Invasion by
Gleditsia triacanthos
L. (honey locust) along the banks of Pampean streams and rivers appears to induce profound changes in species richness, macrophyte cover, and producer biomass. ...Seasonal effects of the invasion on macrophytes cover and biomass of seston, periphyton, and benthos were studied at three low order streams from the Pampas region (name them here), in sections with and without invasion of honey locust. We hypothesized that light reduction by honey locusts reduces macrophyte coverage and algal biomass, thereby modifying the structure of the stream communities. Incident light and nutrient concentrations showed differences between invaded and not invaded reaches. Stream sections with tree canopy showed a negative correlation with the percentage of macrophyte cover (R = -0.41,
p
< 0.05). In the three streams, the biomass of seston, periphyton and benthos was reduced in summer, when canopy cover was most developed. This study demonstrates that a high degree of honey locust invasion modifies the structure of aquatic communities of Pampean streams therefore urgent action is needed. Options for honey locust management are suggested.
Introduction
Data from the “Trattamento Ormonale nello Scompenso CArdiaco” (T.O.S.CA) registry showed that heart failure (HF) represents a complex clinical syndrome with different hormonal ...alterations. Renal failure represents a frequent complication in HF. We evaluated the relationship between renal function and insuline-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency and its impact on cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in patients enrolled in the T.O.S.CA. registry.
Methods
At the enrolment, all subjects underwent chemistry examinations, including circulating hormones and cardiovascular functional tests. COX regression analysis was used to evaluate factors related to CVM during the follow-up period in all populations, in high-risk patients and in the young-adult population. Also, we evaluate the effects of renal function on the CVM.
Results
337 patients (41 deceased) were analyzed. CVM was related to severe renal dysfunction (HR stages IV–V = 4.86), high-risk conditions (HR 2.25), serum IGF-1 (HR 0.42), and HF etiology (HR 5.85 and HR 1.63 for valvular and ischemic etiology, respectively). In high-risk patients, CVM was related to IGF-1 levels, severe renal dysfunction and valvular etiology, whereas in young patients CMV was related to the high-risk pattern and serum IGF-1 levels.
Conclusions
Our study showed the clinical and prognostic utility of the IGF-1 assay in patients with HF.
We study the process e + e − → e + e − η ′ in the double-tag mode and measure for the first time the γ * γ * → η ′ transition form factor F η′ ( Q 2 1 , Q 2 2 ) in the momentum-transfer range 2 < Q 2 ...1 , Q 2 2 < 60 GeV 2 . The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of around 469 fb − 1 collected at the PEP-II e + e − collider with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies near 10.6 GeV.
About 30% of Adult type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary (AGCTs) are diagnosed in fertile age. In stage I, conservative surgery (fertility-sparing surgery, FSS), either unilateral ...salpingo-oophorectomy (USO) or cystectomy are possible options. The aim of this study is to compare oncological outcomes of FSS and radical surgery (RS) in apparently stage I AGCTs treated within the MITO group (Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer).
Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank test. The role of clinicopathological variables as prognostic factors for survival was assessed using Cox's regression.
Two-hundred and twenty-nine patients were included; 32.6% received FSS, 67.4% RS. In the FSS group, 62.8% underwent USO, 16.7% cystectomy, 20.5% cystectomy followed by USO. After a median follow up of 84 months, median DFS was significantly worse in the FSS-group (10 yr DFS 50% vs 74%, in FSS and RS group, p = 0.006). No significant difference was detected between RS and USO (10 yr DFS 75% vs 70%, p = 0.5).Cystectomy-group showed a significantly worse DFS compared to USO (10 yr DFS 16% vs 70%, p < 0.001). Patients receiving cystectomy and subsequent USO showed a better prognosis, even though significantly worse compared to USO (10 yr DFS 41% vs 70%, p = 0.05). Between FSS and RS, no difference in OS was detected. At multivariate analysis, FIGO stage IC and cystectomy retained significant predictive value for worse survival.
This study supports the oncological safety of FSS in stage I AGCTs, provided that cystectomy is avoided; USO should be the preferred approach.
•About 30% of AGCTs are diagnosed in childbearing age and preserving fertility might be an issue.•No difference in DFS was detected between patients undergoing unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and radical surgery.•A significantly worse DFS was found among patients undergoing cystectomy.•Fertility sparing surgery in stage I AGCTs in safe, provided that cystectomy is avoided.
