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Background Autonomic failure (AF) complicates Parkinson’s disease (PD) in one-third of cases, resulting in complex blood pressure (BP) abnormalities. While autonomic testing represents the diagnostic gold standard for AF, accessibility to this examination remains limited to a few tertiary referral centers. Objective The present study sought to investigate the accuracy of a machine learning algorithm applied to 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) as a tool to facilitate the diagnosis of AF in patients with PD. Methods Consecutive PD patients naïve to vasoactive medications underwent 24 h-ABPM and autonomic testing. The diagnostic accuracy of a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) model exploiting ABPM parameters was compared to autonomic testing (as per a modified version of the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score not including the sudomotor score) in the diagnosis of AF. Results The study population consisted of n = 80 PD patients (33% female) with a mean age of 64 ± 10 years old and disease duration of 6.2 ± 4 years. The prevalence of AF at the autonomic testing was 36%. The LDA model showed 91.3% accuracy (98.0% specificity, 79.3% sensitivity) in predicting AF, significantly higher than any of the ABPM variables considered individually (hypotensive episodes = 82%; reverse dipping = 79%; awakening hypotension = 74%). Conclusion LDA model based on 24-h ABPM parameters can effectively predict AF, allowing greater accessibility to an accurate and easy to administer test for AF. Potential applications range from systematic AF screening to monitoring and treating blood pressure dysregulation caused by PD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

The research aims to characterize the thermal behavior of a rock mass forming a little hill at the confluence of two glacial valleys in the Italian Alps, known since centuries for the particular warm microclimate and its botanical-archeological park. The characterization from a thermophysical point of view is done both with laboratory tests exploiting infrared thermography coupled with petro-physical characterization and in the field long-term thermographic survey.Methods based on infrared thermography allowed to measure thermal diffusivity, conductance and specific heat. The measurements animals to evaluate the use of thermographic methods for the early detection of falling rocks and to study the characteristics of temperate local microclimat

Spatiotemporal mode-locking is a promising lasing regime for developing coherent sources for multimode nonlinear photonics. In this paper we show that large-aspect-ratio vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) can be operated in this regime. The emitted pulses exhibit a spatial profile resulting from the phase locking between an axial plane wave and a set of tilted waves having a hexagonal arrangement in the Fourier space. Moreover, we show that these pulsating patterns are temporally localized, i.e., they can be individually addressed by pulsing the optical pump. The theoretical analysis discloses that the emergence of these pulsating patterns is a signature of a Turing instability whose critical wave vector depends on the spherical aberrations of the optical elements. Our result reveals that large-aspect-ratio VECSELs offer unique opportunities for studying fully developed spatiotemporal dynamics and for applications to multidimensional control of light.

Autonomic failure (AF) is a common source of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson's disease (PD). The diagnosis of AF is difficult on clinical grounds alone. We used autonomic testing and 24-h BP monitoring (ABPM) in 122 PD patients to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of AF by (1) the reduced heart rate increase to fall in blood pressure (BP) ratio (ΔHR/ΔSBP), (2) reverse dipping (RD), and (3) increased diurnal systolic BP standard deviation (SD-SBP). Among patients with OH, ΔHR/ΔSBP yielded the best accuracy (85%), with excellent sensitivity (92%) and acceptable specificity (67%). RD and, to a lesser extent, SD-SBP had high specificity (93% and 73%, respectively) but low sensitivity, resulting in overall moderate accuracy (66% and 55%, respectively). In patients with OH, the addition of ABPM indexes to ΔHR/ΔSBP did not result in a significant improvement of accuracy. In patients without OH, RD and SD-SBP may be useful showing an accuracy of 72% and 81%, respectively, with high negative predictive value when both RD and increased SD-SBP are absent. The integration of bedside (∆HR/∆SBP) and ABPM-derived indexes can assist the clinician in screening PD patients for AF and guide referral to autonomic testing.

