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)

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

Neutron star radius-To-mass ratio from partial accretion disk occultation as measured through fe kα line profiles

We present a new method to measure the radius-To-mass ratio (R/M) of weakly magnetic, disk-Accreting neutron stars by exploiting the occultation of parts of the inner disk by the star itself. This occultation imprints characteristic features on the X-ray line profile that are unique and are expected to be present in low-mass X-ray binary systems seen under inclinations higher than ∼65°. We analyze a Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observation of a good candidate system, 4U 1636-53, and find that X-ray spectra from current instrumentation are unlikely to single out the occultation features owing to insufficient signal-To-noise. Based on an extensive set of simulations we show that large-Area X-ray detectors of the future generation could measure R/M to ∼2 ÷ 3% precision over a range of inclinations. Such is the precision in radius determination required to derive tight constraints on the equation of state of ultradense matter and it represents the goal that other methods also aim to achieve in the future

Cohexisting Medullary and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Purpose: Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) and medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) have always been considered different in terms of their incidence rates, cell origins, and histopathological features. Simultaneous occurrence of both disease entities is very rare. Methods: We describe a series of cases with simultaneous MTC and PTC occurrences in the thyroid gland. Results: From 2,897 patients (mean age, 49.2±12.5; 81% women) who underwent thyroidectomy for cancer between 2000 and 2015, we reviewed 11 cases of simultaneous occurrence of MTCs and PTCs. Multifocal PTC with simultaneous MTC was detected in 5 of the 11 cases (45%). Of these PTC patients, 2 had 2 foci, 2 had 3 foci, and 1 had 4 foci. There was 1 case of multifocal MTC with solitary PTC. One patient presented with “composite thyroid carcinoma” with mixed features of MTCs and PTCs. Eight patients (72%) presented an association with diffuse lymphocytic thyroiditis. The sizes of the tumors were 1.95±0.23 cm vs. 1.20±0.20 cm for PTCs and MTCs, respectively (P=0.531). The prevalence of extrathyroidal extension was 33.1% vs. 30.2% for PTCs and MTCs, respectively (P=0.282). All patients underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck node dissection. Radio iodine was delivered to 44% of patients. Follow-up review revealed 9 disease-free patients and 1 with local neck recurrence, while 1 patient died due to non-thyroid reasons. Conclusion: There are only 30 reports describing a total of 50 cases in the English literature regarding concurrent PTC and MTC in the same gland. This study represents one of the largest case series. Whether the incidence of another cancer in these patients is coincidental, or due to the possible activation of a common tumorigenic pathway for both follicular and parafollicular thyroid cells, remains to be elucidated

Comparison of multiple techniques for endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration specimen preparation in a single institution experience.

The optimal method for specimen preparation of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is still controversial. This study aims to compare several techniques available for EBUS-TBNA specimen acquisition and processing, in order to identify the best performing technique. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 199 consecutive patients [male, 73%; median age, 64 years (IQR: 52-74 years)] undergoing EBUS-TBNA at our institution from 2012 through 2014 for diagnosis of hilar-mediastinal lymph node enlargement suspect of neoplastic (n=139) or granulomatous (n=60) disease. All procedures were performed by two experienced bronchoscopists, under conscious sedation and local anaesthesia, using 21/22-Gauge (G) needle, without rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE). Five specimen-processing techniques were used: cytology slides in 42 cases (21%); cell-block in 25 (13%); core-tissue in 60 (30%); combination of cytology slides and core-tissue in 51 (26%); combination of cytology slides and cell-block in 21 (10%). To assess the diagnostic accuracy of each tissue-processing technique we compared the EBUS-TBNA results to those obtained with surgical lymphadenectomy, or 1-year follow-up in non-operated patients. Diagnostic yield, accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) were as follows. Cytology slides: 81%, 80%, 0.90; cell-block: 48%, 33%, 0.67; core-tissue: 87%, 99%, 0.96; cytology slides + core-tissue: 80%, 100%, 1.00; cytology slides + cell-block: 86%, 100%, 1.00. Cytology slides and core-tissue method showed non-significantly different diagnostic yield (P=0.435) and AUC (P=0.152). In our single-institution experience, cytology slides and core-tissue preparations demonstrated high and similar diagnostic performance. Cytology slides combination with core-tissue or cell-block showed the highest performance, however these combination methods were more resource-consuming

