3,337 research outputs found
Studies of Efficiency of the LHCb Muon Detector Using Cosmic Rays
We study the efficiency of the muon detector using the cosmic ray events collected in the summer and autumn 2008. We find that the efficiencies in all stations are consistent with 100% for cosmic tracks coming from the LHCb interaction point, without any restriction on time. We calculate the efficiencies also per station and region and per station and quadrant, finding consistent results
On The Brightness Wave of Electroluminescent ZnS (Powders and Single Crystals)
We describe a new method for analyzing the brightness wave which accounts for the temperature-dependence of the secondary peak, provides a different interpretation of the enhancement effect in ac+dc and gives a more detailed analysis of the spectral composition of the different harmonic components
Status of the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos in Sicily
In the present work, we review all the relevant information
since the first Regional Atlas of breeding birds (Massa
1985), and we add field data on the species occurrence and site occupancy relative to the period January 2014-December
2016, in order to update the species’ status in Sicily
Hepatitis B virus DNA integration in tumour tissue of a non-cirrhotic HFE-haemochromatosis patient with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Co-existence of multiple causes of liver injury increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. HCC usually develops in patients with cirrhosis although it may also occur in individuals with no or mild liver disease, in particular in cases with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Here we report the case of a 43year-old man with HFE-haemochromatosis, seronegative for hepatitis B and C infections, who developed HCC in the absence of severe liver damage. Both tumoural and non-tumoural liver DNA extracts were tested by nested-PCR and primers specific for four different HBV genomic regions in order to evaluate the presence of occult HBV infection. Only X gene sequences were detected in tumour (but not in non-tumour) DNA extracts. HBV-Alu PCR showed a HBV integration involving a 5'-deleted X gene with an intact enhancer-II/basal-core promoter region. The viral-host junction sequencing revealed that this integrant was located upstream of the partitioning-defective-6-homolog-gamma gene (PARD6G) and real time-PCR quantification demonstrated that PARD6G was overexpressed in tumour compared to non-tumour liver tissues. In conclusion, the combination of HFE-haemochromatosis and occult HBV infection in this patient might have led to a sequel of cellular events that determined the development of HCC even in the absence of cirrhosis
RENAL DENERVATION RAPIDLY RESTORES CIRCULATING PROGENITOR CELLS IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY RESISTANT HYPERTENSION
Objective: To investigate whether blood pressure (BP) lowering after renal sympathetic
denervation (RSD) affects CD34+ cell number in drug-resistant hypertension
(R-HTN).
Design and method: We enrolled 11 patients with R-HTN, already treated with
at least 6 antihypertensive drugs, including a diuretic, at full dosages; patients
with offi ce BP of > 160 mmHg (>150 mmHg for type 2 diabetes) were considered
eligible for the procedure. Adherence to drug treatment was accurately
checked by patient’s general practitioners. Mean age was 61 ± 7.9 years; M: F
8:5. We measured clinic (sphygmomanometer) and ambulatory (Tonoport V GEHealthcare)
BP, and heart rate (HR; electrocardiogram), at baseline and 30 days
after RSD procedure (Symplicity; Medtronic). 24 h BP recordings and home BP
protocols were consulted in addition to offi ce BP measurements at the hospital
before enrollment.