In this work we present the hydrogeophysical imaging of a key sector of the Quaternary Po foreland basin (northern Italy), focussing on the reconstruction of clastic aquifers and aquitards in a complex tectono-sedimentary subsurface architecture. The study area includes the relic reliefs of Casalpusterlengo and Zorlesco, two smooth morphological features involving uplifted and gently folded Pleistocene marine to alluvial sediments, plausibly linked to the buried Northern Apennines thrust and fold belt. The geophysical data include 35 Direct Current Vertical Electrical Soundings collected over a 37 km2 wide area, acquired with Schlumberger array and maximum half-spacing of 500 m. 1-D resistivity-depth profiles were computed for each VES. An integrated hydrostratigraphic approach was applied, to constrain the interpretation of the geophysical data along several cross-sections, including the comparison of resistivity soundings to stratigraphic logs, borehole electric logs and the pore-water properties. The resistivity interfaces, traceable with the same laterally continuous vertical polarity, were used to develop an electrostratigraphic model in order to portray the stacking of electrostratigraphic units down to 200 m below ground surface. Their vertical associations show a general upward increase of electrical resistivity. This assemblage mimics the regional coarsening upwards depositional trend, from the conductive units of the Plio-Pleistocene marine-to-transitional depositional systems to the resistive units of the Middle–Late Pleistocene fluvial and alluvial plain depositional systems. Middle Pleistocene depositional systems host an alternation of North-dipping, high-to-intermediate permeability aquifer systems (70–180 Ωm, thickness of 5–70 m) separated by low permeability aquitards (20–50 Ωm, thickness up to 40 m). These units pinch out against the Casalpusterlengo and Zorlesco relic reliefs, where they cover the uplifted and folded regional aquitard (20–50 Ωm) formed by Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene clays to sandy silts with gravel lenses in agreement with borehole data. In the deepest part of the local stratigraphy, a broad low-resistivity anomaly (< 10 Ωm) was clearly mapped through the study area. By comparison with electrical borehole logs in deep oil-wells, it could be interpreted as the fresh–saltwater interface due to the presence of connate waters and brines hosted by the marine-to-transitional shales.

The integration of surface geological and geomorphological information with borehole point-data and geophysical (e.g., geoelectrical) images of the subsurface yields spatially consistent representations of alluvial aquifers heterogeneity at different scales, from depositional systems to basin fills. Such an approach requires a conceptual framework to match the stratigraphic units with their evidence from ground-based DC resistivity methods to effectively fill the gaps between sparse borehole data and to obtain valid representations of sedimentary heterogeneities. Such an approach is applied to characterize two sites of the Quaternary aquifers of the central Po Plain (Italy), which represent (1) the middle-upper Pleistocene braided to meandering river depositional systems sitting on Southalpine crust and (2) their down-current counterparts, where they are involved by the latest uplift and deformation due to the tectonic activity of the Apennine frontal thrusts. Electrical resistivity was considered as a proxy of the litho-textural properties of hydrofacies and their major hierarchical association at depth and was interpreted in accordance with the depth-decreasing resolution of ground-based resistivity methods. Thus, it was possible to identify the geophysical signature of hydrostratigraphic units through ''Electrostratigraphic Units'', i.e., sedimentary volumes identified by resistivity contrasts that spatially preserve the vertical polarity. Hydrostratigraphy and electrostratigraphy were then joined together through a site-specific relationship between electrical resistivity and hydraulic conductivity, which takes into account the prevailing process of current conduction, the litho-textural properties of hydrofacies and the groundwater electrical conductivity. At the scales of aquifer systems and complexes, this approach permitted to establish the conceptual framework to match hydrostratigraphy, electrostratigraphy, average hydrodynamic properties and distribution of heterogeneities.

The femoral neck fracture is actually the most important traumatic event in the elderly, because of its high rate and terrible complications. We reviwed clinical records of 314 patients treated in our institution with a bipolar implant for femoral neck fracture. At a mean follow-up of 5 years, 15 patients (4.8%) were lost to followup so data for 299 patients was studied to identity factors associated with mortality. Ten predictor variables were examined: age, sex, waiting time for surgery, pulmonary dysfunction, fracture etiology, and comorbidity with ischemic heart disease, and heart failure, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic renal failure. Cumulative mortality rate during the first 6 months was 19% (55 of 299 patients) and in the first year it was 25% (76 of 299). At logistic regression analysis, mortality was associated with age, male gender, waiting period for surgery and presence of neoplastic disease or pathological fracture. Waiting for surgery was a significant factor for mortality at 6, 12 and 24 months: patients surgically treated in the first 24 hours had lower mortality than those who waited longer. The risk of mortality in the first 6 months doubled for an age increase of 12 years, while mortality within 2 years doubled for an age increase of 9 years. Although the motality rate after surgery for femoral neck fracture was high in the first year (25%), it dropped off in successive years to levels observed in a healthy population. Thus, we agree with the literature that femoral fracture is a risk factor for survival only in the first year after trauma, above all in the elderly.

