EFFECTS of SULPHUROUS WATER IMMERSION BATHS in KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS: A RANDOMIZED and CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

Pontificia Univ Catolica Minas Gerais PUC MINAS, Pocos de Caldas, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Santo Amaro UNISA, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Synchrotron radiation study of interconfigurational 5d-4f luminescence of Pr3+ in KLuP2O7

The double phosphate KLuP2O7 doped with Pr 3+ ions was prepared by solid-state reaction. The material obtained was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. The luminescence spectroscopy and the excited state dynamics of this material were studied upon excitation with VUV synchrotron radiation. The 5d-4f emission of Pr3+ upon both direct and band gap excitation was detected and assigned. The decay kinetics of the Pr3+ 5d-4f emission is characterized by a decay time of about 20 ns and is nearly temperature independent within the range 8-300 K. Both dynamics and energy transfer peculiarities revealed in the study suggested good potentials for application of KLuP2O7:Pr3+ as a fast scintillator material. © 2014 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, Tübingen

New specimen of the rare requiem shark Eogaleus bolcensis from the Bolca Lagerst\ue4tte, Italy

A rare carcharhinid specimen (slab and counter-slab, MSNPV 24625-24626) from the world-renowned Eocene Bolca locality was recently rediscovered during a restoration project started in 1989 by the Museo di Storia Naturale di Pavia. The individual, the largest Eogaleus bolcensis known from Bolca, is disarticulated and lies in a massive limestone matrix, suggesting its provenience from the Monte Postale site. While assessing its taxonomic status, multiple morphological affinities and ontogenetic trends within the Bolca Carcharhiniformes assemblage where documented. Eogaleus bolcensis is here distinguished from the school shark Galeorhinus cuvieri exclusively according to dermal denticle morphology, suggesting partial overlap of ecologic and trophic niches between the two species. Further, measurements and meristic counts taken on different traits of E. bolcensis (two individuals) and G. cuvieri (five individuals) specimens show high degree of similarities. The ratios "trunk length/total length"and "sum of vertebral centra (head region)/total length"of four complete individuals of the fossil assemblage were averaged and employed to estimates the total length of MSNPV 24625-24626. Here, the total length of MSNPV 24625-24626 is estimated in about 172.1\ub10.1 cm. The same approach is applied to MCSNV T.311 (E. bolcensis, holotype) and MNHN F.Bol.516 (G. cuvieri, holotype), two partially-preserved fossil individuals from Bolca locality. To support the ontogenetic variability among the Bolca shark assemblage, the age of the fossil individuals was estimated following the Von Bertalanffy Growth Function, using the modern chondrichthyans growth parameters as a reference. Data presented here suggest that all G. cuvieri specimens are juvenile individuals, whereas the E. bolcensis specimens were young-adult

Mapping long-period soil resonances in the Kathmandu basin using microtremors

This study reports the geostatistical analysis of a set of 40 single-station horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) passive seismic survey data collected in the Kathmandu basin (Nepal). The Kathmandu basin is characterized by a heterogeneous sedimentary cover and by a complex geo-structural setting, inducing a high spatial variability of the bedrock depth. Due to the complex geological setting, the interpretation and analysis of soil resonance periods derived from the HVSR surveys is challenging, both from the perspective of bedrock depth estimation as well as of seismic-site effects characterization. To exploit the available information, the HVSR data are analyzed by means of a geostatistical approach. First, the spatial continuity structure of HVSR data is investigated and interpreted taking into consideration the geological setting and available stratigraphic and seismic information. Then, the exploitation of potential auxiliary variables, based on surface morphology and distance from outcropping bedrock, is evaluated. Finally, the mapping of HVSR resonance periods, together with the evaluation of interpolation uncertainty, is obtained by means of kriging with external drift interpolation. This work contributes to the characterization of local seismic response of the Kathmandu basin. The resulting map of soil resonance periods is compatible with the results of preceding studies and it is characterized by a high spatial variability, even in areas with a deep bedrock and long resonance periods

Salivary gland ultrasonography as a predictor of clinical activity in Sjogren's syndrome

Purpose Primary Sjogren's syndrome is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by hypofunction of salivary and lacrimal glands and possible multi-organ system manifestations. Over the past 15 years, three sets of diagnostic criteria have been proposed, but none has included salivary gland ultrasonography. However, recent studies support its role in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of patients with Sjogren's syndrome. This study aimed to determine the value of salivary gland ultrasonography in the diagnosis and prognosis of Sjogren's syndrome by relating ultrasonography severity scores to clinical and laboratory data. Methods Seventy patients who fulfilled the 2002 American-European Consensus Group diagnostic criteria for primary Sjogren's syndrome were selected from 84 patients receiving care in specialized outpatient clinics at our institution from November 2013 to May 2016. Their serology, European League Against Rheumatism Sjogren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI), salivary flow rate, immunoglobulin G, and salivary and serum beta-2 microglobulin levels were measured. Salivary gland ultrasonography was performed by an experienced radiologist, using scores of 1-4 to classify salivary gland impairment. Results Salivary gland ultrasonography scores of 1 or 2 were associated with an ESSDAI = 5 (p = 0.064), a positive antinuclear antibody test (p = 0.006), positive anti-Ro/SSA antibodies (p = 0.003), positive anti-La/SSB antibodies (p = 0.077), positive rheumatoid factor (p = 0.034), and immunoglobulin G levels >1600 mg/dL (p = 0.077). Salivary flow rate was lower in patients with scores 3 or 4 (p = 0.001). Conclusion This study provides further evidence that salivary gland ultrasonography can be used not only for diagnosis but also for prognostic evaluation of primary Sjogren's syndrome. These findings confirm what has been reported in the literature. However, further analyses involving larger matched samples are required to support this finding and include salivary gland ultrasonography as part of the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren's syndrome.Univ Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Evidence Based Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Radiol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Lab Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Evidence Based Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Radiol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Lab Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Salivary gland ultrasonography as a predictor of clinical activity in Sjogren's syndrome

Purpose Primary Sjogren's syndrome is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by hypofunction of salivary and lacrimal glands and possible multi-organ system manifestations. Over the past 15 years, three sets of diagnostic criteria have been proposed, but none has included salivary gland ultrasonography. However, recent studies support its role in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of patients with Sjogren's syndrome. This study aimed to determine the value of salivary gland ultrasonography in the diagnosis and prognosis of Sjogren's syndrome by relating ultrasonography severity scores to clinical and laboratory data. Methods Seventy patients who fulfilled the 2002 American-European Consensus Group diagnostic criteria for primary Sjogren's syndrome were selected from 84 patients receiving care in specialized outpatient clinics at our institution from November 2013 to May 2016. Their serology, European League Against Rheumatism Sjogren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI), salivary flow rate, immunoglobulin G, and salivary and serum beta-2 microglobulin levels were measured. Salivary gland ultrasonography was performed by an experienced radiologist, using scores of 1-4 to classify salivary gland impairment. Results Salivary gland ultrasonography scores of 1 or 2 were associated with an ESSDAI = 5 (p = 0.064), a positive antinuclear antibody test (p = 0.006), positive anti-Ro/SSA antibodies (p = 0.003), positive anti-La/SSB antibodies (p = 0.077), positive rheumatoid factor (p = 0.034), and immunoglobulin G levels >1600 mg/dL (p = 0.077). Salivary flow rate was lower in patients with scores 3 or 4 (p = 0.001). Conclusion This study provides further evidence that salivary gland ultrasonography can be used not only for diagnosis but also for prognostic evaluation of primary Sjogren's syndrome. These findings confirm what has been reported in the literature. However, further analyses involving larger matched samples are required to support this finding and include salivary gland ultrasonography as part of the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren's syndrome.Univ Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Evidence Based Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Radiol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Lab Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Evidence Based Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Radiol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Lab Med, São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

M1 AFLATOXIN, TOTAL BACTERIAL COUNT AND SOMATIC CELL COUNT IN ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL MILK

