167 research outputs found
Paolo De Matthaeis,órgano (Colombia)
No full textConcierto interpretado por el organista Paolo de Matthaeis. Este artista es organista titular de la Basílica de Santa Agnese en Roma, de la Basílica de San Pietro in Víncoli y organista y maestro preparador en la Iglesia Santa María alla Traspontina. Inició sus estudios musicales en el piano con G Bruno, en el órgano con P. Theo Flury (O. S. B.), y en órgano y composición con Guiuseppe Agostini• posteriormente los continuó con Wijnand Van de PoI en el curso superior experimental de órgano del Conservatorio Morlaccru en Perugia
Genotoxicity biomarkers in the amphipod Gammarus elvirae exposed in vivo to mercury and lead and basal levels of DNA damage in two cell types
No full textThe present work deals with the application of genotoxicity biomarkers by means of the Comet assay in haemocytes and spermatozoa of the crustacean Gammarus elvirae exposed in vivo to heavy metals. Furthermore, a basal levels (BLs) study of DNA damage in the two cell types considered for two different gammarids species, G. elvirae and Echinogammarus veneris, was carried out. It is important to identify factors that influence the outcome of the assay in order to obtain reliable and reproducible results usable for risk assessment purposes. Our results highlight that the Italian legal limits for Hg and Pb, respectively, 0.5 and 50 μg/L, are inadequate for establishing safety thresholds in the aquatic environment. Furthermore, the freshwater invertebrate G. elvirae, used for the first time to measure the effect of genotoxicants, is a good candidate for evaluating the genotoxicity damage induced by heavy metals. Our results concerning spermatozoa show excessively variable responses and high BLs
Filogeografia est-Mediterranea in due generi di Ciprinidi (Telestes e Scardinius).
No full textriassunt
ALLOZYMIC VARIABILITY AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIPS IN TWO LEUCISCUS SPECIES COMPLEXES (CYPRINIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE WITH THE REHABILITATION OF THE GENUS TELESTES BONAPARTE.
No full textGenetic variability was assessed in eight populations belonging to the Leuciscus souffia complex and in nine populations of Leuciscus cephalus, sampled in France, Italy and Greece and in one population of Leuciscus lucumonis, endemic to Italy. Twenty-six enzymatic loci were analysed in order to clarify the genetic relationships, the patterns of colonisation of peri-Mediterranean area and the taxonomic positions. Results indicate a more ancient penetration of the Leuciscus souffia complex in southern Europe (possibly during the,Messinian "Lago Mare" phase of the Mediterranean), whereas L. cephalus and L. lucumonis seem to have quite recently reached these regions (about 1Myr). These evidences are discussed in relation to the two main proposed models of primary freshwater fishes colonisation of peri-Mediterranean area. In addition, the genetic distance suggests a generic separation between the two complexes. The genus Telestes Bonaparte, is rehabilitated to include members of the Leuciscus souffia complex which is represented by endemic taxa from southern France, Italy and western Balkans
Effects of hypercapnia on peripheral vascular reactivity in elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
No full textBlood acid-base imbalance has important effects on vascular reactivity, which can be related to nitric oxide (NO) concentration and increased during hypercapnia. Release of NO seems to be linked to H+ and CO2 concentration and to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common medical condition in the elderly. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a valuable cardiovascular risk indicator, allows assessment of endothelial-dependent vasodilation, which is to a certain extent mediated by NO. We investigated the effects of hypercapnia and acid-base imbalance on endothelial-dependent vasodilation by measurement of FMD in 96 elderly patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Patients underwent complete arterial blood gas analysis and FMD measurement before (phase 1) and after (phase 2) standard therapy for acute exacerbation of COPD and recovery. Significant differences between phase 1 and phase 2 were observed in the mean values of pH (7.38±0.03 versus 7.40±0.02, P<0.001), pO2 (59.6±4.9 mmHg versus 59.7±3.6 mmHg, P<0.001), pCO2 (59.3±8.63 mmHg versus 46.7±5.82 mmHg, P<0.001), FMD (10.0%±2.8% versus 8.28%±2.01%, P<0.001) and blood flow rate (1.5±0.3 m/s versus 1.5±0.3 m/s, P=0.001). FMD values were positively correlated with pCO2 values (r=0.294, P=0.004) at baseline. A significant correlation was also found between relative changes in FMD and pCO2 levels, passing from phase 1 to phase 2 (r = 0.23, P=0.023). Patients with higher baseline endothelium-dependent vasodilation as evaluated by FMD showed greater modification with regard to pCO2 changes (2.6±1.39 versus 1.59±1.4, P=0.012). In conclusion, endothelium-dependent vasodilation as evaluated by FMD was elevated during hypercapnia, and varied significantly according to pCO2 changes in patients with higher baseline levels, suggesting that vascular reactivity in acute COPD exacerbations in the elderly depends on integrity of the vascular endothelium. © 2014 de Matthaeis et al
Arsenic-contaminated freshwater: assessing arsenate and arsenite toxicity and low-dose genotoxicity in Gammarus elvirae (Crustacea; Amphipoda)
No full textArsenic (As) contamination of freshwater is largely due to geogenic processes, but As is also released into the environment because of improper anthropic activities. The European regulatory limits in drinking water are of 10μgL−1 As. However, knowledge of the genotoxic effects induced by low doses of As in freshwater environments is still scanty. This study was designed to investigate arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) toxicity and low-dose genotoxicity in Gammarus elvirae, which has proved to be a useful organism for genotoxicity assays in freshwater. As (V) and As(III) toxicity was assessed on the basis of the median lethal concentration, LC(50), while estimates of DNA damage were based on the Comet assay. The G. elvirae LC (50–240h) value we calculated was 1.55mgL−1 for As(V) and 1.72mgL−1 for As(III). Arsenic exposure (240h) at 5, 10, and 50μgL−1 of As in assays with either arsenate or arsenite-induced DNA damage in hemocytes of G. elvirae in a concentration-dependent manner. Our study provides a basis for future genotoxic research on exposure to freshwater that contains low levels of arsenic
Hepatic sonography in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia hospitalized for epistaxis
No full textHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the presence of telangiectasias and arteriovenous malformations in various organs and organ systems, including the liver. The most frequent clinical manifestation of HHT is epistaxis. In 2010 (January-December inclusive) 51 patients with HHT were admitted to the ENT ward of our hospital for epistaxis, and in accordance with routine protocols, all 51 underwent abdominal ultrasonography in our department to detect hepatovascular lesions. They included 27 males (53%) and 24 (47%) females ranging in age from 11 to 86 years (mean 48.5 years). The sample was selected in an arbitrary manner to take maximum advantage of the hospital stay and monitor patients from regions other than our own. Retrospective analysis of the findings from these sonographic examinations revealed hepatic HHT in 27 (53%) of the 51 patients. Nineteen (70%) of these (age range 40-86 years, mean 63) had vascular malformations of various dimensions but no portal hypertension; the other eight (30%) (age range 39-81 years, mean 60) had vascular malformations plus portal hypertension. Our retrospective analysis indicates that a significant number of patients can have unrecognized hepatic involvement; that the appearance of hepatic lesions can be fairly unpredictable, even when the HHT has been diagnosed for years and the patients are already symptomatic; and that the hepatic lesions are frequently progressive. Therefore, regular sonographic follow-up is advisable for patients with HHT. The limitations of this study are related to the small number of patients examined and to the fact that all of them were symptomatic. Further study is therefore needed (especially in asymptomatic patients) to define the indications for hepatic sonography and the optimum examination schedule
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