Multidisciplinary studies on a sick-leader syndrome-associated mass stranding of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic coast of Italy

Mass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are rare in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, in 2014 a pod of 7 specimens stranded alive along the Italian coast of the Central Adriatic Sea: 3 individuals died on the beach after a few hours due to internal damages induced by prolonged recumbency; the remaining 4 whales were refloated after great efforts. All the dead animals were genetically related females; one was pregnant. All the animals were infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and the pregnant whale was also affected by a severe nephropathy due to a large kidney stone. Other analyses ruled out other possible relevant factors related to weather conditions or human activities. The results of multidisciplinary post-mortem analyses revealed that the 7 sperm whales entered the Adriatic Sea encountering adverse weather conditions and then kept heading northward following the pregnant but sick leader of the pod, thereby reaching the stranding site. DMV infection most likely played a crucial role in impairing the health condition and orientation abilities of the whales. They did not steer back towards deeper waters, but eventually stranded along the Central Adriatic Sea coastline, a real trap for sperm whales

Giustizia, famiglia e cultura giuridica

La costruzione della cultura giuridica vista con il punto di osservazione degli operatori e dei giudici minorili, togati e non

The intra-bone marrow injection of cord blood cells extends the possibility of transplantation to the majority of patients with malignant hematopoietic diseases.

Abstract Cord blood transplant (CBT) in adult patients is scarcely utilized because of the risk of graft failure or very delayed platelet recovery. To improve the capacity and the speed to engraft, we have developed an intra-bone (IB) cord blood transplant technique. 75 patients with hematological malignancies, categorized by disease phase as early (18%), intermediate (20%) and advanced (62%), were transplanted. The median cell dose (TNC) infused was: 2.6 (1.35-5.4) 710(7)/kg; the HLA disparity was: 12 cases=5/6, 62 cases=4/6 and 1 case=3/6 matched antigens. 72/75 patients engrafted (96%); median day of recovery of neutrophils (PMN) >500 710(9)/L and platelets (PLT) >20\u2008000 710(9)/L was: 23 (14-44) and 35 (16-70) days respectively. The outcomes at 2 years according to Kaplan-Meier are: OS=46%\ub15; RI=18%\ub12; NRM=39%\ub15. Acute GVHD incidence/severity was: grade 0-I=64%, II=14%, III-IV=0%. The incidence of Chronic GVHD was globally low but in 3 cases was very severe. Intra-bone CBT is associated with high rate of engraftment, early and robust platelet recovery, low incidence of acute GVHD. A very promising aspect is that the relapse rate is low considering the advanced phase of the disease in two/thirds of patients. A suitable CBU was found for nearly every patient searching for a CBU. Therefore, IB CBT extends the possibility to transplant any patient for whom this approach represents the sole possibility of long-term survival

The influence of the precursor clusters on the structural and morphological evolution of nanostructured TiO2 under thermal annealing

We have produced nanostructured titanium dioxide thin films by supersonic cluster beam deposition. The as-deposited films have a nanocrystalline or amorphous structure depending on the mass distribution of the precursor clusters. This can be controlled by aerodynamic separation effects typical of supersonic expansions. On thermal annealing at temperatures from 400 to 800 degreesC in ambient atmosphere, amorphous-to-anatase and anatase-to-rutile phase transitions have been observed. The nanostructure and microstructure evolution of the film upon annealing has been characterized by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of the precursor clusters in the evolution of the film nanostructure at high temperatures has been demonstrated. This observation opens up new perspectives for batch fabrication of devices based on cluster-assembled materials

Direct intrabone transplant of unrelated cord-blood cells in acute leukaemia: a phase I/II study

