The aim of the present study was to identify clinical and socio-demographic factors associated with duration of untreated illness (DUI) in patients affected by panic disorder (PD).
Data were ...collected from patients' medical records (N = 157) of two mental health services respectively located in Milan and in Monza (Italy). Correlation analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVAs) were run to analyse the relation between DUI and quantitative/qualitative variables respectively. Statistically significant variables in uni- variate analyses were then inserted in a linear multivariable regression model (backward procedure).
Mean DUI was 27.33 (±50.56) months. Patients with an earlier age at onset (r = -0.270; p < .01), a longer duration of illness (r = 0.483; p < .01) and who received a lifetime psychotherapy (F = 6.86; p = .01) had a longer DUI. The final global model showed that a longer DUI was associated with pre-onset poly-substance misuse (p = .05) and a longer duration of illness (p < .01).
The results of our study showed that a longer DUI was predicted by clinical factors such as the presence of a pre-onset poly-substance use disorder and that delayed proper treatment can lead to a chronicization of PD, as indicated by a longer duration of illness. Further studies are needed to in-depth investigate the role of DUI in influencing the course and outcome of anxiety disorders, including PD.
Advanced remote sensing techniques and regional algorithms are combined to produce and analyze a 12-year multi-sensor time series of bio-optical properties for the Adriatic Sea. First, a multi-sensor ...series of normalized water-leaving radiance LWN is created with an optically-based merging technique applied to SeaWiFS and MODIS data, then distributions of inherent optical properties (IOPs) are obtained with a semi-analytical bio-optical model. Additionally, Chla is computed by two regional empirical algorithms associated with two classes of optical properties representative of open ocean waters and Adriatic coastal regions (Classes 1 and 2, respectively). The domain of applicability of each algorithm is dynamically determined on the basis of the LWN input spectrum by a novelty detection approach. The various satellite products are validated using a comprehensive bio-optical time series collected in the northern Adriatic. At the basin level, the frequency of occurrence of Classes 1 and 2 are 61% and 10%, respectively, with Class 2 waters particularly located in the northern part and characterized by higher levels of Chla and IOPs. The annual cycle of Chla over the 12-year period exhibits significant variations in amplitude and phase; moreover, the annual cycle shows a reduced amplitude during a period centered on 2004 for a time interval that varies with the region. In the northern Adriatic, the overall level of Chla appears lower between 2003 and 2008 compared to the beginning of the series.
We propose a new experimental technique, which allows for a complete characterization of ultrashort optical pulses both in space and in time. Combining the well-known ...Frequency-Resolved-Optical-Gating technique for the retrieval of the temporal profile of the pulse with a measurement of the near-field made with an Hartmann-Shack sensor, we are able to retrieve the spatiotemporal amplitude and phase profile of a Bessel-X pulse. By following the pulse evolution along the propagation direction we highlight the superluminal propagation of the pulse peak.
Antigen‐ and mitogen‐stimulated cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 50 pregnant women and 31 age‐ and sex‐matched non‐pregnant controls were analysed to determine ...whether changes in cytokine production occur during normal and pathologic human gestation. The pregnant women, consecutively enrolled during a 3‐month period, were undergoing a normal, non‐pathologic pregnancy at the time of entry into the study, and underwent ultrasound examination to ascertain the exact week of pregnancy and the vitality of the fetus. Forty of the 50 pregnancies (80%) terminated physiologically with the birth of normal babies. Spontaneous abortions were observed in 5/50 (10%) women, and five women gave birth to newborns small for gestational age (SGA). A decrease in the production of IL‐2 and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) accompanied by an increase in production of IL‐4 and IL‐10, was observed in normal pregnancy, with the lowest quantities of IL‐2 and IFN‐γ and the highest quantities of IL‐4 and IL‐10 present in the third trimester of pregnancy. Statistically significant increased production of both IL‐2 and IFN‐γ and reduced production of IL‐10 characterized pathologic pregnancies and distinguished them from normal pregnancies. These preliminary data suggest that a type 2 cytokine profile may be associated with normal human pregnancy, whereas the lack of a dominant type 2 cytokine profile may be indicative of a pathologic pregnancy.
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Repeated exposure to HIV does not necessarily result in infection and HIV infection does not inevitably lead to the development of the AIDS. Multiple immunological and genetic features can confer ...resistance to HIV acquisition and progression at different steps in viral infection; a full understanding of these mechanisms could result in the development of novel therapeutic and vaccine approaches for HIV infection. In this review, we focus on the genetic mechanisms associated with resistance to HIV infection and to the progression to AIDS.
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an anticancer therapy based on the incorporation of 10B in tumors, followed by neutron irradiation. Recently, the synthesis and delivery of new boronated ...compounds have been recognized as some of the main challenges in BNCT application. Here, we report on the use of liposomes as carriers for BNCT active compounds. Two carborane derivatives, i.e., o-closocarboranyl β-lactoside (LCOB) and 1-methyl-o-closocarboranyl-2-hexylthioporphyrazine (H2PzCOB), were loaded into liposomes bearing different surface charges. The efficacy of these formulations was tested on model cell cultures, that is, DHD/K12/TRb rat colon carcinoma and B16-F10 murine melanoma. These induce liver and lung metastases, respectively, and are used to study the uptake of standard BNCT drugs, including borophenylalanine (BPA). Boron concentration in treated cells was measured by α spectrometry at the TRIGA mark II reactor (University of Pavia). Results showed high performance of the proposed formulations. In particular, the use of cationic liposomes increased the cellular concentration of 10B by at least 30 times more than that achieved by BPA.
The validation of aerosol products derived from ocean color missions is required for the assessment of their uncertainties and as a diagnostic for the atmospheric correction schemes used for ...determining the ocean apparent optical properties. A comprehensive validation of the aerosol products obtained from the ocean color missions SeaWiFS and MODIS is presented; it relies on the field observations collected at 85 AERONET sites and is completed by preliminary results obtained with the data of the maritime AERONET component. A robust match-up selection protocol yields approximately 7000 match-ups for each sensor. The median absolute relative difference for the aerosol optical thickness
τ
a
increases from 20–22% at 443
nm to 45–48% in the near-infrared. The validation statistics are comparable for both sensors but MODIS results appear degraded particularly for sites located on isolated islands. The median absolute difference is approximately 0.03 at all wavelengths. Results are further analyzed for specific geographic regions or groups of sites selected to represent oceanic, continental, or desert dust conditions. Importantly, the match-up sets appear generally representative of the regional natural variability in
τ
a
amplitude and spectral shape, with the notable exception of high
τ
a
conditions that are excluded. An important finding is the underestimate by the atmospheric correction of the Ångström exponent
α, with a median bias of −
0.52. This underestimate is apparent even at low
α values and regularly increases with
α. This discrepancy in
τ
a
spectral shape might result from an inappropriate set of candidate aerosol models and/or uncertainties in the calibration at the near-infrared bands. As the validation data base is expanded and updated in relation to new versions of the processing chains, this work provides a benchmark for the assessment of the aerosol products derived from the SeaWiFS and MODIS ocean color missions.
The two‐stream model parameters and associated uncertainties retrieved by inversion against MODIS broadband visible and near‐infrared white sky surface albedos were discussed in a companion paper. ...The present paper concentrates on the partitioning of the solar radiation fluxes delivered by the Joint Research Centre Two‐stream Inversion Package (JRC‐TIP). The estimation of the various flux fractions related to the vegetation and the background layers separately capitalizes on the probability density functions of the model parameters discussed in the companion paper. The propagation of uncertainties from the observations to the model parameters is achieved via the Hessian of the cost function and yields a covariance matrix of posterior parameter uncertainties. This matrix is propagated to the radiation fluxes via the model's Jacobian matrix of first derivatives. Results exhibit a rather good spatiotemporal consistency given that the prior values on the model parameters are not specified as a function of land cover type and/or vegetation phenological states. A specific investigation based on a scenario imposing stringent conditions of leaf absorbing and scattering properties highlights the impact of such constraints that are, as a matter of fact, currently adopted in vegetation index approaches. Special attention is also given to snow‐covered and snow‐contaminated areas since these regions encompass significant reflectance changes that strongly affect land surface processes. A definite asset of the JRC‐TIP lies in its capability to control and ultimately relax a number of assumptions that are often implicit in traditional approaches. These features greatly help us understand the discrepancies between the different data sets of land surface properties and fluxes that are currently available. Through a series of selected examples, the inverse procedure implemented in the JRC‐TIP is shown to be robust, reliable, and compliant with large‐scale processing requirements. Furthermore, this package ensures the physical consistency between the set of observations, the two‐stream model parameters, and radiation fluxes. It also documents the retrieval of associated uncertainties.
Key Points
Consistent estimates of land surface fluxes from Global MODIS 1km albedos
Use of optimal control theory to propagate uncertainties
Remarkable spatio‐temporal consistency of the retrievals
Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with CD34(+) cell selection has recently been used in the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease, showing good safety and promising ...efficacy. We investigated the safety and efficacy of HSCT with unselected peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in moderate-severe refractory Crohn's disease.
Four patients (three male, one female; age range 26-45 years) with active moderate-severe Crohn's disease (median Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) 319, range 272-345), refractory or intolerant to multiple drugs including infliximab, were enrolled.
Unselected PBSCs were collected after mobilisation with cyclophosphamide (CTX) 1.5 g/m2 and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) 10 microg/kg. The conditioning regimen included CTX 50 mg/kg on days -5 to -2 and rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) 2.5 mg/kg on days -4 to -2.
Primary endpoints were toxicity and clinical remission (CDAI<150) at 3 months. Secondary endpoints were clinical and endoscopic response at 3 months and toxicity, clinical and endoscopic remission at 12 months.
No improvement or slight deterioration was observed following mobilisation (median CDAI 339, range 258-404). At the third month, the primary endpoint of clinical remission was achieved in all patients, with a median CDAI of 91 (range 56-102), and complete endoscopic remission was achieved in 2/3 patients. After a median follow-up of 16.5 months, 3/4 patients maintained both clinical and endoscopic remission, despite withdrawal of all drugs, and complete fistula closure was observed in all affected patients. No deaths or life-threatening infection occurred. Unexpected adverse events included a perianal abscess after mobilisation in one patient, pleural and pericardial effusions in another and BK virus-related macrohaematuria in another, all rapidly resolved with conservative treatment.
Autologous HSCT with unselected PBSC appears to be safe and can induce and maintain remission in previously refractory Crohn's disease patients.
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