Abstract Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extra cranial solid tumor of childhood and often lethal in childhood. Clinical and biologic characteristics that are independently prognostic of outcome ...in NB are currently used for risk stratification to optimally the therapy. It includes age at diagnosis, International Neuroblastoma Staging System tumor histopathology and MYCN amplification. However, even in patients with theoretically good prognosis, such as localized tumor and non-amplified MYCN , either disease progress or recurrence may occur. Potential genetic determinants of this unfavorable behavior are not yet fully clarified. The presence of elevated expression of AHCY , PKMYT1 , and BLM has accompanied poor prognosis MYCN- amplified neuroblastoma patients. Considering the potential implication of these genes on the clinical management of NB, we hypothesize that the identification of genetic variations may have significant impact during development of the recurrent or progressive disease. Using targeted DNA sequencing, we analyzed the mutation profiles of the genes PKMYT1 , AHCY , and BLM in tumor samples of five patients with MYCN amplified and 15 MYCN non-amplified NB. In our study, BLM germline variants were detected in two patients with MYCN -non-amplified neuroblastoma. Our data allow us to hypothesize that, regardless of MYCN status, these mutations partially abolish BLM protein activity by impairing its ATPase and helicase activities. BLM mutations are also clinically relevant because BLM plays an important role in DNA damage repair and the maintenance of genomic integrity. We also found a novel variant in our cohort, PKMYT1 mutation localized in the C-terminal domain with effect unknown on NB. We hypothesize that this variant may affect the catalytic activity of PKMYT1 in NB, specifically when CDK1 is complexed to cyclins. The prognostic value of this mutation must be further investigated. Another mutation identified was a nonsynonymous variant in AHCY. This variant may be related to the slow progression of the disease, even in more aggressive cases. It affects the maintenance of the catalytic capacity of AHCY , leading to the consequent functional effects observed in the NB patients studied. In conclusion, our hypothesis may provide that mutations in BLM, AHCY and PKMYT1 genes found in children with MYCN -amplified or MYCN -non amplified neuroblastomas, may be associated with the prognosis of the disease.
Hi-GAL: The Herschel Infrared Galactic Plane Survey Molinari, S.; Swinyard, B.; Bernard, J.-P. ...
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,
03/2010, Volume:
122, Issue:
889
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Hi-GAL, the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey, is an Open Time Key Project of theHerschel Space Observatory. It will make an unbiased photometric survey of the inner Galactic plane by mapping ...a2°
2
°
wide strip in the longitude range∣l∣ < 60°
∣
l
∣
<
60
°
in five wavebands between 70 μm and 500 μm. The aim of Hi-GAL is to detect the earliest phases of the formation of molecular clouds and high-mass stars and to use the optimum combination ofHerschelwavelength coverage, sensitivity, mapping strategy, and speed to deliver a homogeneous census of star-forming regions and cold structures in the interstellar medium. The resulting representative samples will yield the variation of source temperature, luminosity, mass and age in a wide range of Galactic environments at all scales from massive YSOs in protoclusters to entire spiral arms, providing an evolutionary sequence for the formation of intermediate and high-mass stars. This information is essential to the formulation of a predictive global model of the role of environment and feedback in regulating the star-formation process. Such a model is vital to understanding star formation on galactic scales and in the early universe. Hi-GAL will also provide a science legacy for decades to come with incalculable potential for systematic and serendipitous science in a wide range of astronomical fields, enabling the optimum use of future major facilities such asJWSTand ALMA.
The tumorigenesis of pituitary adenomas is poorly understood. Mutations of the PIK3CA proto-oncogene, which encodes the p110-α catalytic subunit of PI3K, have been reported in various types of human ...cancers regarding the role of the gene in cell proliferation and survival through activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Only one Chinese study described somatic mutations and amplification of the PIK3CA gene in a large series of pituitary adenomas. The aim of the present study was to determine genetic alterations of PIK3CA in a second series that consisted of 33 pituitary adenomas of different subtypes diagnosed by immunohistochemistry: 6 adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting microadenomas, 5 growth hormone-secreting macroadenomas, 7 prolactin-secreting macroadenomas, and 15 nonfunctioning macroadenomas. Direct sequencing of exons 9 and 20 assessed by qPCR was employed to investigate the presence of mutations and genomic amplification defined as a copy number ≥4. Previously identified PIK3CA mutations (exon 20) were detected in four cases (12.1%). Interestingly, the Chinese study reported mutations only in invasive tumors, while we found a PIK3CA mutation in one noninvasive corticotroph microadenoma. PIK3CA amplification was observed in 21.2% (7/33) of the cases. This study demonstrates the presence of somatic mutations and amplifications of the PIK3CA gene in a second series of pituitary adenomas, corroborating the previously described involvement of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the tumorigenic process of this gland.
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