Herein we report on the chemical and isotopic (C, H, O, and He) compositions of the fluids from La Fossa crater fumaroles of Vulcano from 1999 to 2010. Consistent with records obtained since the end ...of the 1980s, our data show that the geochemical features of the fumarole system have experienced several episodes of remarkable change, each lasting no more than a few months. Typical signatures of these short-term anomalies are large increments in CO2, N2, and He concentrations, coupled to increased 13C/12C isotopic ratios, but their meaning remains widely debated. Within a model of fumarolic fluids based on mixing between hydrothermal and magmatic endmembers, we have developed a novel approach to constrain chemical (He/CO2 and N2/He) and isotopic (13C/12C, D/H, and 3He/4He) ratios of the magmatic endmember during the short-term anomalies. Although much of the geochemical variability in fumaroles results from changes in mixing proportions, the magmatic fluid unquestionably shows significant variations in time. The magmatic He/CO2, N2/He, 13C/12C, and 3He/4He values throughout 1988–1996 differed from those feeding the anomaly at the end of 2004. Early clues of the new magmatic fluid appeared in 1998–1999, far from any short-term anomaly, whereas new and old magmatic fluids coexisted after 2004. We quantitatively prove that the detected geochemical changes are consistent with the degassing path of a magma having a latitic composition, and suggest the presence of two magma ponding levels at slightly different pressures, where bubble–melt decoupling can occur. The different He-isotope compositions at these levels suggest low hydraulic connectivity typical of a complex reservoir with dike and sill structures. In this framework, the short-term geochemical anomalies are probably due to gas accumulation at the top of magma bodies followed by massive escape, or activation of new degassing levels in the reservoir, for which the stress field almost certainly plays a key role. Such a scenario explains the observed increases in both fumarole output and shallow high-frequency seismicity (due to increased pore pressure) during the anomalies, while being consistent with the concomitant absence of any deep seismicity or ground deformation, eventually related to magma movement.
The Bardet Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare inherited disorder considered a model of non-motile ciliopathy. It is in fact caused by mutations of genes encoding for proteins mainly localized to the base ...of the cilium. Clinical features of BBS patients are widely shared with patients suffering from other ciliopathies, especially autosomal recessive syndromic disorders; moreover, mutations in cilia-related genes can cause different clinical ciliopathy entities. Besides the best-known clinical features, as retinal degeneration, learning disabilities, polydactyly, obesity and renal defects, several additional clinical signs have been reported in BBS, expanding our understanding of the complexity of its clinical spectrum. The present review aims to describe the current knowledge of BBS i) pathophysiology, ii) clinical manifestations, highlighting both the most common and the less described features, iii) current and future perspective for treatment.
The ARF protein functions as an important sensor of hyper-proliferative stimuli restricting cell proliferation through both p53-dependent and -independent pathways. Although to date the majority of ...studies on ARF have focused on its anti-proliferative role, few studies have addressed whether ARF may also have pro-survival functions. Here we show for the first time that during the process of adhesion and spreading ARF re-localizes to sites of active actin polymerization and to focal adhesion points where it interacts with the phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase. In line with its recruitment to focal adhesions, we observe that hampering ARF function in cancer cells leads to gross defects in cytoskeleton organization resulting in apoptosis through a mechanism dependent on the Death-Associated Protein Kinase. Our data uncover a novel function for p14ARF in protecting cells from anoikis that may reflect its role in anchorage independence, a hallmark of malignant tumor cells.
Abstract
The exclusion of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients from clinical trials—particularly cardiovascular trials—remains a long-standing, unsolved problem, which prevents the optimization of ...clinical care in these patients. The situation recalls the insufficient recruitment of women in cardiovascular trials until the 1980s, a problem that was only resolved following regulatory interventions. Regulatory agencies are in a unique position to promote recruitment of CKD patients in clinical trials. The main stakeholders, namely patients’ associations and scientific societies, should make major lobbying efforts to persuade these agencies that the issue is an absolute public health priority.
