Data on unveiling the occurrence of transient, multi-contaminated mafic magmas inside a rhyolitic reservoir feeding an explosive eruption (Nisyros, Greece).

This data article includes the description and the geochemical and mineralogical dataset of 67 pyroclastic rock samples from the Upper Pumice (UP) explosive activity of Nisyros volcano (eastern South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc). A detailed field and petrographic description of the studied outcrops and samples are reported, including representative photomicrographs and SEM images, whole-rock major and trace elements compositions of 31 representative samples and Sr-Nd isotope ratios on 22 selected samples. Analytical methods and conditions used for data acquisition are also reported. The UP eruption produced a stratigraphic sequence constituted by a basal fallout deposit, gradually substituted by pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits; these are overlaid by a lag-breccia unit, and the sequence is closed by a grey ash flow level. The juvenile is mainly constituted by white-yellow, moderately crystalline pumice with rhyolitic composition and homogenous Sr-Nd isotope values. Variable amounts of dense, grey, crystalline juvenile lapilli clasts (CRC, Crystal-Rich Clast), with rounded shape and less evolved composition (andesite to dacite) are also present in the deposit. These mafic CRCs are peculiar due to their large variability in textures (from distinctive diktytaxitic to strongly fragmented structure without a defined fabric) and in the geochemical and isotopic composition. The data acquired were fundamental to reconstruct the complex and peculiar history of ascent, storage and differentiation/assimilation processes of these mafic melts before their intrusion into the shallow, rhyolitic magma chamber, with important implication on the possible eruption trigger during the more recent explosive phase of activity at Nisyros volcano. Moreover, the geochemical and isotopic analyses provide new original data to the general knowledge of the Aegean volcanics. All the data reported in this paper are related to the research article Braschi et al. (2022).

Hepatitis C virus cirrhosis: prolonged sustained virological response in a patient after low-dose antiviral treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most frequent cause of chronic liver disease in the western world. The ''gold standard'' treatment of chronic HCV infection currently involves the administration of pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin. The success of this therapy is demonstrated by sustained virological responses (SVR). Randomized trials and practice guidelines have reported that compensated HCV cirrhosis is an indication for treatment with PEG-IFN and ribavirin, not only to obtain SVR but also to increase survival and to reduce the development of cirrhotic sequelae. In particular, the literature has reported that antiviral treatment was associated with histological improvement of fibrosis in cirrhotic patients with SVR. Recently, the same authors have evaluated the efficacy and safety of different doses of antiviral treatment in patients with chronic HCV infection. The use of interferon has been limited due to associated side effects, particularly in cirrhotic patients. Consequently, therapeutic decisions should be made on an individual basis. The Authors report a case of a patient with compensated HCV liver cirrhosis, with associated severe thrombocytopenia and oesophageal varices, in which the administration of antiviral therapy at a dose lower than the therapeutic ''gold standard'' has achieved SVR and consequently improved clinical status.

Recombinant interferon alfa 2a in hepatic hemangiomatosis with congestive heart failure: a case report.

A 45-day-old patient was admitted with dyspnea, hepatomegaly, tachycardia, holosystolic murmur in the precordial region, and continuous murmur at the right hypochondrium. Four cutaneous angiomas were noted. Instrumental examinations revealed congestive heart failure and multiple focal lesions in the liver with typical features of hemangiomas. The therapy with subcutaneous interferon-alfa-2a (IFN-alpha) was administered for 12 months with progressive regression of cutaneous hemangiomas, liver lesions, and cardiological alterations. IFN-alpha therapy was effective without any significant adverse effects.

Resting and stimulated human polymorphonuclear leucocytes from type-2 diabetic patients: change in purine nucleotide pattern.

It is known that polymorphonuclear leucocytes are deeply involved in the inflammatory complications of diabetes mellitus, showing many functional and biochemical abnormalities. Because adenine and guanine metabolites exert an important role in many metabolic aspects of phagocytic cells, we have investigated the pattern of purine metabolites during the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in order to characterize any difference that may be significantly correlated with the abnormal neutrophil function of diabetic patients. The results obtained show clearly that polymorphonuclear leucocytes from diabetic patients are characterized by an abnormal pattern of purine nucleotides and their metabolites. In particular, the concentration of adenine and guanine triphosphates and the net amount of adenosine triphosphate hydrolysed during neutrophil stimulation by phorbol ester is higher in diabetic than in control cells. Moreover, higher values of adenosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate and inosine have been found in diabetic cells. The behaviour of guanosine triphosphate is highly interesting. In fact, in addition to the higher concentration found in diabetic polymorphonuclear leucocytes, stimulation by phorbol ester induces a net decrease in guanosine triphosphate whereas control neutrophils show a slight increase. These findings have been associated with the ease with which diabetic neutrophils undergo metabolic activation and sustain an inflammatory response.

Choice of time for urine collection for detecting early kidney abnormalities in hypertensives.

The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate urine collection for detecting differences in the excretion rates of albumin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) between normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients on treatment. Twenty treated hypertensive patients, mean (SEM, standard error of mean) age; 52.2 (6.2) years and 20 normotensive subjects, mean age 49.2 (4.2) years, were studied in a consecutive sampling design. Urinary excretion rates of albumin, GGT and NAGA were determined in consecutive timed urine samples collected overnight and during 3-5 h the next morning. Mean (SEM) overnight excretion rates for albumin, GGT and NAGA for normotensive subjects were 11.05 (1.18) micrograms/min, 17.00 (2.20) mU/min and 6.55 (0.39) mU/min, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of hypertensive subjects which were 20.77 (2.14) micrograms/min, 21.84 (1.65) mU/min and 10.92 (0.87) mU/min, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean (SEM) percentage increases in urinary albumin, GGT and NAGA in morning urine collections of normotensive subjects of 15.22 (3.88)%, 34.04 (6.45)% and 11.54 (3.63)%, respectively were significantly lower than 107.03 (15.04)%, 121.96 (16.71)% and 72.75 (7.50)% found in hypertensive patients (P < 0.05). These data suggest that were urinary albumin and tubular enzyme excretion to be used as correlates of hypertensive renal damage, ambulatory urine collections may be more sensitive than overnight collections.

Postprandial Hemodynamic Changes in Hypertensives Treated with Calcium Antagonists or ACE Inhibitors.

Our aim was to investigate possible abnormalities in postprandial hemodynamic changes in hypertensives treated with different vasodilating drugs, calcium antagonists, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Eleven healthy subjects and 22 hypertensive patients effectively treated with an angio tensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) (n = 9) or calcium antagonists (n = 13) were studied. Cardiac output and blood pressure were monitored every 20 min from 2 h before lunch to 3 h after using a computer-assisted impedance cardiograph coupled with an automatic blood pressure monitor. After meals, a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (minus sign7.9% plus minus 2.1) was observed in ACEI-treated hypertensives when compared with the minor changes observed in calcium-antagonist-treated hypertensives (minus sign3.7% plus minus 1.5) and in normotensives (minus sign2.7% plus minus 1.5). When compared with normotensives, the patients treated with ACEI showed a larger postprandial fall in total peripheral resistance index (minus sign20.8% plus minus 3.4 versus minus sign15.3% plus minus 4.1) with a larger increase in heart rate (11.3% plus minus 2.3 versus 8.1% plus minus 1.3). In hypertensives treated with calcium antagonists, the postprandial hemodynamic changes appeared blunted and not significant. Different antihypertensive drugs appear to have different effects on the postprandial hemodynamic changes.

Salivary electrolytes in treated hypertensives at low or normal sodium diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible abnormalities in salivary electrolytes in hypertensives treated with ace-inhibitors (ACE-I) or calcium antagonists (Ca-ANT) at low or normal sodium intake. Hypertensives treated with ACE-I (n.14) or Ca-ANT (n.22) and 13 normotensives were studied during normal or restricted Na intake. Na, K, Ca, Mg and Cl were determined in saliva samples collected by using a standardized adsorption procedure (SALIVETTE). Na intake was evaluated by determination of the 24-hr urinary Na excretion. Similar concentrations of Na, K, Ca, and Cl were found in normotensives and in hypertensives treated with ACEI or Ca-ANT both at low or normal Na diet. Magnesium in saliva appeared reduced in ACEI-treated hypertensives (0.28 +/- 0.06 mmol/l) in comparison to the similar values of normotensives (0.53 +/- 0.05) and Ca-ANT treated hypertensives (0.54 +/- 0.07). In normotensives and in treated hypertensives lowering of Na intake did not change the salivary content of Ca, Mg and Cl but produced in saliva a reduction of Na associated to a rise in K. Salivary Na/K ratio was significantly correlated with 24 hr urinary Na excretion in normotensives (r = 0.77; p < 0.05) and in hypertensives treated with ACE-I (r = 0.74; p < 0.05) or Ca-ANT (r = 0.62; p < 0.05). The low salivary magnesium in ACE-I-HT may have a role in the occasional ACEI-dependent dysgeusia. Salivary Na/K ratio may be used as a rough index of Na intake in treated hypertensives.

Aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase in saliva of diabetic patients.

Although inflammatory or degenerative changes in salivary glands have been demonstrated in genetic animal models of diabetes mellitus and in experimental diabetes, no information is available in diabetics on the possible leakage in saliva of cytosolic enzymes as markers of salivary cell injury. Aspartate (GOT) and alanine (GPT) aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in saliva samples collected by the Salivette method from well-controlled insulin-dependent (IDDM n = 11) and non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM n = 18) diabetic patients and from age-cross-matched healthy subjects (n = 33). In IDDM salivary concentrations of GOT (112.55 +/- 23.94 UI/L) and LDH (1120.27 +/- 168.31 UI/L) were similar to those found in the NIDDM (90.94 +/- 19.64, and 1255.43 +/- 221.40 UI/L respectively), but higher (p < 0.05) than those observed in normal subjects (33.09 +/- 3.71, and 423.58 +/- 39.94, UI/L respectively). GPT was higher in NIDDM than IDDM, which in turn was higher than in normal subjects (42.78 +/- 14.72, 16.45 +/- 3.74 and 6.85 +/- 1.52 UI/L respectively). Salivary and serum values of GOT, GPT and LDH were not correlated. Determination of cytosolic enzymes in saliva may be useful for monitoring the diabetic involvement of salivary glands.

[Meaning and development of markers of acute hepatitis]. / Osservazioni sul significato e la evolutività dei markers delle epatiti acute.

The Authors analyse the results of their tryls about the markers of HBV and HAV acute hepatitis (HBsAg, anti-HAVAb) by R.I.Z. method. HAVAb was in 75% of the cases, its meaning was of post-contact with HAV. The title of HAVAb was effected in 18 patients with viral acute hepatitis; the results were 3 cases of HAV acute hepatitis and in other 7 cases no Ano B viral acute hepatitis. The 58.3% of acute viral hepatitis was HBsAg positive, the study of other markers of HBV and the title of HAVAb showed a viral acute hepatitis caused by HBV. We were not able to demonstrate the viruses which caused 7 HBsAg negative acute virale hepatitis, anti-HBcAg was in 97.8% of HBV acute hepatitis; its the most sensitive of HAV past-infection. The system c-anti-e was in 78.2% of HBsAg viral acute hepatitis. The persistence after 7th week of illness of HBeAg coincided with the hepatitis cronicity. On the contrary anti-HBeAg has not always a protective meaning.