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Background and aims: In order to contribute to the knowledge and conservation of the arid Andes flora, we explored how vehicular roads and elevation affect the composition and richness of plant communities. In addition, we aim to estimate the degree of plant invasion in the native community and identify the most common non-natives at three protected areas in Mendoza. M&M: We recorded the composition and abundance of native and non-natives along the elevation gradient (from 1700 to 3900 m a.s.l.) in three vehicular roads (Villavicencio, Cordón del Plata, and Manzano-Portillo). At each road, 20 "T-plots" were located according to the MIREN protocol . Results: We identified 357 species, 42 were non-native (12%). Non-native cover was higher at Cordón del Plata (23%) than in the other protected areas (Manzano 11%, Villavicencio 6%). Most non-natives were herbaceous, except Rosa rubiginosa. Of all species, 64% of natives and 45% of non-natives were exclusive to a protected area, therefore native and nonnative species composition was different among the protected areas. Non-native richness was higher near the road and decreased quadratically with elevation, but to explain native richness patterns it was necessary to consider the interaction between elevation and distance from the road. Native richness near the road was constant along the elevation gradient (~15 species) but showed a decreasing linear relationship away from the road. Conclusions: Roads can modify the distribution patterns of species along the elevation in the Andes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosopis species (mesquite trees) provide one of the main Non-Timber Forest Products of the Monte Desert and their pods have played an important role as a source of livelihood for the inhabitants of most arid regions of America. Our goals for this study were to analyze the morphological variability of P. flexuosa (mesquite) fruits and the chemical-nutritional properties (moisture content, ash, total protein, total lipids, total crude fiber, soluble sugars and total carbohydrates) of the endocarp-free flour in eight provenances distributed along the latitudinal gradient of the Monte desert (Pipanaco, Fiambalá, Chilecito, Telteca, Montecaseros, Las Catitas, Ñacuñán and San Rafael). The fruits were collected from locations isolated from each other by mountain ranges or by a distance of more than 100 km. A latitudinal differentiation in fruit morphology was observed between the locations. Those from the northernmost location (latitude 27° 58' - 29° 29' S) differed in their morphological characteristics in that they were longer, and therefore have more knots and seeds than the fruits of the southernmost populations (latitude 32° 22' - 35° 18' S). However, there was no observed effect of geographical location on the chemical characterization of the flour. Only the total fat content was higher in the southern population. P. flexuosa flour from Mendoza contained high levels of soluble sugars and carbohydrates in Telteca, which could be related to the water stress tolerance of mesquite trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficiency of laser thermocoagulation under computed tomography (CT) guidance in the treatment of osteoid osteoma within a strictly pediatric group. Twenty-five patients aged 4 to 17 years were treated under CT by laser thermocoagulation. The nidus measured on average 10.1 mm. Pain relief was the main item for evaluation of the effectiveness of our treatment. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 61 months (mean, 26 months). Technical success was achieved in 100%. Thermocoagulation proved to be initially effective in 24 of 25 children (96%) and had a positive long-term effect in 23 of 25 children (92%). We had four minor complications and one severe complication (partial osteonecrosis of the talus). Laser thermocoagualation is an effective treatment for osteoid osteoma in pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) could aid in the diagnosis of biliary atresia, a hepatic pathology with thin, irregular or interrupted biliary ducts. There is little published evidence of MRCP appearances in normal neonates and young infants. Objective: To assess the use of MR cholangiopancreatography in visualizing the biliary tree in neonates and infants younger than 3 months with no hepatobiliary disorder, and to assess this visibility in relationship to the child's age, weight, and sedation and fasting states. Materials and methods: Between December 2008 and October 2010 our department performed MRI of the brain, orbits and face on 16 full-term neonates and infants. Each child was younger than 3 months (90 days) and without any hepatobiliary disorders. The children were scanned with a respiratory-gated 0.54 × 0.51 × 0.4-mm 3-D MRCP sequence. We used a reading grid to assess subjectively the visibility of the extrahepatic bile ducts along with extrahepatic bile duct confluence. The visibility of the extrahepatic bile duct confluence was assessed against age, weight, and sedation and fasting states. Results: The extrahepatic bile duct confluence was seen in 10 children out of 16 (62.5%). In the neonate sub-group (corrected age younger than 30 days), the MRCP was technically workable and the extrahepatic bile duct confluence was seen in four cases out of eight (50%). This visualization was up to 75% in the subgroup older than 30 days. However, statistically there was no significant difference in visibility of the extrahepatic bile duct confluence in relationship to age, weight or MRCP performance conditions (feeding, fasting or sedation). Conclusion: The complete normal biliary system (extrahepatic bile duct confluence included) is not consistently visualized in infants younger than 3 months old on non-enhanced MRCP. Thus the use of MRCP to exclude a diagnosis of biliary atresia is compromised at optimal time of surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Approaching the study of camelid bone size change in the meridional portion of the South Central Andes is a significant subject especially when the assemblages are associated to radiocarbon dates placed at a time of social transition from an extractive to a producer economy. In this sense, this paper presents the results of applying osteometric techniques on a set of 10 elements from the Peñas Chicas 1.5 site dated around 3800 BP. The analysis shows the presence of at least three individuals, one of which corresponds to an Andean guanaco ( Lama guanicoe) morphotype. The second and the third are similar in size to a modern llama ( Lama glama) in their 'intermediate' and 'cargo' morphotypes. This is consistent with patterns already seen for sites from the Argentinian and Chilean Puna where the identification of larger individuals than the Andean guanaco modern standard shows the early stages of an increasingly bone size variability of South American camelids. This paper contributes with new data to understand the complex processes that occurred in the South Central Andes that led to the domestication of one of the most conspicuous animals in the archaeological record of the Argentinian Northwest. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effect of a pollinator species on a plant depends on their interaction frequency and the pollinator's effectiveness. The role of ants as pollinators is highly variable, in some cases they act as true pollinators and in others as antagonists damaging flowers, robbing nectar or disrupting pollination. Pollinator visitation frequency has been demonstrated as the most important factor determining their impact on plants. Ants are commonly seen as visitors of the desert shrub Condalia microphylla, but their effectiveness as pollinators is unknown. In this study we assess the quantitative and qualitative role of ants and other winged flower visitors as pollinators of C. microphylla by experimentally quantifying their contribution to fruit production. The study was conducted in the Monte Desert of Villavicencio Nature Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina. A diverse assemblage of insects visited flowers of C. microphylla, including bees, ants, flies, beetles and vespids. Ants (Camponotus mus and Camponotus punctulatus) accounted for a high proportion of interactions. Fruit set resulted mostly from pollination by winged insects, while flowers visited by ants did not set fruits. Thus, although ants were commonly seen on flowers, their effectiveness as pollinator was negligible for Condalia microphylla. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Question How does long-term fencing against large domestic herbivores affect regeneration of the dominant tree, Prosopis flexuosa, and hence the structure of semi-arid woodlands? Location Woodlands in the Central Monte Desert biome of Argentina, Ñacuñán Man and the Biosphere Reserve area (34° 20′ S, 67° 58′ W) and surrounding cattle-grazed ranches. Methods We compared seedling emergence and survival, the spatial distribution of seedlings and saplings, and the population stage-based structure of P. flexuosa between paired sites inside and outside the Reserve of Ñacuñán ( Argentina), which has been fenced to exclude domestic cattle for ca. 40 yr. Results Reserve sites had lower tree recruitment and seedling emergence, in spite of having greater seed production and seedling survival. Outside the reserve, survival was higher for seedlings in high-density clumps than for isolated seedlings. Seedling clumps occurred mostly near adult individuals, where cattle dung was abundant, suggesting an effect of cattle on seed dispersal. The balance between the effects of cattle exclusion on seedling emergence and on seedling survival was reflected in the stage structure of P. flexuosa woodlands, as populations at fenced sites were dominated by adult individuals, whereas those at cattle-grazed areas presented greater proportions of seedlings and saplings. Conclusion Fencing is a common practice used worldwide to exclude conservation areas from human disturbance. For example, it is assumed that disturbed woodlands may recover after fencing, thanks to increased tree recruitment after the exclusion of large herbivores. However, the actual effectiveness of fencing as a tool for forest conservation in overgrazed environments could be controversial because sequential effects of herbivores during the tree regeneration cycle may hamper predictions of the overall balance of the recruitment process. Our results suggest that dispersal by cattle influences the regeneration of P. flexuosa woodlands, and that the positive effects of cattle on seedling emergence compensate for the negative effects on seed production and seedling and sapling survival. Future management of P. flexuosa woodlands in the Central Monte Desert should consider that tree recruitment is closely related to land use, and that cattle exclusion does not necessarily guarantee woodland recovery in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately one fourth of cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occur during childhood and children are more prone than their adult counterparts to have severe disease at presentation. To investigate these diseases MR imaging is no longer an emerging tool. Numerous reviews and articles have been published on this topic underlying the advances of imaging but also the complexity and the financial impact on management of such diseases. In children it seems reasonable to consider US as the first imaging examination to perform, especially when the diagnosis of IBD is unknown. However, we believe that recent and future technical progress, especially the ability of MR to display reproducible data, and the need for gold standard evaluation of new medical therapies will increase the role of MR enterography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The correlation dimension D 2 yields good results in several biomedical fields. Nonetheless, no clinical application to electromyography has been developed yet. One reason is the high electromagnetic noise typical of clinical environments. This noise is characterized by sharp spectral lines of variable intensity and frequency. The filtering techniques commonly implemented in electromyographs can efficiently deal with this kind of noise. They allow a safe estimate of linear quantities like the root mean square (r.m.s.) or the median frequency (MF). Their performance is not as good for nonlinear purposes. The filters may modify the nonlinear properties of the signal, leading to unacceptable estimates of D 2. We consider a simple procedure based on a modified Wiener filter. Its performance is compared with that from a bandpass followed by multiple notch filters. Our procedure leads to a gain in precision and accuracy when estimating D 2. The two filtering approaches are also compared with respect to a biomedical application proposed by others. Using data from 12 healthy subjects, the modified Wiener procedure raises the percentage of successes in that application from 17% to 83%. New experimental data suggest D 2 carries information not carried by r.m.s. or MF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: in Occidental languages, no widely accepted questionnaire is available which deals with health related quality of life from the specific point of view of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Some psychometric tools of this kind are available in Chinese. One of them is the Chinese Quality of Life questionnaire (ChQoL). It comprises 50 items, subdivided in 3 Domains and 13 Facets. The ChQoL was built from scratch on the basis of TCM theory. It is therefore specifically valuable for the TCM practitioner. This paper describes our translation into Italian of the ChQoL, its first application to Occidental oncological patients, and some of its psychometric properties. Methods: a translation scheme, originally inspired by the TRAPD procedure, is developed. This scheme focuses on comprehensibility and clinical usefulness more than on linguistic issues alone. The translated questionnaire is tested on a sample of 203 consecutive female patients with breast cancer. Shapiro-Wilk normality tests, Fligner- Killeen median tests, exploratory Two-step Cluster Analysis, and Tukey's test for non-additivity are applied to study the outcomes. Results: an Italian translation is proposed. It retains the TCM characteristics of the original ChQoL, it is intelligible to Occidental patients who have no previous knowledge of TCM, and it is useful for daily clinical practice. The score distribution is not Normal, and there are floor and ceiling effects. A Visual Analogue Scale is identified as a suitable choice. A 3-point Likert scale can also efficiently describe the data pattern. The original scales show non-additivity, but an Anscombe-Tukey transformation with g = 1.5 recovers additivity at the Domain level. Additivity is enhanced if different g are adopted for different Facets, except in one case. Conclusions: the translated questionnaire can be adopted both as a filing system based on TCM and as a source of outcomes for clinical trials. A Visual Analogue Scale is recommended, but a simpler 3-point Likert scale also suitably fits data. When estimating missing data, and when grouping items within Domain in order to build a summary Domain index, an Anscombe-Tukey transformation should be applied to the raw scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities usually trigger changes in the population density of plants. Thus, land management practices can influence density-dependent demographic parameters and species interactions. We investigated plant-pollinator interactions and reproduction in Prosopis flexuosa, the largest tree species in the Central Monte desert of Argentina, an important economic and cultural resource for humans and a functionally prominent species. We hypothesized that reproductive output of P. flexuosa would be limited at low densities, and that exclusion of catle grazing would enhance population density and consequently interaction frequency with pollinators and reproductive success. The study was conducted in and around Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve (Mendoza, Argentina), where cattle grazing has been excluded for over 35 years. Working in five pairs of protected and cattle grazed 1-ha plots, we recorded density of adult trees, pollinator visitation frequency to inflorescences and seeds per inflorescence in focal trees. Adult tree density was higher in protected plots than in cattle grazed plots. Density of reproductive trees was positively correlated with seed production, suggesting positive density dependence for reproduction (Allee effect). Pollinator visitation to inflorescences and seed production was higher in protected plots compared with plots under cattle grazing. Suppression of anthropogenic degradation has resulted in higher adult tree density in protected plots, indirectly higher pollinator visitation to inflorescences and higher reproductive success of trees. Increased frequency of plant-pollinator interactions and tree reproduction suggest success of management practices aimed at protecting P. flexuosa woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reserves aim mainly at preventing or mitigating human impacts on natural ecosystems. It is important to assess how well reserves meet this goal. We evaluated whether habitat protection offered by Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve (Central Monte desert, Argentina) results in detectable changes in habitat structure and the species richness and composition of bees and wasps. We conducted pan trap sampling and flower visitor observations in six pairs of protected and unprotected sites. Our results suggest that thirty five years of cattle exclusion in Ñacuñán have had detectable effects on habitat structure. However, these changes in habitat structure translated only into partial and conflicting effects on hymenopteran richness, and did not have detectable effects on hymenopteran composition. Our study should be repeated with a greater sampling effort and throughout multiple years before our results can be applied to guide management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison is made between the vibrational characteristics of the carbonyl and cyanide ligands. There are significant differences; the latter has a smaller dipole moment and a larger quadrupole moment associated with the bond stretch. This quadrupole moment may be linked to the observation that the totally symmetric ν(CN) mode does not lie at the highest frequency for some cyanide complexes. There are problems with the π-bonding model commonly used to interpret the ν(CN) data. For instance, for the first transition row hexacyanoanions, the spectra are almost independent of t2g occupancy but are very sensitive to the formal charge. It is suggested that the observed ν(CN) frequency shifts on complex formation are in large measure determined by the effective charge on the cation to which the cyanide group is attached, and a new model, the Internal Vibrational Stark Effect, is suggested to account for this. The model is supported by DFT calculations. Raman spectra of some cubic cyano species are reported, along with polarization and intensity data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The analysis of cords recovered in the archaeological sites Peña de las Trampas 1.1, c. 8400years BP, and Inca Cueva 7, c. 4080–4030years BP, allowed us to discuss the hypothesis that vascular bundles of palm leaves from distant sources were used in the Northern and Southern Puna during the Holocene in different archaeological sites. In this paper we contribute data from two sites. The first is situated at the locality of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, Southern Argentinean Puna; the other at the Quebrada de Inca Cueva, Jujuy, Northern Argentinean Puna. The goals in this paper were to identify the raw materials used in making cords, the differences in cord fabrication between the two samples and the temporal and spatial distribution of Puna data with reference to the palm species habitat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We assessed the impact of road disturbances on the dominant mycorrhizal types in ecosystems at the global level and how this mechanism can potentially lead to lasting plant community changes. We used a database of coordinated plant community surveys following mountain roads from 894 plots in 11 mountain regions across the globe in combination with an existing database of mycorrhizal–plant associations in order to approximate the relative abundance of mycorrhizal types in natural and disturbed environments. Our findings show that roadside disturbance promotes the cover of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This effect is especially strong in colder mountain environments and in mountain regions where plant communities are dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EcM) or ericoid‐mycorrhizal (ErM) associations. Furthermore, non‐native plant species, which we confirmed to be mostly AM plants, are more successful in environments dominated by AM associations. These biogeographical patterns suggest that changes in mycorrhizal types could be a crucial factor in the worldwide impact of anthropogenic disturbances on mountain ecosystems. Indeed, roadsides foster AM‐dominated systems, where AM‐fungi might aid AM‐associated plant species while potentially reducing the biotic resistance against invasive non‐native species, often also associated with AM networks. Restoration efforts in mountain ecosystems will have to contend with changes in the fundamental make‐up of EcM‐ and ErM plant communities induced by roadside disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Relapse outside the eye of retinoblastoma (the most common eye cancer in children) is an uncommon event in developed countries, however it is the main cause of death in patients with retinoblastoma worldwide. The genomic features of this population are not known. We studied 23 cases from four countries and found a characteristic pattern in chromosomal copy number alterations that could help guide future clinical management of these patients. Most reports about copy number alterations (CNA) in retinoblastoma relate to patients with intraocular disease and features of children with extraocular relapse remain unknown, so we aimed to describe the CNA in this population. We evaluated 23 patients and 27 specimens from 4 centers. Seventeen cases had extraocular relapse after initial enucleation and six cases after an initial preservation attempt. We performed an analysis of CNA and BCOR gene alteration by SNP array (Single Nucleotide Polymorfism array), whole-exome sequencing, IMPACT panel and CGH array (Array-based comparative genomic hybridization). All cases presented CNA at a higher prevalence than those reported in previously published studies for intraocular cases. CNA previously reported for intraocular retinoblastoma were found at a high frequency in our cohort: gains in 1q (69.5%), 2p (60.9%) and 6p (86.9%), and 16q loss (78.2%). Other, previously less-recognized, CNA were found including loss of 11q (34.8%), gain of 17q (56.5%), loss of 19q (30.4%) and BCOR alterations were present in 72.7% of our cases. A high number of CNA including 11q deletions, 17q gains, 19q loss, and BCOR alterations, are more common in extraocular retinoblastoma. Identification of these features may be correlated with a more aggressive tumor warranting consideration for patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the modification of a dilatometer based on a microwave differential spectrometer. Measurement of the converse piezoelectric effect in bone samples; Detection of displacements with a three kinds of restrictions; Comparison between cavities' responses; Relative shift in frequency; Coherent signal averaging over long periods; Suitability for dilatometric measurements on biological samples.

Mountain protected areas provide a range of ecosystem services including conserving biodiversity, while often providing recreation and tourism opportunities. Unfortunately, tourists and pack animals used to transport equipment can damage sensitive alpine vegetation particularly when they leave trails. This study assessed the impacts of disturbance from off trail use on alpine vegetation in a popular park in the Andes. The effect of different levels of disturbance as well as abiotic factors on alpine steppe vegetation was assessed using generalized linear models and ordinations in 91 plots (20 m2) in the popular Horcones Valley that is used to access remote areas in Aconcagua Provincial Park in Argentina. Disturbance off trails resulted in declines in the cover of native plants, including the endemic shrub Adesmia aegiceras but increases in the cover of herbs including the non-native Convolvulus arvensis. Increased disturbance was associated with shifts from stress tolerant species to ruderal plants characterized by more acquisitive traits, including shorter plants with greater Specific Leaf Area. The research demonstrates the severity of impacts from off trail trampling including how trampling favours some species with specific traits over others and why it is important to limit off track use in areas of high conservation value. • Low alpine vegetation can be affected by off trail use from visitors and pack animals. • Off trail disturbance resulted in shifts of species dominance. • Ruderal and non-native species with acquisitive traits were favoured by disturbance. • Limiting off trail use is critical to conserve alpine plant biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In drylands all over the world, chronic anthropic disturbances are relevant factors for woodland degradation. Different disturbances can potentially interact to change vegetation structure. Knowing woodland structure is crucial for better predicting forest dynamic because trees of different sizes significantly affect the regeneration processes, number of saplings and young trees, crown traits and competition attributes. Throughout the Monte biogeographic region, grazing and wood extraction are the main anthropogenic disturbances on Prosopis dry woodlands that can generate modifications in key ecosystem processes. First, we aimed to assess woodland structure at sites under chronic anthropic disturbances. Subsequently, we explored how the combination of grazing and wood extraction affected the population structure of P.flexuosa considered by classes: seedlings, saplings and adults. We found that sites under disturbances presented a high density of trees of smaller sizes. Besides, the interaction effect between grazing and wood extraction depended on the intensities of each of the disturbances. The combination of high intensities of both grazing and wood extraction negatively affected the abundance of all classes, but low or moderate grazing intensities combined with high wood extraction had a positive effect on the abundance of saplings and adults. High intensities of co-occurring disturbances decreased seedling abundance affecting forest recruitment which also was negatively reflected in sapling and adult abundance. However, the combination of low or moderate grazing and high wood extraction generated a woodland structure characterized by few seedlings, and many saplings and adult trees of small size. Application of management options (e.g., spatial or temporal separation of human use, programmed management of grazing and wood extraction intensities or planned practices as wood removal for local use) should contribute to enhance the provision of ecosystem services in Prosopis sp. woodlands without risking regeneration persistence and improving the woodland structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasound elastography has been suggested for assessing organ fibrosis. Objective: To study the feasibility of shear-wave elastography in children with kidney disease and the correlation between elasticity and kidney fibrosis in order to reduce the indications for kidney biopsy and its complications. Materials and methods: Four operators measured kidney elasticity in children with kidney diseases or transplants, all of whom also had a renal biopsy. We assessed the feasibility and the intraobserver variability of the elasticity measurements for each probe used and each kidney explored. Then we tested the correlation between elasticity measurements and the presence of fibrosis. Results: Overall, we analyzed 95 children and adolescents, 31 of whom had renal transplant. Measurements with the convex probe were possible in 100% of cases. Linear probe analysis was only possible for 20% of native kidneys and 50% of transplants. Intraobserver variabilities ranged from moderate to high, depending on the probe and kidney studied. Elasticity was higher with the linear probe than with the convex probe (P<0.001 for left kidney and P=0.03 for right kidney). Measurements did not differ from one kidney to another in the same child. Elasticity and fibrosis were both higher in transplant patients (P=0.02 with convex probe; P=0.01 with linear probe; P=0.04 overall). There was no correlation between elasticity and fibrosis. Conclusion: Of the devices used in this work, kidney elastography was more accurately analyzed with a convex probe. Our study did not identify any correlation between elasticity and kidney fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preclinical model could aid in understanding retinoblastoma vitreous seeds behavior, drug penetration, and response to chemotherapy to optimize patient treatment. Our aim was to develop a tridimensional in vitro model of retinoblastoma vitreous seeds to assess chemotherapy penetration by means of live-cell imaging. Cell cultures from patients with retinoblastoma who underwent upfront enucleation were established and thoroughly characterized for authentication of human tumor origin. The correlation of the in vitro tridimensional structures resembling human spheres and dusts vitreous seeds was established. Confocal microscopy was used to quantify real-time fluorescence of topotecan as a measure of its penetration into different sizes of spheres. Cell viability was determined after chemotherapy penetration. The in vitro spheres and dusts models were able to recapitulate the morphology, phenotype, and genotype of patient vitreous seeds. The larger the size of the spheres, the longer the time required for the drug to fully penetrate into the core (p < 0.05). Importantly, topotecan penetration correlated with its cytotoxic activity. Therefore, the studied tridimensional cell model recapitulated several characteristics of vitreous seeds observed in patients with retinoblastoma and were successfully used to assess live-cell imaging of chemotherapy penetration for drug distribution studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid tumors or predisposition syndromes are increasingly suspected before birth. However optimal management and outcomes remain unclear. We have performed a ten-year retrospective study of oncologic indications of prenatal diagnosis in public hospitals in Marseille. Data were obtained from prenatal diagnosis center and hospital imaging databases and pediatric oncology department files. Fifty-one cases were identified, 40 with mass: adrenal 17, sacrococcygeal 9, cardiac 7, abdominal 4, ovarian 1, cervical 2; 8 with developmental abnormalities (omphalocele 4, macroglossia 4), 3 WITH familial predisposition syndromes (familial rhabdoid 2, Li-Fraumeni 1). Median detection time was 30 week. Termination of pregnancy was decided for 9 fetuses (4 cardiac lesions and suspected tuberous sclerosis, 2 sacrococcygeal tumors, 1 Beckwith–Wiedemann Syndrome, 2 SMARCB1 mutations. Preterm birth occurred in 8 cases. Eleven newborns (26,1%) required intensive care (8 for mechanical complications). Of of 17 adrenal mass ES, 4 disappeared before birth and 5 before one year. Seventeen newborns underwent surgery: 13 masses (teratoma 7, myelomeningocele 2, cystic nephroma 1, neuroblastoma 2), 4 omphaloceles, one biopsy. Surgery performed after one year for incomplete regression identified 1 neuroblastoma, 2 bronchogenic cysts and 2 nonmalignant masses. Three newborns received chemotherapy. Except one patient with BWS who died of obstructive apnea, all children are alive disease free with a median follow-up of 60 months [9–131 months]. Twelve have sequelae. Various solid tumors and cancer predisposition syndromes can be detected before birth. A multidisciplinary collaboration is strongly recommended for optimal management before and after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: in Occidental languages, no widely accepted questionnaire is available which deals with health related quality of life from the specific point of view of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Some psychometric tools of this kind are available in Chinese. One of them is the Chinese Quality of Life questionnaire (ChQoL). It comprises 50 items, subdivided in 3 Domains and 13 Facets. The ChQoL was built from scratch on the basis of TCM theory. It is therefore specifically valuable for the TCM practitioner. This paper describes our translation into Italian of the ChQoL, its first application to Occidental oncological patients, and some of its psychometric properties.Methods: a translation scheme, originally inspired by the TRAPD procedure, is developed. This scheme focuses on comprehensibility and clinical usefulness more than on linguistic issues alone. The translated questionnaire is tested on a sample of 203 consecutive female patients with breast cancer. Shapiro-Wilk normality tests, Fligner-Killeen median tests, exploratory Two-step Cluster Analysis, and Tukey's test for non-additivity are applied to study the outcomes.Results: an Italian translation is proposed. It retains the TCM characteristics of the original ChQoL, it is intelligible to Occidental patients who have no previous knowledge of TCM, and it is useful for daily clinical practice. The score distribution is not Normal, and there are floor and ceiling effects. A Visual Analogue Scale is identified as a suitable choice. A 3-point Likert scale can also efficiently describe the data pattern. The original scales show non-additivity, but an Anscombe-Tukey transformation with γ = 1.5 recovers additivity at the Domain level. Additivity is enhanced if different γ are adopted for different Facets, except in one case.Conclusions: the translated questionnaire can be adopted both as a filing system based on TCM and as a source of outcomes for clinical trials. A Visual Analogue Scale is recommended, but a simpler 3-point Likert scale also suitably fits data. When estimating missing data, and when grouping items within Domain in order to build a summary Domain index, an Anscombe-Tukey transformation should be applied to the raw scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the extensive literature on model fitting to estimate volume in different tree species and regions of Argentina, the references related to volume equations for Populus spp. in irrigated plantations in the Province of Mendoza are scarce. This information is essential for silvicultural management. The objectives of this study were: 1) to calculate and compare the artificial form factors for Populus x canadensis 'Conti 12' and 'Guardi' clones growing in irrigated plantations in Uco Valley, Mendoza, 2) to fit and compare different equations of stem volume with bark for these two clones and 3) to evaluate the possibility of using a single function to estimate this parameter in both clones. Seven models previously used on Populus in Argentina were fitted to estimate the total stem volume per tree. The form factors for 'Conti 12' and 'Guardi' were different between them (0.44 and 0.38, respectively). For both, 'Conti 12' and 'Guardi', the adjustment of the seven models allowed estimating the total stem volume with bark with a very high and similar degree of precision, although in both situations two models (Schumacher-Hall and a variant of the standard function with constant form factor) highlighted over the rest. The statistics of self-validation, homoscedasticity and parsimony criteria allow favoring the decision for the Schumacher-Hall model adjusted individually for each clone and not as a general expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate binaural cues in the rehabilitation of unilateral occluded ears with a bone conduction hearing aid. Methods: The study sample consisted of 40 adult volunteers with normal hearing. Unilateral pseudo-conductive hearing loss was induced by inserting an earplug into the external auditory canal (EAC) and silicone material in the concha for ear impression. The adaptive speech-in-noise test (Italian Matrix test) was performed in three spatial orientations to assess binaural cues (summation, squelch, and head shadow effects). All evaluations were performed in the normal condition, after EAC occlusion, and after application of an adhesive bone conduction hearing aid. Binaural contrast differences were calculated in the three conditions. Results: In the EAC occlusion condition, there was a significant increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in both the S0N0 (2.4 dB) and the S90N−90 (7.7 dB) settings, and a slight albeit significant increase in the S0N90 setting (1.35 dB). After fitting the BC hearing aid, there was a reduction of −1.8 dB SNR (p < 0.001) in the S0N0 setting and −2 dB (p = 0.003) in the S90N−90 setting. There was no improvement in the SNR (p = 0.405) in evaluation of the squelch effect (S0N90). These data were corroborated by a better binaural contrast due to a reduction in the summation effect in the monaural occlusion condition and a subsequent reduction in binaural contrast after fitting the hearing aid due to an increase in the summation effect (−2.5 dB vs. 0.3 dB; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Application of a bone conduction hearing aid in unilateral pseudo-conductive hearing loss strengthens speech recognition of noise by improving the summation effect and impeding the shadow effect of the head; however, there appears to be no improvement in speech perception in noise due to spatial release from masking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectif discuter et illustrer les signes de torsion d’annexe en IRM dans la population pédiatrique. Evaluer son intérêt. Matériels et méthodes étude rétrospective de 19 cas, d’âge moyen 13 ans, opérés après diagnostic de torsion d’annexe à l’IRM. Relecture des données cliniques, échographiques, des IRM, des comptes-rendus opératoires, histologiques et comparaison des deux groupes. Résultats le diagnostic de torsion à l’IRM a été confirmé en chirurgie dans 13 cas, dont 2 étaient des torsions tubaires isolées. 6 cas étaient des faux positifs de torsion en IRM dont 4 kystes hémorragiques de l’ovaire, une péritonite appendiculaire associée à un kyste ovarien, et un ovaire normal. L’IRM a redressé le diagnostic de torsion, non vu en échographie dans 8 cas dont 3 ovaires ont pu être sauvés par détorsion. Les signes IRM les plus fréquents en cas de torsion étaient les signes tubaires (oedème, tour de spire) et les signes d’ischémie. L’hémorragie intraovarienne en cas de torsion était corrélée en anatomopathologie à de l’infarcissement hémorragique. 38% des torsions étaient associées à une masse ovarienne. Conclusion l’IRM réalisée en urgence présente un intérêt diagnostic et pronostic dans les suspicions de torsion d’annexe en pratique pédiatrique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Climate change, livestock and increasing tourism use favor the dispersal of non-native plants, threatening the conservation of high Andean ecosystems. We studied the distribution patterns of native and non-native species in recreational trails of mountains. M&M: We implemented the MIREN T-Trails protocol in six trails (2400-3600 m a.s.l.) in two protected areas of the central Andes of Mendoza, located in the Cordilleras Frontal and Principal. Results: We found 180 native and 41 non-native especies. Native species richness peaked at intermediate elevations, while non-native richness decreased with elevation. The Cordillera Frontal had more native richness than the Cordillera Principal (114 versus 71 native, respectively), but regional richness of exotics was lower in the Cordillera Frontal (20 versus 28 exotic, respectively). The non-native richness per plot was higher in the Cordillera Frontal than in the Cordillera Principal. In turn, the altitudinal distribution range of non-native was greater in the Cordillera Frontal, showing that exotics are more widely distributed in more humid sites of the arid Andes. Two abundant non-natives, Taraxacum officinale and Cerastium arvense, were present along the entire surveyed gradient in the Cordillera Frontal, reaching 3600 m a.s.l. We found seven non-natives not previously cited for the region. Conclusions: The new records found extend the known distribution ranges of some non-native species. Our results show that although the number of non-native species was similar near and far from trails, five species were present only at trail edges, suggesting that trails favor invasion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconstruction of glacial paleolake formation and evolution allows the understanding of glacier advance and retreat behavior for longer periods of time. New datings obtained from paleolacustrine deposits in the Argentinian Patagonian Andes (Northwestern region of Santa Cruz Province) reveal that glacial lakes formed before the Last Glacial Maximum, they being as old as 31,278 cal yr BP, and evolved until 6900 cal yr BP. The interpretation of stratigraphic profiles described in different sectors of the Perito Moreno National Park (PMNP) allows reconstructing lacustrine, glaciolacustrine, glacial till and delta paleoenvironments. In each sector, organic-rich sediments were also sampled to obtain four absolute ages through AMS methodology. Thus, the paleogeographic reconstructions proposed are based on paleobathymetries performed from digital elevation models, datings and facies distribution of lacustrine deposits (mainly composed of laminated silts with subordinated sands and muds). Based on these new data, the paleogeography of this area is characterized by two lakes at 880 m.a.s.l at 31,200 ca yr BP, one directly related to modern Belgrano lake, while the other is probably related to the Burmeister lake but more than 10 km toward the East as respect to its current position. The paleogeography reconstruction shows, between 11,731 cal yr BP and 10,819 cal yr BP, the existence of a major paleolake at 900-920 m.a.s.l. which was connected to several modern lakes. Finally, a decrease of the paleolake level between 900 and 890 m.a.s.l. was recorded at 6900 cal yr BP which produced two major lacustrine systems separated by moraine deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the use of obsidian as a tool to understand the mobility range of hunter-gatherers living in a high-elevation desert in the Salt Puna, specifically in the area of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, between ca. 9000 and 6000 BP. XRF analyses of a vertical sample of obsidian artifacts pertaining to Early and Middle Holocene contexts from three archaeological sites show the use of various sources within a range of 40–95 km respectively from the study area. Our analyses suggest that mobility patterns during the early colonization phase (Early Holocene) of this high elevation region included two sources located in the eastern and northwestern areas of the Salt Puna and reveal a process of landscape learning. By contrast, during the phase of effective occupation (Middle Holocene) —a period coinciding with climatic fluctuations and decreasing rainfall—a greater number of obsidian sources were used suggesting increased knowledge of the landscape as well as a pattern of territorial range shifting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanent forest plots are sampling areas where tree identity, abundance and size are recorded periodically, in order to study how forests change with climate, natural disturbances, uses and management. So far, patterns of change observed with permanent plots in Argentina have been local or regional. To promote scientific collaborations between different research groups within and among regions of Argentina, we created the Network of Permanent Plots of Native Argentinian Forests (RAPP), which includes the regions of Bosques Andino-Patagónicos, Chaco Seco, Chaco Húmedo, Monte de Sierras y Bolsones, Monte de Llanuras y Mesetas, Selva Paranaense and Yungas. Here we synthesize and characterize the information of 317 permanent plots (328.9 ha) included in the RAPP, describing their geographic distribution, objectives, main methodological aspects, and characteristics of the forests where they are established (e.g., disturbance, land tenure, structure, species richness), and after that, discuss the complementarity between the RAPP and the national inventories of native forests. Permanent plots are established over a wide range of latitude (22.02-54.89° S) and elevation (19 a 2304 m a. s. l.), but they are mainly concentrated in Subtropics (Chaco Seco, Chaco Húmedo, Selva Paranaense, and Yungas) and in Bosques Andino-Patagónicos. In all plots, trees are taxonomically identified and different dasometric variables are remeasured, which are the basis for potential collaborations to answer ecological questions at a larger scale. We hope to continue incorporating working groups in the RAPP and encouraging the establishment of plots, mainly in regions with a low number of permanent plots such as Monte, Espinal, and Delta e Islas del Paraná. The goal is that the RAPP advances in the long-term study of all native forests in Argentina, achieving a greater national cover and more interactions among research teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Climate change is expected to impact mountain biodiversity by shifting species ranges and the biomes they shape. The extent and regional variation in these impacts are still poorly understood, particularly in the highly biodiverse Andes. Regional syntheses of climate change impacts on vegetation are pivotal to identify and guide research priorities. Here we review current data, knowledge and uncertainties in past, present and future climate change impacts on vegetation in the Andes. Location: Andes. Taxon: Plants. Methods: We (i) conducted a literature review on Andean vegetation responses to past and contemporary climatic change, (ii) analysed future climate projections for different elevations and slope orientations at 19 Andean locations using an ensemble of model outputs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5, and (iii) calculated changes in the suitable climate envelope area of Andean biomes and compared these results to studies that used species distribution models. Results: Future climatic changes (2040–2070) are projected to be stronger at high‐elevation areas in the tropical Andes (up to 4°C under RCP 8.5), while in the temperate Andes temperature increases are projected to be up to 2°C. Under this worst‐case scenario, temperate deciduous forests and the grasslands/steppes from the Central and Southern Andes are predicted to show the greatest losses of suitable climatic space (30% and 17%–23%, respectively). The high vulnerability of these biomes contrasts with the low attention from researchers modelling Andean species distributions. Critical knowledge gaps include a lack of an Andean wide plant checklist, insufficient density of weather stations at high‐elevation areas, a lack of high‐resolution climatologies that accommodates the Andes' complex topography and climatic processes, insufficient data to model demographic and ecological processes, and low use of palaeo data for distribution modelling. Main conclusions: Climate change is likely to profoundly affect the extent and composition of Andean biomes. Temperate Andean biomes in particular are susceptible to substantial area contractions. There are, however, considerable challenges and uncertainties in modelling species and biome responses and a pressing need for a region‐wide approach to address knowledge gaps and improve understanding and monitoring of climate change impacts in these globally important biomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pueyrredón-Posadas-Salitroso lacustrine system (PPS-LS) is located in the Andean Patagonia region of Argentina (47°22′28″S – 71°55′34″W) and represents a series of lakes formed as glaciers retreated during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. These lakes began as proglacial lakes and later evolved into periglacial lakes. This research presents the chronological evolution of the PPS-LS bathymetric variations based on the analysis of stratigraphic profiles surveyed at different locations and the dates obtained from lake sediments. Four paleogeographic sketches representing the chronological evolution of the PPS-LS between 23,580 BP and 5208 BP have been developed based on the integration of these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleoenvironmental records in the eastern Andes (16–26° S), broadly indicate a gradual trend towards aridity from the Early to the Middle Holocene with certain chronological discrepancies. Even under this adverse climatic scenario, the archaeological record suggests the presence of hunter-gatherers in the southern Argentinian Puna associated with the availability of resources for their subsistence, even during drier than present periods. Herbivore coprolites contain multiple proxies that provide independent records of paleovegetation and paleoenvironments. Among them, plant tissue fragments and pollen grains, offer a powerful and complementary insight on past vegetation changes and their relationship with climatic conditions during the Holocene, particularly in the southern Argentine Puna. Thus, in this work camelid coprolites recovered from the archaeological site Quebrada Seca 3 (QS3) were analyzed using microhistological and palynological techniques to reconstruct the diet of these herbivores but also to infer vegetation and environmental changes from the Early to Middle Holocene (ca. 9600–6100 cal yrs BP) in the southern Argentine Puna (26°S). Results of both records show similar patterns in the percentages and species richness (especially those growing in wetlands) within and between coprolites dating to the Early Holocene (9600-8000 cal yrs BP) which suggest an environmental stability during this period. Around 8000 cal yrs BP, an increased variability in the richness of grasses, shrubs, dwarf shrubs, annual herbs and sedges species shows the gradual establishment of dry conditions, peaking around 6100 cal yrs BP. By this time, variability in the plant content of coprolites reflects seasonality in the assemblages due to the presence/absence of annual herbs either in the pollen or microfragment records. Therefore, it is likely that coprolites were from different animals that were hunted at different times of the year, supporting the evidence that QS3 has been occupied for short intervals of time after 7200 cal yrs BP when environmental conditions were extremely arid. The complementary analysis of the microfragments and pollen records preserved in coprolites provide valuable, complementary and alternative archive for herbivorous diet and for vegetation and environmental reconstructions, reinforcing that multiproxy approaches are necessary to obtain maximum information from coprolite studies. • Microhistological and palynological analysis of coprolites show paleovegetation changes. • Changes in the record were evidenced at ca. 8000 cal yrs BP when dry conditions began. • Palynological record indicate seasonal assemblages at ca. 6100 cal yrs BP. • During the extreme dry period of the Middle Holocene, QS3 was temporarily occupied. • Paleoenvironmental inferences from coprolites improve records at local and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, the current recommendation is to perform a routine abdominopelvic ultrasound in any child under 2 years of age who is suspected to have been abused. We retrospectively studied the relevance of this practice in our center over the past fifteen years. This was a descriptive, retrospective study of all children under 2 years of age who had been subject to suspected abuse. Abdominal images and reports were reviewed and cross-referenced with possible clinical and biological signs. Four hundred and five children were included between 2006 and 2020, of whom 296 underwent abdominal imaging (2 initial abdominopelvic CT scans, 4 ultrasounds followed by CT scans, and 290 ultrasounds alone). Four examinations revealed traumatic abnormalities related to abuse. These four children all had clinical or biological anomalies. In the absence of clinical or biological signs, no imagery showed any abnormality related to abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While large herbivores are critically important components of terrestrial ecosystems and can have pronounced top‐down effects on plants, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving these effects remains incomplete. Large herbivores can alter plant growth, reproduction, and abundance through direct effects (predominantly consumption) and through indirect effects via altered interactions with abiotic factors and other species. We know considerably less about these indirect effects than the direct effects. Here, we integrate medium‐ and small‐scale field experiments to investigate how a large vertebrate herbivore, cattle (Bos taurus), affects the aboveground biomass of a dominant forb species, Artemisia scoparia, via diverse direct and indirect pathways in a temperate grassland in northeast China. Although cattle consumed this forb, its biomass increased significantly in response to grazing, due to multiple indirect positive effects that outweighed the direct negative effects of consumption. Cattle preferentially consumed the competing grass Leymus chinensis, and altered Artemisia microhabitats by reducing total plant cover and litter biomass and by increasing the abundance of co‐occurring ant species (e.g., Formica spp. and Lasius spp.). This led to additional indirect positive effects on A. scoparia likely due to (1) increased light availability in understory layers and other limiting resources (e.g., soil nutrients and moisture) caused by removal of competitors and plant litter at the soil surface and (2) the changes in resource availability (e.g., soil nutrients and moisture) associated with ant colonies. Our results show that large herbivores can affect plant growth not only via direct consumption, but also via multiple indirect effects. Focusing on the causes and consequences of herbivore‐induced indirect effects will not only help us to better understand the influence of these animals in ecological systems, but will also lead to more effective land management and conservation practices in the regions they inhabit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and other global change drivers threaten plant diversity in mountains worldwide. A widely documented response to such environmental modifications is for plant species to change their elevational ranges. Range shifts are often idiosyncratic and difficult to generalize, partly due to variation in sampling methods. There is thus a need for a standardized monitoring strategy that can be applied across mountain regions to assess distribution changes and community turnover of native and non‐native plant species over space and time. Here, we present a conceptually intuitive and standardized protocol developed by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) to systematically quantify global patterns of native and non‐native species distributions along elevation gradients and shifts arising from interactive effects of climate change and human disturbance. Usually repeated every five years, surveys consist of 20 sample sites located at equal elevation increments along three replicate roads per sampling region. At each site, three plots extend from the side of a mountain road into surrounding natural vegetation. The protocol has been successfully used in 18 regions worldwide from 2007 to present. Analyses of one point in time already generated some salient results, and revealed region‐specific elevational patterns of native plant species richness, but a globally consistent elevational decline in non‐native species richness. Non‐native plants were also more abundant directly adjacent to road edges, suggesting that disturbed roadsides serve as a vector for invasions into mountains. From the upcoming analyses of time series, even more exciting results can be expected, especially about range shifts. Implementing the protocol in more mountain regions globally would help to generate a more complete picture of how global change alters species distributions. This would inform conservation policy in mountain ecosystems, where some conservation policies remain poorly implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular glycoprotein overexpressed by several cancers. Because SPARC shows high binding affinity to albumin, we reasoned that pediatric sarcoma xenografts expressing SPARC would show enhanced uptake and accumulation of nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel, a potent anticancer drug formulation. We first evaluated the expression of SPARC in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma, finding variable SPARC gene expression that correlated well with SPARC protein measured by immunoblotting. We revealed that the activity of the fusion gene chimera EWSR1-FLI1 , the genetic driver of Ewing sarcoma, leads to lower expression of the gene SPARC in these tumors, likely due to enriched acetylation marks of the histone H3 lysine 27 at regions including the SPARC promoter and potential enhancers. Then, we used SPARC-edited Ewing sarcoma cells (A673 line) to demonstrate that SPARC knocked down (KD) cells accumulated significantly less amount of nab-paclitaxel in vitro than SPARC wild type (WT) cells. In vivo , SPARC KD and SPARC WT subcutaneous xenografts in mice achieved similar maximum intratumoral concentrations of nab-paclitaxel, though drug clearance from SPARC WT tumors was significantly slower. We confirmed such SPARC-mediated long-term intratumoral accumulation of nab-paclitaxel in Ewing sarcoma PDX with high expression of SPARC, which accumulated significantly more nab-paclitaxel than SPARC-low PDX. SPARC-high PDX responded better to nab-paclitaxel than SPARC-low tumors, although these results should be taken cautiously, given that the PDXs were established from different patients that could have specific determinants predisposing response to paclitaxel. In addition, SPARC KD Ewing sarcoma xenografts responded better to soluble docetaxel and paclitaxel than to nab-paclitaxel, while SPARC WT ones showed similar response to soluble and albumin-carried drugs. Overall, our results show that pediatric sarcomas expressing SPARC accumulate nab-paclitaxel for longer periods of time, which could have clinical implications for chemotherapy efficacy. [Display omitted] • Pediatric sarcomas secrete SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine). • SPARC expression increased nab-paclitaxel long-term retention in xenografts. • Tumor clearance of nab-paclitaxel was faster upon knocking down SPARC. • SPARC improved nab-paclitaxel efficacy in sarcomas of similar genetic background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal activation of MET/ HGF ( Hepatocyte Growth Factor) pathway has been described in several tumours and increased HGF plasmatic levels have been detected in patients with aggressive multiple myeloma (MM). MET and HGF m RNA expression was investigated in 105 samples of purified plasma cells derived from newly diagnosed MM patients treated with bortezomib-based induction therapy. Gene expression was compared with response to therapy and clinical outcome. MET gene copy number was also evaluated. MET m RNA expression was higher in CD138+ than in CD138− cells (median 76·90 vs. 11·24; P = 0·0009). Low MET m RNA expression characterized patients with better response (complete response or very good partial response) compared to other patients (median 56·10 vs. 134·83; P = 0·0006). After a median follow-up of 50 months, patients with high MET m RNA expression displayed a worse progression-free survival ( PFS; P = 0·0029) and overall survival ( OS; P = 0·0023) compared to those with low MET m RNA levels. Patients with both high MET m RNA expression and high β2-microglobulin level (>5·5 mg/l) had further worse median PFS ( P < 0·0001) and OS ( P < 0·0001). Patients carrying 4 MET gene copies (8 out of 82, 9·8%) also had a short PFS. High MET m RNA expression identifies patients with dismal PFS and OS and the combination with high β2-microglobulin further characterizes patients with worse outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiogenesis is considered a hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM) progression. In the present study, we evaluated the morphological and functional features of endothelial cells (ECs) derived from bone marrow (BM) of patients affected by MM (MMECs). We found that MMECs compared with normal BM ECs (BMECs) showed increased expression of syndecan-1. Silencing of syndecan-1 expression by RNA interference technique decreased in vitro EC survival, proliferation and organization in capillary-like structures. In vivo, in severe combined immunodeficient mice, syndecan-1 silencing inhibited MMEC organization into patent vessels. When overexpressed in human umbilical vein ECs and BMECs, syndecan-1 induced in vitro and in vivo angiogenic effects. Flow-cytometric analysis of MMECs silenced for syndecan-1 expression indicated a decreased membrane expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Immunoprecipitation and confocal analysis showed colocalization of VEGFR-2 with syndecan-1. Absence of nuclear translocation of VEGFR-2 in syndecan-1-knockdown cells together with the shift from perinuclear localization to recycling compartments suggest a role of syndecan-1 in modulation of VEGFR-2 localization. This correlated with an in vitro decreased VEGF-induced invasion and motility. These results suggest that syndecan-1 may contribute to the highly angiogenic phenotype of MMECs by promoting EC proliferation, survival and modulating VEGF-VEGFR-2 signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Management of cystic lymphangioma necessitate for optimal diagnosis and treatment the expertise of a trained multidisciplinary team including dermatologists, radiologists, plastic and vascular surgeons. An initial imaging work-up of these lesions by ultrasound Doppler examination and MR imaging are necessary before treatment planning. Depending of the size, the location, the risk for the adjacent organs, a therapeutic decision may be mandatory. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is a safe and efficient treatment. It is the treatment of choice that must be proposed in first intention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been described to correlate with tumoural necrosis in response to preoperative chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. Objective: To assess the accuracy of DWI in evaluating the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy at the mid-course treatment of long-bone osteosarcoma and in predicting survival. Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective single-centre study over a continuous period of 11 years. Consecutive patients younger than 20 years treated with a neoadjuvant regimen for peripheral conventional osteosarcoma were eligible for inclusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with DWI was performed at diagnosis, and mid- and end-course chemotherapy with mean apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) calculated at each time point. A percentage less than or equal to 10% of the viable residual tissue at the histological analysis of the surgical specimen was defined as a good responder to chemotherapy. Survival comparisons were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Uni- and multivariate analyses with ADC change were performed by Cox modelling. This is an expansion and update of our previous work. Results: Twenty-six patients between the ages of 4.8 and 19.6 years were included, of whom 14 were good responders. At mid-course chemotherapy, good responders had significantly higher mean ADC values (P=0.046) and a higher increase in ADC (P=0.015) than poor responders. The ADC change from diagnosis to mid-course MRI did not appear to be a prognosticator of survival and did not impact survival rates of both groups. Conclusion: DWI at mid-course preoperative chemotherapy for osteosarcoma should be considered to evaluate the degree of histological necrosis and to predict survival. The anticipation of a response to neoadjuvant treatment by DWI may have potential implications on preoperative management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History and environment shape crop biodiversity, particularly in areas with vulnerable human communities and ecosystems. Tracing crop biodiversity over time helps understand how rural societies cope with anthropogenic or climatic changes. Exceptionally well preserved ancient DNA of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) from the cold and arid Andes of Argentina has allowed us to track changes and continuities in quinoa diversity over 18 centuries, by coupling genotyping of 157 ancient and modern seeds by 24 SSR markers with cluster and coalescence analyses. Cluster analyses revealed clear population patterns separating modern and ancient quinoas. Coalescence-based analyses revealed that genetic drift within a single population cannot explain genetic differentiation among ancient and modern quinoas. The hypothesis of a genetic bottleneck related to the Spanish Conquest also does not seem to apply at a local scale. Instead, the most likely scenario is the replacement of preexisting quinoa gene pools with new ones of lower genetic diversity. This process occurred at least twice in the last 18 centuries: first, between the 6th and 12th centuries—a time of agricultural intensification well before the Inka and Spanish conquests—and then between the 13th century and today—a period marked by farming marginalization in the late 19th century likely due to a severe multidecadal drought. While these processes of local gene pool replacement do not imply losses of genetic diversity at the metapopulation scale, they support the view that gene pool replacement linked to social and environmental changes can result from opposite agricultural trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contrast-enhanced MRI is often used for diagnosis and follow-up of children with inflammatory bowel disease.Objective: To compare the accuracy of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) to contrast-enhanced MRI in children with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease.Materials and Methods: This retrospective, consecutive study included 55 children. We used ileo-colonoscopy and histology as the reference standard from the terminal ileum to the rectum, and contrast-enhanced MRI as the reference standard proximal to the terminal ileum. DWI and contrast-enhanced MRI sequences were independently reviewed and compared per patient and per segment to these reference standards and to the follow-up for each child.Results: We obtained endoscopic data for 340/385 colonic and ileal segments (88%). The rate of agreement per segment between DWI and endoscopy was 64%, and the rate of agreement between contrast-enhanced MRI and endoscopy was 59%. Per patient, sensitivity and specificity of bowel wall abnormalities as compared to the endoscopy were 87% and 100% for DWI, and 70% and 100% for contrast-enhanced MRI, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 100% and 57% for DWI, and 96% and 41% for contrast-enhanced MRI. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of DWI compare to contrast-enhanced MRI in the segments proximal to the terminal ileum were 90%, 98%, 90%, 98% and 96%, respectively.Conclusion: The diagnostic performance of DWI is competitive to that of contrast-enhanced MRI in children with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) shows potent preclinical anticancer activity in pediatric solid tumors such as Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma, but responses in clinical trials have been modest. In this work, we aimed to discover a rational biomarker-based approach to select the right candidate patients for this treatment. We assessed the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel in 27 patient-derived xenografts (PDX), including 14 Ewing sarcomas, five rhabdomyosarcomas and several other pediatric solid tumors. Response rate (partial or complete response) was remarkable in rhabdomyosarcomas (four of five) and Ewing sarcomas (four of 14). We addressed several predictive factors of response to nab-paclitaxel such as the expression of the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), chromosomal stability of cancer cells and expression of antiapoptotic members of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-W and Mcl-1. Protein (immunoblotting) and gene expression of SPARC correlated positively, while immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry expression of Bcl-2 correlated negatively with the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel in Ewing sarcoma PDX. The negative correlation of Bcl-2 immunoblotting signal and activity was especially robust (r = 0.8352; P = 0.0007; Pearson correlation). Consequently, we evaluated pharmacological strategies to inhibit Bcl-2 during nab-paclitaxel treatment. We observed that the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax improved the activity of nab-paclitaxel in highly resistant Bcl-2-expressing Ewing sarcoma PDX. Overall, our results suggest that low Bcl-2 expression could be used to select patients with Ewing sarcoma sensitive to nab-paclitaxel, and Bcl-2 inhibitors could improve the activity of this drug in Bcl-2-expressing Ewing sarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an innovative aluminum liquid cold plate for press-pack power applications with an internal finned geometry made with additive manufacturing is proposed and analyzed. Thermal and fluid dynamic performances are estimated by FEM simulations, which have been validated through an ad hoc test bench. Proper considerations about potential problems of the selective laser melting metal printing technique and their implications for the reliability of liquid cold plates have been done. Then, simulation results for failure conditions (short circuit and coolant liquid circuit failure cases) on a complete press-pack stack are shown. • Liquid heat sinks • Finite element modeling • Thermal modeling • High power electronics coolers • Metal additive manufacturing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palynological, palaeoparasitological and paleobotanical studies of coprolites found in archaeological sites from Perito Moreno National Park (47°57′S72°05′W) yielded information on diet, palaeoenvironment and health. These studies allowed adding evidence to the reconstruction of life history of the hunter–gatherers that inhabited Patagonia during the Holocene. We examined the season of the year when camelid Lama guanicoe coprolites (5400 ± 64 yr 14C BP to 9640 ± 190 yr 14C BP) were deposited at Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 (site CCP7). The study used palynological evidence and comparison with pollen spectra of modern feces collected during summer, fall, winter and spring of 2010. The dominant types were: pollen of Nothofagus, Empetrum rubrum, Asteraceae subfam. Asteroideae, Nassauvia, Caryophyllaceae and Poaceae; fern spores; remains of Eimeria macusaniensis; and plant remains of Poaceae, Festuca pallescens, Stipa speciosa, Armeria maritima, Gaultheria mucronata and E. rubrum. Pollen spectra of modern and fossil feces were used for multivariate analysis. Coprolites associated to fall and winter modern feces. These results and those obtained from pollen concentration values and the presence of pollen types indicators of seasonality, allowed the determination of summer, fall and winter coprolites. However, caution must be taken with the seasonality results of coprolites dated earlier than 9000 years BP since the environmental conditions differed from now. The site was probably a camelid shelter during the unfavorable seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to analyze the landforms around Pueyrredón Lake (NW Santa Cruz in Argentina) to contribute to the understanding of the paleoenvironmental evolution of Patagonia during the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene. The Pueyrredón Lake area belongs to the Patagonian shield, northwest of the Santa Cruz Province (47°22′28″ S–71°55′34″ W). Characteristic landforms were identified through satellite images (Landsat 7 ETM) and field work. These landforms include glacial troughs, glacier striations and groove casts, three fan deltas on the south margin of Pueyrredón Lake, lacustrine and glacio-lacustrine sediment, and till deposits. In addition, short detailed stratigraphic logs were measured for paleoenvironmental analysis, and several sedimentary deposits were sampled to characterize grain size variations. All of the information is displayed on a geomorphological map. The modern and ancient landforms were also analyzed based on their topographic characteristics, which were determined by a digital elevation model (DEM). Geomorphological conditions of the erosional and depositional processes in the paleoglacial environment were analyzed using longitudinal- and cross-sections. The results shed light on the climatic variability during the most recent geological period. Major changes in the landscape morphology were associated with glacier evolution and the development and division of the great lakes in the eastern Andes, in Central Patagonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]