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The alteration of signaling molecules involved in the general metabolism of animals can negatively influence reproduction. In dairy cattle, the development of follicular cysts and the subsequent appearance of ovarian cystic disease (COD) often lead to decreased reproductive efficiency in the herd. The objective of this review is to summarize the contribution of relevant metabolic and nutritional sensors to the development of COD in dairy cows. In particular, we focus on the study of alterations of the insulin signaling pathway, adiponectin, and other sensors and metabolites relevant to ovarian functionality, which may be related to the development of follicular persistence and follicular formation of cysts in dairy cattle. The results of these studies support the hypothesis that systemic factors could alter the local scenario in the follicle, generating an adverse microenvironment for the resumption of ovarian activity and possibly leading to the persistence of follicles and to the development and recurrence of COD.

The cytokines of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family are closely involved in the resolution of inflammation in cows with metritis and endometritis. However, little is known about the role of these cytokines beyond uterine regression in the absence of disease, especially around conception. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the gene and protein expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RI, IL-1RII and IL-1Ra in endometrial biopsies previous to conception, to evaluate the possible association of these cytokines with delayed conception in dairy cows. Gene and protein expression levels were evaluated by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The gene expression levels of cytokines were not associated with the duration of the period to conception following parturition. However, high protein expression of IL-1β and low protein expression of IL-1Ra were significantly associated with early conception. These results suggest that an imbalanced protein expression of IL-1β and IL-1Ra in the endometrium of dairy cows could be part of the maternal immune response mechanism necessary to propitiate early conception and probably to maintain pregnancy.

Purpose Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. It carries a large healthcare burden and is associated with serious complications. The arrhythmia has a substantial genetic component and is associated with several structural genes, including the gene TTN. A recent large genome-wide association study on AF found an association to RBM20. The RBM20 gene is a splicing factor targeting TTN, RYR2 and CAMK2D among other cardiac genes. Using Next-Generation Sequencing and data derived from the UK Biobank, we aimed to reveal the role of RBM20 in AF. Methods and results We examined the burden of rare (Minor allele frequency (MAF) To examine the effect of rare missense RBM20 variants in the splicing of TTN, we screened an in-house cohort of 531 Scandinavian early-onset AF patients using targeted sequencing. We filtered for rare (MAF20) variants and identified nine missense variants and three novel LOF variants in RBM20. To evaluate the effect of these RBM20 variants, we constructed a series of human RBM20 single nucleotide base exchange mutants. The splicing activity of the variants was measured with RT-qPCR on HEK293 cells transfected with a TTN241–3 splicing reporter. Four of these variants resulted in a significantly altered splicing activity in TTN, with the largest effect observed for LOF variants. In order to examine the biological effect of RBM20 variants on structural changes in atrial tissue, we used a Norwegian Brown rat animal model with loss of RBM20. In this model, Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed altered sarcomere and mitochondrial structure in its atrial cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, nanopore RNA sequencing of atrial tissue from the aforementioned animal model indicated altered expression in several key cardiac genes, including TTN and PITX2. Conclusion Rare RBM20 LOF variants are significantly enriched in AF cases, seen in a large population of 175,000 individuals. We demonstrated that the effect of LOF RBM20 on alternative TTN splicing can be detected on an individual level in patients with AF. Studies using an animal model indicates that LOF in RBM20 may affect atrial function through altered expression of several genes in the atria, and may cause structural changes in the atrial cardiomyocytes. This suggests that RBM20 may be involved in AF pathogenesis mediated through an atrial cardiomyopathy. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Novo Nordisk Foundation Pre-Graduate Scholarships (NNF18OC0053094)The Hallas Møller Emerging Investigator grant (Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF17OC0031204))

In the present study, recording and evaluation of the current practices applied for the treatment of wastewater and cheese whey, derived from ten cheese manufacturing units in Greece, was performed. Wastewater from cheese manufacturing includes milk losses, wastewater generated by the staff and by the washing of equipment, floors and milk transferring vehicles. Based on the study, cheese whey is separately collected from the cheese manufacturing wastewater in almost all the Greek units under study. Wastewater generated by Greek medium size units is mainly treated through the extended aeration activated sludge process, while wastewater derived from small size units is either disposed in the sewage system or it is stored until its transportation for further treatment. Moreover, aiming at revealing the potential exploitation opportunities, a comprehensive literature review on cheese whey valorisation technologies was also conducted. The literature review revealed that cheese whey and whey components can be used in a wide range of applications, mainly in the food and nutraceutical industry, as they contain several beneficial compounds that can be exploited. In this context, the increasing consumer concerns related to health and wellbeing have enhanced the acceptability and demand for whey products, such as the whey protein concentrates and isolates, the whey powder, the reduced lactose whey, etc. Moreover, cheese whey can be used for the production of sustainable energy alternatives to fossil fuels, such as ethanol, hydrogen and biogas. Among them, biogas production through anaerobic digestion could be a viable solution since relevant economic analysis revealed that this technology is a profitable and sustainable investment for a Greek cheese whey factory.

