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Heavy metal (HM) pollution in agricultural fields reduces crop productivity and quality, and poses a risk for human health. On these areas, the cultivation of crops devoted to biomaterial and bioenergy production thus constitutes an attractive alternative to food crop production. To maintain the soil productivity and to obtain a biomass compatible with the requirements of industry, the use of the beneficial metalloid silicon, applied on leaves during plant growth, has been considered. A field study using Cannabis sativa L. (cv. Futura 75) was performed during 2 consecutive years on two sites (one soil parcel contaminated with Cd, Zn and Pb, and one taken as uncontaminated control) in the North of France. One half of the plants received weekly foliar spray of Si (2 mM). Photosynthesis-related parameters were analysed in situ, while mineral concentration and fibre properties were determined after 4 months of culture. Our results suggest that Si application improves and preserves the mechanical properties of fibres when plants are exposed to HM stress. Si was also shown to increase by 27% the Cd concentration in leaves and by 30% the Zn concentration in stems. Contaminated fibres and shives containing immobilized HM could be used for specific purposes such as inclusion in cement aglomerates.Article Highlights: Hemp is an attractive species for non-food production on heavy-metal polluted soil. Exogenous application of silicon was tested for its protective impact on stressed plants. Fibers constitute a preferential site for cadmium sequestration in the stem. Si treatments improve fibers mechanical properties in the absence of heavy metals. Si preserves the mechanical properties of fibres when plants are exposed to heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road traffic contributes to atmospheric particulate matter with exhaust (fuel combustion) and non-exhaust (wear of vehicle parts such as brake, tires and abrasion of the road surface) emissions. Road dust is composed of particles belonging to natural and anthropogenic sources related in large part to road traffic. To date, understanding the relative contribution of road dust resuspension and particles directly emitted by abrasion to particulate matter is still a matter of debate. In this work, road dust and resuspended particles samples are collected at different heights and with increasing sampling time near a busy road of Venice mainland. Elemental composition and morphology of particles were investigated with a combination of techniques: inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), laser diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM–EDX). The differences between deposited and resuspended particles were highlighted and the main pollutant sources were identified to study the resuspension process related to the traffic flow. Resuspended particles were divided into six groups related to the presence of anti-ice material, to soil resuspension and to the road surface and vehicle parts wear. The contributions of clustered particles vary with the height from the road level. This study, the first one focusing on the road traffic particles resuspension in Veneto region, will provide topical information for the identification of this source in atmospheric particulate samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonography is the first-line imaging modality in the evaluation of the female pelvis in childhood and adolescence, because it is easy to perform, non-invasive and it does not require sedation. The transabdominal approach is preferred in children and adolescents, after filling the bladder to move away the bowel loops from the pelvis. The probe frequency must be adapted to age, thickness of tissues and depth of the structures under examination. High-frequency (4-12 MHz) linear or convex probes are used in newborns; high-frequency linear probes (4-12 MHz) in toddler, convex 5-7.5 MHz probes in girls and convex 3.5-5 MHz probes in teenagers. In this article, the main pathological conditions of the genital female tract in pediatric age are examined, such as congenital anomalies, disorders of sex development, ovarian cysts, ovarian tumors, adnexal torsion, primary amenorrhea, precocious puberty and pelvic inflammatory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to an increasingly aging population, Alzheimer disease (AD) represents a crucial issue for the healthcare system because of its widespread prevalence and the burden of its care needs. Several hypotheses on AD pathogenesis have been proposed and current therapeutical strategies have shown limited effectiveness. In the last decade, more evidence has supported a role for neuroinflammation and immune system dysregulation in AD. It remains unclear whether astrocytes, microglia and immune cells influence disease onset, progression or both. Amyloid-β peptides that aggregate extracellularly in the typical neuritic plaques generate a constant inflammatory environment. This causes a prolonged activation of microglial and astroglial cells that potentiate neuronal damage and provoke the alteration of the blood brain barrier (BBB), damaging the permeability of blood vessels. Recent data support the role of the BBB as a link between neuroinflammation, the immune system and AD. Hence, a thorough investigation of the neuroinflammatory and immune system pathways that impact neurodegeneration and novel exciting findings such as microglia-derived microvesicles, inflammasomes and signalosomes will ultimately enhance our understanding of the pathological process. Eventually, we should proceed with caution in defining a causal or consequential role of neuroinflammation in AD, but rather focus on identifying its exact pathological contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For the growing numbers of obese elderly with diabetes, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor analogue (liraglutide) appears a safe way to promote and maintain substantial weight loss. Given this background, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of the liraglutide treatment, at doses up to 3.0 mg per day, on the body composition, focusing on sarcopenia, in overweight and obese elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A perspective study was carried out in overweight and obese T2DM patients with HbA1c equal to 7.0 % (53 mmol/mol) ~10.0 % (86), under 3-month treatment (at least) of maximal dose of metformin at stable regime, and additional liraglutide at doses up to 3.0 mg per day. Body composition markers such as skeletal muscle index (SMI), android and gynoid fat mass, and arms and legs fat free mass, was measured by dual-energy X-ray densitometry (DXA) at baseline and after 24 weeks of liraglutide treatment. Glucose control was also carried out by glucose and HbA1c. Results: Nine subjects (male/female 6/3, mean age 68.22 ± 3.86 years, BMI 32.34 ± 4.89 kg/m) were evaluated. We noted a median decrease in BMI (−0.78 kg/m), weight (−2000 g), fat mass (−1498 g) and android fat (−0.9 %), and a increase in SMI (+0.03 kg/m) from baseline. Glycemic control also improved, with a median change HbA1c of −0.80 %. Conclusions: Twenty-four weeks of liraglutide treatment was associated with reductions in fat mass and android fat. In addition, in order to prevent sarcopenia, it preserved the muscular tropism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Discharge planning is a critical feature of hospital's care in geriatric rehabilitation centers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of comorbidity and functionality in identifying patients who are at risk of discharge problems. We also evaluate the association between Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score, BRASS index (BI), and post-hospitalization outcome (PHO). Methods: Eighty patients (58 women and 22 men, with mean age equal to 83.28 ± 6.77 years) at geriatric rehabilitation division admission were screened with Geriatric Multidimensional Assessment (GMA). Then, BI and PHO were evaluated (mean follow-up time was 205.1 ± 95.8 days). By Structural Equation Model, we evaluated the existing causal relationships between comorbidity, functionality and PHO, elements of GMA, and the association between PHO and BI. Results: Comorbidity acted on PHO through functionality with indirect effect only (+0.703, P = 0.019). So, the functionality assumes a pivotal role of the causal relationship comorbidity to PHO. BI is positively associated with PHO: correlation returned was equal to +0.313 ( P = 0.019). Conclusions: The comorbidity has a role in getting worse PHO, but its effect is possible only through the mediation of functional status. The study also demonstrated the positive association between BI and PHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for monitoring the overall performance of countries in Sustainable Development (SD) is widely recognized, but scant attention has been devoted to methods for aggregating and analyzing vast amounts of empirical data. This paper describes the development and application of a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology for addressing the challenges of benchmarking sustainable development. The methodology involves linear optimization techniques, and it is based on the identification of a number of attributes that provide proxy sustainable development indicators. Using these techniques, a SD index is derived, which might combine existing aggregate SD indices (developed by well-established organizations and! or expert teams) into a single synthesizing overall SD index. We propose the use of four different modeling techniques to address these concerns and report the results of an Italian case study. From the results obtained, it is possible to note that the inefficient regions are, overall, southern regions and some central regions. In particular, their inefficiency comes from high poverty rate and CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, regional economic disparities are evident and with root in government's preferential policies towards on foreign investment for the northern regions, greater access to markets and better infrastructure. The political implication of these findings is that these regions have to concentrate to keep low the rate of CO2 emissions and to favor a good sustainable development from a social point of view. Exceptions are Basilicata and Sardegna regions, which exhibit a low poverty rate and a medium GDP per capita. The most inefficient DMUs are Sicilia, Calabria, Puglia, Campania and Abruzzo. Piemonte is borderline, even though the region has a good geographical position for the industrial placement. We view this approach as a first step towards more systematic international comparisons, aimed at facilitating the diffusion of the best practices and policies from the benchmark countries to the less developed world regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemopoiesis of Elasmobranchs provides a useful model for haematopoietic studies owing to the compartmentalisation of various maturative lineages in spleen (erythropoiesis and lymphocytopoiesis), oesophageal wall and epigonal tissue (myelopoiesis and lymphocytopoiesis). The survival capacity and the recovery of peripheral blood cells and haemopoietic organs were studied in Torpedo marmorata Risso subjected to different single doses of total-body X-ray and following autologous haemotransplantation. Torpedoes were found to be very radioresistant animals from the high dose (100 Gy) of X-ray able to produce complete destruction of haematopoietic tissues but no immediate lethality. Here we report a successful autologous peripheral blood transplantation following 100 Gy X-ray that produces death of the control torpedoes from failure of haemopoiesis. The recovery of the circulating red blood cells after autohaemotransfusion was completed in 28 days, whereas that of the white cells was slower. On day 28 after autohaemotransplant the animals displayed recovery of the haemopoietic tissues, as demonstrated by the BUdR method, but irradiated controls displayed no blood cell or haemopoietic regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]