342 research outputs found
Development and application of active and passive DOAS instrumentation for the remote sensing measurement of volcanic gas emissions and continuous geochemical monitoring of degassing volcanoes
Field trip to the Ischia resurgent caldera, a journey across an active volcano in the Gulf of Naples
Ischia is one of the most impressive examples of post-caldera resurgence in the world, with its almost 1,000 m of uplift in less than 30 ka. This three-days field trip will lead the participants through the geological and volcanological history of the island, illustrating the volcanic and related hazardous phenomena threatening about 50,000 inhabitants. Effusive and explosive eruptions, catastrophic earthquakes and huge debris-avalanches struck the island that, since Neolithic times, experienced a complex history of alternating human colonization and natural disasters. The field trip consists of three routes: 1) the circumnavigation of the island, aimed to outline its main volcanological, geomorphological and tectonic features and to observe the oldest volcanic rocks exposed, stimulating discussions about coastal evolution and the relationships between volcanism, volcano-tectonism and slope instability; 2) an onland excursion on peculiar aspects of the products related to Ischia more recent period of volcanic activity; 3) a route focusing on the Mt. Epomeo Green Tuff caldera forming eruptions (55-60 ka), encouraging a discussion on the dynamics of the intracalderic resurgence and the geomorphological evolution of the Mt. Epomeo slopes, with ongoing Mass Rock Creep (MRC) processes culminating in rockavalanche, debris-avalanche and lahar deposits
Valutazione dell’impatto del settore della pesca sull’ecosistema marino - Indicatori ecosistemici (sezione V) Sub-area Geografica (GSA) 16 – Stretto di Sicilia Anno 2016
Il Programma Nazionale Italiano 2014-2016 di Raccolta Dati nel settore della pesca prevede, inter alia, la stima di cinque indicatori dell’impatto della pesca nell’ecosistema marino, in accordo con quanto riportato nell’appendice XIII della Decisione della Commissione del 6 novembre 200
Adaptive Proximal Scaphoid Implant stability despite a perilunate dislocation: a case report
We present the case of a 22 y.o. male patient suffering from scaphoid non-union with avascular necrosis of the proximal pole and initial degenerative arthritis
Surgical treatment of severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis through one-stage posterior-only approach: A systematic review and meta-analysis
: The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyze the results of one-stage all-posterior spinal fusion for severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). A systematic search of articles about one-stage posterior spinal fusion for severe AIS was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data about population, pre-and postoperative radiographical data, surgical procedure details, and complications were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed when possible. Fourteen studies (640 patients) were included. The mean Cobb angle of the major curve varied from 80.0 ± 7.3 to 110.8 ± 12.1. The meta analysis showed a comprehensive coronal correction rate of the major curve of 58.6%, a comprehensive operative time of 274.5 min, and a comprehensive estimated intraoperative blood loss of 866.5 mL (95% confidence interval: 659.3-1073.6, I 2 ≈ 0%). A total of 48 complications (5.4%) were reported. Overall, the meta-analysis showed a major complication rate of 4%. In seven cases, revision surgery was needed. Posterior-only approach is effective enough to correct severe curves and can spare the patient possible adverse events due to anterior approach. However, when choosing this approach for severe AIS, screw density needs to be high and posterior column osteotomies may need to be planned to mobilize the spine and maximize correction
Changes in inflammatory biomarkers in HCV-infected patients undergoing direct acting antiviral-containing regimens with or without interferon
Background and aims
Increased levels of chemokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible protein-10 (CXCL10),
soluble CD163 (sCD163) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) have been reported in HCV infection.
The aim of this study was to compare, sCD163 and sCD14 levels in HCV-infected patients
undergoing direct acting antiviral (DAA)-containing regimens with or without interferon
(IFN).
Methods
sCD163, sCD14 and CXCL10 were longitudinally measured by ELISA in 159 plasma samples from 25 HCV-infected patients undergoing IFN-based treatment plus telaprevir or
boceprevir and 28 HCV infected subjects treated with DAA IFN-free regimens. Twenty-five
healthy donors (HD) were included as controls.
Results
At baseline CXCL10, sCD163 and sCD14 levels were higher in HCV-infected patients than
in HD. CXCL10 and sCD163 levels were significantly decreased in responder (R) patients
who achieved sustained virological response (SVR), with both IFN-based and IFN-free regimens, while they were persistently elevated in non-responders (NR) patients who stopped
IFN-based treatments because of failure or adverse events. Conversely, sCD14 levels
were apparently unchanged during therapy, but at the end of treatment the levels reached
normal ranges. Comparing the two regimens, the extent of CXCL10 reduction was more
pronounced in patients undergoing DAA IFN-free therapies, whereas sCD163 and sCD14
reduction was similar in the two groups.
Interestingly, only in IFN-based regimens baseline sCD163 levels were significantly
higher in NR than in R patients, while in the IFN-free treatment group also patients with highsCD163 plasma levels obtained SVR. At the end of therapy, even if the biomarkers were
largely decreased, their levels remained significantly higher compared to HD. Only in the
early fibrosis stages, sCD163 values tended to normalize.
Conclusions
These results indicate that IFN-free regimens including newer DAA induce an early and
marked decrease in circulating inflammatory biomarkers. However, the full normalization of
biomarkers was not obtained, especially in patients with advanced fibrosis, thus underlying
the need for a treatment in the early stages of HCV infection
Immunological diagnosis as an adjunctive tool for an early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis of an immune competent child in a low tuberculosis endemic country: A case report
Background:
Pediatric tuberculous meningitis is a highly morbid, often fatal disease. Its prompt diagnosis and treat
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ment saves lives, in fact delays in the initiation of therapy have been associated with high mortality rates.
Case presentation:
This is a case of an Italian child who was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis after a history
of a month of headache, fatigue and weight loss. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a lymphocytic pleocytosis with
predominance and decreased glucose concentration. Microscopy and conventional diagnostic tests to identify
Myco
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bacterium tuberculosis
were negative, while a non classical method based on intracellular cytokine flow cytometry
response of CD4 cells in cerebral spinal fluid helped us to address the diagnosis, that was subsequently confirmed by
a nested polymerase chain reaction amplifying a 123 base pair fragment of the
M. tuberculosis
DNA.
Conclusions:
We diagnosed tuberculous meningitis at an early stage through an innovative immunological
approach, supported by a nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of
M. tuberculosis
DNA. An early diagnosis is
required in order to promptly initiate a therapy and to increase the patient’s surviva
Exploring the feasibility of technological transfers of two by-catch reduction devices in the crustacean bottom trawling of the central Mediterranean
Introduction: Most Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited owing to high
fishing efforts and poor exploitation patterns. Demersal trawl fisheries are
considered the most impactful fishery type because of the high quantities of
unwanted catch that is then routinely discarded at sea.
Methods: In the present study, two types of by-catch reduction devices (BRDs),
that is a sorting grid (Grid-T45 40 mm) and a T90 50 mm codend, were
compared to a typical commercial bottom trawl net (control) in terms of size
structures and catch per unit effort to assess the effect of gear modification on
the selectivity of crustacean fisheries in the central Mediterranean Sea. In
particular, three randomly selected trawlers were involved in a paired hauls
experiment fishing at the same time in the same fishing ground. Each trawler
carried out four hauls per day during a 3-day campaign for a total of 36 hauls. The
target species of the fishery is Parapenaeus longirostris (herein DPS), and the
main commercial by-catch is Merluccius merluccius (herein HKE).
Results: The results showed that the landing per unit effort (LPUE) of DPS was
higher for Grid-T45 40 mm net, although it did not differ significantly from that of
the control net. Conversely, the discard per unit effort (DPUE) of the control net
was significantly higher than of both BRD configurations. For HKE, a slightly
higher LPUE was recorded using the T90 50 mm codend compared to that of the
control, but this result was not statistically significant. The lowest DPUE was
found for the T90 50 mm codend, with significant differences compared to that
of the control and Grid-T45 40 mm net. The catch comparison of the size
structures analysed through generalised linear mixed models highlighted that the
Grid-T45 40 mm net was more effective in catching adult DPS, whereas the T90
50 mm codend was more selective for adult HKE
Discussion: In conclusion, although further studies should be carried out in
future to test the performance of the BRDs in different areas and seasons, the
investigated gear seems to be promising for reducing the catch of undersized
individuals and contributing to mitigating the current overfishing of DPS and HK
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