Impact of phenolic compounds on Meloidogyne incognita in vitro and in tomato plants.

Exposing second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita in vitro to a phenolic compound sometimes fails to cause J2 mortality, but in tests in vivo the same compound may reduce the infectivity and population of the nematode. This work aimed to study the effect of phenolic compounds on M. incognita through in vitro and in vivo assays. In the in vitro assay 49 phenolic compounds were screened for their toxicity to M. incognita J2. As a result, D-(-)-4-hydroxyphenylglycine, t-butylhydroquinone, L-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine, sesamol, 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone, and p-anisaldehyde increased the J2 mortality. These compounds presented, respectively, the following lethal concentrations to 50% of J2 (LC50): 365, 352, 251, 218, 210, and 85 µg/mL, while Carbofuran (positive control) had 150 µg/mL. However, none of these compounds were efficient in controlling the nematode in inoculated tomato plants, even when 2.77-fold of their LC50 were used. Although inactive in the in vitro test at 500 µg/mL, hydroquinone (3.5 mg per plant) reduced M. incognita population and galls by up to 99% to levels similar to the nematicide Carbofuran (1.2 mg per plant). Additionally, hydroquinone increased the root weight when compared to the negative and positive controls, water/NaOH and Carbofuran, respectively. In this study, we showed that some phenolic compounds, hydroquinone in particular, revealed a potential new option for the control of M. incognita.

An Ecological Studybased on Textile Sensory Platforms to Improve Safety and Well-Being at Work.

This paper describes a study performed in the frame of WEARABLES project and reports about preliminary analysis of the results on the activity, HR and breathing rate distribution. Objective of the study was the monitoring of employees' well-being finalized at the investigation on the correlation between daily working activity and the observed physical parameters. The study has been performed by using sensing textiles, to collect objective work-correlated parameters during daily activity aiming at the acquisition of objective indicators for an improved management of people within teams. Scope of the project was to monitor a sample of 28 volunteers in environmental service delivery (at the Amey's contract with Wolverhampton City Council), for a period of two non-consecutive weeks per volunteer, with a total of 275 data acquisition sessions.

A Pilot Study on an Integrated Service Based on Wearable Textile Platforms to promote Workers Wellness at Workplace.

This paper describes a study performed in the frame of Wearables project and reports preliminary results. Objective of the study was the implementation of an integrated service finalized to increase employees' well-being through the investigation on the correlation between daily working activity and the observed physical parameters. The project monitored 28 volunteers employed in the field of waste collection (at the Amey's contract with Wolverhampton City Council), for a total of 275 data acquisition sessions. The study has been performed using sensing textiles, to collect objective work-correlated parameters during daily activity, aiming at the acquisition of objective indicators for an improved wellbeing. Physical parameters like heart rate, energy expenditure and heart rate activity-zones distribution have been evaluated from data acquired during normal working activity. The service produced encouraging results both in terms of monitoring individual subjects and in identifying trends correlated to different roles or tasks covered by workers. Also in term of usability and acceptability the system showed interesting potentialities, proving how wearable technologies can trigger innovative approaches and open new prospective in the growing field of workplace wellness.

Trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis: is bone union necessary for a good outcome?

We present a retrospective study of 107 cases of thumb carpometacarpl joint arthrodesis. The aim of our study was to analyse our population and to compare the outcomes of patients who obtained bone union with the patients who did not. There were no statistical differences in most of the clinical outcomes (DASH score, visual analogue scale, Kapandji test, grip, and key pinch) between the two groups of patients; there were fewer cases of scaphotrapeziotrapezoid arthritis in the group that did not obtain bone union. We conclude that the bone union is not necessary for a good outcome. Level IV of evidence.

Performances evaluation of piezoresistive fabric sensors as function of yarn structure.

This work focus on the characterization of piezoresistive fabric sensors, realized with conductive yarns that are similar in term of conductive components, but different only in term of geometry, the yarns have been realized according two different production processes while the sensors have been produced following the same process, fabric structure and same materials. The different geometry of the yarns affects dramatically conductivity and functionality of the sensors in term of sensitivity and hysteresis minimization. This result confirms that the functional components can be engineered during the different phases of the process production; to get new properties and new applications. Small changes at fibers level can be fundamental to improve the properties of the fabric sensors.

Textile electrodes and integrated smart textile for reliable biomonitoring.

Since birth the first and the most natural interface for the body is fabric, a soft, warm and reassuring material. Cloth is usually covering more than 80 % of the skin; which leads us to consider textile material as the most appropriate interface where new sensorial and interactive functions can be implemented. The new generation of personalised monitoring systems is based on this paradigm: functions like sensing, transmission and elaboration are implementable in the materials through the textile technology. Functional yarns and fibres are usable to realise garments where electrical and computing properties are combined with the traditional mechanical characteristics, giving rise to textile platforms that are comparable with the cloths that are normally used to produce our garments. The feel of the fabric is the same, but the functionality is augmented. Nowadays, consumers demand user-friendly connectivity and interactivity; sensing clothes are the most natural and ordinary interface able to follow us, everywhere in a non-intrusive way, in natural harmony with our body.

[Lifestyle and global cardiovascular risk: a prospective study on a borderline hypertensive population]. / Stile di vita e rischio cardiovascolare globale: studio osservazionale su una popolazione di pazienti con ipertensione arteriosa borderline.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arterial hypertension is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Today, it is possible to calculate the cardiovascular risk at 10 years with the risk card. The reduction of cardiovascular risk is based on a multi-factorial approach including the lifestyle modification. In Italy, OEC study has calculated that a certain proportion of borderline hypertensives, not eligible for a pharmacological treatment, remain at risk. Borderline arterial hypertension (140-150/90-95 mmHg) in Italian population is documented in 19% of males and 14% of females.: Aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of the lifestyle changes in reducing the global cardiovascular risk in bordeline hypertensives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 102 patients affected by borderline hypertensive (46 M and 56 F, mean age: 55.6 yrs ) were enclosed in a 12 months prospective study. Three checks were programmed during the follow-up, i.e., at beginning, 6 months and 12 months later. At the start of the study every patient received a list of lifestyle changes to be respected. Pressure arterial systolic and diastolic were obtained at beginning and at the end of successive. At the last check each patient received a questionnaire to be filled up. According to the calculated score, each patient was classified as: non-responder (score: 0-3), partially responder (score: 4-6), responder (score: 7-9). RESULTS: A significant reduction of the globalcardiovascular risk has been observed at the end of the study in both the responders and partially responders. Such a reduction was seen to be due to positive changes in blood pressure and total, HDL, LDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that a non-pharmacological therapy based on lifestyle changes has to be preventively administered in the presence of a borderline hypertension because of its beneficial effects in reducing the global risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we firmly think that a prompt utilization of a correct lifestyle can sort the triple effect of improving the expectancy of life, ameliorating the quality of life, reducing the social costs of arterial hypertension.

Wearable monitoring system for chronic cardio-respiratory diseases.

In this paper is presented the study leading to the implementation of an innovative sensing textile platform, based on a wearable monitoring system named Wealthy, where novel piezoresistive sensors have been integrated to increase system capability in the field of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases monitoring. Two different typologies of textile sensors for plethysmograpic measurements have been characterized and compared to evaluate sensors performance, through electro-dynamic laboratory tests and in vivo measurements. The whole system allows continuous remote monitoring of electrocardiogram and impedance pneumography signals through textile electrodes, while piezoresistive fabric sensors placed at the abdominal and thoracic level are able to discriminate between different breathing patterns. All the signals have been acquired simultaneously allowing a comparative control of cardiopulmonary activity and artifact rejection, while a comparative study with standard BIOPAC MP30 respiratory transducers has been performed in basal condition.

Textile piezoresistive sensors for biomechanical variables monitoring.

In this paper is described the study leading to the implementation of two novel classes of textile piezoresistive sensors, for application in the field of post stroke rehabilitation and cardiovascular diseases monitoring. Two different approaches have been used, the first one leading to the realization of knitted transducer fabric to be integrated in bio-clothes for motion activity and respiration monitoring through plethysmography, the other one leading to printed sensing clothes for movement and posture detection. In particular, this work focuses on the optimization of sensors performances in term of sensing properties with the final objective to go towards a mass production.

[Delayed diagnosis: inevitable fatality or wrong methodological approach? Churg-Strauss syndrome]. / La diagnosi tardiva: una inevitabile fatalità o un errato approccio metodologico? La sindrome di Churg-Strauss.

A case of CSS is reviewed, along its difficult diagnosis, to check if its late discovery is attributed to inevitability or to erroneous approach.

Characterization of organic osmolytes in avian renal medulla: a nonurea osmotic gradient system.

We measured the organic osmolytes present in the renal cortex and medullary cones of adult female domestic fowl before and after 48 h of water deprivation. Urine osmolality increased from 198 +/- 82 to 569 +/- 42 mosmol/kgH2O after water deprivation. In water-deprived birds, the major organic osmolytes, myoinositol, betaine, and taurine, in the medullary cones increased by 40, 100, and 24%, respectively, compared with control birds. No sorbitol was detected, and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) content was not affected by water deprivation. In the renal cortex, only betaine content increased significantly (4.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/kg wet wt) after water deprivation. In this study, we demonstrated that birds, like mammals, accumulate organic osmolytes in response to the increased interstitial osmolality that occurs during antidiuresis. Because urea is nearly absent in the avian medullary interstitium, our observation that GPC is not osmoregulated in the avian kidney supports the idea that GPC is the "counteracting osmolyte" for urea in the mammalian kidney. Furthermore, the organic osmolytes present in avian medullary cones are remarkably similar to those of the mammalian outer medulla. This similarity may be relevant to the morphological analogy of the two regions.

Cardiovascular effects induced by progesterone administration.

The Authors have studied cardiovascular effects induced by progesterone administration. The results obtained in the present investigation reveal a significant reduction in O-S2 and PEP in the absence of modifications in the values of the other parameters of systolic time intervals. The results confirm the hypothesis that progesterone exerts an adrenergic effect upon cardiac function.