•Channel morphological parameters have been automatically computed by shell scripts.•The free software open source GRASS GIS has been used for data processing.•Channel undergoes drastic morphological ...changes till the end of 20th century.•In the last decade the channel shows a substantial morphological stability.•The morphological changes are mainly due to human activity.
The quantitative analysis of the planform changes of the unconfined reach of the Taro River, in the Italian Northern Apennines, has allowed the channel evolution in the last 200years to be outlined.
Nine sets of maps and orthophotos, ranging from 1828 to 2011, have been used to evaluate the medium-term changes in channel morphology along the entire time interval, as well as the short-term changes in the most recent decade. Starting from the digitized channel limits and bars, a number of shell scripts based on GIS commands has been used for fast and automatic calculation of the main morphological parameters (channel length, width, braiding, sinuosity, centerline shifting) and for the drawing of graphs showing in detail their continuous variations along the entire study reach. The analysis of the differences in parameters on subsequent dates has revealed that, at least until the end of the 20th century, continuous reduction in channel width (up to a total of 75%) and braiding (43%), as well as continuous increase in channel length (13%) and sinuosity (29%), took place. This is in agreement with most of the previous studies on other rivers, both in Italy and abroad.
In contrast with the results of other studies, the most recent evolutionary trend of the Taro River shows substantial morphological stability with possible slight narrowing. The identification of the variations along the channel, facilitated by the analysis of the parameter curves and supported by the historical documentation, reveals that these variations can be substantially attributed to human activities. In particular, the continuous narrowing is largely due to the recurrent subtraction of riverbed areas to be used for agricultural and industrial purposes, as well as to the construction of 10 bridges with the relevant bank protections. The intense mining between 1950s and 1980s seems to have caused a sharp incision and partial narrowing only. The morphological changes due to the reduction in the flow regime, which seem to emerge from the sporadic and discontinuous hydrological data, are expected to be negligible and, in any case, are immaterial when compared with the remarkable changes due to human activities.
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) represents a common cause of secondary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, where the negative effect of estrogen withdrawal and that of hyperparathyroidism on ...bone mineralization coexist. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profile has been correlated to both osteoporosis and fragility fractures. The study aimed to profile a set of miRNAs associated with osteoporotic fractures, namely miR-21-5p, miR-23a-5p, miR-24-2-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-93-5p, miR-100-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-125b-5p and miR-148-3p, in the plasma of 20 postmenopausal PHPT women. PHPT miRNAs profiles were compared with those detected in 10 age-matched postmenopausal non-PHPT osteoporotic women (OP). All the 10 miRNAs were detected in the plasma samples of both PHPT and OP women. The miRNA profiles clearly distinguished PHPT from OP samples, and identified within the PHPT group, two clusters differing for the PHPT severity, in term of ionized calcium and bone mineralization. In particular, miR-93-5p was significantly downregulated in PHPT samples, while miR-24-3p negatively correlated with the T-score at lumbar, femur neck and total hip sites. PHPT women who experienced osteoporotic fractures had plasma miR-24-3p levels higher than those detected in unfractured PHPT women. In conclusion, PHPT may modulate circulating fractures-related miRNAs, in particular, miR-93-5p, which may distinguish estrogen-related from PHPT-related osteoporosis.
•Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common cause of secondary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women•In PHPT postmenopausal women the negative effect of estrogen withdrawal and that of hyperparathyroidism on bone coexist•Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profile has been correlated to both osteoporosis and fragility fractures•Circulating miRNA profiles, in particular miR-93-5p, clearly distinguished PHPT from estrogen withdrawal-related osteoporosis•Circulating miRNA profiles may be regulated by PTH activity in postmenopausal PHPT women
The modification of gene expression profile, a first step in adaptation to exercise, leads to changes in the level of molecules associated with skeletal muscle activity and energy metabolism—such as ...myokines—as well as those involved in their transcriptional regulation, like microRNA. This study aimed to investigate the influence of strenuous exercise on circulating microRNAs and their possible association with myokine response. Pre-competition and post-competition plasma samples were collected from 14 male athletes participating in a vertical run (+1,000 m gain, 3,600 m length). Circulating total (t-miRNA) and extracellular vesicle-associated (EV-miRNA) miRNAs were extracted from the pooled plasma. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was performed to investigate pre- and post-competition EV concentration and size distribution. A panel of 179 miRNAs was assayed by qPCR and analyzed by Exiqon GenEx v6 normalized on the global mean. t-miRNA and EV-miRNAs whose level was ≥5-fold up- or down-regulated were validated for each single subject. Target prediction on MirWalk v3.0, Gene-Ontology, and pathway enrichment analysis on Panther v17.0 were performed to define the potential biological role of the identified miRNAs. A panel of 14 myokines was assayed in each sample by a multiplex immunoassay. In whole plasma, five miRNAs were upregulated and two were downregulated; in the EV fraction, five miRNAs were upregulated and three were downregulated. Nanoparticle tracking analysis revealed a similar EV size distribution in pre- and post-competition samples and a decreased concentration in post-competition samples related to pre-competition samples. Gene-Ontology and pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the identified t-miRNAs and EV-miRNAs were potentially involved in metabolism regulation in response to exercise. Correlation between fold-change of the post-competition relative to pre-competition plasma level of both t-miRNAs and EV-miRNAs and myokines further confirmed these results. This study provides an example of a systemic response to acute endurance exercise, in which circulating miRNAs play a pivotal role.
ObjectiveAdalimumab has proven effective in psoriasis; however, secondary failure may result from the drug's immunogenicity. Prevalence data on the immunogenicity of biologicals, and of adalimumab in ...particular, are highly variable. We investigated the prevalence of anti-adalimumab antibodies and the association with clinical indexes and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) serum levels in psoriatic patients.DesignCase–control, longitudinal.SettingSingle centre.ParticipantsPatient groups: I (n=20) receiving biological therapies after switching from adalimumab; II (n=30) ongoing adalimumab therapy; III (n=30) novel adalimumab therapy; IV (n=15) biological therapies other than adalimumab.Healthy subjects: (group V; n=15) never treated with immunosuppressants or biologicals.InterventionsAll groups were tested at enrolment. Group II was also tested at 12 months, and group III at 1, 3, and 6 months.Primary and secondary outcome measuresStandard clinical evaluations (Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)), blood samples and two-site ELISA-based measurement of serum adalimumab trough levels, anti-adalimumab antibodies and TNFα.ResultsThe false-positive rate was 23% for adalimumab detection and 22% for anti-adalimumab antibodies in patients naïve to adalimumab. Spurious positivity for anti-adalimumab antibodies (one-time-point positivity in group III during follow-up) accounted for 33% of the total. The prevalence of anti-drug antibodies was highest (87%) in group I patients. No correlations were found between the presence of anti-adalimumab antibodies or adalimumab levels and changes in PASI scores.ConclusionsHigh variability of results, high prevalence of false-positives and lack of association between anti-adalimumab antibodies and TNFα level/PASI score limit this assay's usefulness. Accurate clinical evaluation is key to early identification of treatment failures.
The ‘Conditional Analysis' multivariate statistical method was used to evaluate Landslide Susceptibility (LS) in an area of the Italian Northern Apennines. An Inventory Landslide map, containing 518 ...landslides, and seven landslide-related factor maps (lithology, elevation, slope angle and aspect, profile and tangential curvatures, bedding/slope relations) were processed using a shell script that automatically carries out the whole procedure producing a final map with five Failure Susceptibility (FS) classes. The procedure was applied separately to the most frequent landslide typologies, namely, rotational slides, flows, and complex landslides, and for each of the 127 different combinations of the seven factors. To define areas potentially affected by the down-slope movement of the depleted material, four runout belts with different probabilities were distinguished around the classes with highest FS. By overlaying the resulting map with the map of the elements at risk, namely, settlements, roads, and streams, the spatial risk in the area was assessed.
A multicenter survey of 11 cancer centers was performed to determine the rate of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (HO-CDI) and surveillance practices. Pooled rates of HO-CDI in patients ...with cancer were twice the rates reported for all US patients (15.8 vs 7.4 per 10,000 patient-days). Rates were elevated regardless of diagnostic test used.
