Modeling Short-Term Landscape Modification and Sedimentary Budget Induced by Dam Removal: Insights from LEM Application

Simulation scenarios of sediment flux variation and topographic changes due to dam removal have been investigated in a reservoir catchment of the axial zone of southern Italy through the application of a landscape evolution model (i.e.,: the Caesar–Lisflood landscape evolution models, LEM). LEM simulation highlights that the abrupt change in base level due to dam removal induces a significant increase in erosion ability of main channels and a strong incision of the reservoir infill. Analysis of the sediment dynamics resulting from the dam removal highlights a significant increase of the total eroded volumes in the post dam scenario of a factor higher than 4. Model results also predict a strong modification of the longitudinal profile of main channels, which promoted fluvial incision upstream and downstream of the former reservoir area. Such a geomorphic response is in Agreement with previous analysis of the fluvial system short-term response induced by base-level lowering, thus demonstrating the reliability of LEM-based analysis for solving open problems in applied geomorphology such as perturbations and short-term landscape modification natural processes or human impact

Orlicz regularity of the gradient of solutions to quasilinear elliptic equations in the plane

Given a planar domain Omega, we study the Dirichlet problem {-divA(x, del v) = f in Omega, v = 0 on partial derivative Omega, where the higher-order term is a quasilinear elliptic operator, and f belongs to the Zygmund space L(log L)delta(log log log L)(beta/2) (Omega) with beta >= 0 and delta >= 1/2. We prove that the gradient of the variational solution v is an element of W-0(1,2) (Omega) belongs to the space L-2(log L)(2 delta-1)(log log log L)(beta)(Omega)

Small fragments sodium sulfated hyaluronate, more than hyaluronic acid, reduces LPS-induced cytokine/chemokine levels in HaCaT cells

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear non-sulphated glycosaminoglycan, used in dermatology as a biomaterial for bioengineering purposes, temporary dermal filler, stimulation of wound healing as well as drug vehicle in topical formulations. In addition to the well-characterized structural properties, extensive research on HA has revealed a range of vastly immunemodulatory effects, dependent on its size. In this in vitro study we investigated the ability of HA-S3, a small fragment HA (MW, molecular weight: 68 kDa) with degree of sulphatation of 3 and of HA fraction (MW:210 kDa) to reduce the bacterial induced inflammatory response in spontaneous immortalized keratinocytes. To this purpose, HaCaT cells were treated for 24 hours with 25 µg/ml of E. Coli derived bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in absence or presence of small fragment HA-S3 or HA. Cell viability was thereafter assessed using trypan blue stain and interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were determined in cell supernatants by single enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that cell viability was not affected either by HA-S3 or HA which in turn were able to reduce LPS-induced mortality. HA and especially HA-S3 were able to significantly reduce LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our observation might suggest new perspectives in the development of HA-S3 containing topical products able to modulate cutaneous inflammatory response

Comparison of Baseline Characteristics and Outcomes in Men Versus Women With Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Female gender has been linked to increased risk of adverse events after surgical aortic valve replacement; however, the evidence regarding the role of gender differences on clinical outcomes in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is still debated. This retrospective study included 910 consecutive patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI in 2 institutions from January 2012 to July 2016. The primary end point was all-cause mortality at 1 year after TAVI in women versus men. Women had a higher incidence of in-hospital vascular complications (7.8% vs 4.1%) and major or life-threatening bleeding (4.0% vs 1.6%) than men. At 1 year, women showed a lower mortality rate than men (7.0% vs 12.7%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.23 to 0.76], p = 0.004). When stratifying by specific subgroups of interest, the survival benefit in women persisted in (1) patients with a Society of Thoracic Surgery risk score ≤ 8 (adjusted HR 0.35, 95% CI [0.14 to 0.88], p = 0.026); (2) patients treated with first-generation devices (adjusted HR 0.46, 95% CI [0.24 to 0.86], p = 0.016); and (3) patients treated with balloon-expandable valves (adjusted HR 0.40, 95% CI [0.19 to 0.86], p = 0.019). In conclusion, in this large patient cohort, women had lower 1-year mortality after TAVI than men, particularly with an STS score ≤ 8, or treated with first-generation and balloon-expandable devices

