Modern Iron Ooids of Hydrothermal Origin as a Proxy for Ancient Deposits.

We constrained the origin and genetic environment of modern iron ooids (sand-sized grains with a core and external cortex of concentric laminae) providing new tools for the interpretation of their fossil counterparts as well as the analogous particles discovered on Mars. Here, we report an exceptional, unique finding of a still active deposit of submillimetric iron ooids, under formation at the seabed at a depth of 80 m over an area characterized by intense hydrothermal activity off Panarea, a volcanic island north of Sicily (Italy). An integrated analysis, carried out by X-ray Powder Diffraction, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy reveals that Panarea ooids are deposited at the seafloor as concentric laminae of primary goethite around existing nuclei. The process is rapid, and driven by hydrothermal fluids as iron source. A sub-spherical, laminated structure resulted from constant agitation and by degassing of CO2-dominated fluids through seafloor sediments. Our investigations point the hydrothermal processes as responsible for the generation of the Panarea ooids, which are neither diagenetic nor reworked. The presence of ooids at the seawater-sediments interface, in fact, highlights how their development and growth is still ongoing. The proposed results show a new process responsible for ooids formation and gain a new insight into the genesis of iron ooids deposits that are distributed at global scale in both modern and past sediments.

Microterracettes in Sabkha Oum Dba (Western Sahara, Morocco): Physical and Biological Interactions in the Formation of a Surface Micromorphology.

Small-scale terracing (microterracettes) is a surface geomorphic feature that recurs under a range of environmental settings, such as those existing in high to low temperature geothermal springs and evaporitic environments, through the single or combined action of physicochemical agents and microbiological processes. Such morphology can also be observed in a confined sector of the Sabkha Oum Dba, which is an inland sabkha of the Western Sahara (Morocco), where field and laboratory investigations revealed that they primarily depend on the accumulation of naviculoid diatoms. Through their biofilm production ability, these benthic diatoms are able to stabilize surface morphologies and make organic alveolar frameworks where the precipitation of low Mg calcite occurs in areas subjected to active oxygenic photosynthesis. Because microterracettes arise in a specific set of environmental conditions, they have environmental significance and, thanks to a high fossilization potential due to mineral precipitation, they can be an effective source of biomorphological and chemical evidence for life. The relationship with aqueous environments, considered to be widespread on Mars especially during a period of intense hydrologic activity as in the late Noachian and Hesperian periods, make the understanding of surficial processes useful (such as the formation of microterracettes) whose formation is frequent in terrestrial analogues for martian environments, such as ephemeral saline continental lakes (sabkhas) and related to the products of bacterial and eukaryotic life, as in the case of biofilms, in search for similar life forms beyond Earth.

Somatostatin receptors over-expression in castration resistant prostate cancer detected by PET/CT: preliminary report of in six patients.

Prostate cancer (PC) is usually characterized by an excellent prognosis, largely due to little biological aggressiveness and the power of hormonal deprivation therapy. In spite of these favorable characteristics, however, a significant quota of patients does not respond to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and develop a progressive disease. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is defined by disease progression in spite of ADT. This progression may show any combination of a rise in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), clinical and radiological progression of pre-existing disease, and appearance of new metastases. This event is a striking change in the clinical scenario, since the power of treatment for CRPC patients with distant metastases is very limited. Somatostatin is a hormone produced by neuroendocrine cells. Its distant effects are mediated by the binding to five specific receptors, which are the most striking parameter for neuroendocrine. Various synthetic somatostatin agonists able to bind to the receptors have been synthesized during the past two decades for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Octreotide, the most popular of these, is widely used to treat patients affected by neuroendocrine tumors. A number of researches carried out in the past evaluated the possible neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) of PC cells in the castration resistant phase. If proved, the presence of a specific class of receptor on cell's surfaces should give a potentially biological target to be used for therapy. However, these studies led to contradictory results. Aim of our phase III diagnostic trial was to study "in vivo" the over-expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) in CRPC patients by PET/CT after the administration of the somatostatin analog [(68)Ga-DOTANOC,1-Nal(3)]-octreotide labeled with (68)Ga. Every area of increased uptake corresponding to a metastasis detected with other methods was considered as SSTRs expressing. False positivity to SSTRs expression was considered those localizations with a suspicious uptake not confirmed by other radiologic procedures. On the other hand, metastatic lesions lacking the radiopharmaceutical's uptake were considered not SSTRs expressing metastases. The preliminary results in 6 of the 67 patients scheduled by our phase III trial showed metastases with a variable SSTRs expression in 2 patients.

Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Prostate Cancer Metastases Evidenced "in Vivo" by 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT: Two Cases.

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in men. This neoplasm has usually excellent prognosis, mostly consequent to the early diagnosis and the effective hormonal therapy. However, significant percentages of patients treated with total androgen blockade therapy, escape to treatment and evolve toward a more aggressive type of cancer. This clinical entity, named castration-resistant prostate cancer, has few and less effective therapeutic opportunities. Therefore, any additional information concerning possible biological targets to therapy is welcome. Here we describe two cases in which 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT evidenced the somatostatin receptor overexpression by prostate metastases. The presence of these receptors may support with a more strong evidence the possibility to administer somatostatin analogs as an adjuvant therapy.

Pemetrexed as second-line chemotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer after docetaxel failure: results from a phase II study.

OBJECTIVE: Although there is no standard treatment after docetaxel failure in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), second-line chemotherapy is increasingly required. Its mechanism of action and toxicity profile make pemetrexed suitable for testing in this setting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with docetaxel-resistant CRPC received pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks for 6 courses. The usual premedication with vitamin supplementation and dexamethasone prophylaxis was regularly administered. The primary objective was to quantify the biochemical response rate. RESULTS: The biochemical response rate was 10.5% (95% CI 1.3-33.1), with 2 patients showing a reduction in prostate specific antigen (PSA) of ≥50%. The null hypothesis that the PSA response rate would be less than 20% was therefore accepted, and patient accrual was stopped after the evaluation of the 19th patient. The 1-year overall survival rate was 61.5%, with a median survival of 14 months. A considerable proportion of the patients (36%) were withdrawn from the study because of hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with pemetrexed in CRPC patients appears discouraging in terms of activity and toxicity. No further studies of this drug should be performed in CRPC patients.

Microbial colonization of the salt deposits in the driest place of the Atacama Desert (Chile).

The Atacama Desert (Chile), one of the most arid places on Earth, shows hostile conditions for the development of epilithic microbial communities. In this study, we report the association of cyanobacteria (Chroococcidiopsis sp.) and bacteria belonging to Actinobacteria and Beta-Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla inhabiting the near surface of salt (halite) deposits of the Salar Grande Basin, Atacama Desert (Chile). The halite deposits were investigated by using optical, confocal and field emission scanning electron microscopes, whereas culture-independent molecular techniques, 16S rDNA clone library, alongside RFLP analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were applied to investigate the bacterial diversity. These microbial communities are an example of life that has adapted to extreme environmental conditions caused by dryness, high irradiation, and metal concentrations. Their adaptation is, therefore, important in the investigation of the environmental conditions that might be expected for life outside of Earth.

Potential fossil endoliths in vesicular pillow basalt, Coral Patch Seamount, eastern North Atlantic Ocean.

The chilled rinds of pillow basalt from the Ampère-Coral Patch Seamounts in the eastern North Atlantic were studied as a potential habitat of microbial life. A variety of putative biogenic structures, which include filamentous and spherical microfossil-like structures, were detected in K-phillipsite-filled amygdules within the chilled rinds. The filamentous structures (∼2.5 µm in diameter) occur as K-phillipsite tubules surrounded by an Fe-oxyhydroxide (lepidocrocite) rich membranous structure, whereas the spherical structures (from 4 to 2 µm in diameter) are associated with Ti oxide (anatase) and carbonaceous matter. Several lines of evidence indicate that the microfossil-like structures in the pillow basalt are the fossilized remains of microorganisms. Possible biosignatures include the carbonaceous nature of the spherical structures, their size distributions and morphology, the presence and distribution of native fluorescence, mineralogical and chemical composition, and environmental context. When taken together, the suite of possible biosignatures supports the hypothesis that the fossil-like structures are of biological origin. The vesicular microhabitat of the rock matrix is likely to have hosted a cryptoendolithic microbial community. This study documents a variety of evidence for past microbial life in a hitherto poorly investigated and underestimated microenvironment, as represented by the amygdules in the chilled pillow basalt rinds. This kind of endolithic volcanic habitat would have been common on the early rocky planets in our Solar System, such as Earth and Mars. This study provides a framework for evaluating traces of past life in vesicular pillow basalts, regardless of whether they occur on early Earth or Mars.

Design and construction of the high-speed optoelectronic memory system demonstrator.

The high-speed optoelectronic memory system project is concerned with the reduction of latency within multiprocessor computer systems (a key problem) by the use of optoelectronics and associated packaging technologies. System demonstrators have been constructed to enable the evaluation of the technologies in terms of manufacturability. The system combines fiber, free space, and planar integrated optical waveguide technologies to augment the electronic memory and the processor components. Modeling and simulation techniques were developed toward the analysis and design of board-integrated waveguide transmission characteristics and optical interfacing. We describe the fabrication, assembly, and simulation of the major components within the system.

Anxiety levels in cancer patients and "life sound" experience.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: For the hospitalized cancer patient, time takes on a rhythm which is very different from the external reality. Based on the idea that time represents a fundamental dimension of human existence and is connected to future plans, time spent waiting and memories, we carried out this experience entitled "Life Sound" project. The objectives of the project were to experiment different and unusual ways of spending time in hospital in order to improve the quality of life of the hospitalized cancer patient, to help the patient adapt to the hospital environment, to encourage awareness of self and to give a different meaning to time spent in the hospital. In particular, we evaluated the reduction in the levels of anxiety, in psychological suffering and the improvement in communication. METHODS: We met with patients, family members, friends, volunteers and department personnel (doctors, psychologists, nurses) in a room in the Oncology and Hematology Department set aside specifically for recreation activities such as having a cup of tea while listening to music, talking, joking, listening to people's memories and celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other special days. The study, which involved 109 patients, was carried out through the use of the questionnaire STAI-Y distributed before and after the event. RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant difference in anxiety levels 2 hrs before participation (mean = 38.33) and 2 hrs after participation (mean = 34.77) in the program. This variation was also assessed based on gender, age, cancer stage, time since diagnosis and performance status but did not result in any statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The "Life Sound" project encourages the emergence of positive feelings, of a renewed willingness to invest in personal and caring relationships, which are connected to the patient's ability to face this illness, and the opening of new channels of communication with family members and hospital staff.

Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin: a safe and active regimen in poor prognosis advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cannot tolerate a cisplatin-based chemotherapy because of old age, general conditions, and/or multiorgan metastatic sites. Oxaliplatin is active in NSCLC, offers advantage in terms of toxicity, and shows synergism with gemcitabine. The aims of this phase II study were to evaluate the response rate and toxicity of the gemcitabine-oxaliplatin combination in patients with advanced NSCLC and poor prognosis. METHODS: Patients were given a gemcitabine infusion (1000 mg/m(2) over 30 min on days 1 and 8) followed by oxaliplatin (65 mg/m(2) over 120 min on days 1 and 8) every 21 days for six cycles. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with poor-prognosis advanced NSCLC received 136 cycles. There were 25 males and seven females, and the median age was 65 years (range 29-76). Fifty-six percent of patients had adenocarcinoma, and 31% had squamous cell carcinoma. Sixty-six percent of patients had stage IV disease, and 34% had stage IIIB disease. Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status was 2-3 in 50%, 1 in 44%, and 0 in 6% of patients. Eight patients (25%) had been previously treated with cisplatin or carboplatin. All patients were symptomatic. Of the 32 patients who received study drug, five (16%) achieved partial response, six (19%) had minor response, three (9%) had stable disease, and 15 (47%) progressed. The median overall survival was 27 weeks. Thirty-one patients were evaluable for toxicity: seven patients (23%) had grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia with no bleeding; four patients (13%) had grade 3-4 neutropenia with no febrile neutropenia, and three patients (10%) had grade 3 anemia. Two patients (6%) had grade 3, and six patients (19%) had grade 1-2 neurotoxicity. CONCLUSION: The combination of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin seems to be well tolerated and active in patients with poor prognosis advanced NSCLC and deserves further evaluation in phase II clinical trials.