Near the village of Corniglio, in the northern Apennines about 40 km SW of Parma, a big landslide was recently (1994–1996) subjected to reactivation, damaging many buildings and partially obstructing ...the Parma River. In this work, we have carried out a quantitative analysis of the recent evolution of the landslide with the help of a Geographic Information System (
gis), in order to predict the most plausible future developments. Then, various simulations of landslide descent were carried out, and above all, to evaluate the possibility of blockage formation. To this purpose, two computer programs that simulate the material descent through a cellular automata model and define blockage characteristics were written. Many different simulations were carried out, 16 of which are presented here. For each of them, the computer output consists of a table defining the quantity of displaced material, area and volume of the dam and lake and of a map showing the areas involved in the landslide movement and upstream flooding. In order to assess the probability of blockage formation and dam stability, we applied the simulation results to some empirical rules defined by preceding authors through statistical analysis carried out on a high number of analogous phenomena. These rules suggest that it is very unlikely that blockage takes place as the result of very slow landslide velocity, riverbed width and high erodibility of the material. If it were to occur, the size and shape of the dam seem sufficient to guarantee a considerable degree of stability, making a sudden failure improbable.
Aim of this study is analyze the effects of dental occlusion on postural stability in patients with previous whiplash and normal occlusion. Materials and methods: 36 adult patients with previous ...whiplash and normal occlusion (good alignment, 1st class or mild 2nd class deep bite for mandibular retrusion) were selected. The patients were suffering from masticatory muscles pain caused by clenching during sleep. Exclusion criteria: use of psych drugs. To simulate the conditions of sleep (with a reduction of proprio-and esteroceptive inputs for postural management performed by CNS), we used postural Romberg analysis (feet together, closed eyes)on stabilometric platform changing occlusal parameters only, under the following conditions: 1) in occlusal rest position, 2) in centric occlusion, 3) in clenching, 4) with occlusal disengage with cotton rolls and 5) in clenching on cotton rolls. Time of each test: 15 seconds. It was performed a statistical analysis with T-test comparing between them the mean of all tests. Results: stabilometry data (postural ball and ellipse) show better postural performances in centric occlusion and clenching in centric occlusion, and a worsening in all tests with occlusal disengage (with statistically significant difference - p<0.05). Conclusions: postural instability caused by whiplash increases muscles tone and dental clenching as compensatory effects, with onset of facial pain. An occlusal disengage (like an occlusal splint to reduce clenching)induces a postural worsening in patients with normal occlusion, while centricocclusion increases the stability. These results suggest that stomatognathic organ has a new physiological function: the posture stabilization.
Aim of this study is analyze the effects of dental occlusion on postural stability in patients with previous whiplash and malocclusion. Materials and methods: 30 adult patients with previous whiplash ...and malocclusion (crossbite, mandibular shift, bad alignment, edentulous spaces) were selected. The patients were suffering from masticatory muscles pain caused by clenching during sleep. Exclusion criteria: use of psych drugs. To simulate the conditions of sleep (with a reduction of proprio- and esteroceptive inputs for postural management performed by CNS), we used postural Romberg analysis (feet together, closed eyes) on stabilometric platform changing occlusal parameters only, under the following conditions: 1) in occlusal rest position, 2) in centric occlusion, 3) in clenching, 4) with occlusal disengage with cotton rolls and 5) in clenching on cotton rolls. Time of each test: 15 seconds. It was performed a statistical analysis with T-test comparing between them the mean of all tests. Results: stabilometry data (postural ball and ellipse) show better postural with occlusal disengage (in centric and in clenching), and a worsening in all tests with centric occlusion (with statistically significant difference - p<0.05). Conclusions: postural instability caused by whiplash increases muscles tone and dental clenching as compensatory effects, with onset of facial pain and a worsening of TMJ health in subjects with malocclusion. An occlusal disengage (like an occlusal splint to reduce clenching) induces better postural performances. Sostomatognathic system becomes a source of postural dysfunction and a cause of postural worsening.
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