Estimating forest aboveground biomass by low density lidar data in mixed broad-leaved forests in the Italian Pre-Alps

Background: Estimation of forest biomass on the regional and global scale is of great importance. Many studies have demonstrated that lidar is an accurate tool for estimating forest aboveground biomass. However, results vary with forest types, terrain conditions and the quality of the lidar data. Methods: In this study, we investigated the utility of low density lidar data (<2 points∙m−2) for estimating forest aboveground biomass in the mountainous forests of northern Italy. As a study site we selected a 4 km2 area in the Valsassina mountains in Lombardy Region. The site is characterized by mixed and broad-leaved forests with variable stand densities and tree species compositions, being representative for the entire Pre-Alps region in terms of type of forest and geomorphology. We measured and determined tree height, DBH and tree species for 27 randomly located circular plots (radius =10 m) in May 2008. We used allometric equations to calculate total aboveground tree biomass and subsequently plot-level aboveground biomass (mg∙ha−1). Lidar data were collected in June 2004. Results: Our results indicate that low density lidar data can be used to estimate forest aboveground biomass with acceptable accuracies. The best height results show a R2 = 0.87 from final model and the root mean square error (RMSE) 1.02 m (8.3% of the mean). The best biomass model explained 59% of the variance in the field biomass. Leave-one-out cross validation yielded an RMSE of 30.6 mg∙ha−1 (20.9% of the mean). Conclusions: Low-density lidar data can be used to develop a forest aboveground biomass model from plot-level lidar height measurements with acceptable accuracies. In order to monitoring the National Forest Inventory, and respond to Kyoto protocol requirements, this analysis might be applied to a larger area. Keywords: LiDAR; Allometric equations; Plant height; Mixed fores

Role of Oxidative Stress Mediated by Glutathione-S-transferase in Thiopurines' Toxic Effects

Azathioprine (AZA), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) are antimetabolite drugs, widely used as immunosuppressants and anticancer agents. Despite their proven efficacy, a high incidence of toxic effects in patients during standard-dose therapy is recorded. The aim of this study is to explain, from a mechanistic point of view, the clinical evidence showing a significant role of glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-M1 genotype on AZA toxicity in inflammatory bowel disease patients. To this aim, the human nontumor IHH and HCEC cell lines were chosen as predictive models of the hepatic and intestinal tissues, respectively. AZA, but not 6-MP and 6-TG, induced a concentration-dependent superoxide anion production that seemed dependent on GSH depletion. N-Acetylcysteine reduced the AZA antiproliferative effect in both cell lines, and GST-M1 overexpression increased both superoxide anion production and cytotoxicity, especially in transfected HCEC cells. In this study, an in vitro model to study thiopurines' metabolism has been set up and helped us to demonstrate, for the first time, a clear role of GST-M1 in modulating AZA cytotoxicity, with a close dependency on superoxide anion production. These results provide the molecular basis to shed light on the clinical evidence suggesting a role of GST-M1 genotype in influencing the toxic effects of AZA treatment

The Grizzly, April 2, 1982

PA Special Olympics This Weekend • Room Selection Continues • Student Publications Staffs Chosen • Parents Day Plans Offer Variety of Talents • USGA Notes • Letters to the Editor • Dean of College Accepting Nominations for Lindback Award • Class Elections Next Week • News Briefs: Hooters Concert Tickets Now Available; Friends of Library Book Sale; Senior Women Invited to Parents Day Reception; Photography in Space Topic of Final Forum; Scholarship Offered for Students of Hellenic Descent • Food Day: A Chance to Share the Wealth • New Library Survey Conducted • Alumna Presents DuPont Grant • Students Direct Comedy Series • Duet Takes First in Talent Show • F&M Tops Track Team • W\u27s Tennis Drops Warm-up • Division 1 West Chester a Little Too Strong • MAC Champs Back • Harvard Slips by Lady Bears • Batsmen Split Twin Bill • Softball Team Takes Two Out of Threehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1077/thumbnail.jp

Advanced age, time to treatment and long-term mortality: single centre data from the FAST-STEMI network

