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Duty factor (DF) and step frequency (SF) were previously defined as the key running pattern determinants. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association of DF and SF on 1) the vertical and fore-aft ground reaction force signals using statistical parametric mapping; 2) the force related variables (peaks, loading rates, impulses); and 3) the spring-mass characteristics of the lower limb, assessed by computing the force-length relationship and leg stiffness, for treadmill runs at several endurance running speeds. One hundred and fifteen runners ran at 9, 11, and 13 km/h. Force data (1000 Hz) and whole-body three-dimensional kinematics (200 Hz) were acquired by an instrumented treadmill and optoelectronic system, respectively. Both lower DF and SF led to larger vertical and fore-aft ground reaction force fluctuations, but to a lower extent for SF than for DF. Besides, the linearity of the force-length relationship during the leg compression decreased with increasing DF or with decreasing SF but did not change during the leg decompression. These findings showed that the lower the DF and the higher the SF, the more the runner relies on the optimization of the spring-mass model, whereas the higher the DF and the lower the SF, the more the runner promotes forward propulsion.

Effective contact ( tce ) and flight ( tfe ) times, instead of ground contact ( tc ) and flight ( tf ) times, are usually collected outside the laboratory using inertial sensors. Unfortunately, tce and tfe cannot be related to tc and tf because the exact shape of vertical ground reaction force is unknown. However, using a sine wave approximation for vertical force, tce and tc as well as tfe and tf could be related. Indeed, under this approximation, a transcendental equation was obtained and solved numerically over a tce x tfe grid. Then, a multivariate polynomial regression was applied to the numerical outcome. In order to reach a root-mean-square error of 0.5 ms, the final model was given by an eighth-order polynomial. As a direct application, this model was applied to experimentally measured tce values. Then, reconstructed tc (using the model) was compared to corresponding experimental ground truth. A systematic bias of 35 ms was depicted, demonstrating that ground truth tc values were larger than reconstructed ones. Nonetheless, error in the reconstruction of tc from tce was coming from the sine wave approximation, while the polynomial regression did not introduce further error. The presented model could be added to algorithms within sports watches to provide robust estimations of tc and tf in real time, which would allow coaches and practitioners to better evaluate running performance and to prevent running-related injuries.

Canine prostatic carcinoma (PCa) is considered a relevant model for studying advanced, hormone refractory PCa in men. It has been proposed that cancer contains a minor population of cells that can selfrenew while simultaneously giving rise to tumour cells (cancer stem cells). Survivin is an acknowledged cancer therapy-resistance factor overexpressed in several tumour types, proposed as a valid cancer biomarker for human prostatic cancer for an early screening for malignancy. Sox9 is a stem cell marker expressed in several adult tissues, required for prostate development. Accumulating evidence indicates that it contributes to the development of human PCa. No studies have been published concerning the immunolocalization of survivin and Sox9 in canine prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and neoplasia.AIM: to evaluate the patterns and levels of expression of survivin and Sox9 in canine BPH and PCa, in order to correlate their expression with malignant histological features. immunhistochemistry with specific antibodies in a set of canine BPH and PCa. Survivin nuclear and rare cytoplasmic immunostaining were present among the basal/reserve cell layer of normal and hyperplastic prostatic lobules. An increase of survivin expression was observed in PCas compared with BPHs. 6/11 PCas showed rare positive nuclei, mainly among the “basaloid” neoplastic cells in the areas with a tubular-papillary arrangement. In the areas with a solid pattern the cytoplasmic immunostaining was more diffuse. Sox9 expression was absent in normal prostatic glands and in all BPHs. 6/9 cases of PCa were highly positive. Based on the role of survivin as a stem cell marker and the main role in proliferation of nuclear survivin, the positive cells among basal cell layer in normal and HBP cases could represent transit amplifying cells maintaining some stem cell proprieties. The increased survivin expression in Pcas would indicates the molecule as a valid prognostic marker. The absence of expression of Sox9 in the normal gland and all the BPHs suggests that Sox9 is not a stem cell marker of canine adult prostatic stem cells. The high expression observed in PCas clearly suggests an important role of the molecule in canine prostatic carcinogenesis and malignant progression. Further studies should be done in order to confirm this hypothesis.

Worldwide, about half the adult population is considered overweight as defined by a body mass index (BMI - calculated by body weight divided by height squared) ratio in excess of 25 kg.m-2. Of these individuals, half are clinically obese (with a BMI in excess of 30) and these numbers are still increasing, notably in developing countries such as those of the Middle East region. Obesity is a disorder characterised by increased mass of adipose tissue (excessive fat accumulation) that is the result of a systemic imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. Although factors such as family history, sedentary lifestyle, urbanisation, income and family diet patterns determine obesity prevalence, the main underlying causes are poor knowledge about food choice and lack of physical activity3. Current obesity treatments include dietary restriction, pharmacological interventions and ultimately, bariatric surgery. The beneficial effects of physical activity on weight loss through increased energy expenditure and appetite modulation are also firmly established. Another viable option to induce a negative energy balance, is to incorporate hypoxia per se or combine it with exercise in an individual's daily schedule. This article will present recent evidence suggesting that combining hypoxic exposure and exercise training might provide a cost-effective strategy for reducing body weight and improving cardio-metabolic health in obese individuals. The efficacy of this approach is further reinforced by epidemiological studies using large-scale databases, which evidence a negative relationship between altitude of habitation and obesity. In the United States, for instance, obesity prevalence is inversely associated with altitude of residence and urbanisation, after adjusting for temperature, diet, physical activity, smoking and demographic factors.

This study compared heat shock proteins Hsp60, Hsp72 and Hsp73, along with p63 and androgen receptor (AR) immunoexpression between 16 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 11 prostatic carcinomas (PCa) in dogs. The proportion of Hsp60-positive cells was higher in PCa compared with BPH (P =0.033), whereas the frequency and intensity of Hsp73 immunostaining did not differ significantly between the two groups. Hsp72-immunostained nuclei formed a discontinuous layer along the basement membrane in BPH, whereas cells in this layer in PCa were negative or weakly positive. Hsp72 nuclear score showed significant positive associations with both p63 (P =0.016) and AR (P =0.009) scores. Double immunofluorescence revealed Hsp72-p63 and Hsp72-AR co-expressions in basal cell nuclei. Aberrant cytoplasmic p63 immunolabelling was observed in 3 of 11 PCa cases. These results suggest a role of the combined expression of Hsp72, p63 and AR in basal epithelial cells in canine BPH and PCa.

Sebbene il sistema nervoso enterico (ENS) svolga un ruolo cruciale nella scrapie ovina, non vi sono dati sulle popolazioni cellulari coinvolte nell’infezione, né sugli eventuali danni da esse subiti. Il presente studio è stato condotto sui plessi mienterici e sottomucosi dell’ileo di 32 pecore di razza Sarda, recanti diversi genotipi (ARQ/ARQ, ARQ/AHQ, ARQ/ARR, ARR/ARR) con riferimento al gene codificante per la PrPC. I suddetti animali, infettati per os all’età di 8 mesi con un ceppo di scrapie caratterizzato nel topo, sono stati sacrificati mediante eutanasia a determinati intervalli di tempo dall’infezione (p.i.). E’ stata quindi valutata, tramite immunoistochimica ed immunofluorescenza indiretta su sezioni tessutali e su preparati “wholemount”, l’immunoreattività (IR) nei confronti della PrPSc, del “marker” pan-neuronale Hu C/D, dell’ossido-nitrico sintetasi (nNOS), della calbindina (CALB), della proteina fibrillare acida gliale (GFAP) e della sinaptofisina. In 8 pecore con genotipo ARQ/ARQ, clinicamente sane e sacrificate a 12-24 mesi p.i., nonché in 4 ovini clinicamente affetti (1 con genotipo ARQ/ARQ, 3 con genotipo ARQ/AHQ), questi ultimi sacrificati rispettivamente a 24, 35, 36,3 e 39,5 mesi p.i., le indagini immunoistochimiche hanno rivelato la presenza di PrPSc sia nell’encefalo (obex), sia nell’ENS, specialmente nei plessi mienterici. In tali distretti il deposito della PrPSc era compatibile con un interessamento delle cellule enterogliali (EGCs), mentre in 6 animali con genotipo ARQ/ARQ era evidente un drastico calo numerico (P < 0,05) dei neuroni CALB-IR rispetto ai soggetti di controllo ed a quelli con differente genotipo infettati per os. Inoltre, i neuroni CALB-IR mostravano una pressoché esclusiva IR nucleare. I nostri dati supportano un coinvolgimento delle EGCs e dei neuroni CALB-IR dei plessi nervosi ileali nella scrapie ovina.

