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In this contribution, we study possible confinement effects on the atomic and electronic structure, and phonon properties of neutral (V(O)(x) and fully charged (V(O)oxygen vacancies in BaZrO3 (001) ultra-thin films. First principles phonon calculations were performed as a function of film thickness (from 3 to 7 atomic planes) with two complementary DFT methods. The calculations reveal that for both types of vacancies the confinement effect is very short-range; for films containing 5 planes or more, the oxygen vacancy properties are predicted to be similar to those observed in the bulk material.

Unlabelled: The present study was carried out to assess if there is an anticipation of age at onset in younger generations of familial multiple sclerosis (FMS) vs. sporadic MS (SMS) in Argentina., Methods: multicenter study that included patients from 14 MS Centers of Argentina. Patients were considered as FMS if they had in their family at least one relative of first or second degree diagnosed with MS; otherwise, patients were considered to have SMS. We compared the age at onset between familial and sporadic cases as well as the age at onset between relatives from different generations in FMS vs. SMS., Results: 1333 patients were included, 97 of them were FMS (7.3%). A lower age at onset in the younger generations of FMS cases was found compared with older generations of FMS as well as. SMS cases (24.1±3.7 years vs. 30.3±5.7 years, and 32.4±9.4 respectively; p<0.001). No differences were observed between older generations of FMS vs. SMS cases (p=0.12)., Conclusion: we observed an anticipation of age at onset of MS in younger generations of patients with FMS vs. older generations of FMS and SMS., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing monensin (MON) with a spray-dried multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP) against several ruminal microorganisms on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, feeding behavior, blood gas profile, and the rumenitis incidence of Brangus and Nellore yearling bulls. The study was designed as a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, replicated 6 times (4 bulls per pen and a total of 24 pens), in which bulls ( = 48) of each biotype were fed diets containing either MON fed at 300 mg/d or PAP fed at 3 g/d. No significant feed additive main effects were observed for ADG ( = 0.27), G:F ( = 0.28), HCW ( = 0.99), or dressing percentage ( = 0.80). However, bulls receiving PAP had greater DMI ( = 0.02) and larger ( = 0.02) final LM area as well as greater ( < 0.01) blood concentrations of bicarbonate and base excess in the extracellular fluid than bulls receiving MON. Brangus bulls had greater ( < 0.01) ADG and DMI expressed in kilograms, final BW, heavier HCW, and larger initial and final LM area than Nellore bulls. However, Nellore bulls had greater daily DMI fluctuation ( < 0.01), expressed as a percentage, and greater incidence of rumenitis ( = 0.05) than Brangus bulls. In addition, Brangus bulls had greater ( < 0.01) DMI per meal and also presented lower ( < 0.01) DM and NDF rumination rates when compared with Nellore bulls. Significant interactions ( < 0.05) between biotype and feed additive were observed for SFA, unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), MUFA, and PUFA concentrations in adipose tissues. When Nellore bulls were fed PAP, fat had greater ( < 0.05) SFA and PUFA contents but less ( < 0.01) UFA and MUFA than Nellore bulls receiving MON. For Brangus bulls, MON led to greater ( < 0.05) SFA and PUFA and less ( < 0.05) UFA and MUFA than Brangus bulls fed PAP. Feeding a spray-dried PAP led to similar feedlot performance compared with that when feeding MON. Spray-dried PAP might provide a new technology alternative to ionophores.

The structural, electronic and thermodynamic properties of neutral and positively doubly charged oxygen vacancies in BaZrO3 are addressed by first principles phonon calculations. The calculations are performed using two complementary first principles approaches and functionals; the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) within the hybrid Hartree-Fock and density functional theory formalism (HF-DFT), and the projector augmented plane wave approach (PAW) within DFT. Phonons are shown to contribute significantly to the formation energy of the charged oxygen vacancy at high temperatures (∼1 eV at 1000 K), due to both its large distortion of the local structure, and its large negative formation volume. For the neutral vacancy, the resulting lattice distortions, and thus the contributions from phonons to the free formation energy, are significantly smaller. As a result, phonons affect the relative stability of the two defects at finite temperatures and the charge transition level for oxygen vacancies (+2/0) changes from 0.42 to 0.83 eV below the conduction band bottom from 0 K to 1000 K.

