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A 4-year-old, male French Brittany weighing 18 kg was presented for continuous disorexia associated with a large palpable mass in the cranial abdomen. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination showed the presence of a mass close to the gastric wall. Percutaneous needle aspiration of the mass revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation. An exploratory laparotomy was performed in order to remove the mass. Actinomiycotic mycetoma was revealed after surgery by positive culture. After a three months antibiotic therapy, nine months follow up showed complete remission

9-year-old, castrated male shorthair cat was referred for an abdominal mass accidentally palpated by the owner. Ultrasound showed a large inhomogeneous cystic mass close to the left kidney. A massive ablation of the mass was performed. Four days after surgery, the cat was severely azotemic and presented signs of multiple organ dysfunction. The cat was euthanized the 7th day after surgery. Histopathological examination was consistent for adrenocortical serous cystadenoma.

Purpose: To analyze the prevalence and clinical relevance of cyclin D3 abnormalities in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Experimental Design: Cyclin D3 immunoreactivity was evaluated in 223 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of LSCC patients with a mean follow-up of 62.8 ± 43.2 months. The occurrence of cyclin D3 extra signals was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 47 randomly selected cases collected in a tissue microarray. Cyclin D1 immunoreactivity had been previously investigated in 133 cases. Results: Cyclin D3 immunoreactivity and gene extra signals were found in 39.5% and 42.6% of the cases, respectively, and the concordance between immunohistochemical and fluorescence in situ hybridization results was 70.2% (P = 0.0085). Cyclin D3 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with a high risk of death. Multivariate analysis showed that high tumor grade, exophytic/ulcerating tumor type, low performance status, and cyclin D3 immunoreactivity were the only independent predictors of poor overall survival. In the 133 cases analyzed for both cyclin D1 and cyclin D3, patients with cyclin D1+/cyclin D3+ tumors experienced the worst prognosis, patients with cyclin D1−/cyclin D3− exhibited the most prolonged survival, and with cyclin D1−/cyclin D3+ or cyclin D1+/cyclin D3− tumors an intermediate course was associated. Conclusions: Our data suggest that cyclin D3 immunoreactivity, possibly due to the occurrence of gene extra copies, may represent an adjunct in LSCC patients' prognostication and contribute to identify D-type cyclins as potential targets of newly developed therapies.

New developments in the proton-therapy field for cancer treatments, leaded Italian physics researchers to realize a proton imaging apparatus consisting of a silicon microstrip tracker to reconstruct the proton trajectories and a calorimeter to measure their residual energy. For clinical requirements, the detectors used and the data acquisition system should be able to sustain about 1 MHz proton rate. The tracker read-out, using an ASICs developed by the collaboration, acquires the signals detector and sends data in parallel to an FPGA. The YAG:Ce calorimeter generates also the global trigger. The data acquisition system and the results obtained in the calibration phase are presented and discussed.

The “Carbonaceous Aerosol in Rome and Environs” (CARE) experiment took place at a Mediterranean urban background site in Rome (Italy) deploying a variety of instrumentation to assess aerosol physical-chemical and optical properties with high-time resolution (from 1 min to 2 h). In this study, aerosol optical properties, chemical composition, and size distribution data were examined with a focus on the analysis of several intensive optical properties obtained from multi-wavelength measurements of aerosol scattering and absorption coefficients. The spectral behaviour of several quantities related to both aerosol composition and size was explored, analysing their high-time resolved temporal patterns and combining them in order to extract the maximum information from all the available data. A methodology to separate aerosol types using optical data only is here proposed and applied to an urban area characterised by a complex mixture of particles. A key is given to correctly disentangle cases that could not be distinguished observing only one or few parameters, but that can be clearly separated using a suitable ensemble of optical properties. The SSCAAE, i.e. the wavelength dependence of the Single Scattering co-albedo 1-SSA (where SSA is the Single Scattering Albedo) - that efficiently responds to both aerosol size and chemical composition – resulted to be the best optical intensive parameter to look at for the discrimination between episodes characterised by specific aerosol types (e.g. sea salt, Saharan dust) and more mixed conditions dominated by local emissions. However, this study also highlighted that it is necessary to combine temporal patterns of different optical parameters to robustly associate SSCAAE features to specific aerosol types. In addition, the complete chemical speciation and the high-time resolved size distribution were used to confirm the aerosol types identified via a combination of aerosol optical properties. Look-up tables with most suitable ranges of values for optical variables were produced; therefore, these pieces of information can be used at the same site or at locations with similar features to quickly identify the occurrence of aerosol episodes. Graphical frameworks (both from the literature and newly designed) are also proposed; for each scheme features, advantages, and limitations are discussed.

In this source apportionment study, an original approach based on receptor modelling was tested to relate primary and secondary organic aerosol (OA) contributions - estimated from ACSM (Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor) measurements - to their emission sources. Moreover, thanks to the coupling of optical and chemical variables as input to the receptor model, information such as the impact of mineral dust to the aerosol absorption in the atmosphere and estimates for the absorption Ångström exponent (α) of the sources were retrieved. An advanced source apportionment study using the Multilinear Engine (ME-2) was performed on data collected during February 2017 in Rome (Italy), in the frame of the CARE (Carbonaceous Aerosol in Rome and Environs) experiment. A complete chemical characterisation (elements, non-refractory components, and carbonaceous components) was carried out, and the aerosol absorption coefficients b(λ) at 7 wavelengths (370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880, and 950 nm) were retrieved by an Aethalometer AE33; all these variables (chemical + optical) were used as input to the receptor model. The final constrained solution consisted of nine factors which were assigned to major sources impacting on the investigated site (hereafter sources are referred to as: biomass burning, nitrate and aged aerosol, traffic exhaust, sulphate, mineral dust, marine aerosol, traffic non-exhaust, local source, and polluted marine aerosol), comprising both local urban sources and contributions from long-range transport. The bootstrap analysis supported the goodness of the solution. Total OA concentration from ACSM was apportioned by our receptor model and afterwards compared with HOA (hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol), BBOA (biomass burning-like organic aerosol), and OOA (oxygenated organic aerosol) concentrations obtained as results from an independent source apportionment study previously performed. As an original result of this work, insights on OA contributions were thus retrieved: (1) the contribution of organic aerosol assigned by ME-2 to the traffic exhaust source was fully comparable to HOA assessed by ACSM data analysis; (2) our source apportionment results gave the relevant indication that the OOA apportionment made on ACSM data likely includes a secondary OA contribution due to biomass burning. Other relevant results came from b apportionment obtained by our multi-variable source apportionment approach: traffic exhaust was the main contributor to aerosol absorption in the atmosphere, but mineral dust contribution was also notable when a not negligible mineral dust transport episode was registered at the measurement site. In addition, source dependent optical absorption parameters (i.e. the absorption Ångström exponent - α - and the mass absorption cross section at different wavelengths) were retrieved without any a-priori assumption. In perspective, our modelling approach paves the way to more powerful source apportionment approaches which have the potential of providing much more insights on aerosol properties and sources., The CARE experiment was realised under the patronage of the Councilor for environmental sustainability of Roma Capitale. The authors are grateful to all members of the research groups who participated to the CARE experiment.

BackgroundUltrasonography (US) is the recommended imaging technique to evaluate jugular veins. This prospective randomized clinical study was designed to collect a series of B-mode US measurements of manually distended jugular veins in healthy Italian Standardbreds and to find possible correlations between ultrasound measurements and animal morphometric characteristics. Forty-two horses, eight males and 34 females (range 3–22 years; bodyweight 494.4 ± 41.7 kg), were included in the study. The diameters and wall thicknesses of both jugular veins were measured at three different sites of the neck. The differences in ultrasound measurements based on scans, age, gender, side, and site of the neck were evaluated by ANOVA or by the Kruskal-Wallis test. The effects of the morphometric measures on each ultrasound parameter were evaluated by MANOVA (P ResultsThe ultrasound measurements did not differ significantly between the three different sites or between genders; hence, they were pooled together in the results. On the transverse scan, the mean dorsoventral and lateromedial diameters were 1.58 ± 0.23 and 2.20 ± 0.25 cm, respectively; the mean superficial and deep wall thicknesses (SWT and DWT) were 0.07 ± 0.01 and 0.08 ± 0.01 cm, respectively. On the longitudinal scan, the mean dorsoventral diameter was 1.59 ± 0.26 cm, and the SWT and DWT were both 0.08 ± 0.01 cm. Neck length, from the caudal edge of the mandible to the thoracic inlet, was related to the dorsoventral diameter in both longitudinal and transverse scan and to the SWT and DWT in transverse scan, whereas height at the withers (measured with tape) and estimated weight were related to the wall thickness. Dividing the subjects into groups by age in years (“young” 3–7, “mature” 8–14, “old” > 14), differences were found for the lateromedial diameter in the transverse scan and the SWT on the longitudinal scan. The main limitation of this study was that only one operator performed the measurements.ConclusionThe US measurements of the jugular veins and their relationship with morphometric measures reported in this manuscript might be considered as guidelines both for early diagnosis and monitoring jugular vein abnormalities in healthy Italian Standardbred horses.

In recent years, research on multichannel shopping behavior has increasingly expanded (see Neslin et al. 2006 and Rangaswamy and Van Bruggen 2005 for a summary of the extant literature). Several managerial, (DoubleClick, 2004; Wall Street Journal, 2004; Myers, Van Metre & Pickersgill, 2004) as well as academic (Kumar & Venkatesan, 2005; Rangaswamy & Van Bruggen, 2005; Thomas & Sullivan, 2005) studies agree in considering multichannel customers as a great opportunity for firms. Customers have rapidly expanded their channel experiences and preferences beyond traditional channels (such as stores) and they expect the company with which they do business to have a presence on all these channels (Blattberg, Kim & Neslin, 2008). Therefore, there is increasing interest in understanding customers channel choices dynamics in a multichannel environment. A deeper understanding of the channel “migration” process (Blattberg, Kim & Neslin, 2008) can help managers to design marketing programs that evolve with their customers over time and evaluate the profitability of different customers in terms of channel choice behavior. Although recently the dynamic of customers' channel choices have been explored (Ansari, Mela & Neslin, 2008; Thomas & Sullivan, 2005; Knox, 2005; Venketesan & Kumar, 2007), with the exception of Knox (2005) a limited effort has been made to investigate and formally model the learning process per se, i.e., how customers’ decision process changes over time as they learn their preferences and become familiar with the firm’s marketing activities. A deeper understanding of this evolution and the process by which customers become loyal to certain channels is an important issue. We distinguish between two stages in the evolution of customers channel choices over time. An initial or “trial” stage when the customer is acquiring experience with the company channel offer and a second or “steady state” phase representing the decision process the customer evolves to in the long term. We aim to understand if the duration of these phases is homogeneous among customers. Furthermore, we aim to decompose the sensitiveness of the customers to marketing communications, distinguishing between the initial and the second stage. We develop and estimate a model of customer channel migration in order to study this phenomenon. We believe our contribution is twofold. First we propose a modeling approach which takes into account the existence of these stages in the channel choice migration process. Second, we show that the existence of this phenomenon has an impact on the efficacy of direct marketing communication and crate heterogeneity among customers in terms of the duration of this process.

In the frame of the EMEP/ACTRIS/COLOSSAL campaign in Milan during winter 2018, equivalent black carbon measurements using the Aethalometer 31 (AE31), the Aethalometer 33 (AE33), and a Multi-Angle Absorption Photometer (MAAP) were carried out together with levoglucosan analyses on 12 h resolved PM2.5 samples collected in parallel. From AE31 and AE33 data, the loading-corrected aerosol attenuation coefficients (bATN) were calculated at seven wavelengths (λ, where λ values are 370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880, and 950 nm). The aerosol absorption coefficient at 637 nm (babs_MAAP) was determined by MAAP measurements. Furthermore, babs was also measured at four wavelengths (405, 532, 635, 780 nm) on the 12 h resolved PM2.5 samples by a polar photometer (PP_UniMI). After comparing PP_UniMI and MAAP results, we exploited PP_UniMI data to evaluate the filter multiple-scattering enhancement parameter at different wavelengths for AE31 and AE33. We obtained instrument- and wavelength-dependent multiple-scattering enhancement parameters by linear regression of the Aethalometer bATN against the babs measured by PP_UniMI. We found significant dependence of the multiple-scattering enhancement parameter on filter material, hence on the instrument, with a difference of up to 30 % between the AE31 and the AE33 tapes. The wavelength dependence and day–night variations were small – the difference between the smallest and largest value was up to 6 %. Data from the different instruments were used as input to the so-called “Aethalometer model” for optical source apportionment, and instrument dependence of the results was investigated. Inconsistencies among the source apportionment were found fixing the AE31 and AE33 multiple-scattering enhancement parameters to their usual values. In contrast, optimised multiple-scattering enhancement parameters led to a 5 % agreement among the approaches. Also, the component apportionment “MWAA model” (Multi-Wavelength Absorption Analyzer model) was applied to the dataset. It was less sensitive to the instrument and the number of wavelengths, whereas significant differences in the determination of the absorption Ångström exponent for brown carbon were found (up to 22 %).

Simple Summary Prostatectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the prostate, either partially (partial prostatectomy) or completely (total prostatectomy). Total prostatectomy is considered technically difficult to perform, carrying with it many complications and unwanted side effects. The standard total prostatectomy provides a caudal celiotomy: a pubic symphysiotomy or pubic and ischial osteotomies may be required in order to improve access to the prostate gland and the pelvic urethra. Perineal hernia refers to the herniation of pelvic and abdominal viscera into the subcutaneous perineal region through a pelvic diaphragm weakness. A concomitant prostatic disease is observed in 25–59% of cases: the prostate can remain in the physiological location or displace within the hernial contents. Surgery is the treatment of choice in case of perineal hernia. The aim of this article is to describe retrospectively the total perineal prostatectomy in dogs presenting perineal hernia with concomitant prostatic diseases which required the removal of the gland. The experience in six patients (three dogs with the prostate within hernial contents and three dogs with intrapelvic prostate) are reported as well as advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the surgical procedure. Abstract Perineal hernia refers to the herniation of pelvic and abdominal viscera into the subcutaneous perineal region through a pelvic diaphragm weakness: a concomitant prostatic disease is observed in 25–59% of cases. Prostatectomy involves the removal of the prostate, either partially (partial prostatectomy) or completely (total prostatectomy). In case of complicated perineal hernia, staged procedures are recommended: celiotomy in order to perform colopexy, vasopexy, cystopexy, and/or to treat the prostatic disease, and perineal access in order to repair the perineal hernia. Very few reports relate prostatectomy using a perineal approach and, to the extent of the author’s knowledge, this technique has not been thoroughly investigated in the literature. The aim of this article is to retrospectively describe the total perineal prostatectomy in dogs presenting perineal hernia with concomitant prostatic diseases which required the removal of the gland. The experience in six dogs (three dogs with the prostate within hernial contents and three dogs with intrapelvic prostate) is reported as well as advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the surgical procedure. In the authors’ clinical practice, total perineal prostatectomy has been a useful surgical approach to canine prostatic diseases, proven to be safe, well tolerated, and effective.

Simple Summary Total or partial vulvo-vaginectomy or vaginectomy are not routinely surgery due to the complexity of the techniques and because they are considered radical treatments. Furthermore, in literature, there is a paucity of information regarding these techniques and the extent of the reproductive tract resection is not always clearly defined, as the same technique is often named in a different way by different authors, confusing the reader. The aim of this article is to review and describe five surgical procedures on the basis of the correct identification of the anatomical areas: partial vaginectomy, complete vaginectomy, partial vestibule-vaginectomy, vulvo-vestibule-vaginectomy and vulvo-vestibulectomy. For each technique, indications and possible intraoperative and perioperative complications are mentioned. Moreover, authors’ clinical experience in 33 dogs presenting genitourinary lesions not amenable to local resection via simple episiotomy and outcomes are described. Abstract Total or partial vulvo-vaginectomy or vaginectomy are not routinely performed due to the complexity of the techniques and because they are considered radical treatments. Little information can be found in the literature, as the same technique is often named in a different way by different authors, confusing the reader. Therefore, the aim of this essay is to describe five different surgical techniques: partial vaginectomy, complete vaginectomy, partial vestibule-vaginectomy, vulvo-vestibule-vaginectomy and vulvo-vestibulectomy. All techniques are described on the basis of the correct identification of the anatomical nomenclature related to structures involved in surgery, in order to give a more precise and unambiguous description and execution of surgical techniques. Moreover, possible intraoperative and perioperative complications and the authors’ clinical experience in 33 dogs are described. All techniques are well tolerated and could be curative in case of benign or malignant tumours that have not yet metastasized and palliative in other cases. Moreover, they are also useful for therapeutic purposes for chronic vaginitis, severe vaginal cysts or congenital abnormalities. It is our opinion that having five different available techniques to approach vaginal disease is useful to perform the best surgery according to the clinical findings, patient’s characteristics, technique invasiveness and whether it is palliative or not.

Recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) are a common clinical condition in children, in fact about 25% of children under 1 year and 6% of children during the first 6 years of life have RRIs. In most cases, infections occur with mild clinical manifestations and the frequency of episodes tends to decrease over time with a complete resolution by 12 years of age. However, RRIs significantly reduce child and family quality of life and lead to significant medical and social costs. Despite the importance of this condition, there is currently no agreed definition of the term RRIs in the literature, especially concerning the frequency and type of infectious episodes to be considered. The aim of this consensus document is to propose an updated definition and provide recommendations with the intent of guiding the physician in the complex process of diagnosis, management and prevention of RRIs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13052-021-01150-0.