Background. Optimization of the techniques and larger accessibility to mechanical reperfusion have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, suboptimal results have been observed in certain higher-risk subsets of patients, as in advanced age, where the benefits of primary PCI are more debated. We evaluated the impact of systematic primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and an optimized STEMI network on the long-term prognosis from a single centre experience.Methods. We included STEMI patients included in the FAST-STEMI network between 2016 and 2019. Ischemia duration was defined as the time from symptoms onset to coronary reopening (pain-to-balloon, PTB). The primary study endpoint (PE) was a composite of mortality and recurrent MI at long-term follow-up. Indywidual outcome endpoints were also assessed.Results. We included 253 patients undergoing primary PCI and discharged alive. Mean age was 67.2 ± 12.5 years, 75.1% males and 19.8% diabetics. At a median follow-up of 581 [307–922] days, the primary endpoint occurred in 24 patients (7.9%), of whom 5.5% died. The occurrence of a cardiovascular event was significantly associated with advanced age (p &lt; 0.001), renal failure (p = 0.03), lower ejection fraction at discharge (p = 0.04) and longer in-hospital stay (p = 0.01). The median PTB was 198 minutes [IQR: 125–340 min], that was significantly longer among patients experiencing the PE (p = 0.01). A linear relationship was observed between age and PTB (r = 0.13, p = 0.009). However, both age ≥ 75 years and PTB above the median emerged as independent predictors of the primary endpoint (age: HR [95%CI] = 5.56 [2.26–13.7], p &lt; 0.001, PTB: HR [95%CI] = 3.59 [1.39–9.3], p = 0.01). Similar results were observed for overall mortality.Conclusion. The present study shows that among STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in a single centre, the duration of ischemia and advance age are independently associated to long-term mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction. However, longer time to reperfusion was observed among elderly patients

Rafoxanide sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading causes of cancer-related death in the world, mainly due to the lack of effective treatment of advanced disease. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-driven cell death, a crucial event in the control of tumor growth, selectively targets malignant rather than non-transformed cells. However, the fact that cancer cells, including CRC cells, are either intrinsically resistant or acquire resistance to TRAIL, represents a major hurdle to the use of TRAIL-based strategies in the clinic. Agents able to overcome CRC cell resistance to TRAIL have thus great therapeutic potential and many researchers are making efforts to identify TRAIL sensitizers. The anthelmintic drug rafoxanide has recently emerged as a potent anti-tumor molecule for different cancer types and we recently reported that rafoxanide restrained the proliferation of CRC cells, but not of normal colonic epithelial cells, both in vitro and in a preclinical model mimicking sporadic CRC. As these findings were linked with the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, a phenomenon involved in the regulation of various components of the TRAIL-driven apoptotic pathway, we sought to determine whether rafoxanide could restore the sensitivity of CRC cells to TRAIL. Our data show that rafoxanide acts as a selective TRAIL sensitizer in vitro and in a syngeneic experimental model of CRC, by decreasing the levels of c-FLIP and survivin, two key molecules conferring TRAIL resistance. Collectively, our data suggest that rafoxanide could potentially be deployed as an anti-cancer drug in the combinatorial approaches aimed at overcoming CRC cell resistance to TRAIL-based therapies

A case of a shocking rhythm

We report a case of a 40-day-old patient admitted to the neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit for severe cardiovascular failure with an initial sinus rhythm. The first diagnostic hypothesis was septic shock, thus antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, inotropic drugs and ventilatory supportwere immediately started. After achieving haemodynamic stability, a new cardiovascular failure occurred with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), making diagnosis of cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock should be considered, although it is a rare cause of shock in children. SVT may be a cause of cardiogenic shock, therefore it should be diagnosed whit the aid of a cardiorespiratory monitor, which represents a useful device in the differential diagnosis of the various types of shock

A case of pleural empyema treated with intrapleuralurokinase

Pleural empyema, a severe complication of bacterial pneumonia, is a rare entity in the neonatal period. Treatment with systemic antibiotics and tube drainage may fail because of the thick viscous fluid, bacterial products with fibrin deposition, and multiple involvement. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy with urokinase is an effective and non-invasive treatment option that avoids surgical intervention, although its use in neonates has not been studied extensively. In this report, we describe the case of a 39-day-old male newborn with pneumonia and pleural empyema, treated successfully with antibiotics, chest tube drainage and intrapleuralurokinase