Amiloidosi da catene leggere (AL) "C'era una volta un male incurabile": dal quasi nulla ad una terapia personalizzata

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Toxoplasma gondii Genetic Diversity in Mediterranean Dolphins

Toxoplasma gondii constitutes a major zoonotic agent but also has been frequently identified as an important cause of clinical disease (e.g., abortion, pneumonia, encephalitis) in wildlife; specifically, T. gondii has been associated with neurological disease in cetaceans. This study investigated the genetic diversity of T. gondii strains involved in infections in dolphins found stranded in the Mediterranean coastlines of Italy. Tissue samples from 16 dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus species) positive for T. gondii-DNA presence by PCR were examined by histology and subjected to further genetic characterization of strains detected by PCR-RFLP and multilocus PCR-sequencing assays. According to fully genotyped samples, the genotypes ToxoDB#3 (67%) and #2 (22%) were detected, the latter being reported for the first time in cetaceans, along with a mixed infection (11%). Subtyping by PCR-seq procedures provided evidence of common point mutations in strains from southwestern Europe. Despite evidence of T. gondii as a cause of neurological disease in dolphins, sources of infections are difficult to identify since they are long-living animals and some species have vast migration areas with multiple chances of infection. Finally, the genetic diversity of T. gondii found in the dolphins studied in the Mediterranean coastlines of Italy reflects the main genotypes circulating inland in the European continent

Termites: a Retinex implementation based on a colony of agents

This paper describes a novel implementation of the Retinex algorithm with the exploration of the image done by an ant swarm. In this case the purpose of the ant colony is not the optimization of some constraints but is an alternative way to explore the image content as diffused as possible, with the possibility of tuning the exploration parameters to the image content trying to better approach the Human Visual System behavior. For this reason, we used “termites”, instead of ants, to underline the idea of the eager exploration of the image. The paper presents the spatial characteristics of locality and discusses differences in path exploration with other Retinex implementations. Furthermore a psychophysical experiment has been carried out on eight images with 20 observers and results indicate that a termite swarm should investigate a particular region of an image to find the local reference white

Image et culture dans la prise en charge de mineurs isolés étrangères

Aims. – Through the implementation of photographic mediation, we aim to show the advantages of the use of a mediation-based group system in a migratory context. The focus is on the expression of affects within a group and the articulation between the subject and the group in the setting of this particular type of treatment. Method. – The Photolangage® group presented here is part of a system of care and psychological support targeting unaccompanied minors. The participants were five teenagers aged 15 to 17 years from sub-Saharan Africa and Bangladesh. For the analysis we used a clinical approach liable to promote links, representations and symbolization processes in a group situation. Results. – The clinical elements observed show us how the cultural objects represented in and by the photo- graphs and the use of the mother tongue by participants played the role of a mediation object, opening up a potential space enabling transformation and change. The cultural object is here a vehicle for affects and representations not yet accessible to the subjects. Discussion. – Current migratory movements have very complex consequences, individual, collective socio- political and psychological. Unaccompanied minors and their care force us to review our care provision in a transcultural dimension and modify our ways of thinking and practising in clinical setting. The effects of colonialism on the psyche of migrants are still alive and can structure their subjective and collective identity, enabling a better understanding of their shared representations. Conclusion. – The issues of migration in a context of social and collective violence need to be considered in relation to the complexity of the different psychic spaces mobilised. These issues are explored, brought into play, reappraised and sometimes invalidated in a transcultural context. The introduction of images as a form of mediation in the group favours the articulation of psychics spaces, and promotes the processes of bonding and representation of affects

Termite retinex: A new implementation based on a colony of intelligent agents

Abstract. The original presentation of Retinex, a spatial color correction and image enhancement algorithm modeling the human vision system, as proposed by Land and McCann in 1964, uses paths to explore the image in search of a local reference white point. The interesting results of this algorithm have led to the development of many versions of Retinex. They follow the same principle but differ in the way they explore the image, with, for example, random paths, random samples, convolution masks, and variational formulations. We propose an alternative way to explore local properties of Retinex, replacing random paths by traces of a specialized swarm of termites. In presenting the spatial characteristics of the proposed method, we discuss differences in path exploration with other Retinex implementations. Experiments, results, and comparisons are presented to test the efficacy of the proposed Retinex implementation

Termite retinex: A new implementation based on a colony of intelligent agents

The original presentation of Retinex, a spatial color correction and image enhancement algorithm modeling the human vision system, as proposed by Land and McCann in 1964, uses paths to explore the image in search of a local reference white point. The interesting results of this algorithm have led to the development of many versions of Retinex. They follow the same principle but differ in the way they explore the image, with, for example, random paths, random samples, convolution masks, and variational formulations. We propose an alternative way to explore local properties of Retinex, replacing random paths by traces of a specialized swarm of termites. In presenting the spatial characteristics of the proposed method, we discuss differences in path exploration with other Retinex implementations. Experiments, results, and comparisons are presented to test the efficacy of the proposed Retinex implementation

Influence of Coaching on Effectiveness, Participation, and Safety of an Exercise Program for Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: A Randomized Trial

Purpose: We compared two different strategies providing professional coaching to administer an exercise program for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (POP): individual training (IT) at home with trainer's supervision provided by telephone contacts at regular time-intervals or group training (GT) with trainer's live supervision. Our working hypothesis was that IT is a valid alternative to GT when GT is not feasible.Patients and Methods: This was a single-blind, randomized study. We recruited 52 women with POP, without significant comorbidity, and no participation in any structured exercise program within the previous 6 months. They were assigned randomly to IT or GT groups (n = 26 each). Distribution of age (IT: 68 +/- 4, GT: 67 +/- 8 years) and body mass index (IT: 23.0 +/- 2.5, GT: 21.4 +/- 5.1) was similar between groups. Each group performed the exercise program in two 1-hour sessions per week for 18 months. Primary outcome measure was Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), as measured by the Short Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures focused on domains acknowledged to influence HRQoL (disability, fear of falling, weekly physical activity, physical function) or the effectiveness of the exercise program (retention, adherence, and safety). Significance level was set at p < 0.05.Results: No significant differences were observed between IT and GT groups for any domain. Retention, adherence, and safety were also similar. HRQoL, disability and fear of falling did not change between baseline and follow-up for either group. However, for both groups, physical function (knee flexion, shoulder mobility) and functional capacity (6-minute walking test) improved. Weekly physical activity levels increased from moderate range at baseline to intense at final assessment for both groups.Conclusion: IT and GT supervised exercise programs for women with POP provide similar effectiveness, participation and safety. Hence, both modalities should be considered for future translation in clinical practice of exercise recommendations for POP

Determination of water-soluble vitamins in multivitamin dietary supplements and in artichokes by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Several procedures of extraction with solvents for the simultaneous determination of vitamin C and some vitamins belonging to the B group (thiamine, riboflavine, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) in multivitamin preparations and in artichokes (Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus [L.] Hegi) were developed. Different experimental conditions were used, in terms of heat treatment, composition and pH of the extraction mixture, with particular attention to high-temperature steps; purification of the extracts with solid phase extraction and stabilisation through lyophilisation were discussed. Analyses of the extracts were conducted by capillary electrophoresis in micellar electrokinetic chromatography modality. Borate buffer at pH 8.2 was used, and sodium dodecyl sulphate was added to the background electrolyte as surfactant. A range of linearity was determined and calibration curves were plotted for all the analytes