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2.
Animal ; 12(1): 155-163, 2018 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28462769

RESUMO

Modern research makes frequent use of animal models, that is, organisms raised and bred experimentally in order to help the understanding of biological and chemical processes affecting organisms or whole environments. The development of flexible, reprogrammable and modular systems that may help the automatic production of 'not-easy-to-keep' species is important for scientific purposes and for such aquaculture needs as the production of alive foods, the culture of small larvae and the test of new culture procedures. For this reason, we planned and built a programmable experimental system adaptable to the culture of various aquatic organisms, at different developmental stages. The system is based on culture cylinders contained into operational tanks connected to water conditioning tanks. A programmable central processor unit controls the operations, that is, water changes, temperature, light irradiance, the opening and closure of valves for the discharge of unused foods, water circulation and filtration and disinfection systems, according to the information received by various probes. Various devices may be set to modify water circulation and water changes to fulfil the needs of given organisms, to avoid damage of delicate structures, improve feeding performances and reduce the risk of movements over the water surface. The results obtained indicate that the system is effective in the production of shrimp larvae, being able to produce Hippolyte inermis post-larvae with low mortality as compared with the standard operation procedures followed by human operators. Therefore, the patented prototype described in the present study is a possible solution to automate and simplify the rearing of small invertebrates in the laboratory and in production plants.


Assuntos
Aquicultura/métodos , Decápodes/fisiologia , Animais , Automação , Decápodes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Meio Ambiente , Feminino , Larva , Pesquisa , Água
3.
J Environ Manage ; 140: 111-9, 2014 Jul 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24747934

RESUMO

In this paper, a Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB) made with activated carbon, namely a Permeable Adsorptive Barrier (PAB), is put forward as an effective technique for the remediation of aquifers simultaneously contaminated by some chlorinated organic compounds. A design procedure, based on a computer code and including different routines, is presented as a tool to accurately describe mass transport within the aquifer and adsorption/desorption phenomena occurring inside the barrier. The remediation of a contaminated aquifer near a solid waste landfill in the district of Napoli (Italy), where Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Trichloroethylene (TCE) are simultaneously present, is considered as a case study. A complete hydrological and geotechnical site characterization, as well as a number of dedicated adsorption laboratory tests for the determination of activated carbon PCE/TCE adsorption capacity in binary systems, are carried out to support the barrier design. By means of a series of numerical simulations it is possible to determine the optimal barrier location, orientation and dimensions. PABs appear to be an effective remediation tool for the in-situ treatment of an aquifer contaminated by PCE and TCE simultaneously, as the concentration of both compounds flowing out of the barrier is everywhere lower than the regulatory limits on groundwater quality.


Assuntos
Carbono/química , Recuperação e Remediação Ambiental/métodos , Tetracloroetileno/química , Tricloroetileno/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Adsorção , Água Subterrânea/química
4.
J Hazard Mater ; 260: 914-20, 2013 Sep 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23876256

RESUMO

In this work, an array of deep passive wells filled with activated carbon, namely a Discontinuous Permeable Adsorptive Barrier (PAB-D), has been proposed for the remediation of an aquifer contaminated by tetrachloroethylene (PCE). The dynamics of the aquifer in the particular PAB-D configuration chosen, including the contaminant transport in the aquifer and the adsorption onto the barrier material, has been accurately performed by means of a computer code which allows describing all the phenomena occurring in the aquifer, simultaneously. A PAB-D design procedure is presented and the main dimensions of the barrier (number and position of passive wells) have been evaluated. Numerical simulations have been carried out over a long time span to follow the contaminant plume and to assess the effectiveness of the remediation method proposed. The model results show that this PAB-D design allows for a complete remediation of the aquifer under a natural hydraulic gradient, the PCE concentrations flowing out of the barrier being always lower than the corresponding Italian regulation limit. Finally, the results have been compared with those obtained for the design of a more traditional continuous barrier (PAB-C) for the same remediation process.


Assuntos
Carbono/química , Recuperação e Remediação Ambiental/métodos , Tetracloroetileno/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Poluição da Água/prevenção & controle , Adsorção , Carvão Vegetal/química , Desenho de Equipamento , Água Subterrânea , Itália , Modelos Teóricos , Permeabilidade , Movimentos da Água
6.
J Environ Manage ; 92(1): 23-30, 2011 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20846781

RESUMO

A procedure to optimize the design of a Permeable Adsorptive Barrier (PAB) for the remediation of a contaminated aquifer is presented in this paper. A computer code, including different routines that describe the groundwater contaminant transport and the pollutant capture by adsorption in unsteady conditions over the barrier solid surface, has been developed. The complete characterization of the chemical-physical interactions between adsorbing solids and the contaminated water, required by the computer code, has been obtained by experimental measurements. A case study in which the procedure developed has been applied to a tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated aquifer near a solid waste landfill, in the district of Napoli (Italy), is also presented and the main dimensions of the barrier (length and width) have been evaluated. Model results show that PAB is effective for the remediation of a PCE-contaminated aquifer, since the concentration of PCE flowing out of the barrier is everywhere always lower than the concentration limit provided for in the Italian regulations on groundwater quality.


Assuntos
Recuperação e Remediação Ambiental/métodos , Eliminação de Resíduos , Poluição da Água/prevenção & controle , Planejamento Ambiental , Itália , Permeabilidade , Solo , Tetracloroetileno , Movimentos da Água
7.
J Hazard Mater ; 160(2-3): 428-34, 2008 Dec 30.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18448247

RESUMO

This work studies the reliability of an activated carbon permeable reactive barrier in removing cadmium from a contaminated shallow aquifer. Laboratory tests have been performed to characterize the equilibrium and kinetic adsorption properties of the activated carbon in cadmium-containing aqueous solutions. A 2D numerical model has been used to describe pollutant transport within a groundwater and the pollutant adsorption on the permeable adsorbing barrier (PRB). In particular, it has been considered the case of a permeable adsorbing barrier (PAB) used to protect a river from a Cd(II) contaminated groundwater. Numerical results show that the PAB can achieve a long-term efficiency by preventing river pollution for several months.


Assuntos
Cádmio/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Poluição Química da Água/prevenção & controle , Abastecimento de Água/análise , Adsorção , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Nitratos/química , Permeabilidade , Espectrofotometria Atômica , Termodinâmica
8.
Neurobiol Aging ; 27(5): 702-9, 2006 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15904995

RESUMO

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a complex dementing syndrome whose genetic/non genetic risk factors are mostly unknown. Aim of the present work was to investigate whether APOE and/or tau gene variability does affect the risk of FTD. A sample of FTD cases (sporadic: n = 54; familial: n = 46, one subject per family) was collected in a genetically homogeneous population (Calabria, southern Italy) and analyzed in comparison with an age- and sex-matched control group (n = 180) extracted from the same population. Logistic regression analysis showed that APOE gene variability affects the probability of disease, with allele epsilon4 increasing (exp(beta1) = 2.68 with [1.51-4.76] 95% confidence interval; p = 0.001) and allele epsilon2 decreasing (exp(beta1) = 0.28 with [0.12-0.66] 95% confidence interval; p = 0.003) the risk of FTD. On the contrary, tau gene variability was ineffectual (exp(beta1) non significantly different from 1 for either H1 or H2 haplotypes), although a small effect was observed by the H1 haplotype in increasing the protective effect of the epsilon2 allele (p = 0.007).


Assuntos
Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Demência/genética , Proteínas tau/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Encéfalo/patologia , DNA/genética , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Demência/patologia , Demência/psicologia , Feminino , Variação Genética , Haplótipos , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Risco
9.
J Hazard Mater ; 132(2-3): 220-5, 2006 May 20.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16271826

RESUMO

In this paper the technical feasibility of various adsorbents for mercury removal from contaminated waters has been studied. Adsorption isotherms of mercury ions in aqueous solution have been experimentally measured on a granular activated carbon (Aquacarb 207EA), a char, a pozzolana and a yellow tuff. The experimental evidences show that the mercury capture capacity of yellow tuff and char is of few tenths of milligrams per gram of sorbent while for the pozzolana and the activated carbon this value is of the order of 1mg/g of sorbent. Moreover, for a mercury concentration as high as 3000 microg/l the pozzolana shows the highest adsorption capacity. This result seems to be quite interesting, especially in consideration of the extremely low cost of this natural sorbent.


Assuntos
Mercúrio/isolamento & purificação , Poluentes Químicos da Água/isolamento & purificação , Carbono/química , Carvão Mineral , Fenômenos Geológicos , Geologia , Mercúrio/química , Purificação da Água/economia , Purificação da Água/métodos
11.
Neurology ; 63(5): 910-2, 2004 Sep 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15365148

RESUMO

Three members of an Italian family with autosomal dominant dementia and multiple strokes had the A713T mutation of the APP gene. The neuropathologic examination of the proband disclosed Alzheimer disease (AD) with severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy and multiple infarcts. This indicates that the A713T mutation of the APP gene, lying at the gamma-secretase cleavage site, can be responsible for AD with symptomatic cerebral amyloid angiopathy.


Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Precursor de Proteína beta-Amiloide/genética , Angiopatia Amiloide Cerebral/genética , Infarto Cerebral/genética , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Mutação Puntual , Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Substituição de Aminoácidos , Secretases da Proteína Precursora do Amiloide , Precursor de Proteína beta-Amiloide/química , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidases , Encéfalo/patologia , Angiopatia Amiloide Cerebral/patologia , Infarto Cerebral/patologia , Códon/genética , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Progressão da Doença , Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Feminino , Genes Dominantes , Humanos , Itália , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Linhagem
12.
J Neurol ; 249(7): 911-22, 2002 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12140677

RESUMO

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) displays significant neuropathological and genetic heterogeneity among and within affected families. An early diagnosis is often difficult because cognitive symptoms are manifest only at a late stage of the disease. We have been studying a large pedigree segregating frontotemporal dementia (FTD) to which belong 34 identified affected persons, 11 of whom were personally examined. The kindred has been genealogically reconstructed; all FTD patients have been linked to the same ancestors who lived in the early 18(th) century (11 generations before the present one). Autosomal dominant transmission was evident. Clinical features were uniform within the kindred and met the Lund-Manchester criteria. Personality changes with absence of insight, lack of empathy and of social awareness manifested up to 5 years before medical advice was sought. Loss of fluency was the earliest neuropsychological sign, in the absence of memory, orientation and praxis deficits, which evolved late, together with hyperorality. Akinesia was observed early, rigidity appeared late, tremor was absent. Two patients showed myoclonus late in their evolution. No ALS signs were observed in this kindred. Mutations of the MAPt gene, coding for the Tau protein, were not detected in affected family members. Linkage studies excluded chromosomes 3 and 9 and gave indeterminate results that were model dependent for chromosome 17.


Assuntos
Cromossomos Humanos Par 17/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 3/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 9/genética , Demência/genética , Genealogia e Heráldica , Adulto , Idoso , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Feminino , Humanos , Itália , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Linhagem
14.
Int J Artif Organs ; 22(4): 217-25, 1999.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10466953

RESUMO

The aim of this study is the evaluation of end systolic ventricular elastance trend (as a measure of heart contractility) by hemodynamic variables available in intensive care units or during heart surgery: heart rate, cardiac output, left atrial, mean and diastolic arterial pressure. Its basic assumption is the description of ejection as the interaction between variable left ventricular and arterial compliances (reciprocal of the corresponding elastances) connected in parallel. As pressure is the same in each compliance at systole beginning and ending, ventricular elastance can be estimated by assuming that energy variation is the same on both compliances. The algorithm has been tested on a numerical simulator of the circulatory system and on six sheep at basal conditions and during drug infusion. Correlation function in numerical simulation, between true and computed ventricular elastance (range 0.45 divided by 5 mm Hg-cm(-3)), yields 0.985. In vivo comparison between computed ventricular elastance trend and ventricular dp/dt trend yields a correlation function ranging between 0.87 and 0.99. The result of the algorithm cannot be assumed to be Emax value. However, it can be considered a contractility index as it closely follows any change in dp/dt. It can be computed by simple calculations and needs no variables other than those usually measured in intensive care . It allows the extrapolation of useful information for evaluating the trend in heart contractility and for setting up a control strategy for mechanical or pharmacological assistance during heart recovery.


Assuntos
Contração Miocárdica/fisiologia , Algoritmos , Animais , Pressão Sanguínea , Débito Cardíaco , Complacência (Medida de Distensibilidade) , Frequência Cardíaca , Humanos , Ovinos , Função Ventricular
15.
Minerva Med ; 86(12): 555-7, 1995 Dec.
Artigo em Italiano | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8684683

RESUMO

Skeletal tuberculosis with extravertebral location is rare. We report a case of tuberculous osteomyelitis simultaneously affecting two right ribs and the left ulna. We emphasize the diagnostic problems (failure or delay in diagnosis) in extrapulmonary tuberculosis interesting uncommon sites and having relatively indolent presenting symptoms.


Assuntos
Costelas , Tuberculose Osteoarticular/diagnóstico , Ulna , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antibióticos Antituberculose/administração & dosagem , Antituberculosos/administração & dosagem , Biópsia por Agulha , Quimioterapia Combinada , Humanos , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolamento & purificação , Costelas/patologia , Rifampina/administração & dosagem , Estreptomicina/administração & dosagem , Tuberculose Osteoarticular/tratamento farmacológico , Ulna/patologia
16.
Clin Ter ; 146(5): 351-7, 1995 May.
Artigo em Italiano | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7796567

RESUMO

The authors expose the results of a retrospective study concerning 135 cases of neoplasia diagnosed by their Department between 1983 and 1993. The patients' age, their sex, their consume of tobacco, their survival from the moment of the diagnosis have been considered in the study. Likewise the clinical instrumental researches and their reliability, the different incidence of the examined pathology in the first and in the second part of the period considered. It is emerged from the collected data, that also in our territory there is an increasing tendency in the incidence of lung neoplasia, a generally short survival after the diagnosis, a strong prevalence of smokers among those people affected from the disease, the difficulty of an early diagnosis due to scarce specificity of the commonest symptoms. The final auspicious is that a more incisive diligence in prevention and significant progresses in clinical pharmacological research may determine a notable reduction of the incidence of such a dramatic pathology.


Assuntos
Neoplasias Pulmonares/epidemiologia , Fumar/efeitos adversos , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Broncoscopia , Feminino , Humanos , Itália/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/etiologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/terapia , Masculino , Programas de Rastreamento , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Radiografia Torácica , Estudos Retrospectivos , Taxa de Sobrevida
17.
Haematologica ; 80(3): 246-7, 1995.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7672719

RESUMO

A case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT) is described. The patient, treated for several days with porcine Ca-heparin at a dosage of 10,000 IU/day, presented severe thrombocytopenia (Plt 36 x 10(9)/L), intermittent right leg ischemia, and a positive heparin-induced platelet aggregation assay. We promptly discontinued heparin and started picotamide, an antiplatelet drug. Rapid clinical improvement was observed in a few days. We stress the unusual features of the reported case (HITT during prophylactic therapy with low doses of porcine heparin; intermittent thrombosis), and we suggest picotamide represents a rational therapy for HITT on the basis of clinical and pathogenetic considerations.


Assuntos
Heparina/efeitos adversos , Ácidos Ftálicos/uso terapêutico , Inibidores da Agregação Plaquetária/uso terapêutico , Trombocitopenia/induzido quimicamente , Trombose/tratamento farmacológico , Quimioterapia Combinada , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Trombose/complicações
18.
Minerva Cardioangiol ; 42(6): 289-92, 1994 Jun.
Artigo em Italiano | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7936332

RESUMO

Increased parietal stress, in hypertensive obese patients, produces a left ventricular hypertrophy. In this study we demonstrated that the association of amlodipine with hypocaloric diet can decrease the parietal stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS. From February to July 1993 32 hypertensive obese patients (17 males, 15 females) were treated with amlodipine 10 mg/day for six months. Sixteen patients were treated with amlodipine 10 mg/day (Group A) and 16 patients were treated with amlodipine 10 mg/day and hypocaloric diet (Group B). All patients included had a Body Mass Index > 30 and diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg. The patients were studied with 2D guided M-mode echocardiogram before treatment and after 6 months. RESULTS. In Group A the septal thickness, the posterior wall thickness and the left ventricular mass decreased significatively (p < 0.05). In the Group B also the left ventricular diastolic diameter and the left atrial diameter decreased. CONCLUSION. The association of a hypocaloric diet with amlodipine therapy, in hypertensive obese patients, improves the effect of the drug on ventricular hypertrophy.


Assuntos
Anlodipino/farmacologia , Dieta Redutora , Hipertensão/terapia , Hipertrofia Ventricular Esquerda/terapia , Obesidade/terapia , Anlodipino/administração & dosagem , Terapia Combinada , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Feminino , Ventrículos do Coração/diagnóstico por imagem , Ventrículos do Coração/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Hipertensão/diagnóstico , Hipertrofia Ventricular Esquerda/diagnóstico , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Obesidade/diagnóstico , Ultrassonografia
20.
Minerva Med ; 84(12): 713-8, 1993 Dec.
Artigo em Italiano | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8127463

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: We report personal experience on 3 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD). We stress the prognostic and therapeutic aspects of this rare disease, that remain still unclear in recent literature. DESIGN: We performed a retrospective study on 3 cases of AILD, with a mean follow-up of 32.6 months (range 30-36). SETTING: Internal Medicine Unit. PATIENTS: We observed three patients, 2 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 65 years (range 51-72), with AILD confirmed by histopathological exams and evidence of unfavorable prognostic features at the time of diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: 2 patients received polychemotherapy with cyclophosphamide+prednisone; cyclophosphamide + vincristine + prednisone. One patient was treated with low doses of prednisone (25 mg/day). MEASUREMENTS: We evaluated the degree of response (absent, partial, complete) an the time of survival (< 18 months or > 24 months). RESULTS: Response to therapy was partial in all patients; 1 patient underwent a severe bone marrow depression. All patients were alive for more than 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course was independent of therapy (intensive or symptomatic) and prognostic criteria in all 3 patients. At present AILD is considered as a potentially malignant disease. Polychemotherapy must be used as a first choice treatment.


Assuntos
Linfadenopatia Imunoblástica/complicações , Transtornos das Proteínas Sanguíneas/complicações , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Linfadenopatia Imunoblástica/terapia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos
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