13,027 research outputs found
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in wild Adriatic fish - from the main determining factors of PAH accumulation to some biological responses of fish
No full textQuesta tesi si focalizza su 16 idrocarburi policiclici aromatici (IPA), classificati come inquinanti prioritari
dall’Unione Europea (EU) e dall’Agenzia per la Protezione Ambientale degli Stati Uniti (US EPA), per i loro
effetti cancerogeni e mutageni. Inoltre, essi vengono inclusi tra i contaminanti da considerare nei Descrittori
8 e 9 della direttiva quadro sulla Strategia per l’Ambiente Marino (MSFD). Il livello e la distribuzione degli IPA
sono stati investigati nei sedimenti marini e in diversi tessuti di due specie ittiche (Solea solea e Mullus
barbatus) provenienti da un’importante zona di pesca situata nel bacino dell’Adriatico Settentrionale e
Centrale. La presente tesi di dottorato fornisce nuove informazioni dei principali effetti biologici, chimici e
ambientali sul livello di contaminazione da IPA nei tessuti dei pesci, compreso quello edibile. Inoltre, viene
esaminata la relazione tra il livello degli IPA e quello dell’espressione del mRNA di alcuni enzimi antiossidanti,
nonché la perossidazione lipidica. Tale tesi fornisce utili ed innovative informazioni sulla risposta biologica di
pesci selvatici dell’Adriatico, esposti ad inquinamento da IPA. Studi mirati in questa direzione sono essenziali
per determinare lo stato ambientale degli ecosistemi marini e il raggiungimento del buono stato ambientale
(GES), come suggerito dalla MSFD. Pertanto, i risultati di questa tesi sono rilevanti per l’applicazione della
MSFD, e potrebbero essere utilizzati per aumentare e definire il set di dati per lo sviluppo di nuovi indici di
qualità ambientale, nonché per proteggere gli stock ittici dell’Adriatico.This thesis focuses on the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), classified as priority pollutants by the
European Union (EU) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) due to their
carcinogenic and mutagenic effects and, included in the Descriptor 8 and 9 of the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive (MSFD). The PAH level and distribution were investigated in different tissues of two fish species
(Solea solea and Mullus barbatus) and in marine sediments of an important fishing ground located in the
Northern and Central Adriatic Sea. The present PhD thesis provides new insight into the main biological,
chemical and environmental effects on the PAH level in fish tissues, including edible tissue. In addition, it
examines the relationship between the PAH levels and mRNA expression level of some antioxidant enzymes,
as well as lipid peroxidation, proving innovative and useful information on the biological responses of wild
Adriatic fish, exposed to PAH pollution. Therefore, pointed studies in this direction are essential to determine
the environmental status of the marine ecosystems and the achievement of the GES, as suggested by MSFD.
Furthermore, the results of the present thesis are relevant for the MSFD application. Particularly, results and
products of this PhD thesis could be used to increase and define the dataset for the development of new
environmental quality indexes, as well as to protect the Adriatic fish stocks
Introduction
No full textWe introduce here the volume Handbook of Game Theory and Industrial Organization, by L. C. Corchón and M. A. Marini (ed.), Edward Elgar, Cheltenam UK and Northampton, MA by describing its main aim and its basic structure
Diffusion-weighted MRI in cervical lymph nodes: Differentiation between benign and malignant lesions
No full textEur J Radiol. 2011 Feb;77(2):281-6. Epub 2009 Aug 28. Diffusion-weighted MRI in cervical lymph nodes: differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Perrone A, Guerrisi P, Izzo L, D'Angeli I, Sassi S, Mele LL, Marini M, Mazza D, Marini M. Source Department of Radiological Sciences, Sapienza University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy. Abstract OBJECTIVE: Purpose of our study was to assess the potential role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant nodes. SUBJECT AND METHODS: We enrolled 32 subjects: 14 with benign lymphadenopathy, 17 patients with histologically proved malignant disease before beginning treatment and 1 patient with lymphoma after chemotherapeutic treatment. In all patients we used fast spin echo T2-weighted images in axial and coronal planes, fast spin echo T1-weighted images before and after contrast medium of administration in axial and coronal planes. Before contrast administration diffusion sequences were acquired on the axial and coronal plane (b factor of 0.500 and 1000 s/mm(2)) and then apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were reconstructed. RESULTS: On diffusion images, 13/14 patients with benign nodes showed low signal intensity and had high signal on ADC maps, whereas all patients with malignant diseases appeared hyperintense on diffusion images and with low signal intensity on ADC maps. Only a patient with tuberculosis showed a low ADC value. The mean ADC value of malignant nodes was about 0.85 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s, the mean value of benign nodes was 1.448 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s; this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The mean ADC value of treated nodes was 1.75 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s. The best threshold value was 1.03 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s, obtaining a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 92.