Rummaging through the bin: Modelling marine litter distribution using Artificial Neural Networks

Marine litter has significant ecological, social and economic impacts, ultimately raising welfare and conservation concerns. Assessing marine litter hotspots or inferring potential areas of accumulation are challenging topics of marine research. Nevertheless, models able to predict the distribution of marine litter on the seabed are still limited. In this work, a set of Artificial Neural Networks were trained to both model the effect of environmental descriptors on litter distribution and estimate the amount of marine litter in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The first goal involved the use of self-organizing maps in order to highlight the importance of environmental descriptors in affecting marine litter density. The second goal was achieved by developing a multilayer perceptron model, which proved to be an efficient method to estimate the regional quantity of seabed marine litter. Results demonstrated that machine learning could be a suitable approach in the assessment of the marine litter issues.

Elastofibroma dorsi: clinicopathological analysis of 71 cases

INTRODUCTION

Elastofibroma dorsi (ELD) is a rare soft tissue benign tumor of the chest wall. So far, only a few large series have been reported in the English literature and, to the best of our knowledge, radiological assessment and clinical management remain without consensus. The aim of this study is to provide, on the basis of a single-institutional, homogeneous and large experience, ample evidences to support etiological and "clinical-usefulness-grade" classification hypotheses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report observational information on 71 ELD cases and, on the basis of these, we discuss the clinical onset features, radiological and surgical characteristics, as well as pathological and immunohistochemical evidences.

RESULTS

In the period between January 1994 and September 2009, 71 consecutive patients (23 male and 48 female; mean age: 60.2 years; standard deviation [SD] ± 8.3 years) with ELD diagnosis were surgically treated at our institution. ELD was right sided in 34 patients (47.9%), left in 25 (35.2%), and bilateral in 12 (16.9%). In nine patients, ELD were diagnosed synchronously and three metachronously. Thirty-eight patients (53.5%) had no significant symptoms; 33 (46.5%) reported a clunking sensation or a localized scapular swelling during the shoulder movements. Sixty-six (93%) patients underwent surgical excision with radical intent while in five patients, a biopsy-only procedure was undertaken. Mean hospital stay was 3.0 days (SD ± 1.2 days) with a morbidity of 10.6% (one case of major postoperative bleeding requested a surgical revision of the hemostasis). At the univariate analysis, the probability of occurrence of morbidity increases with tumor size. All operated patients are alive and well at follow-up with no sign of recurrence and complete resolution of the symptomatology.

CONCLUSIONS

ELD is relatively uncommon, benign, and well controlled by radical surgery.

IL-15 is expressed by dendritic cells in response to type I IFN, double-stranded RNA, or lipopolysaccharide and promotes dendritic cell activation

Cytokines that are induced by infection may contribute to the initiation of immune responses through their ability to stimulate dendritic cells (DCs). In this paper, we have addressed the role of IL-15 in DC activation, investigating its expression by DCs in response to three different signals of infection and examining its ability to stimulate DCs. We report that the expression of both IL-15 and the IL-15 receptor alpha-chain are increased in splenic DCs from mice inoculated with dsRNA (poly(I:C)), LPS, or IFN-alphabeta, and in purified murine splenic DCs treated with IFN-alphabeta in vitro. Furthermore, IL-15 itself was able to activate DCs, as in vivo or in vitro exposure of splenic DCs to IL-15 resulted in an up-regulation of costimulatory molecules, markedly increased production of IFN-gamma by DC and an enhanced ability of DCs to stimulate Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell proliferation. The magnitude of all of the IL-15-induced changes in DCs was reduced in mice deficient for the IFN-alphabeta receptor, suggesting a role for IFN-alphabeta in the stimulation of DCs by IL-15. These results identify IL-15 as a stimulatory cytokine for DCs with the potential for autocrine activity and link its effects to expression of IFN-alphabeta.

Cyclophosphamide induces type I interferon and augments the number of CD44(hi) T lymphocytes in mice: implications for strategies of chemoimmunotherapy of cancer

In a previous study, we reported that a single injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX) in tumor-bearing mice resulted in tumor eradication when the animals were subsequently injected with tumor-sensitized lymphocytes. Notably, CTX acted by inducing bystander effects on T cells, and the response to the combined CTX/adoptive immunotherapy regimen was inhibited in mice treated with antibodies to mouse interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta. In the present study, we have investigated whether CTX induced the expression of type I IFN, and we have characterized the CTX effects on the phenotype of T cells in normal mice. CTX injection resulted in an accumulation of type I IFN messenger RNA in the spleen of inoculated mice, at 24 to 48 hours, that was associated with IFN detection in the majority of the animals. CTX also enhanced the expression of the Ly-6C on spleen lymphocytes. This enhancement was inhibited in mice treated with anti-type I IFN antibodies. Moreover, CTX induced a long-lasting increase in in vivo lymphocyte proliferation and in the percentage of CD44(hi)CD4(+) and CD44(hi)CD8(+ )T lymphocytes. These results demonstrate that CTX is an inducer of type I IFN in vivo and enhances the number of T cells exhibiting the CD44(hi) memory phenotype. Since type I IFN has been recently recognized as the important cytokine for the in vivo expansion and long-term survival of memory T cells, we suggest that induction of this cytokine may explain at least part of the immunomodulatory effects observed after CTX treatment. Finally, these findings provide a new rationale for combined treatments with CTX and adoptive immunotherapy in cancer patients. (Blood. 2000;95:2024-2030)

