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Sponges, especially Calcarea, are minor components of benthic associations, especially during the Mesozoic. In the Lower Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin, small calcareous sponges have been found building a small monospecific meadow. It is restricted to a marlstone lens-shaped bed in a quiet outer-ramp setting in the Cerro Marucho Locality (Picún Leufú depocentre), above a shell bed of small exogyrid oysters; oysters and sponges were the only preserved macrobenthic faunal elements. Individual sponges were small, under 4 cm high, and presented a sub-cylindrical morphology with one or more rounded, apical osculi, many inhalant openings and triactine spicules. Specimens studied here were assigned to Endostoma sp. aff. Endostoma nodosa. These sponges are quite commonly encrusted by exogyrid oysters, serpulids, sabellids, agglutinating foraminifers and cyclostome bryozoans. Overgrowths among sclerobionts were common, though no undoubtedly in vivo interaction has been recorded. Disarticulated left oyster valves were frequently bioclaustrated by the sponges, showing that in vivo settlement upon sponges was common. Many oysters settled in the periphery of the osculum suggesting a commensal relationship. The study of this sponge meadow and its sclerobiont community allowed the identification of different stages of ecological succession. The pioneer stage was characterised by sponge settlement on oyster valves, within an otherwise soft consistency bottom. High sedimentation or high nutrient inputs, either individually or in combination, could explain the great abundance of oysters. During the climax stage, sponges thrived and harboured several sclerobiont taxa, developing a relatively dynamic palaeocommunity. Finally, an intensification in either sedimentation rates or nutrient input (or both) past the tolerable threshold for sponges may have been the cause(s) of the meadow's demise. Endostoma and similar forms were up to now reported mostly from the Jurassic and Cretaceous of Europe as accessory builders, or as accompanying fauna in reefal settings. This new record shows that in rare occasions they could form low-relief meadows on their own.

Minerals extraction from seawater brines is currently regarded as the most practical approach to reduce European dependency from the import of many Critical Raw Materials. The technical feasibility of such approach has been widely demonstrated in several different research and development projects but the economic sustainability has always been found to depend on the local demand for sodium chloride, which is always the most abundant product of the extraction. Starting from this crucial node, the SEArcularMINE project has investigated the possibility to use the residual brines originated by sea-salt extraction in traditional saltworks, regarded as an already well-established marketplace. The Mediterranean area as a whole, can rely on a diffused industry including South-European coast, North-African and Close East coast and portions of the Atlantic regions. Additionally, many inland salt-lakes and subsoil waters are traditionally operated in the same way as the coastal facilities to produce solar-salt. Interestingly, each saltworks have a slightly different approach, adapted to feed quality or local climate conditions. Accordingly, different types of brine are produced, having unique features. These “bitterns” are extremely interesting to characterize, focusing on their hidden potential. In this work, an extensive analytical campaign has been conducted exploiting the wide saltworks network established within the SEArcularMINE project. Main results are here reported, highlighting the possibility of contributing to secure the access to some Critical Raw Materials for EU

The material reported herein comes from the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation (Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina). These fishes dwelled in a Pacific Ocean embayment in southwestern Gondwana before the establishment of the Andean Cordillera. The material consists of an incomplete dorsal fin spine of the widespread Hybodontoidea clade (from upper Valanginian beds) and a partial tooth of one of the earliest known lamniforms (from upper Hauterivian beds)., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The limestones, marlstones and gypsiferous shales of the La Tosca Member of the Huitrin Formation record the end of the last Pacific marine transgression in the Neuquen Basin. Since before this contribution, the presence of microfossils from this unit was restricted to unpublished reports or brief mentions; thus this study aims to present and illustrate for the first time the calcareous nannofossils and foraminifera found at Quebrada del Gastropodo (S 36°32′14.00′′; W 69°36′47.30′′) and Ranquil 1 (S 36°36′36.80′′; W 69°45′46.50′′) sections, both located in southern Mendoza province, west-central Argentina. The recovered calcareous nannofossils were scarce and of low diversity, nevertheless, the presence of Diloma galiciense constrains the age of the La Tosca Member of the Huitrin Formation to the lower Barremian. In addition to nannofossils, a single sample of marlstones from Quebrada del Gastropodo provided a relatively rare assemblage of foraminifera that includes calcareous benthic species distributed in three suborders (Spirillinina, Lagenina and Miliolina) corresponding to an inner-middle ramp paleoenvironment. The studied nannofossils and foraminifera indicate partial connections with an open marine environment. Furthermore, the recovered calcareous nannofossils at the La Tosca Member confirm a Barremian age for these deposits and the persistence of the Paleo-Pacific-Tethyan connection through a Tethys-Caribbean seaway (Hispanic Corridor) at this time.

Background Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) represent an uncommon and heterogeneous group of diseases. They comprise 10-15% of NHL, with epidemiological majority in South American and Asian populations. Historically these groups of malignancies have presented a poor prognosis, however, with the incorporation of brentuximab and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as consolidation strategy, the overall survival has improved. Objectives Describe the clinicopathological presentation of patients with PTLCs and review their prognosis features. Design Retrospective, observational study that included patients over 18 years with diagnosis of PTLCs, between January 2010 and December 2019. All of them were followed up at the HIBA. Results We included 43 patients with PTLCs diagnosis. The median age was 58 years (range 20-90) and 65% were male. The most common histopathological subtype was PTLC-NOS in 42% (n=18) followed by ALCL ALK- and AITL with 23% (n=10) and 14% (n=6) respectively. The 81% presented III/IV stage at the diagnosis and 58% had evidence of extranodal disease. Considering IPI and PIT scores, high risk populations slightly differ from 53% in the first score to 44% in the other. Nearly 80% of the patients received protocols including anthracyclines such as CHOEP in 44% (n=19) or CHOP in 32% (n=14) as first line treatment. Another 7% used brentuximab + CHP and 41% (n=18) of the total underwent ASCT as consolidation therapy. Almost 58% achieved complete remission. The overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 37% (IC 95% 20-56) with a median of 36 months. Variables significantly associated with OS were age range (48% vs 26% in under 60 years; p=0,12) and IPI score (65% vs 25% in low-risk groups; p=0.0044). Moreover, ASCT was associated with better OS and PFS with 61% and 58% respectively; versus 26% and 28% in the group without transplant (p=0,0064). Conclusions In our experience, PTLCs represent an ominous diagnosis with high mortality in older people and high-risk groups. ASCT showed improvement in OS. Nevertheless, the implementation of brentuximab is still being studied because of the few patients receiving this therapy at the moment.

Objective To determine pregnancy outcome in women with atrial switch repair for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and to compare follow up with a control group of childless women with the same repair. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary care medical centre. Population About 21 patients compared with 15 controls. Methods Review of records from joint cardiac-obstetric clinic 1993–2013. Main outcome measures Occurrence of cardiovascular events: maternal death, heart failure, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events, worsening systemic ventricular function, worsening tricuspid valve regurgitation and newly detected baffle problems. Results There were 34 pregnancies in 21 women. Mean follow up was 100 months. No deaths or recurrence occurred. Events (few arrhythmias, thromboembolic events and baffle issues) were common in both groups: 13 (62%) patients and eight (53%) controls (P = 0.736). Worsening of ventricular function was similar in both groups: six (29%) patients and four (27%) controls (P = 0.899). Worsening tricuspid regurgitation was more common in patients [11 (52%)] than controls (0)] (P

A new class of copolymers containing oligothiophene moieties with different length and fullerene units have been designed and prepared by an easy and inexpensive one-step synthetic approach. The incorporation of small quantities of these copolymers into bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells with donor regioregular polythiophene (P3HT) and acceptor fullerene derivate (PCBM) results in a good control of the phase separation process without further affecting the BHJ optoelectronic properties. Indeed, these copolymers allow modulating under thermal annealing the growth of domains whose size depends on the length of the copolymer repetitive units. Domain size on the same length scale of the P3HT exciton diffusion length with a good continuity between the electrodes gives an efficient exciton dissociation and charge mobility. Thus by employing copolymers containing oligothiophenic chains with size of about 8 nm, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) (4.46 %) and short current density (JSC) (16.15 mA cm-2) values results in the highest reported so far for P3HT:PCBM solar cells on plastic substrates.

Starting from second half of last century, nanostructured semiconductors have had a crucial function in the material science because of their wide application field going from renewable energy to organic/hybrid electronics up to photocatalysis. Among those materials, titanium dioxide is probably the most used because of some important characteristics like the chemical/mechanical stability, environmental sustainability, its low cost and versatility. Indeed, it has been successfully employed as photo- and electro-active component in electronic devices as well as photocatalytic agent1 in water de-pollution application. Interestingly and importantly together, titanium dioxide may also be applied in the protection of cultural heritages2 by using its photocatalytic properties to prepare self-cleaning materials able to passivate the manufact surfaces and degrade organic pollution, in this way limiting blackening and reducing maintenance costs. Unluckily, the photoactivity of TiO2 under the natural sunlight exposition or artificial illumination is greatly reduced because its low absorption in the Vis range. Hence, in order to improve the material performance under the environmental illumination conditions, the extension of the absorption range in the visible region is crucial.3 To this end, we prepared novel TiO2-based photocatalysts functionalized in-bulk with meso-tetra(carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (TCPP) and its metal complex (Me-TCPP) working as visible-light antennas. The peculiar sol-gel synthesis used for the preparation allows porphyrin dye to be bonded inside the TiO2 structure rather than being easily adsorbed onto the outer surface due to the in situ incorporation of the dye during the synthesis of the TiO2.3,4 The material structure, composition and electronic properties were investigated by Raman, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy while photocatalytic properties were studied by following the degradation kinetic of carminic acid by UV-Vis spectrophotometry under both UV and visible light. The sensitised materials showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity in the visible range compared to commercial titanium dioxide under different illumination conditions, indicating that in-bulk dye sensitisation is a valuable strategy for effective visible-light TiO2 photocatalysts. References: 1. Q. Guo, C. Zhou, Z. Ma, Z. Ren, H. Fan, X. Yang; Chem Soc Rev, 2016, 45, 3701. 2. P. Munafò, G.B. Goffredo, E. Quagliarini; Constr Build Mater, 2015, 84, 201. 3. M. Rico-Santacruz, A.E. Sepúlveda, E. Serrano, E. Lalinde, J.R. Berenguer, J. García-Martínez; J Mater Chem C, 2014, 2, 9497. 4. M. Rico-Santacruz, A.E. Sepúlveda, C. Ezquerro, E. Serrano, E. Lalinde, J.R. Berenguer, J. García-Martínez; Appl. Catal. B: Environm. 2017, 200, 93

Se dan a conocer 11 nuevos registros de gastrópodos marinos procedentes de numerosas localidades en el centro-oeste de Argentina. Entre ellos se encuentran las siguientes especies nuevas: Proconulus kotrus, Calliotropis (Riselloidea) ligosta, Lyosoma truquicoensis, Exelissa crassicostata, Cirsocerithium agriorivensis, Cataldia? binodosa, Vanikoropsis? leviplicata y Tornatellaea neuquina. Estos registros proceden de dos unidades de edad cretácica temprana de la Cuenca Neuquina: las formaciones Mulichinco (Valanginiano) y Agrio (Valanginiano superior–Hauteriviano superior/Barremiano basal). En esta fauna se encuentran representadas las familias Proconulidae, Calliotropidae, Neritidae, Cryptaulacidae, ?Pseudomelaniidae, Vanikoridae, Epitoniidae y Acteonidae, con un registro no asignado aún a nivel familia. Eleven new records of marine gastropods from several localities in west-central Argentina are hereby presented, including the following new species: Proconulus kotrus, Calliotropis (Riselloidea) ligosta, Lyosoma truquicoensis, Exelissa crassicostata, Cirsocerithium agriorivensis, Cataldia? binodosa, Vanikoropsis? leviplicata and Tornatellaea neuquina. These records were recovered from two Early Cretaceous units of the Neuquén Basin, the Mulichinco (Valanginian) and the Agrio (upper Valanginian-upper Hauterivian/lowermost Barremian) formations. The families Proconulidae, Calliotropidae, Neritidae, Cryptaulacidae,?Pseudomelaniidae, Vanikoridae, Epitoniidae and Acteonidae are represented whilst one record is yet to be assigned at the family level. Fil: Cataldo, Cecilia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos ; Argentina

