NeVoCGPS network: contributions to the Deformation Analysis in Neapolitan Volcanic area based on Continuous GPS measurements

Osservatorio Vesuviano, department of Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, installed a permanent GPS network (NeVoCGPS), constituted of 25 stations, in Neapolitan volcanic area, where three active volcanoes (Somma-Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei caldera and Ischia Island) rise, each characterized by a peculiar type of ground movements activity. The Somma-Vesuvius system exhibits now a low level of ground deformation; the Campi Flegrei, caracterized from over 2000 years by slow up and down vertical movements (bradyseism), at present is in a very slow uplift phase; Ischia, finally, shows subsidence in the specific areas (Southern and North-West sectors of the island). The presence of these volcanoes and the dense urbanization of the area make the ground deformation monitoring a crucial point for risk mitigation and modelling aims. The 3D ground displacements are calculated using CGPS data, acquired with a 30s rate and with the daily and weekly vertexes position estimate. All the stations are managed by remote control and the data are automatically downloaded and processed using Bernese software package. The entire chain of acquisition, processing and data analysis is accurately described and some results obtained in the last years are shown

Experimental study for evaluation of a suitable ground displacement monitoring system: Pilot hole Campi Flegrei Deep Drilling Project case

The paper presents an experimental study carried out in 2012 during the drilling activity for a pilot hole performed in the framework of the Campi Flegrei Deep Drilling Project. A monitoring network has been installed to test and choose a suitable ground deformation system for the subsequent deep drilling of about 3.5 km in the Campi Flegrei Caldera (Italy). We describe the seismic network installed to characterize the structure of the pilot hole area and the ground deformation monitoring system chosen for the small drilling area. Data analysis and results obtained indicate that Total Station is a suitable tool for this case.Published4V. Dinamica dei processi pre-eruttiviN/A or not JC

Suction cup sampler bias in leaching characterization of an undisturbed field soil

An accurate assessment of leaching losses in the vadose zone requires measurement of both solute and water flux to compute flux concentrations (C[subscript F]). Leachate collected at a depth of 1.2 m in 32 passive capillary samplers (PCAPS), which sample soil-pore water continuously at tensions of 0–50 cm H₂O was compared to that collected in 32 suction cup samplers operated under a falling head vacuum of 530-cm H₂O over a 2-year period. There was evidence that PCAPS collected CF and suction cup samplers collected resident concentrations (C[subscript R]) as shown by the earlier breakthrough of a bromide tracer in the PCAPS as compared to the suction cup samplers. C[subscript R] was up to 100% lower than C[subscript F] during the rising branch of Br tracer breakthrough and up to 78% greater during the declining branch of breakthrough. Br content and water flux into PCAPS were correlated with correlation coefficients changing from positive to negative values with the advancement of the tracer breakthrough peak through the profile indicating the declining importance of preferential flow on Br transport. C[subscript R] and C[subscript F] differed significantly (P < 0.05) for 35% of the sampling events for NO₃, but seasonal means were mostly insignificantly different for this regularly applied and therefore more uniformly distributed anion. The early breakthrough of Rhodamine WT and Brilliant Blue FCF, which was applied with the Br, was very low with 0.15% and 0.08% of the initial concentration C₀, respectively, with C[subscript R] differing from C[subscript F] by up to −100%. For all tracers, mass leached using C[subscript R] is therefore prone to bias for short-term (<0.6 pore volumes) monitoring.Keywords: Hydrology: Unsaturated zone, Hydrology: Groundwater quality, Hydrology: Groundwater hydrology, Hydrology: Instruments and technique

Concurrent deformation processes in the Matese massif area (Central-Southern Apennines, Italy)

We investigated the interseismic GPS velocity field across the transition zone between Central and Southern Apennine comprising the Meta–Mainarde-Venafro and Alto Molise–Sannio-Matese mounts. The kinematic field obtained by combining GPS network solutions is based on data collected by the unpublished episodic campaigns carried out on Southern Apennine Geodetic network (SAGNet from 2000 to 2013), IGM95 network (Giuliani et al., 2009 from 1994 to 2007) and continuous GPS stations. The data collected after the 29 December 2013 earthquake (Mw 5.0) until early 2014 allowed estimating displacements at 15 SAGNet stations. The extension rate computed across the Matese massif along an anti-Apennine profile is 2.0±0.2 mm/yr. The interseismic velocities projected along the profile show that the maximum extension does not follow the topographic high of the Apennines but is shifted toward the eastern outer belt. No significant GPS deformation corresponding to inner faults systems of the Matese massif is detected. Taking into account our results and other geophysical data, we propose a conceptual model, which identifies the 2013–2014 seismic sequence as not due to an extensional deformation style usual along the Apennine chain. In fact, we have measured too large “coseismic” displacements, that could be explained as the result of tectonic regional stress, CO2-rich fluid migration and elastic loading of water in the karst Matese massif. We recognized a tensile source as model of dislocation of 2013–2014 earthquakes. It represents a simplification of a main fault system and fracture zone affecting the Matese massif. The dislocation along NE-dipping North Matese Fault System (NMFS) could be the driving mechanism of the recent seismic sequences. Moreover, to the first time the SAGnet GPS data collected from 1994 to 2014, are share and available to the scientific community in the open access data archive.INGV and DPCS1-C1 - 2012-2021.Published2282342T. Deformazione crostale attivaJCR Journa

Survival trends over 20 years in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma: Results from a national retrospective analysis of 922 cases in Italy

: Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare group of tumors that involve the hepatic biliary tree. Prognosis for patients with cholangiocarcinoma remains dismal. Herein, we present survival trends over a long time period spanning almost 20 years in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma receiving systemic chemotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed a large multicenter dataset of cholangiocarcinoma outpatients evaluated in 14 centers within the Cholangiocarcinoma Italian Group Onlus (Gruppo Italiano Colangiocarcinoma Onlus, G.I.C.O.) between 2000 and 2017 (first-line), and 2002 and 2017 (second-line). Three time periods were considered: 2000-2009, 2010-2013, and 2014-2017.&nbsp;A total of 922 patients (51.19% male) with cholangiocarcinoma undergoing first-line therapy were evaluated. The median durations of follow-up for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 37 and 57 months, respectively. PFS at 12 months in the three periods of starting first-line therapy was similar, ranging from 11.71% to 15.25%. OS at 12 months progressively improved (38.30%, 44.61% and 49.52%, respectively), although the differences were not statistically significant after adjusting for age, disease status, and primary tumor site. A total of 410 patients (48.5% male) underwent second-line chemotherapy. The median durations of follow-up for PFS and OS were 47.6 and 41.90 months, respectively. An OS of 24.3%, 32.3%, and 33.1% was observed in 2002-2009, 2010-2013, and 2014-2017, respectively. Despite incremental benefits across years, our clinical experience confirms that modest overall advances have been achieved with first- and second-line chemotherapy in advanced cholangiocarcinoma. Efforts should focus on the identification of patients who derive the greatest benefit from treatment

Rare histotypes of epithelial biliary tract tumors: A literature review

Adenocarcinoma represents the most frequent biliary tract cancer. However, other rare histotypes can be found in the biliary tract, such as cholangiolocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma with ductal plate malformation pattern, adenosquamous carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, and sarcomatous cholangiocarcinoma. These cancer types account for less than 10 % of all the already rare biliary tract tumors. Yet, they represent a relevant issue in everyday clinical practice, given the lack of therapeutic recommendations and the overall scarcity of data, mainly deriving from isolated small center-specific cohorts of patients.The shifts of such histotypes from the most common ones reflect genetic and molecular differences, determine changes in clinical aggressiveness, and suggest a possible variability in sensitivity to the standard treatments of biliary adenocarcinomas. The consistency and degree of these variables are still to be solidly demonstrated and investigated. Therefore, this paper aims to review the current literature concerning very infrequent and rare epithelial biliary tract cancers, focusing our attention on the clinical, molecular, and immunohistochemical features of these tumors

Clinical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations of metronomic UFT and cyclophosphamide plus celecoxib in patients with advanced refractory gastrointestinal cancers

Aims. To evaluate UFT and cyclophosphamide (CTX) based metronomic chemotherapy plus celecoxib (CXB) for the treatment of patients with heavily pre-treated advanced gastrointestinal malignancies. Methods. Thirty-eight patients received 500 mg/mq2 CTX i.v bolus on day 1 and, from day 2, 50 mg/day CTX p.o. plus 100 mg/twice a day UFT p.o. and 200 mg/twice a day CXB p.o. Tegafur, 5-FU, 5-FUH2, GHB and uracil pharmacokinetics were assessed. Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VE-cadherin (sVE-C) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) levels were detected by ELISA and real-time PCR of CD133 gene expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cell was also performed. Results Seventeen patients (45%) obtained stable disease (SD) with a median duration of 5.8 ms (range, 4.2–7.4). Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 2.7 ms (95% CI, 1.6–3.9 ms) and 7.1 ms (95% CI, 4.3–9.9 ms), respectively. No toxicities of grade >1 were observed. Pharmacokinetics of 27 patients (13/14, SD/progressive disease, PD) after the first treatment of UFT revealed that 5-FU AUC and Cmax values greater than 1.313 h x microg/ml and 0.501 microg/ml, respectively, were statistically correlated with stabilization of disease and prolonged PFS/OS. VEGF and sVE-C plasma levels were greater in the PD group when compared to SD group. CD133 expression increased only in the PD patients. Conclusion. Metronomic UFT and CTX with CXB in heavily pre-treated gastrointestinal patients were well tolerated and associated with interesting activity. Potential predictive pharmacokinetic parameters and pharmacodynamic biomarkers have been found

Does antenatal depression predict post-partum depression and obstetric complications? Results from a longitudinal, long-term, real-world study

BackgroundMain aims of the present paper are to: (1) assess the prevalence of antenatal depression (AD) and identify its predictors; (2) analyse the impact of AD on obstetric outcomes and on the incidence of post-partum depression.MethodsAll pregnant women referring to the Gynecology and Obstetrics inpatients unit of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” were invited to participate. Upon acceptance, women completed the Italian version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and an ad-hoc questionnaire on the women's sociodemographic, gynecological and peripartum characteristics as well as their psychiatric history. Women were assessed at each trimester of pregnancy, immediately after the childbirth and after one, three, 6 and 11 months.Results268 pregnant women were recruited, with a mean of 32.2 (±5.81) years. Ninety-seven women (36.2%) reported the presence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Predictors of AD were personal history of depression, a family history for depressive disorders and problematic relationships with the partner. The presence of AD was associated to a reduced gestational age at the time of delivery, a lower APGAR score at 1 and 5 min, labor induction and admission of the new-born into neonatal intensive care unit. Mothers with antenatal depression are less likely to natural breastfeed. Lastly, antenatal depression was a risk factor for higher EPDS scores at follow-ups.ConclusionsOur results support the idea that women should be screened during pregnancy and post-partum for the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Health professionals should be adequately trained to detect psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy