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Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are described in dogs and are histologically diagnosed with the aid of immunohistochemistry to allow differentiation from leiomyomas/leiomyosarcomas. These tumours express c-kit and in some cases could harbour mutations in KIT coding gene.Dogs with a diagnosis of GIST previously confirmed with histopathology and immunohistochemistry were considered for inclusion. Medical records were reviewed for clinical signs at presentation, results of diagnostic tests, tumour location and treatment. To be included, patients had to undergo staging procedures and treatment with imatinib alone or in combination with surgery. Immunohistochemistry and KIT mutational analysis were performed assessing all included cases.Three cases were included. All cases underwent staging procedures and surgical excision. Tumours were located in the stomach (two cases) or caecum (one case). KIT mutational status was assessed and the presence of a 54-base pair deletion in exon 11 was identified in one case. Following surgery, imatinib was used to treat recurrent, metastatic or residual disease and resulted in complete response and stable disease in the macroscopic setting and no evidence of recurrence in the microscopic setting. Follow-up time was 890, 120 and 352 days, respectively.Surgical and medical treatment resulted in a positive outcome in these cases of canine GIST. Imatinib treatment was well tolerated and resulted in a measurable response and a low spectrum of toxicities. Further studies on the tolerability and efficacy of imatinib in solid tumours and GIST are warranted to define its effectiveness and safety.

To describe ultrasound-guided microwave ablation as a minimally invasive treatment option for primary or metastatic hepatocellular carcinomas.Four client-owned dogs underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of three primary and one metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, diagnosed on cytology/histopathology. In each case, multiple ultrasound-guided thermal lesions were created in a 10 to 40 minutes ablation at 30 to 35 W. Real-time monitoring was performed using 10 MHz diagnostic ultrasound transducers. The procedures were performed without complication and CT scans or abdominal ultrasounds were repeated immediately after. Patients were discharged on oral analgesia on the same day or 24 hours later.Hepatocellular carcinomas were successfully ablated, which in some cases resulted in an improvement in clinical signs and laboratory values. The patients were followed up for a time ranging between 39 and 649 days and no evidence of disease progression was found. Three out of four patients are still alive at the time of writing.In these four patients, minimally invasive ultrasound-guided microwave ablation was feasible and resulted in no immediate complications. Regular imaging follow-up is recommended after the procedure and further studies on microwave ablation are warranted to establish its effectiveness in dogs with hepatocellular carcinomas.

Molybdophosphoric acid/silica-alumina composites are synthesized a through a process described, in which the heteropolyacid was impregnated on different silica-aluminas, obtained by sol-gel. Three different techniques were used to prepare the samples. The catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and different thermal treatments were applied. The hybrid systems were characterized by using SBET, DRX, XRD and acidity measurements. The catalytic activity of these materials was tested in the solvent-free cyclization of 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2-furyl)-1,3-propanedione to 2-(2-furyl)-chromones. The transformation gives very good yields of product, free of secondary products. Environmental benign procedure, and easy catalyst separation, is relevant features of this methodology. In this way the catalyst can be used and reused six cycles without loss of catalytic activity. The most active catalyst was also used in the solvent-free cyclization of 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2-furyl)-2-propen-1-one and the methodology can be extended to the synthesis of other 2-(2-(furyl)-chromones and chromanones. The green context for this new procedure was confirmed by greenmetrics parameters.

Se presentan los resúmenes de la primera Jornada de Catálisis de la Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia. Esta conferencia permitirá en poco tiempo potencializar la apropiación social del conocimiento en esta área de la ciencia a nivel regional, brindando oportunidades para que los participantes expongan sus trabajos, y facilitando la difusión del conocimiento científico en esta área.

In this work, the force-constant disorder in nickel-niobium metallic glass, Ni44Nb56, was studied using the deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS) technique augmented by isotopic substitution. The distributions of DINS observables (the nuclear kinetic energies, the width of the nuclear momentum distributions, and the effective force constants) were measured in Ni44Nb56 and compared with their counterparts obtained from ab initio harmonic lattice (HLD) simulations for the crystalline forms of nickel, niobium, and the NiNb crystal and from the reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulations augmented by effective force fields performed for Ni44Nb56. The force-constant distribution of nickel, obtained from the analysis of the results of the DINS experiments, was found to be two times broader than its counterparts estimated based on the HLD and RMC simulations. In the case of niobium, the force-constant distribution inferred from the DINS experiments is estimated to be an order of magnitude broader than the ab initio HLD prediction in the NiNb crystal. Moreover, no disorder-induced softening (with respect to its crystalline counterparts) of the effective force constants of Ni and Nb in Ni44Nb56 was observed. The lack of disorder-induced softening in Ni44Nb56 is consistent with the correlation between the short-range order, defined by the average coordination number and the interatomic distances, and the magnitudes of the effective force constants. The obtained results are consistent with a picture, whereby disorder induces symmetrical broadening of phonon dispersion curves, and phonon softening is limited to low-energy modes carrying negligible amounts of nuclear kinetic energy. The obtained results have important ramifications for engineering the properties of bulk metallic glasses.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable disease characterized by an extremely variable clinical course. We have recently shown that high catalase (CAT) expression identifies patients with an aggressive clinical course. Elucidating mechanisms regulating CAT expression in CLL is preeminent to understand disease mechanisms and develop strategies for improving its clinical management. In this study, we investigated the role of the CAT promoter rs1001179 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and of the CpG Island II methylation encompassing this SNP in the regulation of CAT expression in CLL. Leukemic cells harboring the rs1001179 SNP T allele exhibited a significantly higher CAT expression compared with cells bearing the CC genotype. CAT promoter harboring the T -but not C- allele was accessible to ETS-1 and GR-β transcription factors. Moreover, CLL cells exhibited lower methylation levels than normal B cells, in line with the higher CAT mRNA and protein expressed by CLL in comparison with normal B cells. Methylation levels at specific CpG sites negatively correlated with CAT levels in CLL cells. Inhibition of methyltransferase activity induced a significant increase in CAT levels, thus functionally validating the role of CpG methylation in regulating CAT expression in CLL. Finally, the CT/TT genotypes were associated with lower methylation and higher CAT levels, suggesting that the rs1001179 T allele and CpG methylation may interact in regulating CAT expression in CLL. This study identifies genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying differential expression of CAT, which could be of crucial relevance for the development of therapies targeting redox regulatory pathways in CLL. Graphical abstract

The 'Divertor Tokamak Test' (DTT) is an experimental fusion reactor being built in Frascati (IT) in the framework of the European Fusion Roadmap. The DTT Central Solenoid, used to drive the current in the magnetically coupled plasma, comprises six Nb3Sn layer-wound independently energized modules. Each module is made of three sub-modules: High Field (HF), Medium Field (MF) and Low Field (LF) grades. To meet all goals of the DTT scientific program, a variety of plasma scenarios have been designed. These cause intense and heterogeneous loading conditions for the CS stack; from the mechanical point of view, each module is subjected to a vertical expansion or compression and to a huge radial action, whereas the current variations cause relevant heat loads due to AC losses, with impact on the coil temperature margin. In this work, the engineering study on the current design and the analyses on the module windings are presented.

Despite being one of the most thoroughly characterised molecular crystals, hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) and its deuterated counterpart (DHMT), are still not fully understood, especially regarding anharmonic and nuclear quantum effects. In this work, an unprecedented combination of experimental techniques, including neutron and x-ray diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, neutron transmission, and Compton scattering, all augmented ab initio by harmonic lattice dynamics calculations, was applied. The main question that motivated the presented work was the interplay between the phonon anharmonicity and isotope and nuclear quantum effects related to the zero-point energies of proton and deuteron. Signatures of the combined effects of isotopic substitution, temperature, anharmonicity and nuclear quantum effects were found in data from all experimental methods. In the case of neutron and x-ray diffraction, these signatures manifested as systematic discrepancies between the structural and atomic displacement parameters and thermal diffuse scattering obtained from harmonic lattice calculations and their experimental counterparts. To this end, an important effect was found that could not have been explained by the harmonic lattice modelling; the reverse Ubbelohde effect, i.e. the observation that deuteration decreases hydrogen bond length in HMT. In the case of neutron transmission, further discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental data were found at cryogenic temperatures. Finally, applying the diabatic theory of the local potential of the intermolecular hydrogen bond in HMT, it was possible to elucidate the degree of anharmonicity of the C–H···N bonds by relating it to the magnitude of the vibrational isotope effect for the C–H bond stretching observed in inelastic and neutron Compton scattering experiments. It was found that the combined nuclear quantum and anharmonic effects of the protons (deuterons) in hydrogen bonds in HMT (DHMT) manifest as systematic discrepancies between the ab initio predictions for the widths of nuclear momentum distributions and the experimental values.

BACKGROUND Anticoagulation therapy is effective in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF)-related strokes. The incidence of stroke despite oral anticoagulation nevertheless occurs in 1.5-4%, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We sought to describe the characteristics of patients presenting with acute stroke while on oral anticoagulant therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS Data regarding consecutive acute stroke patients while on oral anticoagulants (OAC) were retrospectively collected between December 1st 2017 and March 31st 2021 from a single-center Canadian prospective cohort (Montreal Neurovascular and STrokE Repository, MONSTER). Baseline characteristics including details surrounding anticoagulant use, imaging data, and reperfusion therapy data were collected. A total of 188 patients with acute ischemic stroke despite therapeutic anticoagulation were included (median age 78.2(10.1); 53.7% women). All patients were on oral anticoagulation for the prevention of AF-related strokes. Forty-three patients (22.9%) had a coronary artery disease, 32 (17%) patients had a valvulopathy and 26 (13.8%) patients had heart failure. Median [Q1-Q3] CHADS-VASC was 3[3–4]. Median baseline NIHSS was 15[7-22]. Twenty-one patients (11.2%) received IV-thrombolysis and 105(55.9%) patients were treated with endovascular therapy. At discharge the median ΔNIHSS (difference between baseline NIHSS and discharge NIHSS) was -3[-8 – 0], therapeutic anticoagulation was modified in 38(20.2%) patients at discharge. Regarding stroke mechanism, thirty-three patients (17.6%) had stopped OAC prior to their strokes (due to either low compliance or periprocedural interruption), 32(17.0%) had an inappropriate dosage. In sixty-eight (36.2%) patients, stroke mechanism was cryptogenic following a standard etiology workup. CONCLUSION In patients presenting with ischemic stroke despite therapeutic anticoagulation, lack of treatment compliance, treatment interruption, and inappropriate dose are frequent causes for stroke. However, there exists a significant proportion of patients in whom the underlying stroke mechanism is unknown despite standard workup. These findings highlight the need to improve stroke prevention strategies in AF patients.

The JET Active Gas Handling System has designed and commissioned a new analytical gas chromatography system. The novel design included modification of a basic off-the-shelf gas chromatograph to become tritium compatible and incorporated customised hardware of seven detectors, seven switching valves and seven separation columns into one analytical gas analyser. The functionality of the new system was proven during the inactive commissioning phase and gas species including hydrogen isotope molecules (H2, HD and D2), air components and hydrocarbons up to decane, water and ammonia including mass spectrum data could successfully be analysed. The design of this system is unique and the first of its kind employed in a nuclear fusion laboratory.

