1,721,042 research outputs found
Neo-nervegenesis in 3D dynamic responsive implant for inguinal hernia repair. Qualitative study
No full textBackground: Prosthetic repair of inguinal hernias is one of the most performed surgical procedures. Nevertheless, high rates of complications affect the surgical treatment. Implant fixation, poor-quality tissue ingrowth and mesh shrinkage seem to be involved in postoperative complications, discomfort and chronic pain following inguinal hernia repair. To address these issues a multilamellar shaped 3D dynamic responsive prosthesis has been developed. This new implant, positioned fixation-free to obliterate the hernia opening, thanks its inherent dynamic compliance during inguinal movements, has demonstrated to induce an enhanced biological response. The ingrowth of newly formed muscle fibers, arteries and veins in a surrounding of viable connective tissue could be evidenced into the implant fabric. This appears to be quite different from the fibrotic plaque, typical biologic response of conventional meshes. In addition to myocytes and vessels, newly ingrown nerves have also been detected in the prosthetic structure. Materials and methods: The aim of this investigation was to determine by examining biopsy specimens excised from patients who underwent hernia repair with the 3D dynamic implant, quantity and quality of the neural ingrowth within the implant fabric in the short, medium, and long term post-implantation. Results: Newly formed nervous structures were found in biopsy specimens, from multiple spots of nerve clusters evidenced in the short-term along the increased level of neural maturation in the midterm, until the nerves showed complete in all components in the long-term. Conclusion: The development of highly specialized nervous tissue in the 3D prosthesis seems to finalize the regenerative biologic response that is expected for the treatment of a degenerative disease, as, in fact, inguinal hernia is. Re-growth of the typical tissue components of the groin evidenced in the 3D dynamic prosthesis seems to effectively revert the degenerative source of inguinal hernia into regeneration of the vanished tissue components of the groin
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Growth performance in heavy lambs experimentally treated with 17 β-estradiol
Full text linkEuropean and Italian legislation have banned use
of growth promoters in livestock since 1988, but epidemiological
data show that anabolic drugs are still being used
illegally. Recent surveys carried out on the cattle farms in
Northern Italy have confirmed the presence of growthpromoting
hormones. Authors report data on growth performances
in 80 Valle del Belice×Comisana weaned lambs
experimentally treated with 17 beta-estradiol with 0.5 ml
solution of oil Depot Estradiol ® (containing 5 mg of 17β-
estradiol valerate) by intramuscular injection into the thigh.
The experiment was founded by the National Ministry of
Health, to validate histological test for surveillance and
control of growth-promoting hormones in sheep. This study
confirmed the strong correlation between clinical and anatomopathological
features and growth performances of treated
animals. Otherwise, no significant differences were found on in vivo performance of the lambs. Estradiol treatment
showed heavier shoulders and necks on treated lambs,
while the loins were significantly lighter. Moreover, lambestradiol-
treated groups showed lower separable and inseparable
fat percentage than lamb-control groups
HER-2 expression in canine morphologically normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic mammary tissues and its correlation with the clinical outcome
No full textThe proto-oncogene HER-2/neu (c-erbB-2) encodes a transmembrane receptor protein with tyrosine-kinase activity. Previous studies have shown that HER-2 protein over-expression is present in canine mammary tumours, however, possible prognostic and predictive analogies between protein over-expression patterns in canine and human species are still controversial. Thirty-five canine mammary carcinomas, 11 mammary adenomas, and normal, hyperplastic or dysplastic tissues taken at the marginal area of the tumours were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for HER-2 expression, using the Hercept Test ® system scoring guidelines. HER-2 over-expression was detected in 3/11 adenomas and 10/35 carcinomas. Normal, hyperplastic and dysplastic mammary tissues were also found to be positive. The correlations between HER-2 expression and tumour histological grading, mitotic index, the presence of lymphatic invasion, and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. In carcinomas, HER-2 positive status only correlated with the mitotic index. A positive correlation was also found between HER-2 positive status and the presence of HER-2 over-expression in normal, hyperplastic or/and dysplastic mammary tissues surrounding the tumours. The percentage of HER-2 over-expressing tumours was similar to the percentage previously observed in canine benign and malignant mammary tumours. However an investigation regarding morphologically normal and hyperplastic or dysplastic tissues surrounding neoplastic lesions also showed HER-2 over-expression. In contrast with human mammary tumours, this study confirmed that in canine species, HER-2 over-expression does not identify a subgroup of tumours with a poor prognosis. In fact, we found HER-2 over-expression in morphologically non-neoplastic mammary tissues, surrounding hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
The Septum Inguinalis: A Clue to Hernia Genesis?
No full textPurpose: Double ipsilateral inguinal (“pantaloon”) hernias and also the more advanced “combined” inguinal hernia involve disruption of the inguinal floor. In the case of pantaloon hernias, the medial boundary of the internal ring remains intact but in combined hernias this is fully disrupted, producing a single hernial protrusion. Deepening the pathophysiology of these hernias may be helpful in addressing hernia genesis, thus improving strategies for the treatment of this disease. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 22 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair showed double ipsilateral (pantaloon) hernia, comprising distinct direct and indirect protrusions separated by a tissue septum. In 19 patients, the septal arrangement dividing the 2 hernias showed macroscopically evident structural damages, then excised and histologically studied. Different tissue markers were used for the identification of the structural damages. Results: Macroscopically, the divisor septum represents the boundary between internal ring and Hesselbach’s triangle. Anteriorly it is composed by fibers of the internal oblique and transverse muscles, which form a complex with the inferior epigastric vessels on the corresponding posterior side of the inguinal floor. In the patient cohort studied, this anatomical structure showed a progressive sufferance characterized by chronic compressive damage. Conclusion: The anatomical structure which separates the indirect and direct components of a pantaloon hernia, herein referred to as the “septum inguinalis”, has been shown progressively alter in both macro- and microscopically until it f undergoes disruption with development of a combined hernia. Understanding of this anatomical concept may help surgeons to perform sound repairs of these complex hernias
Determination of milk production losses in Valle del Belice sheep following experimental infection of Mycoplasma agalactiae
No full texttEconomic losses due to contagious agalactia (CA) in small ruminant herds are mainlyassociated with significant reductions in or complete loss of dairy production, mortality,abortions, ill thrift, early culling and costs of control. With the aim of estimating milk pro-duction losses caused by CA, 46 primiparous lactating Valle del Belice ewes were monitoredafter experimental infection. Sixty days after lambing, two ewes were each experimentallyinfected with a single dose of 108CFU/ml of a live Mycoplasma agalactiae strain in both teatsby intracanalicular route. Three days after inoculation, the infection was spread manuallyby the milkers dipping their hands in the pooled milk from the experimentally infectedewes just before milking each of the uninfected sheep. The milk yield was recorded daily(morning and evening) for 12 weeks: 5 weeks before and 7 weeks after infection. Daily milkdata, collected from each ewe, were used to design individual lactation curves in order toestimate the impact of CA infection. Individual milk samples were screened for the presenceof M. agalactiae as well other pathogens which cause mastitis in small ruminants compris-ing Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative-staphylococci (CNS), Corynebacterium spp.and Streptococcus spp. No pathogens were detected in the milk of 10 (22%) of the 46 eweskept with the experimentally infected sheep. There was a reduction of 17% in milk out-put of 19 (41%) ewes from which M. agalactiae was isolated; the 17 (37%) remaining eweshad a similar drop in milk production but recovered quickly within 2–3 weeks, so the finallosses were estimated to be 3%. The infected milk showed a significantly higher somaticcell count when mycoplasma excretion in milk was >103CFU/ml. Percentages of milkprotein and casein were higher in milk excreting M. agalactiae due to concentration, in con-trast the percentage of lactose in the milk was significantly lower. No significant effect ofM. agalactiae was found on the percentage of milk fat.In conclusion, the loss of milk following CA infection is variable and probably related tothe degree of exposure and capacity of the individual ewe to resist the pathogen
The sicilian rock partridge: latest data on genetic integrity from four different relict areas
Full text linkSicily (Italy) hosts a “relict”, endemic population of the birds Alectoris graeca whitakeri commonly known as Sicilian Rock Partridge. In the last decades, due to the risk of restocking with other European and Asiatic species for hunting purpose, a study was carried out to investigate the potential risk of hybridisation. The mtDNA control-region and nuclear microsatellites were genotyped. Due to the importance of the species, samples were mainly characterized by feather and stool samples, and rarely by carcasses found in the environment, from year 2011 to 2012. A panel of 7 microsatellite loci was validated. Three multiplexes that allowed the simultaneous amplification of 3 microsatellites, and 2 for other two microsatellites, for a total of 7 markers, were utilized. Results showed the occurrence of hybridization both towards the Middle Eastern species, A. chukar and the Northern European species, A. rufa. A total of 18.5% of the samples were collected from the wild environment showed a high degree of hybridization. This fact, even if linked to a small number of samples, highlights a potential risk of hybridization in 4 Sicilian provinces and underlines the importance of further investigations to understand the entity of the problem
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