Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: What strategies to avoid a foretold catastrophe

While great strides in improving survival rates have been made for most cancers in recent years, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the solid tumors with the worst prognosis. PDAC mortality often overlaps with incidence. Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment, but it can be performed in a very limited number of cases. In order to improve the prognosis of PDAC, there are ideally two possible ways: the discovery of new strategies or drugs that will make it possible to treat the tumor more successfully or an earlier diagnosis that will allow patients to be operated on at a less advanced stage. The aim of this review was to summarize all the possible strategies available today for the early diagnosis of PDAC and the paths that research needs to take to make this goal ever closer. All the most recent studies on risk factors and screening modalities, new laboratory tests including liquid biopsy, new imaging methods and possible applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning were reviewed and commented on. Unfortunately, in 2022 the results for this type of cancer still remain discouraging, while a catastrophic increase in cases is expected in the coming years. The article was also written with the aim of highlighting the urgency of devoting more attention and resources to this pathology in order to reach a solution that seems more and more unreachable every day

Spatial pattern of landslides in Swiss Rhone valley

The present study analyses the spatial pattern of quaternary gravitational slope deformations (GSD) and historical/present-day instabilities (HPI) inventoried in the Swiss Rhone Valley. The main objective is to test if these events are clustered (spatial attraction) or randomly distributed (spatial independency). Moreover, analogies with the cluster behaviour of earthquakes inventoried in the same area were examined. The Ripley's K-function was applied to measure and test for randomness. This indicator allows describing the spatial pattern of a point process at increasing distance values. To account for the non-constant intensity of the geological phenomena, a modification of the K-function for inhomogeneous point processes was adopted. The specific goal is to explore the spatial attraction (i.e. cluster behaviour) among landslide events and between gravitational slope deformations and earthquakes. To discover if the two classes of instabilities (GSD and HPI) are spatially independently distributed, the cross K-function was computed. The results show that all the geological events under study are spatially clustered at a well-defined distance range. GSD and HPI show a similar pattern distribution with clusters in the range 0.75?9 km. The cross K-function reveals an attraction between the two classes of instabilities in the range 0?4 km confirming that HPI are more prone to occur within large-scale slope deformations. The K-function computed for GSD and earthquakes indicates that both present a cluster tendency in the range 0?10 km, suggesting that earthquakes could represent a potential predisposing factor which could influence the GSD distribution

A hitherto unreported high incidence of zoledronic acid-induced acute phase reaction in patients with cancer treatment-induced bone loss

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Growth and energy quality of eucalyptus wood in different crop-livestock-forest spatial arrangements.

Crescimento e qualidade energética da madeira do eucalipto em diferentesarranjos de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta.O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento e a qualidade energética da madeira de materiais genéticos de eucalipto em diferentes arranjos espaciais de plantio em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta em Barra-do-Garças (MT). Foram avaliados cinco materiais genéticos de Eucalyptus spp em oito arranjos de plantio aos 76 meses de idade. As características avaliadas foram o crescimento em diâmetro, altura, volume, mortalidade, produção de massa seca, relação cerne e alburno, fator de forma, volume de casca, densidade básica, poder calorífico superior, teor de cinzas, voláteis, carbono fixo e energia no tronco. Os dados foram avaliados através do ajuste de uma função de crescimento, teste de identidade de modelos e ANOVA, com comparações de médias por Scott-Knott. Os clones de híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla apresentaram melhor desempenho para a produção de energia na região de Barra-do-Garça (MT), o que se deveu a maior produtividade volumétrica que foi determinante na estimativa de energia disponível por árvore e área plantada.O crescimento, a forma do tronco e a densidade básica variaram entre e dentro de um mesmo material genético em função do arranjo espacial de plantio.O mesmo não ocorreu com as propriedades energéticas da madeira como o poder calorífico superior, o teor de cinzas, carbono fixo e voláteis. Palavras-chave: Curva de crescimento, densidade básica, poder calorífico, agrofloresta, Brasil. Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the growth and energetic properties of genetic material of eucalyptus grown in several integrated crop-livestock system spatial arrangements in Barra-do-Garças City (MT). The genetic material of 76-month old Eucalyptus spp from eight spatial arrangements were assessed according to the following properties: diameter, height and volume growth, mortality rate, dry matter yield, sapwood to heartwood ratio, form factor, bark volume, basic density, superior calorific value, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and trunk energy. Data analysis was performed by adjusting growth function, test for model identity and parameters equalityand ANOVA tests to Scott-Knott?s mean clustering test. Eucalyptus grandisx E. urophyllaclones from recorded the highest energy efficiency due to their high yieldvolume, which was decisiveto determine estimated energy available per tree and cropland area. Growth, stem shape and basic density varied among,and within,the same genetic materials, depending ontheir respective spatial arrangement. However, solid biomass properties (high calorific value, ash content, fixed carbon and volatile matter) remained stable.Keywords:Growth curve, basic density, calorific value, agroforestry, Brazil

Benzamil inhibits neuronal and heterologously expressed small conductance Ca2²⁺-activated K⁺ channels

