patients with an advanced NSCLC condition receiving immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) either as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy. With regards to six different outcomes - Disease Control Rate (DCR), Objective Response Rate (ORR), 6 and 24-month Overall Survival (OS6 and OS24), 3-months Progression-Free Survival (PFS3) and Time to Treatment Failure (TTF3) - we evaluated five different classification ML models: CatBoost (CB), Logistic Regression (LR), Neural Network (NN), Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). We used the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) values to explain model predictions. ResultsOf 480 patients included in the study 407 received immunotherapy and 73 chemo- and immunotherapy. From all the ML models, CB performed the best for OS6 and TTF3, (accuracy 0.83 and 0.81, respectively). CB and LR reached accuracy of 0.75 and 0.73 for the outcome DCR. SHAP for CB demonstrated that the feature that strongly influences models' prediction for all three outcomes was Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR). Performance Status (ECOG-PS) was an important feature for the outcomes OS6 and TTF3, while PD-L1, Line of IO and chemo-immunotherapy appeared to be more important in predicting DCR. ConclusionsIn this study we developed a ML algorithm based on real-world data, explained by SHAP techniques, and able to accurately predict the efficacy of immunotherapy in sets of NSCLC patients
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