Long-lived and slow reproducing species, such as cetaceans, are among the most critical conservation units: a demographic approach can be very useful for their management and conservation. In the present work, we examined, by demographic tools, the most exhaustive photo-identification database available for the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) population, recorded by Tethys Research Institute between 1990 and 2007 in the Western Ligurian Sea. A total of 31,782 km were covered and 548 fin whale sightings were recorded. The occurrence of the target species was uneven across the years and months: an anomalous reduction of sightings occurred between 2001 and 2004. Moreover, the target species is likely to concentrate in the study area in the summer months and probably moves to other areas in the early autumn. Using the photo-identification technique, 431 different individuals were photo-identified, but only 318 of them were sized: 6 calves (≤ 10 meters), 33 immature (10-15 m), 261 adolescent-adult (> 15 m) and 18 olds (≥ 20 m). For the first time the site of the fin whale sub-population in the Pelagos Sanctuary was obtained by photo-identification and mark-recapture techniques. These techniques were used to estimate the site of the sub-population composed by individuals > 15 meters as 539 fin whales (95% confidence interval = 345-732) over the period 1990-1999. The number of calves was likely underestimated, as the sighting period (late spring-summer) was shifted with respect to the peak of births (late autumn). To fill this gap of knowledge we propose a simple mathematical model for the yearly dynamics of calves. After correcting the number of calves, a static life history table for the period 1990-2007 was set out. Our results highlight the highest survival proportions between calf and immature (61.1%) and the minimum between adolescent-adult and old (2.5%) vital stages. The overall life expectancy is estimated to be 6.3 years while the life expectancy of individuals entering the adolescent-adult stage is 14.3 years. This paper aims at providing a contribution for improving the conservation efforts and the demographic knowledge on fin whales in the Pelagos Sanctuary.

The objectives of this work were to study the segregation of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the calpain 1, large subunit (CAPN1) and calpastatin (CAST) genes in Nellore (Bos indicus) and Nellore xBos taurus beef cattle, as well as to evaluate their effects on meat traits. For this, 300 animals, including 114 Nellore, 67 Angus x Nellore, 44 Rubia Gallega x Nellore, 41 Canchim, 19 Brangus three-way crosses and 15 Braunvieh three-way crosses, were genotyped for the CAPN4751 [AF&#95;248054.2:g.6545C>T (GenBank accession AF248054.2)] and CAST/DdeI [AF&#95;159246.1:g.2959A>G (GenBank accession AF159246.1)] polymorphisms and phenotyped for Ribeye Area, Backfat Thickness, Intramuscular Fat, Shear Force (SF) and Myofibrillar Fragmentation Index (MFI). In relation to the CAPN4751 polymorphism, a frequency of 10.5% was observed for the C allele in the Nellore breed. In the total sample of studied animals, a significant association was found between genotypes and meat tenderness, assessed by SF (P = 0.005) and MFI (P = 0.008), with genotype CT being more favourable than TT. For the CAST/DdeI polymorphism, a frequency of 55.7% was found for the A allele in the Nellore breed. In the total sample, a significant association was observed between genotypes and meat tenderness - SF (P = 0.004) and MFI (P = 0.006), with genotype AA being more favourable than AG. The relationship between genotypes and aged meat tenderness in confluence with the distribution of favourable alleles shows great potential for application of the CAPN4751 and CAST/DdeI polymorphisms in the genetic improvement of the Nellore breed, whilst contributing to the validation, in this breed and in its crosses with B. taurus, of the association results previously described in the literature.

Objective: The aim of this open/retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of intensive care unit patients treated for fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) for predictive indices., Methods: All patients were recovered in the intensive care units with a diagnosis of FHF. We considered three groups of patients: (1) survivors, deceased, and transplanted., Subjects: All patients were fully screened, including liver function indices such as AST, ALT, total and bound bilirubin, albumin and pre-albumin, factors 5 and 7, alpha fetal protein (alpha-PP), other coagulation tests (PT, aPTT, INR, ATIII), and renal function (BUN and creatinine) parameters. For each patient Apache II score was calculated upon admission to the intensive care unit., Results: Apache II score showed efficacy. alpha-PP increased in both surviving and deceased, but not in the transplanted group. After intensive care unit admission, AST and ALT peaks were higher in the deceased DP than in the transplanted group. The INR value at the third day after ICU admission improved in the survivors compared with the other two cohorts. Factor 5 levels were lower among patients undergoing transplantation, but increased in the other two groups. The prognosis was strictly dependent upon the development of renal failure., Conclusion: The Apache II score was a sensitive predictive index for outcome. alpha-PP and factor 5 were not related to outcome, but useful for decision making when determining potential liver transplantation. INR can be used as a prognostic index. Intensive treatment beforehand is of primary importance to prevent multiple organ failure.

The prognostic meaning of the routine use of the methods of temporary clipping of the afferent vessel in patients with intracranial aneurysm (Grading 0-III) was the aim of the analysis in this study. In the period 1 January, 1991-31 December 1997, 304 patients underwent surgery for non-giant intracranial aneurysm and a follow-up angiography. 157 patients were operated by routinely using the temporary clipping of the afferent vessel, whereas in 147 patients the surgical procedure was performed by traditional methods. The statistical analysis showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in terms of risk of surgical complications in the patients who underwent surgery with the temporary clip method compared to those operated with the traditional method, with a relative risk of such complications about three times greater in the latter. The routine use of temporary clipping offers, therefore, the possibility of a significant improvement of the surgical results, not influenced by a further involvement for the structure, due to the short application time.

The authors describe the case of a 49-year-old man with a giant diverticulum of the duodenum, with apparently scarce symptoms, pointed out by gastroscopy and X-ray of the upper gastrointestinal duct with barium meal. The removal of the lesion, obtained after surgical operation, showed a diverticulum with a 6 cm diameter, with signs of diverticulitis; the histological test did not point out is degenerative lesions. A survey of the recent literature on the matter is presented.

The authors' experience in the routine use of temporary clipping procedures in the surgery of endocranial aneurysms is reported. To analyse the validity of such a method we compared the outcome in a series of 153 aneurysms operated according to the traditional procedure (temporary clipping of the afferent vessel only in the case of intraoperative rupture of the aneurysmatic sac) with that of a more recent series of 225 in which the procedure was applied routinely. An unsatisfactory surgical outcome was found in 12.5% and 6.6% of patients respectively, with a corresponding unfavourable outcome in 5.6% and 2.6%.

The purpose of this study was to measure pyridinium crosslinks in serum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and to correlate levels with urinary excretion in patients with different osteometabolic conditions. Blood and spot urine samples were collected between 9 and 11 A.M. in 92 early postmenopausal, untreated women (age 52.3 +/- 2.6 years, months since menopause 20.4 +/- 9.6), 17 patients with active Paget's disease (10 males, aged 65. 1 +/- 12.6) and 24 healthy premenopausal women (aged 28.4 +/- 4.2). Urinary excretion of the total fraction (free + peptide bound) of pyridinolines (Pyr, Dpyr) was measured by HPLC. Before HPLC analysis, serum samples were submitted to a clean-up procedure by ultrafiltration. In 42 postmenopausal women, bone loss was calculated from two bone mass measurements (L2-L4, DXA), performed at study entry and after 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test for independent samples and linear regression analysis. In pagetic patients' serum levels of Pyr and Dpyr were more than threefold increased over the mean observed in healthy controls and were closely correlated with total alkaline phosphatase levels (Pyr: r = 0.73; Dpyr: r = 0.72, P < 0.0005). Compared with controls, postmenopausal women had significantly increased levels of both urinary and serum Pyr and Dpyr (P < 0.003). In pagetic patients and postmenopausal women, crosslinks serum levels were correlated with their urinary excretion with r values ranging from 0.46 to 0.84. In postmenopausal women, only serum Dpyr correlated with the rate of bone loss (r = -0.36, P = 0.02). The data suggest that serum levels of pyridinium cross-links are correlated with urinary excretion in patients with different osteometabolic conditions. The determination of serum levels prevents limitations related to urinary specimen collection and may be a more practical method for routine application, avoiding corrections for urinary creatinine which could be misleading.

