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Background Foodborne pathogens present in soil or irrigation water have the potential to internalize via root into edible parts of the plants and survive, representing a serious hazard for consumer's health (1). The present work assesses the ability of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) to enter basil plants (Ocimum basilicum L., cultivar “Napoletano”) from roots. This situation may represent a risk in food safety since that vegetable is largely used raw/undercooked, in the Mediterranean diet. Methods Sixteen basil plants were cultivated in hydroponics, from the seeds. Roots from 14 plants at 4 leaves-stage were individually immersed in liquid media contaminated with a suspension of ST isolated from Aterno river in Abruzzo region, Italy (9 log10 cfu/mL final concentration). Two plants were used as negative controls (no ST challenge); surface swabs were taken from leaves and stems to exclude external contaminations. After 24 hours, plants were tested for detection (UNI EN ISO 6579-1:2017) and enumeration (in-house method) of ST in leaves and stems. Results ST detection gave positive results in 14/14 plants; in particular, ST was present in 14/14 plants in the leaves and for 9/14 plants also in the stems. The internalized ST strains were also enumerated in 10/14 plants. In particular, 3/14 plants gave positive results both in the leaves and stems, 2/14 only in the stems and other 5/14 only in the leaves. The average ST counts were of 4 log10 cfu/g in leaves and stems. All negative ctr/surface swabs were negative to ST. Conclusions Even though antimicrobial properties of basil plants have been described (2), this study demonstrated the potential of ST to internalize, survive and spread to edible parts. The findings highlight the risk of human infections by ST in plant following root uptake, suggesting the importance of applying appropriate preventive pre-harvest strategies. Biblio EFSA. E. Jour. (2014);12(3):3600 Tenore et al. (2017). Natural product research, 31(17), 2067-2071 Key messages The ability of Salmonella Typhimurium to internalize, survive and spread to edible parts of basil plants. Pathogenic bacteria root uptake represents a potential risk for human health.

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen and wild boars are recognised as reservoirs. HEV is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and it is usually transmitted by faecal-oral route. EU reported more than 21.000 human cases over the last 10 years (1). At the present, HEV comprises 8 genotypes and several subtypes. HEV genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3 and HEV-4) are zoonotic. This is the first report of HEV-3 subtype e and f in the wild boar population in Abruzzo region. Methods During the hunting season 2018-2019, liver samples from wild boars were analysed using Real Time RT-PCR for the detection of HEV RNA. Among these, positive sample were subjected to Whole Genome Sequencing for genotyping. After the quality check, reads were mapped using the nearest identified ref. sequence (KU176129) and the resulting HEV RNA sequences have been analysed using HEV net (open source software). Results Overall, 40 samples were tested positive for the detection of HEV RNA. Among these, 19 samples, with a Ct value ≤ 38, were selected for phylogenetic analysis. All RNA viral samples belonged to HEV-3. In particular, 2 RNA viral samples belonged to subtype e and 1 to subtype f. The others, instead, belonged to HEV-3 subtype c. Conclusions Up to now, only HEV-3 subtype c has been reported among wild boars in Abruzzo, an Italian region officially recognized as an HEV hot spot because of the high number of human cases and for the strong sero-prevalence among blood donors. In this study, we report for the first time the presence of HEV-3 subtypes e and f in the wild boar population of this area. Since HEV-3 subtypes e and f are commonly associated to human disease from consumption of raw/undercooked pork meats, these findings suggest the potential risk also associated with the consumption of wild boar meat. Nevertheless, this speculation needs further investigations. 1.EFSA (2017). Public health risks associated with HEV as a food-borne pathogen. E. Jou., 15(7) Key messages First report of the presence of HEV-3 subtypes e and f among wild boar population in Abruzzo region. Potential risk for human health of HEV transmission associated with raw/undercooked wild boar meat consumption.

Purpose. A novel fixed-dose combination of 150 mg of econazole with 6 mg of benzydamine formulated in vaginal ovules was investigated in a randomised, double-blind, four-parallel group, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic Phase I study in healthy women. Methods. The fixed-dose combination was compared to econazole and benzydamine single-drug formulations and with placebo after daily applications for 3 consecutive days. Safety and tolerability were evaluated recording the adverse drug reactions, local and general tolerability scores, clinical laboratory assays, and vital signs. Econazole, benzydamine, and its metabolite benzydamine N-oxide pharmacokinetics were investigated after single and multiple applications. Results. Local reactions were generally absent. Pruritus and pain at the application site were infrequently reported. According to the subjects’ evaluations, the overall tolerability of the ovules was rated as excellent or good. No significant effect of any treatment on laboratory parameters, vital signs, body weight, vaginal pH, or ECG was observed. Very low econazole, benzydamine, and benzydamine-N-oxide concentrations were measured in plasma, though quantifiable in almost all samples. Conclusion. The tested fixed-dose combination showed a good safety profile consistently with the known tolerability of both active substances. In addition, the confirmed low bioavailability of the drugs excludes the possibility of any accumulation effects and limits the risk of undesired systemic effects. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT02720783 last updated on 07 February 2017.

Background:Enthesis anatomy and biomechanics have a key role in Spondyloarthritis (SpA) pathogenesis (1) but few data are available about the influence of structural and biomechanical changes of Achilles tendon (AT) on persisting pain in longstanding SpA patients.Objectives:To correlate AT pain in longstanding SpA patients with ultrasonographic detectable disorders and biomechanical abnormalities.Methods:We performed a monocentric cross-sectional analysis including 35 consecutive patients affected by SpA (13 with Psoriatic Arthritis, 9 with Enteropathic SpA, 6 with Ankylosing Spondylitis and 7 with Undifferentiated SpA) under treatment with anti- TNF agents. A rheumatologic clinical and clinimetric evaluation (AT VAS pain, BASDAI, BASFI, HAQ), an ultrasound study of AT according to the Madrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI) score and a podiatrist biomechanical evaluation [Foot posture index (FPI), degree of ankle dorsiflexion with the knee extended and flexed] were performed.Results:Study population (13 F; 22 M; mean age 54.9 ±13.9 years; mean disease duration 9.5 ± 5.0 years; mean BMI 25.8 ±4.4) showed a mean AT VAS pain of 3.4 ± 2.2, a mean HAQ of 0.6 ± 0.6, a mean BASDAI of 3.3 ±2.1 and a mean BASFI of 2.2 ±1.9. At the ultrasonographic evaluation 47% (33/70) of the AT entheses analysed presented a dishomogeneous echostructure, 31% (22/70) structural thickness, 53% (37/70) calcifications, 10% (7/70) erosions, 44% (31/70) a retrocalcanear bursitis. A power Doppler positivity was found only in 0.07% (5/70) of the AT.At the biomechanical evaluation 50% (35/70) of the feet showed a FPI score between 0 and + 5 (neutral foot), 46% (32/70) a FPI score between +6 and +9 (slight foot pronation) and 6% (4/70) a FPI score between -1 and -4 (slight foot supination).The mean degree of ankle dorsiflexion with extended knee was 8.4 ± 3.9 with the 61% (43/70) of the patients with a maximum dorsiflexion < 10° of whom 46% (20/43) do not recover after the knee flexion.We found a between the mean degree of left ankle dorsiflexion with extended/flexed knee both with ultrasound-revealed left AT enthesis calcifications (p=0.014/0.037) and with left AT enthesis thickness (p=0.049/0.035), and a significant association between the mean degree of right ankle dorsiflexion and extended/flexed knee and ultrasound-revealed right AT calcifications (p=0.008/0.012). Moreover, we noticed an inverse correlation between the mean overall degree of ankle dorsiflexion with extended/flexed knee and the BASFI values (p=0.007/0.004). AT VAS pain was statistically related with Achilles PDUS signal persistence (p=0.048) but not with US signs of chronic entesopathy or biomechanical alterations [calcification (p=0.39), erosions (p=0.74)]. The limits of the study were the low number of patients recruited and the lack of a control group.Conclusion:In this monocentric study on a cohort of SpA patients, we demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between ankle–subtalar joint complex biomechanics alterations, ultrasonographic signs of chronic enthesopathy and clinimetric index of functional disability. Residual Achilles pain seems to be related to US signs of active enthesitis.References:[1]The enthesis organ concept and its relevance to the spondyloarthropathies. Benjamin, M and McGonagle, D. s.l.: Adv Exp Med Biol, 2009, Vol. 649.[2]The Synovio-entheseal Complex and Its Role in Tendon and Capsular Associated Inflammation. McGonagle, E D, Aydin, SZ and Tan, AL. 0, s.l.: J Rheumatol Suppl, 2012, Vol. 89Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to inform the update of European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Recommendations for the management of Behçet's syndrome (BS), on the evidence for the treatment of skin, mucosa and joint involvement of BS. Methods: A systematic literature search, data extraction, statistical analyses and assessment of the quality of evidence were performed according to a pre-specified protocol using the PRISMA guidelines. Studies that assessed the efficacy of an intervention in comparison to an active comparator or placebo for oral ulcers, genital ulcers, papulopustular lesions, nodular lesions or arthritis were included. Where possible, risk ratios were calculated for binary outcomes and mean difference for continuous outcomes. Results: Among the 3927 references that were screened, 37 were included in the analyses. Twenty-seven of these assessed mucocutaneous and 17 assessed joint involvement. Twenty-one of these studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs with colchicine, azathioprine, interferon-alpha, thalidomide, etanercept and apremilast showed beneficial results with some differences according to lesion type and gender. These agents were generally well tolerated with few adverse events causing withdrawal from the study. Conclusions: RCTs comprised more than a half (21/37, 57%) of the sources included in the evidence synthesis related to skin, mucosa and joint involvement applicable for the EULAR Recommendations for the management of BS. Differences in the outcome measures that were used across the included studies often made it difficult to combine and compare the results. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.