The gastropod fauna of the Lower Cretaceous of the Argentinian Neuquén Basin contains three aporrhaid species. Protohemichenopus neuquensis Camacho, 1953 is the most abundant, longest-lived, and most geographically widespread of the aporrhaids of this basin, and its protoconch and early teleoconch whorls were unknown until now. The new species Dimorphosoma weaveri features convex to subtly angular spire whorls with opisthocyrt collabral ribs that are more prominent towards the mid-whorl, a bicarinate last whorl with small rounded nodes on the adapical carina, a simple, falcate labral wing which is more or less rectangular proximally and tapering and curving towards its distal end, and a short, straight rostrum. Tylostoma jaworskii Weaver, 1931 is now placed in Harpagodes, and other previous, scattered, coeval records of this genus in the basin are now recognized as part of this single species. It is believed that whereas H. jaworskii preferred shallower-water carbonate settings of low to moderate energy, P. neuquensis and D. weaveri favored siliciclastic to mixed clastic-carbonate environments, in deeper waters. In spite of its endemic elements, this aporrhaid association depicts a predominantly Tethyan influence. Fil: Cataldo, Cecilia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos ; Argentina

In the last decades, nanostructured semiconductors played a central role in the material science scene because of their numerous applications spanning from renewable energy to organic/hybrid electronics up to photocatalysis. Titanium dioxide is one of the most used semiconductors because of its low cost, chemical stability, sustainability and versatility. Indeed, it is widely employed as photo-active or charge- transporting material in electronic devices, as photocatalyst in water de-pollution treatments etc.. Remarkably, one of the most interesting application of titanium dioxide consists of the protection and conservation of cultural heritages. Actually, TiO2 photocatalytic properties are exploited for self- cleaning materials able to passivate artifact surfaces and degrade organic pollution, thus preventing blackening while reducing maintenance costs. Unluckily, the photoactivity of TiO2 is limited to the UV range limiting its performance under the natural sunlight exposition or artificial illumination. In order to enhance the performance in both outdoor and indoor conditions, it is crucial to extend its light absorption range up to the visible region. To this goal, in this work we prepared novel TiO2-based materials functionalized in-bulk with meso-tetra(carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (TCPP) and its metal derivatives (Me-TCPP), which served as visible-light sensitizers. The particular wet sol-gel route employed for the synthesis makes the porphyrin dye bonded inside the TiO2 structure and not easily DYE P HO T O DE GR A DAT I O N adsorbed to the surface. The material structure, composition and electronic properties were investigated by XRD, Raman and photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS) while photocatalytic properties under both UV and visible light were studied by following the degradation kinetic of carminic acid by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The visible-light sensitised materials showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity with respect to commercial titanium dioxide in different illumination conditions, indicating that the inclusion of dyes in-bulk is a valuable strategy to obtain efficient visible-light active TiO2 photocatalysts.

But de l’etude Comparer les potentiels evoques visuels par flash (fPEV) et pattern, aussi bien transitoires (pPEV-t) qu’en « steady state » (pPEV-ss), de nouveau-nes prematures avec ceux de nouveau-nes a terme et sains. Materiel et methodes Nous avons examine 29 enfants prematures (28-35 semaines d’âge gestationnel) et enregistre les fPEV, les pPEV-t et les pPEV-ss a diverses frequences spatiales, a l’âge de trois mois post-natal, a trois mois d’âge corrige, a huit mois d’âge post-natal et d’âge corrige. Nous avons compare ces resultats avec ceux obtenus en examinant 92 bebes a terme a l’âge de 3 et 8 mois. Resultats En ce qui concerne le pPEV-ss, les frequences spatiales percues etaient de 2 C/d dans le groupe de 3 mois d’âge post-natal, > 2 C/d dans le groupe de 3 mois d’âge corrige et de 3 mois a terme. Dans le groupe de 8 mois d’âge post-natal et de 8 mois a terme, elles etaient superieures a 5 C/d. Les latences des fPEV (onde P1) et des pPEV-t (onde P100) etaient de 192 ms et 207,9 ms respectivement, a l’âge de 3 mois post-natal ; de 144 ms et 137,7 ms a 3 mois d’âge corrige ; de 126,3 ms et 124,1 ms a 8 mois d’âge post-natal ; de 112,7 ms et 112,5 ms a 8 mois d’âge corrige ; de 137,3 ms et 110,1 ms a 3 mois a terme ; de 122,3 ms et 100,5 ms a 8 mois a terme. Discussion Dans le groupe des prematures de 3 mois d’âge corrige, les latences du fPEV sont semblables a celles des nouveau-nes a terme ; celles du pPEV-t sont retardees a 3 et 8 mois. En ce qui concerne le fPEV, les latences sont meilleures chez les prematures de 8 mois d’âge corrige que chez les nouveau-nes a terme. Une meilleure performance par rapport aux nouveau-nes nes a terme a ete relevee chez les sujets de 8 mois d’âge corrige pour la stimulation pPEV-ss. Conclusion A 8 mois d’âge corrige, les prematures recuperent la difference relative au fPEV et au pPEV-ss, mais non celle relative au pPEV-t. Les differentes reponses correspondant aux differents types de potentiels evoques visuels utilises suggerent que des voies semblables se developpent en temps legerement differents.

