Technologies and strategies to design sustainable tourist accommodations in areas of high environmental value not connected to the electricity grid

As envisaged in the Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism, the adoption of an holistic and integrated approach and the use of the best available knowledge and technologies are key aspects to ensure a sustainable tourism. In particular, policies and actions should be planned considering the latest and best available knowledge, analyzing at the same time all the related impacts on the area of intervention. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to describe an approach for designing sustainable tourist accommodations that allow the fruition of areas characterized by high environmental values minimizing the related impacts on the surrounding environment and sensitizing users towards preservation and conservation of natural resources. In the proposed approach three aspects of tourist accommodation have been considered: the system component, the building envelope and the integration between them. As a result, the architectural structures designed, including their materials, shape, energy efficiency, modularity and removability, are in line with the standards of bio-architecture. The materials used, complying with the technical requirements and the technological needs of the tourist accommodations, are mostly recycled or reusable, coming from the surrounding area or of easy integration in the landscape. The components , that constitute the accommodations, are easy to assemble and disassemble for reuse them in another area, without changing the environmental conditions in the site. Some elements are precast and completed on site with local materials, moreover the modularity allows a high adaptability to different environmental and morphological conditions. To apply these architectural structures even in places without services and distribution networks of energy and water, special attention has been given to innovative and sustainable energy solutions: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been used as the only energy vector, combined with a cogeneration plant to provide heat and electric energy as well as with particular building envelopes that allow the transfer of LPG into the walls for provide energy to innovative gas appliances. Lastly, in order to assess the environmental impact of the proposed approach, it has been analyzed the environmental insertion of these structures for tourist accommodation in the Circeo National Park, in Italy

Extra virgin olive oil and cardiovascular diseases: benefits for human health

The cardioprotective properties of Mediterranean Diet were demonstrated for the first time from the Seven Country Study. In the last few decades, numerous epidemiological studies, as well as intervention trial, confirmed this observation, pointing out the close relationship between the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular diseases. In this context, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), the most representative component of this diet, seems to be relevant in lowering the incidence of cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke. From a chemical point of view, 98-99% of the total weight of EVOO is represented by fatty acids, especially monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid. Tocopherols, polyphenols and other minor constituents represent the remaining 1-2%. All these components may potentially contribute to "health maintenance" with their beneficial effects by EVOOO

Spermatogonial kinetics in humans

The human spermatogonial compartment is essential for daily production of millions of sperm. Despite this crucial role, the molecular signature, kinetic behavior and regulation of human spermatogonia are poorly understood. Using human testis biopsies with normal spermatogenesis and by studying marker protein expression, we have identified for the first time different subpopulations of spermatogonia. MAGE-A4marks all spermatogonia, KITmarks all Bspermatogonia and UCLH1 all Apale-dark (Ap-d) spermatogonia. We suggest that at the start of the spermatogenic lineage there are Ap-d spermatogonia that are GFRA1High, likely including the spermatogonial stem cells. Next, UTF1 becomes expressed, cells become quiescent and GFRA1 expression decreases. Finally, GFRA1 expression is lost and subsequently cells differentiate into B spermatogonia, losing UTF1 and acquiring KIT expression. Strikingly, most human Ap-d spermatogonia are out of the cell cycle and even differentiating type B spermatogonial proliferation is restricted. A novel scheme for human spermatogonial development is proposed that will facilitate further research in this field, the understanding of cases of infertility and the development of methods to increase sperm output

Glucocorticoids impair platelet thromboxane biosynthesis in community-acquired pneumonia

Previous reports suggest that community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with an enhanced risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and that enhanced platelet activation may play a role. Aims of this study were to investigate if urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-thromboxane (Tx) B2, a reliable marker of platelet activation in vivo, was elevated in CAP and whether glucocorticoid administration reduced platelet activation. Three-hundred patients hospitalized for CAP were recruited and followed-up until discharge. Within the first 2 days from admission, urinary 11-dehydro-TxB2and serum levels of methylprednisolone and betamethasone were measured. 11-Dehydro-TxB2was also measured in a control group of 150 outpatients, matched for age, sex, and comorbidities. Finally, in-vitro studies were performed to assess if glucocorticoids affected platelet activation, at the same range of concentration found in the peripheral circulation of CAP patients treated with glucocorticoids. Compared to controls, CAP patients showed significantly higher levels of 11-dehydro-TxB2(110 [69-151] vs. 163 [130-225] pg/mg creatinine; p < 0.001). During the in-hospital stay, 31 patients experienced MI (10%). A COX regression analysis showed that 11-dehydro-TxB2independently predicted MI (p = .005). CAP patients treated with glucocorticoids showed significantly lower levels of 11-dehydro-TxB2compared to untreated ones (147 [120-201] vs. 176 [143-250] pg/mg creatinine; p < 0.001). In vitro, glucocorticoids-treated platelets showed a dose-dependent decrease of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, TxB2production, cPLA2phosphorylation and arachidonic acid release from the platelet membrane. In conclusion, platelet TxB2is overproduced in CAP patients and may be implicated in MI occurrence. Glucocorticoids reduce platelet release of TxB2in vitro and urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TxB2in vivo and may be a novel tool to decrease platelet activation in this setting

Detection and survival of Yersinia enterocolitica in goat cheese produced in San Luis, Argentina

