Role of matrix metalloproteinase in the aneurismatic aortic disease

The aorta is involved in a large variety of diseases and the atherosclerotic aneurysms represent the most common type of these. Recent reports have attempted to clarify the mechanisms, that cause the formation and the progression of the atherosclerotic aneurysms, caused not only by the atherosclerosis. One of the features of this disease is the extensive proteolytic destruction of structural matrix proteins in the aortic wall realized by the matrix metalloproteinases. The atherosclerotic aneurysm can be considered a disease caused by an imbalance between connective tissue destruction and its repair. Knowledge of the role played by matrix metalloproteinases in the formation process of the aneurysms has made the inhibition of these proteins a logical therapeutic strategy. Once completed the aneurysm treatment, surgical or endovascular, the endothelial damage must disappear; the persistence of this damage, after endovascular procedure, is the cause of the formation of the endoleaks. The preoperative matrix metalloproteinases plasmatic levels are related to the aneurysm diameter and after endovascular treatment these values come back normal, except in the case of presence of an endoleak, that don't make possible the reduction of these values. In spite of that, obscure points still remain, above all about the dosage of these proteins and their inhibition through drugs with clear metalloproteinases- inhibiting properties. The aim of this study is to clarify further on the mechanisms of the formation of the aneurysms with particular care to the matrix metalloproteinases, their dosage and their drug inhibition

Effect of concrete tensile strength in non linear analyses of 2D structures - a comparison between three commercial finite element softwares

Non-linear finite element method (FEM) allows to take into account material and geometrical non-linearities in the simulation of the behaviour of reinforced concrete structures. However, the accuracy of the numerical solution with respect to experimental tests is often questionable, especially in the case of 2D and 3D structures. Several competitions showed in the past significant scatter of the predicted results with respect to the correct ones. Even though internationally well-known computer softwares can be used to predict the structural response, the uncertainty of the numerical simulation cannot be neglected. Therefore, the application of finite element models to the assessment of concrete structures requires a proper investigation of the uncertainty related to the results of the simulations. This paper presents a comparison of numerical simulations of sixteen case studies taken from past experimental tests and modelled with three commercial non-linear softwares. The purpose of the investigation is to show how significant could be the difference between the experimental and numerically evaluated failure load and displacement in function of the code used and the variation of only one material parameter

Comparison between non-linear numerical models for R.C. shear walls under cyclic loading

The non-linear behaviour of concrete structures is the result of a series of phenomena, as material non-linear constitutive law and cracking process. As a consequence, in order to understand the behaviour of reinforced concrete members from elastic field to ul-timate condition, is necessary to use instruments able to simulate the material damaging evolution under growing loads. Commer-cial non-linear finite elements codes are generally able to simulate concrete behaviour with good approximation when a progressive incremental load is applied. However, the same result could not be reached under a cyclic loading. In this work two commercial non-linear finite element codes have been considered in order to assess the skill of these codes to simulate non-linear concrete be-haviour under cyclic loading. The results of six laboratory tests on shear walls have been compared with the ones obtained by means of numerical models and some conclusions on the numerical predictions are presented. / Il comportamento non lineare delle strutture realizzate in calcestruzzo è il risultato di una serie di fenomeni, come la non linearità della legge costitutiva del materiale ed il processo di fessurazione. Al fine di comprendere il comportamento degli elementi struttura-li in calcestruzzo armato è necessario disporre di strumenti in grado di simulare il progressivo danneggiamento del materiale in pre-senza di carichi crescenti. In generale, i codici di calcolo presenti in commercio sono in grado di cogliere abbastanza bene il compor-tamento delle strutture in cemento armato soggette a carichi monotoni crescenti. Risulta invece più complesso seguire il compor-tamento strutturale in presenza di un carico ciclico. In questo lavoro sono stati considerati due diversi codici di calcolo non lineare agli elementi finiti al fine di verificare la loro capacità nel simulare il comportamento di pareti a taglio soggette a un carico ciclico. Sono stati considerati i risultati di sei prove di laboratorio disponibili in letteratura; tali risultati sono stati confrontati con quelli otte-nuti numericamente per trarre delle conclusioni sull’affidabilità dei modelli numerici