Aims: To determine whether Ha-AP10, a member of the plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) family produces a direct cytotoxic effect on fungal cells mediated by membrane permeabilization. LTPs can inhibit fungal growth and are considered members of the ubiquitous class of antimicrobial peptides. However, the way they exert their effects on target cells is not yet understood. Methods and Results: Viability assays demonstrate that Ha-AP10 acts as a fungicidal compound but no harmful effect is observed on plant cells. Liposome leakage assays show that the protein induces a moderate release of fluorescent probes encapsulated in model membranes, indicating its ability to interact with phospholipids. Using a fluorescent indicator of damage at the membrane level, we demonstrate that Ha-AP10 is able to induce the permeabilization of intact fungal spores in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The results presented here demonstrate the permeabilization of fungal spores caused by Ha-AP10. Significance and Impact of the Study: To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of fungal membrane damage by an LTP, giving a clue to elucidate the basis of its antimicrobial properties.

A retrospective study was conducted to correlate the clinical result of joint replacement in dysplastic hips with the obtained modifications of the rotation centre.Sixty primary total hip arthroplasties were performed on 46 patients suffering from hip dysplasia at our institution. The radiographic evaluation of the hip rotation centre was performed using the method proposed by Pierchon. The clinical assessment was by Harris Hip Score. Our results revealed that it was possible to modify the position of the pathological rotational centre with a statistically significant difference (p

Using an experimental approach directed to the isolation of antimicrobial proteins, we have detected the presence of a trypsin inhibitor (TI) with associated antifungal activity in sunflower seeds. Purification of the isolated protein by affinity chromatography on a trypsin-agarose matrix confirmed that a trypsin inhibitor was responsible for the inhibition of spore germination of the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The protein is a potent antifungal compound as it can completely inhibit the germination of S. sclerotiorum ascospores at a concentration of 14 μg/ml. The putative contribution of this TI to control fungal invasion is discussed.

Wavelet transform analysis of experimentally measured intensity fluctuations distinguishes the transition from low frequency fluctuations at moderate feedback to stable operation at strong feedback. Comparison of these results with those of a wavelet analysis of lowpass filtered solutions of the Lang-Kobayashi equations for deterministic evolution of a single mode semiconductor laser with optical feedback finds substantial agreement in the part of the wavelet spectrum corresponding to slow dynamics. Substantial disagreement is found in the fast dynamics, which lessens when noise is added to the equations.

We investigate the relationship between passive mode locking and the formation of time-localized structures in the output intensity of a laser. We show how the mode-locked pulses transform into lasing localized structures, allowing for individual addressing and arbitrary low repetition rates. Our analysis reveals that this occurs when (i) the cavity round-trip is much larger than the slowest medium time scale, namely the gain recovery time, and (ii) the mode-locked solution coexists with the zero intensity (off) solution. These conditions enable the coexistence of a large quantity of stable solutions, each of them being characterized by a different number of pulses per round-trip and with different arrangements. Then, each mode-locked pulse becomes localized, i.e., individually addressable. © 2014 American Physical Society., J. J. acknowledges financial support from Ramón y Cajal program and CNRS for supporting a visit at the INLN where part of his work was developed. J. J. and S. B. acknowledge financial support from project RANGER (TEC2012-38864- C03-01) and from Direcció General de Recerca de les Illes Balears cofunded by the European Union FEDER funds. INLN group acknowledges funding from Région PACA with the Projet Volet Général 2011 GEDEPULSE

We measure the time-resolved probability distribution of the light emitted by a semiconductor laser with optical feedback. We show and analyse, for the first time, high-frequency fluctuations of the laser intensity in the coherence collapse regime. Our results suggest that the noise induces the power drop-outs and the laser recovers in a deterministic fashion. We also give a new mechanism for a transition between erratic and synchronised behaviour in the laser dynamics.