Small conductance Ca^{2+}-activated K^{+} (SK) channels are expressed throughout the soma and dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the neocortex and hippocampal formation, where they participate in the local regulation of membrane excitability and synaptic signals. Through their inter-play with Ca^{2+} channels, SK channels regulate Ca^{2+} influx triggered by back-propagating action potentials in dendrites. Inhibition of SK channels affects both the amplitude and duration of Ca^{2+} transients, but the role of Ca^{2+} clearance mechanisms and their link to SK channel activity has not been established. Here we report the effect of the Na^{+}/Ca^{2+} exchanger (NCX) inhibitor benzamil on Ca^{2+} extrusion and SK channels in the regulation of dendritic Ca^{2+} signals. Benzamil increased the duration and amplitude of dendritic Ca^{2+} transients elicited by back-propagating action potentials in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. This data is consistent with previous studies with SK channel blockers and suggests that benzamil inhibits SK channels in addition to the Na^{+}/Ca^{2+} exchanger. Here we show that indeed both the neuronal SK-mediated IAHP current and the currents mediated by heterologously expressed SK channels were inhibited by benzamil. The inhibition of recombinant SK channels was seen with different K+ concentration gradients, and was stronger at negative voltages. The suppression of SK channels by benzamil is consistent with previous findings on the modulation of Ca^{2+} signals by SK channels in neurons. We additionally show that benzamil inhibits neuronal voltage-gated calcium currents. The results prompt a careful reassessment of the effects of benzamil on Ca^{2+} transients in native systems, given the spectrum of ion channels and exchangers this compound targets within a similar range of concentrations

The low dimensional dynamical system approach in General Relativity: an example

In this paper we explore one of the most important features of the Galerkin method, which is to achieve high accuracy with a relatively modest computational effort, in the dynamics of Robinson-Trautman spacetimes.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Qualidade do eucalipto clone h13 em sistemas integrados de produção de leite

Um dos grandes desafios nacionais, atualmente, é transformar áreas degradadas em áreas produtivas com a introdução de árvores em sistemas agropecuários como a integração lavoura pecuária floresta (iLPF) ou sistemas agrossilvipastoris. A presença de árvores em sistemas agropecuários pode proporcionar vários benefícios como a melhoria nos índices de conforto térmico animal, aumento na oferta de forragem ao longo do ano, redução da erosão, otimização do uso da energia solar e da ciclagem de nutrientes. Entretanto, ainda existem poucas informações em relação à qualidade do fuste em sistemas iLPF, que são fundamentais para acessar o mercado de madeira serrada, que propicia maior valor agregado e maiores taxas de retorno aos produtores. Com isso, objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade do fuste, fitossanidade e as características das árvores do clone de híbrido Eucaliptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla (clone H13) em sistema iLPF. O experimento foi instalado em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e dois tratamentos (1) R3: arranjo em renques triplos com espaçamento 3 x 2 entre árvores e 15 m entre renques de árvores (2) R2: renques duplos com espaçamento 3 x 2 m entre árvores e 50 m entre renques de árvores. O experimento está localizado no campo experimental da Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril, localizada no município de Sinop- MT, situado na região de transição dos biomas Cerrado e Floresta Amazônia. As avaliações da qualidade das árvores de eucalipto em sistema integrado foram realizadas aos 36 meses do plantio, durante a estação seca do ano, mediante observação visual qualidade do fuste (tortuosidade, bifurcações e posição da mesma), fitossanidade (pragas e doenças) e as características (copa, galhos e tronco quebrados, mortalidade, inclinação, e multibrotação das copas) das árvores. A qualidade do fuste encontra-se, em algum grau, comprometida em 68% e 74%, respectivamente, nos arranjos R2 e R3, sendo 55% e 65% da tortuosidade localizado na região apical da planta. No R2, 88% das árvores apresentou a fitossanidade comprometida por bovinos, sendo que 57% atingindo o lenho em mais de 5 cm. O arranjo R3 possui os mesmos danos, causados por bovinos, em 94% das árvores onde 53% são os mais severos com mais de 5cm do lenho exposto. Das características avaliadas, houve maior ocorrência em mortalidade das árvores no R3 com 65% e no R2 com 42%. O arranjo R2 mostrou-se mais vulnerável à quebra de copa com 13% e galhos também com 13%, quando comparado com o arranjo R3 que teve somente 5% das copas quebradas e 3% dos galhos

Emergency endoscopy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the north of Italy. Experience from St. Orsola University Hospital—Bologna

No abstract availabl

Economic benefit and social impact derived by a food loss prevention strategy in the vegetable sector: A spatial and temporal analysis at the regional level

Introduction: Reduction of food loss in the horticultural sector is critical to simultaneously support the transition toward a diet with higher consumption of vegetables and the achievement of policy goals aimed at halving the quantity of wastage by 2030. However, the lack of precise information and the presence of múltiple interconnected factors makes it difficult to assess the potential socioeconòmic benefits and therefore the decision-making process of food loss reduction strategies. Methods: A case study approach has been used to assess the econòmic loss and nutrional impact of food loss in the horticulture primary production. The selection of the main vegetable products was based on an historical series while econòmic and nutritional impact were estimated starting from national and European indicator. Results: The food loss correspond to 26% of the total production and 14% of the total agricultural production econòmic value. The social analysis confirm the possibility of redistributing food loss among the population even in the most critical months and areas. Discussion: The combination of social and econòmic indicator resulted essential to provide key information at the decision-making level to pave the way for the elaboration of short- and long-term food loss reduction strategies. Indeed, no single-bullet strategy can be applied to overcome the problem of food loss as many actor with different needs are involved

Seleção de equações para o paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum huber ex ducke), no estado de Roraima.

bitstream/item/130481/1/BP04-parica-helio.pd