LHCSR Expression under HSP70/RBCS2 Promoter as a Strategy to Increase Productivity in Microalgae

Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic organisms considered as potential alternative sources for biomass, biofuels or high value products. However, limited biomass productivity is commonly experienced in their cultivating system despite their high potential. One of the reasons for this limitation is the high thermal dissipation of the light absorbed by the outer layers of the cultures exposed to high light caused by the activation of a photoprotective mechanism called non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). In the model organism for green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, NPQ is triggered by pigment binding proteins called light-harvesting-complexes-stress-related (LHCSRs), which are over-accumulated in high light. It was recently reported that biomass productivity can be increased both in microalgae and higher plants by properly tuning NPQ induction. In this work increased light use efficiency is reported by introducing in C. reinhardtii a LHCSR3 gene under the control of Heat Shock Protein 70/RUBISCO small chain 2 promoter in a npq4 lhcsr1 background, a mutant strain knockout for all LHCSR genes. This complementation strategy leads to a low expression of LHCSR3, causing a strong reduction of NPQ induction but is still capable of protecting from photodamage at high irradiance, resulting in an improved photosynthetic efficiency and higher biomass accumulation

The beneficial influence of ultrasound in the polymerization of ε-caprolactam to polyamide-6 (Nylon 6). Part II: Additional experiment to understand the "pre-sonication effect"

Ultrasound (US) "pre-sonication effect" is the beneficial effect of US in the hydrolytic polymerization of epsilon-caprolactam (CL) mixtures with very low water concentrations (about 0.1-1 wt%). It appears after a mild initial treatment of the mixtures with US [17.5-20 kHz, short times (5-15 min), low temperatures (70-110 degrees C)] followed by heating at 220-260 degrees C. An explanation is proposed on the basis of the formation in mild conditions (100 degrees C) of low concentrations of cyclic oligomers never detected in the literature at those conditions. These, under US irradiation, produce linear amino acid oligomers, which are strong activators of polymerization when the mixture of CL and water, after US irradiation, is heated at the suitable polymerization temperature indicated above

Tertiary stent-in-stent for obstructing colorectal cancer. A case report and literature review

BACKGROUNDSelf-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are frequently used in the setting of palliation for occluding, inoperable colorectal cancer (CRC). Among possible complications of SEMS positioning, re-obstruction is the most frequent. Its management is controversial, potentially involving secondary stent-in-stent placement, which has been poorly investigated. Moreover, the issue of secondary stent-in-stent re-obstruction and of more-than-two colonic stenting has never been assessed. We describe a case of tertiary SEMS-in-SEMS placement, and also discuss our practice based on available literature.CASE SUMMARYA 66-year-old male with occluding and metastatic CRC was initially treated by positioning of a SEMS, which had to be revised 6 mo later when a symptomatic intra-stent tumor ingrowth was treated by a SEMS-in-SEMS. We hereby describe an additional episode of intestinal occlusion due to recurrence of intra-stent tumor ingrowth. This patient, despite several negative prognostic factors (splenic flexure location of the tumor, carcinomatosis with ascites, subsequent chemotherapy that included bevacizumab and two previously positioned stents (1 SEMS and 1 SEMS-in-SEMS)) underwent successful management through the placement of a tertiary SEMS-in-SEMS, with immediate clinical benefit and no procedure-related adverse events after 150 d of post-procedural follow-up. This endoscopic management has permitted 27 mo of partial control of a metastatic disease without the need for chemotherapy discontinuation and, ultimately, a good quality of life until death.CONCLUSIONTertiary SEMS-in-SEMS is technically feasible, and appears to be a safe and effective option in the case of recurrent SEMS obstruction

PALAEONTOLOGY OF THE UPPER PLIOCENE MARINE DEPOSITS OF RIO VACCARUZZA, VILLALVERNIA (PIEDMONT, NW ITALY)

Abstract. The topmost Argille Azzurre (beds 1-2) and the basal Sabbie di Asti (beds 3-9) formations in the Villalvernia area are analysed in terms of palaeoecological and taxonomic features; the succession is 6 m thick and dates back to the middle Piacenzian within the Globorotalia bononiensis acme. The upper boundary of the clayey Bed 2 corresponds to an unconformity reflecting Pliocene tectonic activity. The study is focused on the fossil assemblages of beds 3, 4 and 9. The sandy Bed 3 yields 362 mollusc taxa; their assemblage is allochthonous and mixes infra- to circalittoral species accumulated by hyperpycnal mass-transport. The same mechanism is responsible for the origin of the overlying fossil unit (Bed 4) with numerous specimens of the Entobia-Gastrochaenolites ichnofacies. The autochthonous fossil assemblage of Bed 9 yields 308 molluscs, plus three brachiopods and ten fish taxa; most of them refer to the Posidonia meadow (HP), and their autochthony is shown by taphonomic features as skeletal integrity, mixing of successive generations or the limitation to juvenile ontogenetic stages of vagile and temporarily byssate species for which the HP performs a nursery function. Three brachiopods and 52 molluscs are here reported for the first time from the Pliocene of Piedmont. In the final chapter “Systematic Palaeontology” four brachiopods and 29 molluscs are described, among which there are eight new gastropod species: Crepidula bellardii n. sp., Conus dellabellai n. sp., Conus villalvernensis n. sp., Odetta chirlii n. sp., Ondina curta n. sp., Ondina elongata n. sp., Ondina pseudovitrea n. sp., Anisocycla subcylindrica n. sp

