Congenital Absence of the Inferior Vena Cava and Genetic Coagulation Abnormalities: A Rare Associated Risk Factor for Recurrent Idiopathic Deep Vein Thrombosis

Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava (AIVC) has been reported as a risk factor of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in young people. DVT is caused by an interaction between congenital coagulation abnormalities and acquired risk factors. We observed an 18-year-old patient with AIVC who developed recurrent deep vein thrombosis at the left leg. Molecular studies showed an etherozigousity for FV Leiden gene (G1691A) and a homozigousity for methylenetetraidrofolate reductase gene (C677T) in absence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency. After the second DVI episode, the patient has been treated with heparin and oral anticoagulant without discontinuation

Successful treatment with T depleted autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation of refractory chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura

Autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP) is a disorder due to specific platelet auto-antibodies directed against platelet surface glycoproteins. AITP in adults is usually chronic, idiopathic and frequently refractory to conventional treatments. Myelo- and immuno- suppressive chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation is an experimental approach for severe chronic refractory AITP. We report a case of a woman with AITP, refractory to the conventional therapy, submitted to T-cell-depleted autologous PBSC transplantation, which obtained long term stable response on platelet count. We deem that the positive outcome of our patient depends on T-cells depletion of the graft, which reduces autoreactive T clones

Effects of rearing density on growth, digestive conditions, welfare indicators and gut bacterial community of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L. 1758) fed different fishmeal and fish oil dietary levels

In Mediterranean aquaculture, significant advances have been made towards a reduction of marine-derived ingredients in aquafeed formulation, as well as in defining the effect on how environmental factors such as rearing density interact with fish health. Little research, however, has examined the interaction between rearing density and dietary composition on main key performance indicators, physiological processes and gut bacterial community. A study was undertaken, therefore to assess growth response, digestive enzyme activity, humoral immunity on skin mucus, plasma biochemistry and gut microbiota of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L. 1758) reared at high (HD, 36–44 kg m−3) and low (LD, 12–15 kg m−3) final stocking densities and fed high (FM30/FO15, 30% fishmeal FM, 15% fish oil, FO) and low (FM10/FO3; 10% FM and 3% FO) FM and FO levels. Isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets were fed to triplicate fish groups (initial weight: 96.2 g) to overfeeding over 98 days. The densities tested had no major effects on overall growth and feed efficiency of sea bream reared at high or low FM and FO dietary level. However, HD seems to reduce feed intake compared to LD mainly in fish fed FM30/FO15. Results of digestive enzyme activity indicated a comparable digestive efficiency among rearing densities and within each dietary treatment even if intestinal brush border enzymes appeared to be more influenced by stocking density compared to gastric and pancreatic enzymes. Plasma parameters related to nutritional and physiological conditions were not affected by rearing densities under both nutritional conditions a similar observation was also achieved through the study of lysozyme, protease, antiprotease and total protein determination in skin mucus, however; in this case lysozyme was slightly reduced at HD. For the first time on this species, the effect of rearing density on gut bacterial community was studied. Different response in relation to dietary treatment under HD and LD were detected. Low FM-FO diet maintained steady the biodiversity of the gut bacterial community between LD and HD conditions while fish fed high FM-FO level showed a reduced biodiversity at HD. According to the results, it seems feasible to rear gilthead sea bream at the on-growing phase at a density up to 36–44 kg m−3 with low or high FM-FO diet without negatively affecting growth, feed efficiency, welfare condition and gut bacterial community.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Effects of calcium carbonate inclusion in low fishmeal diets on growth, gastrointestinal pH, digestive enzyme activity and gut bacterial community of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) juveniles

Fishmeal (FM) possesses one of the highest buffering capacities in comparison to most alternative vegetable aquafeed ingredients and its decreasing content in current formulations might affect the ideal gastrointestinal environment for digestive enzyme action and gut bacterial community of carnivorous fish species. A study was undertaken, therefore, to assess growth response, gastrointestinal pH, digestive enzyme activity and gut bacterial community of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) juveniles fed low FM diets (10% FM) with or without a feed buffering additive, calcium carbonate (FM10 + B and FM10, respectively) in comparison to a standard FM diet (20% FM, FM20). Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets were fed to triplicate fish groups of 80 individuals (initial weight: 23 g) to overfeeding over 64 days. No significant differences due to low FM dietary levels were observed in final body weight, specific growth rate, feed intake, feed and protein efficiency. Low FM diet did not affect gastrointestinal pH in the stomach, anterior intestine, mid-intestine and hindgut at 0, 4, 8 and 12 hours post meal (hpm) while the inclusion of calcium carbonate in low FM diet seems to slightly increase the pH in the hindgut at 12 hpm. The absence of significant differences of pepsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase activity suggests a comparable digestive efficiency among treatments although trypsin activity was slightly reduced in low FM diets after 4 hpm. Decreasing FM content seems to exert an effect on the overall gut bacterial community analysed by next-generation sequencing even if no significant effects on specific bacterial component were detected. The gut bacterial community in all the treatments was particularly rich in lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. which may provide important beneficial functions for the host and be associated with a healthy intestinal epithelium. According to the results, increasing the feed buffering capacity does not seem to improve digestive conditions while it is feasible to include 10% FM dietary level in practical formulation for European sea bass juveniles without negatively affecting growth, feed efficiency and digestive luminal conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Next-generation sequencing characterization of the gut bacterial community of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) fed low fishmeal based diets with increasing soybean meal levels