Gold Binding by Native and Chemically Modified Hops Biomasses

Heavy metals from mining, smelting operations and other industrial processing facilities pollute wastewaters worldwide. Extraction of metals from industrial effluents has been widely studied due to the economic advantages and the relative ease of technical implementation. Consequently, the search for new and improved methodologies for the recovery of gold has increased. In this particular research, the use of cone hops biomass (Humulus lupulus) was investigated as a new option for gold recovery. The results showed that the gold binding to native hops biomass was pH dependent from pH 2 to pH 6, with a maximum percentage binding at pH 3. Time dependency studies demonstrated that Au(III) binding to native and modified cone hops biomasses was found to be time independent at pH 2 while at pH 5, it was time dependent. Capacity experiments demonstrated that at pH 2, esterified hops biomass bound 33.4 mg Au/g of biomass, while native and hydrolyzed hops biomasses bound 28.2 and 12.0 mg Au/g of biomass, respectively. However, at pH 5 the binding capacities were 38.9, 37.8 and 11.4 mg of Au per gram of native, esterified and hydrolyzed hops biomasses, respectively

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and the Nervous System: Beyond Metabolic Decompensation—Comparing Biological Models and Gaining New Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms

Vitamin B12 (VitB12) is a micronutrient and acts as a cofactor for fundamental biochemical reactions: the synthesis of succinyl-CoA from methylmalonyl-CoA and biotin, and the synthesis of methionine from folic acid and homocysteine. VitB12 deficiency can determine a wide range of diseases, including nervous system impairments. Although clinical evidence shows a direct role of VitB12 in neuronal homeostasis, the molecular mechanisms are yet to be characterized in depth. Earlier investigations focused on exploring the biochemical shifts resulting from a deficiency in the function of VitB12 as a coenzyme, while more recent studies propose a broader mechanism, encompassing changes at the molecular/cellular levels. Here, we explore existing study models employed to investigate the role of VitB12 in the nervous system, including the challenges inherent in replicating deficiency/supplementation in experimental settings. Moreover, we discuss the potential biochemical alterations and ensuing mechanisms that might be modified at the molecular/cellular level (such as epigenetic modifications or changes in lysosomal activity). We also address the role of VitB12 deficiency in initiating processes that contribute to nervous system deterioration, including ROS accumulation, inflammation, and demyelination. Consequently, a complex biological landscape emerges, requiring further investigative efforts to grasp the intricacies involved and identify potential therapeutic targets

Facile synthesis of low band gap ZnO Microstructures

Abstract In this work a simple chemical route was employed to synthesize ZnO microparticles by precipitation from aqueous solution of ZnCl2 as precursor, NaOH as oxidizing and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant. Samples of ZnO microparticles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, UV/Vis-NIR diffusereflectance,highresolutiontransmissionelectronmicroscopy(HR-TEM),andN2 adsorption-desorption.Itwasobserved from SEM analysis that ZnO microparticles with morphologies resembling six-blade impeller with diameters in the range of 500 nm to 1 m, and sheet-like (approximately 200 nm×300 nm) were obtained through this technique. X-Ray diffraction and Raman analyses confirmed the obtaining of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO crystal structure. The calculated band gap energy was 3.19 eV, which is slightly lower than the average value reported in the literature. Specific BET area of ZnO microparticles was 26.5 m2/g. Keywords: ZnO, microstructures, band gap energy, SEM, morphology. Resumen En este trabajo se empleó un a ruta química sencilla para sintetizar micropartículas de ZnO mediante precipitación en solución acuosa de ZnCl2 como precursor, NaOH como oxidante y dodecil sulfato de sodio (SDS) como tensoactivo. Las muestras de ZnO fueron analizadas mediante microscopía de barrido electrónico (SEM), espectroscopía de FTIR, espectroscopía Raman, difracción de rayos-X, reflectancia difusa de UV/Vis-NIR, microscopía de transmisión de electrones de alta resolución (HRTEM), y mediante adsorción-desorción de N2. Se observó mediante análisis de SEM que mediante esta técnica se obtienen micropartículas de ZnO con morfologías similares a impulsores de seis-aspas con diámetros entre 500 nm y 1 m, morfologías tipo-hojas(deaproximadamente200nm×300nm).Losanálisisdedifracciónderayos-XydeRamanconfirmaronlaobtención de ZnO con estructura cristalina wurtzita hexagonal. La energía de band gap calculada fue de 3.19 eV, la cual es ligeramente menor que el valor promedio reportado en la literatura. El área superficial BET de las nanopartículas de ZnO fue de 26.5 m2/g Palabras clave: ZnO, microestructuras, energía de band gap, SEM, morfología

Perspectives and advantages of the use of excimer laser annealing for MOS technology

The integration of excimer laser annealing (ELA) into the MOS device technology has been studied and evaluated within the frame of the IST project FLASH (Fundamentals and applications of laser processing for highly innovative MOS technology), funded by the European Commission. The final aim of the project was to demonstrate that ELA can be applied as a reliable, effective and advantageous process in the context of semiconductor device fabrication. Some of the results of this activity are summarised, relative to the experimental characterization and theoretical modelling. The electrical characterization of the transistor fabricated by ELA is also presented, showing a device yield of 90% on wafer