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion imaging could be considered an important supportive tool for the diagnosis of enlarged cervical lymphadenopathies. Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PMID: 19716671 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
Underweight vs. overweight/obese: which weight category do we prefer? Dissociation of weight‐related preferences at the explicit and implicit level
No full textSummary Objective: Although stigma towards obesity and anorexia is a well‐recognized problem, no research has investigated and compared the explicit (i.e. conscious) and implicit (i.e. unconscious) preferences between these two conditions. The present study conducted this investigation in a sample of 4,806 volunteers recruited at the Project Implicit website (https://implicit.harvard.edu). Methods: Explicit and implicit preferences were assessed among different weight categories (i.e. underweight, normal weight and overweight/obese) by means of self‐reported items and the Multi‐category Implicit Association Test, respectively. Results: Preferences for the normal weight category were found both at the explicit and implicit levels when this category was compared with overweight/obese and underweight categories. On the contrary, when the underweight category was contrasted with the obese/overweight category, results differed at the explicit and implicit levels: pro‐underweight preferences were observed at the explicit level, while pro‐overweight/obese preferences were found at the implicit level. Conclusions: These results indicate that preferences between overweight/obese and underweight categories differ at the explicit and implicit levels. This dissociation may have important implications on behaviour and decision‐making.Version of Recor
Analysis of risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation
No full textOriginal Article
Analysis of risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation
M. Dobran, Davide Nasi, R. Paracino, M. Gladi, M. Della Costanza, A. Marini, S. Lattanzi, M. Iacoangeli
Department of Neurosurgery, Umberto I General Hospital, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
E-mail: M. Dobran - [email protected]; *Davide Nasi - [email protected]; R. Paracino - [email protected]; M. Gladi - [email protected]; M. Della Costanza - [email protected]; A. Marini - [email protected]; S. Lattanzi - [email protected];
M. Iacoangeli - [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Background: This study identified risk factors and postoperative indicators for recurrent lumbar disc herniations (rLDH) following microdiscectomy.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the 1-year recurrence rate for LDH in 209 consecutive patients undergoing microdiscectomy (2013–2018).
Results: Utilizing a multivariate analysis, higher body mass index (BMI) and postsurgery Oswestry disability index (ODI) were significantly associated with an increased risk of rLDH.
Conclusions: Elevated postsurgery ODI and higher BMI were significantly associated with increased risk of rLDH.
Keywords: Discectomy, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar microdiscectomy, recurrent disc herniation
*Corresponding author:
Davide Nasi,
Department of Neurosurgery, Università Politecnica delle Marche - Ospedali Riuniti, Via Conca #71, Ancona - 60020, Italy.
[email protected]
Received : 13 January 19
Accepted : 18 January 19
Published : 26 March 19
DOI
10.25259/SNI-22-2019
Quick Response Code:
INTRODUCTION
Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the most common reason for performing lumbar spine surgery. Today, many are managed utilizing a microdiscectomy approach. Nevertheless, these procedures correlate with a recurrence rate at 1 year that ranges from 1% to 21%.[1,3,5] Here, we looked at potential risk factors that may contribute to recurrent LDH (rLDH) following microdiscectomy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent standard lumbar spinal microdiscectomy for disc herniation (LDH) (2013–2018). The follow-up evaluations were performed at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Recurrence of disc herniation was defined as disc herniation at the same level and side of the previous microdiscectomy after a 3-month postoperative pain-free
www.surgicalneurologyint.com
Surgical Neurology International
Editor-in-Chief: Nancy E. Epstein, MD, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA.
SNI: Spine Editor
Nancy E. Epstein, MD
NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY, USAOpen Access
Dobran, et al.: Predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation
Surgical Neurology International • 2019 • 10(36) | 2
period. Variables contributing to rLDH included age, sex,
weight/body mass index (BMI), smoking status, postoperative
(6 months) Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the level of the
disc herniation. Radiological examination included magnetic
resonance imaging before and after surgery.
Statistical analysis
Analyses include Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test or
Chi-squared test, logistic regression, and multivariate analysis.
Results were considered significant for P < 0.05 (two-sided). Data
analysis was performed using STATA/IC 13.1 statistical package
(StataCorp LP, Texas, USA).
RESULTS
There were 209 patients included in this study; 20 of 209 (9.6%)
had rLDH at 1 postoperative year. Utilizing a multivariate
analysis, older age, higher BMI, and postsurgery ODI
were significantly associated with increased risk of rLDH
[Tables 1 and 2].
DISCUSSION
Microdiscectomy is a relatively straightforward procedure
but is associated with a complication rate of up to 15–18%.[1-6]
rLDH is the most frequent complication, occurring from 5% to
15% of the time.[6] rLDH is defined as a disc hernia at the same
level of a previous microdiscectomy in patient with a pain-free
interval of at least 3 months long after surgery.[1-6] In patients
treated with microdiscectomy, it is important to avoid a second
surgery due to the attendant increased risks/complications
associated with repeated decompression versus decompression/
fusion.[5,6] In our study, BMI was an independent predictor
of recurrence both at unadjusted logistic regression analysis
(P = 0.004) and adjusted analysis (P = 0.024). In our series,
postoperative 6-month ODI score value correlated with
rLDH. Furthermore, in this study, older age was a predictor of
recurrence.[1-6]
CONCLUSIONS
To summarize, patients with rLDH were older and had higher
BMI and postsurgery ODI score after a pain-free 3-month
interval.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
REFERENCES
1. Ambrossi GL, McGirt MJ, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Wolinsky JP,
Gokaslan ZL, et al. Recurrent lumbar disc herniation after singlelevel
lumbar discectomy: Incidence and health care cost analysis.
Neurosurgery 2009;65:574-8.
2. Dobran M, Brancorsini D, Costanza MD, Liverotti V, Mancini F,
Nasi D, et al. Epidural scarring after lumbar disc surgery: Equivalent
scarring with/without free autologous fat grafts. Surg Neurol Int
2017;8:169.
3. Dobran M, Marini A, Gladi M, Nasi D, Colasanti R, Benigni R, et al.
Deep spinal infection in instrumented spinal surgery: Diagnostic
factors and therapy. G Chir 2017;38:124-9.
Table 1: Characteristics of patients according to 1‐year outcome; relapse: n=20 (9.6%).
Variable Full cohort (n=209) No relapse (n=189) Relapse (n=20) P
Age (years) 44.6 (11.8) 43.9 (11.7) 50.4 (12.0) 0.021a
Male sex 125 (59.8) 115 (60.9) 10 (50.0) 0.347b
BMI (kg/m2) 27 (24–20) 27 (24–28) 29 (27.5–30.5) 0.005c
Smoking 144 (68.9) 129 (68.3) 15 (75.0) 0.535b
VAS 2.6 (1.5) 2.5 (1.5) 3.2 (1.7) 0.076a
ODI 15 (10–20) 15 (5–20) 20 (15–22) 0.002c
Disc hernia level ‐ ‐ 3 (8.6) 0.973b
L3–L4 35 (16.8) 32 (91.4) 10 (9.6) ‐
L4–L5 104 (49.8) 94 (90.4) 7 (10.0) ‐
L5–S1 70 (33.5) 63 (90.0) ‐ ‐
Data are mean (SD) or median (IQR) for continuous variables and n (%) for categorical variables. aTwo‐sample t‐test. bChi‐squared test. cMann–Whitney U‐test.
ODI: Oswestry disability index; VAS: Visual analog scale, BMI: Body mass index, SD: Standard deviation
Table 2: Prediction of 1‐year LDH.