Limited veterinary literature is available regarding prognostic markers for canine renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). We retrospectively evaluated COX-2 expression, histological and clinical features associated with prognosis of CRCC. Sixty-four cases post-nephrectomy were included, 54 had histopathological assessment and 30 had COX-2 immunostaining performed. Eight dogs (13%) had metastatic disease at initial diagnosis. Twenty-seven dogs (42%) received adjuvant therapy after nephrectomy. On univariate analysis, COX-2 expression, mitotic index (MI), histologic type, vascular invasion, neoplastic invasiveness and metastasis at diagnosis were significantly associated with overall median survival time (MST). COX-2 score (COX-2 score > 3 MST 420 days versus 1176 days if COX-2 score 30 MST 120 days versus 540 days for MI

Background Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by proliferative vascular lesions and progressive fibrosis of skin and internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal involvement is a very frequent complication, reported in up to 90% of SSc patients in both limited (lSSc) and diffuse (dSSc) cutaneous forms, and it is one of the earliest events. Objectives To evaluate the correlation between radiological items analyzed by videofluoroscopy swallow study and clinical patterns of patients SSc. Methods 55 patients (M/F: 6/49; median age 56y; median disease 6y, lSSc /dSSc:36/19; anti-Scl70+:21/55, ACA+:18/55, only ANA+:16/55), with a diagnosis of SSc and a history of dysphagia underwent a dynamic and morphological study of the oral, pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing with videofluoroscopy. The oral and pharyngeal esophageal phases were performed in the upright position, while the esophageal phase was performed in the prone-oblique position, after administration of contrast material either in bolus form or diluted. Data were analyzed by radiologist with experience in videofluoroscopy for the evaluation of 17 videofluoroscopy items, of which, 4 concerning the oral, 4 the pharyngeal and 9 the esophageal phase, respectively. Results were expressed in a binary system. Then the main relevant videofluoroscopy findings were correlated with the principal scleroderma pattern of disease: lSSc vs dSSc; disease duration (more than 2 years) and subset of autoantibodies. Results Radiological study of swallowing disorders showed for oral phase: inadequate velar elevation in 4%, leakage in 15%, drooling in none (0%) and stasis of bolus in mouth in 4% of the patients. As for pharyngeal phase: stasis of bolus on pharyngeal in 49%, penetration in the laryngeal aditus in 53%, post-swallowing aspiration in 22%, abnormal upper esophageal sphincter behavior in 13% of the cases. Concerning esophageal phase: inadequate primary peristalsis in 53%, abnormal secondary peristalsis in 29%, non-peristaltic contractions in 40%, defects of clearance in 69%, abnormal lower esophageal sphincter behavior in 76%, hiatal hernia in 80%, esophageal reflux in 56%, esophagitis in 82% of the patients, nobody presented esophageal luminal stenosis. When we analyzed the swallowing disorders in different conditions we found that these are prevalent in patients with more than 2 year of disease, although may be found also early. Conversely, we have not found a significant prevalence between the lSSc or the dSSc, or a particular correlation with different patterns of autoantibodies. Conclusions Our study demonstrated relevant abnormalities in swallowing functions in high number of patients with SSc. Pharyngeal and esophageal phases are the most affected, also early. Swallowing disorders increase with disease progression and involve similarly the limited or the diffuse SSc. An early and detailed diagnosis, supported by a semi-quantitative analysis with the use of videofluoroscopy scores, may be useful to guide the appropriate therapeutic approach, either rehabilitative or pharmacological, and finally, to improve the patient9s quality of life. Extensive studies are necessary to confirm and transfer our data into clinical practice. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background An 11-year-old female German Shepherd was referred for assessment and management of a suspected liver tumour. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed abundant abdominal effusion and a right liver mass in continuity with a cystic structure. The dog had undergone splenectomy for a low-grade lymphoma 1 year prior. Methods Serum biochemical analysis revealed only a mild increase in alanine aminotransferase. The analysis of the free abdominal fluid showed a modified transudate. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of a hypoechoic lesion involving the right liver lobes, in addition to an over-distended gallbladder. Computed tomography examination demonstrated a massively dilated gallbladder and lower attenuation of the adjacent liver lobes, with no enhancement on quadrate and right middle liver lobes. The fine needle aspirate was compatible with a mixed subacute to chronic inflammation. Based on the investigational findings, an exploratory coeliotomy was performed. Treatment and outcome The middle right and quadrate liver lobes and the gallbladder were rotated on their axes. The torsed lobes and the cystic duct were removed using a TA stapler without derotating the organs. Histopathological results were suggestive of infarction secondary to torsion of the lobes and gallbladder. The dog recovered from surgery without complications, and 20 months later was in good overall condition. Conclusion Liver lobe torsion is an uncommon condition that rarely affects the right lobes. Gallbladder torsion is even more uncommon. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of quadrate and right middle liver lobe and gallbladder torsion.