[The lead concentration in the converted and special-formula milks used in infant feeding]

In the last years a strict correlation between chronic exposure to low lead doses and neuropsychological impairment in first childhood is often reported in literature. The authors have measured and than compared the lead content of milk-based formulas, of special-formulas (hypoallergenic-protein formulas, lactose-free formulas, proteic-hydrolysate formulas) and soya formulas. 20 samples of milk-based formula, have been measured along with, 22 samples of special formula and 14 samples of soya formula. Lead mean concentration in milk-based formula was 73 +/- 139.11 microgr./l, whereas 23.95 +/- 13.76 microgr./l and 22.57 +/- 13.42 were measured in special formula and soya formula respectively. These results were compared with Student t-test and no significative difference was found. Lead mean concentration of milk-based formula was higher than that of special formula or soya formula. The authors hope milk-formula industry to have a more specific control on lead milk content for children feeding. In order to avoid possible toxic injuries in little infants, industry should certainly pay more attention both in supplying and in technological management of milk.

Detection of C-myb genetic alterations and mutant p53 serum protein in patients with benign and malignant colon lesions

C-myb structural alterations were analysed by Southern blot hybridization in 55 adenomatous polyps and 21 adenocarcinomas of the colon. Gene amplification was observed in 8 cases (14.5%) and c-myb rearrangements in 3 cases (5.4%) of the preneoplastic lesions analysed. A higher percentage of c-myb abnormalities (23.8%) was shown by malignant tumors. As far as mutant p53 protein is concerned, it was detected both in sera of adenoma and adenocarcinoma patients, though at different levels. No statistically significant correlations were found between c-myb or p53 abnormalities and clinico-pathological variables.

Selection of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance is mandatory for a reliable use of interleukin-6 and other nonspecific multiple myeloma serum markers

Serum levels of various immunochemical markers of clinical interest, as interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M), were measured in sera from 98 subjects affected with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS; 80% of which bearing cancer too) and from 39 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). In addition, the ratio between serum IgG/IgA amounts (GAR) was also calculated in monoclonal gammopathies of IgG type. Consistent with our previous investigations, we found that tumor presence significantly influenced the serum levels of the various markers (except GAR) in MGUS patients; in fact, only when comparing MGUS without tumor and MM patients, was a clear difference observed for all markers considered. The data presented discourage the use of IL-6, CRP and beta 2M as discriminant indices between MGUS and MM patients, unless a careful selection of MGUS subjects is performed. Further investigations on these potential markers are therefore needed for a more rational clinical application.

[Osteochondrodysplasia: nosologic assessment and report of 6 clinical cases]

Osteochondrodysplasias represent an important group of disease affecting cartilage and/or bone. The clinical evidence of disarmoniuous low stature, of a disproportion between trunk and limbs length, of a big skull can suggest this diagnosis and the necessity to carry out all the instrumental investigations. The diagnostic suspect can be placed, some time, already in the neonatal period. The complexity of problems regarding the osteochondrodysplasias bearer child and his family requires a multidisciplinary approach. The Authors present a personal experience of six cases of osteochondrodysplasias observed in a period of fifteen years.

[An ovarian mass in childhood: a case report]

Ovarian tumors are a very heterogeneous group of neoplasms that rarely occur in pediatric age. When it happens, they are usually very malignant germ cell tumors such as embryonal carcinoma, endodermal sinus tumor or choriocarcinoma. We describe a case of a 14 years old girl who came to our observation because of an abdominal enlargement without others symptoms. The abdominal palpation revealed a big, round, painless mass from pelvic to epigastric region. A specific and accurate diagnosis was made by ultrasound. The histological examination of the surgical removed mass revealed a mucous cystadenoma that's a benign epithelial ovarian tumor.

[Lead concentrations in breast milk of women living in urban areas compared with women living in rural areas]

In the last twenty years a great interest has grown up about the accumulation of lead in the environment, because many studies have found relationship between exposure to low lead doses and neuropsychological impairment of children. The Authors have measured and then compared the lead content of milk from women living in city-areas and women living in rural areas, not having professional lead exposure. 34 samples of women milk from the rural areas and 20 samples from the city areas were examined: the lead mean concentration of the rural areas milk samples was 45.62 microgr/l with a range from 0 to 425 microgr/l; the mean concentration of the city areas samples was 126.55 microgr/l with a range from 1 to 472 microgr/l. The data were compared with the Student t-test and the difference was statistically significant at p = 0.01. The Authors examine the correlations between environmental lead accumulation and increased lead concentration in woman milk, laying stress on the possible hazard to health and neuropsychological development of children, mostly of those living in urban areas with heavy road traffic and industrial activity.

[Alkaptonuria with ochronosis and monoclonal gammopathy]

A case of alkaptonuria with ochronosis is described. It is suggested that such cases are not so much rare as unobserved. Their aetiology is to be sought in a metabolic error, though the pathogenesis is not clear. The syndrome is of interest because ochronosis, wich is the articular manifestation, is one of the few rheumatological affections with a certain aetiology. The case described is unusual on account of the presence of monoclonal gammopathy. Since the presence of myeloma and macroglobulinaemia could be excluded, an immunological relation was sought between the alkaptonuria and the particular serological picture.