CONTRIBUTION OF THE CORPUS CALLOSUM TO THE SYMMETRICAL REPRESENTATION OF TASTE IN THE HUMAN BRAIN: AN fMRI STUDY OF CALLOSOTOMIZED PATIENTS

The present study was designed to establish the contribution of the corpus callosum (CC) to the cortical representation of unilateral taste stimuli in the human primary gustatory area (GI). Unilateral taste stimulation of the tongue was applied to eight patients with partial or total callosal resection by placing a small cotton pad soaked in a salty solution on either side of the tongue. Functional images were acquired with a 1.5 Tesla machine. Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography were also performed. Unilateral taste stimuli evoked bilateral activation of the GI area in all patients, including those with total resection of the CC, with a prevalence in the ipsilateral hemisphere to the stimulated tongue side. Bilateral activation was also observed in the primary somatic sensory cortex (SI) in most patients, which was more intense in the contralateral SI. This report confirms previous functional studies carried out in control subjects and neuropsychological findings in callosotomized patients, showing that gustatory pathways from tongue to cortex are bilaterally distributed, with an ipsilateral predominance. It has been shown that the CC does play a role, although not an exclusive one, in the bilateral symmetrical representation of gustatory sensitivity in the GI area, at least for afferents from one side of the tongue

Geomorphological map of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy), scale 1:15,000

This paper describes the Geomorphological map of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy), scale 1:15,000. The Tremiti Islands, located north of Gargano promontory's coast, are part of a complex geological area within the Adriatic basin, facing the junction between the central and southern Apennines. This area is well known for Neogenic-Quaternary stratigraphic, tectonic and seismologic aspects and is crucial for the definition of Late Quaternary Adriatic basin evolution. The map is the result of a geomorphological study carried out on the islands and the inner continental shelf around them. This study incorporates: (1) field recognition of Quaternary continental deposits and geomorphological mapping, supported by radiometric dating, focused on the morpho-lithostratigraphic correlation of deposits among the different islands and the recognition of landforms that controlled landscape evolution; (2) bathymetric analysis; (3) geomorphological analysis of data from a side scan sonar survey, ..

Myocardial Scar on Surface ECG: Selvester Score, but Not Fragmentation, Predicts Response to CRT

Purpose. Myocardial scar is directly related to the response to CRT after implantation. The extent of myocardial scar can be detected not only by cardiac magnetic resonance but also by two electrocardiographic scores: fragmented QRS (fQRS) and Selvester score (SSc). The aim of our study is to compare the role of baseline SSc and fQRS in predicting response to CRT in a cohort of heart failure patients with true left bundle branch block (LBBB). As a secondary endpoint, we assessed the association of both scores with overall and cardiac mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, ventricular arrhythmias requiring ICD intervention, and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Methods. We evaluated fQRS and SSc of 178 consecutive HF patients with severe systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 35%), NYHA class II-III despite optimal medical treatment, and true-LBBB. Response to CRT was defined as the improvement of LVEF of at least 10% or as the reduction of LVESV of at least 15% at a 6-month follow-up. Each endpoint was related to fQRS and SSc. Results. SSc ≥7 was significantly associated with the absence of echocardiographic response to CRT (OR: 0.327; 95% C.I. 0.155-0.689; p=0.003), while the presence of fQRS at baseline ECG was not (OR: 1.133; 95% C.I. 0.539-2.381; p=0.742). No correlation was found between SSc and overall mortality, cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmias, hospitalizations due to heart failure, or for MACE. Similar results were observed between fQRS and all secondary endpoints. Conclusion. In HF patients with true-LBBB and LVEF ≤35% eligible for CRT, myocardial scar assessed by calculating the SSc on preimplant ECG is an independent predictor of nonresponse after multiple adjustments. Neither SSc nor fQRS is associated with overall and cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmias, or hospitalization for heart failure at a 24-month follow-up

Composição química da carne de cabritos Saanen arraçoados com diferentes proporções de concentrado e volumoso.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a composição química da carne de cabritos da raça Saanen submetidos a quatro relações de concentrado e volumoso (C:V) (80:20; 60:40; 40:60 e 20:80% de C:V) na matéria seca de rações, tendo o capim Elefante in natura picado como volumoso base. Foram utilizados 28 caprinos, machos, distribuídos em quatro grupos, em baias coletivas, sendo que, cada baia continha sete animais. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado com sete repetições por tratamento. As variáveis analisadas foram os teores de matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo e cinzas. Foram observados maiores teores de matéria seca (P0,05) pelas doses de concentrado. Assim, o incremento na proporção de concentrado nas rações elevou os teores de matéria seca da carne caprina

Prospective assessment of integrating the existing emergency medical system with automated external defibrillators fully operated by volunteers and laypersons for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Brescia Early Defibrillation Study (BEDS)

AIMS: There are few data on the outcomes of cardiac arrest (CA) victims when the defibrillation capability of broad rural and urban territories is fully operated by volunteers and laypersons. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we investigated whether a programme based on diffuse deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) operated by 2186 trained volunteers and laypersons across the County of Brescia, Italy (area: 4826 km(2); population: 1 112 628), would safely and effectively impact the current survival among victims of out-of-hospital CA. Forty-nine AEDs were added to the former emergency medical system that uses manual EDs in the emergency department of 10 county hospitals and in five medically equipped ambulances. The primary endpoint was survival free of neurological impairment at 1-year follow-up. Data were analysed in 692 victims before and in 702 victims after the deployment of the AEDs. Survival increased from 0.9% (95% CI 0.4-1.8%) in the historical cohort to 3.0% (95% CI 1.7-4.3%) (P=0.0015), despite similar intervals from dispatch to arrival at the site of collapse [median (quartile range): 7 (4) min vs. 6 (6) min]. Increase of survival was noted both in the urban [from 1.4% (95% CI 0.4-3.4 %) to 4.0% (95% CI 2.0-6.9 %), P=0.024] and in the rural territory [from 0.5% (95% CI 0.1-1.6%) to 2.5% (95% CI 1.3-4.2%), P=0.013]. The additional costs per quality-adjusted life year saved amounted to euro39 388 (95% CI euro16 731-49 329) during the start-up phase of the study and to euro23 661 (95% CI euro10 327-35 528) at steady state. CONCLUSION: Diffuse implementation of AEDs fully operated by trained volunteers and laypersons within a broad and unselected environment proved safe and was associated with a significantly higher long-term survival of CA victims

Composição química de cortes cárneos de caprinos confinados.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a composição química de cortes cárneos comerciais de caprinos da raça Saanen confinados. Foram avaliados os teores de matéria seca, proteína bruta, cinzas e extrato etéreo dos cortes cárneos oriundos de 28 caprinos, machos, não castrados, mantidos em baias coletivas. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado. O pernil, a paleta, o pescoço, a costela, o carré e o Longissimus dorsi apresentaram semelhantes (P>0,05) teores de matéria seca, proteína bruta e extrato etéreo. A paleta e o pernil apresentaram teores de cinzas superiores (P<0,05) em relação ao pescoço, costela ao Longissimus dorsi. O músculo Longissimus dorsi apresentou teores de cinzas inferiores (P<0,05) aos demais cortes cárneos comerciais

Fatores ambientais e crescimento de cavalos pantaneiros criados em condições naturais.

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Efeito do farelo do fruto da manga em substituição ao farelo de milho no rendimento de cortes de carcaça de ovinos Santa Inês.

Avaliaram-se as características quantitativas de pesos e rendimentos de carcaça de 24 ovinos Santa Inês, castrados, alimentados em baias individuais, com quatro níveis de substituição do farelo de milho pelo farelo do fruto da manga (0; 33; 66 ou 100%)