Aims Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is common among very preterm infants. If pharmacological closure is ineffective or contraindicated, surgical ligation may be required. Access to cardiothoracic surgery may influence the timing of ligation. We aimed to assess the impact of PDA ligation timing on neonatal clinical outcomes in two tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Units with different surgical management of PDA: early bedside surgery vs. referral to a cardiac surgery centre. Methods In-born infants in a University Hospital in Bologna, Italy (group 1, bedside ligation) and a UK tertiary University Hospital (group 2, referred to cardiac surgical centres) who underwent PDA ligation between 2006 and 2016 were included in this retrospective cohort study if fulfilling the following criteria: gestational age (GA) Results Thirty-four neonates were included in each group. While the delivery mode and antenatal steroids differed significantly between the study groups, no difference in GA, BW, Apgar5, sex, twinhood, and intrauterine growth restriction was observed. Group 1 underwent PDA ligation significantly earlier than group 2 (median age 12 v 39 days, p Conclusions Bedside ligation allowed an earlier surgical PDA closure and was not associated with increased mortality or surgical complication rates. Earlier PDA ligation may reduce the prevalence of oxygen need at discharge, with potential cost-benefit implications; however, further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

BACKGROUND: This was a post-hoc analysis of the Optimized Pegylated interferons Efficacy and anti-Retroviral Approach (OPERA) study, originally designed to document routine clinical and treatment data in HIV/HCV coinfected patients treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV). The aim of this study was to define the impact of several variables, such as age, glucose metabolism, and HIV viral load, on PEG-IFN/RBV treatment outcomes, in HIV/HCV coinfected women. METHODS: Female subjects from the OPERA database were retrospectively evaluated and factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) were assessed and compared to the male population by logistic regression analysis. At baseline, clinical and demographic data were collected. Patients were then administered with PEG-IFN/RBV therapy for 48 weeks. After a 24-week follow-up period, SVR was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1523 patients were enrolled in 98 centers across Italy, 1284 of whom were IFN therapy naïve and were included in the post-hoc analysis. In the female group, factors associated with SVR were the presence of HCV genotype 2,3 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=6.87, p

Le ostruzioni alla via di efflusso ventricolare sinistro sono un insieme di anomalie strutturali che comportano una ostruzione a vari livelli della via di efflusso ventricolare sinistro. Costituiscono circa il 7% di tutte le cardiopatie congenite e presentano una incidenza di circa 6 casi su 10.000 nati vivi

La finestra aortopolmonare (FAP) è una cardiopatia congenita caratterizzata da una comunicazione tra aorta ascendente e tronco dell’arteria polmonare. Malformazione rara, interessa circa lo 0.1-0.2% dei pazienti affetti da cardiopatie congenite

A plasma focus is being developed for breeding short-lived radionuclides. The different radiation protection issues and concerns posed by the machine once in operation are analysed and discussed. Activation is shown to be totally negligible and likewise neutron emission is found to pose no concern at all. The only source of radiation risk is found to rest in the radionuclides produced, 18F and 15 O, generating a peak exposure of 1.114 Sv y(-1) at the distance of closest approach of 2.5 m. Shielding to protect against this hazard is calculated to be 5 cm Pb or 54 cm concrete for the operation area and 5.5 cm Pb for the transportation flask.

Plasma focus (PF) technology development today is strictly related to the possibility of a high frequency repetitive working regime. One of the more relevant obstacles to this goal is the heating of structural components due to direct interaction with plasma. In this paper, temperature decay measurements of the inner electrode of a 7 kJ Mather type PF are presented. Data from several series of shots at different bank energies are analysed and compared with theoretical and numerical models. Two possible scale laws are derived from the experimental data to correlate thermal deposition with bank energy. It is found that a fraction of about 10% of total energy is released to the inner electrode. Finally, after some considerations about the cooling and heating mechanisms, an analysis on maximum temperature sustained by materials is presented.

direct anti-hepatitis B agents; however, prevalence and clinical impact of this adverse event are poorly appreciated. Material and Methods: 124 patients (78% males, 58 yr, 60% cirrhosis, 14% with 2(OH)-vitamin D deficiency, 90% under tenofovir±lamivudine treatment for 15 months) underwent two dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) performed at least 12 months a part. A T score of less than -2.5 and a T score between -1 and -2.5 identified osteoporosis and osteopenia, respectively (WHO criteria). All patients lacked concomitant medication affecting bone metabolism or osteoporosi in the first DXA scan. Results: During a median interval of 15 months (12-50) between DXA scan, 13 (26%) of 50 (40%) patients with normal BMD at the first DXA scan progressed to osteopenia (3 at LS, 7 at FN and 3 at both LS and FN) but none to osteoporosis. Among the 74 (60%) patients with osteopenia at the first DXA scan, 5 (7%) progressed to osteoporosis (2 at LS, 2 at FN and 1 at both LS and FN). Overall, 77% of the patients had stable BMD, 8% improved and 15% worsened. Median LS and FN T scores remained stable between DXA scans (-0.70 vs -0.80; -1.10 vs -1.10, p=ns). Age, gender, BMI, cirrhosis, nucleotide treatment, duration of antiviral therapy, immunosuppression and vitamin D status were not associated with worsening of BMD. In conclusion, in patients with chronic hepatitis B under nucleos(t)ide therapy, BMD worsened in a minority of patients only.

Diabet. Med. 27, 960–964 (2010) Abstract Aims Few longitudinal imaging studies of liver-engrafted islets after islet transplantation are available for islet-transplant-alone (ITA) and islet-after-kidney (IAK) transplanted patients. Particularly controversial is the link between islet function and the appearance of islet-induced liver focal fatty changes. Aims of this study were to assess liver focal fatty changes at ultrasound after islet transplantation and their relationship with islet function. Methods The timing of first ultrasound detection of liver focal fatty changes and the prevalence and duration of these changes were assessed in 30 IAK transplanted patients, in five ITA patients and, retrospectively, in full-, partial- and no-function groups, according to islet function evaluated 1 year after transplantation. Patients with persistent ultrasound detected liver focal fatty changes underwent liver biopsy. Ultrasound positive and negative patients with functioning islets were compared for islet-function and C-peptide-levels during the follow-up. Variations of cholesterol/triglycerides and other metabolic parameters were also recorded at 1 year. Results Liver focal fatty changes at ultrasound were found in 12 patients (10/30 IAK, 2/5 ITA). First detection was at 6 months in eight cases and at 12 months in four cases. Liver ultrasound changes were of more than 1 year duration in eight cases. Steatosis was found histologically in 8/8 patients. At 12 months, liver ultrasound changes were detected to a greater extent in patients with partial islet function (10/12, eight IAK, two ITA) compared with patients with full islet function. C-peptide-levels were significantly lower in ultrasound-positive than in ultrasound-negative patients. At 18 months, ultrasound- positive patients were more prone to worsening of their function (9/12) compared with ultrasound-negative patients (3/18). No statistically significant differences of cholesterol/triglycerides levels were found in either the total number of patients or the IAK and ITA patients. Conclusions Liver focal fatty changes at ultrasound (steatosis) after islet transplantation in IAK and ITA patients may represent an early sign of altered graft function.

Chronic hepatitis C is frequent and aggressive in HIV-positive patients. Identification of early predictors of response to anti-HCV therapy is needed for a lower rate of response and higher discontinuations, compared to HCV mono-infected subjects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the predictive value of virological response (VR) at week 4-8-12 of Pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) on sustained virological response (SVR) in HIV-HCV co-infected patients. 100 patients were treated with PEG-IFN (1.5 mcg/Kg/w) plus RBV ( > /=10.6 mg/kg/d) and randomized for 24-48 or 48-72 weeks, respectively for genotype 2-3 and 1-4, in case of response (HCV-RNA PCR negativity) at the end of standard therapy (24 weeks for genotype 2-3, 48 weeks for genotype 1-4). Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA) assay for HCV-RNA was also applied. 27 patients reached end-of-treatment response (9 genotype 1-4, 18 genotype 2-3), 21 achieved SVR (8 genotype 1-4, 13 genotype 2-3). 35 patients dropped, 15 due to side-effects. SVR was statistically related to lower baseline HCV-RNA and to VR at week 4-8-12, with PPV 64%, 53% and 58%, and NPV 81%, 96% and 88%, respectively. In 27 patients, TMA was performed and confirmed standard PCR, except in two cases of relapse, who were PCR negative but TMA positive at week-12. In conclusion, VR at week 8 showed the highest NPV on SVR (96%). The study of viral kinetics requires further investigations in HIV-positive patients to guarantee a cost-effective therapy and to guide individually the duration of treatment. In this setting, TMA might be useful.