The present study was carried out to evaluate growth, gut histology and gut bacterial community of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) fed with increasing dietary soybean meal (SBM) levels in a low fishmeal (FM) based diet, in comparison with a control diet. Five isoproteic and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated to contain increasing levels of SBM (0, 100, 200, and 300 g kg 121 named S0, S10, S20 and S30, respectively) with 150 g kg 121 of FM, and one control diet (C) without SBM and containing 350 g kg 121 of FM. Sixty sea bream (initial body weight 75.9 \ub1 1.9 g, n = 900) per tank were reared in a recirculation system at 23.0 \ub1 1.0 \ub0C and fed to satiation. The trial was run in triplicate and lasted 100 days. At the end of the trial fish fed the S30 diet showed a higher (P 64 0.05) specific growth rate (SGR) compared to S0 (SGR, 1.17 \ub1 0.03, 1.20 \ub1 0.01, 1.22 \ub1 0.01, 1.25 \ub1 0.01 and 1.21 \ub1 0.04 for S0, S10, S20, S30 and C, respectively), and a higher feed intake (FI) compared to S0, S10 and S20. Sea bream fed the C diet had a higher (P 64 0.05) FI compared to S0 (FI, 1.40 \ub1 0.01, 1.45 \ub1 0.01, 1.44 \ub1 0.03, 1.51 \ub1 0.03 and 1.46 \ub1 0.02 for S0, S10, S20, S30 and C, respectively). No significant differences in feed conversion rate, protein efficiency ratio, gross protein efficiency and gross lipid efficiency among the treatments were detected. No specific histopathological changes indicative of soy-induced enteritis were observed in the intestine of any fish examined. Gut bacterial community of the distal intestine content was analyzed by Next-Generation Sequencing. At the phylum level, the gut bacterial community was dominated by Firmicutes (relative abundance 71%), while the most represented family was Lactobacillaceae (26%). Even if no significant differences (P 64 0.05) in the gut bacterial community \u3b1 and \u3b2-diversity according to the different diets were detected, Cyanobacteria and Lactobacillaceae progressively increased from diet C to diet S30. In conclusion results of growth, nutrient utilization, gut histology and gut bacterial community indicate that SBM can be successfully incorporated up to a level of 300 g kg 121 with the inclusion of 150 g kg 121 of FM, without any deleterious effects on growth, protein utilization and gut health during the on-growing of sea bream

Parsec-scale Properties of Brightest Cluster Galaxies

We present new VLBI observations at 5 GHz of a complete sample of Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) in nearby Abell Clusters (distance class <3). Combined with data from the literature, this provides parsec-scale information for 34 BCGs. Our analysis of their parsec scale radio emission and cluster X-ray properties shows a possible dichotomy between BCGs in cool core clusters and those in non cool core clusters. Among resolved sources, those in cool core clusters tend to have two-sided parsec-scale jets, while those in less relaxed clusters have predominantly one-sided parsec-scale jets. We suggest that this difference could be the result of interplay between the jets and the surrounding medium. The one-sided structure in non cool core clusters could be due to Doppler boosting effects in relativistic, intrinsically symmetric jets; two-sided morphology in cool core clusters is likely related to the presence of heavy and mildly relativistic jets slowed down on the parsec-scale. Evidence of recurrent activity are also found in BCGs in cool core clusters.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&

In vitro effects of different levels of quebracho and chestnut tannins on rumen methane production, fermentation parameters, and microbiota

Both condensed and hydrolysable tannins (CTs and HTs, respectively) have the ability to reduce enteric CH4 production in ruminants. However, the precise mechanism of action is not fully understood. Among the proposed hypotheses are the reduction of ruminal digestibility, direct control action on protozoa, reduction of archaea, and a hydrogen sink mechanism. In this in vitro study, which simulated rumen fermentation, two additives, one containing CTs (70% based on DM) from quebracho and one with HTs (75% based on DM) from chestnut, at four levels of inclusion (2, 4, 6, 8% on an as-fed basis) were added to the fermentation substrate and tested against a negative control. Both types of tannins significantly reduced total gas (GP) and CH4 (ml/g DM) production during the 48 h of incubation. The lower GP and CH4 production levels were linked to the reduction in dry matter digestibility caused by CTs and HTs. Conversely, no significant differences were observed for the protozoan and archaeal populations, suggesting a low direct effect of tannins on these rumen microorganisms in vitro. However, both types of tannins had negative correlations for the families Bacteroidales_BS11 and F082 and positive correlations for the genera Prevotella and Succinivibrio. Regarding the fermentation parameters, no differences were observed for pH and total volatile fatty acid production, while both CTs and HTs linearly reduced the NH3 content. CTs from quebracho were more effective in reducing CH4 production than HTs from chestnut. However, for both types of tannins, the reduction in CH4 production was always associated with a lower digestibility without any changes in archaea or protozoa. Due to the high variability of tannins, further studies investigating the chemical structure of the compounds and their mechanisms of action are needed to understand the different results reported in the literature