Summary Background Cord-blood transplants are associated with delayed or failed engraftment in about 20% of adult patients. The aim of this phase I/II study was to establish the safety and effi cacy of a new administration route (intrabone) for cord-blood cells, measured by the donor-derived neutrophil and platelet engraftment. Methods Adult patients with acute leukaemia, for whom an unrelated stem-cell transplantation was indicated and no suitable unrelated human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor had been identifi ed, were included in the study and underwent a cord-blood transplant in San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy. Eight patients were in fi rst complete remission, ten in second complete remission, and 14 had advanced-stage, refractory disease. HLA matching was 5/6, 4/6, and 3/6 for 9, 22, and one patient, respectively. Cord-blood cells were concentrated in four 5-mL syringes, and were infused in the superior-posterior iliac crest under rapid general anaesthesia. Median transplanted cell dose was 2\ub76 710\u2077/kg (range 1\ub74\u20134\ub72). The primary endpoint was the probability of neutrophil and platelet recovery after intrabone cord-blood transplantantion. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and overall survival. This trial is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website, number NCT 00696046. Findings Between March 31, 2006, and Jan 25, 2008, 32 consecutive patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (n=20) or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n=12) under went a cord-blood transplant (median age 36 years [range 18\u201366]). No complications occurred during or after the intrabone infusion of cells. Four patients with advanced-stage disease died within 12 days of the procedure. Median time to recovery of neutrophils in 28 patients ( 650\ub75 710\u2079/L) was 23 days (range 14\u201344) and median time to recovery of platelets in 27 patients ( 6520 710\u2079/L) was 36 days (range 16\u201364). All patients were fully chimeric from 30 days after transplantation to the last follow-up visit, suggesting an early complete donor engraftment. No patient developed grade III\u2013IV acute graft-versus-host disease. Causes of death were transplant related (n=5), infection (n=7), and relapse (n=4). 16 patients were alive and in haematological remission at a median follow-up of 13 months (range 3\u201323). Interpretation Our preliminary data suggest that direct intrabone cord-blood transplantation overcomes the problem of graft failure even when low numbers of HLA-mismatched cord-blood cells are transplanted, thus leading to the possibility of use of this technique in a large number of adult patients. Funding This work was supported by grants from the Associazione Italiana Ricerca contro il Cancro (FF), Compagnia di San Paolo Torino (FF), Progetto CARIGE Cellule Staminali (FF), the EUROCORD III (QLRT 2001- 01918) (FF), Ministero della Salute (Ricerca Finalizzata Ministeriale 2005) (FF), and the Associazione Italiana Leucemie, Sezione Ligure

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from amniotic fluid: solid perspectives for clinical application.

Background Mesenchymal stromal cells are multipotent cells considered to be of great promise for use in regenerative medicine. However, the cell dose may be a critical factor in many clinical conditions and the yield resulting from the ex vivo expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from bone marrow may be insufficient. Thus, alternative sources of mesenchymal stromal cells need to be explored. In this study, mesenchymal stromal cells were successfully isolated from second trimester amniotic fluid and analyzed for chromosomal stability to validate their safety for potential utilization as a cell therapy product.Design and Methods Mesenchymal stromal cells were expanded up to the sixth passage starting from amniotic fluid using different culture conditions to optimize large-scale production.Results The highest number of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from amniotic fluid was reached at a low plating density; in these conditions the expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells from amniotic fluid was significantly greater than that of adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. Mesenchymal stromal cells from amniotic fluid represent a relatively homogeneous population of immature cells with immunosuppressive properties and extensive proliferative potential. Despite their high proliferative capacity in culture, we did not observe any karyotypic abnormalities or transformation potential in vitro nor any tumorigenic effect in vivo.Conclusions Fetal mesenchymal stromal cells can be extensively expanded from amniotic fluid, showing no karyotypic abnormalities or transformation potential in vitro and no tumorigenic effect in vivo. They represent a relatively homogeneous population of immature mesenchymal stromal cells with long telomeres, immunosuppressive properties and extensive proliferative potential. Our results indicate that amniotic fluid represents a rich source of mesenchymal stromal cells suitable for banking to be used when large amounts of cells are required