The report deals with activity at two distinct plasma focus facilities. The first with 7 kJ bank energy represents the traditional apparatus used for more than ten years at the University of Ferrara. The other, just constructed, reaches 150 kJ bank energy and is exclusively dedicated to the production of sizeable quantities of medical radioisotopes. In regards to the first device, the energy spectra of X rays generated by the impact of electron beams on high- and medium- Z targets following the pinch implosion of plasma focus (PF) devices are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms of X ray production following electron impact ionization. In addition, a temperature measurement of the PF inner electrode is reported and some results have been proved useful in order to optimize the device functionalities. An experimental campaign was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of short lived radioisotope (SLR) production within the pulsed discharges of a plasma focus (PF) device. This so-called ‘‘endogenous production’’ technique rests on the exploitation of nuclear reactions for the creation of SLR directly within the plasma, rather than on irradiating an external target. Following the results displayed in such campaign a second high energy PF machine was designed and its characteristics together with the first tests are presented too.

To identify predictive factors for moderate/severe liver fibrosis and to analyse fibrosis progression in paired liver biopsies from HIV-positive patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.HIV/HCV coinfected patients followed at the 2nd Department of Infectious Diseases of L. Sacco Hospital in Milan, Italy, with at least one liver biopsy specimen were retrospectively evaluated.A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the study. In a univariate analysis, predictive factors of Ishak-Knodell stageor =3 were a history of alcohol abuse [odds ratio (OR) 3.6, P=0.004], alanine aminotransferase level100 IU/L at biopsy (OR 2.4, P=0.05), necro-inflammatory gradeor =9 (OR 37.14, P0.0001) and CD4 count350 cells/microL at nadir (OR 5.3, P=0.05). In a multivariate analysis, age35 years (OR 3.19, P=0.04) and alcohol abuse (OR 4.36, P=0.002) remained independently associated with Ishak-Knodell stage. Paired liver biopsies were available in 36 patients; 18 showed an increase of at least one stage in the subsequent liver biopsy. Either in a univariate or in a multivariate analysis, a decrease of CD4 cell count of more than 10% between two biopsies (OR 6.85, P=0.002) was significantly associated with liver fibrosis progression.Our findings highlight the relevance of encouraging a withdrawal of alcohol consumption in people with chronic HCV infection and of carrying out close follow-up of patients, especially if they are more than 35 years old. It is therefore mandatory to evaluate HIV/HCV coinfected patients for anti-HCV treatment and to increase CD4 cell count through antiretroviral therapy in order to reduce the risk of fibrosis progression and to slow the evolution of liver disease.

Experiments in the past five years have demonstrated production of short-lived radioisotopes with a Plasma Focus device, using the so-termed Endogenous Mode. So far radioisotope activities of only a few microcuries have been obtained from single discharges in small scale Plasma Focus machines (capacitor bank energies of approximately 7 kJ). It is expected that higher activities could be obtained with larger bank energies, operating at high pulse repetition rates, e.g. 1 Hz. However, many scientific and technological issues must be addressed for a high-energy Plasma Focus device to run at one pulse per second. Aim of this paper is to present preliminary results pertaining to the plasma, electrical, fluid-dynamical, thermal, material and mechanical design of a 150 kJ Plasma Focus, capable of a repetition rate of 1 Hz, that will be operated at 30 kV with a 350 μF capacitor bank and a maximum total current of 1.5 MA. This device will be used to breed 18-F for the synthesis of drugs used in positron-emission medical examinations, such as FDG for PET.

In recent years, research conducted in the US and in Italy has demonstrated production of radioisotopes in plasma focus devices, and particularly, on what could be termed "endogenous" production, to wit, production within the plasma it self, as opposed to irradiation of tar gets. This technique relies on the formation of localized small plasma zones characterized by very high densities and fairly high temperatures. The conditions prevailing in these zones lead to high nuclear reaction rates, as pointed out in previous work by several authors. Further investigation of the cross sections involved has proven necessary to model the phenomena involved. In this paper, the present status of research in this field is re viewed, both with regards to cross section models and to experimental production of radio isotopes. Possible out comes and further development are discussed.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors for lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-related liver enzyme elevation (LEE) in HIV antiretroviral-experienced patients. Methods: An open prospective observational study was carried out to analyse the incidence and time of LEE development during LPV/r treatment, and to determine whether LEE development was correlated with epidemiological, clinical and biochemical data, immune and virological profiles, concomitant hepatic diseases, antiretroviral therapy, or histological and ultrasonography liver examination results. A diagnosis of LEE was considered when LEE symptoms occurred after LPV/r introduction and was confirmed by a second control within 2 weeks. Results: A total of 782 HIV-positive outpatients have been enrolled in six different Infectious Diseases Departments in Northern Italy since August 2000. Of these patients, 71 (9.1%) developed LEE within 115 +/- 85 days (mean +/- standard deviation); 13 of these subjects discontinued LPV/r and four were hospitalized. Of the patients with LEE, 74.6% and 25.4% had grade 2 and greater than or equal to3 toxicity, respectively. No correlation between LEE and sex, baseline CD4 cell count, viral load, HIV stage, triglyceride values, histological and ultrasonography liver examination results, nevirapine use, or increase in CD4 cell count was observed. Higher baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) values (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.004, respectively), younger age (P = 0.008), previous hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (P = 0.012), efavirenz use (P = 0.04), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or HBV coinfection (P < 0.0001, relative risk 4.78) were significantly related to LEE. No correlations between LEE and the same risk factors as investigated in the whole study population were found in subgroups of patients with HCV and/or HBV infection. Conclusions: HCV and HBV testing and measurement of baseline ALT values are essential for screening subjects at risk of LEE before starting LPV/r. Strict monitoring of clinical and biochemical parameters should be performed in these patients.

We have deposited various FeAg granular systems having different iron content and we have investigated their giant magnetoresistive properties as a function of temperature. In a previous work we observed that, at room temperature, with increasing Fe content samples behaviour changes from superparamagnetic to ferromagnetic-like, and 20% is the concentration that separates these two regimes. In correspondence with this value, the dependence of giant magnetoresistance intensity as a function of iron concentration shows a maximum. With decreasing temperature, we observed that the position of this maximum shifts progressively towards lower iron concentrations. This behaviour has been discussed in terms of the presence of magnetic interparticle interactions. An analysis of the dependence of giant magnetoresistance as a function of applied field at the various temperatures is also presented.

We investigate the temperature dependence of the coercive field of a nanogranular co-sputtered Fe/Ag film. The sample is superparamagnetic at room temperature and displays a 3% giant magnetoresistance. As temperature decreases from 40 to 9 K, hysteresis appears in magnetization loops. The coercive field dependence on temperature turns out to be different from the power law expected for single-domain monodispersed ferromagnetic particle ensembles. The results are analyzed in terms of a model taking into account the effect of magnetic grain size distribution on coercive field. The agreement between experiment and the model is excellent. The possibility to gain information concerning width and symmetry of the particles volume distribution from the study of coercivity's scaling with temperature is discussed.

We investigated the magnetoresistance effect in presence of mixed length-scale magnetic coherence in systems displaying coexistence of ferromagnetic- and superparamagnetic-like behaviors. In spite of their different microstructure, all the samples investigated show magnetoresistance curves vs. sample magnetization with a characteristic feature: the magnetoresistance remains unchanged (viz., equal to its value for M =0) over a wide range of magnetization values. The results are interpreted considering the interplay between the different magnetic ordering scales probed by the spin-dependent scattering and the magnetization reorientation processes and the presence in the films of magnetic coherence at different length-scales. From the comparison of the results with a phenomenological model, developed for dealing with local variations of magnetic ordering, we determined the field evolution of the ratio between the characteristic length-scale for magnetic coherence and spin diffusion length in the different samples.

We have performed small angle neutron scattering measurements with polarised and non-polarised neutrons on FeAg magnetic systems prepared by plasma sputtering deposition with the co-sputtering method. We have prepared various samples with an iron content ranging from 10% to 30% and for iron concentration up to 20% they display a superparamagnetic behaviour. Particular attention has been dedicated to these systems, in order to investigate the evolution of granular phase morphology with iron content. The data collected with polarised neutrons can be interpreted in terms of the presence of nanosized particles surrounded by non-magnetic regions. Our data also indicate that samples “magnetic” morphology is greatly affected by iron percentage while the compositional shows negligible modifications.