Frailty and multimorbidity are both strongly associated with poor health-related outcomes, including mortality. As multimorbidity is one of the major determinant of frailty, we aimed to explore whether and to what extent frailty without multimorbidity plays an independent role in shortening life. Using data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), we grouped 1115 subjects free from multimorbidity (affected by less than two chronic diseases). We assessed their frailty-status according to Fried’s frailty phenotype (frail, prefrail, and robust). Vital status was retrieved up to 15 years from the Swedish National Cause of Death Register. We estimated the association between frailty and mortality in 5-year intervals using piecewise proportional hazard regression models. Among the subjects free from multimorbidity, 424 (38%) were pre-frail and 19 (2%) were frail. During 15-year follow-up, 263 (24%) participants died. Within the first 5 years, prefrail and frail subjects had a more than doubled risk of death, compared to robust ones (HR for pre-frailty 2.08; HR for frailty 2.69 - p

For the aerodynamic design of multistage compressors and turbines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) plays a fundamental role. In fact it allows the characterization of the complex behaviour of turbomachinery components with high fidelity. Together with the availability of more and more powerful computing resources, current trends pursue the adoption of such high-fidelity tools and state-of-the-art technology even in the preliminary design phases. Within such a framework Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) yield further growth potential, allowing a significant reduction of CFD process turn-around times at relatively low costs. The target of the present work is to illustrate the design and implementation of an explicit density-based RANS coupled solver for the efficient and accurate numerical simulation of multi-dimensional time-dependent compressible fluid flows on polyhedral unstructured meshes. The solver has been developed within the object-oriented OpenFOAM framework, using OpenCL bindings to interface CPU and GPU and using MPI to interface multiple GPUs. The overall structure of the code, the numerical strategies adopted and the algorithms implemented are specifically designed in order to best exploit the huge computational peak power offered by modern GPUs, by minimizing memory transfers between CPUs and GPUs and potential branch divergence occurrences. This has a significant impact in terms of the speedup factor and is especially challenging within a polyhedral unstructured mesh framework. Specific tools for turbomachinery applications, such as Arbitrary Mesh Interface (AMI) and mixing-plane (MP), are implemented within the GPU context. The credibility of the proposed CFD solver is assessed by tackling a number of benchmark test problems, including Rotor 67 axial compressor, C3X stator blade with conjugate heat transfer and Aachen multi-stage turbine. An average GPU speedup factor of approximately S ≃ 50 with respect to CPU is achieved (single precision, both GPU and CPU in 100 USD price range). Preliminary parallel scalability test run on multiple GPUs show a parallel efficiency factor of approximately E ≃ 75%.

Normal liquid drop impact on a liquid film is studied numerically using a modified OpenFOAM solver in three-spatial dimensions, in which dynamic grid refinement is modified to accurately describe the initial conditions before impact. Numerical simulations are found to accurately predict the evolution of the splashing lamella. A new procedure for assessing grid convergence is introduced, which is based on the definition of a hierarchical set of bounding boxes in which the total liquid volume is computed to assess global as well as local grid convergence.

