Endolimax nana and urticaria

Endolimax nana is a commensal protozoan of the colon. We report a case of chronic urticaria associated with E. nana in a 34-year-old Italian woman. The patient suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhoea and weight loss. The disease appeared after a trip to Vietnam. Laboratory examinations showed mild blood eosinophilia. Three coproparasitological examinations were positive for cysts of E. nana. The patient was successfully treated with two courses of metronidazole (2 g/day for 10 days each). No antihistamines were used. Three coproparasitological examinations, carried out at the end of the therapy, were negative. Follow up (six months) was negative. E. nana can be responsible for very rare cases of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, polyarthritis and urticaria

Fat fraction mapping using bSSFP Signal Profile Asymmetries for Robust multi-Compartment Quantification (SPARCQ)

Purpose: To develop a novel quantitative method for detection of different tissue compartments based on bSSFP signal profile asymmetries (SPARCQ) and to provide a validation and proof-of-concept for voxel-wise water-fat separation and fat fraction mapping. Methods: The SPARCQ framework uses phase-cycled bSSFP acquisitions to obtain bSSFP signal profiles. For each voxel, the profile is decomposed into a weighted sum of simulated profiles with specific off-resonance and relaxation time ratios. From the obtained set of weights, voxel-wise estimations of the fractions of the different components and their equilibrium magnetization are extracted. For the entire image volume, component-specific quantitative maps as well as banding-artifact-free images are generated. A SPARCQ proof-of-concept was provided for water-fat separation and fat fraction mapping. Noise robustness was assessed using simulations. A dedicated water-fat phantom was used to validate fat fractions estimated with SPARCQ against gold-standard 1H MRS. Quantitative maps were obtained in knees of six healthy volunteers, and SPARCQ repeatability was evaluated in scan rescan experiments. Results: Simulations showed that fat fraction estimations are accurate and robust for signal-to-noise ratios above 20. Phantom experiments showed good agreement between SPARCQ and gold-standard (GS) fat fractions (fF(SPARCQ) = 1.02*fF(GS) + 0.00235). In volunteers, quantitative maps and banding-artifact-free water-fat-separated images obtained with SPARCQ demonstrated the expected contrast between fatty and non-fatty tissues. The coefficient of repeatability of SPARCQ fat fraction was 0.0512. Conclusion: The SPARCQ framework was proposed as a novel quantitative mapping technique for detecting different tissue compartments, and its potential was demonstrated for quantitative water-fat separation.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Magnetic Resonance in Medicin

Which needle in the treatment of thyroid nodules?

Thyroid nodules are a common finding in general population, with a prevalence of 20% to 70% at ultrasound (US) examination. Many of them are benign but treatment can be necessary to relief compressive symptoms. In the last years, percutaneous ablations have achieved amazing development in the treatment of thyroid nodules as they provide a minimally invasive but effective approach. We aimed to summarize the main aspects related to treatment of thyroid nodules with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), focusing on the use of different types of needles. A narrative review was performed and all papers analyzed reported good results in terms of nodule's size reduction and symptoms relief. No major complications have been reported, even though needles of bigger size seemed related with major risks of post-procedural local edema. Thus, thinner internally cooled multi tined needles [18-19 Gauge (G)] rather than larger needles (14 G) seem to have better results and less complications

Особенности плазмохимического травления торцов кремниевых пластин для фотоэлектрических преобразователей

Выбраны оптимальные режимы плазмохимического травления торцов пластин в реакторе, разработанном в ИЯИ, который по производительности превосходит лучший зарубежный аналог при более высоком качестве обработки пластин

Generalized Wasserstein distance and its application to transport equations with source

In this article, we generalize the Wasserstein distance to measures with different masses. We study the properties of such distance. In particular, we show that it metrizes weak convergence for tight sequences. We use this generalized Wasserstein distance to study a transport equation with source, in which both the vector field and the source depend on the measure itself. We prove existence and uniqueness of the solution to the Cauchy problem when the vector field and the source are Lipschitzian with respect to the generalized Wasserstein distance

Efeito da utilização de acaricidas em citros, sobre a população de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae)