Independent
variable
Unadjusted Adjusted*
OR (95% CI) P OR (95% CI) P
Age 1.05 (1.01–1.09) 0.023 1.04 (1.00–1.09) 0.060
Sex 0.64 (0.26–1.62) 0.350 0.50 (0.18–1.38) 0.178
BMI 1.28 (1.08–1.51) 0.004 1.23 (1.03–1.46) 0.022
Smoking 1.40 (0.48–4.02) 0.537 0.98 (0.30–3.13) 0.968
ODI 1.10 (1.03–1.17) 0.005 1.09 (1.02–1.18) 0.017
Disc hernia level 1.08 (0.55–2.12) 0.824 0.88 (0.41–1.88) 0.740
ORs for every 1 year and 1‐point BMI or ODI increases are obtained with
logistic regression analysis. BMI: Body mass index; CI: Confidence interval;
ODI: Oswestry disability index; OR: Odds ratio, LDH: Lumbar disc herniation
Dobran, et al.: Predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation
Surgical Neurology International • 2019 • 10(36) | 3
4. Dobran M, Marini A, Nasi D, Gladi M, Liverotti V, Costanza MD,
et al. Risk factors of surgical site infections in instrumented spine
surgery. Surg Neurol Int 2017;8:212.
5. Huang W, Han Z, Liu J, Yu L, Yu X. Risk factors for recurrent lumbar
disc herniation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine
(Baltimore) 2016;95:e2378.
6. Meredith DS, Huang RC, Nguyen J, Lyman S. Obesity increases
the risk of recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus after lumbar
microdiscectomy. Spine J 2010;10:575-80.
How to cite this article: Dobran M, Nasi D, Paracino R, Gladi M, Costanza MD,
Marini A, et al. Analysis of risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent
lumbar disc herniation. Surg Neurol Int 2019:10:36
CROATPAS: A Lexicographic Resource for Croatian Verbs and its Potential for Croatian Language Teaching
No full textThis paper revolves around CROATPAS (Marini & Ježek 2019), a digital lexicographic resource for Croatian verbs able to frame
verbal polysemy and metonymic shifts, which is currently being developed at the University of Pavia. Just like its Italian sister resource
T-PAS (Ježek et al. 2014), CROATPAS is a corpus-derived collection of verb argument structures whose argument slots have been
manually annotated using a specific set of semantic labels called Semantic Types. At the moment, the resource contains 101 verb
entries linked to 457 different verb senses (called patterns) and over 22,000 annotated corpus lines (Marini & Ježek 2020). The
possible applications of CROATPAS are endless. However, given the status of Croatian as an under-resourced and Less Commonly
Taught Language, this paper focuses on its potential as a language teaching tool, putting forward some hypothetical vocabulary and
grammar teaching suggestions. Even though CROATPAS is still in the early stages, its user-friendly interface, bilingual nature and
focus on verb semantics bode well for its future as a tool for the teaching of Croatian as a Foreign Language
Exercise training and other strategies for cardioprotection
No full textCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are no. 1 killer in the western world. We shall present here our results showing that moderate intensity aerobic training, resembling that suggested to humans willing to maintain cardiovascular fitness, significantly reduces by 22% the infarct size. Higher intensity aerobic training, resembling that adopted by humans practicing sport at amateur level, reduces the infarct size by 54%. Systemic increase of oxidative stress markers, such as plasma protein carbonylation and MDA, leads to the upregulation of cardioprotective proteins and antioxidant enzymes. Myocardial capillary network is increased and a number of parameters link aerobic exercise training to reduced LDL-cholesterol and to a more balanced membrane lipid composition. Preliminary experiments show that also a protocol of intermittent hypoxia may lead to cardioprotection, a result that could be exploited in a clinical context for cardiopathic patients that cannot afford exercise training
Agononida marini Macpherson 1994
No full textAgononida marini (Macpherson, 1994) (Fig. 6 D) Munida marini Macpherson, 1994: 492, 495, figs. 30, 77 [type locality: New Caledonia]. Agononida marini. — Ahyong & Poore 2004: 9 –10. — Baba 2005: 233, 235. Material examined. Norfolk Ridge: NIWA 28072, 1 male (16.3 mm), 1 female (19.0 mm), 33 ° 23.41 ’S, 170 ° 11.58 ’E, 469–526 m, TAN0308/ 126 # 38 sp. 19, 31 May 2003. Remarks. The specimens agree well with published accounts, exhibiting similar variation in abdominal spination to that reported by Ahyong & Poore (2004). Abdominal tergite 4 bears two anterior spines in the male, four in the female. Distribution. New Caledonia, eastern Australia, and now from northern New Zealand; 457–548 m (Ahyong & Poore 2004).Published as part of Ahyong, Shane T., 2007, Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae, pp. 1-54 in Zootaxa 1593 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17862
Modulation of the catalytic activity of neutrophil collagenase MMP-8 on bovine collagen I - Role of the activation cleavage and of the hemopexin-like domain
No full textGioia M, Fasciglione GF, Marini S, et al. Modulation of the catalytic activity of neutrophil collagenase MMP-8 on bovine collagen I - Role of the activation cleavage and of the hemopexin-like domain. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 2002;277(26):23123-23130.The cleavage of bovine collagen I by neutrophil collagenase MMP-8 has been followed at pH 7.4, 37 degreesC. The behavior of the whole enzyme molecule (whMMP-8), displaying both the catalytic domain and the hemopexin-like domain, has been compared under the same experimental conditions with that of the catalytic domain only. The main observation is that whMMP-8 cleaves bovine collagen I only at a single specific site, as already reported by many others (Mallya, S. K., Mookhtiar, K. A., Gao, Y., Brew, K., Dioszegi, M., Birkedal-Hansen, H., and van Wart, H. E. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 10628-10634; Knauper, V., Osthues, A., DeClerk, Y. A., Langley, K. A, Blaser, J., and Tschesche, H. (1993) Biochem. J. 291, 847854; Marini, S., Fasciglione, G. F., De Sanctis, G., D'Alessio, S., Politi, V., and Coletta, M. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 18657-18663), whereas the catalytic domain lacks this specificity and cleaves the collagen molecule at multiple sites. Furthermore, a meaningful difference is observed for the cleavage features displayed by two forms of the catalytic domain, which differ for the N terminus resulting from the activation process (i.e. the former Met(80)of the proenzyme (MetMMP-8) and the former Phe(79) of the proenzyme (PheMMP-8)). Thus, the PheMMP-8 species is characterized by a much faster k(cat)/K-m, fully attributable to a lower K-m, suggesting that the conformation of the catalytic domain, induced by the insertion of this N-terminal residue in a specific pocket (Reinemer, P., Grams, F., Huber, R., Kleine, T., Schnierer, S., Piper, M., Tschesche, H., and Bode, W. (1994) FEBS Lett. 338, 227-233), brings about a better, although less discriminatory, recognition process of cleavage site(s) on bovine collagen I
Ruy Mauro Marini: An unavoidable in the Latin American debate
No full textEl militante y académico brasileño Ruy Mauro Marini es habitualmente reconocido como uno de los principales referentes dentro de lo que se ha dado a conocer como la vertiente marxista de la Teoría de la Dependencia, de gran relevancia en el debate político y social latinoamericano durante las décadas de 1960 y 1970. En este artículo, nuestra intención es revisitar algunos de sus principales aportes al pensamiento crítico de nuestra región, pero -más allá de situarlos históricamente- afirmaremos que se trata de un autor con plena vigencia para la compresión de la legalidad específica de las leyes del capitalismo en economías dependientes, el debate sobre la inserción internacional de la región y el rol de los movimientos sociales en el siglo XXI. Además de algunas ineludibles referencias a su trayectoria de vida personal, nos abocaremos fundamentalmente a analizar cómo entiende Marini el Ciclo Dependiente, lo cual es indisoluble de los conceptos de Subimperialismo, de Superexplotación de la fuerza de trabajo y de Cooperación antagónicaThe militant and Brazilian academic, Ruy Mauro Marini, is generally recognized as one of the main references in what has become known as the Marxist perspective of "dependency theory", of great importance in the political and social debate in Latin America during the 1960s and 1970s. In this article we intend to revisit some of its major contributions to critical thinking in our region. Regardless of place them historically, we affirm that it is an author with full force for compression of specific legality of the laws of capitalism in dependent economies, the debate on the international insertion of the region and the role of social movements in the XXI Century. In addition to some unavoidable references to his personal life path, we will focus primarily to how Marini analyze the Dependency Cycle, which is inseparable from the concepts of Sub-imperialism, Super-exploitation of the labor force and Antagonic CooperationFil: Slipak, Ariel M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Universidad Nacional de Moreno; CONICET
- …