Results ofstandard stapler closure of pancreatic remnanat after distal spleno-pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma

Background/Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of stapled closure of the pancreatic remnant after cold-knife section of the pancreatic isthmus and distal pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 57 consecutive patients undergoing distal spleno-pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma was performed. The pancreatic isthmus was systematically straight-sectioned with a cold knife, and the remnant was stapled close without additional stitches or adjuncts. The study’s main endpoints were postoperativemortality, the occurrence of a pancreatic fistula, the need for a re-operation, the postoperative length of stay in the hospital, the rate of re-admission, and late survival. Results: Postoperative mortality was absent. Seventeen patients (29.8%) presented a pancreatic fistula of grade A in seven cases (41.2%), grade B in eight cases (47.1%), and grade C in two cases (11.8%). Re-operation was required in the two patients (3.5%) with grade C fistula in order to drain an intra-abdominal abscess. The mean postoperative length of stay in the hospital was 15 days (range, 6–62 days). No patient required re-admission. Twenty-nine patients (50.8%) were alive and free from disease, respectively, 12 patients (21.1%) at 12 months, 13 patients (22.8%) at 60 months, and four patients (7.0%) at 120 months from the operation. The remaining patients died of metastatic disease 9–37 months from the operation. Lastly, disease-related mortality was 49.1%. Conclusion: Stapler closure of the pancreatic remnant allows good postoperative results, limiting the formation of pancreatic fistula to the lower limit of its overall reported incidence

Practice changes beta power at rest and its modulation during movement in healthy subjects but not in patients with Parkinson\u27s disease

Abstract Background PD (Parkinson\u27s disease) is characterized by impairments in cortical plasticity, in beta frequency at rest and in beta power modulation during movement (i.e., event‐related ERS [synchronization] and ERD [desynchronization]). Recent results with experimental protocols inducing long‐term potentiation in healthy subjects suggest that cortical plasticity phenomena might be reflected by changes of beta power recorded with EEG during rest. Here, we determined whether motor practice produces changes in beta power at rest and during movements in both healthy subjects and patients with PD. We hypothesized that such changes would be reduced in PD. Methods We thus recorded EEG in patients with PD and age‐matched controls before, during and after a 40‐minute reaching task. We determined posttask changes of beta power at rest and assessed the progressive changes of beta ERD and ERS during the task over frontal and sensorimotor regions. Results We found that beta ERS and ERD changed significantly with practice in controls but not in PD. In PD compared to controls, beta power at rest was greater over frontal sensors but posttask changes, like those during movements, were far less evident. In both groups, kinematic characteristics improved with practice; however, there was no correlation between such improvements and the changes in beta power. Conclusions We conclude that prolonged practice in a motor task produces use‐dependent modifications that are reflected in changes of beta power at rest and during movement. In PD, such changes are significantly reduced; such a reduction might represent, at least partially, impairment of cortical plasticity

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block versus intercostal nerve block for post-minithoracotomy acute pain management: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: Several nerve block procedures are available for post-thoracotomy pain management.Design: In this randomized trial, the authors aimed to determine whether the analgesic effect of preoperative ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) might be superior to that of intraoperative intercostal nerve block (ICNB) in pain control in patients undergoing minithoracotomy.Setting: University hospital.Participants: Sixty consecutive adult patients scheduled to undergo minithoracotomy for lung resection were enrolled.Interventions: Patients were allocated randomly in a 1:1 ratio to receive either single-shot ESPB or ICNB.Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was the intensity of postoperative pain at rest, assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS). The secondary outcomes were (1) dynamic NRS values (during cough); (2) perioperative analgesic requirements; (3) patient satisfaction, on the basis of a verbal scale (Likert scale); and (4) respiratory muscle strength, considering the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) variation from baseline. The ESPB group showed lower postoperative static and dynamic NRS values than the ICNB group (p < 0.05). Total remifentanil consumption and requirements for additional analgesics were lower in the ESPB group (p < 0.05). Patient satisfaction was higher in the ESPB group (p < 0.001). A significant overall time effect was found in MIP and MEP variation (p < 0.001); ESPB values were higher at all points, reaching a statistically significant level at the first and sixth hours for MIP, and at the first, 12th, 24th, and 48th hours for MEP (p < 0.05).Conclusions: ESPB was demonstrated to provide superior analgesia, lower perioperative analgesic requirements, better patient satisfaction, and less respiratory muscle strength impairment than ICNB in patients undergoing minithoracotomy. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Renal function and physical fitness after 12-mo supervised training in kidney transplant recipients

To evaluate the effect of a 12-mo supervised aerobic and resistance training, on renal function and exercise capacity compared to usual care recommendations