Inversion of inherited thrusts by wastewater injection induced seismicity at the Val d'Agri oilfield (Italy).

Since 2006 wastewater has been injected below the Val d'Agri Quaternary basin, the largest on-land oilfield in Europe, inducing micro-seismicity in the proximity of a high-rate injection well. In this study, we have the rare opportunity to revise a massive set of 2D/3D seismic and deep borehole data in order to investigate the relationship between the active faults that bound the basin and the induced earthquakes. Below the injection site we identify a Pliocene thrusts and back-thrusts system inherited by the Apennines compression, with no relation with faults bounding the basin. The induced seismicity is mostly confined within the injection reservoir, and aligns coherently with a NE-dipping back-thrust favorably oriented within the current extensional stress field. Earthquakes spread upwards from the back-thrust deep portion activating a 2.5-km wide patch. Focal mechanisms show a predominant extensional kinematic testifying to an on-going inversion of the back-thrust, while a minor strike-slip compound suggests a control exerted by a high angle inherited transverse fault developed within the compressional system, possibly at the intersection between the two fault sets. We stress that where wastewater injection is active, understanding the complex interaction between injection-linked seismicity and pre-existing faults is a strong requisite for safe oilfield exploitation.

Early right hepatectomy for severe liver trauma: a case report.

Liver is frequently involved and injured in blunt abdominal trauma. Although over the last three decades the management of blunt hepatic trauma has gradually shifted toward nonoperative approach whit a significant reduction in overall mortality, surgery remains the main option for hemodinamically unstable patients whit severe liver injuries. A 16-yr-old male in good health suffered a blunt abdominal trauma from a sport accident falling while playing football resulting in a grade V liver injury according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Organ Injury Score. He underwent first to liver packing and next to an early right hepatectomy to arrest the clinical condition impairment In high grade liver injuries, liver resection makes possible to effectively control bleeding, remove necrotic tissue and prevent complications as bile leak. Nevertheless when patient's clinical condition continue to deteriorate despite optimal management a quickly and experienced hands performed hepatectomy may solve the situation.

Endothelial microparticles correlate with erectile dysfunction in diabetic men.

Cell-derived microparticles are supposed to be involved in endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate circulating microparticles in diabetic subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED) and their relation with endothelial dysfunction. Thirty diabetic men with ED and 20 age-matched control subjects without ED were assessed for circulating microparticles and endothelial dysfunction. Flow cytometry was used to assess microparticles by quantification of circulating endothelial (EMP, CD31(+)/CD42b(-)) and platelet (PMP, CD31(+)/CD42b(+)) microparticles in peripheral blood. Endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was evaluated in the right brachial artery after reactive hyperemia. Compared with non-diabetic subjects, diabetic men presented significantly higher numbers of EMP (P=0.001), and reduced FMD (P=0.01), with a significant inverse correlation between the number of circulating EMP and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score (r=-0.457, P=0.01). Multivariate analysis correcting for age, anthropometric indices, glucose and lipid parameters, FMD and PMP identified EMP as the only independent predictor for IIEF score (P=0.03). EMP are elevated in impotent diabetic subjects and independently involved in the pathogenesis of ED.

Clustering of Y chromosome deletions in subinterval E of interval 6 supports the existence of an oligozoospermia critical region outside the DAZ gene.

Y chromosome molecular analysis was performed using the STS-PCR technique in 50 patients with oligozoospermia. Microdeletions of interval 6 of the Y chromosome were detected in seven patients, in six of whom subinterval E was affected. All patients retained the RBM1 and DAZ genes, while in one deletion involved the SPGY gene. The size of the deletion was not apparently related to the severity of the disease. These results suggest the presence of an oligozoospermia critical region on the Y chromosome within subinterval E of interval 6.

Somatostatin and insulin secretion in man. IV. The role of calcium.

