155,848 research outputs found
Evaluation of Helicobacter Pylori eradication in pediatric patients by triple therapy plus lactoferrin and probiotics compared to triple therapy alone
No full textAbstract Background To evaluate whether the addition of a probiotic could improve Helicobacter pylori (H.P.) eradication rates and reduce the side effects of treatment in children. Methods Between July 2008 and July 2011 all patients with a clinical, laboratory and endoscopic diagnosis of H.P. positive gastritis referred to our Unit were included in the study. Patients suffering from allergy to any of drugs used in the study, with previous attempts to eradicate H.P. and those who received antibiotics, PPIs or probiotics within 4 weeks were excluded from the present study. Patients were randomized into two therapy regimens (group A and B): both groups received standard triple treatment (omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin) while only group B patients were also given a probiotic (Probinul - Cadigroup). Patients compliance was evaluated at the end of the treatment. Successful eradication was defined as a negative 13 C-urea breath test (C13-ubt) result four weeks after therapy discontinuation. Results A total of 68 histopathologically proven H.P.-infection children (32 male and 36 females) were included in the study. All of the patients in both groups used more than 90% of the therapies and no patients were lost at follow up. All side effects were selflimiting and disappeared once the therapy was terminated. Epigastric pain was observed in 6 (17.6%) group A vs 2 (5.8%) group B patients (P Conclusion The addition of a probiotic formula to triple therapy significantly decreased the frequency of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.</p
Epidermal growth factor receptor and caveolin-1 coexpression identifies adult supratentorial ependymomas with rapid unfavorable outcomes
No full textSupratentorial ependymomas account for a minority of intracranial ependymomas, which still have uncertain prognostic markers. Among them, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression correlates with a poor prognosis. In glioblastoma cells, EGFR function has been reported to be regulated by its migration from cell membrane infoldings called caveolae and by its colo-calization with the caveolae-associated protein caveolin-1 (cav-1). Therefore, we decided to investigate cav-1 expression and coexpression with EGFR in a series of adult intracranial ependymomas. We analyzed 22 adult supratentorial ependymomas and compared tumor grades as determined by the WHO classification and patient survival rates with the expression of EGFR, cav-1, and p53 and the values of the proliferation marker Ki-67, all tested by immunohistochemistry; in addition, we investigated the mutational profile of cav-1. The results demonstrate that the tumor grade is directly correlated with EGFR, Ki-67, and cav-1 expression only, whereas (by univariate analysis) the expression of all the studied markers, as well as the tumor histological grade, significantly correlated with the patient's overall survival (OS). By multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model, among all variables considered, cav-1 was the only independent prognostic marker related to OS (relative risk = 13.92; P =.013). Among grade II epen-dymomas, only cav-1 correlated with poor OS (P =.011), distinguishing 2 distinct subgroups of tumors with different outcomes despite sharing identical grading. All the patients studied carried wild-type cav-1 sequences, demonstrating that cav-1 overexpression is not driven by activating mutations, as previously reported in other tumor types. Interestingly, after stratifying all cases into 4 distinct groups according to cav-1 and EGFR expression (cav-1+/EGFR+, cav-1+/EGFR+, cav-1+/EGFR+, and cav-1+/EGFR+), the coexpres-sion of cav-1 and EGFR identified a subset of patients with definitively poor prognoses. Further studies are needed to support this evidence on a larger scale and to clarify how cav-1 and EGFR interaction can influence tumor aggressiveness. © The Author(s) 2010
Morphological Evolution of Zn-Sponge Electrodes Monitored by in Situ X-ray Computed Microtomography
No full textUse of Zn sponges has been recently proposed as an effective means of limiting the shape change and dendrite formation issues, affecting the anodes of electrically rechargeable Zn-based batteries. This paper contributes to this field of research with in situ X-ray computed microtomography (XCMT) monitoring of the morphological and chemical changes undergone by Zn-sponge anodes during electrochemical cycling. Starting from a pristine anode, fabricated in the discharged state, this was first charged and then subjected to a representative series of charge-discharge sequences and, in correspondence, it was studied by XCMT in order to determine (i) the volume fractions of Zn and ZnO, porosity, and their space arrangement and (ii) the degree of connectivity of the elemental Zn framework. Good stability of the metal framework, reversibility of the Zn and ZnO phases, and their space distribution, with a limited alteration of the pore structure, were observed over more than 60 charge-discharge cycles
Unraveling the solidification path of a pahoehoe "cicirara" lava from Mount Etna volcano
No full textThe solidified surface of a lava flow reflects the viscosity of its molten fraction and the crystal content during flow; crystal-poor basaltic lavas produce pahoehoe fields, whereas crystal-rich ones solidify with aa carapaces. At Mount Etna volcano aa morphologies are very common, in turn, pahoehoe lavas are rare. The latter are locally named “cicirara” due to the presence of cm-sized plagioclase phenocrysts much more abundant than in aa lavas. The phenocryst content of “cicirara” lavas contrasts with the low viscosity generally associated with pahoehoe morphology. Therefore, to reconcile the discrepancy between textural and volcanic observations, we have studied the most primitive pahoehoe “cicirara” lava sampled until now. Two samples at 0.5 and 1 m from the bottom of the two-meter thick lava flow were investigated on the basis of their mineral compositional variations and textural features, i.e. size frequency and crystal size distribution (CSD). Results coupled with rheological models indicate that only large phenocrysts of plagioclase (>1 mm) and clinopyroxene have grown before eruption. Thermobarometric models and petrological computations based on the composition of plagioclase and clinopyroxene phenocryst cores highlight that only a small amount (10-15 vol.%) of crystals equilibrated at 12 km of depth. Cumulative size frequency and CSD data also indicate that plagioclase and clinopyroxene phenocryst rims grew heterogeneously and coalesced around their cores at depths <1 km, before eruption. In this view, the “cicirara” lava was erupted with a low crystalline content that favoured the formation of its pahoehoe surface; however, crystals with a size <1 mm (~75 vol.%) solidified at post-eruptive conditions.
Our findings underline that the emplacement of high-viscosity aa or low-viscosity pahoehoe lavas is driven by the degree of undercooling imposed by the volatile exsolution rate in the shallowest portion of the Etnean plumbing system. A slow magma ascent rate promotes significant intratelluric degassing and widespread nucleation; consequently, the viscosity of the suspension significantly increases leading to an aa morphology. In contrast, pahoehoe “cicirara” lavas are associated with a rapid rise to the surface of poorly degassed, undercooled magmas
Serum levels of flurithromycin ethylsuccinate in healthy volunteers
No full textThe serum levels of flurithromycin ethylsuccinate achieved 30 min after a single oral dose of 375 mg were found to be equal or above the minimal inhibitory concentrations for sensitive strains, when administered to 12 healthy volunteers. The serum half-life was found to be approximately 4 h
O. A. C. Review Volume XLVI Issue 5, February 1934
No full textThe focus of this issue is the preparation for College Royal and recognizing its tenth anniversary. This month's agricultural article is a report from the Dominion Parasite Laboratory on the biological control of pests. Other articles provide an account of the activities of a stage manager and the development of the field of home economics at Macdonald College in Quebec. Campus news addresses the success of the 1934 Conversazione, the commemorating of the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of O. A. C., the attendance at the Canadian Author Lecture, and the successful productions of "The Apple Cart" and "Iolanthe". The Macdonald Institute column comments on the Conversat and women's athletics activities in basketball and the rifle club. The Alumni Record supplies alumni updates.EditorialTen Years of the RoyalRamblings on the RoyalBlame it on the stage managerBiological control of insect pests in CanadaNot for girls onlyCollege lifeLiterary sectionO. A. C. sportsfolioAlumni recordMacdonald newsLetters to the editoradvertisin
X-ray tomographic microscopy study of serpentine veins in massive serpentinite
No full textSerpentinization, a hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks (e.g. peridotite, pyroxenite), mainly occurs
in two geological settings on the Earth: i) ocean floor, mid-ocean ridges; ii) subduction zones. Serpentinization
greatly modifies the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of ultramafic rock, which can be partially
or totally serpentinized. Serpentinization is accompanied by abundant veining marked by different generations
of vein-filling serpentine, which induces a decrease in density. Serpentine veins in hydrated peridotite are
particularly abundant and display a vast and complex variety of textures and morphologies. This variety
reflects numerous mechanisms of vein formation and fluid conditions recorded by various serpentine mineral
assemblages (Andréani et al., 2007). It is worth remembering that the dominant type of serpentine infill is the
fibrous one (e.g. chrysotile, protoserpentine, polygonal serpentines). Vein infill typologies are conventionally
studied by using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which only allow two-dimensional (2D)
imaging of samples. In this work we present results obtained by the application of high-resolution X-ray
computed microtomography which provided a realistic visualization of the 3D shapes and orientations of
veins that can be quantified through the extraction of parameters such as volume fraction, size distributions,
orientation and connectivity. Furthermore, the phase-contrast mode allowed to detect the crystals with chemical
composition different from the serpentinite group minerals (e.g., magnetite). We have investigated the serpentine
vein infill, which crosscuts massive serpentinite bodies cropping out in the Gimigliano-Mount Reventino Unit
(Calabria, Southern-Italy) (Bloise et al., 2016). Obtained data allowed to evaluate i) the geometric interface
between serpentine-fibrous infill veins and the matrix; ii) the percentage of serpentinization; iii) the percentage
of fibrous minerals in massive serpentinite rocks
Unusual, rapidly growing ulcerative genital mass due to herpes simplex virus in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected woman.
No full textUnusual, rapidly growing ulcerative genital mass due to herpes simplex virus in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected woman
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