Water management for irrigation, crop yield and social attitudes: a socio-agricultural agent-based model to explore a collective action problem

When rainfall does not meet crop water requirements, supplemental irrigation is needed to maintain productivity. On-farm ponds can prevent excessive groundwater exploitation - to the benefit of the whole community - but they reduce the cultivated area and require investments by each farmer. Thus, choosing the source of water for irrigation (groundwatervson-farm pond) is a problem of collective action. An agent-based model is developed to simulate a smallholder farming system; the farmers' long-/short-view orientation determines the choice of the water source. We identify the most beneficial water source for economic gain and its stability, and how it can change across communities and under future climate scenarios. By using on-farm ponds, long-view-oriented farmers provide collective advantages but have individual advantages only under extreme climates; a tragedy of the commons is always possible. Changes in farmers' attitudes (and hence sources of water) based on previous experiences can worsen the economic outcome

CDK 4/6 inhibitors as single agent in advanced solid tumors

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors, namely abemaciclib, palbociclib, and ribociclib, interfere with cell cycle progression, induce cell senescence and might promote cancer cell disruption by a cytotoxic T cells-mediated effect. Phase III randomized clinical trials have proven that CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in combination with several endocrine agents improve treatment efficacy over endocrine agents alone for hormone receptor positive (HR+) HER2 negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Based on such results, these combinations have been approved for clinical use. Preclinical studies in cell cultures and mouse models proved that CDK4/6i are active against a broad spectrum of solid tumors other than breast cancer, including liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, esophageal cancer, and melanoma. The role of CDK4/6i in monotherapy in several solid tumors is currently under evaluation in phase I, II, and III trials. Nowadays, abemaciclib is the only of the three inhibitors that has received approval as single agent therapy for pretreated HR+ HER2- MBC. Here we review biological, preclinical and clinical data on the role of CDK4/6 inhibitors as single agents in advanced solid tumors

Oneiric stress and safety and security at work: the discovery of a new universal symbol

Cox and Griffiths define as psychosocial risks at work “those aspects of the planning, organization and management of work, which, along with their environmental and social contexts, may affect mental and physical health of the employees, directly or indirectly producing stress”. Therefore, a more effective approach to occupational safety and security should include integrated risk management through the identification of any work stress related problem. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the possible correlation of risk at work with the modification of sleep, and inside it, the specific function of dream activity

The impact of introducing tyrosine kinase inhibitors on chronic myeloid leukemia survival: a population-based study

Background Chronic myeloid leukemia is associated with a BCR/ABL oncoprotein inhibited by imatinib mesylate, the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Although experimental studies have clearly demonstrated the efficacy of imatinib, up-to-date data on its effectiveness at the population level are limited. Our study aims to assess the change in disease-specific survival for chronic myeloid leukemia after introducing tyrosine kinase inhibitors in first-line treatment. Methods This study analyzed data from two population-based cancer registries in Italy. Disease-specific survival for chronic myeloid leukemia cases diagnosed before and after the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (February 2002) were calculated up to 10 years. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression models adjusted for sex, age at diagnosis and residency. An interrupted time series analysis was also performed. Results Between 1996 and 2012, 357 new cases of chronic myeloid leukemia were diagnosed (standardized incidence rate of 1.2 per 100,000 residents), quite constant throughout the period. The interrupted time series analysis showed a gain of 40.4% in 5 years of disease-specific survival for chronic myeloid leukemia (from 47.3, 95%CI 38.5\u201355.5% to 80.8%, 95%CI 74.5\u201385.8%) after the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The hazard ratio was 0.36 (95%CI 0.25\u20130.52) for cases diagnosed after tyrosine kinase inhibitor introduction, with differences per age at diagnosis: 74yo 0.41 (95%CI 0.23\u20130.73). An improvement in survival (hazard ratio 0.66, 95%CI 0.36\u20131.20) was also observed in cases diagnosed before, and alive at, tyrosine kinase inhibitors introduction. Conclusions Tyrosine kinase inhibitors increased disease-specific survival both for new and prevalent chronic myeloid leukemia cases. The effectiveness was similar to that observed in trials only in patients ages 65 years or younger

Cytogenetic Markers Reinforce the Redescription of the Armored Pleco Hypostomus spiniger (Loricariidae - Hypostominae), an Endemic Species in the Uruguay River Basin and Patos Lagoon System

Among the Neotropical fish fauna, suckermouth armored catfishes (Hypostomus - Loricariidae) stands out as one of the most difficult groups to diagnose morphologically. So the use of different molecular markers, as is the case of cytogenetics, has been fundamental for a precise identification of some species. In the present study, we characterize the karyotypes of two allopatric Hypostomus spiniger populations, using classical and molecular cytogenetic methods. This species was described by Hensel (1870) but later synonymized with Hypostomus commersoni, and recently it was again recognized as a valid species. Taking to account this taxonomic problematic, the aim of this study is to determine chromosomal characters that may be useful to validate the taxonomic status of H. spiniger and to complement its diagnosis in relation to H. commersoni populations. The karyotype of H. spiniger is composed by 66 chromosomes (10m+16sm+14st+26a), few heterochromatin and a multiple nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) system. Despite, the currently geographic isolation among the samples collected in Forquetinha River (Patos Lagoon basin) and Quadros Lagoon (Tramandaí River basin), both shared the same karyotypic structure, this cytogenetic evidence, suggest that both populations belongs to the same species. Additionally, our results clearly distinguish H. spiniger from H. commersoni populations collected along the Paraná River basin, that exhibited 2n=68 chromosomes and several divergences in heterochromatin and NORs pattern. In sum, the present study reinforces the valid status of H. spiniger and demonstrated the importance of basic cytogenetic analysis to understand conflictuous taxonomic matters.Fil: Takagui, Fabio Hiroshi. Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Departamento de Biología General; BrasilFil: Rubert, Marceléia. Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Departamento de Biología General; BrasilFil: Dionisio, Jaqueline Fernanda. Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Departamento de Biología General; BrasilFil: Baumgärtner, Lucas. Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Pará; BrasilFil: Cardoso, Yamila Paula. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Jerep, Fernando Camargo. Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Departamento de Biología General; BrasilFil: Giuliano Caetano, Lucia. Universidade Estadual de Londrina; Brasi

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in a geriatric patient affected by SARS-CoV-2: complexity of a diagnosis, complexity of a virus

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has an important impact on the kidney through direct and indirect damage mechanisms. Most previous studies have highlighted lesions caused by this virus in the early segments of the nephron. However, due to the antigenic characteristics of the virus, with almost ubiquitous receptors, and the molecular release it triggers, the distal segments of the nephron could also be affected. METHODS: A 71 year-old-man with respiratory failure while suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia presented with typical symptoms of diabetes insipidus after ~20 days of hospitalization. The water deprivation test led to the diagnosis of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. The aetiological study was complex, in particular because of the patient’s previous lithium therapy. RESULTS: The sequence of pathognomonic events typical of diabetes insipidus associated with anamnestic, clinical and laboratory evidence strongly supported the diagnosis of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus due to SARS-CoV-2 rather than other aetiologies. CONCLUSIONS: The collecting duct could represent a target for SARS-CoV-2 infection, directly or indirectly, as a result of lesions of upstream portions of the nephron, which would cascade into the distal segment. Other molecules, besides angiotensin 2 converting enzyme, might be involved in facilitating the viral aggression. The complexity of the geriatric patient shows the importance of a comprehensive approach that integrates careful monitoring of clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory and instrumental tests. This is especially important in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and in the management of its unexpected complications

Clinical expression of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in carriers of 1-3 D4Z4 reduced alleles: Experience of the FSHD Italian National Registry

OBJECTIVES: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) has been genetically linked to reduced numbers ( 64 8) of D4Z4 repeats at 4q35. Particularly severe FSHD cases, characterised by an infantile onset and presence of additional extra-muscular features, have been associated with the shortest D4Z4 reduced alleles with 1-3 repeats (1-3 DRA). We searched for signs of perinatal onset and evaluated disease outcome through the systematic collection of clinical and anamnestic records of de novo and familial index cases and their relatives, carrying 1-3 DRA. SETTING: Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 66 index cases and 33 relatives carrying 1-3 DRA. OUTCOMES: The clinical examination was performed using the standardised FSHD evaluation form with validated inter-rater reliability. To investigate the earliest signs of disease, we designed the Infantile Anamnestic Questionnaire (IAQ). Comparison of age at onset was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum or Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of the FSHD score was performed using a general linear model and Wald test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the age-specific cumulative motor impairment risk. RESULTS: No patients had perinatal onset. Among index cases, 36 (54.5%) showed the first signs by 10 years of age. The large majority of patients with early disease onset (26 out of 36, 72.2%) were de novo; whereas the majority of patients with disease onset after 10 years of age were familial (16, 53.3%). Comparison of the disease severity outcome between index cases with age at onset before and over 10 years of age, failed to detect statistical significance (Wald test p value=0.064). Of 61 index cases, only 17 (27.9%) presented extra-muscular conditions. Relatives carrying 1-3 DRA showed a large clinical variability ranging from healthy subjects, to patients with severe motor impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the D4Z4 allele is not always predictive of severe clinical outcome. The high degree of clinical variability suggests that additional factors contribute to the phenotype complexity