An approach to map and quantify the fishing effort of polyvalent passive gear fishing fleets using geospatial data

The use of tracking devices, such as vessel monitoring systems or automatic identification system, enabled us to expand our knowledge on the distribution and quantification of fishing activities. However, methods and models based on vessel tracking data are mostly devised to be applied to towed gears, whereas applications to multi-gear and passive fisheries have been underrepresented. Here, we propose a methodology to deal with geospatial data to map and quantify the fishing effort, as soak time, of passive fishing gears used by a multi-gear fishing fleet. This approach can be adapted to other passive multi-or single-gear fisheries, since it requires only three variables that can be extracted from a pre-classified dataset, to identify the beginning (gear deployment) and the end (hauling) of passive fishing events. As far as we are aware, this is the first time a methodology that allows quantifying the soak time of static passive fishing events, within a polyvalent fishery context, is presented. We argue that the information that can be extracted from such approaches could contribute to improved management of multi-gear and static-gear fisheries and the ecosystem-based approach

Value of chromo-magnification endoscopy and targeted biopsies in the diagnosis of celiac disease with previously negative histology: a preliminary study

T1608 Value of Chromo-Magnification Endoscopy and Targeted Biopsies in the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease with Previously Negative Histology: A Preliminary Study Annalisa Pascariello, Carolina Ciacci, Ilaria Russo, Luca Magno, Giuseppe Galloro, Paola Iovino Introduction. Chromoendoscopy with magnification has been previously demonstrated to be valuable in assessing the degree of intestinal villous atrophy in patients with suspected celiac disease. Aim and Methods. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of these methods in association with targeted biopsies in the diagnosis of suspected celiac disease in cases of positive serology and previous negative histology.13 patients (12 females, range 17-43 years) with a positive/border-line value of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and a previous negative histopathologic evaluation underwent upper endoscopy for the purpose of obtaining duodenal targeted biopsy specimens. In all patients we performed chromoendoscopy with indigo carmine sprayed onto the duodenal mucosa and, thereafter, a full magnification of duodenal mucosa. A villous pattern score was allocated for each patients at the end of procedure as definitely present = 1, partially present =2, definitely absent = 3. Biopsies were taken from the most abnormal-looking mucosa or apparent normal when present using rocking biopsy forceps and mounted on filter paper and put into formalin for histological assessment. Three more samples were collected for In Vitro challenge with gluten-derived toxic peptides . Frozen sections of the biopsies were then evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results. 76.9%of subject had a positive value of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies while 23.1 % had borderline value. The chromoendoscopic results showed normal villous pattern in 46.2%(6 pts), partially present 15.4%(2 pts ), definitively absent 38.5% (5pts). A significant positive correlation was found between a positive value of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and the endoscopic score of villous pattern (Spearman, r = 0,56, p < 0.05). In Vitro challenge was positive in 50% of normal villous pattern and in all patients with definitively absent villous pattern. Conclusions. This preliminary study suggest that chromoendoscopy with magnification may disclose with accuracy severe villous atrophy but it may have a great value in evaluating selected series of patients with doubtful diagnosis of celiac disease

Radiation-induced emesis: A prospective observational multicenter Italian trial

Purpose: A prospective observational multicenter trial was carried out to assess the incidence, pattern, and prognostic factors of radiation-induced emesis (RTE), and evaluate the use of antiemetic drugs in radiation oncology clinical practice. Methods and Materials: Fifty-one Italian radiation oncology centers took part in this trial. The accrual lasted 2 consecutive weeks, only patients starting radiotherapy in this period were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were age under 18 years, and concomitant chemotherapy. Evaluation was based on diary cards filled in daily by patients during radiotherapy and I week after stopping it. Diary cards recorded the intensity of nausea and any episode of vomiting and retching. Prophylactic and symptomatic antiemetic drug prescriptions were also registered. Results: Nine hundred thirty-four patients entered the trial, and 914 were evaluable. Irradiated sites were: breast in 211 patients, pelvis in 210 patients, head and neck in 136 patients, thorax in 129 patients, brain in 52 patients, upper abdomen in 42 patients, skin and/or extremities in 37 patients, and other sites in 97 patients. Vomiting and nausea occurred in 17.1% and 37.3% of patients, respectively, and 38.7% patients had both vomiting and nausea. At multifactorial analysis, the only patient-related risk factor that was statistically significant was represented by previous experience with cancer chemotherapy. Moreover, two radiotherapy (RT)-related factors were significant risk factors for RIE, the irradiated site and field size. In fact, a statistically significant higher percentage of RIE was registered in upper abdomen RT and RT fields > 400 cm(2). Although nonstatistically significant, patients receiving RT to the thorax and head and neck presented a higher incidence of RIE. Only a minority (14%) of patients receiving RT were given an antiemetic drug, and the prescriptions were more often symptomatic than prophylactic (9% vs. 5%, respectively). Different compounds and a wide range of doses and schedules were used; however, there is some evidence from our data that in spite of antiemetic prophylaxis, 46% of patients had vomiting, and 58% had nausea. The majority (93%) of the prophylactic group received oral 5-hydroxytriptamine receptor (5-HT3) antagonist (8 mg/day, 7 days/week). In the symptomatic group, 54% and 41% patients received 5-HT3 antagonists and metoclopramide, respectively. At multivariate analysis, no patient- or PT-related risk factor for RIE was found to influence significantly the prophylactic or symptomatic use of antiemetics. Conclusion: Our study provided useful data on epidemiology and characteristics of RIE. Previous chemotherapy, field size, and irradiated site (upper abdomen) were the only significant prognostic factors of RIE. A remarkable incidence of RIE was found in patients submitted to thoracic and head and neck RT. With this background of knowledge, it will be possible to better plan further studies on this important problem. Moreover, the low rate of antiemetics use and the wide variety of doses and schedules employed suggest the need to reinforce the "evidence based" approach to identify the best antiemetic approach to RIE. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc