A global sensitivity analysis approach applied to a multiscale model of microvascular flow.

A global sensitivity analysis of a multiscale computational model of microvascular flow is presented. A total of 140 simulations have been completed and analyzed varying 6 input parameters and considering their effects on 7 output variables. Interestingly, the vascular network topology has been found as a determinant factor for both vasculature-related and interstitium-related quantities. Regarding the firsts, the vascular network topology has obtained a score of 5.5/6 and 6/6 for average and spatial distribution respectively (where 6 is the maximum and 1 is the minimum). On the other hand, considering interstitium-related quantities, the score is 4/6 and 5/6 for average and spatial distribution respectively. These results suggest that the network topology has a significant influence on the outcome of the computational analysis.

A new method to evaluate patient characteristic response to ultrafiltration during hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Several factors are involved in the pathogenesis of dialysis discomfort interfering with optimal fluid removal and reducing the efficacy of the treatment; the most important one is a decrease in blood volume caused by an imbalance between ultrafiltration (UF) and plasmarefilling (PR) rates. OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed at devising a method to tailor the dialysis therapy to each individual patient, by analyzing the relationship between PR and UF during the sessions in stable patients and widening the knowledge of fluid exchanges during the treatment. METHODS: Thirty stable patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled. Three dialysis sessions were monitored for each patient; systemic pressure, blood composition, blood volume % variation, weight loss and conductivity were recorded repeatedly. A Plasma Refilling Index (PRI), defined and calculated by means of parameters measured throughout the dialysis, was introduced as a novel instrument to study plasma refilling phenomena. Results. The PRI provides understanding of patient response (in terms of plasma refilling) to the set UF. In the monitored sessions, the PRI trend is found to be characteristic of each patient; a PRI course that is at variance with the characteristic trend is a signal of inadequate or unusual dialysis scheduling. Moreover, statistical analysis highlights two different PRI trends during the first hour and during the rest of the treatment, suggesting the presence of different treatment phases. CONCLUSION: The main advantage of the PRI index is that it is non-invasive peculiar to each patient and easy to compute in a dialysis routine based on online data recorded by the monitor. A deviation from the characteristic trend may be a warning for the clinician. The analysis of the PRI trend also suggests how to modulate UF as a function of interstitial to intravascular fluid removal balance during dialysis.

A novel 2,3-benzodiazepine-4-one derivative AMPA antagonist inhibits G2/M transition and induces apoptosis in human leukemia Jurkat T cell line.

It has been shown that the antagonism of glutamate receptors activity was able inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several neuronal and non-neuronal cancer cell lines. In addition, it has been shown that glutamate might facilitate the spread and growth of leukemia T cells through interactions with AMPA receptors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the modulation of cell cycle elicited by a novel 2,3-benzodiazepine-4-one non-competitive AMPA antagonist derivative in the human leukemia Jurkat T cells. Our results indicated that the 1-(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-3,5-dihydro-7,8-ethylenedioxy-4h-2,3-benzodiazepin-4-one, named 1g, exerted a significant growth inhibition of leukemia Jurkat T cells in a time and dose dependent manner, arresting the transition of G2/M phase through activation of Myt-1. The molecule also induced apoptosis through the enhanced expression of the pro-apoptotic p53, and the inhibition of Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl, followed by the activation of caspase-3. The results suggested that compound 1g might act mostly as a cytostatic rather than cytotoxic compound. Although further studies are necessary, in order to identify others specific pathways involved in the activity of the present molecule, the presented results identified a novel molecule acting on specific G2/M checkpoint regulation pathway. Finally, our data suggest that compound 1g might be a good molecule for future development in the cancer research.

Fluorescence analysis of iodinated acetophenone derivatives.

In the present paper the synthesis and optical characterization of iodinated acetophenone, 4-hydroxy-3-iodoacetophenone and 4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodoacetophenone obtained from 4-hydroxyacetophenone, were carried out. The optical features of iodinated molecules were determined by performing the UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and thermal lens spectroscopies. The results showed that the optical properties of the 4-hydroxyacetophenone is altered when the iodine atom is inserted, as substituent, in the aromatic ring. Although it was determined that the optical feature was changed when one iodine atom was inserted in the aromatic ring (4-hydroxy-3-iodoacetophenone), the results revealed that emission behavior was strongly altered when two iodine atoms (4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodoacetophenone) were acting as substituents: the fluorescence quantum efficiency increases approximately 60%.

