506 research outputs found
Right ventricular cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: Normal anatomy and spectrum of pathological findings
No full textBackground: The right ventricle (RV) has been defined as the "forgotten chamber", as its role in cardiac physiopathology has long been underestimated. Nevertheless, the RV is involved in a wide range of pathological conditions and its altered function may significantly affect the patient's clinical status. Methods: A selection of the most common cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) features in a spectrum of pathological conditions is illustrated. Although its complex morphology, thin myocardium and trabeculated apex, RV can be accurately imaged by CMR, revealing its involvement in ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart disease. CMR has emerged as the pre-eminent modality in monitoring ventricular performance in congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and cardiomyopathies. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a difficult diagnosis and the recently revised task force criteria confirmed a crucial role of CMR to increase diagnostic accuracy, by combining detection of RV dilation, regional wall motion and structural abnormalities. Moreover, a multiparametric approach of CMR is often necessary for delineation and characterisation of cardiac masses. Conclusion: CMR, combining assessment of morphology, structure and function, has definitively emerged as the reference technique to evaluate a large variety of RV diseases. Teaching Points: • CMR offers unique advantages for imaging of many RV congenital, ischaemic and non-ischaemic diseases.• Because of high reproducibility, CMR has a crucial role in decision-making for chronic RV pathology.• The use of CMR increases detection of RV disease as infarction or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. © 2013 The Author(s)
Halecium maximum Galea & Schories, sp. nov.
No full textHalecium maximum Galea & Schories, sp. nov. (Plate 2 B; Figs 2 G, H; 3 E, F; 4 D; Table 4) Material examined. Corral, Chaihuin/Huiro, lat. -39.95000, long. - 73.61667, 09.xi.2011, 10 m, sample 05: a 8 cm high, female colony (holotype: MHNG-INVE- 86218); 16.xi.2011, 8‒ 10 m, sample 18: a 5.7 cm high, female colony (paratype: MHNG-INVE- 86220); 30.xi.2011, 8‒ 10 m, sample 20: a 4 cm high male colony and several fragments (paratype: MHNG-INVE- 86221); 30.xi.2011, 8‒ 10 m, sample 56: a 9 cm high, male colony (paratype: MHNG-INVE- 86219). Description. Colonies arising from a mass of loosely aggregated, creeping, branching stolonal fibers. Stems rather tall, up to 9 cm high (Pl. 2 B), mostly monosiphonic, except for a short, basal portion invested by a reduced number of auxiliary tubes. Internodes geniculate, of moderate length, delimited by oblique nodes; there are slight bulges at both ends of each internode, as well as a well-developed, latero-distal hydrophore, greatly surpassing the level of distal node, and provided with a conspicuous pseudodiaphragm on its adaxial side (Fig. 2 G). Hydrothecae very deep, with everted margins; renovations present (Fig. 2 H). Branches arising singly from the primary hydrophores (Fig. 2 G). Largest branches given off irregularly and in all directions, while comparatively shorter branchlets, of no more than 3–5 internodes, are given off from every single hydrophore, and appear arranged on all sides of the stem and branches. Gonothecae large, lenticular, tapering abruptly basally into short pedicels; male (Fig. 3 F) similar to female (Fig. 3 E), both provided with an aperture, the latter notched in female (Fig. 3 E1, 3, 4). Cnidome (Fig. 4 D): small (ca. 4.6 × 1.7 µm) and large (ca. 8.3 × 2.9 µm) heteronemes (none seen discharged), as well as microbasic mastigophores (ca. 6.0 × 1.7 µm). Remarks. This species superficially resembles the following one, and their differences are listed under the latter. 12. Millard (1957) accepted the synonymy between H. gracile Bale, 1888 and H. parvulum Bale, 1888, and recognized that the name of the former was threatened by H. gracile Verrill, 1874. She thus used the second available name, viz. H. parvulum, most probably ignoring that a substitution name for the former, H. balei, was introduced earlier by Fraser (1911). Female gonothecae with a similar shape were found previously in specimens from Tristan da Cunha examined by one of us (see Galea 2010 b, Halecium ? delicatulum Coughtrey, 1876, morphotype 2). Consequently, a comparison between the two sets of collection materials, as well as with the other species of Halecium discussed herein, was found necessary. The Tristan da Cunha specimens are mainly characterized by their nearly straight stems and side branches, with almost collinear internodes, and by their unusual, exceedingly long primary hydrophores. Although most of its hydranths were shed, a closer inspection of the available material (part of NHM 2009.18) revealed the remains of a couple of polyps. These were used to analyze the cnidome composition (Fig. 4 E), which showed, besides the common spindle shaped microbasic mastigophores, the presence of a peculiar, large nematocyst [(10.9–12.3) × (5.5–5.7) µm] with a long, coiled shaft, apparently making more than a complete turn inside the capsule. The sole (partly?) discharged capsule exhibited a shaft whose length exceeded that of the capsule itself. Taken together, these differences with the related congeners prompted the first author of the present study to introduce the new name, Halecium tristaniensis 13 Galea, sp. nov., in order to distinguish this species from its relatives. Etymology. From the Latin maximus (-a, -um), used with the meaning “the largest”, to show its size difference with the following species. Distribution in Chile. Only known from Corral (present study).Published as part of Galea, Horia R., Schories, Dirk, Försterra, Günter & Häussermann, Verena, 2014, New species and new records of hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from Chile, pp. 1-50 in Zootaxa 3852 (1) on pages 20-22, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3852.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/28695
Engineering geological zonation of a complex landslide system through seismic ambient noise measurements at the Selmun Promontory (Malta)
No full textThe cliff slope of the Selmun Promontory, located in the Northern part of the island of Malta (Central Mediterranean Sea) close to the coastline, is involved in a landslide process as exhibited by the large block-size talus at its bottom. The landslide process is related to the geological succession outcropping in the Selmun area, characterized by the overposition of a grained limestone on a plastic clay, that induces a lateral spreading phenomenon associated with detachment and collapse of different-size rock blocks. The landslide process shapes a typical landscape with a stable plateau of stiff limestone bordered by an unstable cliff slope. The ruins of Għajn Ħadid Tower, the first of the 13 watchtowers built in 1658 by the Grand Master Martin de Redin, stand out on the Selmun Promontory. The conservation of this important heritage site, already damaged by an earthquake which struck the Maltese Archipelago on 1856 October 12, is currently threatened by a progressive retreat of the landslide process towards the inland plateau area. During 2015 and 2016, field surveys were carried out to derive an engineering geological model of the Selmun Promontory. After a high-resolution geomechanical survey, the spatial distribution of the joints affecting the limestone was obtained. At the same time, 116 single-station noise measurements were carried out to cover inland and edge of the limestone plateau as well as the slope where the clays outcrop. The obtained 1-hour time histories were analysed through the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio technique, as well as polarization and ellipticity analysis of particle motion to define the local seismic response in zones having different stability conditions, that is, related to the presence of unstable rock blocks characterized by different vibrational modes. The results obtained demonstrate the suitability of passive seismic geophysical techniques for zoning landslide hazard in case of rock slopes and prove the relevance of anisotropies in conditioning the polarization of vibrational modes for dislodged rock masses
Data extraction form - Review of the impact of transportation and service corridors on primates
No full textThis is the form used to extract all relevant data from literature relating to the impact of transportation and service corridors on primates. From each included study, we extracted information about the author/s and publication date, type of literature, study design, study continent, country, location, specific site (if available), protection status of location, geographical location (latitude and longitude, decimal degrees), species or subspecies studied (common name, Latin binomial, family, IUCN conservation status), types of T&S corridors affecting species studied, impacts (divided into direct and indirect), summary-of-findings/quotes from studies, and mitigation measures (divided into recommended, implemented, and evaluated). If mitigation measures were implemented in a study, based on the information provided, they it was categorised as either effective, partially effective, not effective, or not evaluated. We considered publications from the same sites independently when assessing the number of studies that have taken place. However, these were then pooled and considered as a single data unit when analysing impacts and mitigation measures. Subspecies were also included in the data extraction process, under the assumption that subspecies in different locations may be affected differently, and thus may require their own unique management interventions
Come utilizzare al meglio le troponine ad alta sensibilità
No full textLa troponina cardiaca è il marcatore di scelta per la diagnosi dell’infarto miocardico acuto. Secondo le attuali linee guida per fare diagnosi di infarto miocardico acuto è necessario l’aumento e la diminuzione dei livelli circolanti del biomarca- tore, associati a sintomi o segni di ischemia. Nuovi assays, definiti ad alta sensibilità, sono stati introdotti nella pratica cli- nica per la valutazione dei livelli sierici della troponina: essi sono in grado di rilevare livelli circolanti di troponina nella maggioranza (da 50 a 95%) dei soggetti sani con un coefficiente di variazione (accuratezza) < 10%. Ciò ha portato ad una maggiore sensibilità, soprattutto nella prime tre ore dalla comparsa dei sintomi, ma anche ad una minore specificità per la diagnosi di sindrome coronarica acuta.
Infatti i dosaggi ad alta sensibilità permettono di rilevare anche minime aree di necrosi: al fine di distinguere il danno ischemico da quello non ischemico è fondamentale sia considerare la cinetica di rilascio della troponina sia tener pre- sente che molte altre condizioni (quali miocardite, ictus, embolia polmonare, insufficienza renale) possono associarsi ad elevati livelli di troponina. Recentemente è stato suggerito che un incremento del livello basale del 30-200% potrebbe essere utile per la diagnosi.
Inoltre, i pazienti con elevati livelli di troponina, dimessi con una diagnosi diversa da quella di sindrome coronarica acuta, sono ad alto rischio e quindi devono essere presi in considerazione per un attento follow-up. L’introduzione di questi nuovi saggi richiede che sia il cardiologo che il medico di pronto soccorso eseguano una valutazione approfondita per ciascun paziente
Zanclea migottoi Galea, 2008, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Zanclea migottoi</i> sp. nov. <p>(fig. 3J–L, tables 1–2)</p> <p> <i>Zanclea costata</i> — Migotto, 1996: 20, fig. 5A–C (not <i>Zanclea costata</i> Gegenbaur, 1857: 229, pl. 8 figs 4–6). <i>Zanclea</i> cf. <i>alba</i> — Vervoort, 2006: 200, figs 1A–B, 2.1–2.3 [not <i>Zanclea alba</i> sensu Calder (1988b) = <i>Acrochordium album</i> Meyen, 1834: 165, pl. 28 fig. 8].</p> <p> <b>Type material</b>. <b>Stn. 3</b>: 26.01.2008 —several small colonies, composed of a few hydranths, some with medusa buds, on algae (MHNG INVE 61000).</p> <p> <b>Type locality</b>. Petite Anse, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.</p> <p> <b>Description</b>. Colonies stolonal, monomorphic, with hydranths arising from creeping hydrorhiza. Pedicels 735–1790 µm long, 45–65 µm in diameter basally, gradually widening distally to 85–180 µm. Perisarc strongly corrugated basally (not forming distinct annuli), smooth distally. Hydranths cylindrical, 635–980 µm long, 170–230 µm wide; slightly tapering basally; hypostome rounded, short. About 30–40 tentacles, of which 5–6 around mouth, the remaining ones scattered more or less regularly over 2/3 of body; all tentacles capitate, 100–160 µm long, 45–50 µm wide at base, diameter of capitulum 50–60 µm. Gonophores, medusa buds, borne in small clusters on short stalks among basal tentacles. Newly-liberated medusa not seen. Nematocysts of polyp (undischarged capsules, for dimensions see table 1): two size classes of stenoteles in tentacle tips; macrobasic euryteles, with parallel sides and rounded ends, in groups of 2–7 capsules at bases of tentacles. Nematocysts of medusa buds: stenoteles and macrobasic euryteles with bean-shaped capsules.</p> <p> <b>TABLE 1.</b> Comparative measurements of the nematocysts from polyps of <i>Zanclea migottoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, from various sources, in µm. (1)Nematocysts from preserved material. (2)Nematocysts from living material.</p> <p> <b>Remarks</b>. The various nominal species of <i>Zanclea</i> Gegenbaur, 1857 can be reliably identified only if the entire life cycle is known. However, recent studies (Gravili <i>et al</i>. 1996, Boero <i>et al</i>. 2000, Puce <i>et al</i>. 2002) described in detail the morphological features of both the polyp and medusa stages of numerous members of the genus, and provided essential data on their nematocyst complement. As stated by Gravili <i>et al</i>. (1996), study of the cnidome is an essential tool for species identification in <i>Zanclea</i> hydroids.</p> <p> The nematocyst complement of the present hydroid material was compared with the available data from the literature, and proved to be identical with the Brazilian specimens assigned to <i>Z. costata</i> Gegenbaur, 1857 by Migotto (1996). Although not stated in the original description given by this author, the macrobasic euryteles of the polyp are located in groups of 2–5 capsules at the tentacle bases and have the same shape as those found in the Guadeloupe hydroids. Their shaft is 10 times or more longer than the capsule itself. Moreover, the macrobasic euryteles of the Brazilian medusa are bean-shaped and thus resemble those of the medusabuds in my material (A. E. Migotto, personal communication).</p> <p> From the cnidome data, it is obvious that the Brazilian material does not belong to Gegenbaur’s (1857) species. The latter is only known from the Mediterranean and has a different cnidome in both the hydroid and medusa stages, as illustrated by the detailed description given by Cerrano <i>et al</i>. (1997).</p> <p> Additionally, the hydroid material from the Azores assigned to <i>Zanclea</i> cf. <i>alba</i> (Meyen, 1834) by Vervoort (2006) comes very close to ours. The macrobasic euryteles, in particular, in Vervoort’s (2006) specimens have the same shape and size as those from the Guadeloupe hydroids, and are similarly located at the bases of tentacles, as illustrated in his fig. 2–2.</p> <p> However, the material included by Vervoort (2006) in the synonymy of Meyen’s (1834) species is different from that attributable by Calder (1988b) to <i>Z. alba</i>. The latter author neither reported macrobasic euryteles in his original redescription of <i>Z. alba</i> (see Calder 1988b), nor found them during a recent reexamination of three different samples from Bermuda (D. Calder, personal communication).</p> <p> Therefore, the Brazilian specimens are regarded here as being conspecific with the present material from Guadeloupe and that from the Azores. The macrobasic euryteles did not match any of those described in the known <i>Zanclea</i> species, and all the above-mentioned materials are allocated to the new species <i>Z. migottoi</i>. For a description of its medusa stage, see Migotto (1996). A comparison of various species of <i>Zanclea</i> with a known hydroid stage and monomorphic colonies is presented in table 2.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>. This species is named after Dr. Alvaro E. Migotto, who found and described it for the first time.</p> <p> <b>Distribution</b>. The Azores (Vervoort 2006), Caribbean Sea (present study), Brazil (Migotto 1996).</p>Published as part of <i>Galea, Horia R., 2008, On a collection of shallow-water hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from Guadeloupe and Les Saintes, French Lesser Antilles, pp. 1-54 in Zootaxa 1878</i> on pages 14-15, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/184149">10.5281/zenodo.184149</a>
Utility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the evaluation of right ventricular (RV) involvement in patients with myocardial infarction (MI)
No full textThe aim of this work was to compare the prevalence of right ventricle involvement in a population of patients with myocardial infarction as detected by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), clinical presentation, electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic criteria. A total of 97 consecutive patients, admitted to our institution for acute myocardial infarction, underwent a standard CMR examination within 5 days after the event. The presence of myocardial oedema and late enhancement of the right ventricle were compared to infarct location (anterior vs. inferior), clinical data, ECG, echocardiography results and other CMR findings. The results were analysed statistically using the Student's t test for independent samples and the K statistic. Among the 97 patients included in the study, a diagnosis of right ventricular infarction was established in 12, 14 and 24 cases on the basis of the clinical data, the ECG and echocardiography, respectively. CMR demonstrated myocardial oedema and late enhancement of the right ventricle in 48 and 32 cases, respectively. The right ventricle was involved in 46 % of patients with inferior myocardial infarction (15/32) and in 30 % with anterior myocardial infarction (17/56), correlating to a worsening of both right and left ventricular performance (p = 0.001-0.05). The right ventricle is frequently involved in myocardial infarction, correlating to a worse functional impairment of both ventricles and a worse prognosis. This finding, which is often underestimated by traditional cardiological tests, is well revealed by CMR, with potential clinical and therapeutic impact
Lesson Study in Physics Education to Improve Teachers' Professional Development
No full textThis paper focuses on Physics in-service teacher training through Lesson Study, a widespread professional development practice with origins in Japanese elementary education, but it is now very popular worldwide, even in the West. The Lesson Study experimentation that we will describe was carried out in a Scientific high school in XXXX, in the south of Italy, and involved 14-year-old students, physics and mathematics teachers, and researchers from the University of XXXX. The Lesson Study cycle, subdivided into five steps (co-planning, teaching, observation, data analysis, and revision), focused on the interdisciplinary topic: climate change
Potential therapeutic role of microRNAs in ischemic heart disease
No full textAbstractCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most important cause of death and illness in the western world. Atherosclerosis constitutes the single most important contributor to CVD.miRNAs are small ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that negatively regulate gene expression on the post-transcriptional level by inhibiting mRNA translation or promoting mRNA degradation.Several studies demonstrated that miRNAs dysregulation have a key role in the disease process and, focusing on atherosclerotic disease, in every step of plaque formation and destabilization. These data suggest a possible therapeutic application of miRNA modulation, in particular dysregulated miRNAs can be modulated in disease process antagonizing miRNAs up-regulated and increasing miRNAs down-regulated. In this review we summarize the miRNA therapeutic techniques (antimiR, mimics, sponges, masking, and erasers) underlining their therapeutic advantages and evaluating their risks and challenges. In particular, the use of miRNA modulators as a therapeutic approach opens a novel and fascinating area of intervention in the therapy of ischemic heart disease
Antithrombotic Therapy after Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Evidence, Challenges and Future Directions
No full textPercutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has been established in clinical practice as an attractive alternative to oral anticoagulation for preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and high bleeding risk. The devices approved in Europe and United States (US) for percutaneous LAAC contain metal and antithrombotic therapy is strongly recommended after their implantation to prevent apposition of thrombus on the atrial surface of the device during endothelialization. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the optimal antithrombotic drug regimen following device implantation in view of the incomplete understanding of the LAAC device healing process, the lack of randomized clinical trials comparing different antithrombotic agents after LAAC and the heterogeneous bleeding risk of patients undergoing LAAC. Thus, this review aims to evaluate the available evidence and the remaining challenges related to the post-LAAC antithrombotic regimens. Furthermore, common clinical scenarios associated with challenging management of antithrombotic therapy after LAAC and potential future directions, will be discussed
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