This paper reports an analytical procedure based on ultrasound to extract lipids in marine mucilage samples. The experimental conditions of the ultrasound procedure (solvent and time) were identified by a FT-IR study performed on different standard samples of lipids and of a standard humic sample, before and after the sonication treatment. This study showed that diethyl ether was a more suitable solvent than methanol for the ultrasonic extraction of lipids from environmental samples because it allowed to minimize the possible oxidative modifications of lipids due to the acoustic cavitation phenomena. The optimized conditions were applied to the extraction of total lipid amount in marine mucilage samples and TLC-flame ionization detection analysis was used to identify the relevant lipid sub-fractions present in samples.

The understanding of aeroelastic phenomena is fundamental for the structural integrity of many applications in aerospace and mechanical engineering and even in some other disciplines (e.g. civil engineering) where flexible structures possibly undergo unsteady fluid-dynamic loads. Therefore the availability of accurate analysis tools for the study of the aeroelastic interaction between aerodynamic and elastic forces is an important asset for the design of modern, high performance turbomachinery. Together with the more and more powerful computing resources, current trends pursue the adoption of high-fidelity tools and state-of-the-art technology within the research fields of Computational Structural Dynamics (CSD) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This choice is somehow obliged when dealing with highly non-linear aeroservoelastic phenomena. The approach typically used for turbomachinery aeroelastic analysis features the so-called “one-way coupling”, i.e. the loads predicted by the aerodynamic model are transferred to the structural model to evaluate relevant stresses and displacements. The objective of the present work is to illustrate the design and implementation of a platform for solving multidisciplinary non-linear Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) problems with a “two-way coupling” or fully coupled approach, that is linking together high-fidelity state-of-the-art CSD and CFD tools by means of a robust, flexible aeroelastic interface scheme. The credibility of the proposed aeroservoelastic analysis toolbox is assessed by tackling a set of aeronautical and turbomachinery-oriented benchmark test problems such as: the evaluation of the fully coupled non-linear aeroelastic trim of HIRENASD (HIgh REynolds Number AeroStructural Dynamics) wing and the identification of the aerodynamic damping coefficient of Standard Configuration 10, high subsonic/transonic, 2D/3D compressor cascade. The results are compared with reference experimental and numerical data available in literature.

We apply an improved QSAR method to study the toxicity of alcohols by resorting to the employment of the following properties: surface area, volume, log P, molar refractivity, and polarizability. The idea behind the choice of these physicochemical descriptors is to use realistic quantum chemical molecular quantities, which can, in principle, express all of the electronic and geometric properties of molecules and their interactions. The log LC50 values for a set of 12 alkanols were used, and we examined the whole set of possibilities for one-, two-, three-, four- and five-variable relationships between the toxicity index (log LC50) and the molecular properties up to the third order. The analysis of computed data shows that molecular descriptors are extremely well fitted tools for assessing the toxicity of saturated alcohols. In particular, we have verified that using higher level relationships (i.e. quadratic and/or cubic) in several-variable equations give excellent predictions and their corresponding accuracy is greater than that produced by the usual topological indices.

In three open, multicentre, prospective randomised studies, the efficacy and safety of meropenem were assessed and compared with ceftazidime (Study 1) and imipenem/cilastatin (Studies 2 and 3) in 864 patients; 417 with urinary tract infections (UTI) and 447 with community acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). All the antibiotics were administered by intramuscular injection. Clinical and bacteriological responses were assessed at the end of therapy and at follow-up (2-4 weeks for LRTI, 4-6 weeks for UTI). The clinical response rate in UTI at the end of therapy was 93-100% for meropenem 500 mg tds compared with 94-95% for ceftazidime 500 mg tds; for meropenem 500 mg bd it was 97%, significantly higher than that for imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg bd which was 90% (P = 0.03). At follow-up, the response rates were 90% for meropenem tds compared with 81-85% for ceftazidime 500 mg tds and 81% for meropenem bd compared with 78% for imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg bd. The clinical response rate in LRTI at end of therapy was 93% for meropenem 500 mg tds, compared with 92% for ceftazidime 1 g tds; for meropenem 500 mg bd the clinical response rate was 96%, compared with 91% for imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg bd (P = 0.054). At follow-up, the clinical response rates were 96%, 89%, 93% and 96%, respectively. The bacteriological response rates at 5-9 days post-therapy in UTI were 61-84% in patients treated with meropenem 500 mg tds, compared to 73-82% in patients treated with ceftazidime 500 mg tds; the rates for meropenem 500 mg bd and imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg bd were each 75%. At follow-up, the response rates were 40-72%, 57-70%, 51% and 49%, respectively. In LRTI, bacteriological response rates at the end of therapy were 91% for both meropenem 500 mg tds and ceftazidime 1 g tds, and 91% for meropenem 500 mg bd compared with 86% for imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg bd. At follow-up, the response rates were 87%, 77%, 84% and 79%, respectively. All treatments were well tolerated. In these studies, intramuscular meropenem proved to be an effective and well tolerated treatment for LRTI and UTI.

An 11-year-old female German Shepherd was referred for assessment and management of a suspected liver tumour. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed abundant abdominal effusion and a right liver mass in continuity with a cystic structure. The dog had undergone splenectomy for a low-grade lymphoma 1 year prior.Serum biochemical analysis revealed only a mild increase in alanine aminotransferase. The analysis of the free abdominal fluid showed a modified transudate. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of a hypoechoic lesion involving the right liver lobes, in addition to an over-distended gallbladder. Computed tomography examination demonstrated a massively dilated gallbladder and lower attenuation of the adjacent liver lobes, with no enhancement on quadrate and right middle liver lobes. The fine needle aspirate was compatible with a mixed subacute to chronic inflammation. Based on the investigational findings, an exploratory coeliotomy was performed.The middle right and quadrate liver lobes and the gallbladder were rotated on their axes. The torsed lobes and the cystic duct were removed using a TA stapler without derotating the organs. Histopathological results were suggestive of infarction secondary to torsion of the lobes and gallbladder. The dog recovered from surgery without complications, and 20 months later was in good overall condition.Liver lobe torsion is an uncommon condition that rarely affects the right lobes. Gallbladder torsion is even more uncommon. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of quadrate and right middle liver lobe and gallbladder torsion.

There are only a few reported cases of Salmonella enterica serotype Brandenburg foodborne outbreaks in the literature. In Italy Brandenburg is consistently present among the top ten serotypes from human source, but at low prevalences.Fifty-five S. Brandenburg isolates from human, animal, environmental and food sources, including twelve isolates from a foodborne outbreak, were genotyped by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE).Eight pulsogroups and 19 pulsotypes were detected, with a unique pulsotype being attributed to the outbreak strains. Molecular subtyping can reliably complement the epidemiological investigations. Moreover, mapping molecular types of Salmonella isolates from human and non-human source may greatly contribute to risk assessment, by tracking possible animal sources, so improving cost-effectiveness of the prevention and control strategies.