In a prospective study evaluating risk factors for indinavir-related renal colic in 555 HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, followed-up fir 24 months, 23.6% developed one or more renal colic episodes, and 50 patients stopped indinavir. No correlation was observed between renal colic onset and sex, age, CD4 cell count, history, and hepatitis B or C virus co-infection, but baseline anthropometric values were significantly related to the onset of renal colic.

Purpose: To report a novel case demonstrating the successful endovascular treatment of a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm using a balloon-expandable coronary stent-graft. Case Report: A 60-year-old woman underwent surgical treatment for a Klatskin tumor, but her postoperative course was complicated by serious blood loss. An emergent celiac angiogram through a right transfemoral approach demonstrated a small iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm in the proximal right hepatic artery. A 7-F guiding catheter was positioned at the origin of the celiac trunk, and a Jostent coronary stent-graft mounted on a 2.7-F, 4-mm × 30-mm balloon catheter was successfully placed across the aneurysm neck. The final angiogram demonstrated total exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm with preservation of the arterial lumen. The hemodynamic condition of the patient became stable. At 12-month follow-up, duplex scanning confirmed regular right hepatic artery patency and absence of thrombotic tissue or signs of infection around the stent-graft. Conclusions: For hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms, endovascular repair using small covered stents may be a viable alternative to transcatheter embolization. The use of coronary instruments facilitates treatment of vascular lesions in small caliber visceral vessels.

This paper presents some experimental results obtained with the plasma focus PFMA-1 operated at about 20.5 kV, corresponding to a total capacitor bank energy of about 70 kJ, with 4He as working gas and pressure ranging between 50 and 3000 Pa. The aim of the study is the assessment of the differences in pinch performance with and without the adoption of a cathodic knife edge with the role of improving the electrical breakdown and the formation of the initial plasma layer. The pinch performance is estimated with the introduction of a voltage quality factor, which is related to the overvoltage intensity during the pinch, and of a current dip factor, correlated with the sudden total current reduction. More than 1500 shots have been analyzed with a semiautomated numerical special procedure. It is found that the improvement in the pinch efficiency with the use of a cathodic knife edge in these experiments can be even higher than a factor of 2.

Since 1996, the introduction of protease inhibitors (PIs) has led to a dramatic decrease of human immunodeficiency virus-related Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. This effect is clearly due, in large part, to the induction of immune reconstitution by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, it is conceivable that PIs had other beneficial effects, including direct activity against Pneumocystis. In this study, the occurrence of specific aspartyl proteases in Pneumocystis is described. These protease targets seemed to be affected in vitro by antiretroviral PIs. These data suggest intriguing implications for the possible antipneumocystis benefit of receiving indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, or saquinavir during HAART.

Summary form only given. The PFMA-1 (plasma focus for medical applications 1) is a device conceived to deliver the 150 kJ energy stored in the capacitor bank to the plasma load, at a repetition rate of 1 Hz. Its goal will be the production of short lived radio isotopes for medical PET-TAC applications. A representative lumped circuit model has been already developed and its results validated during short circuit tests aimed at comparing the real machine total inductance with the design value. Analytical solutions of a new extended model and comparisons with numerical simulations are now presented to predict the behavior of voltage and current ramps and their typical oscillations during the early stages of the capacitors discharge, just before the full development of gas breakdown between the electrodes (Mather-type configuration). This analysis is particularly important for the design of the collector of the kind of devices such as PFMA-1, especiallv for the optimization of dielectrics. By extending the model to the post-breakdown phase, it is also possible to characterize the frequency shifting on the waveforms collected. Then a technique of time-frequency multi-resolution analysis based on wavelet transforms is proposed for the detection of breakdown delay or of spark gap misfirings based on the observation of the higher harmonics shifting in the signal.

Nell’ambito di un’intensa attivita’ sperimentale iniziata negli anni 90, e’ stato progettato e realizzato il primo prototipo di una macchina a tecnologia Plasma Focus ottimizzata per la produzione di 18F per applicazioni PET. La macchina, un Plasma Focus di tipo Mather, utilizza l’energia, 150 kJ, immagazzinata in un banco di 32 condensatori controllati nel processo di scarica sincronizzato da spark gap a distorsione di campo, in grado di garantire una frequenza di ripetitività di un Hz, cosi’ da permettere una produzione di quantità dell’ordine del Ci di radioisotopo in due ore di funzionamento. La scelta dei gas di riempimento della camera consente di ottenere il 18F dalla reazione nucleare 16O(3He,p)18F, che avviene nel pinch (“Focus”) durante la fase di massimo confinamento del plasma, quindi senza generazione di neutroni. Nella presentazione verranno descritti gli aspetti di controllo, di processo e di impianto peculiari di questo nuovo dispositivo ed i risultati delle prime prove di produzione.