The possibility to prescribe home-based rehabilitation activity after stroke strongly increases the amount of exercises to perform, thus helping the maintenance of relearned skills, the completion of the rehabilitation program, the practice of physical and mental concentration. Even more important is the monitoring of the patient activity at home, as it is provided by the Remote Monitoring Validation Engineering System (ReMoVES) platform [1]. The present work refers to the implementation and integration in ReMoVES platform of a digital and web-based version of Albert’s [2] and Line Bisection [3] tests devoted to visuo-spatial neglect evaluation and its remote monitoring. A statistical analysis devoted to validating test-retest reliability is proposed. Concurrent correlation between digital and traditional administration of the tests is presented, in order to evaluate the validity of the remote monitoring of the home-administration through ReMoVES platform.

Several new treatment modalities with different mechanisms of action have been studied in patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS). The aim of the current effort was to update the recommendations in the light of these new data under the auspices of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Standing Committee for Clinical Affairs. A task force was formed that included BS experts from different specialties including internal medicine, rheumatology, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurology, gastroenterology, oral health medicine and vascular surgery, along with a methodologist, a health professional, two patients and two fellows in charge of the systematic literature search. Research questions were determined using a Delphi approach. EULAR standardised operating procedures was used as the framework. Results of the systematic literature review were presented to the task force during a meeting. The former recommendations were modified or new recommendations were formed after thorough discussions followed by voting. The recommendations on the medical management of mucocutaneous, joint, eye, vascular, neurological and gastrointestinal involvement of BS were modified; five overarching principles and a new recommendation about the surgical management of vascular involvement were added. These updated, evidence-based recommendations are intended to help physicians caring for patients with BS. They also attempt to highlight the shortcomings of the available clinical research with the aim of proposing an agenda for further research priorities. © 2018 Article author(s).

Objective. To assess the efficacy and safety of treatment modalities for major organ involvement of Behçet’s syndrome (BS), in order to inform the update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of BS. Methods. A systematic literature review of all randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, or open label trials assessing eye, vascular, nervous system or gastrointestinal system involvement of BS was performed. If controlled trials were not available for answering a specific research question, uncontrolled studies or case series were also included. Results. We reviewed the titles and abstracts of 3927 references and 161 studies met our inclusion criteria. There were only nine randomized controlled trials. Observational studies with IFN-α and monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies showed beneficial results for refractory uveitis. Meta-analysis of case-control studies showed that immunosuppressives decreased the recurrence rate of deep vein thrombosis significantly whereas anticoagulants did not. CYC and high dose glucocorticoids decreased mortality in pulmonary arterial aneurysms and postoperative complications in peripheral artery aneurysms. Beneficial results for gastrointestinal involvement were obtained with 5-ASA derivatives and AZA as first line treatment and with thalidomide and/or monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies in refractory cases. Observational studies for nervous system involvement showed improved outcome with immunosuppressives and glucocorticoids. Meta-analysis of case-control studies showed an increased risk of developing nervous system involvement with ciclosporin-A. Conclusion. The majority of studies related to major organ involvement that informed the updated EULAR recommendations for the management of BS were observational studies. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

Background Physical activity is of fundamental importance for people with rheumatic diseases (RD). The traditional approach of Physiotherapy (PT) has been placed side by side with other physical programs, such as Yoga (Y), aimed at reducing chronic pain and improving the quality of life. Objectives To evaluate the effects of PT and Y on patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory RD: Chronic Arthritis (CA) and Primary Fibromyalgia (FM). Methods Patients were enrolled in a prospective study including 3 months of PT and 3 months of Y (with a specific focus on the control of breathing - Ai-jutsu). Each activity was performed bi-weekly in a dedicated facility. Patients were randomly allocated to either the group starting with PT or that starting with Y. After 3 months they switched to the other activity. At the beginning and at the end of each activity patients underwent a medical assessment of their physical status and were proposed questionnaires: 1) HAQ for disability in everyday life; 2) ZUNG self-rating depression scale; 3) Tampa scale for Kinesiophobia assessing the fear and avoidance of movement. Patients with FM compiled also the FIQ for the impact of FM in everyday life. All patients rated their physical pain by VAS (Visual Analogic Scale) from 0 to 10. Results Thirteen patients with CA (77% female, median age 62 years, median disease duration 19 years) and 8 with FM (100% female, 56 years, 9 years) participated in the study. At baseline, there were no differences between CA and FM patients in terms of ZUNG, HAQ and Tampa scores. After 3 and 6 months of activity, all items had a tendency toward improvement, with a statistically significant reduction for VAS in both groups (nearly -30%). By intra-group comparison between the beginning and the end of each activity, we observed that patients with CA had a significant reduction of ZUNG and HAQ scores (50 vs 40.5 and 0.600 vs 0.475, respectively) during PT activity, while FM patients had a trend toward the increase of Tampa score (24.5 vs 34.5). During Y activity, significant reductions were observed in VAS score for CA patients (5 vs 2.5) and in Tampa score for FM patients (34.5 vs 23.5). Overall, all items had a tendency toward improvement for FM patients during Y activity. Conclusions This pilot study involving both patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory RD demonstrated benefit from an integrated program of sequential PT and Y and highlighted differences in patients9 needs according to their disease type. Particularly, PT seemed to bring more benefit to CA patients, probably because of the individualized work on joint movement range and muscular strengthening, while FM patients may have had a negative impact by this approach, as seen by the increase in the fear of movement. Conversely, FM patients had a tendency toward improvement during Y activity. Acknowledgements We thank the Patients Association (ABAR) for promoting and supporting the activities of this study and Essse Accademia for gently introducing our patients to the world of Yoga. Disclosure of Interest C. Nalli: None declared, L. Andreoli: None declared, R. Avanzini: None declared, P. Tipa: None declared, M. Zanetti: None declared, C. Milini: None declared, S. Olivieri Employee of: Accademia Essse, E. Abrami: None declared, R. Furfari: None declared, R. Gorla: None declared, A. Tincani: None declared

Summary Since 2000, several incursions of bluetongue virus (BTV) occurred in the Mediterranean Basin involving European and surrounding Countries. The Middle East represents one of the most important gateways for the access of BTV in Europe. Limited data on the BTV situation in this area are available. In this perspective, an epidemiological survey on the presence of BTV in Lebanon was conducted. Of the 181 serum samples tested, 97 (mean = 53.6%; 95% CI: 46.3–60.7) resulted positive when tested for the presence of BTV antibodies by c-ELISA, of these 42 (mean = 42%; 95% CI: 32.8–51.8) serum samples were from sheep and 55 (mean = 67.9%; 95% CI: 57.1–77.1) serum samples were from goats. Fourteen blood samples (14/110; mean = 12.7%; 95% CI: 7.8–20.3), 6 (6/66; mean = 9.1%; 95% CI: 4.4–18.5) from sheep and 8 (8/44; mean = 18.2%; 95% CI: 9.6–32.0) from goats, were positive by qRT-PCR. The results with serum-neutralization assay and typing performed by RT-PCR confirmed that six BTV serotypes are currently circulating in Lebanon, and these serotypes are as follows: 1, 4, 6, 8, 16 and 24. This study is the first report that confirms the presence and circulation of BTV in Lebanon.

While medium to high titers of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies, defined as40 GPL units or99th percentile, is a laboratory criteria for the 'definite' diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), agreement between the two cut-offs has not been validated.To validate the current aCL laboratory criterion by verifying the effect of the two cut-offs on APS classification.Ninety aCL positive APS patients were selected on the basis of their GPL values above the 99th percentile (17.4 GPL), which was calculated by testing 100 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.A significant difference in the IgG positivity (P0.0001) was found between the APS laboratory profiles as 20 out of the 24 (83.3%) patients with single positivity (aCL alone), six out of the 23 (26.1%) with double positivity (aCL plus lupus anticoagulant or anti-beta(2)glycoprotein I), and none out of the 43 with triple positivity (aCL plus lupus anticoagulant and anti-beta(2)glycoprotein I) had titers between the 99th percentile and 40 GPL units. Moreover, the rate of aCL values between the 99th percentile and 40 GPL units was significantly higher (P0.0001) in patients with pregnancy morbidity (73.7%) as compared to those with vascular thrombosis (16.9%) and those with both conditions (16.7%).The 99th percentile cut-off level seems more sensitive than the40 GPL value for APS classification, as it includes subjects with aCL positivity alone as well as patients with pregnancy morbidity.

An analysis of the Bragg wavelength deviation generated by the TDM multiplexing of a large number of low reflective sensors at the same nominal wavelength using a single optical fiber has been proposed. In this paper, the demodulation technique based on Fixed Spectrum Filters is compared with peak position of full wavelength spectrum. Results indicate that the fixed filter approach is less sensitive to wavelength distortion due to shadow of other sensors operating at the same nominal wavelength. In addition, an experimental setup using combined TDM and WDM multiplexing technique was implemented. Experimental results indicate that a dynamic range of 1.7 nm was obtained with maximum uncertainties equivalent to approximately 20 pm. Experimental simulations indicate that it would be possible to use a number of approximately 70 sensors with 0.4% reflectivity at each nominal sensor wavelength. Considering the DWDM filter bandwidth (1539–1565 nm) used in this system, and a spectral separation of 7 nm by nominal sensor wavelength, a number of 210 sensors can be obtained, in three different nominal sensor wavelengths. Using the C-band and the L-band, a number of 1000 sensors can be obtained, in 14 different nominal sensor wavelengths. Using depolarization light the uncertainty can be improved.

To assess the clinical value of anti-lysobisphosphatidic acid (anti-LBPA) antibodies in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the sera of 140 primary APS patients were tested and compared with those of 70 control subjects affected with rheumatic systemic diseases (n. 24) or autoimmune thyroiditis (n. 46). Anti-LBPA anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta2 Glycoprotein I (anti-beta2GPI) antibodies were determined using a "home made" ELISA method. Lupus anticoagulant (LA) was assessed using a series of clotting tests in accordance with the literature. IgG anti-LBPA was significantly prevalent in primary APS (p=0.000) with a sensitivity of 58.6% and a specificity of 92.9%. IgM anti-LBPA showed a significant frequency in primary APS (p=0.000) with a sensitivity of 28.6% and a specificity of 97.1%. Anti-LBPA's sensitivity and specificity for APS were lower or equal to those of aCL and anti-beta2GPI. The prevalence of anti-LBPA in the different clinical and laboratory subsets of APS was lower than those of aCL and anti-beta2GPI. It is interesting to observe that both IgG and IgM anti-LBPA were never found alone. The comparison between anti-LBPA and LA showed that the former had a higher sensitivity but a lower specificity. In conclusion, in view of our results anti-LBPA cannot at present be considered a further tool to be utilized to diagnose APS and to differentiate the different clinical and laboratory subsets of this disease.

The sera of 39 patients (38 women and 1 man), 16 with limited and 23 with diffuse clinical form of systemic sclerosis (SSc), were tested for anti-centromere (ACA), anti-topoisomerase I (ATA) and anti-RNA polymerase III (ARA) antibodies. The presence of apoptotic cells in cultures of circulating lymphocytes was investigated using the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling) technique. ACAs were present in 16 (41%), ATA in 15 (38%) and ARA in 8 (21%) cases. The mean frequency of apoptotic lymphocytes was statistically higher in the ARA positive patients with respect to that in the control population (P < 0.001), in ACA (P < 0.001) and in the ATA (P < 0.001) groups. Moreover, apoptosis was distributed homogenously in ACA and ATA positive subjects, but not in the ARA patients. Our results show that there is an increase in apoptosis in the lymphocytes of ARA positive SSc patients.

Showing functional correctness by simulation before implementation, and preserving it by automated code generation, is extremely useful to reduce the development time for an embedded application. This is even more true for wireless sensor networks, since their nodes often provide very rudimentary debugging facilities, and sufficiently large networks for realistic analysis may be expensive to deploy. While this approach, also known as model-based design, is becoming quite standard for several domains that have similar constraints as wireless sensor networks, such as automotive electronics, there is a lack of tools for this purpose in the WSN world. In order to fill this gap, in this paper we present a framework (based on Simulink, Stateflow and Embedded Coder) in which an engineer can create sensor network components (both at the application and at the protocol level) that can be used as building blocks to model, simulate and automatically generate code for different underlying platforms and operating systems.

The clastogenic effects on DNA, proven by the presence of micronuclei (MN) and the protective cellular mechanisms normally used to stabilize DNA breaks were investigated in three subsets of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The frequency of MN found in cultures of peripheral lymphocytes in patients with anticentromere and antitopoisomerase I antibodies was significantly higher than that in the control group. The group with anticentromere antibody showed a significantly higher frequency of MN than did the subjects with antitopoisomerase antibody (4.22% versus 2.34%, P < 0.001). Patients with anti-RNA polymerase III, instead, had a low prevalence of typical micronucleated cells (0.98%), not significantly different from that of the healthy controls (0.82%). Moreover, when MN was characterized for the presence or absence of DNA fragments with free 3′-OH ends by digoxigenin-dUTP (DIG-dUTP) using terminal deoxynucleotidil transferase, its frequency was found to be increased in the groups with anticentromere and antitopoisomerase I antibodies with respect to that in the controls. The increase was significantly higher in the lymphocytes of the patients with anticentromere than in those with antitopoisomerase I antibody (35% versus 20.08%, P < 0.001). Nonetheless, the prevalence of unstable DNA fragments in patients with anti-RNA polymerase III antibody was low (2.05%) and not significantly different from that of the control group (1.18%). Our results indicate that there is a clastogenic effect on DNA and an interference in the protective cellular mechanisms normally stabilizing DNA breaks only in some subsets of SSc patients.