A previous report (P. Mavromara-Nazos and B. Roizman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:4071-4075, 1989) demonstrated that substitution of sequences of the thymidine kinase (tk) gene, a beta gene, extending from -16 to +51 with sequences extending from -12 to +104 of the gamma 2 UL 49.5 gene in viral recombinant R3820 conferred upon the chimeric gene gamma 2 attributes in the context of the viral genome in a productive infection. The UL49.5 gene sequences extending from -179 to +104 contain four DNA binding sites for the major regulatory protein ICP4. Of these sites, two map between nucleotides +20 and +80 within the sequence which confers gamma 2 regulation upon the chimeric gene. To determine the role of these ICP4 binding sites in conferring the gamma 2 gene attributes, sequences comprising the two ICP4 binding sites were mutagenized and used to reconstruct the R3820 recombinant virus. In addition, a new recombinant virus (R8023) was constructed in which tk sequences extending from -240 to +51 were replaced with wild-type or mutated sequences contained between nucleotides -179 to +104 of the UL 49.5 gene. Vero cells infected with the recombinant viruses in the presence or absence of phosphonoacetate, a specific inhibitor of viral DNA synthesis, were then tested for accumulation of tk RNA by using an RNase protection assay. The results indicate that in the recombinant R3820, a mutation which destroyed one of the two UL49.5 ICP4 DNA binding sites significantly reduced the accumulation of tk RNA at both early and late times after infection. The effect of this mutation was less pronounced in cells infected with the R8023 virus, whose chimeric tk gene contains the two upstream UL49.5 ICP4 binding sites. None of the mutations affected the sensitivity of the chimeric genes to phosphonoacetate. The mutated site appears to be involved in the accumulation of RNA.

The outcome and complications associated with thoracic duct ligation combined with partial pericardiectomy in 14 dogs with idiopathic chylothorax were investigated retrospectively. Nine of the dogs were treated in the uk and five in Italy. All of them were reassessed clinically four weeks after surgery and the respiratory function and any pleural fluid accumulation were evaluated; they were followed up by telephone contact for at least six months. Eleven of the dogs were clinically normal and had no radiographic signs of pleural effusion when reassessed after four weeks. Two showed radiographic signs of a minor accumulation of pleural fluid but were clinically normal; when reassessed after three months they showed similar radiographic signs and clinical findings; but after four months there was no evidence of pleural effusion. One dog had a major complication that required a second surgical intervention.

In the present paper, fully 360 degrees transient and steady-state simulations of a Francis turbine were performed at three operating conditions, namely at part load (PL), best efficiency point (BEP), and high load (HL), using different numerical approaches for the pressure-velocity coupling. The simulation domain includes the spiral casing with stay and guide vanes, the runner and the draft tube. The main target of the investigations is the numerical prediction of the overall performance of the high head Francis turbine model as well as local and integral quantities of the complete machine in different operating conditions. All results were compared with experimental data published by the workshop organization. All CFD simulations were performed at model scale with a new in-house, 3D, unstructured, object-oriented finite volume code within the framework of the open source OpenFOAM library. The novel fully coupled pressure-based solver is designed to solve the incompressible RANS- Equations and is capable of handling multiple references of frame (MRF). The obtained results show that the overall performance is well captured by the simulations. Regarding the local flow distributions within the inlet section of the draft-tube, the axial velocity is better estimated than the circumferential component.

Ascites is one of the most frequent severe complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. The treatment of this chronic disease usually requires the prolonged use of albumin, frequently continued even after patients' discharge from the hospital.Aim of the study was to define a consensus among Italian physicians with regard to the use of albumin in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites.The study adopted the Delphi technique to conduct the consensus activities. All controversial issues related to the use of albumin were identified by the experts' board and proposed to the 68 participating hepatology centres through two subsequent questionnaires. The questionnaires, returned by the specialists involved, were collected and the answers classified to verify the elements on which a consensus was reached.The home use of albumin can help to improve the patient's general conditions and well-being. About 77% of the experts involved considered likely that albumin administration could shorten hospital stays or could reduce the number of hospital admissions. The results of the study, along with a socioeconomic analysis, were presented to the Italian Drug Commission, which subsequently removed the specific hypoalbuminemia level as a prerequisite for having the drug reimbursed by the National Health Service.For an outpatient prescription, the hypoalbuminemia limit of 2.5 g/dl or less is not sufficient, while the decision whether to administer the drug requires the evaluation of patient's overall clinical conditions as an essential criterion for the prescription of a home treatment with albumin.