Analysis of the Influence of the GPS Errors Occurred While Collecting Electrode Coordinates on the Electrical Resistivity of Tumuli.

In archaeological applications the accurate reconstruction of buried structures is mandatory. Electrical resistivity tomography is widely used for this purpose. Nevertheless, resistivity errors could be generated by wrong placement of electrodes. Papers in the literature do not discuss the influence of errors connected with the electrode position location (GPS-error). In this paper the first results of a Monte Carlo simulation analysis of data acquired on a tumulus are presented. The main research questions were: (i) if it is correct to ignore the GPS-error collect, and (ii) if a minimum threshold, that significantly affect the inversion, exists. Results, obtained considering planimetric GPS-errors of about one third of the fixed electrode distances, show that the GPS-errors affect resistivity, but the generated errors/anomalies: (a) are lower than that obtained without considering the topography, and (b) are significant from a numerical point of view, but do not affect the interpretation, being compatible with the soil resistivity ranges.

Searching for viral antibodies and genome in intraocular fluids of patients with Fuchs uveitis and non-infectious uveitis.

BACKGROUND: To characterise the polyspecific intraocular antibody synthesis in aqueous humor of patients with Fuchs uveitis and other types of non-infectious uveitis. METHODS: Aqueous and serum samples collected from 24 patients with Fuchs uveitis, 21 patients with non-infectious uveitis, and 27 healthy subjects undergoing elective cataract surgery (control group) were analysed. In addition, vitreous samples, collected from seven uveitis patients (five Fuchs and two panuveitis) during retinal surgery, were examined. Specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV), rubella virus, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV) were investigated, and Goldmann-Witmer coefficients (GWCs) were calculated. Real-time PCR was performed to detect viral genome for HSV, VZV, and CMV, while nested PCR was conducted to detect rubella RNA. RESULTS: None of the control samples tested positive for any of the viral antibodies investigated. Intraocular antibody production was found in eight samples of patients affected by Fuchs uveitis (6/8 positive for rubella virus and 2/8 positive for herpes virus). Among patients with non-infectious uveitis, three tested positive for intraocular antibody production (one RV, one HSV and one for VZV). PCR was positive for RV in two patients with Fuchs uveitis, in three patients with non-infectious uveitis (one for RV and two for HSV), and in three control subjects (one for CMV and one for HSV). CONCLUSIONS: Our series confirmed the presence of specific viral antibodies, especially against rubella virus, in the subgroup of patients affected by Fuchs uveitis, suggesting that this virus may be responsible for this chronic inflammatory condition. Rubella virus is probably the main causative agent of Fuchs uveitis, but other viruses may also be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.

The origin and legacy of the Etruscans through a 2000-year archeogenomic time transect.

The origin, development, and legacy of the enigmatic Etruscan civilization from the central region of the Italian peninsula known as Etruria have been debated for centuries. Here we report a genomic time transect of 82 individuals spanning almost two millennia (800 BCE to 1000 CE) across Etruria and southern Italy. During the Iron Age, we detect a component of Indo-European­associated steppe ancestry and the lack of recent Anatolian-related admixture among the putative non­Indo-European­speaking Etruscans. Despite comprising diverse individuals of central European, northern African, and Near Eastern ancestry, the local gene pool is largely maintained across the first millennium BCE. This drastically changes during the Roman Imperial period where we report an abrupt population-wide shift to ~50% admixture with eastern Mediterranean ancestry. Last, we identify northern European components appearing in central Italy during the Early Middle Ages, which thus formed the genetic landscape of present-day Italian populations.

Ocular involvement in nasal natural killer T-cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of a case of paranasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) with ocular involvement. CASE REPORT: In March 2005 the patient presented with a maxillary sinusitis and upper nasal obstruction. In July she underwent a nasal computed tomography (CT) scan and multiple biopsies of the granulomatous tissue in the nasal fossae. The diagnosis was NK/T non-Hodgkin's lymphoma nasal type, stage IV A. Afterwards she presented anterior uveitis. In September after the diagnosis of lymphoma the patient underwent a bone marrow biopsy and thoracic and abdominal CT scan. An ophthalmic examination including visual acuity assessment and fundoscopic examination was made. In October she started chemotherapy cycles. Maxillary CT scan and ophthalmic examinations were performed during the cycles. In January 2006 after severe recurrences of panuveitis a diagnostic vitrectomy was performed. RESULTS: A diagnosis of T-lymphoma cells in the vitreous was made; the tumor was most likely originating from her paranasal NKTL. The condition of the patient deteriorated rapidly and she expired on February 2006. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal and paranasal sinus lymphomas are rare, but aggressive diseases with a tendency to invade tissues and spread to CNS, including the eye. Ocular manifestations prior to systemic ones may be useful to monitor the response to therapy.

G/R 241 polymorphism of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is associated with Fuchs uveitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate potential associations of the ICAM-1 gene polymorphisms and Fuchs uveitis in a cohort of Italian patients. METHODS: Seventy-one consecutive Italian patients affected by Fuchs uveitis were observed at the Ocular Immunology Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova (Reggio Emilia, Italy) from 2002 to 2008. Two hundred twenty-six healthy Italian blood donors from the same geographic area were selected as the control group. All Fuchs uveitis patients and control subjects were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotide techniques for ICAM-1 polymorphisms at codon 241 (exon 4). RESULTS: The frequency of the ICAM-1 G/R 241 polymorphism was significantly higher in Fuchs uveitis than in the control subjects (16.9% vs. 5.8%; P=0.006, Pcorr=0.012; odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-7.7). No significant association between clinical features and ICAM-1 polymorphisms was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time that the ICAM-1 G/R 241 polymorphism may represent a candidate gene for Fuchs uveitis susceptibility.