Lactating Holstein cows (n=1,456) were randomized in a 2×2 factorial design to compare the main effects of day of initiation of resynchronization after artificial insemination (AI; 32 vs. 39d) and ...presynchronization with GnRH 7d before initiation of resynchronization on fertility to timed AI (TAI). This design resulted in the following 4 resynchronization treatments: (1) resynchronization (GnRH treatment, PGF2α treatment 7d later, GnRH treatment 56h later, and TAI 16h later), initiated 32±3d after AI; (2) presynchronization with 100µg of GnRH 25±3d after AI and resynchronization initiated 32±3d after AI at nonpregnancy diagnosis; (3) resynchronization initiated 39±3d after AI (GPG39); and (4) presynchronization with 100µg of GnRH 32±3d after AI at nonpregnancy diagnosis and resynchronization initiated 39±3d after AI. Overall, 344 cows were inseminated at estrus between enrollment (25±3d after AI) and TAI of the resynchronization treatments, and 1,112 cows received TAI. Progesterone (P4) was analyzed in blood samples collected from all cows at the first GnRH injection of the resynchronization protocols (G1), and ovarian structures were evaluated and blood samples were collected at G1, at the PGF2α injection, and at the TAI of the resynchronization protocols in a subgroup of cows (n=417). When analyzed as main effects, cows presynchronized with GnRH had more pregnancies per AI (P/AI) than nonpresynchronized cows (38.9 vs. 33.8%), whereas timing of initiation of resynchronization did not affect P/AI. Although cows with high P4 at G1 had greater P/AI than cows with low P4 (38.7 vs. 31.8%), presynchronization with GnRH did not increase the proportion of cows with high P4 (>1.0ng/mL) at G1 but moved cows from a low-P4 environment to an intermediate-P4 level. Presynchronization with GnRH also decreased the percentage of cows with low P4 at the PGF2α injection, thereby increasing synchrony to the protocol. Cows with high P4 at G1 had a decreased ovulatory response to G1 compared with cows with low P4 (40.9 vs. 69.1%), and cows that ovulated to G1 had decreased luteal regression after PGF2α compared with cows that did not ovulate (78.5 vs. 87.3%). We conclude that presynchronization with GnRH 7d before initiation of resynchronization increased fertility in dairy cows, whereas timing of initiation of resynchronization did not.
•The ongoing Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic has proven to be an important psychosocial stressor for mental illness.•Purpose of the present manuscript is to assess the frequency and ...characteristics of patients with First Episodes Psychosis (FEP) hospitalized in the first four months since lockdown in Milan.•Patients with FEP in 2020 were significantly older than patients in 2019.•Substances abuse was statistically significant lower in patients with FEP in 2020 than in 2019.
The ongoing Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic appears to increase risk for mental illness, either directly due to inflammation caused by the virus or indirectly due to related psychosocial stress, resulting in the development of both anxious-depressive and psychotic symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency and characteristics of all patients with First Episodes Psychosis (FEP) without COVID-19 infection hospitalized in the first four months since lockdown in Milan.
We recruited sixty-two patients hospitalized between March 8 to July 8, 2020 versus those
first hospitalized in the same period in 2019. The two subgroups were compared for sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics of the episodes. Patients with FEP in 2020 were significantly older than patients with FEP in 2021, and presented with significantly less substances abuse.
Interestingly, patients presenting with FEP in 2020 were significantly older than patients with FEP in 2019. These data are compatible with the greater vulnerability to stressful factors during the pandemic, as well as with the greater concern regarding a possible COVID-19 infection producing brain damage causing the FEP.
In the present work, we investigate phase correlations by recourse to the Shannon entropy. Using theoretical arguments, we show that the entropy provides an accurate measure of phase correlations in ...any dynamical system, in particular when dealing with a chaotic diffusion process. We apply this approach to different low-dimensional maps in order to show that indeed the entropy is very sensitive to the presence of correlations among the successive values of angular variables, even when it is weak. Later on, we apply this approach to unveil strong correlations in the time evolution of the phases involved in the Arnold’s Hamiltonian that lead to anomalous diffusion, particularly when the perturbation parameters are comparatively large. The obtained results allow us to discuss the validity of several approximations and assumptions usually introduced to derive a local diffusion coefficient in multidimensional near-integrable Hamiltonian systems, in particular the so-called reduced stochasticity approximation.
In the present work, we introduce two new estimators of chaotic diffusion based on the Shannon entropy. Using theoretical, heuristic and numerical arguments, we show that the entropy,
S
, provides a ...measure of the diffusion extent of a given small initial ensemble of orbits, while an indicator related with the time derivative of the entropy,
S
′
, estimates the diffusion rate. We show that in the limiting case of near ergodicity, after an appropriate normalization,
S
′
coincides with the standard homogeneous diffusion coefficient. The very first application of this formulation to a 4D symplectic map and to the Arnold Hamiltonian reveals very successful and encouraging results.
Here we report the experimental observation of circular dichroism in the second-harmonic field (800-400 nm conversion) generated by self-organized gold nanowire arrays with subwavelength periodicity ...(160 nm). Such circular dichroism, raised by a nonlinear optical extrinsic chirality, is the evident signature of the sample morphology. It arises from the curvature of the self-assembled wires, producing a lack of symmetry at oblique incidence. The results were compared, both in the optical linear and nonlinear regime, with a reference sample composed of straight wires. Despite the weak extrinsic optical chirality of our samples (not observable by our optical linear measurements), high visibility (more than 50%) was obtained in the second-harmonic generated field.
To perform a systematic review comparing outcomes of segmental versus circumferential arthroscopic labral reconstruction as a treatment for symptomatic irreparable or unsalvageable acetabular labral ...pathology.