Between 1985 and 1989, 38 children with newly diagnosed medulloblastoma entered our therapeutic protocol. After surgery and postoperative staging assessments, patients were assigned to risk groups. Eleven with "standard-risk" (SR) tumors were treated with radiation therapy alone, while 27 with "high-risk" (HR) tumors received radiation therapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine, methotrexate, VM-26, and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU). After a minimum follow-up of 5 years (range 5-9 years) 21/38 children had developed a recurrence or progression of their disease and 19/38 patients had died. Five-year event-free survival rates and 5-year total survival rates for all 38 patients were 47.4% and 50% respectively. The event-free survival rates at 5 years for SR and HR patients separately were 27.3% and 55.6%, respectively. The corresponding 5-year total survival rates were 27.3% and 59.3%. The differences were not statistically significant. Univariate analysis showed age at diagnosis to be the most important prognostic factor. Infants aged 5 years or less had a significantly shorter event-free survival time than older patients (P = 0.00897). Similar effects were found when total survival time was considered. There were significant differences in outcome in patients receiving different doses of radiation, suggesting a dose-response relationship. A Cox stepwise multivariate analysis showed age at diagnosis as the only independent prognostic factor. Variables relating to treatment entered the model, suggesting that chemotherapy could play an important role in determining outcome.

A duodenal lesion due to blunt abdominal trauma is an infrequent eventi which makes important diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The preoperative diagnosis is not always easy, especially with retroperitoneal lesion or in injured patients. A plain abdominal radiography or a duodenal radiography with soluble contrast medium helps to achieve a proper diagnosis. Prognosis strictly depends on time between injury and surgical procedures. We report two successfully treated lesions of fourth duodenal due to a blunt abdominal trauma.

Different types of calcitonin (porcine, human, salmon) are used in the management of bone diseases characterized by a high bone turnover, such as post-menopausal osteoporosis and Paget's disease; recently, salmon calcitonin has become clinically available as an intranasal (i.n.) spray. An analgesic effect has also been described for calcitonins, both in experimental animals and humans, but only a few studies in humans were placebo controlled. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of i.n. and intramuscular (i.m.) salmon calcitonin (sCT) and of placebo in women affected by painful post-menopausal osteoporosis, in a double-blind, double-placebo trial. Twenty-eight women were randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: 1) i.n. sCT 200 U/day plus i.m. placebo; 2) i.n. placebo plus i.m. sCT 100 U/day; and 3) i.n. and i.m. placebo. Each treatment lasted four weeks, and the pain score was evaluated weekly by means of a visual analogic scale (VAS). Twenty-four women completed the trial; with i.n. sCT, the pain score decreased significantly by the second week of treatment (p < 0.05); with i.m. sCT and with placebo, the pain score decreased significantly only by the fourth week (p < 0.05), so that the final pain scores obtained with the three treatments were not different. We conclude that i.n. sCT was probably more rapid, but not more effective than i.m. sCT or placebo in decreasing pain in post-menopausal osteoporosis.