The experiment was carried out in order to study the effects of some acaricides on Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (Acari,Tenuipalpidae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) hi citrus. The products tested and dosages in g AI/ 100 / of water were: fenpyroximate (5.0), acrinathrin (0.5), hexythiazox (1.5), amitraz (40.0) and sulphur (225.0). The acaricides fenpyroximate, acrinathrin and hexythiazox were efficient against B. phoenicis up to 127 days from the application date, whereas sulphur and amitraz presented good control up to 92 days and 58 days after treatment, respectively. Hexythiazox was fairly innocuous to predatory mites but, the remaining acaricides caused significant mortality to these mites. The pesticides sulphur, fenpyroximate and acrinathrin induced reductions of the population of phytoseid mites up to 58 days, but amitraz showed reductions up to 92 days after application.Foi conduzido experimento com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de alguns acaricidas sobre Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (AcarirTenuipalpidae) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae), em citros. Os produtos testados e as dosagens em g i.a./100 / de água foram: fenpyroximate (5,0), acrinathrin (0,5); hexythiazox (1,5); amitraz (40,0) e enxofre (225,0). Os acaricidas fenpyroximate, acrinathrin e hexythiazox foram eficientes contra B. phoenicis até 127 dias após a aplicação, enquanto que, o enxofre e o amitraz apresentaram bom controle até 92 e 58 dias após o tratamento, respectivamente. O hexythiazox foi praticamente inócuo aos ácaros predadores mas os demais acaricidas foram significativamente prejudiciais a estes ácaros. Os produtos enxofre, fenpyroximate e acrinathrin induziram reduções na população de fitoseíídeos até 58 dias, porém o amitraz apresentou reduções até 92 dias após a pulverização

Efeito da utilização de acaricidas em citros, sobre a população de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae)

The experiment was carried out in order to study the effects of some acaricides on Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (Acari,Tenuipalpidae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) hi citrus. The products tested and dosages in g AI/ 100 / of water were: fenpyroximate (5.0), acrinathrin (0.5), hexythiazox (1.5), amitraz (40.0) and sulphur (225.0). The acaricides fenpyroximate, acrinathrin and hexythiazox were efficient against B. phoenicis up to 127 days from the application date, whereas sulphur and amitraz presented good control up to 92 days and 58 days after treatment, respectively. Hexythiazox was fairly innocuous to predatory mites but, the remaining acaricides caused significant mortality to these mites. The pesticides sulphur, fenpyroximate and acrinathrin induced reductions of the population of phytoseid mites up to 58 days, but amitraz showed reductions up to 92 days after application.Foi conduzido experimento com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de alguns acaricidas sobre Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (AcarirTenuipalpidae) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae), em citros. Os produtos testados e as dosagens em g i.a./100 / de água foram: fenpyroximate (5,0), acrinathrin (0,5); hexythiazox (1,5); amitraz (40,0) e enxofre (225,0). Os acaricidas fenpyroximate, acrinathrin e hexythiazox foram eficientes contra B. phoenicis até 127 dias após a aplicação, enquanto que, o enxofre e o amitraz apresentaram bom controle até 92 e 58 dias após o tratamento, respectivamente. O hexythiazox foi praticamente inócuo aos ácaros predadores mas os demais acaricidas foram significativamente prejudiciais a estes ácaros. Os produtos enxofre, fenpyroximate e acrinathrin induziram reduções na população de fitoseíídeos até 58 dias, porém o amitraz apresentou reduções até 92 dias após a pulverização

Study of the effects of Pauli blocking and Pauli non-locality on the optical potential

Elastic scattering angular distributions for systems with reduced mass between 3 and 34 and energies varying between 25 and 120 MeV/nucleon were analyzed. The stable $^4$He, its exotic partner $^6$He, and the weakly bound $^{6,7}$Li nuclei were included as projectiles in the systematics. Optical model data analyzes were performed with an adjustable factor of normalization included in the imaginary part of the potential. These analyzes indicated a reduction of absorption for systems with small reduced masses that was detected due to the refractive nature of the scattering by light systems.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

A Second Case of Gobello Nevus Syndrome

An uncommon type of epidermal nevus characterized by hyperpigmented hyperkeratotic bands following a Blaschko-linear pattern and generalized follicular hyperkeratosis were observed in a 17-year-old male patient who additionally showed tufted hair folliculitis on the scalp and clinodactyly of the fifth finger of both hands. The combination of epidermal nevus with skeletal abnormalities was first described by Gobello et al. [Dermatology 2000;201:51-55] as a new epidermal nevus syndrome that was named after the first author of this work. Our case shows identical clinical and histopathological features and represents the second case of this rare syndrome reported in the literature