Six cases of greater arc injury, defined as a perilunate dislocation of the carpus with a fracture of at least both the scaphoid and the capitate, were treated by open reposition and both internal and external fixation. Revascularisation of the capitate by implantation of the first dorsal intermetacarpal artery was attempted in three cases. At a mean follow-up of six years and four months, all patients complained of residual pain in the wrist. Carpal mobility and grip strength were reduced, and all patients showed mild or moderate arthritic changes. Progressive cartilage damage over the proximal pole of the capitate seems to be a determining factor in the outcome. Open reposition and both internal and external fixation are recommended in order to possibly diminish the incidence of arthritis and minimise secondary carpal instability.

We report on bistability in VCSEL involving two linear and orthogonal polarizations. The domain of coexistence is extended to the full current range of the device. We demonstrate control of the polarization state by perturbing optically the VCSEL. We show that the induced polarization state is recovered after having turned off and on the device.

Secretogranin II (chromogranin C) is an acidic tyrosine-sulfated secretory protein, known to be a marker of neuroendocrine secretory products and of specific neuroendocrine tumours. In order to obtain anti-secretogranin II monoclonal antibodies for cell biology studies and, in particular, for clinical applications, we immunized mice with a secretogranin II-enriched fraction prepared from homogenates of bovine anterior pituitaries. Hybridoma supernatants obtained from the splenocytes of a hyperimmune mouse, screened with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were analyzed by both immunocytochemistry and two-dimensional immunoblotting. By using this experimental approach, we were able to identify two monoclonal antibodies (8G1 and 5A7) which recognize bovine secretogranin II. Both immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting revealed that one of them, the 5A7 antibody, cross-reacts with the human antigen. The distribution patterns of the immunoreactivity, obtained by immunocytochemistry with the 5A7 antibody in animal and human tissues, partially overlap those, obtained by using a polyclonal antiserum elicited against bovine secretogranin II, previously described. Moreover, the 5A7, but not the polyclonal antibody, reacts with some duodeno-jejunal cells. In conclusion, both the 5A7 and 8G1 antibodies can be useful for cell biology studies. The 5A7 antibody can be used for the detection of secretogranin II in human tissues and should be of help in clinical and pathological practices.

The presence of small G proteins was investigated by [γ- 35 S]GTP-binding in 3 human neuroblastoma cell lines, IMR-32, SK-N-BE and SH-SY5Y, before and after treatment with differentiating agents (dibutyryl-cAMP, 5-bromodeoxyuridine or retinoic acid) which induce the appearance of secretory organelles. One major component of about 24 kDa and 3 minor components of smaller M r were found to bind specifically [γ- 35 S]GTP in all 3 cell lines already before differentiation. Differentiation did not affect the expression of small G proteins in IMR-32 cells and only modestly affected it in the other two cell lines. The possibility that the expression of small G proteins in neuroblastoma cells is not coupled with the assembly of secretory organelles is discussed.

Fifty cases of Hodgkin's disease in intravenous drug users (IVDU) have been collected by the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS-Related Tumors (G.I.C.A.T.). Ninety-two per cent of the patients were males; the median age was 26 years. Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) at onset was present in 54% of patients, AIDS in 9%, ARC in 9% while 28% were simply HIV-positive. The initial median absolute number of CD4 lymphocytes was 264/mmc. Opportunistic infections were diagnosed in 20% of patients. In most patients the histological pattern was that of mixed cellularity and lymphocytic depletion (76%). In almost half the initial symptom was a persistent lymph node enlargement due to PGL. In the majority of patients (58%) only a clinical staging and bone marrow biopsy could be performed due to the presence of opportunistic infections, rapid disease progression or refusal of pathologic staging procedures. One patient presented with a Waldeyer's ring involvement, but no other unusual presentations were observed. After MOPP alternated or followed by ABVD or MOPP alone, 15/29 CR (52%) and 14/29 PR (48%) were observed. The median duration of CR was 14 months, while the median survival of CR has not been reached; the median survival of patients treated with chemotherapy with CD4 values at presentation {geq}400/mmc was significantly superior to that in those with CD4 < 400/mmc. The overall median survival was 16 months. Twenty-eight per cent of patients receiving chemotherapy + radiotherapy developed opportunistic as well as non-opportunistic infections (21%). Lethal hepatic toxicity was observed in 2 patients. In conclusion, Hodgkin's disease in IVDU was not found to be associated with unusual presentations, as previously reported for homosexuals. Complete remissions could be achieved in over 50% of patients, but in IVDU non-opportunistic infections in addition to opportunistic infections may also limit treatment administration. The presence of parenchymal functional impairment due to drug abuse, or drug abuse-related infections, such as pneumonia, endocarditis and hepatitis, should lead to the choice of antitumour agents with no or only minor potential liver, lung and cardiac toxicity.