This work presents a system for the interrogation of optical fiber Bragg grating sensors based on time domain reflectometry and fixed filters. In this system, filtering is accomplished by fiber Bragg gratings, and a pulsed broadband light source is employed to illuminate the gratings. The spectral informations from the sensors are related to the ratio of two pulse intensities, each from a different filter. The signals are measured with a unique photodetection system, which makes detection independent of intensity variations and minimizes external influences on the circuit, such as variations in the environment temperature. Also, a small number of optical couplers and circulators are needed, so the interrogation system costs per sensor is considerably reduced. A test approach has been assembled for the interrogation of six sensors. Comparisons between experimental results and simulations show a good agreement. Extrapolations indicate that it would be possible to interrogate sensors with spectral variations up to 2 nm, providing uncertainties smaller than 5 pm, which is adequate for multiplexed sensing of temperature in a range of 200°C.

To determine the efficacy of donepezil in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) in a randomized withdrawal study.Patients with mild to moderate AD with marked neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI]11 points) were treated openly with donepezil 5 mg daily for 6 weeks followed by 10 mg daily for a further 6 weeks. Patients were then randomized (60:40) to either placebo or 10 mg donepezil daily. All patients were assessed at 6 weeks and provided there was no marked cognitive deterioration their blinded treatment was continued for a further 6 weeks. NPI and carer distress were assessed at 6 weekly intervals throughout the study.A total of 134 patients participated. Following randomization patients who continued on donepezil 10 mg for 12 weeks had improvements in NPI compared with the placebo group (mean change -2.9 vs 3.3 points; ITT-LOCF p = 0.02) and in NPI-Distress scores (median change -2.0 vs 1.0 points; ITT-LOCF p = 0.01). During the open-label phase the total NPI and NPI-Distress scores were lower after 12 weeks treatment with open label donepezil compared with baseline (total NPI 22 points vs13 points; ITT-LOCF p0.0001; NPI-Distress 13.5 vs 7.9 points; ITT-LOCF p0.0001). In the open-label phase all domains of the NPI (with the exception of elation) were improved (all p0.05 after Bonferroni correction).Donepezil has significant efficacy in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild to moderate AD.

The peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) are only minimally expressed in normal brain parenchyma, where they are primarily localized in glial cells. Their basal expression rises in different neurodegenerative disorders, due to the presence of infiltrating inflammatory cells and activated microglia. [11C]PK11195, a selective PBR antagonist, has been used for the in vivo PET monitoring of neurodegeneration in clinical observations. We recently developed and labeled with carbon-11 three new carboxamide derivatives: [11C]VC193M, [11C]VC195 and [11C]VC198M. Aim of this study was to evaluate these ligands for the in vivo measuring of PBRs expression in neurodegenerations and compare their kinetic behavior with that of the reference tracer [11C]PK11195. Radioligands were evaluated in a preclinical model of Huntington's disease consisting in the monolateral striatal injection of quinolinic acid (QA). Activated microglia and astrocytic gliosis was present only within the affected striatum. A concomitant increase in radioactivity accumulation was observed for all the tracers examined (P

This paper deals with channel equalization and cross talk cancellation for high density optical recording. The performance of both linear and decision feedback adaptive equalization is evaluated. Maximum likelihood sequence estimation is also considered. To cope with interference from adjacent tracks, an algorithm for cross talk cancellation based on a three spot detection system is analyzed.

The problem of noise filtering for video coding applications is considered in this paper. In a previous paper by S. Olivieri and L. Albini (see Proc. ICIP'99, Kobe, Japan, Oct. 1999) an advantageous technique to combine a motion compensated (MC) noise filter with the coding loop of an MC hybrid coding scheme was illustrated, and a rate-distortion (RD) optimization framework was proposed. Here, we describe an alternative structure for denoising image sequences to be coded, which is based on Kalman filtering. Experimental results reveal that this technique provides performances as good as those of the RD-optimized noise filter of S. Olivieri and L. Albini, while the computational complexity has been greatly reduced.

