Renal Toxicities in Cancer Patients Receiving Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Meta-Analysis

Aim: We performed a meta-analysis of the available clinical trials of immune-checkpoint inhibitors to assess risk differences and relative risks of renal toxicity. Methods: 17 randomized phase III studies were selected, including 10,252 patients. Results: The administration of immune-checkpoint inhibitors resulted in an overall low-grade, high-grade and all-grade renal toxicity Risk Difference of: 0.746% (95% CI 0.629% to 1.15%, p < 0.001—random), 0.61% (95% CI, 0.292–0.929%, p < 0.001—fixed) and 1.2% (95% CI, 0.601–1.85%—random), respectively. The pooled Relative Risk of low-grade, high-grade and all-grade renal toxicity was: 2.185 (95% CI 1.515–3.152—fixed), 2.610 (95% CI, 1.409–4.833, p = 0.002—fixed) and 2.473 (95% CI, 1.782–3.431, p < 0.001—fixed), respectively. An increased risk of renal toxicity was evident in some subgroups more than others. Conclusion: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of renal toxicity

Excitonic effects in two-dimensional vibrational spectra of liquid formamide

The linear and two-dimensional infrared (2DIR) responses of the amide I vibrational mode in liquid formamide are investigated experimentally and theoretically using molecular dynamics simulations. The recent method based on the numerical integration of the Schrödinger equation is employed to calculate the 2DIR spectra. Special attention is devoted to the interplay of the structural dynamics and the excitonic nature of the amide I modes in determining the optical response of the studied system. In particular, combining experimental data, simulated spectra and analysis of the simulated atomic trajectory in terms of a transition dipole coupling model, we provide a convincing explanation of the peculiar features of the 2DIR spectra, which show a substantial increase of the antidiagonal bandwidth with increasing frequency. We point out that, at variance with liquid water, the 2DIR spectral profile of formamide is determined more by the excitonic nature of the vibrational states than by the fast structural dynamics responsible for the frequency fluctuations

Ground deformation and associated hazards in NW peloponnese (Greece)

In the last decades, ground deformations were investigated, analysed and monitored using several methods. As a consequence of a spreading urbanization, several phenomena, e.g. landslide and subsidence, were emphasized or triggered causing not only socio-economic damages, but, in some cases, also casualties. The investigation and mapping of these phenomena are important for both local authorities and civil protection in order to promote a higher conscientious urban planning and to highlight the more hazardous areas. Furthermore, the information are a key point for social development connected to the awareness of the environment and the related risk. The Achaia prefecture, in the north-eastern Peloponnese (Greece), close to the Gulf of Patras, is an area strongly affected by subsidence and landslides. Furthermore, this is an earthquake-prone area, a factor that can trigger some mass movements. For this region, a landslide inventory was realized with the help of the interpretation of Persistent Scatterers data, for the period 1992–2008, and high-resolution optical satellite images, available until 2016, in addition to the investigation of the landslide State of Activity. Moreover, for the coastal area, a section was investigated to evidence subsidence

Evaluating Ecklonia maxima water-soluble polysaccharides as a growth promoter of tomato seedlings and resistance inducer to Fusarium wilt

Alternatives to chemicals for plant management are increasingly used to reduce environmental pollution. Seed treatment with natural products may act as a priming effect by stimulating seedling growth and plant defence responses against fungal pathogens. In this framework, algae produce a wide variety of bioactive metabolites, which can be used in agriculture as biofertilizers or biostimulants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible role of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPs) from the brown alga Ecklonia maxima applied on tomato seed in enhancing plant growth and inducing resistance to Fusarium oxysporum via modulation of multiple physiological parameters and metabolic pathways. Here, we first characterized the E. maxima WSPs by FT-IR spectroscopy, and then we tested the WSPs as growth promoters on tomato seedlings, and the physiological and defence responses of plants during pathogen infection. We found that WSP seed treatment without pathogen challenge stimulated seedling height and root growth by 24.5 and 62.9%, respectively. Under pathogen infection, plants exhibited long-lasting resistance against F. oxysporum until 46 days after seed treatment. The metabolic changes associated with resistance to Fusarium wilt in plant roots were related to an increase in phenols, flavonoids and protein contents as well as a higher chitinase and beta-1,3-D-glucanase enzyme activity. Moreover, PR1a, PR3 and other defence gene expressions were significantly increased. Resistance to F. oxysporum as a result of WSP seed treatment was also supported by FT-IR analysis of tomato roots. Infected roots showed a decrease in the relative intensity of the bands due to the syringyl ring and amide I and amide II in proteins. In contrast, WSP treatment alone and in the presence of the pathogen exhibited a spectral profile similar to that of the control. This research emphasizes the potential role of algal polysaccharides applied by seed treatment in promoting seedling growth and priming plant resistance against soil-borne pathogens

Towards surface quantum optics with Bose-Einstein condensates in evanescent waves