To evaluate the influence of synthetic salmon calcitonin (SMC) on bone resorption we investigated the modifications in urinary cross-links excretion [pyridinoline (Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr)] induced by a single dose of the drug. The study was carried out in 16 healthy volunteers given a single dose of either 50 IU SMC I.M. or placebo, according to a double-blind, cross-over design. Urine was collected every 24 hours during the 72 hours after each treatment and Pyr and Dpyr were measured by an automated HPLC method. Pyr showed no significant difference after the two treatments, whereas in the first 24-hour urine collection Dpyr (nmol/24 hours +/- SD) was considerably lower after SMC than after placebo (118.9 +/- 26.0 against 147.2 +/- 45.0, P < 0.05). The amount of saved Dpyr was 19.2%. The selective effect of SMC on Dpyr excretion was more evident comparing the Pyr/Dpyr ratios for placebo and SMC during the first day of the study (4.1 +/- 0.6 against 4.8 +/- 0.7, respectively, P < 0.01). Using Eyre's formula (10 nmol Dpyr = 0.17 g bone) and assuming that no Dpyr is metabolized, the mean daily amount of bone resorbed was calculated (2.5 g for placebo and 2.0 g for SMC). The difference is the index of the bone-saving effect of SMC (0.48 g/day, or 19.2%). In conclusion, assuming that in healthy volunteers bone turnover is balanced with equal rates of formation and resorption, a dose of 50 IU I.M. of SMC reduces resorption, with a bone gain in the first 24 hours calculated as 9.4 mg/IU.

Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE) is a rare inherited elastic tissue disorder with degeneration of elastic fibres involving mainly skin, eyes and the cardiovascular system. Upper gastro-intestinal hemorrhage occurs in 13% of cases and is often resistant to non-surgical methods of treatment. One case report involving recurrent gastric hemorrhage in a young patient with PXE and treated with total gastrectomy is presented. Diagnosis was made, after surgery, by biopsy of skin lesions of the neck. The characteristics of PXE are reviewed and the case is discussed.

To assess the familial aggregation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Italy, the family pedigrees of 411 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 241 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) seen at 14 participating hospitals were studied. Sufficient information was obtained on 97% of 3752 first-degree relatives, 80% of 8869 second-degree relatives, and 74% of 5791 cousins. Thirty-six propositi (5.52%) had a total of 44 affected relatives (16 CD, 28 UC). The prevalence of IBD was higher in first- than in second-degree relatives and cousins (791, 112, and 163 in 100,000, respectively). A strong intrafamilial disease concordance was observed, with 26 cases of UC and 6 of CD among relatives of UC patients and 10 cases of CD and 2 of UC among relatives of CD patients. The prevalence of UC among first-degree relatives of UC patients and that of CD among first-degree relatives of CD patients was 680 and 531 in 100,000, respectively. In conclusion, there is a high degree of familial aggregation for IBD in Italy, with a strong intrafamilial disease concordance.

The plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of synthetic salmon calcitonin in 10 patients with knee joint effusions have been compared after a single i.v. dose of 200 I.U. calcitonin. Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of calcitonin were measured using a specific RIA before and 30 and 60 min after administration. Calcitonin was not detectable at zero time in plasma or in synovial fluid. Plasma calcitonin concentrations 60 min after administration were significantly lower than at 30 min, while the synovial fluid concentration remained relatively constant. The results show that synthetic salmon calcitonin penetrates into the articular cavity after a single i.v. dose of 200 I.U. and that a steady concentration persists there over 60 min.

Fifty patients with ulcerative colitis, 24 with Crohn's disease, and 50 controls were studied by liver function tests and abdominal ultrasound scan. Twenty-two percent of ulcerative colitis patients, 29% of Crohn's disease patients, and none of the controls showed abnormal liver function tests. All subjects with abnormal liver function tests also had changes in ultrasound liver scan, consisting of hepatomegaly and/or a dysechoic liver echo pattern. Furthermore, the same ultrasound changes were observed, in the absence of any liver function test abnormalities, in 58% of ulcerative colitis patients, 50% of Crohn's disease patients and 6% of controls (P less than 0.0005, inflammatory bowel disease versus controls). Overall, some evidence of liver involvement, as judged by abnormal liver tests and/or abnormal ultrasound liver scan, was detected in about 80% of inflammatory bowel disease patients. Six patients with minor abnormalities of liver function tests underwent liver biopsy and 5 of them had pericholangitis. Ultrasound liver scan may provide a useful tool to evaluate the occurrence of liver involvement in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using an enzymic reactor for determination of L-alpha-glycerophosphorylcholine in pharmaceutical forms is described. The procedure includes incubation of L-alpha-glycerophosphorylcholine with glycerophosphorylcholine phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.2), giving choline and glycerophosphate, and subsequent chromatography of choline with a post-column enzymic reactor and electrochemical detection. The results obtained show a close linearity of the whole assay from 2 to 150 nmol/ml L-alpha-glycerophosphorylcholine, the sensitivity being 2 pmol per 20 microliters of injected sample. The precision of the method in the analysis of L-alpha-glycerophosphorylcholine in pharmaceutical forms, ampoules and capsules, was 1.34 and 1.21%, respectively.

Volterra's (1926) equations for competition and predator-prey interactions are modified by introduction of root terms. A critical comparison with the original equations shows that the dynamic properties of the systems remain essentially alike, while the modification allows for explicit solution of the differential equations. Detailed solutions and numerical examples are given.

This report analyses the results obtained using endoscopic cytodiagnosis in upper gastrointestinal lesions. Cytological and bioptic samples were taken from 435 lesions, in 435 patients. Specificity was 0.99% and sensitivity 0.9%. The accuracy of the endoscopic sampling and in preparing the cytological slides had a decisive influence on the obtaining of these results. The time required for a good cytological sample is the same as required for a biopsy. As employed the cytodiagnosis of esophago-gastric lesions was really useful, and indeed essential in diffuse mucosal lesions.

Multiple meningiomas are a seldom encountered neoplasm. Most authors report an incidence ranging from 1 to 3% of all meningiomas. The routine use of CT has resolved diagnostic problems involved with multiple meningiomas; nevertheless, they still present several nosologic problems. In fact, it may be difficult to differentiate "true multiple meningiomas", defined as a distinct entity by Cushing in 1938, from simple recurrences or the special variant (forme fruste) of von Recklinghausen's disease. Our report deals with nine cases of multiple meningiomas selected from a series of 372 meningiomas operated from 1968 to 1981 at our hospital. Cases were divided into a) multiple simultaneous meningiomas (five cases), b) multiple meningiomas successively detected at different localizations (two cases), and c) multiple meningiomas associated with neurofibromatosis (two cases). Only five of these nine cases, four from the first group and one from the second, were true multiple meningiomas. Pathogenetic factors related to true multiple meningiomas are discussed in relation to the literature reports. However, the different hypotheses proposed do not offer a definite explanation of the multicentricity of these tumours.

5 cases of infratentorial hemangiopericytomas involving petrous bone are described. They show significant tendency to invade and destroy the bony base reaching into the soft parapharyngeal tissue of the neck. Radiography, tomography and CT scan of the skull demonstrate a large erosion of the petrous bone. At CT scan the lesion appears slightly hyperdense with marked enhancement. Selective angiography shows an important vascular supply from the external carotid artery, the deep and ascending cervical arteries and the extracranial part of the vertebral artery. Embolisation or surgical occlusion of the branches of external carotid artery and cervical arteries are useful to reduce bleeding during biopsy. Radiotherapy is advisable.

Neoplasms of septum pellucidum are rare. Only 124 cases have been published to which we must add the present case report. The literature is concerned with subependymomas and glioblastomas in most cases; there are only 13 cases of oligodendrogliomas. Surgical removal was performed in about 60 cases. This report presents one case of oligodendroglioma of the septum pellucidum which was surgically removed; it demonstrates the peculiar angiographic features of this kind of tumor, stresses the importance of CT scan in the determination of the possibility of surgical removal and finally discusses the therapeutic problems involved.

Two cases of colloid cysts of the third ventricle are reported. The etiology, clinical symptoms and radiological diagnosis of such lesions are briefly discussed. CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of the cyst's content was performed, with good results in both cases. CT-scan controls performed one year later showed that refilling of the cysts did not occur. The advantages of the technique are described. Review of the literature showed another 17 cases successfully treated by means of stereotactic aspiration. The reliability of this approach is supported by the good outcome and the long follow-up of cases previously reported by other Authors. In our opinion, stereotactic aspiration should thus be the first step in the management of colloid cysts.

Clinical history, CT scan and angiography may lead to a correct preoperative diagnosis of hemispheric cavernous angiomas. Surgical results and follow-up are favorable; considering the bleeding risk we think the operation to be mandatory.