PFMA-1 (Plasma Focus for Medical Applications –1) is the first prototype of a new application of the Plasma Focus technology conceived to produce Short Lived Radioisotopes (SLR) for medical PET-TAC imaging applications. The device is a 30 kV, 150 kJ, 40 nH Mather-type plasma focus designed for repetition frequencies up to 1 Hz and dedicated to the neutronfree endogenous production of 18F by 3He - 16O reactions. This paper describes some preliminary tests related to the pressure optimization of the gases used in PFMA-1, and presents some final considerations about performance improvements.

Summary form only given. PFMA-1 is a 150 kJ, 40 nH Mather-type plasma focus designed for repetition frequencies up to 1 Hz and dedicated to the neutron-free endogenous production of 18F. PFMA-1 utilizes 32 capacitors, 11.1 muF each, charged in parallel at 30 kV. Snowplow calculations predict a 1.5 MA peak current and a 2.5 mus quarter-period for this device. To achieve low inductance and high peak current, one spark gap and four coaxial cables are employed per capacitor. Field-distortion, swing-cascade spark gaps were developed by R. E. Beverly III & Associates for this application (model SG-183). These switches mount directly onto the capacitor's modified Scyllac-type bushing and are enclosed by a low-inductance grounded shield. The rated peak current is 160 kA, the maximum charge transferred is ap0.4 C/shot, the self-inductance is 26 nH, and the breakdown jitter is les1 ns at 30 kV and 60 kPa dry air. The switches are cooled by a combination of deionized water, SF6 and dry air. The estimated electrode lifetime is ap0.1 Mshots. Special B-dot probes within each switch canister monitor the discharge of each capacitor. Simultaneous triggering of all capacitors is accomplished by a 32-channel PFL generator. Some experimental results and waveforms obtained in the preliminary test stages of the facility will be presented and compared with the design values.

This work presents experimental results pertaining to the heating by plasma-wall interaction of the upper flange of the vacuum chamber of the PFMA-1 Plasma Focus at 18 kV and at 1 Torr of 4He. The 2D temperature distributions over the flange have been obtained using an infrared camera. From these distributions average temperature profiles are obtained and used to estimate the heat imparted to the flange by plasma-wall interaction. It is found that at least 15% of the input energy is converted into thermal energy of the flange. The heat flux has been estimated too; it is found that its average value is comparable to that for ITER in the cases of plasma disruptions. It is therefore proposed that a powerful PF can be used similarly to plasma guns and e.m. railguns to test materials for fusion reactors. Other studies are under way to correlate the model presented to the experimental results obtained with an aluminium disk which resulted ablated due to the interaction with the plasma.

Objectives: To verify the clinical value of two different polymerase chain reactions (PCBs) for noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up during Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis pneumonia (PCP) and to analyze the P. carinii f. sp. hominis genotypes involved. Methods: Internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) nested PCR was applied to 630 samples (bronchoalveolar lavage, sera, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and oropharyngeal samples) from 122 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and pneumonia and 40 control samples from 20 subjects sero-negative for human immunodeficiency virus. One hundred and eighty samples also were examined by mt-rRNA PCR. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples and 33 sera were analyzed by type-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. Results: On bronchoalveolar lavage samples, the two PCRs consistently confirmed the morphologic diagnosis of PCP. The sensitivity of ITSs nested PCR versus mt-rRNA PCR was 57.3% versus 14.3% on sera, 32.3% versus 22.8% on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and 69.1% versus 48.6% on oropharyngeal samples (garglings). Both PCRs had 100% specificity. Type-specific oligonucleotide hybridization revealed in 72.2% of bronchoalveolar lavage samples a single P. carinii f. sp. hominis genotype, whereas in 27.8% co-infection with more than one strain was detected. Conclusion: On noninvasive samples, ITSs nested PCR was more sensitive than mt-rRNA PCR, and it confirmed the diagnosis in all patients with PCP. For each patient with PCP at least one noninvasive sample was positive for P. carinii. f. sp. hominis DNA.