A penalized regression model for spatial functional data with application to the analysis of the production of waste in Venice province

We propose a method for the analysis of functional data with complex dependencies, such as spatially dependent curves or time dependent surfaces, over highly textured domains. The models are based on the idea of regression with partial differential regularizations. In particular, we consider here two roughness penalties that account separately for the regularity of the field in space and in time. Among the various modelling features, the proposed method is able to deal with spatial domains featuring peninsulas, islands and other complex geometries. Space-time varying covariate information is included in the model via a semi-parametric framework. The proposed method is compared via simulation studies to other spatiotemporal techniques and it is applied to the analysis of the annual production of waste in the towns of Venice province

Which comes first? New insights on comorbidity between eating disorders and bipolar disorders.

Abstract Aims : Bipolar disorders (BDs) and eating disorders (EDs) are both common and severe mental illness and present wide areas of symptomatological overlap. The present study aims to focus on the most significant aspects of this comorbidity. Methods This review summarizes epidemiology, aethiopathology, prognostic impact, assessment, treatment of comorbidity between BDs and EDs, and comorbidity between bipolar or eating disorders and other psychiatric disorders. We have reviewed articles published in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, ScienceDirect from 2005 to 2020 concerning comorbidity between eating and bipolar disorders, and systematic reviews or metanalysis on comorbidities between EDs or BDs and other psychiatric disorders. Results Studies that specifically evaluate the prevalence of EDs in patients with bipolar disorder are more than the studies that investigate the opposite. In BDs, binge eating disorder (BED) represents the most common eating disorder with a prevalence ranging from 8,8% to 28,8%, whereas BN has a prevalence ranging from 4,8% to 10%, and AN from 1% to 7,4%. Instead, in ED patients, prevalence of bipolar disorders ranges from 11,5% to 68.1%. The relationship between EDs and BDs has not been yet investigated enough and consequently has not been totally understood. The presence of EDs has been considered as a marker of clinical severity in patients with bipolar disorders, whereas the presence of bipolar disorder in patients with EDs seems not to have a considerable effect on the age at onset of ED symptoms and on their severity. Comorbidities between EDs or BDs and other psychiatric disorders were also examined. Discussion Given the strong co-occurrence of eating and bipolar disorder, the treatment for one of these should consider that the other one may co-exist, and therefore should focus on both of them. In patients suffering from one of these disorders, the early screening for the other one should be made. As for pharmacological treatment, it is mandatory to consider that pharmacological treatment effective for one of the two disorders could worsen symptoms of the other, for instance many psychotropic medications could cause weight gain. Further studies are needed to reach an early diagnosis through the development of screening tools, and to deepen aspects of this comorbidity that remain still unknown with particular regard to pharmacological treatment and to biopsychological aspects that might be useful in determining the aetiopathology

Co-simulation Management Algorithm for Distribution System Operation with Real-Time Simulator

This article presents a co-simulation framework consistent with the real-time simulation for operational analysis of electrical distribution networks. Realtime simulators have become a fundamental tool for testing and optimising control strategies in a safe and controlled environment. The proposed methodology outlines the steps required for setting up, controlling, and monitoring an electrical grid using a real-time simulator. The framework proposes the use of the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport communication between the electrical grid module and an external coordinator. An algorithm based on the Python programming language is proposed to manage the real-time simulation, create the grid topology, and communicate with the external coordinator. The implementation of the electrical network and the validation of the real-time simulator network are also presented. The article concludes that the proposed framework can improve the performance and flexibility of co-simulation for studies on the penetration of power electronics-based renewable sources

Depressive Symptoms during Pregnancy. Prevalence and Correlates with Affective Temperaments and Psychosocial Factors