Recurrent radio emission and gas supply: the case of the radio galaxy B2 0258+35

Outlined is the discovery of a very faint, diffuse, low surface-brightness (0.5 \mJybeam, 1.4 \mJyarcminsq on average) structure around the radio source B2 0258+35 hosted by an HI-rich early-type galaxy (NGC 1167). Since B2 0258+35 is a young Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) source, the newly discovered structure could represent a remnant from an earlier stage of AGN activity. We go on by explaining in detail all the possibilities for triggering the radio activity in B2 0258+35 regarding gas accretion in a recurrent AGN activity framework. NGC 1167 hosts a very regular, extended and massive \HI\ disc that has been studied in great detail. Previous studies of the \HI\ closer to the core seem to go against the assumption of a circum-nuclear disc of \HI\ as the source of the accreting gas. We consider the cooling of gas from the hot, X-ray halo as a possible alternative option for the fueling of the AGN, as suggested in the case of other sources of similar radio power as B2 0258+35. Estimates are given for the age of the faint diffuse emission as well as for the current accretion rate, which are in good agreement with literature values. If our assumptions about the accretion mechanism are correct, similar large-scale, relic-like structures should be more commonly found around early-type galaxies and this will be hopefully confirmed by the next generation of sensitive, low-frequency radio surveys.Comment: 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (17.07.2012

A combined low-radio frequency/X-ray study of galaxy groups I. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations at 235 MHz and 610 MHz

We present new Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations at 235 MHz and 610 MHz of 18 X-ray bright galaxy groups. These observations are part of an extended project, presented here and in future papers, which combines low-frequency radio and X-ray data to investigate the interaction between central active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the intra-group medium (IGM). The radio images show a very diverse population of group-central radio sources, varying widely in size, power, morphology and spectral index. Comparison of the radio images with Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray images shows that groups with significant substructure in the X-ray band and marginal radio emission at >= 1 GHz host low-frequency radio structures that correlate with substructures in IGM. Radio-filled X-ray cavities, the most evident form of AGN/IGM interaction in our sample, are found in half of the systems, and are typically associated with small, low- or mid-power double radio sources. Two systems, NGC5044 and NGC4636, possess multiple cavities, which are isotropically distributed around the group center, possibly due to group weather. In other systems the radio/X-ray correlations are less evident. However, the AGN/IGM interaction can manifest itself through the effects of the high-pressure medium on the morphology, spectral properties and evolution of the radio-emitting plasma. In particular, the IGM can confine fading radio lobes in old/dying radio galaxies and prevent them from dissipating quickly. Evidence for radio emission produced by former outbursts that coexist with current activity is found in six groups of the sample.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 26 pages, 18 figures. A version with high-quality figures is http://www.astro.umd.edu/~simona/giacintucci_hr.pd

PKS 0347+05: a radio-loud/radio-quiet double active galactic nucleus system triggered in a major galaxy merger

We present optical, infrared and radio observations of the powerful FRII radio source PKS0347+05 (z=0.3390), and demonstrate that it is a rare example of a radio-loud/radio-quiet double AGN system, comprising a weak line radio galaxy (WLRG) separated by 25 kpc (in projection) from a Seyfert 1 nucleus at the same redshift. Our deep Gemini optical images show a highly disturbed morphology, with a warped dust lane crossing through the halo and nuclear regions of the radio galaxy host, tidal tails, and a bridge connecting the radio galaxy to the Seyfert 1 nucleus. Spectral synthesis modelling of our Gemini optical spectrum of the radio galaxy shows evidence for a reddened young stellar population of age <100 Myr. Further evidence for recent star formation activity in this source is provided by the detection of strong PAH features in mid-IR Spitzer/IRS spectra. Together, these observations support a model in which both AGN have been triggered simultaneously in a major galaxy merger. However, despite the presence of a powerful FRII radio source, and the apparently plentiful supply of fuel provided by the merger, the nucleus of the radio galaxy shows only weak, low ionization emission line activity. We speculate that the fuel supply to nuclear regions of the radio galaxy has recently switched off (within the last ~10^6 yr), but the information about the resulting decrease in nuclear AGN activity has yet to reach the extended lobes and hotspots of the FRII radio source. Based on this scenario, we estimate that powerful, intermediate redshift FRII radio sources have lifetimes of t\sim 5x10^6 yr. Overall, our observations emphasise that the fuelling of AGN activity in major galaxy mergers is likely to be highly intermittent.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA