408 research outputs found
Future precipitation and temperature changes over the Taro, Parma and Enza River basins in Northern Italy
No full textThis study analyzes the climate change effects on the future precipitation and temperature over the Taro, Parma and Enza River basins, in the Emilia Romagna region, northern Italy. An ensemble of 13 Regional Climate Models and two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were adopted. The results are reported in terms of precipitation and mean temperature anomalies between a reference period (RP, 1986-2005) and three future periods: short-term (ST) 2016-2035, medium-term (MT) 2046-2065 and long-term (LT) 2081-2100. With reference to the rainfall data, irregular and slight variations are expected at any season and period; on a yearly scale, changes from -5% to +6% are estimated. On the other hand, a gradual warming of the study domain in the future periods is unequivocal. At annual scale, increments up to +0.75°C at ST, +1.5°C at MT and +2°C at LT are expected under the RCP 4.5, and higher, up to +4°C at LT with the RCP 8.5. In addition, the trend evolution of the climate variables was analyzed using a thirty-year moving time window up to the end of the century. From the results, it is evident that the pattern of the trend gradients follows the pattern of the scenario radiative forcing.I cambiamenti climatici rappresentano un fenomeno attuale e molto discusso anche dal punto di vista politico: sono stati rilevati aumenti delle temperature, alterazioni dei regimi pluviometrici, scioglimento di ghiacciai e nevai, e il livello medio del mare è in aumento. Si prevede che tali cambiamenti continueranno e che gli eventi climatici estremi all'origine di pericoli quali alluvioni e siccità diventeranno sempre più frequenti ed intensi. Secondo la maggior parte della comunità scientifica internazionale, molte delle alterazioni verificatesi nell'ultimo secolo sono sostanzialmente dovute all'osservato aumento delle concentrazioni di gas ad effetto serra. Sebbene il cambiamento climatico sia globale, i suoi impatti spesso variano da regione a regione. I principali strumenti disponibili ai ricercatori per analizzare il clima futuro sono basati sulle proiezioni dei modelli di circolazione generale (GCM) e dei modelli climatici regionali (RCM) che forniscono le variabili climatiche di interesse (ad esempio precipitazione e temperatura) su una griglia che include l'intero globo (GCM) o una porzione di esso (RCM). Tali modelli hanno l'obiettivo di descrivere i cambiamenti climatici a lungo termine simulando i processi che avvengono nel sistema atmosferico, negli oceani e sulla superficie terrestre, a livello globale o regionale. Parametri, quali ad esempio la concentrazione di gas ad effetto serra in atmosfera, costituiscono le forzanti in ingresso. Il primo obiettivo di questo studio è quello di analizzare le eventuali future variazioni della precipitazione e della temperatura, nel quadro dei cambiamenti climatici, con riferimento ai bacini idrografici del fiume Taro e dei torrenti Parma ed Enza, in Emilia Romagna. A tal fine, si è utilizzato un insieme di 13 modelli climatici regionali (RCM) sviluppati in seno al progetto EURO-CORDEX secondo due differenti scenari di emissione di agenti forzanti: lo scenario denominato RCP 4.5 e lo RCP 8.5. Per questa tipologia di studi, l'utilizzo di un insieme di modelli climatici si rende necessario al fine di caratterizzare e quantificare l'incertezza insita nelle proiezioni future. I risultati di questa analisi sono presentati in termini di "anomalie" tra la precipitazione e la temperatura media valutate in un periodo di riferimento (RP, 1986-2005) e quelle di tre periodi futuri: uno a breve (ST) 2016-2035, uno a medio (MT) 2046-2065 e uno a lungo termine (LT) 2081-2100. Con lo scopo di confrontare i risultati, le anomalie sono state valutate considerando sia i dati grezzi provenienti dagli RCM che quelli corretti dagli errori sistematici in essi presenti (bias correction) sulla base di osservazioni storiche disponibili sull'area di studio. Le analisi sono state condotte sia a scala stagionale che a scala annuale. Con riferimento alle precipitazioni, le variazioni nei tre periodi futuri risultano irregolari e spesso moderate; a scala annuale e sulla base del valore mediano dei 13 modelli climatici, deviazioni comprese tra -5% e +6% si alternano nei vari periodi e per i due scenari. Le variazioni tra i vari modelli risultano elevate mettendo in evidenza l'ampio grado di incertezza dei risultati. Per quanto riguarda le temperature, invece, il graduale riscaldamento dell'area di studio, nell'arco dei tre periodi futuri analizzati, appare inequivocabile. Sempre con riferimento al valore mediano dei modelli climatici e alla scala annuale, si stimano incrementi di temperature fino a +0.75°C a ST, +1.5°C a MT e +2°C a LT, per lo scenario RCP 4.5. Gli incrementi raggiungono +1°C a ST, +2°C a MT e +4°C a LT secondo lo scenario 8.5. Sebbene l'aumento delle temperature sia indubbio, anche in questo caso i risultati mostrano un'elevata variabilità tra i 13 modelli climatici; l'effetto della correzione del bias presente nelle proiezioni dei modelli RCM risulta in una diminuzione della loro variabilità. In questo studio, alle variazioni della precipitazione e temperatura, si è affiancata un'analisi utile a determinare e a quantificare la presenza di trend nelle variabili climatiche future, sempre sulla base delle proiezioni dei modelli RCM. A tale scopo si sono utilizzati il test non parametrico di Mann-Kendall e lo stimatore di Theil Sen. L'evoluzione nel tempo dei trend di precipitazione e temperatura, sull'area