Quantitative analysis of the seminal plasma proteome in secondary hypogonadism

In the grey zone of testosterone levels between 8 and 12 nmol/L, the usefulness of therapy is controversial; as such, markers of tissue action of androgens may be helpful in adjusting clinical decisions. To better understand the effect of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis on male accessory secretion, we performed a proteomic quantitative analysis of seminal plasma in patients with secondary hypogonadism, before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Ten male patients with postsurgical hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism were enrolled in this study, and five of these patients were evaluated after testosterone treatment. Ten men with proven fertility were selected as a control group. An aliquot of seminal plasma from each individual was subjected to an in-solution digestion protocol and analyzed using an Ultimate 3000 RSLC-nano HPLC apparatus coupled to a LTQ Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. The label-free quantitative analysis was performed via Precursor Ions Area Detector Node. Eleven proteins were identified as decreased in hypogonadic patients versus controls, which are primarily included in hydrolase activity and protein binding activity. The comparison of the proteome before and after TRT comes about within the discovery of six increased proteins. This is the primary application of quantitative proteomics pointed to uncover a cluster of proteins reflecting an impairment not only of spermatogenesis but of the epididymal and prostate epithelial cell secretory function in male hypogonadism. The identified proteins might represent putative clinical markers valuable within the follow-up of patients with distinctive grades of male hypogonadism

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Heteroarylthioalkanoic Acid Analogues of Clofibric Acid as Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor alpha Agonists

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Snow data intercomparison on remote and glacierized high elevation areas (Forni Glacier, Italy)

Abstract. We present and compare 11 years of snow data (snowfall, snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE)) measured by an Automatic Weather Station and by some field campaigns on the Forni Glacier. The data have been acquired by means of (i) a Campbell SR50 sonic ranger from October 2005 (snow depth data), (ii) manual snow pits from January 2006 (snow depth and SWE data), (iii) a Sommer USH8 sonic ranger from May 2014 (snow depth data), (iv) a Park Mechanical SS-6048 snow pillow from May 2014 (SWE data), (v) a manual snow weighting tube (Enel-Valtecne©) from May 2014 (snow depth and SWE data). The aim of the analyses is to assess the mean value of fresh snow density and the most appropriate method to evaluate SWE for this measuring site. The results indicate that the daily SR50 sonic ranger measures allow a rather good estimation of the SWE, and the provided snow pit data are available for defining the site mean value of fresh snow density. For the Forni Glacier measuring site, this value turned out to be 140 kg m−3. The SWE derived from sonic ranger data is rather sensitive to this value: a change in fresh snow density of 20 kg m−3 causes a mean variation in SWE of ±0.093 m w.e. for each hydrological year, ranging from ±0.050 m w.e. to ±0.115 m w.e

Partial response to first generation SSA guides the choice and predict the outcome of second line therapy in acromegaly

Treatment of acromegaly resistant to first generation somatostatin analogues (first gen-SSA) is often difficult. We aimed to investigate the role of partial response and resistance to first gen-SSA in the choice of second line treatments and their outcomes

Psychological complications in patients with acromegaly: relationships with sex, arthropathy, and quality of life

Current treatment of acromegaly restores a normal life expectancy in most cases. So, the study of persistent complications affecting patients' quality of life (QoL) is of paramount importance, especially motor disability and depression. In a large cohort of acromegalic patients we aimed at establishing the prevalence of depression, to look for clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with it, and to investigate the respective roles (and interactions) of depression and arthropathy in influencing QoL

Surgical management of Glioma Grade 4: technical update from the neuro-oncology section of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINch®): a systematic review

Purpose: The extent of resection (EOR) is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in adult patients with Glioma Grade 4 (GG4). The aim of the neuro-oncology section of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINch®) was to provide a general overview of the current trends and technical tools to reach this goal. Methods: A systematic review was performed. The results were divided and ordered, by an expert team of surgeons, to assess the Class of Evidence (CE) and Strength of Recommendation (SR) of perioperative drugs management, imaging, surgery, intraoperative imaging, estimation of EOR, surgery at tumor progression and surgery in elderly patients. Results: A total of 352 studies were identified, including 299 retrospective studies and 53 reviews/meta-analysis. The use of Dexamethasone and the avoidance of prophylaxis with anti-seizure medications reached a CE I and SR A. A preoperative imaging standard protocol was defined with CE II and SR B and usefulness of an early postoperative MRI, with CE II and SR B. The EOR was defined the strongest independent risk factor for both OS and tumor recurrence with CE II and SR B. For intraoperative imaging only the use of 5-ALA reached a CE II and SR B. The estimation of EOR was established to be fundamental in planning postoperative adjuvant treatments with CE II and SR B and the stereotactic image-guided brain biopsy to be the procedure of choice when an extensive surgical resection is not feasible (CE II and SR B). Conclusions: A growing number of evidences evidence support the role of maximal safe resection as primary OS predictor in GG4 patients. The ongoing development of intraoperative techniques for a precise real-time identification of peritumoral functional pathways enables surgeons to maximize EOR minimizing the post-operative morbidity