The key element in realizing low cost real-time software implementations of a H.263 videoconferencing system is a fast motion estimation algorithm, which only slightly decreases coding efficiency. We propose a spatio-temporal recursive estimator that combines an excellent coding efficiency with a high computational efficiency. Experimentally, the new algorithm proves to be comparable to full-search block matching when encoding typical videoconferencing sequences in presence of additive noise, even though the computational burden has been greatly reduced.

Noise in video coding applications degrades the image quality and prevents effective compression. In this paper, we define a rate-distortion optimization framework to adapt the response of a motion compensated (MC) temporal noise filter for MC hybrid video coding schemes. We propose a solution based on the Lagrange multiplier method to determine the optimal control parameter set of the filter, and we describe an effective technique to estimate the a priori unknown rate constraint. The results demonstrate that the proposed method leads to near-optimal compression ratio and satisfactory distortion performance.

Substituted homo-isoflavonoids were synthesized in order to study their in vitro anti-picornavirus activity. The maximum non-toxic concentration of the compounds for susceptible cells (HeLa) was determined, and the ability of non-cytotoxic concentrations to interfere with plaque formation by human rhinovirus (HRV) 1B and 14 and poliovirus (PV) 2 was examined. All the tested compounds were weakly effective against PV-2, while they exhibited a variable degree of activity against HRV-1B and -14 infection. Serotype 1B was much more sensitive than 14 to the action of the compounds, and the presence of one or more chlorine atoms increased the antiviral effect in all homo-isoflavonoids tested, confirming the positive influence of this substituent on activity.

Polymeric composites that are stitched reinforced show dissimilar behaviours with respect to regular ones. In this paper the mechanical characteristics and different behaviours of stitched reinforced polymeric composites after impact tests are investigated using an alternative approach. Several factors such as grid size, stitching scheme and voids content modify the composite performances and the interlaminar delaminating processes. If, on the one hand, the stitching technique is used to prevent delaminating damage phenomena, then, on the other hand, the process itself introduces a sort of damage into the layers during the assembled preform, that has to be taken into account. Delaminating processes due to impact loads are considered and the post-impact behaviours and damage tolerance are investigated. Impact tests were performed at several energy levels known to have an appreciable damage on the specimens. Damage evaluation analysis was performed on post-impacted specimens using different techniques: as a first step, using a digitalised image technique, the damaged area was measured and different zone shape was evaluated, further compression tests were done to evaluate the material residual properties after impact. The results coming from compression tests do not reveal the better awaited behaviour of the stitched composites with respect to regular ones. On the other hand, the acoustic emission technique is capable of evidencing the different aspects of the stitching wire. The image acquisition technique represents a new experimental method able to fully characterise damage zones and gives more information on the interlaminar behaviour of composite material. This new technique joined to acoustic emission measurements allows important results on the residual life prediction of materials mechanical properties to be obtained.

Dependence has developed in the case of each antianxiety drugs introduced into clinical practice during the last two hundred years. Throughout this time there has been a reluctance to accept that anxiolytics are drugs of dependence and this has led to prolonged delays in the recognition of the problem. New compounds have been used to treat addiction to older drugs, even after the new drugs themselves have been shown to be addictive. The limitations of existing methods of assessing addictive potential should be more widely recognised and patients treated with new antianxiety drugs should be monitored more intensely and for a sufficiently long period to decide definitely that the drug does not cause dependence. It is hoped that drugs free from addictive potential will one day be produced, but it is possible that dependence is an unavoidable price that has to be paid for having antianxiety drug in our pharmacological armamentarium.

The numbers of NHS prescriptions for tranquillizers in England are falling, having peaked in the mid-1970s. This fall is not mirrored by prescriptions for other psychotropic drugs. Drug costs have risen over the past ten years faster than inflation, though a temporary fall in the price of Valium (diazepam) and Librium (chlordiazepoxide) had a profound effect on this trend. The economics of psychotropic drug prescribing, including the reasons for these increases, are considered. Ways of cutting the drug bill are examined.