We present a surface trap which allows for studying the coherent interaction of ultracold atoms with evanescent waves. The trap combines a magnetic Joffe trap with a repulsive evanescent dipole potential. The position of the magnetic trap can be controlled with high precision which makes it possible to move ultracold atoms to the surface of a glass prism in a controlled way. The optical potential of the evanescent wave compensates for the strong attractive van der Waals forces and generates a potential barrier at only a few hundred nanometers from the surface. The trap is tested with Rb Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC), which are stably positioned at distances from the surfaces below one micrometer

Jania adhaerens Primes Tomato Seed against Soil-Borne Pathogens

Managing soil-borne pathogens is complex due to the restriction of the most effective synthetic fungicides for soil treatment. In this study, we showed that seed priming with Jania adhaerens water-soluble polysaccharides (JA WSPs) was successful in protecting tomato plants from the soil-borne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, and Fusarium oxysporum under greenhouse conditions. WSPs were extracted from dry thallus by autoclave-assisted method, and the main functional groups were characterized by using FT-IR spectroscopy. WSPs were applied by seed treatment at 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 mg/mL doses, and each pathogen was inoculated singly in a growing substrate before seeding/transplant. Overall, WSPs increased seedling emergence, reduced disease severity and increased plant development depending on the dose. Transcriptional expression of genes related to phenylpropanoid, chlorogenic acid, SAR and ISR pathways, and chitinase and beta-1,3 glucanase activities were investigated. Among the studied genes, HQT, HCT, and PR1 were significantly upregulated depending on the dose, while all doses increased PAL and PR2 expression as well as beta-1,3 glucanase activity. These results demonstrated that, besides their plant growth promotion activity, JA WSPs may play a protective role in triggering plant defense responses potentially correlated to disease control against soil-borne pathogens

MR imaging diagnosis of diencephalic-mesencephalic junction dysplasia in fetuses with developmental ventriculomegaly

SUMMARY: Diencephalic-mesencephalic junction dysplasia is a rare malformation characterized by a poorly defined junction between the diencephalon and the mesencephalon, associated with a characteristic butterfly-like contour of the midbrain (butterfly sign). This condition may be variably associated with other brain malformations, including callosal abnormalities and supratentorial ventricular dilation, and is a potential cause of developmental hydrocephalus. Here, we have reported 13 fetuses with second-trimester obstructive ventriculomegaly and MR features of diencephalic-mesencephalic junction dysplasia, correlating the fetal imaging with available pathology and/or postnatal data. The butterfly sign can be clearly detected on axial images on fetal MR imaging, thus allowing for the prenatal diagnosis of diencephalic-mesencephalic junction dysplasia, with possible implications for the surgical management of hydrocephalus and parental counseling

MR Imaging Diagnosis of Diencephalic-Mesencephalic Junction Dysplasia in Fetuses with Developmental Ventriculomegaly

n/

Nuevo atlas de radiación solar de la Pampa Húmeda argentina: resultados preliminares

El Grupo de Estudios de la Radiación Solar (GERSolar) de la Universidad Nacional de Luján ha confeccionado un nuevo Atlas de Radiación Solar de la Pampa Húmeda Argentina, el cual incluye 12 cartas mensuales y una anual que dan cuenta de los niveles diarios medios de irradiación solar en plano horizontal a nivel de la superficie terrestre. La información ha sido obtenida a través de las estaciones que el GERSolar y el INTA operan en la llanura Pampeana y corresponde a más de siete años de mediciones realizadas con instrumental de primera calidad en diez sitios de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Córdoba y La Pampa. Se analiza la validez de la información presentada y se compara el potencial solar de la región con otros sitios de Argentina y el mundo.The Solar Radiation Studies Group (GERSolar) of the National University of Luján has created a new Atlas of Solar Radiation of the Pampas Húmeda Argentina, which includes 12 monthly letters and an annual one that offers the account of the new means of communication solar irradiation in a horizontal plane at the level of the earth's surface. The information has been obtained through the stations that the GERSolar and the INTA operates in the Pampeana plain and the correspondence to more than seven years of measurements made with first quality instruments in ten sites in the province of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Córdoba and La Pampa. The validity of the information presented is analyzed and the solar potential of the region is compared with other sites in Argentina and the world.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

A new system for animal products traceability and authentication: use of DNA analysis of natural tracers and example of application to dry cured hams

AbstractA few DNA based approaches have been developed to trace animal products from the farm to the consumer "fork". These approaches make use of the animal DNA that can be recovered during all steps of the production chain directly as part of the products that are obtained from them. This direct link between the animals and the products can be assessed using DNA markers like, for example, single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellites, for individual or population based (breed) traceability systems. However, these methods, in general, rely on the possibility to constitute banks of animal biological samples for critical/important steps of the production chain and analyse a large number of samples (individual traceability) or to identify breed/population multilocus informative markers or few specific mutations that can distinguish the breed/population of origin (breed traceability). Here we developed a new traceability and authentication system that makes use of the DNA contained in an added material..