Pregnancy is a unique experience in women's life, requiring a great ability of adaptation and self-reorganization; vulnerable women may be at increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. This study aimed to examine the incidence of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and to evaluate the role of affective temperament traits and psychosocial risk factors in predicting them. We recruited 193 pregnant women, collected data regarding sociodemographic, family and personal clinical variables, social support and stressful life events and administered the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). In our sample, prevalence of depressive symptomatology was 41.45% and prevalence of depression was 9.85% (6.75% mild and 3.10% moderate depression). We have chosen a cutoff >4 on PHQ-9 to identify mild depressive symptoms which may predict subsequent depression. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were found in the following factors: gestational age, occupation, partner, medical conditions, psychiatric disorders, family psychiatric history, stressful life events, and TEMPS-A mean scores. In our sample mean scores on all affective temperaments but the hyperthymic, were significantly lower in the control group. Only depressive and hyperthymic temperaments were found to be, respectively, risk and protective factors for depressive symptomatology. The current study confirms the high prevalence and complex aetiology of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and suggests that affective temperament assessment seems to be a useful adjunctive instrument to predict depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and postpartum

AA-amyloidosis in cats (Felis catus) housed in shelters.

Systemic AA-amyloidosis is a protein-misfolding disease characterized by fibril deposition of serum amyloid-A protein (SAA) in several organs in humans and many animal species. Fibril deposits originate from abnormally high serum levels of SAA during chronic inflammation. A high prevalence of AA-amyloidosis has been reported in captive cheetahs and a horizontal transmission has been proposed. In domestic cats, AA-amyloidosis has been mainly described in predisposed breeds but only rarely reported in domestic short-hair cats. Aims of the study were to determine AA-amyloidosis prevalence in dead shelter cats. Liver, kidney, spleen and bile were collected at death in cats from 3 shelters. AA-amyloidosis was scored. Shedding of amyloid fibrils was investigated with western blot in bile and scored. Descriptive statistics were calculated. In the three shelters investigated, prevalence of AA-amyloidosis was 57.1% (16/28 cats), 73.0% (19/26) and 52.0% (13/25), respectively. In 72.9% of cats (35 in total) three organs were affected concurrently. Histopathology and immunofluorescence of post-mortem extracted deposits identified SAA as the major protein source. The duration of stay in the shelters was positively associated with a histological score of AA-amyloidosis (B = 0.026, CI95% = 0.007-0.046; p = 0.010). AA-amyloidosis was very frequent in shelter cats. Presence of SAA fragments in bile secretions raises the possibility of fecal-oral transmission of the disease. In conclusion, AA-amyloidosis was very frequent in shelter cats and those staying longer had more deposits. The cat may represent a natural model of AA-amyloidosis

Psychometric Properties of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale Administered to Italian Women in the Perinatal Period

Literature stressed the importance of using valid, reliable measures to assess anxiety in the perinatal period, like the self-rated Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS). We aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Italian PASS version in a sample of Italian women undergoing mental health screening during their third trimester of pregnancy and its diagnostic accuracy in a control perinatal sample of psychiatric outpatients. Sample comprised 289 women aged 33.17 ± 5.08, range 19–46 years, undergoing fetal monitoring during their third trimester of pregnancy, with 49 of them retested 6 months postpartum. Controls were 60 antenatal or postnatal psychiatric outpatients aged 35.71 ± 5.02, range 22–50 years. Groups were assessed through identical self- and clinician-rating scales. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Pearson's correlations and receiver operating characteristic were conducted for PASS. PCA and CPA confirmed four-factor structure with slight differences from the original version. Construct validity and test-retest reliability were supported. Cut-off was 26. The PASS correlated with principal anxiety scales. Despite small sample size, findings confirm reliability and validity of the Italian PASS version in assessing anxiety symptoms in the perinatal period. Its incorporation in perinatal care will improve future mother and child psychological health