In this work, we present a study on the effect of thiol-capped AuNPs of various sizesin an organic solar cell.AuNPs have been obtained by laser ablation in liquid solution[2], have been functionalized both with 2-naphthalenethiol and alkanethiol having different length. In addition to bulk heterojunction structures with optimized interpenetrating network of donors and acceptor domains, we have chosen to study planar heterojunctions (PHJs), consisting of three component thin films realized by sequential deposition of P3HT, AuNPs and PCBM from orthogonal solvents.

There are a wide variety of coronary artery anomalies and disease in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). In fact, the increasing burden of acquired coronary artery disease (CAD) has to be considered in addition to congenital abnormalities of the coronary arteries, isolated or associated to other congenital diseases. This is largely a consequence of the increasing number of patients reaching older age. Due to complex underlying cardiac anatomy, previous surgery and comorbidities, treatment can be challenging. Individualized and multidisciplinary management involving congenital heart cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, coronary interventionists and imaging specialists is essential. This review gives an overview of coronary artery involvement in adults with CHD, summarizes the current literature and focuses on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The potential role of cardiovascular risk factors for CAD is also discussed.

In the evaluation of nodular thyroid lesions, cytology is the main diagnostic instrument, associated with ultrasound examination.We prospectively categorized into a dedicated database, 612 patients submitted to thyroidectomy from January 2009 to December 2011. We selected two groups of patients: the cases with "follicular lesions" and the cases classified as "THYR 3" using Bethesda Classification.Of 612 patients submitted to TT, in 68 cases, 8 males (M) and 60 females (F), we recorded a preoperative cytological diagnosis compatible with THYR 3 class. In 56 cases, 82.4% of the patients (5 M, 51 F), we performed a thyroidectomy with Conventional technique (CT) and in 12 cases, 12.6% of the patients (3M, 9F) with video-assisted technique (MIVAT). In 39 cases (57.1%) of the THYR 3 patients treated, a benign disease was found while in the other 29 cases (42.9%) a differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) were found. In patients with nodules classified as "follicular proliferation", treated in the same period and by the same surgical team, we recorded 97 cases (79 F, 18 M). The patients were treated with TT in 72 cases, with MIVAT in 22 cases; in 3 cases we performed a HT with traditional technique. Adenomatous hyperplasia was found in 51; DTC was found in 21 cases and adenoma in 25 cases. The analysis of the incidence of benign versus malignant disease between the 2 groups showed a P0.0001.In our experience, we recommend surgery, TT or HT, for THYR 3 nodules analyzed for the first time by FNAB with sonographic pattern suspicious for malignancy.

The intraoperative hemorrage determines an higher risk of parathyroid glands lesions, and laryngeal nerve injuries. We have examined if the use of oxidized and regenerated cellulose could be a cause of postoperative hypocalcemia because of the compression on the parathyroid glands or for tissue adhesionsFrom June 2009 to December 2010 we have examined 485 patients consecutively treated with total thyroidectomy. The cases examined were divided in two groups on the use of ionized cellulose (group A and B). 24 hours after surgical procedure, all patients were submitted to serum calcium evaluation. The data were analyzed with χ2 test and t-student test; P0.05 was statistically significant.We have selected 372 cases out of 485 examined. We have registered after 10 hours from surgical procedure a case of hemorrhage with reintervention in group B (no use of cellulose). The cost of ionized cellulose is € 46; we have used this device in 212 cases on 372 patients undergone to total thyroidectomy, with a cost of € 9 752. The mean value of the serum calcium was statistically different between pre- and postoperative evaluation in all cases (P0.0001) divided both on gender and on the use of hemostatic devices.In our experience, there isn't a statistically significant difference on incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia, related to use of ionized and regenerated cellulose on mean surgical time in all patients either treated with traditional surgery or with video-assisted procedure.

There are no common guidelines to identify the population at risk to develop hypocalcemia preoperatively or early in the postoperative course in thyroidectomized patients, therefore the authors suggest to examine the PTH value preoperatively.We divided 391 patients in two groups according to the preoperative PTH level (normal, ≤ 72 pg/mL vs. increased73 pg/mL).In 92/391 cases (23.52%) preoperative PTH was increased (mean PTH level 112.4+/-24.8 pg/mL; normal range 12-72 pg/mL). Out of these, 43 (46.7%) had hypocalcaemia postoperatively. In 18 out of the 43 patients clinical hypocalcemia also developed. The mean follow-up was of 148+/-13 days. Of the 299 patients with normal preoperative PTH, 127 (42.47%) developed postoperative hypocalcemia (mean calcium level 7.4+/-0.33 mg/dL). In 30 patients it was also clinically evident. The difference in terms of incidence of symptomatic hypocalcemia was statistically significant (increased preoperative PTH 19.5% vs. normal preoperative PTH 10.03% , P=0.036).All candidates to thyroidectomy should be investigated for preoperative PTH abnormalities.

The postoperative hypocalcaemia has the higher incidence as complications related to thyroidectomy.From 1 June 2006 to 30 June 2008, we examined 492 patients operated on consecutively in our unit with a total thyroidectomy for thyroid disease. We evaluated the values of ionized calcium in all the cases, matching these with the preoperative and postoperative values of serum calcium. The pre- and postoperative (24 hours after treatment) data for ionized calcium and serum calcium were examined statistically with the Student's t-test; results with a P-value0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.Two-hundred-and-twenty-three of the 492 patients (45.2%) treated with total thyroidectomy had preoperative values of ionized calcium lower than 1.13 mmol/L (normal values 1.13-1.32 mmol/L), while the ionized calcium values were lower than 1.10 mmol/L in 154 of the 223 patients. The mean value of ionized calcium in all 223 cases was 1.04+/-0.07 mmol/L. The mean serum calcium value in these patients was 9.13+/-0.291 mg/dL (normal values 8.3-10.5 mg/dL). In the other 259 cases, the values of ionized calcium and serum calcium were 1.21+/-0.03 mmol/L and 9.1+/-0.29 mg/dL, respectively. In 75 cases on 223 with symptomatic hypocalcemia, the mean value of ionized calcium was 0.88+/-0.05 mmol/L, while, in the remaining 148 cases, the mean value was equal to 0.97+/-0.08 mmol/L (P0.001). We compared this, in both groups, with the values of postoperative serum calcium; in the 75 cases with clinical hypocalcemia, the value of serum calcium was 7.32+/-0.35 mg/dL, while the value was equal to 8.4+/-0.34 mg/dL in the other cases (P0.001).The values of ionized calcium must not be used as marker of hypocalcemia but must be seen as a diagnostic aid linked to others laboratory values, such as serum calcium.

We carried out a multicentric retrospective study on cetuximab + chemotherapy in pre-treated refractory patients outside clinical protocols, by registering the main clinical and pathological parameters. We evaluated 144 pre-treated patients. Cetuximab was administered usually in combination with irinotecan (93.8%). A 45% disease control rate (complete plus partial responses plus stable disease) was obtained in 55 patients and was related to absence of weight loss (p0.0001) and high grade (or =2) skin toxicity (p0.0001). Median time to progression (TTP) was 4 months (95%CI 2.7-5.3) and median overall survival (OS) was 11.8 months (95%CI 8.5-15.1). Performance statusor =1, no weight loss and high grade (or =22) skin toxicity were related both to a longer TTP (p=0.035, p=0.035, p=0.0017) and OS (p0.0001, p0.0001, p=0.006). According to multivariate analysis, the absence of weight loss was related to longer TTP (HR 0.331, p=0.004) and OS (HR 0.176, p0.0001), and EGFR over-expression (3+) to longer TTP (HR 0.402, p=0.020).