The paper presents the results of the analysis of the geo-chemo-mechanical data gathered through an innovative multidisciplinary investigation campaign in the Mar Piccolo basin, a heavily polluted ...marine bay aside the town of Taranto (Southern Italy). The basin is part of an area declared at high environmental risk by the Italian government. The cutting-edge approach to the environmental characterization of the site was promoted by the Special Commissioner for urgent measures of reclamation, environmental improvements and redevelopment of Taranto and involved experts from several research fields, who cooperated to gather a new insight into the origin, distribution, mobility and fate of the contaminants within the basin. The investigation campaign was designed to implement advanced research methodologies and testing strategies. Differently from traditional investigation campaigns, aimed solely at the assessment of the contamination state within sediments lying in the top layers, the new campaign provided an interpretation of the geo-chemo-mechanical properties and state of the sediments forming the deposit at the seafloor. The integrated, multidisciplinary and holistic approach, that considered geotechnical engineering, electrical and electronical engineering, geological, sedimentological, mineralogical, hydraulic engineering, hydrological, chemical, geochemical, biological fields, supported a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the contamination on the hydro-mechanical properties of the sediments, which need to be accounted for in the selection and design of the risk mitigation measures. The findings of the research represent the input ingredients of the conceptual model of the site, premise to model the evolutionary contamination scenarios within the basin, of guidance for the environmental risk management. The study testifies the importance of the cooperative approach among researchers of different fields to fulfil the interpretation of complex polluted eco-systems.
Abstract
Medical societies have a social responsibility to disseminate knowledge and inform health authorities on threats to public health posed by various diseases. Advocacy for health protection ...programmes and for medical research funding is now embedded into the missions of most scientific societies. To promote kidney research funding in Europe, the European Renal Association – European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA), rather than acting as an individual society advocating for the fight against kidney disease, has actively helped to create an alliance of national associations centred on kidney diseases, the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA), and joined the Biomedical Alliance (BMA). The ERA-EDTA is fully committed to supporting its working groups (WGs) and consortia of its members to allow them to produce valuable kidney research. The framing and formalization of projects, and the regulatory issues related to submission to the European Commission, are complex. To help WGs to gain expert advice from agencies with specific know-how, the ERA-EDTA has adopted a competitive approach. The best research projects proposed by WGs and consortia of other European investigators will receive seed funding to cover the costs of consultancy by expert agencies. Via its broader platforms, the EKHA and the BMA, the ERA-EDTA will strive towards broader recognition of kidney disease and related clusters of non-communicable diseases, by European and national agencies, as major threats to the qualities of life of their populations and their economies.
Abstract
In January 2019, the ERA-EDTA surveyed nephrologists with questions on kidney care and kidney research designed to explore comprehension of the impact of alterations to organization of renal ...care and of advancements in technology and knowledge of kidney disease. Eight hundred and twenty-five ERA-EDTA members, ∼13% of the whole ERA-EDTA membership, replied to an ad hoc questionnaire. More than half of the respondents argued that kidney centres will be increasingly owned by large dialysis providers, nearly a quarter of respondents felt that many medical aspects of dialysis will be increasingly overseen by non-nephrologists and a quarter (24%) also believed that the care and long-term follow-up of kidney transplant patients will be increasingly under the responsibility of transplant physicians caring for patients with any organ transplant. Nearly half of the participants (45%, n = 367) use fully electronic clinical files integrating the clinical ward, the outpatient clinics, the haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis units, as well as transplantation. Smartphone-based self-management programmes for the care of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are scarcely applied (only 11% of surveyed nephrologists), but a substantial proportion of respondents (74%) are eager to know more about the potential usefulness of these apps. Finally, European nephrologists expressed a cautious optimism about the application of omic sciences to nephrology and on wearable and implantable kidneys, but their expectations for the medium term are limited.
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