206 research outputs found
CT and MR Imaging of Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: A Practical Guide for the Radiologist
Primary retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) represent around 10â16% of all sarcomas, with
liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas being the most common subtypes. RPS have some peculiar
characteristics, imaging appearances, worse prognosis, and complications compared to other locations
of sarcoma. Commonly, RPS primarily present as large masses, progressively encasing adjacent
structures, causing mass effect, and complications. RPS diagnosis is often challenging, and these
tumors may be overlooked; however, failure to recognize RPS characteristics leads to a worse
prognosis for the patients. Surgery is the only recognized curative treatment, but the anatomical
constraints of the retroperitoneum limit the ability to achieve wide resection margins; therefore, these
tumors have a high rate of recurrence, and require long-term follow-up. The radiologist has an
important role in the diagnosis of RPS, the definition of their extent, and their follow-up. Specific
knowledge of the main imaging findings is required to reach an early diagnosis, and, ultimately, to
guarantee the best patient management. This article provides an overview of the current knowledge
regarding cross-sectional imaging features of patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas, presenting tips
and tricks to improve imaging diagnosis of RPS
Conversion of Organic Dyes into Pigments: Extraction of Flavonoids from Blackberries (Rubus ulmifolius) and Stabilization
The blackberryâs color is composed mainly of natural dyes called anthocyanins. Their color is redâpurple, and they can be used as a natural colorant. Anthocyanins are flavonoids, which are products of plants, and their colors range from orange and red to various shades of blue, purple and green, according to pH. In this study, the chemical composition of an extract obtained from blackberries was defined by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS in positive and negative ionization mode. Furthermore, we investigated the adsorption process of blackberry extract using several inorganic fillers, such as metakaolin, silica, Lipari pumice, white pozzolan and alumina. The pigments exhibit different colors as a function of their interactions with the fillers. The analysis of the absorption data allowed the estimation of the maximum adsorbing capacity of each individual filler tested. Through thermogravimetric measurements (TGA), the thermal stability and the real adsorption of the organic extract were determine
Lenograstim in preventing chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in patients with soft tissue sarcoma
Background: Neutropenia and its complications
represent one of the principal dose-limiting toxicity issues in
chemotherapeutic regimens for soft tissue sarcoma.
Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)
reduces the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN). The correct
timing of G-CSF administration should be considered in order
to optimize the prophylactic treatment. Patients and Methods:
Patients (â„18 years old) affected by soft tissue sarcoma and
treated with epirubicin and ifosfamide, underwent prophylactic
treatment with G-CSF (lenograstim at 263 ÎŒg) from day 5 to
day 9. The proportion of patients experiencing FN and G4
neutropenia was considered. Results: A total of 36 patients
receiving three cycles of chemotherapy with epirubicin plus
ifosfamide were treated. None developed FN; G4 neutropenia
was reported in 17% of patients. No treatment delay or dose
reduction was required, no antibiotic therapy was
administered and no hospitalization occurred. Conclusion:
Five-day lenograstim treatment is efficient as prophylaxis of
FN for soft tissue sarcoma chemotherapy regimens and allows
maintenance of chemotherapy dose intensity
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. Mucilage-Based Painting Binders for Conservation of Cultural Heritage
The possibility of using materials from the waste of agricultural products for the conserva- tion of cultural and artistic heritage has led to important technological developments on mortars, plasters, colors, and other applications. In this experimental work, we investigated the binding properties of mucilage obtained from two different species of the genus Opuntia, both collected in Sicily, Italy: Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. Through chemical acid hydrolysis, and subsequent spectroscopic analysis conducted at 13C-NMR, the main monosaccharide composition of both mucilage was studied, identifying considerable compositional differences. In fact, the mucilage of O. ficus indica had similar total amounts of arabinose (23.65%), galactose (20.87%), and glucose isomers (23.89%), while that of O. stricta was characterized by significant amounts of arabinose (36.48%) and galactose (32.31%) units. The samples were obtained by dispersing pigments on the mucilage and applying the obtained tempera by a brush onto both paper and chalk supports, in order to observe if the colors changed with different substrates. Colorimetric analysis, measuring âE, showed how the same pigment modifies its aspect depending on the binder used. After a two-week UV ageing process, pigments that had dispersed in O. stricta changed their aspect more than those dispersed in O. ficus-indica. Overall, it is also evident how âE data for organic pigments are higher than those for inorganic ones
Fishery reserves in the Mediterranean Sea: the Gulf of Castellammare case study
The effects of fisheries management based on artificial reefs and on trawl banning are
explored in the Gulf of Castellammare fishery reserve by means of biological (from trammel
and trawl survey) data collected during several research programs between 1990 and 2001.
