Switching of Magnetic Moments of Nanoparticles by Surface Acoustic Waves

We report evidence of the magnetization reversal in nanoparticles by surface acoustic waves (SAWs). The experimental system consists of isolated magnetite nanoparticles dispersed on a piezoelectric substrate. Magnetic relaxation from a saturated state becomes significantly enhanced in the presence of the SAW at a constant temperature of the substrate. The dependence of the relaxation on SAW power and frequency has been investigated. The effect is explained by the effective ac magnetic field generated by the SAW in the nanoparticles.Comment: Accepted in Europhysics Letter

Cancer mortality trends in the Umbria region of Italy 1978–2004: a joinpoint regression analysis

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present paper was to analyse cancer mortality in the Umbria region, from 1978 to 2004. Mortality trends depend on a number of factors including exposures, health system interventions, and possibly artefact (e.g. classification change, variations of data completeness). Descriptive data on mortality only allow for generation of hypotheses to explain observed trends. Some clues on the respective role of possible mortality determinants may be found comparing mortality with incidence and survival data. METHODS: Mortality data for the periods 1978–1993 and 1994–2004 were supplied by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) and the Regional Causes of Death Registry (ReNCaM) respectively. Sex and site-specific mortality time trends were analysed by the "joinpoint regression" method. RESULTS: For all sites combined, in both sexes, the standardised rate was first increasing before the end of the eighties and decreasing thereafter. Gastric cancer mortality showed a different trend by gender; that is the rate constantly decreased over the period among females while, for males, it was first increasing up to 1985 and decreasing thereafter. Liver cancer trend showed a pattern similar to gastric cancer. Large bowel cancer showed a gender specific trend, that is it was increasing among males and stable among females. Also lung cancer mortality varied by gender: it started to decline after 1989 among males but was steadily increasing over the study period among women. A decreasing trend for female breast cancer mortality began in 1994. Prostate cancer mortality trend is the only one showing two significant joinpoints: mortality decreased up to 1990, then it increased up to 1998 and, finally, was decreasing. CONCLUSION: Overall cancer mortality was decreasing in both sexes in Umbria and this favourable trend will probably continue and further improve since population screening against breast, cervix, and large bowel cancers were recently introduced. Besides gastric cancer, tobacco-related cancers and prostate cancer mainly contributed to mortality reduction in males, whereas breast cancer mainly contributed to declining mortality in females

GIV noroviruses and other enteric viruses in bivalves: A preliminary study

We evaluated the presence of the enteric viruses: norovirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, astrovirus, hepatitis A virus, and hepatitis E virus in bivalves using nested PCR methods and cell culture assays. Noroviruses GII.4 and GIV.1, adenoviruses types 1 and 2, hepatitis A, and echovirus type 7 were detected in the shellfish tested, which were often co-infected. This is the first study to detect such a high level of viral contamination in Italian mussels (up to four different viral groups in a single sample), and the first to document the presence of GIV NoV in shellfish

Leptin as a metabolic link to multiple sclerosis.

Clinical and experimental data, together with epidemiological studies, have suggested that the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) might involve factors that link the immune system with metabolic status. Moreover, recent research has shown that leptin, the adipocyte-derived hormone that controls food intake and metabolism, can promote experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of MS. In patients with MS, the association of leptin with disease activity has been dissected at the molecular level, providing new mechanistic explanations for the role of this hormone in MS. Here, we review the intricate relationship between leptin and other metabolic modulators within a framework that incorporates the latest advances linking the CNS, immune tolerance and metabolic status. We also consider the translational implications of these new findings for improved management of MS

Esophageal schwannoma mimicking non-functional parathyroid adenoma on ^99mTc-sestamibi imaging: a case report.

Technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography ( <sup>99m</sup> Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT) is a mainstay of the pre-operative localization of parathyroid lesions. We report here the case of a 30 year-old woman with a fortuitously discovered 2 cm cervical mass for which a parathyroid origin was originally suspected due to its retro-thyroidal localization and a personal history of nephrolithiasis. Normal serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels excluded primary hyperparathyroidism, raising suspicion of a non-functional parathyroid adenoma, and SPECT/CT imaging showed that the mass was <sup>99m</sup> Tc-sestamibi-avid. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was performed; cytology was non-diagnostic but the needle washout was negative for thyroglobulin, calcitonin and PTH, arguing against a thyroidal or parathyroidal origin of the mass. Core needle biopsy revealed a schwannoma, ostensibly originating from the recurrent laryngeal nerve; upon surgical resection, it was finally found to arise from the esophageal submucosa. This case illustrates the fact that endocrinologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine, head and neck, and other specialists investigating patients with cervical masses should be aware that schwannomas need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal <sup>99m</sup> Tc-sestamibi uptake in the neck region

Are nursing students trained to meet the needs of cancer survivors and their families? New challenges, new opportunities

Current cancer treatments, along with more effective prevention measures, are producing increased cancer survival globally;(1) becoming – in many cases – a chronic disease.(2) Care of patients and families, living with a chronic disease, like cancer, constitutes one of the principal challenges for most health systems because they represent a heavy burden in terms of morbidity and mortality and carry a high percentage of the public expenditure in health.(3) Above all, the impact of cancer entails suffering and represents an important limitation in the quality of life, productivity, and functional state of the sick individuals and those living with them, that is, their family. More so, with evidence of the progressive increase of the number of older people with cancer, who are more prone to having comorbidities and other problems associated with their age, like dementia, depression, cerebrovascular accident, and diabetes

Comparison of two commercial ELISA kits and magnetic stirrer method for detection of Trichinella spp. in a pig slaughterhouse

ELISA represents a useful rapid method to detect the presence of specific antibodies on serum, plasma or meat juice collected at slaughter, however, false- and positive-results may occur depending on the sensitivity and specificity of the test. In this study we compare two commercial ELISA kits for the detection of specific antibodies against Trichinella spp. with respect to the gold standard method (artificial digestion) in a pig slaughterhouse. A total of 709 Iberian pigs belonging to 79 free-range herds were randomly selected and sampled (five to ten animals/herd) (Win Episcope 2.0; 95% confidence level, 8% accepted error)