Comparative quality evaluation of organic and conventional milk produced in similar environmental condition was performed. Bulk-tank milk was sampled once a week during 30 weeks from 10 organic and 10 conventional dairy farms where aflatoxin M1 level was previous tested during 11 months on bulk-tank milk from tanker at the processing plant. Somatic Cells and Total Microbial Counts did not show differences that can be related to the organic production system, suggesting an effect induced by farm size and technical factors. Higher level of Aflatoxin M1 was found in organic than conventional milk

Minimum Quench Energy and Early Quench Development in NbTi Superconducting Strands

The stability of superconducting wires is a crucial task in the design of safe and reliable superconducting magnets. These magnets are prone to premature quenches due to local releases of energy. In order to simulate these energy disturbances, various heater technologies have been developed, such as coated tips, graphite pastes, and inductive coils. The experiments studied in the present work have been performed using a single-mode diode laser with an optical fiber to illuminate the superconducting strand surface. Minimum quench energies and voltage traces at different magnetic flux densities and transport currents have been measured on an LHC-type, Cu/NbTi wire bathed in pool boiling helium I. This paper deals with the numerical analysis of the experimental data. In particular, a coupled electromagnetic and thermal model has been developed to study quench development and propagation, focusing on the influence of heat exchange with liquid helium

Desire thinking as a predictor of drinking status following treatment for alcohol use disorder: A prospective study

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Research has indicated that craving is one of the strongest predictors of treatment outcome and relapse in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) but there is little consensus on the factors that may influence its activation and escalation. Research has also shown that desire thinking is an important cognitive process which may exacerbate craving in problem drinkers. The aim of present study was to explore, for the first time, the role of desire thinking in prospectively predicting relapse, craving and binge drinking in patients receiving treatment for AUD. One hundred and thirty-five patients admitted to two rehabilitation centres and two outpatient services for addiction and mental health problems were administered baseline, treatment completion and three months follow-up measures of anxiety and depression, AUD severity, binge drinking frequency, craving and desire thinking. Results indicated that the verbal perseveration component of desire thinking at treatment completion was the only significant predictor of relapse at follow-up over and above baseline AUD severity and binge drinking frequency. Furthermore, the imaginal prefiguration component of desire thinking and craving levels at treatment completion were found to predict craving levels at follow-up independently of AUD severity and binge drinking frequency at baseline. Finally, both the imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration components of desire thinking at treatment completion were found to be the only predictors of binge drinking frequency at follow-up independently of AUD severity and binge drinking frequency at baseline. Treatments for AUD should aim to reduce desire thinking in people to enhance clinical outcomes and reduce relapse risk

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with immune checkpoint inhibitors and applicability of first-line atezolizumab/bevacizumab in a real-life setting

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the new frontier for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since the first trial with tremelimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitor, increasing evidence has confirmed that these drugs can significantly extend the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As a matter of fact, the overall survival and objective response rates reported in patients with advanced HCC treated with ICIs are the highest ever reported in the second-line setting and, most recently, the combination of the anti-programmed death ligand protein-1 atezolizumab with bevacizumab—an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody—demonstrated superiority to sorafenib in a Phase III randomized clinical trial. Therefore, this regimen has been approved in several countries as first-line treatment for advanced HCC and is soon expected to be widely used in clinical practice. However, despite the promising results of trials exploring ICIs alone or in combination with other agents, there are still some critical issues to deal with to optimize the prognosis of advanced HCC patients. For instance, the actual proportion of patients who are deemed eligible for ICIs in the real-life ranges from 10% to 20% in the first-line setting, and is even lower in the second-line scenario. Moreover, long-term data regarding the safety of ICIs in the population of patients with cirrhosis and impaired liver function are lacking. Lastly, no biomarkers have been identified to predict response, and thus to help clinicians to individually tailor treatment. This review aimed to summarize the state of the art immunotherapy in HCC and, by analyzing a large, multicenter cohort of Italian patients with HCC, to assess the potential applicability of the combination of atezolizumab/bevacizumab in the real-life setting