This work presents the results of short circuit tests recently conducted on PFMA1 [1], a 150 kJ Mather-type Plasma Focus [2] designed to run at a repetition rate of 1 Hz for two hours at a time. PFMA1 is operated at 30 kV, with a 350 µF capacitor bank of 32 parallel capacitors. It is equipped with a custom designed fast high-voltage capacitive probe, a Rogowski coil [3] to monitor the total current ?owing from the capacitor bank, and a breakdown time jitter analyzer. The short-circuit tests are conducted at 12-13 kV. Snowplow-type 2D simulations [4] predict a peak of approximately 1.5 MA for the total current at a filling pressure of 10 Torr of deuterium. In this work a description of PFMA1 will be given, together with analytical computations of the inductance of the device; these computations will be compared with the results from a 2D finite element model in cylindrical symmetry. A full description of the electrical diagnostics used in the experiments will be provided. experimental results will be presented and discussed, and will be compared with those obtained theoretically. Agreement is found to be very good.

The energy spectra of X-rays generated by the impact of electron beams on high- and medium-Z targets following the pinch implosion of Plasma Focus (PF) devices are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms of X-ray production following electron impact ionization. In addition, the temperature measurement of the PF inner electrode is reported and some results have been proved useful in order to optimize the device functionalities.

A joint UNIFE-UNIBO experimental campaign was conducted to assess the feasibility of short-lived radioisotope (SLR) production within the pulsed discharges of a Plasma Focus (PF) device. This so-called “endogenous production” technique rests on the exploitation of nuclear reactions for the creation of SLR directly within the plasma, rather than on irradiating an external target. Until now only one research group (in the USA) has published data relevant to PF endogenous production of SLR, and the data seem to confirm that the PF has the capability to breed SLR. The UNIFE-UNIBO campaign demonstrated production of 15O, 17F and 13N from the 14N(d,n)15O, 12C(d,n)13N and 16O(d,n)17F reactions. A 7 kJ, 17 kV Mather-type PF was operated with natural nitrogen, oxygen, CO2 and deuterium in the vacuum chamber. Results to date confirm that, with a PF of this type, up to 1 microCi of SLRs per discharge can be obtained.

To evaluate the clinical use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) using samples collected noninvasively, the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITSs) nested PCR was performed on 148 samples from 40 subjects. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid sera, gargled oropharyngeal washes, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 14 AIDS patients (mean age, 35.6 years; mean CD4+ cell count, 49.2 cells/mm3) with proven PCP and from 13 HIV-seropositive controls (mean age, 34.6 years; mean CD4+ cell count, 107.3 cells/mm3) with other AIDS-related opportunistic infections were evaluated. Sera and oropharyngeal samples were also collected from 13 HIV-seronegative health care personnel working in an infectious disease ward for use as negative controls. The ITSs nested PCR confirmed the morphological diagnosis of PCP in all patients when BAL fluid was tested (100% sensitivity). This technique also detected Pneumocystis carinii DNA in oropharyngeal samples from 78.6% of patients, in sera from 71.4% of patients, in PBMC from 35.7% of patients. When all results obtained after ITSs nested PCR were considered together for the same patient, the sensitivity for PCP diagnosis was 100% for blood and oropharyngeal samples (gargled saline), as confirmed by subsequent BAL. All samples collected noninvasively from 26 of 26 controls were negative using ITSs nested PCR (100% specificity).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess the accuracy of color Doppler imaging in diagnosing the involvement of peripancreatic vessels by pancreatic carcinoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the color Doppler images of 61 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Our evaluations occurred before surgery and focused on vascular involvement. Absence of contact or a short contiguity (< or = 2 cm) between tumors and peripancreatic vessels was considered to be a sign of resectability on color Doppler imaging; a long contiguity (> 2 cm), compression, encasement, or thrombosis was considered to be a sign of unresectability. In all patients, the sonographic diagnosis was compared with the surgical results. RESULTS: With color Doppler imaging, we detected signs of vascular involvement in 26 of 33 patients in whom vascular involvement was found at surgery. We detected no vascular involvement in 25 of 28 patients in whom no vascular involvement was found at surgery. No false-positive diagnoses occurred when vascular encasement was revealed by color Doppler imaging. For diagnosis of vascular involvement, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of color Doppler imaging were 79%, 89%, and 84%, respectively; positive and negative predictive values were 89% and 79%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler imaging is a sensitive and highly specific technique in assessing vascular involvement by pancreatic cancer when absence of contact or vascular encasement is seen. When vascular encasement is detected by color Doppler imaging, a definitive diagnosis of unresectability can be made, and further diagnostic procedures can be avoided. When sonography is used in the initial evaluation of pancreatic cancer, color Doppler imaging can improve the selection of patients for further diagnostic examinations or surgical exploration.