The Subsurface Geology and Landscape Evolution of the Volturno Coastal Plain, Italy: Interplay between Tectonics and Sea-Level Changes during the Quaternary

The Volturno alluvial-coastal plain is a relevant feature of the Tyrrhenian side of Southern Italy. Its plan-view squared shape is due to Pliocene-Quaternary block-faulting of the western flank of the south-Apennines chain. On the basis of the stratigraphic analysis of almost 700 borehole logs and new geomorphological survey, an accurate paleoenvironmental reconstruction before and after the Campania Ignimbrite (CI; about 40 ky) eruption is here presented. Tectonics and eustatic forcing have been both taken into account to completely picture the evolution of the coastal plain during Late Quaternary times. The upper Pleistocene-Holocene infill of the Volturno plain has been here re-organized in a new stratigraphic framework, which includes seven depositional units. Structural analysis showed that two sets of faults displaced the CI, so accounting for recent tectonic activity. Yet Late Quaternary tectonics is rather mild, as evidenced by the decametric vertical separations operated by those faults. The average slip rate, which would represent the tectonic subsidence rate of the plain, is about 0.5 mm/year. A grid of cross sections shows the stratigraphic architecture which resulted from interactions among eustatic changes, tectonics and sedimentary input variations. On the basis of boreholes analysis, the trend of the CI roof was reconstructed. An asymmetrical shape of its ancient morphology - with a steeper slope toward the north-west border - and the lack of coincidence between the present course of the Volturno River and the main buried bedrock incision, are significant achievements of this study. Finally, the morpho-evolutionary path of the Volturno plain has been discussed

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian cancer recurrence: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Ovarian cancer is the first cause of death among gynecological malignancies with a high incidence of recurrence. Different treatment options are suitable to prolong the survival rate of these patients. Over the last years, one of the most intriguing methods, adopted in different oncologic centers worldwide, is the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to value the role of HIPEC for ovarian cancer recurrence. Search strategy was conducted with a combination of the following keywords: "ovarian recurrence, ovarian cancer recurrence, peritoneal cancer recurrence, ovarian recurrence AND HIPEC, secondary cytoreduction HIPEC". Seven studies were selected for analysis. Results: In women with recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC), the use of HIPEC in addition to cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy significantly improved 1-year overall survival (OS) when compared to protocols without HIPEC (OR 2.42; 95% CI, 1.06-5.56; P=0.04; I2=4%). The improvement in OS was maintained significant also after 2, 3 and 5 years respectively (OR 3.33; 95% CI, 1.81-6.10; P<0.01; I2=0%), (OR 4.22; 95% CI, 2.07-8.60; P<0.01; I2=52%), (OR 5.17; 95% CI, 1.40-19.09; P=0.01; I2=82%). Conclusions: HIPEC seems to have an effective role to prolong survival in patients affected by ROC

Biophysical and biochemical characterization of a liposarcoma-derived recombinant MnSOD protein acting as an anticancer agent

A recombinant MnSOD (rMnSOD) synthesized by specific cDNA clones derived from a liposarcoma cell line was shown to have the same sequence as the wild-type MnSOD expressed in the human myeloid leukaemia cell line U937, except for the presence of the leader peptide at the N-terminus. These results were fully confirmed by the molecular mass of rMnSOD as evaluated by ES/MS analysis (26662.7 Da) and the nucleotide sequence of the MnSOD cDNA. The role of the leader peptide in rMnSOD was investigated using a fluorescent and/or 68Gallium-labelled synthetic peptide. The labelled peptide permeated MCF-7 cells and uptake could be inhibited in the presence of an excess of oestrogen. In vivo it was taken up by the tumour, suggesting that the molecule can be used for both therapy and diagnosis. The in vitro and in vivo pharmacology tests confirmed that rMnSOD is only oncotoxic for tumour cells expressing oestrogen receptors. Pharmacokinetic studies in animals performed with 125I- and 131I-labelled proteins confirmed that, when administered systemically, rMnSOD selectively reached the tumour, where its presence was unambiguously demonstrated by scintigraphic and PET scans. PCR analysis revealed that Bax gene expression was increased and the Bcl2 gene was down regulated in MCF7 cells treated with rMnSOD, which suggests that the protein induces a pro-apoptotic mechanism