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Crop-livestock-forestry (CLF) has been recommended as a strategy for soil carbon sequestration, compensating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock as well as for sustainable soil management for improving soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil health. In this study we quantified SOC accruals in a very clayey (662 g kg−1) Rhodic Ferralsol during the evolution of a 11-year-old crop-livestock-forestry system in the municipality of Cachoeira Dourada, Central-West region of Brazil. CLF was implemented in 2009 in a conventional non-managed Pasture area, and soil samples were collected in 2012 and 2020 under two land uses, CLF, and the Pasture as time-zero reference. The soil in CLF was evaluated within the tree lines (CLF-Tree) and in the alley pasture between the tree lines (CLF-Alley) having palisade grass. SOC dynamics was different in the upper 30 cm and in the underlying 70 cm layer. In the 0.0–0.3 m layer, after an initial decline in SOC stocks due to soil preparation for the implementation of CLF, SOC accumulation rates were positive in CLF (0.23–0.56 Mg ha−1 yr−1), but negative in the Pasture (-0.05). At 0.3–1.0 m SOC stocks were higher both in 2012 and 2020 in CLF-Tree (86.70 and 83.74 Mg ha−1) than in the reference Pasture (71.81 and 74.96 Mg ha−1), however, CLF SOC was declining. Total soil N under CLF, compared to the reference Pasture, was lower and declining. These findings confirm that in general CLF is a valid strategy to increase SOC stocks compared to conventional non-managed Pasture, but adequate soil fertility management is necessary to potentialise SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iatrogenic injury to the infrapatellar branches of saphenous nerve is a common complication following tibial nailing. This lesion seems to be directly related to the surgical approach adopted for nail insertion. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the current literature in order to assess the eventual superiority of one surgical approach for tibial nailing over the others in limiting the neurological impairment related to infrapatellar branch injury. Materials and methods: The available literature was systematically screened searching papers dealing with iatrogenic injury to the infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve after intramedullary tibial nailing. The terms "Saphenous" and "Infrapatellar branch" were used in combination with "intramedullary nailing" and "tibial fractures", supplying no limits regarding the publication year. Only publications in English were considered. Case reports, technical notes, instructional course, literature reviews, biomechanical and/ or in vitro studies were all excluded. Coleman methodological score was performed in all the retained articles. Results: Four articles matched the inclusion criteria. There were one original article and three retrospective study. Hypoesthesia and a larger extension of the area of sensory-loss were more frequently observed after vertical incision approach in three out of four articles. A trend towards a lower rate of iatrogenic nerve damage using a transverse incision was found in the remaining one, without any statistical significance. Conclusions: In order to avoid infrapatellar nerve lesion, horizontal or oblique incisions or percutaneous approaches should be favored, although in some cases a longitudinal incision is required. Limited-extension incisions could minimize the risk and the incidence of this complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate whether leaving a high facial ridge during canal wall down tympanoplasty increases the risk of residual cholesteatoma. Methods: In this retrospective case review, 321 patients treated with primary canal wall down tympanoplasty for middle-ear cholesteatoma were divided into a completely lowered facial ridge group and a non-completely lowered facial ridge group. Factors affecting facial ridge management, residual disease rate and disease-free survival were analysed. Results: Residual disease rates were 10.8 per cent in the non-completely lowered facial ridge group and 16.6 per cent in the completely lowered facial ridge group (p = 0.15). Localisation at sinus tympani, mesotympanum or supratubal recess, pre-operative extracranial complications, and destroyed ossicular chain or fixed platina were associated with a completely lowered facial ridge. Residual disease rates and disease-free survival did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion: Facial ridge can be managed according to cholesteatoma extension. The facial ridge can be maintained high if the cholesteatoma does not involve sinus tympani, mesotympanum or supratubal recess, without increasing the risk of residual disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented with secondary amenorrhea, hirsutism, and clitoromegaly. Ultrasound examination revealed a unilateral solid rounded hypoechoic lesion within the right ovary, which was later confirmed to be a Leydig cell tumor. Leydig cell tumors are rare, usually benign, and often associated with hirsutism and virilization. The tumor in this case displayed characteristics consistent with Leydig cell tumors, including small size, regular margins, and moderate to high vascularization. The patient underwent a conservative surgical treatment to preserve fertility, and her testosterone levels returned to normal after the surgery. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is obtained with nasopharyngeal swabs. By the way, there is no consensus regarding sampling in totally laryngectomized subjects (who thus breathe directly by the tracheostomy and, theoretically, may be infected in the trachea). The aim of this study is to evaluate possible differences between swab results in the trachea and in the nasopharynx of this category of patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in April 2021 among patients who previously had been operated on for total laryngectomy and who underwent swabs for SARS-CoV-2 research in 3 health-care centers in Northern–Eastern Italy. Data regarding the site of swabbing (trachea or nasopharynx) were analyzed. A comprehensive review of the literature regarding the same topic was then performed. Results: A total of 25 totally laryngectomized subjects underwent swabs. Among them, 5 tested positive in the trachea (1) and in the nasopharynx (4). According to the literature review, 4 more subjects tested positive in the trachea (1) and in the nasopharynx (3). Data were overall divergent and no statistically significant correlations emerged between results of the tests performed in the two sites. Conclusion: Due to these discrepancies, both tracheal and nasopharyngeal swabs are recommended in these kinds of patients, to obtain a reliable test and to avoid false negatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The long-term recovery rate for coronavirus disease 2019 related chemosensory disturbances has not yet been clarified. Methods: Olfactory and gustatory functions were assessed with psychophysical tests in patients in the first seven days from coronavirus disease 2019 onset and one, two, three and six months after the first evaluation. Results: A total of 300 patients completed the study. The improvement in olfactory function was significant at the two-month follow up. At the end of the observation period, 27 per cent of the patients still experienced a persistent olfactory disturbance, including anosmia in 5 per cent of cases. As for taste, the improvement in the psychophysical scores was significant only between the baseline and the 30-day control. At the 6-month evaluation, 10 per cent of the patients presented with a persistent gustatory disturbance with an incidence of complete ageusia of 1 per cent. Conclusion: Six months after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019, about 6 per cent of patients still had a severe persistent olfactory or gustatory disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the post-operative outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery, lateral pharyngotomy and transmandibular surgery in oropharyngeal cancer management. Methods: Records of 162 patients treated with transmandibular surgery, transoral laser microsurgery or lateral pharyngotomy were reviewed. The transoral laser microsurgery cohort was matched with the lateral pharyngotomy and transmandibular surgery cohorts for tumour stage, tumour subsite and human papilloma virus status, and the intra- and post-operative outcomes were compared. Results: Duration of surgery and hospital stay were significantly longer for transmandibular surgery. Tracheostomy and nasogastric feeding tube rates were similar, but time to decannulation and to oral feeding were longer in the transmandibular surgery group. Transmandibular surgery more frequently required flap reconstruction and had a greater complication rate. Negative margins were fewer in the lateral pharyngotomy group than in the transoral laser microsurgery and transmandibular surgery groups. Conclusion: In comparison with transmandibular surgery, transoral laser microsurgery and lateral pharyngotomy were associated with fewer complications and faster functional recovery. Lateral pharyngotomy had a higher rate of positive margins than transoral laser microsurgery, with a consequently greater need for adjuvant therapy. Many patients are nonetheless unsuitable for transoral surgery. All these factors should be considered when deciding on oropharyngeal cancer surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Continuous welded rails (CWR) are subjected to thermal effects that may lead to buckling or fracture during warm or cold seasons, respectively. The modal characteristics (frequency and mode shapes) of CWR may reveal important information about the thermal stress that can be used to prevent rail failures. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to prove a contactless method to monitor the vibration and to extract the modal characteristics of rails using a high-speed camera and advanced image processing. This study is the first step towards a general noninvasive monitoring paradigm aimed at measuring axial stress in CWR. Methods: To prove the principles of the proposed paradigm, a finite element model of an unrestrained rail segment under varying length, boundary conditions, and axial stresses was formulated. The results of the model were then used to interpret the experimental results relative to a 2.4 m-long rail subjected to compressive loading–unloading cycles. During the experiment, the rail was subjected to the impact of an instrumented hammer and the triggered vibration was recorded with a high-speed camera. The videos were then processed using the phase-based displacement extraction, motion magnification, as well as dynamic mode decomposition techniques to extract the modal characteristics of the specimen. Results: The results show that the frequencies extracted from the images matched well those obtained with two conventional accelerometers bonded to the rail while the mode shapes extracted from the videos matched those predicted numerically. Additionally, the numerical analysis enabled the interpretation of some unexpected experimental results. Conclusions: The results presented here proved that the proposed method to infer axial stress in CWR requires proper modeling in order to link the modal characteristics of the rails to the axial stress. In the future, the finite element formulation presented here will be expanded to model CWR under given cross-ties and fasteners conditions in order to link the modal characteristics of the rail of interest to its axial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The long-term recovery rate of chemosensitive functions in coronavirus disease 2019 patients has not yet been determined. Method: A multicentre prospective study on 138 coronavirus disease 2019 patients was conducted. Olfactory and gustatory functions were prospectively evaluated for 60 days. Results: Within the first 4 days of coronavirus disease 2019, 84.8 per cent of patients had chemosensitive dysfunction that gradually improved over the observation period. The most significant increase in chemosensitive scores occurred in the first 10 days for taste and between 10 and 20 days for smell. At the end of the observation period (60 days after symptom onset), 7.2 per cent of the patients still had severe dysfunctions. The risk of developing a long-lasting disorder becomes significant at 10 days for taste (odds ratio = 40.2, 95 per cent confidence interval = 2.204–733.2, p = 0.013) and 20 days for smell (odds ratio = 58.5, 95 per cent confidence interval = 3.278–1043.5, p = 0.005). Conclusion: Chemosensitive disturbances persisted in 7.2 per cent of patients 60 days after clinical onset. Specific therapies should be initiated in patients with severe olfactory and gustatory disturbances 20 days after disease onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Metronomic oral vinorelbine (MOV) could be a treatment option for unfit patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on its safety profile and high patient compliance. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 270 patients [median age 76 (range 48–92) years, M/F 204/66, PS 0 (27)/1 (110)/≥ 2 (133), median of 3 serious comorbidities] with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC treated with MOV as first (T1) (67%), second (T2) (19%) or subsequent (T3) (14%) line. Schedules consisted of vinorelbine 50 mg (138), 40 mg (68) or 30 mg (64) three times a week continuously. Results: Patients received an overall median of 6 (range 1–25) cycles with a total of 1253 cycles delivered. The overall response rate was 17.8% with 46 partial and 2 complete responses and 119 patients (44.1%) experienced stable disease > 12 weeks with an overall disease control rate of 61.9%. Median overall time to progression was 5 (range 1–21) months [T1 7 (1–21), T2 5.5 (1–19) and T3 4 (1–19) months] and median overall survival 9 (range 1–36) months [T1 10 (1–31), T2 8 (1–36) and T3 6.5 (2–29) months]. Treatment was extremely well tolerated with 2% (25/1253) G3/4 toxicity (mainly G3 fatigue and anemia) and no toxic deaths. We observed the longer OS 14 (range 7–36) months in a subset of squamous NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy after metronomic oral vinorelbine. Conclusion: We confirmed MOV as an extremely safe treatment in a large real world population of advanced NSCLC with an interesting activity mainly consisting of long-term disease stabilization. We speculate the possibility of a synergistic effect with subsequent immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber is a material present in many commodities, including tennis balls. The characteristics of tennis balls are specified by the International Tennis Federation and are evaluated using standard tests that are too cumbersome to be staged easily and quickly. In this article we present an experimental method based on the propagation of highly nonlinear solitary waves (HNSWs) to determine the internal pressure of tennis balls and to estimate rubber degradation. HNSWs are compact waves that can form and travel in a closely-packed assembly of systematically arranged particles that generally interact according to the Hertz contact law. In the study presented here, we developed a model that predicts the internal pressure of tennis balls and estimates rubber degradation by observing the waves propagating within a chain in contact with the ball to be estimated. The model was validated experimentally, by testing 18 identical balls played over a few weeks period. We found that the dynamic interaction between the waves and the rubber can successfully detect changes in internal pressure and bouncing characteristics and that these changes were barely detected using a conventional rebound test. In the future, the findings of this study may be expanded to characterize any rubber of any shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and six specimens of the Por's goatfish, Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia & Golani (1989), a Lessepsian species native to the Western Indian Ocean, were collected from bottom trawlers' catches from 2012 to 2016 on the deep shelf off the southern coast of Lampedusa Island (Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean Sea). Since it first appeared in Iskenderun Bay (Turkey) in 1950, the Por's goatfish has quickly spread in Levantine Sea waters to become a commercial species used by local fisheries, while continuing its range expansion along the south-eastern coasts of the Mediterranean. Because the Strait of Sicily currently represents the westernmost sector of this species distribution area, it might serve as a stepping-stone for this species' expansion in the western basin of the Mediterranean. Supporting this hypothesis was our finding of specimens with post-spawning gonads. The pattern of westward expansion by the Por's goatfish in the Mediterranean Sea and its settlement in the Strait of Sicily are discussed in relation to the warming trend over the last 30 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective management and conservation of fishery resources requires knowledge of their spatial distribution and notably of their critical life history stages. Predictive modelling of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius L., 1758) distribution was developed in the south-central Mediterranean Sea by means of historical fisheries-independent databases available in the region. The study area included the international waters of the south-central Mediterranean Sea and the territorial waters of Italy, Malta, Tunisia and Libya. Distribution maps of predicted population abundance index, and probabilistic occurrence of recruits and large adults were obtained by means of generalized additive models using depth and seafloor characteristics as predictors. Presence/absence data of the two life stages was obtained using threshold values applied to the mean weight of the survey catches. Modelling results largely matched previously reported knowledge on habitat preference of the species and its critical life phases. Hake recruits showed an occurrence peak at 200 m depth with preference for soft bottoms. Large adults preferred deeper and harder bottom substrates. Prediction maps allowed to improve our knowledge on the distributional patterns of one of the most important shared stocks in the south-central Mediterranean. This knowledge is essential for an appropriate development of regional-spatial-based management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author discusses cardiac remodelling after an infarct. Topics discussed include remodelling applicable to cardiac structure occurring to the left ventricle (LV) after myocardial infarction, remodelling reflecting myocyte proliferation and increasing in volume, and effect of exercise on remodelling of the heart.

Slender beams subjected to compressive load are common in civil engineering. The rapid in-situ measurement of this stress may help preventing structural anomalies. In this article, we describe the coupling mechanism between highly nonlinear solitary waves (HNSWs) propagating along an L-shaped granular system and a beam in contact with the granular medium. We evaluate the use of these waves to measure stress in thermally loaded structures and to estimate the neutral temperature, i.e. the temperature at which the stress is null. We investigate numerically and experimentally one and two L-shaped chains of spherical particles in contact with a prismatic beam subjected to heat. We find that certain features of the solitary waves are affected by the beam's stress. In the future these findings may be used to develop a novel sensing system for the nondestructive prediction of neutral temperature and thermal buckling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), traditionally viewed as toxic by-products that cause damage to biomolecules, now are clearly recognized as key modulators in a variety of biological processes and pathological states. The development and regulation of the cardiovascular system require orchestrated activities; Notch andWnt/β-catenin signaling pathways are implicated in many aspects of them, including cardiomyocytes and smoothmuscle cells survival, angiogenesis, progenitor cells recruitment and differentiation, arteriovenous specification, vascular cell migration, and cardiac remodelling. Several novel findings regarding the role of ROS in Notch and Wnt/β-catenin modulation prompted us to review their emerging function in the cardiovascular system during embryogenesis and postnatally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Several studies have investigated the effects of metformin treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus ( T1DM). No study has hitherto examined its effects on endothelial function in these patients. In this study we sought to evaluate the effect of metformin on endothelial function in type 1 diabetic patients. Methods Forty-two uncomplicated T1DM patients were randomized in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, 6-month trial to treatment with either metformin or placebo. Glycometabolic and clinical parameters as well as flow-mediated dilation ( FMD) and nitrate-mediated dilation ( NMD) of the right brachial artery were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Glycaemic variability ( GV, calculated from continuous glucose monitoring data) and a biomarker of oxidative stress [urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 α ( PGF2 α)] were also assessed. Results Baseline data were similar in the two groups. Compared with placebo, metformin significantly reduced body weight [−2.27 kg (95% confidence interval: −3.99; −0.54); p = 0.012] whilst improved FMD [1.32% (0.30; 2.43); p = 0.013] and increased PGF2 α [149 pg/mg creatinine (50; 248); p = 0.004]. Notably, the improvement of FMD did not correlate with the decrease of body weight (r2 < 1%). NMD, haemoglobin A1c, GV, daily insulin dose and other parameters did not significantly change after the treatment comparing the two groups. Conclusions Our pilot trial showed that, in uncomplicated type 1 diabetic subjects, metformin improved FMD and increased PGF2 α, a marker of oxidative stress, irrespective of its effects on glycaemic control and body weight. Randomized, blinded clinical trials are needed to evaluate the benefits and risks of metformin added to insulin in type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of elderly or poor performance status (PS) patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a debated topic. To evaluate the efficacy of a modified schedule of gemcitabine, 59 patients unfit for platinum were enrolled. Mean age was 75.8 years and 41 % of patients had an ECOG PS 2. Gemcitabine was given at 1000 mg/m on days 1, 8 each 28. Most of patients received gemcitabine as first-line chemotherapy, which was continued as maintenance over 6 cycles in responding and stable patients. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 7.2 and 5 months. In those 45 evaluable patients, treatment resulted in 1 complete remission (CR), 9 partial remissions (PR), and 20 stable diseases (SDs) with a response rate (CR + PR) of 22 % and a clinical benefit (CR + PR + SD) of 68 %. Gemcitabine was continued over 6 cycles in 16 patients (27 %). These patients were treated until progression with a mean of further 8.6 cycles. Median OS and PFS in these selected patients were 19 and 16 months. The toxicity profile was excellent with only 8 % of overall G3-G4 adverse events. None of the 16 patients under the maintenance phase reported significant toxicity. Gemcitabine given at a lower dose intensity than standard should be considered as valuable therapeutic option in elderly or poor PS patients with advanced NSCLC unfit for platinum. Extending the treatment beyond 6 cycles in responding patients is feasible and may prolong survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: In this study the involvement of oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes mellitus autoimmunity and the possible association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated. We tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress induced by chronic hyperglycaemia triggers post-translational modifications and thus the formation of neo-antigens in type 1 diabetes, similar to the ones found in RA. Methods: Collagen type II (CII), a known autoantigen in RA, was treated with ribose and various reactive oxygen species (ROS). Levels of antibodies specific to native and ROS-modified CII (ROS-CII) were compared in type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and healthy controls, and related to the HLA genotype. Results: Significantly higher binding to ROS-CII vs native CII was observed in type 1 diabetic patients possessing the HLA-DRB1*04 allele irrespective of variables of glucose control (blood glucose or HbA). Type 1 diabetic patients carrying a DRB1*04 allele with the shared epitope showed the highest risk for ROS-CII autoimmunity, while the DRB1*0301 allele was protective. Conversely, native CII autoimmunity was not associated with any specific DRB1 allele. Positive and inverse seroconversion rates of response to ROS-CII were high in DRB1*04-positive type 1 diabetic patients. Conclusion: Hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress may trigger genetically controlled autoimmunity to ROS-CII and may explain the association between type 1 diabetes mellitus and RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose the use of highly nonlinear solitary waves (HNSWs) to monitor the curing process of an adhesive layer utilized to bond two aluminum sheets, and to inspect an adhesively-bonded aluminum lap-joint. HNSWs are mechanical waves that can form and travel in highly nonlinear systems, such as a chain of spherical particles where they are generated by means of a mechanical impact. They are characterized by a constant spatial wavelength and possess the important property that their speed, amplitude, and duration can be tuned by modifying the particles' material or size, or the velocity of the impact. In the study presented in this paper, we investigate the feasibility of HNSWs for the nondestructive testing of adhesively-bonded structures. Two experiments are illustrated. In the first experiment we observe the curing process of a commercial 2-Ton Clear epoxy used to bond two aluminum sheets. In the second experiment, six types of bond quality were created on an aluminum lap-joint. In both experiments we noted that certain characteristics of the HNSWs such as time-of-flight and amplitude are affected by the physical conditions of the test specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To report a series of pitfalls and complications in a case of cochlear implantation.Method:Case report.Results:An 11-year-old boy affected by auditory neuropathy underwent cochlear implantation. Intra-operative assessment was apparently consistent with correct insertion of the electrode array into the cochlea. However, subsequent high resolution computed tomography revealed that the entire electrode array was curled up within the vestibule. Revision surgery was complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. A straight probe was repeatedly inserted into the internal auditory canal, before conversion to a canal wall down procedure and appropriate positioning of the electrode array.Conclusion:In this case, mild anteriorisation of the facial nerve created an awkward insertion angle for the electrode array via the retro-facial route, which may have triggered the described series of adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary Under-or non-exploited areas are useful to aid in evaluating the potential productivity of fish stocks for sustainable fisheries. The Gulf of Castellammare (NW Sicily), where trawling has been banned since 1990, is a good site to study the biology and dynamics of low impacted fish populations. A total of 661 (595 female and 66 male) specimens of red mullet Mullus barbatus (95-245 mm total length, TL) obtained by monthly sampling from trammel net artisanal fishery, was collected in the Gulf of Castellammare from April 2006 to June 2007. Mature females occurred from April to September, with a peak in May. The mean Gonado-somatic index (GSI) also showed a May peak for both sexes. From Sagittae (642) readings the age structure ranged from age class I to VII in females and I to V in males. Female growth parameters, estimated according to the classic von Bertalanffy model, were: L∞ = 221.2 ± 11.51 mm standard error (SE), ky−1 = 0.38 ± 0.09 SE, t0y = −0.94 ± 0.38 SE. The growth performance index (ø' = 2.27) was included in the range of values obtained by hard structure readings in the Central Mediterranean. Natural mortality ( My−1) of females estimated by different methods ranged between 0.62 and 0.87 (mean value = 0.71 ± 0.06 SE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goals Of Work: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing chemoradiotherapy are at high risk of malnutrition, which is related to complication rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an early intensive nutritional intervention on nutritional status and outcomes in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for HNC.Materials and Methods: We analysed retrospectively the clinical documentation of 33 HNC patients who were referred for early nutritional intervention (nutrition intervention group, NG) before they were submitted to chemoradiotherapy. The outcome of these patients was compared to that of 33 patients who received chemoradiotherapy without receiving a specifically designed early nutrition support programme (control group, CG).Main Results: NG patients lost less weight during chemoradiotherapy compared to CG patients (-4.6 +/- 4.1% vs -8.1 +/- 4.8% of pre-treatment weight, p < 0.01, at the completion of treatment). Patients in the NG experienced fewer radiotherapy breaks (>5 days) for toxicity (30.3% vs 63.6%, p < 0.01); the mean number of days of radiation delayed for toxicity was 4.4 +/- 5.2 in NG vs 7.6 +/- 6.5 in CG (p < 0.05); a linear correlation was found between percentage of weight lost from baseline to chemoradiotherapy completion and days of radiation delays (p < 0.01). There were less patients who had an unplanned hospitalisation in the NG relative to the CG (16.1% vs 41.4%, p = 0.03). In the NG, symptoms having an effect on the nutritional status developed early and were present in the nearly totality of patients at chemotherapy completion; 60.6% of NG patients needed tube feeding.Conclusions: Early nutrition intervention in patients with HNC receiving chemoradiotherapy resulted in an improved treatment tolerance and fewer admissions to hospital. This result suggests that nutritional intervention must be initiated before chemoradiotherapy, and it needs to be continued after treatment completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 80% of breast cancers express the estrogen receptor-α (ERα) and are treated with anti-estrogens. Resistance to these agents is a major cause of mortality. We have shown that estrogen inhibits Notch, whereas anti-estrogens or estrogen withdrawal activate Notch signaling. Combined inhibition of Notch and estrogen signaling has synergistic effects in ERα-positive breast cancer models. However, the mechanisms whereby Notch-1 promotes the growth of ERα-positive breast cancer cells are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Notch-1 increases the transcription of ERα-responsive genes in the presence or absence of estrogen via a novel chromatin crosstalk mechanism. Our data support a model in which Notch-1 can activate the transcription of ERα-target genes via IKKα-dependent cooperative chromatin recruitment of Notch–CSL–MAML1 transcriptional complexes (NTC) and ERα, which promotes the recruitment of p300. CSL binding elements frequently occur in close proximity to estrogen-responsive elements (EREs) in the human and mouse genomes. Our observations suggest that a hitherto unknown Notch-1/ERα chromatin crosstalk mediates Notch signaling effects in ERα-positive breast cancer cells and contributes to regulate the transcriptional functions of ERα itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of endocrine therapies in the adjuvant treatment of premenopausal patients with early breast cancer is well established. However, the right combination and duration of endocrine manipulations currently available (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs and tamoxifen) remain unclear. Moreover, the role of chemotherapy in addition to endocrine therapies is not clearly defined. The most recent Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group overview has confirmed the efficacy of five years of tamoxifen in reducing the annual recurrence rate and the annual breast cancer death rate by 41 and 34%, respectively, in an estrogen receptor-positive population. These results are largely irrespective of age, use of chemotherapy or other tumor features. Moreover, the expert panel of the St. Gallen Conference accepted both tamoxifen or tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression as standard endocrine therapy for premenopausal breast cancer patients with endocrine-responsive disease. The use of ovarian suppression or ablation also significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer-related death, mainly in the absence of other systemic therapies. Chemotherapy is widely used in this population; however, its role in endocrine-positive premenopausal women with hormone-positive disease treated with optimal endocrine therapy remains unclear. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional MRI shows the morphology of the corpus callosum (CC), but does not reveal cortical connectivity or structural information on the CC. Here, we applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in conjunction with a tract-tracing algorithm to incorporate cortical connectivity information on the CC in 40 subjects and to detect the main area and sex structural differences. CC parcellation was based on trajectories to different cortical (prefrontal, frontal motor/premotor/supplementary motor connections, parieto-occipital, temporal) and sub-cortical areas (capsular/basal ganglia connections). In agreement with recent DTI studies, we found that motor fibers occupy a much larger portion of the CC than previously believed on the basis of anatomical data. Differences in anisotropy values were instead in agreement with previous morphological evidence of smaller fibers in the anterior and posterior portions of the CC. The main sex difference was observed in anisotropy values in frontal fibers that proved to be lower in females than in males. Statistically significant differences in the regional diffusion parameters and between sexes give rise to many important questions regarding fiber organization patterns, CC microstructure and the functional relevance of these differences and provide evidence for the role of DTI, which reaches beyond the information given by morphological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth and reproduction of Chelidonichthys lucerna is reported from Tunisian waters. A total of 286 specimens was collected from landings of bottom trawlers between January 2003 and November 2004. The total length ranged from 16 to 36 cm in females and from 17 to 26 cm in males. Marginal increment analysis of otoliths showed that the translucent zone was laid from October to May and the opaque zone laid from June to September. Females were from 0.5 to 9 years and males from 1 to 7 years old. Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function were TL∞ = 40.26; K = 0.06 and t0 = −3.03 in females and TL∞ = 46.16; K = 0.059 and t0 = −1.32 in males. The coefficient of the allometric length–weight relationships differed significantly by sex. Females with mature gonads were observed between October and May, with peaks in January and February. Length at which 50% of specimens were mature was 21.6 cm TL (estimated age about 3 years) in females and 19.2 cm TL (estimated age about 1.5 years) in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiorentino, F., Badalamenti, F., D’Anna, G., Garofalo, G., Gianguzza, P., Gristina, M., Pipitone, C., Rizzo, P., and Fortibuoni, T. 2008. Changes in spawning-stock structure and recruitment pattern of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, after a trawl ban in the Gulf of Castellammare (central Mediterranean Sea). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1175–1183.The increase in biomass of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, in the Gulf of Castellammare (northwestern Sicily, central Mediterranean) after a 14-year trawl ban, prompted us to compare the spawning-stock structure and the recruitment pattern before and after the closure. Datasets obtained from three experimental trawl surveys were available before the ban (April and September 1985; April–May 1986) and four post-ban (September and November 2004; March and May 2005). Spawning-stock biomass increased significantly after the ban. Moreover, females at depths >50 m in the post-ban period were larger than those collected before the ban at the same depth. The recruitment pattern of the population also changed. Notably, recruit numbers increased and recruitment occurs over a broader period. The increase in biomass after the trawl ban seems to be the result of a combination of different processes, mainly associated with the lowering of fishing mortality. A positive trend in sea surface temperature in the area may have played a role too. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Notch-1 inhibits apoptosis in some transformed cells through incompletely understood mechanisms. Notch-1 can increase nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity through a variety of mechanisms. Overexpression of cleaved Notch-1 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells activates NF-κB via interaction with the I kappa B kinase (IKK) signalosome. Concomitant activation of the Notch and NF-κB pathways has been described in a large series of cervical cancer specimens. Here, we show that wild-type, spontaneously expressed Notch-1 stimulates NF-κB activity in CaSki cervical cancer cells by associating with the IKK signalosome through IKKα. A significant fraction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated IκB kinase activity in CaSki cells is Notch-1-dependent. In addition, Notch-1 is found in the nucleus in association with IKKα at IKKα-stimulated promoters and is required for association of IKKα with these promoters under basal and TNF-α-stimulated conditions. Notch-1–IKKα complexes are found in normal human keratinocytes as well, suggesting that IKK regulation is a physiological function of Notch-1. Both Notch-1 and IKKα knockdown sensitize CaSki cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis to equivalent extents. Our data indicate that Notch-1 regulates NF-κB in cervical cancer cells at least in part via cytoplasmic and nuclear IKK-mediated pathways.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5833–5844; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.190; published online 16 June 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence supports a pro-oncogenic function for Notch signaling in several solid tumors, particularly but not exclusively in breast cancer. Notch inhibitory agents, such as γ-secretase inhibitors, are being investigated as candidate cancer therapeutic agents. Interest in therapeutic modulation of the Notch pathway has been increased by recent reports, indicating that its role is important in controlling the fate of putative ‘breast cancer stem cells’. However, as is the case for most targeted therapies, successful targeting of Notch signaling in cancer will require a considerable refinement of our understanding of the regulation of this pathway and its effects in both normal and cancer cells. Notch signaling has bidirectional ‘cross talk’ interaction with multiple other pathways that include candidate therapeutic targets. Understanding these interactions will greatly increase our ability to design rational combination regimens. To determine which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment with Notch inhibitors, it will be necessary to develop molecular tests to accurately measure pathway activity in specific tumors. Finally, mechanism-based toxicities will have to be addressed by a careful choice of therapeutic agents, combinations and regimens. This article summarizes the current state of the field, and briefly describes opportunities and challenges for Notch-targeted therapies in oncology.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5124–5131; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.226 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ErbB-2 overexpression in breast tumors is associated with poor survival. Expression of Notch-1 and its ligand, Jagged-1, is associated with the poorest survival, including ErbB-2-positive tumors. Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy is the standard of care for ErbB-2-positive breast cancer. A proportion of tumors are initially resistant to trastuzumab and acquired resistance to trastuzumab occurs in metastatic breast cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. Thus, we investigated whether Notch-1 contributes to trastuzumab resistance. ErbB-2-positive cells have low Notch transcriptional activity compared to non-overexpressing cells. Trastuzumab or a dual epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ErbB-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) increased Notch activity by 2- to 6-fold in SKBr3, BT474 and MCF-7/HER2-18 cells. The increase in activity was abrogated by a Notch inhibitor, γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) or Notch-1 small-interfering RNA (siRNA). Trastuzumab decreased Notch-1™ precursor, increased amount and nuclear accumulation of active Notch-1IC and increased expression of targets, Hey1 and Deltex1 mRNAs, and Hes5, Hey1, Hes1 proteins. Importantly, trastuzumab-resistant BT474 cells treated with trastuzumab for 6 months expressed twofold higher Notch-1, twofold higher Hey1, ninefold higher Deltex1 mRNAs and threefold higher Notch-1 and Hes5 proteins, compared to trastuzumab-sensitive BT474 cells. The increase in Hey1 and Deltex1 mRNAs in resistant cells was abrogated by a Notch-1 siRNA. Cell proliferation was inhibited more effectively by trastuzumab or TKI plus a GSI than either agent alone. Decreased Notch-1 by siRNA increased efficacy of trastuzumab in BT474 sensitive cells and restored sensitivity in resistant cells. Trastuzumab plus a GSI increased apoptosis in sensitive cells by 20–30%. A GSI alone was sufficient to increase apoptosis in trastuzumab-resistant BT474 cells by 20%, which increased to 30% with trastuzumab. Notch-1 siRNA alone decreased cell growth by 30% in sensitive and more than 50% in resistant BT474 cells. Furthermore, growth of both trastuzumab sensitive and resistant cells was completely inhibited by combining trastuzumab plus Notch-1 siRNA. More importantly, Notch-1 siRNA or a GSI resensitized trastuzumab-resistant BT474 cells to trastuzumab. These results demonstrate that ErbB-2 overexpression suppresses Notch-1 activity, which can be reversed by trastuzumab or TKI. These results suggest that Notch-1 might play a novel role in resistance to trastuzumab, which could be prevented or reversed by inhibiting Notch-1.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5019–5032; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.149; published online 12 May 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injuries resulting from falls in seniors are a significant health concern. Visual information is important for postural control in seniors and postural control is affected by the light level. Moderate ambient illumination might be effective for postural control, but might compromise subsequent sleep efficiency and quality for seniors. In addition to safety concerns, a night lighting system must also be accepted by seniors. Researchers investigated if a self-luminous, night lighting system that provided horizontal and vertical cues could positively affect postural control in older subjects and evaluated its acceptance among seniors. The results showed that the night lighting system was effective for maintaining postural control in the critical, early phase of the sit-to-stand task and that it was preferred over conventional night lights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inappropriate risk-taking and disadvantageous decision-making have been described as major behavioural characteristics of patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However these behaviours are difficult to measure in laboratory contexts and recent studies have yielded inconsistent results which might be related to task characteristics. The present study adopted the Game of Dice Task, a test procedure in which risks are made explicit and the load on working memory is minimal. As a result, preadolescents with ADHD ( N = 23) made significantly more risky choices and suffered major losses of money compared to normal controls ( N = 24) but only when they played the game a second time. Differences in risk-taking correlated significantly with hyperactivity as rated by parents and with inhibitory control, but not with working memory performance. The results are discussed in the context of current theories of ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent train accidents have reaffirmed the need for developing rail defect detection systems that are more effective than those used today. One of the recent developments in rail inspection is the use of ultrasonic guided waves (UGWs) and non-contact probing techniques to target transverse-type defects. Besides the obvious advantages of non-contact probing, that include robustness and a potential for large inspection speed, such a system can theoretically detect transverse defects under horizontal shelling or head checks. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of digital signal processing to enhance the damage detection sensitivity of the non-contact system. The method proposed here combines the advantages of UGW inspection with the outcomes of the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) that is used for extracting robust defect-sensitive features. In particular, the DWT is exploited to de-noise the ultrasonic signals in real-time and generate a set of relevant wavelet coefficients to construct a uni-dimensional damage index. The general framework proposed in this paper is applied to the detection of crack-like and internal defects in a railroad track mock-up built at UCSD. The proposed signal analysis approach is general and is applicable to many other structural monitoring applications using UGWs as the main defect diagnosis tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]