di studio, è stata analizzata nel periodo 1976-2100 e con riferimento a una finestra mobile di ampiezza 30 anni, sempre a scala stagionale ed annuale. Quest'analisi ha confermato i risultati precedenti: trend non significativi e poco robusti per quanto riguarda le precipitazioni e al contrario trend positivi e in accordo tra i vari modelli per quanto riguarda le temperature. I risultati hanno anche messo in evidenza, specialmente per i dati di temperatura, l'esistenza di uno stretto legame tra l'evoluzione nel tempo dei trend e gli scenari di emissione esaminati. La variabilità dei risultati ottenuti in questo studio, giustifica l'utilizzo di un ricco insieme di modelli climatici regionali che permettono di tenere in considerazione l'incertezza delle proiezioni future; l'uso di un singolo modello climatico può infatti portare a conclusioni non complete e fuorvianti
Thromboelastographic evaluation of coagulative profiles in pig-to-monkey kidney xenotransplantation
No full textBACKGROUND Activation of the clotting cascade is central in acute xenograft rejection (AHXR) that occurs when pig organs are transplanted into primates. The coagulopathy reported in this model is a very complex process that involves simultaneously coagulation factors, platelets and phospholipid-bearing cells (i.e., leukocytes, red blood cells, and endothelial cells). Choosing whole blood for coagulation analysis theoretically appears more favorable compared with plasma. Whole blood rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) is a point-of-care global coagulation analyzer able to evaluate the characteristics of clot formation and lysis by dynamic monitoring. The aim of this study was to record thromboelastographic profiles, performed by ROTEM®, in a series of immunosuppressed nephrectomized primates that received a life-supporting kidney. METHODS Of the eight primates, n = 4 received a pig kidney transgenic for human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF/Gal+); n = 2, an α 1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout (GT-KO) pig kidney transgenic for human CD39, CD55, CD59 and fucosyltransferase (HTF); and n = 2, a GT-KO pig kidney transgenic for hDAF. Blood samples were collected before and at least once per week after transplantation till euthanasia. Intrinsic (INTEM) and extrinsic (EXTEM) coagulation pathways and the function of fibrinogen (FIBTEM) were evaluated. Thromboelastographic parameters considered were clotting time (CT, seconds) and clot formation time (CFT, seconds) in INTEM and EXTEM and maximum clot firmness (MCF, mm) in FIBTEM. The correlations between CT in INTEM and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), CT in EXTEM and PT, CFT in INTEM and EXTEM, and platelet counts and MCF in FIBTEM and fibrinogen plasma levels were also considered. RESULTS In all animals, thromboelastographic profiles showed progressive prolongation of CT (activation of coagulative cascade) in INTEM. A close correspondence was observed between (i) the prolongation of the CFT values (propagation of clot formation), both in INTEM and EXTEM, and the decrease in platelet counts; (ii) the reduction in MCF values (clot firmness) in FIBTEM and the decrease in fibrinogen plasma levels. No concordance between CT in INTEM and aPTT and between CT in EXTEM and PT was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that ROTEM® analyzer could be a useful and complementary tool to study the consumptive coagulopathy, either “compensated” or “non-compensated,” that takes place when transgenic pig kidneys are transplanted into primates. Larger and prospective studies are needed to confirm our results and to evaluate the role of ROTEM® to guide the management of consumptive coagulopathy in order to prolong the survival of the transplanted organ.Luca Spiezia, Massimo Boldrin, Claudia Radu, Cristiana Bulato, Diana Bertini, Maria Bon, Elena Campello, Marta Vadori, Cesare Galli, Sabrina Gavasso, Mark B. Nottle, Peter J. Cowan, Emanuele Cozzi and Paolo Simion
Concordance between biopsy and radical prostatectomy specimen Gleason score in internal and external pathology facilities
No full textBiopsy Gleason score (bGS) is an important tool for staging and decision making in patients with prostate cancer. Therefore, the data from biopsy should be both reproducible across different pathologists and predictive of the true underlying tumour. We evaluated the agreement between bGS with prostatectomy Gleason score (pGS) comparing patients who underwent prostate biopsy at our hospital with those who did it at an outside facility
D-loop sequence mitochondrial DNA variability of Sarda goat and other goat breeds and populations reared in the Mediterranean area
No full textTo provide useful knowledge on goat breed origin and history, we studied the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 69 goats from five different breeds, Camosciata delle Alpi, Maltese, Nubian, Saanen and Sarda, and one population, the Tunisian. All goats analysed displayed a moderate haplotype and nucleotide diversity. The highest was in the Sarda – the autochthonous breed reared in Sardinia. On the basis of mtDNA control region sequences, animals showed a high genetic haplotype diversity, 35 haplotypes were each represented by a single sequence and only a few haplotypes were shared among the animals. New haplotypes of goats reared in the Mediterranean area were identified and the majority of Italian goats belonged to haplogroup A. This result confirmed worldwide distribution and diversity of haplogroup A
Paucità delle vie biliari interlobulari in due gemelli e assunzione materna di psicofarmaci in gravidanza.
No full text
Non syndromic paucity of interlobular bile ducts in twins and maternal polydrug abuse in pregnancy.
No full textPathogenesis of apparent life-threatening events in infants with esophageal atresia
No full textMany infants with a repaired esophageal atresia (EA) undergo fundoplication, aortopexy or glossopexy because the mechanisms most responsible for airway obstruction and/or apparent life-threatening event (AO/ALTE) syndrome are considered to be gastroesophageal reflux (GER), tracheal compression (TC), or obstructive apnea, respectively. In the present study, we investigated whether these mechanisms are independent or interrelated. We developed a database of 120 consecutive patients with EA treated by the senior author between 1967-2002. We studied the clinical manifestations of patients with a cervical esophagostomy and/or blind lower esophageal stump, which ruled out TC and/or proximal esophageal GER as a mechanism for AO/ALTE. Of 25 neonates who underwent section/ligation of lower tracheo-esophageal fistula and/or feeding gastrostomy, 10 critically ill neonates died. Of 15 survivors, 9 infants had a feeding gastrostomy without an esophagostomy. Of these, 6 infants presented one or more episodes of AO, and 8 presented ALTE with or without AO. Subsequently, 5 of the 9 infants underwent an esophagostomy. Eventually, 11 infants had a feeding gastrostomy with an esophagostomy Of the latter, 5 infants presented one or more episodes of AO, and 6 presented ALTE without AO. In conclusion, oral feeding, proximal esophageal GER, and TC are not essential for AO/ALTE syndrome to occur. They are probably factors which offer evidence of an underlying problem with control of upper airway patency
Genetic variability of Akhal-Teke horses bred in Italy
No full textBackground. The Akhal-Teke horse (AKH) is native of the modern Turkmenistan area. It was introduced in Italy from 1991 to 2000 mainly as an endurance horse. This paper characterizes the genetic variability of the whole Italian AKH horse population and evaluates their inbreeding level by analyzing microsatellite markers and mitochondrial
D-Loop sequences. Methods. Seventeen microsatellite marker loci were genotyped on 95 DNA samples from almost all the AKH horses bred in Italy in the last 20 years. Standard genetic variability measures (Ho, He, FIS) were compared against the same variables published on other eight AKH populations. In addition, 397 bp of mtDNA D-loop region were sequenced on a sub-group of 22 unrelated AKH out of the 95 sampled ones, and on 11 unrelated Arab horses. The haplotypes identified in the Italian population were aligned to sequences ofAKH(56), Arab (five), Caspian Pony (13), Przewalskii (two) and Barb (15) horses available in GenBank. The Median Joining Network (MJN), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Neighbor-joining (NJ) tree were calculated on the
total 126 sequences. Results. Nucleic markers showed a high degree of polymorphism (Ho D 0.642; He D
0.649) and a low inbreeding level (FIS D 0.016) in Italian horses, compared to other AKH populations (ranged from 0.103 AKH from Estonia to 0.114 AKH from Czech Republic). High variability was also recorded in the D-Loop region. 11 haplotypes were identified with haplotype diversity (hd), nucleotide diversity () and average number
of nucleotide differences (k) of 0.938, 0.021 and 6.448, respectively. When all the 126 D-Loop sequences were compared, 51 haplotypes were found, and four were here found only in the Italian AKH horses. The 51 haplotypes were conformed to eight recognized mtDNA haplogroups (A, C, F, G, L, M, P and Q) and confirmed by MJN analysis, Italian horses being assigned to five haplogroups (A, C, G, L and M). Using a PCA approach to the same data, the total haplotypes were grouped into two clusters including A+C+M+P and G+F haplogroups, while L and Q haplogroups remained ungrouped. Finally, the NJ algorithm effectively discretizes only the L haplogroup. All
the above data univocally indicate good genetic variability and accurate management of the Akhal-Teke population in Italy
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