Evolutive pattern of Calomys hummelincki (Husson, 1960; Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) inferred from cytogenetic and allozymic data.

The main purpose of this research was to understand the evolutive history of the sigmodontine rodent Calomys hummelincki (Husson 1960), tribe Phyllotini from chromosomal and allozymic data, and evaluate the hypotheses that explains the colonization and evolution of sigmodontine rodents in South America. C. hummelincki is restricted to the Northern South American region, which comprises Venezuela, Aruba and Curaçao islands where specimen sampling was done. The cytogenetic analysis showed that all populations studied have the same diploid number (2n=60) and fundamental number (FN=64). Constitutive heterochromatin was observed on pericentromeric positions in almost all chromosomes. NOR regions were observed on four pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. G-banding allowed us to identify almost all pair positions in the C. hummelincki chromosome complement. The G-banding also permitted a comparison of the C. hummelincki pattern with those published for C. callidus, C. venustus and C. laucha species. G-banded information indicates that hummelincki is not directly derived from laucha. The results are constrained with published allozymic and molecular data obtained in previous studies. The overall analysis seems to support Reig´s hypothesis of a south to north colonization of genus Calomys in South America

Global compactness for a class of quasi-linear elliptic problems

We prove a global compactness result for Palais-Smale sequences associated with a class of quasi-linear elliptic equations on exterior domains.Comment: 19 page

FROM THE INTEGRATED SURVEY OF HISTORIC SETTLEMENTS TO THE PATTERN BOOK WITHIN THE BIM

The object of the study is the survey of minor historic settlements through integrated architectural survey techniques, the BIM modelling for the management of information at multiple levels, and the definition of pattern books to describe the qualities of the place. The research on cultural heritage representation made in Umbria, taking as a case study the historic hamlet of Lizori, a settlement located over the hill between Foligno and Spoleto in the town of Campello sul Clitunno (PG). It was selected as a paradigm of minor village and an experimental model to provide useful reference to reconstruct strategies, which is so important in the area recently affected by seismic events. The purpose of the research is therefore focused on finding a modus operandi in the management of multiple and uneven information. The goal is then to create a digital informative model functional to the conservation and restoration process and a knowledge-based reference for further study

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease. A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis

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Risk of recurrence after a first episode of symptomatic venous thromboembolism provoked by a transient risk factor: a systematic review.

We aimed to determine the risk of recurrence for symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) provoked by different transient risk factors. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Randomized Trials databases were searched. STUDY SELECTION: Prospective cohort studies and randomized trials of patients with a first episode of symptomatic VTE provoked by a transient risk factor and treated for at least 3 months were identified. DATA EXTRACTION: Number of patients and recurrent VTE during the 0- to 12-month and 0- to 24-month intervals after stopping therapy, study design, and provoking risk factor characteristics were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: Annualized recurrence rates were calculated and pooled across studies. At 24 months, the rate of recurrence was 3.3% per patient-year (11 studies, 2268 patients) for all patients with a transient risk factor, 0.7% per patient-year (3 studies, 248 patients) in the subgroup with a surgical factor, and 4.2% per patient-year (3 studies, 509 patients) in the subgroup with a nonsurgical factor. In the same studies, the rate of recurrence after unprovoked VTE was 7.4% per patient-year. The rate ratio for a nonsurgical compared with a surgical factor was 3.0 and for unprovoked thrombosis compared with a nonsurgical factor was 1.8 at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence is low if VTE is provoked by surgery, intermediate if provoked by a nonsurgical risk factor, and high if unprovoked. These risks affect whether patients with VTE should undergo short-term vs indefinite treatment

Gitelman syndrome associated with chondrocalcinosis: description of two cases

Gitelman syndrome is a rare inherited tubulopathy, characterized by hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypocalciuria and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism. The clinical spectrum is wide and includes: cramps, myalgies, muscle weakness, until episodes of carpo-podalic spasm, tetania, rabdomyolisis and paralysis. Some cases have been described in literature underlining the association of this condition with chondrocalcinosis, as a typical example of hypomagnesemia-induced crystal deposition disease. The therapy of Gitelman syndrome consists on the administration of defective electrolytes, althought not always effective. We describe two cases of Gitelman syndrome associated with chondrocalcinosis showing the wide range of presentation of this clinical condition

Inter-observer agreement of standard joint counts in early rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison with grey scale ultrasonography—a preliminary study

Objectives. The aims of the present study were to assess the inter-observer agreement of standard joint count and to compare clinical examination with grey scale ultrasonography (US) findings in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The study was conducted on 44 RA patients with a disease duration of <2yrs. Clinical evaluation was performed independently by two rheumatologists for detection of tenderness in 44 joints and swelling in 42 joints. All patients underwent US assessment by a rheumatologist experienced in this method and blinded to the clinical findings. Joint inflammation was detected by US when synovial fluid and/or synovial hypertrophy was identified using OMERACT preliminary definitions. The inter-observer reliability was calculated by overall agreement (percentage of observed exact agreement) and kappa (� )-statistics. The reliability of US was calculated in 12 RA patients. Results. There was fair to moderate inter-observer agreement on individual joint counts for either tenderness or joint swelling apart from the glenohumeral joint. US detected a higher number of inflamed joints than did clinical examination. The mean (� S.D.) US joint count for joint inflammation was 19.1 (� 4.1), while the mean (� S.D.) number of swollen joints was 12.6 (� 3.6), with a significant difference of P ¼0.01. Conclusions. Our results provide evidence in favour of the hypothesis that clinical examination is far from optimal for asessing joint inflammation in patients with early RA. Furthermore, this study suggests that US can considerably improve the detection of signs of joint inflammation both in terms of sensitivity and reliability

Non-conventional yeasts as sources of ene-reductases for the bioreduction of chalcones

Thirteen Non-Conventional Yeasts (NCYs) have been investigated for their ability to reduce activated C=C bonds of chalcones to obtain the corresponding dihydrochalcones. A possible correlation between bioreducing capacity of the NCYs and the substrate structure was estimated. Generally, whole-cells of the NCYs were able to hydrogenate the C=C double bond occurring in (E)-1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one, while worthy bioconversion yields were obtained when the substrate exhibited the presence of a deactivating electron-withdrawing Cl substituent on the B-ring. On the contrary, no conversion was generally found, with a few exceptions, in the presence of an activating electron-donating substituent OH. The bioreduction aptitude of the NCYs was apparently correlated to the logP value: Compounds characterized by a higher logP exhibited a superior aptitude to be reduced by the NCYs than compounds with a lower logP value

Educational recommendations for the conduct, content and format of EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound Teaching the Teachers Courses

To produce educational guidelines for the conduct, content and format of theoretical and practical teaching at EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) Teaching the Teachers (TTT) Courses