Objectives To describe the cytogenetic and FISH characterization of a prenatally diagnosed de novo complex chromosome rearrangement (CCR), showing the involvement of four chromosomes and six breakpoints, and review the literature concerning prenatally detected CCRs in order to obtain insights into addressing karyotype-phenotype correlations in prenatal genetic counseling. Methods Conventional protocols were used to set up cultures and chromosome preparations. Commercial and homemade probes were used for the FISH analyses. Results An apparently balanced de novo t(4;10;20) was prenatally identified by means of cytogenetic analysis. FISH revealed a rearrangement mediated by six breakpoints and the insertion of chromosome 8 material within the 4q region. The pregnancy was interrupted. The fetus showed malformations and anomalous cortical neuron migration. The assembled list of 20 prenatally detected CCRs points to the preferential involvement of chromosomes 4, 6 and 14. The involvement of chromosome 20 is described here for the first time. Conclusions FISH analysis is essential for the accurate definition of a complex rearrangement. Phenotype description of fetuses carrying CCRs investigated by means of molecular cytogenetic techniques may contribute to improving and personalizing genetic counseling in prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common problem in various jobs, but not in the cleaning farms. A population of 99 women working in hospital cleaning activities was investigated to define if, although the risk assessment was negative for cumulative trauma diseases (CTD), the Occupational physician should search or not the CTS. We found that CTS prevalence in exposed group is higher than the common female population not exposed and the female workers are younger, so we can suppose the occupational risk exist although the negative risk assessment. The age and the working-age seem not to be determinant in the pathology of the disease, nether the different working-risks is, therefore the risk assessment doesn't consider other risk factor of the cleaning activities: strength, duration, frequency and recover time. This study confirms that the CTS seems to be a disease related with the cleaning workers and although the risk assessment is negative for CTD the Occupational physician should perform the health survaillance for CTD.

The investigations in the field of spatial pattern formation in nonlinear optical systems1 offer an approach to parallel optical information processing, by encoding information in the transverse structure of the field.

We report on experimental evidence of cavity solitons in driven diode lasers below threshold. We show for the first time in semiconductors that one-peaked structures, generated in arbitrary locations, are spatially uncorrelated, as required for solitons. A microscopic model shows excellent agreement with experimental results.

The Ablate and Pace Trial (APT) prospectively assessed the effects of catheter ablation of the AV conduction system and permanent pacemaker implantation on health-related quality of life, survival, exercise capacity, and ventricular function in 156 patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation.All patients referred for catheter ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation because of medically-refractory atrial fibrillation at 16 centers were screened for enrollment in a prospective registry. Baseline assessment prior to ablation included measurement of quality of life, including the Health Status Questionnaire, the Quality of Life Index and the Symptom Checklist: Frequency and Severity. Exercise capacity was assessed with metabolic treadmill exercise testing and ventricular function was quantitated with echocardiography. The quality of life instruments, exercise capacity, and echocardiography were repeated at 3 and 12 months after catheter ablation.The APT population included 90 men and 66 women (66.1 +/- 11.5 years of age) with either chronic (n = 70), recurrent (n = 31), or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n = 55). Structural heart disease was present in 78.2% of patients. Successful ablation of AV conduction was achieved in 155 of 156 patients (99.4%). Survival at 1 year was 85.3%, with 5 of 23 deaths being sudden cardiac deaths. Survival over the first year of follow-up was significantly lower for patients with a baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)0.45 (0.73) than for patients with a LVEFor = 0.45 (0.88, p = 0.03). The NYHA functional class improved from 2.1 at baseline to 1.8 at 3 months and 1.9 at 12 months of followup (p = 0.0001). Significant improvement in quality of life scores were noted for all 8 subscales of the Health Status Questionnaire, for the overall rating of the Quality of Life Index, the Health and Function subscales; Arrhythmia-related symptoms were markedly reduced as measured by the Symptom Checklist: Frequency and Severity scale. The mean LVEF improved from 0.50 +/- 0.20 at baseline to 0.54 +/- 0.20 at 3 months (p = 0.03). The LVEF 12 months after ablation was 0.52 +/- 0.20, not statistically different from baseline. Individuals with reduced systolic function at baseline had the greatest improvement, from LVEF 0.31 +/- 0.20 at baseline to 0.41 +/- 0.20 at 3 months and 0.41 +/- 0.30 at 12 months (p = 0.0001). There were no significant changes in treadmill exercise duration (10.0 +/- 4.3 min at baseline and 11.6 +/- 3.6 min at 12 months) or VO2max (1467 +/- 681 ml O2 min baseline and 1629 +/- 739 ml O2 min at 12 months).Catheter ablation of the AV conduction system and permanent pacemaker implantation were associated with improved quality of life and left ventricular function in this population of highly symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation refractory to medical therapy.

A retrospective analysis of 1,000 consecutive cases was conducted in each histopathology lab of seven general hospitals. The collected information included the date of specimen withdrawal (six labs only), receipt in the laboratory, and reporting. Time intervals between withdrawal and receipt. Two labs, received 3/4 of cases the same day, while the others had a very low prevalence of receipt. All labs but one, received 80-90% of cases within 48 hours. In one lab, 17% of cases arrived five days after from the withdrawal. Time intervals between receipt and reporting. The mean observed in the seven labs ranged from 3.1 to 6.1 days. Two labs were able to report within 24 hours, but this occurred only in 6% of their cases. The reporting prevalence within three days ranged between 5 and 64%, with a mean for the seven labs of 37%. The reporting prevalence within 6 days was about 95% (four labs), 60-70% (two labs) and 20% (one lab). All labs but one reported 95-100% of cases within ten days. Time intervals between withdrawal and reporting. Our labs were not able to report within 24 hours from the withdrawal (frozen sections excluded). The reporting prevalence within 2-3 days was about 35-40% (three labs), 16% (one lab), 2% (two labs), and within six days it was about 90% (three labs), and 61%, 38% and 14% (the remaining). These latter reported 95% of their cases within twenty days. The turnaround times we found are unsatisfactory. Probably, there are many sources of delay, and these are multifactorial. However, a major factor involved in these delays seems to be related to poor arrangements in the allocation and managing of human resources.

Following a major reorganization of the National Health Service, competition for resources will depend to a great extent on the quality of the service offered, and audit will be of increasing importance. The present investigation deals with the quantitative aspects of the histopathology workload. A retrospective analysis of the biopsy handling of 1,000 consecutive cases was conducted in each histopathology lab of seven general hospitals. The data collected included information on specimen type, diagnosis, block/section/stain details for each specimen, as well as information about human resources, total workload and technical equipment. Among the seven labs, the histopathology workload ranged between 6,600 and 15,600 cases/year. The workload per person/year ranged between 1,400 and 2,600 (mean 1,900) for pathologists, between 800 and 3,000 (mean 1,500) for technicians, and between 2,200 and 8,300 (mean 4,400) for secretarial staff. The prevalence of biopsy fragments (endoscopic, endometrial curettage , etc.), "small" surgery (skin, appendix, gallbladder, etc.) and surgery was, respectively, between 42 and 50%, 34 and 47%, 9 and 21%. In all labs but one, 80% of cases were within 1-3 blocks; the seven labs had a mean of blocks/case ranging from 1.8 to 4.0 (total mean = 2.8). Differences in performing special stains were astonishing: one lab performed special stains in about 40%, and another in only 0.6% of cases (mean of the seven labs = 15%). Finally, the labs performed immunohistochemical stains within a range of 2.7-8% of cases (mean of the seven labs = 4.6%). The data we have collected provided baseline information on the laboratory running, and this is likely to be an integral part of laboratory administration in the near future.

During the past 10 years, 15 patients have had percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) at a major teaching hospital. Five PLA were related to biliary tract disease, two were secondary to colonic diverticulitis, two developed after abdominal surgery, and the remaining were associated with hepatic trauma, gastric ulcer, Crohn's ileitis, and colon cancer. Two abscesses were cryptogenic. Mean diameter of PLA was 8 cm and ranged from 2-14 cm. Three patients had multiple PLA. All patients were initially treated by PCD without major complications. However, one patient required a second PCD after developing a recurrent abscess. Fever and leukocytosis defervesced at a mean 3.6 days and 7 days, respectively, after PCD. Seven of the 15 patients subsequently had one-stage elective abdominal operations for treatment of diseases underlying PLA including two cholecystectomies, two colon resections, one gastrectomy, one ileostomy closure, and one laparotomy for unresectable gall bladder cancer. There were no postoperative complications. These results demonstrate that PLA are best treated by using PCD as primary treatment with surgical drainage reserved for patients who do not respond clinically to PCD. The need for operative treatment in diseases underlying PLA should not deter use of PCD as primary treatment.

Description of a clinical case diagnosed in the first hours of life in apparently well newborn. Diagnostic suspicion by palpation and transillumination. Absence of any subjective sign. Inspective symptom the light scrotal swelling. The neonate received an immediate surgical exploration with subsequent orchiectomy.

In order to obtain further insights into the expression of the known markers of secretory neuroendocrine dense core organelles, secretogranin II (SgII), chromogranin A (CgA), and chromogranin B (CgB) during neuronal differentiation, the immunolocalization of these proteins was studied by means of double immunofluorescence in both undifferentiated and retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The majority of undifferentiated cells was not immunolabeled for all three proteins. In the majority of differentiated cells, a clearly punctate SgII immunolabeling indicative of the presence of secretory organelles was present in the Golgi region, at the cell periphery, along the neurites and in growth cones. Only relatively few of the SgII-immunolabeled cells were also immunolabeled for CgA and CgB, and in a single cell the three proteins were not always present in the same organelles. These results, obtained in a cultured cell line, confirm the not necessarily parallel distribution of SgII, CgA, and CgB observed in different neuroendocrine tissues and suggest that SgII may be the best marker of human neuroblastoma cell differentiation.

Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter, a mesodermal benign tumor, are rare. The first case of a fibroepithelial ureteral polyp associated with bilateral complete ureteral duplication and another case associated with bilateral hydronephrosis are reported. The first case suggested a malformative congenital etiology. The two fibroepithelial polyps were treated by conservative surgery.

Actinomycin D and puromycin inhibit the light-stimulated synthesis of amaranthin in Amaranthus tricolor seedlings. This result suggests that the phytochrome-mediated formation of the pigment is controlled by P 730 through the activation of potentially active genes, in agreement with Mohr's hypothesis on the mode of action of phytochrome.

Amaranthin synthesis in Amaranthus tricolor seedlings is stimulated by kinetin in darkness. This stimulation, which does not depend on the phytochrome status, is inhibited by actinomycin D and puromycin. The kinetin-induced amaranthin synthesis can be interpreted on the basis of gene activation.

Physcion, fallacinol, fallacinal, parietinic acid and emodin have been isolated from extracts of Xanthoria parientina . A much higher concentration of total anthraquinones was found in X. parietina var. aureola which contains, besides these five pigments, small amounts of citreorosein and emodic acid.

Light stimulates the betaxanthin accumulation in Celosia plumosa . The induction is partially reversed by far-red and inhibited by actinomycin D, puromycin, salicylaldoxime and 2,4-dinitrophenol, while 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea has an inhibitory effect only when photosynthesis is operative. In darkness betaxanthins synthesis is promoted by kinetin.

The accumulation of amaranthin in kinetin-treated seedlings of Amaranthus tricolor is significantly increased following exposure to light. This enhancement, which appears to be phytochrome-controlled since it is saturated at low energy levels of irradiation and is far-red reversible, involves the synthesis of enzymes which mediate the effect of light on pigment formation. However, this does not depend on the direct intervention of photo-activated phytochrome at the DNA level.

The existence of different types of imperfections in melt-grown and solution-grown KCl crystals is shown experimentally by three techniques: optical absorption in the sample after X-irradiation, depolarization thermocurrent, and thermoluminescence. The results show that the latter type of crystals contains a larger concentration of dipolar complexes and shallow traps, but a smaller concentration of vacancies and divalent impurities. Es wird das Vorhandensein verschiedener Arten von Fehlstellen in KCl-Kristallen, die entweder aus der Schmelze oder aus der Losung gezuchtet wurden, mit Hilfe der folgenden Verfahren gezeigt: optische Absorption nach Bestrahlung mit Rontgenstrahlen. Depolarisations-Thermostrome und Thermolumineszenz. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, das die letzteren Kristalltypen eine grosere Konzentration dipolarer Komplexe und flacher Storstellen jedoch eine geringere Konzentration von Leerstellen und zweiwertigen Fremdatomen besitzen.

The 180° domain‐wall motion in barium ferrite single crystals has been studied by the pulsed‐magnetic‐field technique described in a previous article.The domain‐wall velocity has been measured as a function of the internal magnetic field in a range from 50 to several hundred Oe and at temperatures of 80° and 293°K. The rate of increase of the applied magnetic field dHa/dt has no apparent effect if it does not exceed 1.6 kOe/μsec. Reasonable agreement is found between the wall velocities as measured and values foreseen on the basis of the model proposed by Hagedorn and Gyorgy to explain wall mobility in YIG.An accurate analysis of the dependence of the wall velocity on the magnetic‐field intensity suggests the existence of a threshold field Ht, which depends on the value of the damping constant α and defines the point of transition from one motion mechanism to another. We think that Ht may be identified with the critical field H0=2παMs which appears in a solution given by Walker to the domain‐wall equation...

Amaranthin formation in seedlings of Amaranthus tricolor is controlled by two photoreactions, one, a high-energy reaction, and the other a low-energy reaction controlled by phytochrome. Elongation of the hypocotyl in A. tricolor seedlings is also phytochrome controlled.

Dynamic magnetization processes in BaO·6Fe2O3 single crystals in the easy direction are examined under rapidly varying high magnetic fields. We observe that for large values of dHa/dt (the rate of increase of the applied field) the derivative dM/dt of the sample magnetization as function of time shows a sharp structure with a maximum.A phenomenological interpretation is given, assuming that the magnetization change is only due to 180° Bloch wall displacement. In the initial stage of magnetization the number of domains remains constant and the wall velocity is directly related to the experimental results. This leads to an estimate of the viscous damping coefficient β which is found to depend very strongly on the value of the magnetic field, and is of the order of a few hundred cgs units when H reaches values comparable with the saturation magnetization Ms. Indeed in an effective field of several hundred oersteds, β appears to be several hundred times larger than it is in a field of a few oersteds. For inst...

Experience is described in the use of indirect immunofluorescence to reveal ABO surface antigens in transitional tumours of the bladder on histological preparations from 50 patients given endoscopic resection or demolitive surgery. After an adequate period of follow-up (mean 13.7 months) of the same patients it is concluded that the prognostic validity of the survey still fails to offer sufficient specificity for guaranteed support of therapeutic decisions.

Pathology and Cytology departments are making increasing use of cytological examination of the semen as an aid to the diagnosis and prognosis of male infertility. Even in cases where it may seem superfluous, as in azoospermia, it can be used to reveal the presence of immature reproductive cells indicating retarded maturation. It may also reveal a greater or lesser number of inflamed cells, indicating swelling of the spermatic vesicles. In this case the patient will be subjected to more specific tests (the Stamey EPS-EVS tests). Spermatic and prostatic vesicle cells are not often examined but this may be done to investigate the origin of the secretion and the site of any swelling.

Two cases of leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord are reported. Prognostic factors and therapy of this kind of tumors are discussed.

The clinical and anatomopathological features of 7 personally observed cases of granulomatous prostatitis are described. The possibility of confusion between this pathology and cancer of the prostate is pointed out. This is particularly the case when the entire gland is inflammed and only bioptic examination will confirm the diagnosis. The symptoms mostly related to the cervicourethral obstruction, the diagnostic procedure and the treatment, prevalently medical, adopted in each are described.