Detection limits and the survival of Yersinia enterocolitica in goat cheese were determined by culture and by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty goat cheese samples inoculated with 104 to 101 cfu/g Y. enterocolitica O:9 or O:3 strains were enriched for 0, 3 and 18h in trypticase soy broth (TSB), modified Rappaport broth and a formulated in our laboratory broth (FLB). The lowest detection limits were 1×103cfu/g by culture on Mac Conkey agar after 3h TSB and FLB enrichments, and 1×102cfu/g by nested PCR at 3h from all enrichment broths. Y. enterocolitica survival was studied in 20 goat cheese samples contaminated at levels of 1×106cfu/g and stored at 4° and 22C for 120 days. Y. enterocolitica was detected during 7 and 30 days at 22C and 4C, respectively. Total and fecal coliforms were recovered from microflora of goat cheese, but indigenous Y. enterocolitica was not detected.Fil: Lazarte Otero, Valeria Sabrina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Área Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Lucero Estrada, Cecilia Stella Marys. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Área Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Favier, Gabriela Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Área Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Velázquez, Lidia. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Área Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Escudero, María Esther. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Área Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Stefanini de Guzman, Ana Maria Teresa Valentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Área Microbiología; Argentin

Years of life that could be saved from prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes premature death and loss of life expectancy worldwide. Its primary and secondary prevention can result in a significant number of years of life saved. AIM: To assess how many years of life are lost after HCC diagnosis. METHODS: Data from 5346 patients with first HCC diagnosis were used to estimate lifespan and number of years of life lost after tumour onset, using a semi-parametric extrapolation having as reference an age-, sex- and year-of-onset-matched population derived from national life tables. RESULTS: Between 1986 and 2014, HCC lead to an average of 11.5 years-of-life lost for each patient. The youngest age-quartile group (18-61 years) had the highest number of years-of-life lost, representing approximately 41% of the overall benefit obtainable from prevention. Advancements in HCC management have progressively reduced the number of years-of-life lost from 12.6 years in 1986-1999, to 10.7 in 2000-2006 and 7.4 years in 2007-2014. Currently, an HCC diagnosis when a single tumour <2 cm results in 3.7 years-of-life lost while the diagnosis when a single tumour 65 2 cm or 2/3 nodules still within the Milan criteria, results in 5.0 years-of-life lost, representing the loss of only approximately 5.5% and 7.2%, respectively, of the entire lifespan from birth. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence results in the loss of a considerable number of years-of-life, especially for younger patients. In recent years, the increased possibility of effectively treating this tumour has improved life expectancy, thus reducing years-of-life lost

Sequential therapies after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab or lenvatinib first-line treatments in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective proof-of-concept study was to compare different second-line treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and progressive disease (PD) after first-line lenvatinib or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.Materials and methods: A total of 1381 patients had PD at first-line therapy. 917 patients received lenvatinib as first-line treatment, and 464 patients atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as first-line.Results: 49.6% of PD patients received a second-line therapy without any statistical difference in overall survival (OS) between lenvatinib (20.6 months) and atezolizumab plus bev-acizumab first-line (15.7 months; p = 0.12; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.80). After lenvatinib first-line, there wasn't any statistical difference between second-line therapy subgroups (p = 0.27; sorafenib HR: 1; immunotherapy HR: 0.69; other therapies HR: 0.85). Patients who under-went trans-arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) had a significative longer OS than patients who received sorafenib (24.7 versus 15.8 months, p &lt; 0.01; HR = 0.64). After atezolizumab plus bevacizumab first-line, there was a statistical difference between second-line therapy subgroups (p &lt; 0.01; sorafenib HR: 1; lenvatinib HR: 0.50; cabozantinib HR: 1.29; other therapies HR: 0.54). Patients who received lenvatinib (17.0 months) and those who under-went TACE (15.9 months) had a significative longer OS than patients treated with sorafenib (14.2 months; respectively, p = 0.01; HR = 0.45, and p &lt; 0.05; HR = 0.46).Conclusion: Approximately half of patients receiving first-line lenvatinib or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab access second-line treatment. Our data suggest that in patients progressed to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, the systemic therapy able to achieve the longest survival is lenvatinib, while in patients progressed to lenvatinib, the systemic therapy able to achieve the longest survival is immunotherapy

Serum Albumin Is Inversely Associated With Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis

We analyzed whether serum albumin is independently associated with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis (LC) and if a biologic plausibility exists. This study was divided into three parts. In part 1 (retrospective analysis), 753 consecutive patients with LC with ultrasound-detected PVT were retrospectively analyzed. In part 2, 112 patients with LC and 56 matched controls were entered in the cross-sectional study. In part 3, 5 patients with cirrhosis were entered in the in vivo study and 4 healthy subjects (HSs) were entered in the in vitro study to explore if albumin may affect platelet activation by modulating oxidative stress. In the 753 patients with LC, the prevalence of PVT was 16.7%; logistic analysis showed that only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.024; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (OR, -0.422; P = 0.0001) significantly predicted patients with PVT. Analyzing the 112 patients with LC and controls, soluble clusters of differentiation (CD)40-ligand (P = 0.0238), soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp; P &lt; 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (P = 0.0078) were higher in patients with LC. In LC, albumin was correlated with sCD4OL (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [r(s)], -0.33; P &lt; 0.001), sNox2-dp (r(s), -0.57; P &lt; 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (r(s), -0.48; P &lt; 0.0001) levels. The in vivo study showed a progressive decrease in platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F2 alpha-III formation 2 hours and 3 days after albumin infusion. Finally, platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and isoprostane formation significantly decreased in platelets from HSs incubated with scalar concentrations of albumin. Conclusion: Low serum albumin in LC is associated with PVT, suggesting that albumin could be a modulator of the hemostatic system through interference with mechanisms regulating platelet activation

Premio "Amleto Cavagna"

Premio "Amleto Cavagna" destinato al supporto dei giovani ricercatori conferito dalla Sapienza Università di Roma il 20 luglio 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qa65VtfAJ0 Al riguardo, si allega la lettera di encomio del Dr. Mario Alì, Direttore Generale per l'Internazionalizzazione della Ricerca del MIUR, Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca