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We report the creation of ultracold ground state ^{6}Li^{40}K polar molecules with high efficiency. Starting from weakly bound molecules, stimulated Raman adiabatic passage is adopted to coherently transfer the molecules to their singlet rovibrational ground state |X^{1}Σ^{+},v=0,J=0⟩. By employing a singlet stimulated Raman adiabatic passage pathway and low-phase-noise narrow-linewidth lasers, we observed a one-way transfer efficiency of 96(4)%. Held in an optical dipole trap, the lifetime of the ground state molecules is measured to be 5.0(3) ms. The large permanent dipole moment of LiK is confirmed by applying a dc electric field on the molecules and performing Stark shift spectroscopy of the ground state. With recent advances in the quantum control of collisions, our work paves the way for exploring quantum many-body physics with strongly interacting ^{6}Li^{40}K molecules.

Plastic pollution is a critical environmental issue with far-reaching and not yet fully explored consequences. This study uncovered a significant source of plastic contamination arising from improper application and management of expanded polystyrene (EPS) utilised as expansion joints at a construction site near the coast of Antofagasta, Chile. Through meticulous field observations and calculations, we estimate that a staggering 82.9 million EPS spheres have the potential to be released into the environment from the 7.62 m 3 of this material used for the construction of this coastal promenade, constituting a chronic source of pollution. Despite the ongoing construction, we have already evidenced mechanical fragmentation and dispersion of EPS microplastic pollution in the surrounding natural environment. To our knowledge, this is the first study that documents misused construction materials contributing to plastic pollution. In addition to the EPS pollution, our findings reveal an alarming accumulation of litter - an acute pollution source - including plastic cups, bottles, carrier bags, and several other construction materials (e.g. plastic nets, films) that are exacerbating the pollution problems within the region and potentially endangering marine and terrestrial organisms. These observations highlight the urgent need for mitigating measures and intervention policies targeting construction-related plastic and microplastic pollution, along with a more robust regulatory framework for construction activities as well as adequate surveillance and enforcement., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The wide rocky coastline of the Antofagasta hosts an intertidal ecosystem in which the species that inhabit it are routinely exposed to a wide range of physical and chemical conditions and have therefore evolved to tolerate extremes. In the search for new species of potential biotechnological interest with adaptations to a wide range of environmental conditions, the isolation and characterization of microalgae from these ecosystems is of great interest. Here, a new microalgal strain, Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO, is described, which was isolated from a biofilm collected on the intertidal rocks of the Antofagasta coast (23°36'57.2″ S, 70°23'33.8″ W). In addition to the morphological characterization, 18S and ITS sequence as well as ITS-2 secondary structure analysis revealed an identity of 99.76% and 100% with the species Tetraselmis marina , respectively. The analyses of the culture characteristics and biochemical content showed similarities with other strains that are frequently used in aquaculture, such as the species Tetraselmis suecica . In addition, it is tolerant of a wide range of salinities, thus allowing its culture in water of varying quality. On the other hand, added to these characteristics, the results of the improvement of the lipid content in stressful situations of salinity observed in this study, together with other antecedents such as the potential in bioremediation already published for this strain by the same research group, present a clear example of its biotechnological plasticity. It is noteworthy that this strain, due to its characteristics, allows easy collection of its biomass by decantation and, therefore, a more cost-efficient harvesting than for other microalgal strains. Therefore, this new strain of Tetraselmis marina , first report of this species in Chile, and its morphologically, molecularly and biochemically description, presents promising characteristics for its use in biotechnology and as feed for aquaculture.

The dinoflagellate Prorocentrum triestinum forms high biomass blooms that discolor the water (red tides), which may pose a serious threat to marine fauna and aquaculture exploitations. In this study, the algicidal effect of a bacterial strain (0YLH) belonging to the genus Shewanella was identified and evaluated against P. triestinum . The algicidal effects on the dinoflagellate were observed when P. triestinum was exposed to cell-free supernatant (CFS) from stationary-phase cultures of the 0YLH strain. After 24 h exposure, a remarkable reduction in the photosynthetic efficiency of P. triestinum was achieved (55.9%), suggesting the presence of extracellular bioactive compounds produced by the bacteria with algicidal activity. Furthermore, the CFS exhibited stability and maintained its activity across a wide range of temperatures (20-120 °C) and pH values (3-11). These findings highlight the algicidal potential of the bacterium Shewanella halifaxensis 0YLH as a promising tool for the environmentally friendly biological control of P. triestinum blooms.

We present the comparison of a field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) based digital servo module with an analog counterpart for the purpose of laser frequency stabilization to a high-finesse optical cavity. The transfer functions of both the digital and analog modules for proportional-integral-derivative control are measured. For the lasers stabilized to the cavity, we measure the singe-sideband power spectral density of fast phase noise by means of an optical beat with filtered light transmitted through the cavity. The comparison between the digital and analog modules is performed for two low-phase-noise diode lasers at 1120 and 665 nm wavelengths. The performance of the digital servo module compares well to the analog one for the lowest attained levels of 30 mrad for the integrated phase noise and 10-3 for the relative noise power. The laser linewidth is determined to be in the sub-kHz regime, only limited by the high-finesse cavity. Our work exploits the versatility of the FPGA-based servo module (STEMlab) when used with open-source software and hardware modifications. We demonstrated that such modules are suitable candidates for remote-controlled low-phase-noise applications in the fields of laser spectroscopy and atomic, molecular, and optical physics., (© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Latinx community, leading to heightened economic instability and increased mortality/morbidity. Frontline community health workers ( promotoras ) have played an integral role in serving low-income Latinx immigrant communities, disseminating health information to this vulnerable community while also facing heightened risks to their own health and wellbeing. This study explores the impact of the pandemic on Latinx communities and the promotoras that serve them, examining how the stresses and inequities the pandemic wrought might be mitigated. Promotoras ( N = 15, all female) were recruited from a local health agency in Santa Ana, CA and completed a semi-structured interview about their experiences during COVID-19. Qualitative analyses demonstrated that the pandemic substantially affected the daily lives both of community members, via economic challenges, limited access to reliable pandemic-related information, and psychological and social stress, and of promotoras, via changes to the nature of their work and psychological and social stress. Promotoras perceived that these harms might be mitigated by providing for economic and material needs in the community, and that promotoras can be fortified to continue serving the community through self-care and psychosocial healing practices. According to promotoras, the Latinx community needs economic and material resources to overcome COVID-19 related stressors. Additionally, promotoras may benefit from programming to preserve mental and physical health in the wake of new stressors. Lending greater support to promotoras within the agencies in which they are nested may enable them to be more successful in fulfilling their mission and sustaining their own health.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved the clinical management of some cancer cases, yet patients still fail to respond to immunotherapy. Dysregulated metabolism is a common feature of many cancers, and metabolites are known to modulate functions in cancer cells. To identify potential metabolic pathways involved in anti-tumor immune response, we employed a metabolic inhibitor-based drug screen in human lung cancer cell lines and examined expression changes in a panel of immune regulator genes. Notably, pharmacologic inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) downregulated cancer cell expression of cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24), an anti-phagocytic surface protein. Genetic modulation of DHFR resulted in decrease of CD24 expression, whereas tetrahydrofolate, the product of DHFR, enhanced CD24 expression. DHFR inhibition and the consequent CD24 decrease enhanced T cell-mediated tumor cell killing, whereas replenishment of DHFR or CD24 partially mitigated the immune-mediated tumor cell killing that resulted from methotrexate treatment in cancer cells. Moreover, publicly available clinical data analyses further revealed the link between DHFR, CD24, and the antitumor immune response in lung cancer patients. Our study highlights a novel connection between folate metabolism and the anti-tumor immune response and partially interprets how DHFR inhibitors lead to clinical benefits when combined with cancer immunotherapy agents., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Not all patients who exercise regularly and follow a balanced diet will obtain a well-defined abdomen. Medium definition liposuction, together with the removal of abdominal skin, can recreate an adequate connection between the skin/subcutaneous components and the myo-aponeurotic layer, resulting in the perception of muscle definition., Methods: Over a period of 36 months, 351 patients underwent medium definition liposuction associated with abdominoplasty performed by a single surgeon (G.B.). All patients underwent an evaluation through digital photographs by two independent senior plastic surgeons, using an objective grading system for aesthetic outcomes proposed by Strasser, 12 months after the operation., Results: According to the Strasser Scale, 326 patients (93%) were considered to have good and excellent results. Twenty-two patients (6.2%) had moderate/mediocre results' and three patients (0.8%) had poor results. The overall complication rate was 4.8%., Conclusion: Medium definition liposuction associated with abdominoplasty has been shown to be effective, safe, and reproducible for most patients., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Evidence for the effectiveness of attachment-based interventions in improving youth's socioemotional health increases each year, yet potential for scalability of existing programs is limited. Available programs may have lower acceptability within low-income immigrant communities. Co-designing and implementing interventions with trained community workers (Promotors) offers an appealing solution to multiple challenges, but community workers must have high investment in the program for this to be a workable solution. This study examines the experiences of promotors involved in the co-creation and delivery of an attachmentbased intervention program for low-income Latinx youth (ages 8 to 17) and their mothers. Promotors (N=8) completed surveys, reporting on the experiences of each therapy group in terms of group dynamic (e.g., promotors' connectedness to each group, perceived program relevance). Following the completion of the intervention study, promotors participated in interviews in which they described their experiences in co-creating the intervention, delivering the intervention to the community, and their recommendations for improving the intervention. Overall, promotors perceived group dynamics as positive, though the mother groups were evaluated as significantly higher in quality (e.g., lower conflict) than the youth groups. Interviews revealed that promotors enjoyed the cocreation process and identified important areas for improvements for the intervention (incorporation of more visuals, creation of agelimited groups, reducing number of youth sessions) and evaluation (reduction in length, modification of language). Integrating input from promotors in the process of co-creating and implementing an intervention can benefit every member of the community from the program participants to the providers themselves.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, neutrophil-mediated, auto-inflammatory dermatosis that wound care specialists must be prepared to recognise. This condition has clinical features analogous to infectious processes. There is no specific diagnostic test and the diagnosis is usually obtained from exclusion. Its early recognition and proper management with prompt initiation of immunosuppressive therapy are essential to improve the quality of life and the prognosis of patients., (© 2020 Medicalhelplines.com Inc (3M) and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Biofouling control in reverse osmosis membranes (ROMs) is challenging due to the high cost of treatments, and reduction in the life of ROMs. This study characterizes the biofouling in the ROMs from a desalination plant and reports its effective removal using the supernatant obtained from Alteromonas sp. strain Ni1-LEM. The characterization of the bacterial community revealed that the most abundant taxa in ROMs were the genera Fulvivirga and Pseudoalteromonas , and unclassified species of the families Flavobacteriaceae and Sphingomonadaceae. This bacterial community significantly decreased upon treatment with the supernatant from Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM, resulting in the prevalence of the genus Pseudoalteromonas . Furthermore, this bacterial supernatant significantly inhibited cell adhesion of seven benthic microalgae isolated from ROMs as well as promoting cell detachment of the existing microbial biofilms. The study showed that the extracellular supernatant modified the conformation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the biofouling of ROMs without any biocidal effects.

We report experimental results that show the interplay between visibility, distinguishability, and the degree of polarization, as ruled by a recent extension of the polarization coherence theorem (PCT). Theorems of this kind address duality in both quantum and classical scenarios. We particularly focus on the inherent vector nature of the polarization degree of freedom and display various effects that lie beyond the scope of the original PCT. Our results exhibit features that can be shared by quantum and classical phenomena, whenever these phenomena reflect some hidden or exposed coherence.

Myopericytoma is a soft-tissue tumor of perivascular cells (pericytes). It is slow-growing, usually asymptomatic, and generally benign, although a malignant variant has been described. The etiology is unknown, but it has been associated with local trauma. The most common location is on the distal extremities. Histologically, it is characterized by a well-circumscribed, non-encapsulated proliferation of spindle shaped cells similar to myofibroblasts with oval nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, arranged in perivascular concentric rings. There are few mitoses and no necrosis is reported. The immunohistochemical analysis is positive for smooth muscle actin and negative or weakly positive for desmin. A low Ki-67 proliferation index is typical. Treatment is surgical excision with free margins. Recurrences after adequate excision are uncommon. We describe a 48-year-old woman with a myopericytoma in an unusual location (next to the inner corner of her left eye) who was treated with surgical excision; there has been no recurrence after 5 years of follow up.

Background: Non-melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and least aggressive but in a low percentage of cases, despite appropriate wide surgical margins, it can be aggressive, producing local invasion, recurrences and distance metastasis. SCC has a more aggressive behaviour invading first the skin, the lymph nodes and less frequently produces distance metastasis OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics of recurrent SCC and frequency of new SCC after conventional surgical and primary closure or closure delayed until a histological reporting of tumour-free surgical margins, in order to achieve a better surgical option, in our Mexican population., Materials and Method: We reviewed clinical records from the last 10 years, and included those with a diagnosis of SCC., Results: One hundred and fourteen tumours in 103 patients were included. The mean new tumour diagnosis was 32.2 per year; there were 46.6% men and 53.4% women. Age range 19-91, with mean 71.94 years (SD=13.34). The evolution time was from 1-112 months (mean=12 months, SD=2.65). The most affected site was the cheek. In addition, an invasive tumour was reported in 54% in the histopathological study. At 10-year follow-up we found a second SCC in 14 patients and only 4 recurrences, between the 1st and 4th year and 3were treated with delayed closure until margins were tumour-free., Conclusion: In this study we demonstrated that delayed closure technique is easy and adaptable in our population in the treatment of SCC, achieving good results with very low recurrences at 10- year follow -up., (Copyright © 2016 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Metabolic stress induced by high-fat (HF) diet leads to cognitive dysfunction and aging, but the physiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Senescence-accelerated prone mouse (SAMP8) models were conducted under metabolic stress conditions by feeding HF for 15 weeks, and the preventive effect of resveratrol was studied. This dietary strategy demonstrates cognitive impairment in SAMP8-HF and significant preventive effect by resveratrol-treated animals. Hippocampal changes in the proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics optic atrophy-1 protein (OPA1) and mitofusin 2 (MFN2) comprised a differential feature found in SAMP8-HF that was prevented by resveratrol. Electronic microscopy showed a larger mitochondria in SAMP8-HF + resveratrol (SAMP8-HF + RV) than in SAMP8-HF, indicating increases in fusion processes in resveratrol-treated mice. According to the mitochondrial morphology, significant increases in the I-NDUFB8, II-SDNB, III-UQCRC2, and V-ATPase complexes, in addition to that of voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)/porin, were found in resveratrol-treated animals with regard to SAMP8-HF, reaching control-animal levels. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-6) were increased after HF, and resveratrol prevents its increase. Moreover, we found that the HF diet affected the Wnt pathway, as demonstrated by β-catenin inactivation and modification in the expression of several components of this pathway. Resveratrol induced strong activation of β-catenin. The metabolic stress rendered in the cognitive and cellular pathways altered in SAMP8 focus on different targets in order to act on preventing cognitive impairment in neurodegeneration, and resveratrol can offer therapeutic possibilities for preventive strategies in aging or neurodegenerative conditions.

The environment in which organisms live can greatly influence their development. Consequently, environmental enrichment (EE) is progressively recognized as an important component in the improvement of brain function and development. It has been demonstrated that rodents raised under EE conditions exhibit favorable neuroanatomical effects that improve their learning, spatial memory, and behavioral performance. Here, by using senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAMP8) and these as a model of adverse genetic conditions for brain development, we determined the effect of EE by raising these mice during early life under favorable conditions. We found a better generalized performance of SAMP8 under EE in the results of four behavioral and learning tests. In addition, we demonstrated broad molecular correlation in the hippocampus by an increase in NeuN and Ki67 expression, as well as an increase in the expression of neurotrophic factors, such as pleiotrophin (PTN) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), with a parallel decrease in neurodegenerative markers such as GSK3, amyloid-beta precursor protein, and phosphorylated beta-catenin, and a reduction of SBDP120, Bax, GFAP, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), resulting in a neuroprotective panorama. Globally, it can be concluded that EE applied to SAMP8 at young ages resulted in epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that give rise to significant beneficial effects at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels during brain development, particularly in the hippocampus.

Background: There is a major controversy over the natural behavior of keratoacanthoma (KA). KAs have been described as benign lesions, but also as variants of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Microscopic differentiation between these 2 entities is problematic, and sometimes impossible. Syndecan-1 (CD138) is an adhesion molecule whose expression appears to be inversely correlated with tumor invasiveness. Elevated Ki-67 expression is indicative of a high proliferation index, a feature of malignant tumors., Methods: Syndecan-1 and Ki-67 expression were assessed in 22 KA skin samples and in 17 SCC skin biopsies., Results: Syndecan-1 expression was diminished in the SCC specimens compared with the KA specimens ( P =.000). Ki-67 expression was increased in the SCC specimens compared with the KA specimens, with mean values of 9 and 0.08, respectively ( P =.000)., Limitations: Further studies that compare intermediate risk KAs to typical KAs and SCCs are required to corroborate these findings., Conclusion: The assessment of syndecan-1 and Ki-67 expression in skin biopsies is a helpful tool for differentiating KA and SCC

A detailed protocol is described to induce chronic stress in BALB/c mice, which affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The protocol is based on a combination of two mild physical stressors: restraint stress and forced swimming. Physical stressors were applied on an alternative schedule: one day restraint, next day swimming, during a 28-day period. Mice were sacrificed at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 and plasma was obtained. Optimized chromatographic system with electrochemical detection and a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit were used to measure catecholamines [representative of the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)] and corticosterone (representative of the activation of the HPA axis). Corticosterone levels increased in mice under stress and remained significantly higher in stressed mice compared to control animals throughout the experimental procedure, indicating that mice did not show habituation to the combined stress. In our experimental conditions, catecholamine levels were not useful as an index of stress. The stress model applied here provoked a steady activation of the HPA axis resulting in the constant secretion of corticosterone from the adrenal gland, which may prevent the activation of the ANS axis. The simple and economic stress model presented here affected the HPA axis but not the ANS of BALB/c mice and is useful for the study of metabolic stress-related gastric pathology and stress hormone secretion in mice., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The revised score of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (R-IAIHG) and the simplified criteria (SC) are used for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Our aim is to evaluate the performance of these classifications to differentiate AIH from other autoimmune liver diseases. The frequency of diagnosis of definite AIH was similar both by the R-IAIHG and the SC systems (41% versus 40%), whereas diagnosis of probable AIH was made more commonly by the R-IAIHG than the SC (59% versus 29%), and 23 patients that have been graded as definite (n = 7) or probable (n = 16) AIH by the R-IAIHG had non-diagnostic scores by the SC system. The scoring systems rendered concordant diagnosis of definite (n = 15) and probable (n = 13) AIH in 28/73 patients (38%). Discordant diagnoses of AIH were rendered in 45/73 patients (62%). The R-IAIHG exhibited a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 90%, and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 93% for both. On the other hand, the SC had a lower sensitivity (65%) but a higher specificity (100%), PPV of 100%, and NPV of 68%. In conclusion, both international scoring systems diagnosed the same number of cases as definite AIH. The R-IAIHG showed a higher sensitivity in diagnosing AIH, whereas the SC showed a higher specificity. SC are easier to apply at the bedside and exclude more patients that could have a different etiology.

Low-energy (∼0.5 MeV) electrons arising from (60)Co γ-irradiation were used to create phosphorus-vacancy (PV) pairs and oxygen-vacancy pairs in Czochralski-grown Si. Positron annihilation data show that PV pairs anneal in two stages: the commonly observed stage around 125 °C, where one third of the pairs disappear with an activation energy of 0.8 ± 0.2 eV, and a new stage where none disappear, but form PV-oxygen complexes with an activation energy of 2.0 ± 0.2 eV.

Objective: Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) is a common dermatologic problem encountered in everyday practice. Its diagnostic approach is critical as it can be an early sign of nail melanoma. Racial melanonychia is the entity most frequently associated with LM. Because there are no clinical data regarding these associations in a Mexican population, we conducted a prospective study., Methods: A total of 68 consecutive patients given the clinical diagnosis of LM were included and a nail biopsy was performed to determine its cause., Results: Racial melanonychia was found in 48 cases (68%), 4 cases (5.7%) were associated with benign melanocytic hyperplasia, and 4 cases (5.7%) had a nail apparatus malignancy., Limitations: Dermatoscopy and immunohistochemical stains were not used. Incisional transverse nail matrix biopsies were performed when melanonychia affected the middle portion of the nail plate., Conclusion: LM is most commonly associated with racial melanonychia in the Mexican population, but in nearly 6% of cases it may be linked with nail apparatus malignancy. To our knowledge, this is the first time a study of this nature was performed in a mestizo Hispanic population.

Background: The frequency of nail unit tumors is not well known because they are often misdiagnosed, and the clinical appearance of benign and malignant tumors is not characteristic., Patients and Methods: A total of 234 patients from the dermatology department of a general hospital in Mexico City were included in this study, from January 1982 to November 2006., Results: The tumors most frequently diagnosed were fibrous tumors (29.05%), osteocartilaginous tumors (21.79%), and myxoid pseudocysts (11.96%). Malignant melanoma occupied the fourth place (9.82%), and the second most frequent malignant tumor was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 4.70%). Among other tumors were glomus, neurofibromas, giant cell tumors of tendon sheath, and pyogenic granulomas. The nail plate was affected in 46.5% of the cases studied., Conclusion: This study in a Mexican population sheds light on the frequency and the alterations produced by nail unit tumors, which we must keep in mind for a more accurate diagnosis.

Confluent and reticulated Gougerot-Carteaud papillomatosis is an uncommon dermatological condition that affects adolescents, especially young women with dark skin types. It presents itself as asymptomatic pigmented patches with a papillomatous texture that coalesce to form reticular plaques localized in the neck and intertriginous areas. The cause of this disease is unknown, although an abnormal keratinization has been implicated and sometimes has been associated with Malassezia sp. It has a chronic course with remissions and exacerbations. Several therapies have been used unsuccessfully to eradicate it but nowadays there is no specific treatment. We report a case treated efficiently with minocycline without recurrence at 6 months follow-up.

Background: Benign skin neoplasms are defined as autonomous growing tissue unrelated to normal growing of the skin, that persist even after the originating stimulus dissapears. Almost all human beings have a certain number of benign cutaneous neoplasms and many never seek medical attention. There is a dearth of information regarding the frequency of these tumors. The aim of this study was to record the number of benign tumors studied at the Dermatology Department of a medical facility., Material and Methods: A retrospective study analyzed medical records between 2000 and 2006. We included year of admission, number of biopsies, sex, age, tumor location, histological and clinical diagnoses., Results: We analyzed 9,436 biopsies of which 3,765 constituted benign neoplasms; 595 were not included and our total sample was 3,170 tumors. The most frequent tumors according to histopathological diagnoses in descending order were: melanocytic, cutaneous cysts, fibrous tumors, vascular tumors, epidermal tumors, fat tumors, tumors with hair differentiation, neural tumors, glandular tumors, tumors with sebaceous differentiation, cartilage and bone tumors, and smooth muscle tumors. The most common benign tumors were: Melanocytic nevi, epidermal cysts, seborrheic keratoses, pyogenic granulomas, lipomas and dermatofibromas., Conclusions: Melanocytes represented by melanocytic nevi (junctional, intradermic and compound) were the most frequent benign neoplasms, followed by epidermoid cysts. Our results illustrate the most common benign tumors observed in a dermatology department.

Paget's disease of the nipple is a superficial manifestation of an underlying breast malignancy. It has been reported in 1-3% of all breast carcinomas. The peak incidence is between 50 and 60 years. Its clinical presentation includes an unilateral, erythematous, slightly infiltrated scaly plaque and nipple retraction. Sero-sanguineous discharge may be observed. We here report a 51 year old woman who had an eight month history of an eritematous-squamous plaque with hematic scabs in the left nipple, with mild pruritus. A biopsy was taken and the diagnosis confirmed Paget's disease and intraductal breast carcinoma.

Background: Intraventricular resynchronization with pacemakers is a promising therapy for patients with refractory cardiac failure and intraventricular conductions delay. However its long term effects are not well known., Aim: To report the results of this therapy in patients with cardiac failure., Patients and Methods: Fourteen patients (11 male), whose mean age was 68 years, with a severe and refractory cardiac failure, have been treated in our unit using intraventricular resynchronization with pacemakers. Eight had a coronary heart disease and six a dilated myocardiopathy. The pacemaker was implanted transvenously, with conventional stimulation in atrium and right ventricle. The left ventricle was stimulated through an epicardial vein, accessed through the coronary sinus., Results: In one patient the high thresholds did not allow a left ventricular stimulation. In the other 13 patients, a clinical improvement was observed in 11 (85%), that has been sustained for a mean of 8.2 months. The ejection fraction improved form 23.5 to 32.4% (p < 0.001), the 6 min walking test improved from 347 to 437 m (p = 0.003) and the functional capacity changes from 3.3 to 2.7 (p < 0.001). Three patients died during follow up. One was the patient in whom the stimulation failed and two had a sudden death. No complications of the procedure were observed., Conclusions: In this series, intraventricular resynchronization with pacemakers was effective in 11 of 13 patients, improving functional capacity and ejection fraction. Sudden death could be avoided adding a defibrillator to the pacemaker system.

Background: Atrial fibrillation can originate in arrhythmogenic foci coming from the pulmonary veins. Patients with atrial fibrillation, initiated from triggering foci, can be treated with radiofrequency ablation., Aim: To report the results of radiofrequency ablation in patients with focal atrial fibrillation., Patients and Methods: Thirteen patients with focal atrial fibrillation (8 male, aged 19 to 60 years old) are reported. Twelve had frequent crises refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. Two had also flutter and tachycardia. One had a permanent atrial fibrillation lasting five years. Two had ventricular dysfunction and left atrial dilatation. The triggering focus was identified during the electrophysiological study, by the precocity of the potential that initiated the atrial fibrillation., Results: All patients had early atrial extrasystolic beats, isolated or repetitives, that preceded atrial fibrillation. During the electrophysiological study, 18 foci (3 in the right and 15 in the left atrium all in pulmonary veins) were identified. Radiofrequency ablation had immediate success in 11 patients. In 5, a flutter was also ablated. One patient had a sinus dysfunction after the procedure and atrial fibrillation was not eliminated. In this and other patient in whom the procedure failed, a pacemaker was implanted and the atrioventricular node was blocked. In a follow up, ranging from 4 to 31 months, eight patients are asymptomatic and 3 recidivated. No complications have been detected., Conclusions: Patients with focal atrial fibrillation have common clinical and electrocardiographic features. Radiofrequency ablation of the triggering focus is possible and effective in most cases.