The artificial reefs have caused an increase of diversity but not of biomass, as suggested by
the comparison between the associated fish assemblage and that of nearby sandy bottoms. The
associated species however do not have any trophic relation to the boulders, except the twobanded
seabream, Diplodus vulgaris. An overall increase of experimental trammel net yields
in the artificial reef area was observed from 1990 to 1998, due mainly to pelagic species
associated with the boulders. The trawl ban caused a dramatic increase of groundfish biomass
in the protected area (+711% after four years, total species). Different species had different
increase rates, from 2-fold for the musky octopus, Eledone moschata to 127-fold for the
gurnard, Lepidotrigla cavillone. Eight and ten years after the ban started, the yields did not
vary significantly in the overall area, but decreased near to (both outside and inside) the
protected area, probably due to increased legal and illegal trawling. The mean size did not
increase in three studied species, except for the monkfish, Lophius budegassa. In conclusion
the Gulf of Castellammare fishery reserve is considered a positive example of marine coastal
fisheries management, especially considering the effects of the trawl ban on the abundance of
groundfish stocks, although the cooperation between scientists and administrative bodies is
still far from optimal
IN-VITRO REGENERATION OF CALENDULA MARITIMA GUSS. (ASTERACEAE), A THREATENED PLANT ENDEMIC TO WESTERN SICILY
Calendula maritima is a critically endangered endemic plant of Western Sicily. Besides habitat destruction, the hybridization with the contiguous congener species C. fulgida is a major threat to its conservation. For this reason, seed-based propagation and seed storage are not appropriate for conservation purposes. In the present paper we describe a rapid and prolific in vitro plant regeneration method by direct organogenesis from leaves of C. maritima. Leaf explants were cultured on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in the presence of several plant growth regulator combinations. The best shoot multiplication rate (2.5 shoots/explant) was obtained on the medium containing 4.4 ”M 6-benzylaminopurine in combination with 10 ”M Ă-naphthoxyacetic acid. Regenerated shoots were successfully rooted on solid MS medium supplemented with several auxins and the best result was obtained with 1.0 ”M indole-3-acetic acid (35% of plantlets rooted). Plantlets were thereafter established in the greenhouse (survival frequency 75%) and no phenotypic variations were observed between regenerants and the mother plant
Surgical Treatment of Extravasation Injuries
The authors present their experience of treating anti-cancer drug extravasation by means of a composite surgical technique that consists of infiltration with physiological solution and hyaluronidase and subsequent manual aspiration of solutes alternated with profuse irrigation of the infiltrated area. In the immediate post-op we carry out a medical therapy that consists of calciparine and topic antibiotic and/or steroid creams. Since the year 2000 this technique has been used on 25 patients. We have had neither complications nor scars. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, IncSurgical treatment of extravasation injuries.
Napoli P, Corradino B, Badalamenti G, Tripoli M, Vieni S, Furfaro MF, Cordova A, Moschella F.
Source
Chirurgia Plastica e Ricostruttiva, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche ed Oncologiche, UniversitĂ degli Studi di Palermo, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
The authors present their experience of treating anti-cancer drug extravasation by means of a composite surgical technique that consists of infiltration with physiological solution and hyaluronidase and subsequent manual aspiration of solutes alternated with profuse irrigation of the infiltrated area. In the immediate post-op we carry out a medical therapy that consists of calciparine and topic antibiotic and/or steroid creams. Since the year 2000 this technique has been used on 25 patients. We have had neither complications nor scars
Activin A circulating levels in patients with bone metastasis from breast or prostate cancer
Recent studies have highlighted that Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, may be involved in the regulation of osteoblastic activity and in osteoclast differentiation. Therefore, we have investigated the clinical significance of its circulating levels in patients with bone metastasis. Activin A serum concentrations were determined, by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, in 72 patients with breast cancer (BC) or prostatic cancer (PC) with (BM+) or without (BM-) bone metastases, in 15 female patients with age-related osteoporosis (OP), in 20 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and in 48 registered healthy blood donors (HS) of both sex (25 female and 23 male). Activin A serum concentrations were significantly increased in BC or PC patients as compared to OP (P < 0.0001) or BPH (P = 0.045), respectively, or to sex matched HS (P < 0.0001). Additionally, these levels resulted more elevated in PC patients as compared to BC patients (P = 0.032). Interestingly, Activin A was significantly higher in BM+ patients than in BM- patients (BC, P = 0.047; PC, P = 0.016). In BC patients, a significant correlation was observed only between Activin A and number of bone metastases (P = 0.0065) while, in PC patients, Activin A levels were strongly correlated with the Gleason score (P = 0.011) or PSA levels (P = 0.0001) and, to a lessen extent, with the number of bone metastases (P = 0.056). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed a fair diagnostic accuracy of Activin A to discriminate between BM+ and BM- patients (BC: AUC = 0.71 +/- 0.09, P = 0.03; PC: AUC = 0.73 +/- 0.081, P = 0.005). These findings indicate that Activin A may be implicated in the pathogenesis of bone metastasis. Therefore, this cytokine may be considered a novel potential target for a more selective therapeutic approach in the treatment of skeletal metastasis and may be also useful as additional biochemical marker of metastatic bone disease
Encroachment analysis of the invasive tree species Ailanthus altissima in Sicily (Italy) through an Ecohydrological cellular automata model
Plant species diversity is fundamental for the stability and resilience of ecosystems, and the well-being of the entire planet. Healthy and diverse ecosystems also contribute to air and water pollution removal, climate regulation and flood prevention. In the last century, plant biodiversity has been facing severe threats, such as habitat destruction and fragmentation due to increasing urbanization, deforestation, agricultural expansion, wildfires, and pollution. In addition, changes in climate pose significant threats to plants biodiversity conservation and native species preservation. All these natural and anthropic disturbance factors are profoundly modifying the competitive dynamics among plant species, often favouring the establishment and spread of some invasive plants, and exacerbating the biodiversity loss of native ecosystems.
A well-known invasive alien species is Ailanthus altissima, a tree native to East Asia and introduced to various regions around the world, including North America and Europe. It is characterized by rapid growth, high reproductive capacity, and ability to thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions, where it can significantly modify ecosystems by altering soil characteristics, releasing allelopathic chemicals that may inhibit the growth of other plants, and forming dense thickets that reduce the space available and development chance of native vegetation. Ailanthus has been recognized as the most widespread and invasive alien tree species in Sicily (Italy), with a capillary presence over the entire regional territory, where it poses a serious threat to the biodiversity of the local Mediterranean ecosystems.
Ecohydrological models can simulate vegetation dynamics and predict Ailanthus encroachment mechanisms also in presence of disturbance effects and under climate change. In this work, the CATGraSS, an ecohydrological Cellular Automata model (Zhou et al., 2013), has been used for simulating spatio-temporal dynamics of Ailanthus altissima in a specific site of âVallone di Piano della Corteâ Nature Reserve, in the Erei mountains in central Sicily (Italy). The study area has a surface of approximately 1 km2 and it is characterized by a relevant nucleus of Ailanthus that has been growing rapidly in recent years. The study aims to reconstruct Ailanthus altissima spatio-temporal evolution in the study area over the last century. The model has been calibrated using the current Ailanthus distribution maps, obtained by classifying high-quality satellite images, collected by PlanetScope constellation, exploiting modern remote sensing techniques, together with field surveys
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