A case of aural carcinoma with chondroid metaplasia at metastatic foci in an 8-year-old male pug is described. Multiple metastases in both lungs and the right submandibular, parotid, retropharyngeal, cervical and prescapular lymph nodes were detected. Histologically, the skin of the right ear canal appeared to be diffusely infiltrated by cords and nests of neoplastic epithelial cells, showing multifocal contiguity with the overlying hyperplastic squamous epithelium. Most of the carcinomatous cells were arranged in a glandular-like pattern, with formation of lumens containing epithelial cells attached to the peripheral cell layer by elongated intercellular bridges. Scattered foci of keratinization with central accumulations of compact, laminated keratin were also observed, and histochemical stains failed to detect mucinous secretory material. Even though histological and histochemical findings were compatible with a diagnosis of acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma, CAM5.2 immunostaining was detectable in the majority, although not all, neoplastic cells, confirming a diagnosis of poorly differentiated ceruminous gland carcinoma. Pulmonary metastatic nodules revealed multifocal areas of cartilaginous metaplasia with apparent transition of carcinomatous cells to chondroid cells, showing nuclear atypia and focal cytokeratin immunostaining. Carcinomatous cells surrounding chondroid areas also revealed focal vimentin and S100 immunoreactivity. Histological evidence of transition between the two components, as well as the presence of intermediate cells displaying both epithelial and mesenchymal immunohistochemical features, strongly indicated a final diagnosis of carcinosarcoma, in which chondrosarcomatous elements were derived from carcinoma cells.

The Hermes oceanographic mission ARCO (AdRiatic COrals: 13-22 December 2008, R/V Urania) was organized by CNR-ISMAR with the goal to identify and map yellow coral (Dendrophyllia cornigera) thickets up to 1 m high at intermediate depths (ca 200 m) in the region of the Middle Adriatic Depression (MAD). Previous AMS-C14 dating of Dendrophyllia corals from this area provided a late Holocene age ; furthermore, some specimens are heavily bioeroded and encrusted by living or recently dead epifauna including polychaetes and Neopycnodonte oysters. This evidence suggests that this yellow coral is still alive in the middle Adriatic at this location. The presence of coral grounds here is well known to fishermen that avoid the area for the potential damage to their nets. During ARCO, the area known to host corals was first mapped in detail and imaged by multiswath bathymetry, chirp and side scan sonars, revealing bottom features that were interpreted as potential coral mounds. A ROV survey however did not image as expected Dendrophyllia coral thickets emerging from the muddy area draping the topographic highs between the major depressions. Instead, bottom sampling (large volume grab, gravity corer etc.) recovered a large amount of dead ‘white corals’. Before our finding, there were only a few sporadic citations of such corals at these Adriatic latitudes, summarized by Zupanovic and Jardas (1989). The ‘white corals’ are mainly the branching scleractinians Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, with subordinate Dendrophyllia cornigera, and Caryophyllia smithii ; the solitary coral Desmophyllum dianthus is rare. Encalcified Eunice parchment tubes were consistently associated with Lophelia and Madrepora frames. Although extremely well preserved and with alabastrine luster, the white corals were all dead and covered by a thin layer of mud (< 15 cm, Minicore ARCO- and gravity core ARCO-). Corals do not show Fe-Mn oxide patinas, and bioerosion or fouling is limited. Dead individuals of the cemented bivalves Neopycnodonte cochlear and, more rarely Spondylus gussonii, are occasionally found attached to Lophelia colonies. Interestingly, most ‘white corals’ are represented by individuals of unusually large size and thickness. Differently from (part at least of) Dendrophyllia colonies, the Lophelia-Madrepora thickets are possibly extinct in the MAD. They might have belonged to a coral province that established at the end of the last glacial age on topographic highs of the MAD on both sides of the Italo-Croatian midline. At present live Lophelia thriving at shallow depths is found in Norwegian fjords. It is quite remarkable that Lophelia has been found at such shallow depth in the Adriatic. Furthermore, the actual depth of recovery (ca. 200 m) should be considered as the maximum figure since at the presumed time of their life at the end of the Pleistocene, sea level was lower than present and corals possibly settled the area when it was only some 100-120 m deep. A number of Pleistocene shells were also recovered from this site, including infaunal boreal species such as the bivalves Panopea norvegica, Pseudamussium peslutrae and the vagrant gastropod Buccinum humphreysianum together with unusually large axes of the octocoral Funiculina quadrangularis. Essentially, this region of the MAD seems a frozen-in-time latest glacial seascape. On-going U/Th and AMS-C14 dating will reveal the age of these subfossil ‘white corals’. As a working hypothesis, we suggest tentatively that they were lethally impinged by a sudden silting, perhaps in response of a milder climatic pulse resulting in stronger rains and enhanced sediment transport in the Adriatic. A similar situation has been documented elsewhere in the Mediterranean basin but at deeper bathymetries (e.g., Remia and Taviani, 2005). The discovery of this large (supposedly) glacial deep water coral province in the middle Adriatic is highly significant in understanding the general spatio-temporal evolution of deep water corals in the Mediterranean basin and may help in assessing the links among the recently discovered coral provinces of the southern Adriatic and Ionian seas.