Results: At T0: SBP: 179.1 ± 9.3mmHg; DBP: 101.2 ± 5.5 mmHg; HR 79.9 ±
9.4; CD34+ cells: 1.66 ± 0.51. At T1 SBP values were reduced on the average
of 40.2 mmHg (138.9 ± 7.3; –22.5%, p < 0.001) DBP of 18 mmHg (83.2 ± 3.2;
–17.7%, p < 0.001), and HR of 10.4 bpm (67.3 ± 6.0; -17.7%, p < 0.005), and
CD34+cell number increased on an average of 0.34 cells /microL (2.0 ± 0.51;
+21.2%, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: RSD rapidly restores CD34+cell number in patients affected by
true R-HTN; if these results will be confi rmed on a larger scale, they could provide
new insights about CD34+ cells and pathophysiological aspects of arterial
hypertension
Midterm Outcomes of the Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing System: A Dual-Center Experience
Purpose: To report midterm outcomes of the Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing (EVAS) System in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods: Between September 2013 and July 2014, 64 AAA patients (mean age 76.6±6.8 years; 61 men) were treated with the EVAS system at 2 centers (only procedures performed at least 12 months prior to the analysis were included). Most patients were treated for a stable AAA, while 1 patient was treated for a ruptured aneurysm. Mean aneurysm diameter was 57.3±9.3 mm. The proximal neck measured a mean 21.5±3.3 mm in diameter and 27.0±12.1 mm long; the neck angle was 16.9°±19.3°. Eleven (17.2%) patients were treated outside the instructions for use (IFU). Results: Technical success was achieved in 63 (98.4%) of 64 patients; 1 type Ia endoleak was treated intraoperatively. One (1.6%) aneurysm-related death occurred at 4 months due to a secondary aortoenteric fistula. Overall, endoleaks occurred in 3 (4.7%) patients (2 type Ia, 1 type II). The estimated rates for 18-month overall survival, freedom from aneurysm-related death, and freedom from secondary interventions were 92.7%, 98.4%, and 95.0%, respectively. Patients treated outside the IFU had a significantly higher incidence of device-related complications (p=0.03). Conclusion: The use of the Nellix device in everyday clinical practice is safe and offers promising midterm results. The risk of secondary aortoenteric fistula requires further analysis. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the actual efficacy of the device, although the risk of migration with late endoleak seems low
Subcutaneous administration of tocilizumab is effective in myointimal hyperplasia remodelling in refractory Takayasu arteritis
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin that involves large and mediumsized arteries, primarily the aorta and its major branches. TA is a therapeutic challenge because corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressive agents are not always effective or safe. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has emerged as a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of TA and its serum levels have been shown to well correlate with disease activity. We report a 19 years old female patient with TA refractory to conventional immunosuppressive agents, successfully treated with subcutaneous tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-6 receptor, in which ultrasonography (US) was used as imaging tool to follow up the patient. Currently, clinical indices of disease activity, inflammatory markers, carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) as well as carotid pulse wave velocity (cPWV) normalised, while the prednisone dosage has been tapered. Tocilizumab appears to be a good option in refractory TA, with a remarkable steroid-sparing effect. In addition, it seems to have a favourable effect on endothelial function, as it improved cIMT and PWV
Performance of Pheromone-Baited Traps to Monitor the Seasonal Abundance of Tortrix Moths in Chestnut Groves.
(1) Background: Pammene fasciana (L.), Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller), and C. splendana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) are considered key moth pests of chestnut in Europe. (2) Methods: Investigations were performed in 2018–2019 in northern Italy. Sticky traps and commercially available pheromones were used for monitoring; moreover, two experimental pheromone blends were tested. All specimens were identified according to male genitalia and molecular analyses. Newly formed chestnut husks and fruits were randomly collected to evaluate the presence of larvae and/or feeding damage, by comparing it to trap catches. (3) Results: P. fasciana was present in all the sites, whereas Cydia species were recorded in three sites of six, with differences in abundance related to pheromone blends studied. Several non-target species, such as Oegoconia novimundi (Busck) and Cydia ilipulana (Walsingham), were present. Data about the seasonal flight activity are provided. (4) Conclusions: This research contributes to ascertaining the presence and abundance of tortrix moths in Italian chestnut groves, and the presence of non-target species highlights the risk of overestimating catches. Fruit damage recorded did not always reflect catches made by pheromone traps, suggesting that monitoring may underestimate the real size of moths’ populations. All of the data acquired are important for planning specific control measures
Ab-initio Molecular Dynamics study of electronic and optical properties of silicon quantum wires: Orientational Effects
We analyze the influence of spatial orientation on the optical response of
hydrogenated silicon quantum wires. The results are relevant for the
interpretation of the optical properties of light emitting porous silicon. We
study (111)-oriented wires and compare the present results with those
previously obtained within the same theoretical framework for (001)-oriented
wires [F. Buda {\it et al.}, {\it Phys. Rev. Lett.} {\bf 69}, 1272, (1992)]. In
analogy with the (001)-oriented wires and at variance with crystalline bulk
silicon, we find that the (111)-oriented wires exhibit a direct gap at whose value is largely enhanced with respect to that found in bulk
silicon because of quantum confinement effects. The imaginary part of the
dielectric function, for the external field polarized in the direction of the
axis of the wires, shows features that, while being qualitatively similar to
those observed for the (001) wires, are not present in the bulk. The main
conclusion which emerges from the present study is that, if wires a few
nanometers large are present in the porous material, they are
optically active independently of their specific orientation.Comment: 14 pages (plus 6 figures), Revte
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