In this study we evaluated the influence of changes in serum calcium concentration upon somatostatin-mediated inhibition of insulin secretion in man. For this purpose, we investigated the effect of somatostatin in a group of subjects with hypoparathyroidism before and after correction of hypocalcemia and in normal subjects made hypercalcemic by exogenous calcium administration. In the presence of hypocalcemia, somatostatin caused an almost total inhibition of glucose-induced insulin secretion. In addition, somatostatin significantly decreased glucose tolerance in those hypocalcemic patients who exhibited normal tolerance under basal conditions [glucose utilization (kG), 1.44 +/- 0.13 before vs. 0.68 +/- 0.14 during somatostatin; P < 0.02]. Glucose tolerance was unaltered in those subjects who had a decreased glucose tolerance under basal conditions (kG, 1.01 +/- 0.1 before vs. 0.88 +/- 0.16 during somatostatin; P = NS). Under normocalcemic conditions, the insulin response to glucose and glucose tolerance were significantly greater than values measured during hypocalcemia. However, somatostatin blunted the insulin response to glucose and significantly decreased glucose utilization. These inhibitory effects of somatostatin upon insulin secretion and glucose tolerance were not reversed by a concurrent infusion of calcium (serum calcium, 6.9 +/- 0.3 meq/liter) in a group of normal subjects. Our data confirm the reduced insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in hypoparathyroidism and demonstrate that the suppressive effect of somatostatin upon glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is independent of changes in serum calcium concentration over a wide range.

[Effect of circulating insulin on liver damage by CCl4 in the rat. I. Biochemical studies]. / Effetti dell'insulina circolante sull'azione epatolesiva da CCl4 nel ratto. I. Aspetti bioumorali.

The authors have studied the damaging effects of CCl4 (0.05ml/Kg) in healthy rats, in alloxan-diabetic rats, and in rats treated with tolbutamide per os (100mg/Kg) for twenty days. Biochemical studies in these animals demonstrated that actually hyperinsulinemia has a preventive effect in relation to the damage produced by CCl4 as demonstrated by a decrease in bilirubinemia and transaminasemia.

[Effect of circulating insulin on liver damage by CCl4 in the rat. II. Histological aspects]. / Effetti dell'insulina circolante sull'azione epatolesiva da CCl4 nel ratto. II. Aspetti istologici.

The authors have studied the damaging effects of CCl4 (0.05ml/Kg) in healthy rats, in alloxan diabetic rats and in rats treated with tolbutamide per os (100mg/Kg) for twenty days. Histological studies in these animals demonstrated that actually hyperinsulinemia has a slight protective action on damage produced by CCl4 on rat liver.

[Acetylsalicylic acid and hormonal response in insulin induced hypoglycemia]. / Acido acetilsalicilico e risposta ormonale all'ipoglicemia indotta da insulina.

The influence of a short-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA 3,2 g/daily), an inhibitor of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis, on plasma glucose, glucagon and growth hormone responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, has been investigated in seven subjects. ASA caused a slight but significant reduction in basal glucose levels, but did not alter the pattern of glucagon and growth hormone secretion following hypoglycemia. On the basis of these results, it is hypothesized that endogenous prostaglandins are not implicated in the response of pancreatic alfa-cell to hypoglycemia.

Effects of prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin F2alpha on insulin and glucagon plasma levels during the intravenous glucose tolerance test in man.

The influence of prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin F2alpha on circulating concentrations of insulin and glucagon during the intravenous glucose tolerance test has been studied in normal man. Insulin responses to glucose during PGE1 infusion (0.2 microgram/Kg/min) were significantly lower than in control infusions (p less than 0.001 at 2, 5, 10 and 15 min). Moreover, PGE1 caused a clear elevation of basal glucagon (p less than 0.02). PGF2alpha, at the two doses used (0.2 and 0.5 microgram/Kg/min), had no effect on basal glucose, insulin and glucagon levels, nor upon glucose-induced insulin secretion. Neither prostaglandin affected the glucose-induced inhibition of pancreatic alpha-cells. There is thus some evidence that PGs of E series may play some role in modulating the secretion of human pancreatic beta-cells.

The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on insulin response to glucose and arginine in normal man.

In 14 normal subjects, treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 3.2 g daily for 3 days) a well known inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, caused a slight but significant decrease (p is less than 0.05) in basal plasma glucose levels; by contrast, basal insulin rose from 5 +/- 1 to 8 +/- 1 muU/ml (p is less than 0.01) after ASA. Pretreatment with ASA augmented the early insulin response to a standard IV glucose tolerance test (25 g) in 7 normal subjects (p is less than 0.05 at 2 min; p is less than 0.02 at 5 min; p is less than 0.01 at 10 min). No significant changes were detected in the rate of glucose utilization. 7 additional subjects received a standard arginine test without and with ASA pretreatment. Arginine stimulated insulin levels were increased after ASA (p is less than 0.01 at 15 min; p is less than 0.05 at 30 min; p is less than 0.05 at 45 min), whereas glucose values were lower than under basal conditions at all times, with significant differences at 105 (p is less than 0.02) and 120 (p is less than 0.05) min. A possible role of prostaglandins upon the insulin responses to glucose and arginine is discussed.