Somatotype of Italian rugby players.

Our aim was to collect lacking first-hand data on Italian rugby players. The Heath/Carter anthropometric somatotype method was applied to 28 "A" League performers (RP) aged 25 +/- 3.9 years of age. Their somatotypes and dimensions were compared with those found in previous studies on athletes involved in the same sporting activity, with data collected on 25 "sedentary" young Italians, and with Bailey et al.'s study on Canadians (1982). On average, the RP group resulted as being endomorphic mesomorphs (3.1 +/- 1.1 - 5.6 +/- 1.3 - 1.4 +/- 1.1), a result that is congruent with international data. They differed significantly from the balanced mesomorph CG (2.3 +/- 1.0 - 4.5 +/- 1.2 - 2.5 +/- 1.4) for all the measurements taken, apart from bi-epycondylar width. The peculiar somatotype scores found are congruent with the needs of rugby, an aerobic-anaerobic discipline which requires performers with great muscular power associated with a capacity to furnish energy, mainly through the anaerobic metabolism.

The morphotype in a group of peri-pubertal soccer players.

Few morphological data are available for adolescent soccer players (SP), a lack that could affect young-age talent selection. In order to collect lacking data for SP, 50 performers aged 13.1 +/- 0.5 years old were checked in one of the main "vivariums" of talented "A League" SP. All subjects were measured according to the Heath/Carter anthropometric somatotype method and subsequently, the results were compared with those found in relevant literature for adolescents. To gain further insight, the sample was subdivided into two classes, according to their performance level: beginners (B, n = 26) and those experienced (E, n = 24). Between B and E subjects significant differences were found for: weight, abdominal skinfold, calf circumference, body density (0.05 < p < 0.01); height, tricipital skinfold, humerus biepicondylar width, ponderal index, LBW, endo and ectomorph components (p < 0.01). B somatotype resulted to be: 1.6-4.3-3.5; while E: 2.2-4.5-2.9. Both in E and B sub-groups the distribution of somatotypes according to their component dominance revealed to be rather similar, indicating a substantial homogeneity inside the subgroups. When compared with adult SP, the whole sample shows a morphotype that is already adapted for soccer. Observing this, it is possible to infer that our adolescent group contains the morphotype needed to perform well (and probably to excel), in the considered sporting activity.

[Evaluation of the compliance to the proposal of anti-rubella vaccination]. / Valutazione dell'adesione alla proposta di vaccinazione anti-rosolia.

The incidence of acquired rubella in the females who have been interested by the proposal of vaccination, according to the selective strategy adopted in Italy, allows to appraise the national adhesion to this proposal lower than 50%. The values registered in Venetia suggest an adhesion rate near 80%, which is confirmed by datas about the regional use of vaccine. The punctual verify of vaccinal covering rate in a little Sanitary District in the Province of Treviso points out values higher than 90%.

Alcohol-induced bone marrow damage: status before and after a 4-week period of abstinence from alcohol with or without disulfiram. A randomized bone marrow study in alcohol-dependent individuals.

The investigation described in this paper has confirmed the existence of alcohol-induced bone marrow damage as a nosological entity in alcohol-dependent individuals. In our patients total abstinence from alcohol without disulfiram or similar drugs led to reversal of the pathological findings in peripheral blood and in bone marrow. In patients undergoing detoxification while taking disulfiram, on the other hand, the pathological bone marrow findings, especially erythropoiesis associated with impaired iron utilization, persisted. The metabolic pathway of disulfiram is discussed. It is probably justifiable to assume that the toxin responsible for alcohol-induced bone marrow damage is the ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde. The persistence of erythropoiesis with impaired iron utilization during abstinence from alcohol and treatment with disulfiram is also of importance in differential diagnosis from the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and especially from refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS). For this reason, where the situation is unclear, it is essential that a diagnosis of MDS be supported by specific investigations such as cell cultures, cytogenetic analyses, etc. It is the first time that the toxic, alcohol-like-effect of disulfiram on haematopoiesis is discussed.