First Results of the “Carbonaceous Aerosol in Rome and Environs (CARE)” Experiment: Beyond Current Standards for PM10

In February 2017 the “Carbonaceous Aerosol in Rome and Environs (CARE)” experiment was carried out in downtown Rome to address the following specific questions: what is the color, size, composition, and toxicity of the carbonaceous aerosol in the Mediterranean urban background area of Rome? The motivation of this experiment is the lack of understanding of what aerosol types are responsible for the severe risks to human health posed by particulate matter (PM) pollution, and how carbonaceous aerosols influence radiative balance. Physicochemical properties of the carbonaceous aerosol were characterised, and relevant toxicological variables assessed. The aerosol characterisation includes: (i) measurements with high time resolution (min to 1–2 h) at a fixed location of black carbon (eBC), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), particle number size distribution (0.008–10 μ m), major non refractory PM1 components, elemental composition, wavelength-dependent optical properties, and atmospheric turbulence; (ii) 24-h measurements of PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration, water soluble OC and brown carbon (BrC), and levoglucosan; (iii) mobile measurements of eBC and size distribution around the study area, with computational fluid dynamics modeling; (iv) characterisation of road dust emissions and their EC and OC content. The toxicological assessment includes: (i) preliminary evaluation of the potential impact of ultrafine particles on lung epithelia cells (cultured at the air liquid interface and directly exposed to particles); (ii) assessment of the oxidative stress induced by carbonaceous aerosols; (iii) assessment of particle size dependent number doses deposited in different regions of the human body; (iv) PAHs biomonitoring (from the participants into the mobile measurements). The first experimental results of the CARE experiment are presented in this paper. The objective here is to provide baseline levels of carbonaceous aerosols for Rome, and to address future research directions. First, we found that BC and EC mass concentration in Rome are larger than those measured in similar urban areas across Europe (the urban background mass concentration of eBC in Rome in winter being on average 2.6 ± 2.5 μ g · m − 3 , mean eBC at the peak level hour being 5.2 (95% CI = 5.0–5.5) μ g · m − 3 ). Then, we discussed significant variations of carbonaceous aerosol properties occurring with time scales of minutes, and questioned on the data averaging period used in current air quality standard for PM 10 (24-h). Third, we showed that the oxidative potential induced by aerosol depends on particle size and composition, the effects of toxicity being higher with lower mass concentrations and smaller particle size. Albeit this is a preliminary analysis, findings reinforce the need for an urgent update of existing air quality standards for PM 10 and PM 2.5 with regard to particle composition and size distribution, and data averaging period. Our results reinforce existing concerns about the toxicity of carbonaceous aerosols, support the existing evidence indicating that particle size distribution and composition may play a role in the generation of this toxicity, and remark the need to consider a shorter averaging period (<1 h) in these new standards

LE FIBRE RACCONTANO... – ANALISI MERCEOLOGICA E MICROANALISI DEI FRAMMENTI DI MATERIALE RISCONTRATI ALL’INTERNO DELLA SEPOLTURA

A seguito della riesumazione di Alessandro Farnese e della moglie Maria d’Aviz, al momento dell’apertura della cassa che ne conteneva i resti, sono state da subito individuate varie tracce riconducibili a tessuti, nastri, schegge di legno, borchie e chiodi metallici parzialmente ossidati. L’attenzione si è concentrata sullo studio della tipologia di tali materiali per poter comprendere se fossero riconducibili ai paramenti della sepoltura originaria, della tumulazione successiva o agli indumenti posti ai coniugi al momento della prima inumazione. A tale scopo è stato necessario fare un micro-campionamento dei materiali individuati. Scopo dell’attività di laboratorio è stata proprio la caratterizzazione macro scopica e microscopica dei micro-campioni per poterne comprendere la na tura