Metastatic tumors to the stomach: clinical and endoscopic features.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical and endoscopic patterns in a large series of patients with metastatic tumors in the stomach. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with gastric metastases from solid malignant tumors were retrospectively examined between 1990 and 2005. The clinicopathological findings were reviewed along with tumor characteristics such as endoscopic pattern, location, size and origin of the primary sites. RESULTS: Common indications for endoscopy were anemia, bleeding and epigastric pain. Metastases presented as solitary (62.5%) or multiple (37.5%) tumors were mainly located in the middle or upper third of stomach. The main primary metastatic tumors were from breast and lung cancer and malignant melanoma. CONCLUSION: As the prognosis of cancer patients has been improving gradually, gastrointestinal (GI) metastases will be encountered more often. Endoscopic examinations should be conducted carefully in patients with malignancies, and endoscopic biopsies and information on the patient's clinical history are useful for correct diagnosis of gastric metastases

Studies on the reaction mechanism of Rhodotorula gracilis D-amino-acid oxidase. Role of the highly conserved Tyr-223 on substrate binding and catalysis.

We have studied D-amino-acid oxidase from Rhodotorula gracilis by site-directed mutagenesis for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of residues having a possible role in acid/base catalysis. Tyr-223, one of the very few conserved residues among D-amino-acid oxidases, has been mutated to phenylalanine and to serine. Both mutants are active catalysts in turnover with D-alanine, and they are reduced by D-alanine slightly faster than wild-type enzyme. The Tyr-223 --> Phe mutant is virtually identical to the wild-type enzyme, whereas the Tyr-223 --> Ser mutant exhibits 60-fold slower substrate binding and at least 800-fold slower rate of product release relative to wild-type. These data eliminate Tyr-223 as an active-site acid/base catalyst. These results underline the importance of Tyr-223 for substrate binding and exemplify the importance of steric interactions in RgDAAO catalysis

Additively manufactured CuCrZr alloy: improvement of mechanical properties by heat treatment

CuCrZr alloy plays a fundamental role for the production of critical components because it is characterized by good thermal and electrical conductivity and by high mechanical strength after precipitation hardening treatment. In the framework of a wider research on the mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured CuCrZr alloy, this study focuses on the effects of heat treatment parameters on the alloy strength. The additive manufacturing process, characterized by very high cooling rates, determines the formation, in the as-built condition, of a supersaturated solid solution. The results obtained reveal that aging temperature and time are critical parameters for improving the mechanical behaviour of CuCrZr alloy which behaves differently than the alloy produced through the use of traditional techniques

LigaSure Haemorrhoidectomy versus Conventional Diathermy for IV-Degree Haemorrhoids: Is It the Treatment of Choice? A Randomized, Clinical Trial

Introduction. Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy performed with LigaSure system (LS) seems to be mainly effective where a large tissue demolition is required. This randomized study is designed to compare LigaSure haemorrohidectomy with conventional diathermy (CD) for treatment of IV-degree haemorrhoids. Methods. 52 patients with IV-degree haemorrhoids were randomized to two groups (conventional diathermy versus LigaSure haemorrhoidectomy). They were evaluated on the basis of the following main outcomes: mean operative time, postoperative pain, day of discharge, early and late complications. The time of recovery of work was also assessed. All patients had a minimum follow-up of twelve months (range 12-24). All data were statistically evaluated. Results. 27 patients were treated by conventional diathermy, 25 by LigaSure. The mean operative time was significantly shorter in LS, such as postoperative pain, mainly lower on the third and fourth postoperative day: moreover pain disappeared earlier in LS than CD. The time off-work was shorter in LS, while there was no difference in hospital stay and overall complications rate. Conclusions. LigaSure is an effective instrument when a large tissue demolition is required. This study supports its use as treatment of choice for IV degree haemorrhoids, even if the procedure is more expansive than conventional operation

pLG72 modulates intracellular D-serine levels through its interaction with D-amino acid oxidase - Effect on schizophrenia susceptibility

Human genes coding for pLG72 and d-amino acid oxidase have recently been linked to the onset of schizophrenia. pLG72 was proposed as an activator of the human FAD-containing flavoprotein d-amino acid oxidase (hDAAO). In the brain this oxidizes d-serine, a potent activator of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. We have investigated the mechanistic regulation of hDAAO by pLG72. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that hDAAO and pLG72 are both expressed in astrocytes of the human cortex, where they most likely interact, considering their partial overlapping subcellular distribution and their coimmunoprecipitation. We demonstrated that the specific in vitro interaction of the two proteins yields a complex composed of 2 hDAAO homodimers and 2 pLG72 molecules. Binding of pLG72 did not affect the kinetic properties and FAD binding ability of hDAAO; instead, a time-dependent loss of hDAAO activity in the presence of an excess of pLG72 was found. The binding affects the tertiary structure of hDAAO, altering the amount of the active form. We finally demonstrated that overexpression of hDAAO in glioblastoma cells decreases the levels of d-serine, an effect that is null when pLG72 is coexpressed. These data indicate that pLG72 acts as a negative effector of hDAAO. Therefore, a decrease in the synaptic concentration of d-serine as the result of an anomalous increase in hDAAO activity related to hypoexpression of pLG72 may represent a molecular mechanism by which hDAAO and pLG72 are involved in schizophrenia susceptibility

Development of an Evaluation and Decision Support Method for Food Safety Management along the Supply Chain

Food industries need to establish very high quality and safety standards in response to consumer expectations and to face possible critical health consequences. Nowadays, there is a growing demand to extend food safety control to the entire supply chain, with the aim of granting prompt interventions to improve health safety. With this motivation, an evaluation and decision support method for risk management is proposed. Its objective is to extend the control of food safety from the single node of the supply chain of a food product to the entire supply chain, overcoming the concept of mere traceability, obtaining an increase in food safety in the face of more extended and globalized supply chains and more timely and targeted interventions, with consequent less production losses and reduction of waste. The proposed methodology seeks to include the assessment of entire supply chain (from cradle to gate), through two phases: 1) semi-quantitative risk analysis techniques and 2) efficiency indicators or KPIs related to safety processes. The methodology is validated through the application on a hazelnut-based products industry. The identification of the potential hazards was developed along the entire supply chain, trying to point out the critical factors which favor contamination and to define the KPIs. This process returned the critical points in which prevention and intervention measures will be required, to manage and control contamination risks. The methodology has demonstrated to be valid for identifying potential hazards and critical points and recognizing the possible factors that constitute a threat along the supply chain. The next step of this work will consist of the installation of sensors in the critical points identified to monitor the KPIs defined; these measurements will make possible further improvements in the methodology and guarantee greater safety for companies and consumers

Light-induced High-spin State in ZnO Nanoparticles

International audienceThe effects of white-light irradiation on ∼ 20 nm diameter ZnO nanoparticles are investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance, near liquid-nitrogen and liquid-helium temperatures. Under dark conditions, usual core-and surface-defects are detected, respectively at g = 1.960 and g = 2.003. Under white-light illumination, the core-defect signal intensity is strongly increased, which is to be correlated to the light-induced conductivity's augmentation. Beside, a four-lines structure appears, with the same gravity center as that of the surface defects. Simulations and intensity power-dependence measurements show that this four-line-structure is very likely to arise from a localized high spin S = 2, induced by light irradiation, and subjected to a weak axial anisotropy. At 85 K, this high-spin state can last several hours after the light-irradiation removal, probably due to highly spin-forbidden recombination process. The possible excited resonant complexes at the origin of this signal are discussed. Other light-induced S = 1/2-like centers are detected as well, which depends on the nanoparticles growth conditions

The Effects of Park Based Interventions on Health: The Italian Project “Moving Parks”

Obesity and physical inactivity are global health problems responsible for the risk increment of noncommunicable diseases. To overcome these problems, interventions aimed at increasing physical activity (PA) are necessary. Green space can have a positive influence on promoting PA, so, the aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the project “The moving parks project”, which provides for the administration of PA to citizens within Bologna’s parks (Italy). An ad hoc questionnaire was administered before and after three months of outdoor PA. A total of 329 adult subjects participated in the survey. At follow-up, all psychosocial parameters showed an improvement, with a reduction in the state of tension, sadness and fatigue, and an improvement in the state of energy, serenity, and vitality. The impact of the interventions carried out in the “Moving Parks project” was positive and appears to be a good strategy for improving health outcomes