We present a new setup for resonant inelastic hard x-ray scattering at the Bernina beamline of SwissFEL with energy, momentum, and temporal resolution. The compact R = 0.5 m Johann-type spectrometer ...can be equipped with up to three crystal analyzers and allows efficient collection of RIXS spectra. Optical pumping for time-resolved studies can be realized with a broad span of optical wavelengths. We demonstrate the performance of the setup at an overall ∼180 meV resolution in a study of ground-state and photoexcited (at 400 nm) honeycomb 5d iridate α-Li2IrO3. Steady-state RIXS spectra at the iridium L3-edge (11.214 keV) have been collected and are in very good agreement with data collected at synchrotrons. The time-resolved RIXS transients exhibit changes in the energy loss region <2 eV, whose features mostly result from the hopping nature of 5d electrons in the honeycomb lattice. These changes are ascribed to modulations of the Ir-to-Ir inter-site transition scattering efficiency, which we associate to a transient screening of the on-site Coulomb interaction.
Abstract Background Recent reports suggest increased frequency of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients on levodopa compared with age-matched controls particularly during ...continuous levodopa delivery by intestinal infusion (CLDII). The aim of this study is to compare frequency, clinical features, and outcome of PN in PD patients undergoing different therapeutic regimens. Methods Three groups of consecutive PD patients, 50 on intestinal levodopa (CLDII), 50 on oral levodopa (O-LD) and 50 on other dopaminergic treatment (ODT), were enrolled in this study to assess frequency of PN using clinical and neurophysiological parameters. A biochemical study of all PN patients was performed. Results Frequency of PN of no evident cause was 28% in CLDII, 20% in O-LD, and 6% in ODT patients. Clinically, 71% of CLDII patients and all O-LD and ODT PN patients displayed a subacute sensory PN. In contrast, 29% of CLDII patients presented acute motor PN. Levodopa daily dose, vitamin B12 (VB12) and homocysteine (hcy) levels differed significantly in patients with PN compared to patients without PN. Conclusions Our findings support the relationship between levodopa and PN and confirm that an imbalance in VB12/hcy may be a key pathogenic factor. We suggest two different, possibly overlapping mechanisms of PN in patients on CDLII: axonal degeneration due to vitamin deficiency and inflammatory damage. Whether inflammatory damage is triggered by vitamin deficiency and/or by modifications in the intestinal micro-environment should be further explored. Proper vitamin supplementation may prevent peripheral damage in most cases.
The neuropeptide somatostatin (SST) plays an important regulatory role in the proliferation of normal and neoplastic cells. Five subtypes of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), SSTR1–SSTR5, have been ...identified in human tumours. The SSTR2 subtype is identified most commonly in meningiomas. Long half-life SST analogues are now recommended for the systemic treatment of unresectable or radiation-refractory recurrent human meningiomas.
In this study, SSTR2 expression was evaluated in 46 canine meningiomas; in 21 cases this was by immunohistochemistry and in 25 cases by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, SSTR2 expression was evaluated by immunocytochemistry, western blotting and RT-qPCR on primary cell cultures prepared from two canine meningiomas. SSTR2 immunohistochemical expression was observed in 17/21 cases (81%), and SSTR2 mRNA expression was detected in 14/25 cases (56%). SSTR2 protein and gene expression were not significantly correlated with the tumour histological subtype or grade. Overall, meningothelial meningiomas showed constant and diffuse SSTR2 immunohistochemical expression and the highest SSTR2 gene expression level compared with other subtypes. A tendency for loss of SSTR2 in high-grade meningiomas was observed in both immunohistochemical and RT-qPCR studies. About 90% of cultured canine meningioma cells showed SSTR2 expression. In both of the meningioma cell cultures, SSTR2 expression was also detected by western blotting and RT-qPCR. This study demonstrates for the first time that canine meningioma expresses SSTR2 and that this expression is maintained in vitro. Our results, while preliminary, provide encouragement for further studies aimed at finding novel medical treatment strategies for canine meningioma, especially for tumours that are not surgically accessible.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a widely used surgical procedure for the treatment of patients with drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) and several anatomical target have been described. Indications for ...DBS includes patients with focal, partial seizure and those for which resective or disconnective surgery are contraindicated, such as involvement of eloquent cortex or significant comorbidities. Despite the SANTE trial has clearly indicated the efficacy of DBS of anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT), specific indications regarding the best anatomical target and outcome in patients with severe disability are lacking. Here we described our case series of patients underwent DBS of three different target including ANT, centromedian thalamic nucleus (CMN) and subthalamic nucleus (STN).
Six patients with DRE have been treated with DBS of ANT (n = 3), STN (n = 2) and CMN (n = 1). Outcome has been expressed as seizures frequency reduction and patients functional status after surgery with a follow-up of 5–11 years.
Four out of six patients show no reduction of seizures frequency after DBS implant with one case of increasing atypical absence. Two cases, one ANT and one CMN, show a significant reduction of seizures frequency of 50–60%. No patients improve relative to functional outcome and one showed psychiatric symptoms worsening.
For patients with DRE and severe functional disability, DBS may reduce seizure frequency in some cases, but it does not improve functional outcome.
•DBS for patients with drug resistant epilepsy is effective but data for selection of target are lacking.•Severe psychiatric symptoms appearance or worsening are not rare and physiopathology is not clear nor predictable.•Functional outcome does not appear to be susceptible to stimulation.•ANT stimulation seems to be effective in reduction of crisis as previously reported.•Stimulation of STN, well established for Parkinson disease, need to be investigated for epilepsy.
Salt mining induced ground subsidence is a major hazard in the city of Tuzla (Northeastern sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and its surroundings since 1950, when solution mining of salt deposits by ...boreholes began. An analysis of the large (and never before processed) amount of topographical data collected during two periods: from 1956 to the Balkan War, and from 1992 to 2003 has been made. The analysis reveals a cumulative subsidence as high as 12 m during the whole period, causing damage to buildings and infrastructures within an area that includes a large portion of the historical town. Human-induced subsidence, (with rates up to 40 cm/year in the most developed area), has been investigated to recognize the areas affected by the sinking phenomenon and to produce a subsidence hazard. The time series of topographical observations have been enlarged by conducting new surveys in the urban area by modern space-geodesy methodologies, such as static relative GPS (Global Positioning System) and high resolution satellite imageries. The GPS monitoring started in 2004 and detected a decrease in the subsidence rates to 20 cm/year related to the reduction of salt exploitation. There is close correlation between the average subsidence rate and the annual amount of salt extracted. (PUBLICATION ABSTRACT)
Rickettsia conorii is responsible for the Mediterranean Spotted Fever. Recently, new rickettsial species have been recognized in Europe and implicated in human diseases. Clinical features often ...differ greatly from each other, but non-severe liver involvement is frequently observed during any rickettsial infection.
We describe the unique case of a patient presented with significant high aminotransferase levels due to the first human R. aeschlimannii infection ever detected in Italy. The hypothesis of rickettsiosis was made on the basis of a comprehensive medical history and was confirmed by serological tests. Molecular analyses made on a sample of hepatic tissue revealed the presence of a rickettsial species never found before in human liver.
A brief review of the literature is reported to highlight how relevant this case is and to remind that rickettsioses should be in the differential diagnoses of acute hepatitis, considering mostly the recent spread of new rickettsial species.
•Adolescence is a stress-sensitive window.•Stress in adolescence affects the response to a second stressor in adulthood.•Combination of adolescent and adult stressors induces sex-dependent effects.
...The two-hit stress model predicts that exposure to stress at two different time-points in life may increase or decrease the risk of developing stress-related disorders later in life. Most studies based on the two-hit stress model have investigated early postnatal stress as the first hit with adult stress as the second hit. Adolescence, however, represents another highly sensitive developmental window during which exposure to stressful events may affect programming outcomes following exposure to stress in adulthood. Here, we discuss the programming effects of different types of stressors (social and nonsocial) occurring during adolescence (first hit) and how such stressors affect the responsiveness toward an additional stressor occurring during adulthood (second hit) in rodents. We then provide a comprehensive overview of the potential mechanisms underlying interindividual and sex differences in the resilience/susceptibility to developing stress-related disorders later in life when stress is experienced in two different life stages.
New perspectives on the ising model MANCINI, F
The European physical journal. B, Condensed matter physics,
06/2005, Volume:
45, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Duodenal levodopa infusion represents an effective strategy to manage motor and non-motor complications in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, most published clinical series ...regard small numbers of patients and do not exceed 1 year follow-up. In this multi-national observational cohort study conducted in seven specialised PD clinics and university hospitals we assessed long-term safety and outcome of chronic treatment with intra-duodenal levodopa infusions in a large population of patients with advanced PD. The starting population consisted of 98 treated patients (safety population). We report clinical outcomes of 73 patients with subsequent efficacy assessment(s) (efficacy population) over a follow-up period up to 2 years. Follow-up periods and collection of clinical observations varied based on individual routine care program. At last follow-up there was a significant (
p
≤ 0.05) reduction in duration of “Off” periods as well as dyskinesia duration and severity that was associated with an improvement of quality of life. Twenty three patients (25.3 % of the safety population) withdraw, due to adverse drug reaction (5), procedure and device related events (7), compliance (3) and lack of efficacy (8). The mean duration for last value reported after baseline (LV) was 608 ± 292 days (median: 697 days). Our results demonstrate significant and sustained benefit over a long observation period in motor complications and in quality of life following a change from oral pulsatile to continuous levodopa delivery. The relatively large number of withdrawals reflects the current use of duodenal levodopa infusion in very advanced PD patients.
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