Ecological correlates of Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) breeding occurrence in Sardinia (Italy).

Capsule Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in Sardinia are clustered across the main mountain ranges of the island, with a preference for undisturbed and homogeneous inland habitats. Aims To analyse habitat preferences of the Golden Eagle in Sardinia, Italy, at the landscape and home range spatial scales. Methods Landscape scale habitat preferences were analysed using the 10 × 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator grid and the home range scale was based on the spatial distribution of breeding territories. Generalized linear models were fitted with three different sets of environmental predictors (topographic, bioclimatic and land use variables) to analyse the spatial distribution of Golden Eagles with a case-control design. Results Eagles showed a preference for rugged and elevated areas, characterized by a certain degree of humidity and surrounded by areas of forest. The distribution of Golden Eagles on this Mediterranean island was negatively affected by the occurrence of arable farmland and coastal areas, as well as by the effects of habitat fragmentation. Conclusions The results of this study could contribute to future management strategies and conservation projects aimed to protect this species, and may be used to identify the most suitable conservation areas for this and other competing species, such as the Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata, which is currently the subject of a reintroduction project in Sardinia

An Automatic Sensing Test Procedure for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

An Automatic Sensing Test procedure (AST) for evaluating the sensing performances of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) is presented in this paper. AST is based on the Sensitivity Test described by the Standard CEI EN 45502-2-1 for pacemakers and consists of determining the ICD sensing thresholds at different heartbeat frequencies. Consequently, an extensive evaluation of ICD sensing performances can be achieved. AST has been implemented by means of virtual instruments developed in the Labview environment and has been validated experimentally through several tests. These have been performed inside an anechoic RF chamber. Such an environment guarantees proper shielding against external electromagnetic interferences, thus ensuring reliability and repeatability of the tests. The discussion of the results highlights the usefulness of the proposed procedure

Procedimento per la Verifica del Corretto Funzionamento di un Dispositivo Cardiaco Impiantabile

Procedimento per la verifica del corretto funzionamento di un dispositivo cardiaco impiantabile (ICMD) comprendente le fasi di: a) determinare una soglia di sensibilità positiva (σ+) di detto dispositivo cardiaco impiantabile (ICMD); b) decrementare il valore di detta ampiezza di un valore predefinito (Δa); c) verificare se il dispositivo ICMD è effettivamente in una fase di pacing rilevando una frequenza di stimolazione acquisita (facq) corrispondente ad una predefinita frequenza mode switch (fMS) del dispositivo cardiaco (ICMD); d) in caso positivo, definire tale valore di ampiezza come soglia di continuità positiva (σc+); e) in caso negativo, ripetere i passi b)-d)

Procedimento di Monitoraggio della Frequenza di Stimolazione di un Dispositivo ICMD

Procedimento di monitoraggio della frequenza di stimolazione di un dispositivo ICMD al variare di un segnale cardiaco comprendente le operazioni di a) determinare (10) parametri di generazione di un segnale cardiaco di riferimento; generare (12) detto segnale cardiaco di riferimento sulla base di detti parametri incrementando in maniera progressiva, al termine di successivi intervalli di acquisizione (H), la sua ampiezza fino al raggiungimento di un’ampiezza massima (Amax); confrontare (18) l’ampiezza di un segnale cardiaco corrente con il valore massimo di ampiezza (Amax) previsto per il segnale cardiaco di riferimento e nel caso in cui i due valori coincidano, terminare il procedimento; in caso contrario, incrementare l’ampiezza del segnale cardiaco di riferimento del valore predeterminato (ΔA) e ripetere i passi a)- c)

Mechanical dispersion as a predictor of arrhythmic death in patients with ischaemic and non-ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction

Background: Arrhythmic death is a leading cause of mortality among patients with ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart failure. Solid evidence shows that, among high-risk patients with left ventricular dysfunction, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) is a cost-effective treatment in the primary and secondary prevention of life threatening ventricular arrhythmia. The decision to implant an ICD should take into account several factors including clinical history, NYHA class, left ventricular ejection fraction and life expectancy. Myocardial strain assessed using speckle tracking echocardiography represents a novel tool to quantify global and regional myocardial function. It has been recently shown that mechanical dispersion is a predictor of ventricular arrhythmias in patients after myocardial infarction. Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between myocardial strain and ventricular arrhythmias in patients treated with ICD in primary or secondary prevention. Methods: We recruited 48 patients with ischaemic and non-ischaemic dilative cardiomyopathy (39 male, 9 female), middle aged (63.7 years), implanted with ICD or CRT-D in primary (34 pts) or secondary (14 pts) prevention. Each patient underwent clinical examination, ECG, transthoracic echocardiography with the analysis of traditional and speckle tracking parameters (Global Longitudinal Strain GLS, Mechanical Dispersion MD) and periodical device interrogation before and after device implantation. The average follow-up was 34.6 months. Results: During the follow-up, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 16 patients (events group). No statistical difference in terms of age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors and etiology of the myocardial disfunction were observed. Furthermore, echocardiographic traditional parameters (LVEF) and wall motion score index were comparable between the two groups before and after device implantation. In univariate analysis there were no difference in terms of GLS (p=0,58), but there was a significant correlation with MD (SD time to peak 112.7±33 msec vs 68.5±30.8 msec, p=0.0001), supported also by ROC curve analysis (r=-0,56, p=0.0001). The correlation between arrhythmic events and MD was confirmed in both ischaemic and non-ischaemic patients (r=0.61, p=0.001 e r=0.48, p=0.0178). A MD value ≥103 msec has been found to be a good predictor of ventricular sustained arrhythmias in the two groups (ischaemic pts: log rank p=0.012, Ki square 6.0 - non ischaemic pts: log rank p=0.015, Ki square 5.885). Conclusions: Mechanical dispersion evaluated using speckle tracking technique is a valid technique for risk stratification of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with dilative ischaemic or non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy

Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis of RFID and Implantable Medical Devices

An analysis of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) between a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device and an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) is presented in this paper. In particular, the analysis focuses on the effects of EMI produced by an RFID reader on ICD operation. Thus, a brief overview of both ICD and RFID devices is presented at first. Subsequently, several experimental tests are performed inside an anechoic RF chamber, which ensures an appropriate shielding against external EMI sources. As a result, the comparison among ICD operating thresholds highlights its susceptibility against the RFID device

Morphometric versus genetic variation in the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus in Italy

CapsuleThe Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus from breeding sites in Italy has little genetic variability in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene but shows morphological variation suggesting isolation of some populations.AimsTo investigate the morphometric and genetic trait variation of Eurasian Reed Warbler populations at a large temporal and spatial scale.MethodsWe analysed morphometric traits and the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of samples collected over 25 years, from populations at seven sites across the Italian peninsula and islands.ResultsWhile we found no genetic differences, we detected significantly smaller body sizes in individuals breeding in Sicily and Sardinia compared to those from mainland Italy. There were also significant body size differences between two Sicilian populations: one larger breeding on the southern coast and the other smaller at an inner highland site.ConclusionThe morphometric data, together with the site fidelity of individuals, are consistent with there being isolation of some populations. Specifically, our results are consistent with an example of polyphenism, morphological plasticity, in the populations of the main Italian islands, Sicily and Sardinia

Cardiac involvement in patients with lamin A/C gene mutations: a cohort observation

Introduction: LMNA gene mutations are associated with cardiac and skeletal muscle alterations. Methods: A cohort of 21 mutated individuals was assessed with clinical and instrumental investigations over the years. Results: The median observation period was 6 years. Cardiac compromise was detected in 16 patients. Bradyarrhythmias were the most frequent manifestations, followed by supraventricular arrhythmias. Two individuals suffered from nonsustained and 1 from sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Dilated cardiomyopathy was detected in 3 patients. Evaluation of the frequencies of the clinical expressions showed a high probability of suffering from analogue heart compromise in study subjects bearing the same LMNA gene mutation. Conclusions: Cardiac involvement represents a very common phenotypic expression of LMNA gene mutation. Subjects sharing common genetic background seem to suffer from analogue pattern of cardiac manifestation

Nationwide survey on the current practice of ventricular tachycardia ablation

MethodsWe performed a nationwide survey on the current practice of ventricular tachycardia catheter ablation in Italy during the year 2016.ResultsAmong 145 operators participating in the survey, 58 (40.0%) did not perform any ventricular tachycardia ablation in 2016. Among those performing ventricular tachycardia ablation, 9 operators (6.2%) performed only right ventricular endocardial catheter ablation, 52 (35.9%) performed endocardial catheter ablation both in the right and left ventricle (LV) and 26 (17.9%) performed both endocardial and epicardial LV catheter ablations. Seventy operators (89.7%) among the 78 performing LV and epicardial ablations treated patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy; ablations in the setting of other causes were less frequently performed. The following were considered as minimum requirements for ventricular tachycardia ablation: presence of a three-dimensional mapping system (120 operators, 82.8%), ICU in the hospital (118 operators, 81.4%), operator's training in high volume centers (93 operators, 64.1%). Twenty-eight operators (19.3%) performed catheter ablation in patients with electrical storm only after hemodynamic stabilization, 41 operators (28.3%) also during the acute phase and 9 operators (6.2%) never performed catheter ablation in electrical storm patients; the remaining 67 operators did not perform ventricular tachycardia ablation at all, or performed ablations only in the right ventricle.ConclusionThe present survey provides a snapshot of the current invasive treatment of ventricular tachycardia by catheter ablation. The procedure, especially in the setting of ischemic cardiomyopathy, is performed nationwide. Complex cases, including those with electrical storm, should be managed within a preestablished integrated network of regional referral centers able to transfer patients as soon as possible