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is characterised by pathological hyperfunctioning of one or more of the parathyroid glands leading to excessive parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic capacity of scintigraphy with MIBI, considering the surgical findings and the level of agreement with the result of cervical ultrasonography.In the period January 1996 to January 2006, 84 cases with PHPT were included in the study, in which scintigraphy with MIBI was used in addition to cervical ultrasonography. All were hospitalised as "short stay surgery" patients and then seen as outpatients at follow-up visits (at 7, 14 and 30 days), during which calcium, phosphorus and PTH values were measured.In 55 cases (65.5%), the site of the pathology was suspected on the basis of the cervical ultrasonography. Scintigraphy with MIBI was positive in 76 cases (90.4%) and negative in the other eight (9.6%). In six of these eight cases the site had been detected by the cervical ultrasonography. In the remaining two cases (2.4%), neither of these examinations gave positive diagnostic findings. In 58 patients we proceeded with the removal of a single adenoma, in 19 cases with the removal of two out of the four glands, and in seven cases with the removal of three out of the four glands, the single formations removed not showing clearly-defined macroscopic characteristics; in two of the seven patients in whom three of the four glands were removed, the preoperative diagnostic examinations had not shown any evidence of gland pathology.We regard scintigraphy with MIBI as a preoperative diagnostic examination that has modified the surgical approach to PHPT, inclining surgeons towards a mini-invasive surgical procedures. We consider CT, MRI and SPECT techniques to be indicated only in cases of relapse of PHPT, possibly associated with ectopic localisation of the parathyroid gland not identified in the course of previous surgical procedures.

The association between papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) has been reported in literature. The aim of this study was to examine this association evaluating the lesser or greater neoplastic aggressiveness.One hundred and eighty-nine patients were examined from June 2004 to June 2007; they were divided into two groups: Group A included all the patients affected by PTC without CLT and Group B all the patients affected by PTC with CLT association. The surgical treatment was in all the patients the total thyroidectomy (TT). For the study age, sex, tumour features (dimensions, angioinvasion, capsular infiltration, multifocality and lymphnode metastases) were taken into consideration. The analysis was carried on with Student t test and chi squared analysis (statistically significant P0.05).Group A included 117 patients; Group B 72 patients. No statistical difference in sex (P=0.989), age (P=0.480); tumour dimension (P=0.832). The capsular infiltration was present in 23 cases in Group A and 19 in Group B (P=0.368). The difference in average diameter was found to be 1.161+/-0.5812 and 1.485+/-1.082 cm in Group A and in Group B (P=0.290), respectively. The angioinvasion was found in 9 cases of Group A and in 3 cases in Group B (P=0.510). Multifocality was found in 35 patients in Group A and in 26 in Group B (P=0.469).The CLT may have only a minimum impact in the development of the tumour. In this study the association does not modify the aggressiveness.

The effect of age on the stimulatory control exerted by cholinergic- and angiotensin II (ANG II)-mediated neurotransmission on arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion was evaluated by measuring and comparing the AVP responses to the administration of either the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine (13.5 micrograms/kg in 50 mL normal saline infused in 10 minutes) or ANG II (increasing doses of 4, 8, and 16 micrograms/kg/min, each dose for 20 min) in 8 younger (23-37 years), 8 middle age (42-60 years), and 8 older (63-79 years) healthy male subjects. Both drugs induced significant increments in plasma AVP levels in the youngest group, with mean peak levels 4.8 times higher than baseline at 20 minutes after the beginning of physostigmine infusion and 1.5 times higher than baseline at 60 minutes after the beginning of ANG II infusion. Similar responses were observed in the middle age group. Basal AVP levels in older subjects were similar to those observed in the other groups. However, the AVP increases induced by physostigmine (mean peak was 9 times higher than baseline) and ANG II (mean peak was 2.2 times higher than baseline) were significantly higher in the oldest group than in the other groups. These data suggest age-related enhancement of the stimulatory regulation exerted by cholinergic- and ANG II-mediated neurotransmission on AVP secretion.