A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study groups were divided into segmental and circumferential labral reconstructions. Studies with <2 years follow up, overlapping patient populations, or indications for labral reconstruction other than irreparable or unsalvageable pathology were excluded.
The literature search resulted in nine included publications. Five studies presented data on segmental labral reconstruction (166 hips in 164 patients), and seven studies presented data on circumferential labral reconstruction (261 hips in 253 patients). All circumferential reconstruction studies used allograft only, while segmental studies used a combination of autograft and allograft. The range of conversion to total hip arthroplasty was 9.1% to 26.8% in the segmental studies and 3.1% to 9.9% in the circumferential studies. The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) was the only patient-reported outcome measure reported in three or more studies in both groups. The mean change from preoperative to postoperative mHHS ranged from 17.8 to 29 in the segmental group and from 20.4 to 31.7 in the circumferential group. Weighted estimates were not calculated due to significant heterogeneity for both the segmental and circumferential groups (I2 = 63.9% and 72.9%, respectively).
Segmental and circumferential reconstructions are both reasonable options for arthroscopic treatment of irreparable or unsalvageable labral pathology. Articles in both groups demonstrated improvement in patient-reported outcomes (mHHS). Because of study heterogeneity, low level of evidence, and high risk of bias, the scores were unable to be directly compared. Although there are theoretical biomechanical and technical advantages of one technique over another, this systematic review did not demonstrate clinical superiority of either technique.
Level IV, systematic review of level III and IV studies.
Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. In mice and humans with obesity, the adipose organ undergoes remarkable morpho-functional alterations. The comprehension of the adipose organ ...function and organization is of paramount importance to understand its pathology and formulate future therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we performed anatomical dissections, magnetic resonance imaging, computed axial tomography and histological and immunohistochemical assessments of humans and mouse adipose tissues. We demonstrate that most of the two types of adipose tissues (white, WAT and brown, BAT) form a large unitary structure fulfilling all the requirements necessary to be considered as a true organ in both species. A detailed analysis of the gross anatomy of mouse adipose organs in different pathophysiological conditions (normal, cold, pregnancy, obesity) shows that the organ consists of a unitary structure composed of different tissues: WAT, BAT, and glands (pregnancy). Data from autoptic dissection of 8 cadavers, 2 females and 6 males (Age: 37.5 ± 9.7, BMI: 23 ± 2.7 kg/m2) and from detailed digital dissection of 4 digitalized cadavers, 2 females and 2 males (Age: 39 ± 14.2 years, BMI: 22.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2) confirmed the mixed (WAT and BAT) composition and the unitary structure of the adipose organ also in humans. Considering the remarkable endocrine roles of WAT and BAT, the definition of the endocrine adipose organ would be even more appropriate in mice and humans.
Total body irradiation (TBI) remains an important component in many conditioning regimens before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Because of its frequent toxicity, ...patient selection is crucial, making it of interest to identify factors improving engraftment. In this retrospective single center analysis, the characteristics of 48 adult such patients were studied. Mean overall survival (OS) was 22.2 months after allo‐HSCT. Interestingly, people with an interval ≥3 days between TBI completion and allo‐HSCT showed improved OS, when compared to a shorter interval (p = 0.10). Peripheral blood kinetics after successful engraftment also differed, with a longer interval resulting in a higher platelet count and lower leukocyte and neutrophil (p < 0.05) count. These data suggest that the exact timing of TBI before allo‐HSCT might directly impact a patient's survival and could help single out those at higher risk of graft failure who might benefit from an altered conditioning regimen.
Patients with longer interval between TBI completion and allo‐HSCT showed improved overall survival, when compared to a shorter interval. Exact timing of TBI before allo‐HSCT might directly impact a patient's survival and could help single out those at higher risk of graft failure who might benefit from an altered conditioning regimen.
Former preterm born males are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities compared with female infants born at the same gestational age. This retrospective study investigated sex-related ...differences in the maturity of early myelinating brain regions in infants born <28 weeks' gestational age using diffusion tensor- and relaxometry-based MR imaging.
Quantitative MR imaging sequence acquisitions were analyzed in a sample of 35 extremely preterm neonates imaged at term-equivalent ages. Quantitative MR imaging metrics (fractional anisotropy; ADC 10
mm
/s; and T1-/T2-relaxation times ms) of the medulla oblongata, pontine tegmentum, midbrain, and the right/left posterior limbs of the internal capsule were determined on diffusion tensor- and multidynamic, multiecho sequence-based imaging data. ANCOVA and a paired
test were used to compare female and male infants and to detect hemispheric developmental asymmetries.
Seventeen female (mean gestational age at birth: 26 + 0 SD, 1 + 4 weeks+days) and 18 male (mean gestational age at birth: 26 + 1 SD, 1 + 3 weeks+days) infants were enrolled in this study. Significant differences were observed in the T2-relaxation time (
= .014) of the pontine tegmentum, T1-relaxation time (
= .011)/T2-relaxation time (
= .024) of the midbrain, and T1-relaxation time (
= .032) of the left posterior limb of the internal capsule. In both sexes, fractional anisotropy (
♀ < .001/
♂ < .001) and ADC (
♀ = .017/
♂ = .028) differed significantly between the right and left posterior limbs of the internal capsule.
The combined use of various quantitative MR imaging metrics detects sex-related and interhemispheric differences of WM maturity. The brainstem and the left posterior limb of the internal capsule of male preterm neonates are more immature compared with those of female infants at term-equivalent ages. Sex differences in WM maturation need further attention for the personalization of neonatal brain imaging.
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