Novel mutation of OCRL1 in Lowe syndrome with multiple epidermal cysts

http://ift.tt/2pWrNmM

Retention of pigment stem cells in Rhododenol-induced leukoderma: Pathological investigation of 11 patients

http://ift.tt/2rhFvES

Desert dust contribution to PM10 loads in Italy: Methods and recommendations addressing the relevant European Commission Guidelines in support to the Air Quality Directive 2008/50

Publication date: July 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 161
Author(s): Francesca Barnaba, Andrea Bolignano, Luca Di Liberto, Matteo Morelli, Franco Lucarelli, Silvia Nava, Cinzia Perrino, Silvia Canepari, Sara Basart, Francesca Costabile, Davide Dionisi, Spartaco Ciampichetti, Roberto Sozzi, Gian Paolo Gobbi
In 2011 the European Commission (EC) released specific 'Guidelines' describing the methods to quantify and subtract the contribution of natural sources from the PM10 values regulated by the European Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC). This work investigates the applicability to Italy of the EC-Methodology suggested for desert-dust, describes main limitations encountered and proposes specific modifications embedded within a 'revised-Methodology' to extend/improve its use. The revised-Methodology capabilities are evaluated using original, chemically-resolved mineral-dust mass concentration measurements, showing better performances in predicting timing and absolute values of the desert-dust contribution to the daily-PM10 with respect to the current EC-approach. The revised-Methodology is then translated into an automatic (user-independent) tool tailored to the expected final-users. This tool is applied over Central Italy across a 3-year long period (2012–2014), and over the whole Italian country for a calendar year (2012). The derived results confirm and extend to Italian regions never addressed before some previously observed features of the desert-dust impact over the country, such as a clear latitudinal dependence of the desert-dust impact on the yearly average PM10 (from more than 5 μg/m³ to less than 0.5 μg/m³, going from south to north Italy). The modifications introduced within the revised-Methodology also suggest a non-negligible role of desert-dust resuspension in areas characterized by both high traffic levels and soil sealing (urban areas and along the major Italian routes). In the Rome area, such an effect is found to add a contribution of about 2 μg/m³ (i.e., of 20%) to the mean desert-dust load per dust day (about 10 μg/m³). At the national level, this effect contributes increasing the total number of desert-dust-driven exceedances of the PM10 daily limit value even in the northern regions, where the desert-dust impact on the PM10 yearly average is otherwise limited. These results also indicate the direction for possible mitigation strategies to be applied over impacted areas. The successful implementation of the revised-Methodology over Italy suggests it could represent a valid option for a nationwide standard procedure to quantify the desert-dust contribution to PM10, promoting the homogenisation of the relevant values annually reported to the EC.

Graphical abstract

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Association of neck circumference and pulmonary function in children

Publication date: Available online 17 May 2017
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Onur Akın, Mutluay Arslan, Cem Haymana, Erdem Karabulut, Bulent Hacihamdioglu, Suleyman Tolga Yavuz
BackgroundChildhood obesity leads to many complications including impaired respiratory function. There are various anthropometric parameters related to obesity.ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between anthropometric indices and pulmonary function test results in children without asthma.MethodsChildren without any respiratory disorders were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, neck circumference (NC), and waist circumference, were obtained from the enrollees and body mass index was calculated. Afterward, pulmonary function tests were performed using spirometry.ResultsA total of 178 children (106 boys, 59.5%) with a mean age of 9.7 years were included the study. NC was above the 90th percentile in 65 children. Importantly, pulmonary parameters, such as forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV1) and the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC), were lower in subjects with a large NC. Similarly, waist circumference was above the 90th percentile in 67 children, and FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in children with a large waist circumference. Moreover, there was a statistically significant negative correlation among FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and body mass index SD score. Also, multivariable linear regression analysis showed that an NC above the 90th percentile was associated with lower FEV1 and FEV1/FVC values.ConclusionWe identified NC as a novel anthropometric index that is strongly correlated with respiratory functions in children. Therefore, close monitoring of respiratory symptoms, particularly in children with obesity and a large NC, could help with early and prompt determination of respiratory complications of obesity.



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Computing the Social Brain Connectome Across Systems and States

Abstract

Social skills probably emerge from the interaction between different neural processing levels. However, social neuroscience is fragmented into highly specialized, rarely cross-referenced topics. The present study attempts a systematic reconciliation by deriving a social brain definition from neural activity meta-analyses on social-cognitive capacities. The social brain was characterized by meta-analytic connectivity modeling evaluating coactivation in task-focused brain states and physiological fluctuations evaluating correlations in task-free brain states. Network clustering proposed a functional segregation into (1) lower sensory, (2) limbic, (3) intermediate, and (4) high associative neural circuits that together mediate various social phenomena. Functional profiling suggested that no brain region or network is exclusively devoted to social processes. Finally, nodes of the putative mirror-neuron system were coherently cross-connected during tasks and more tightly coupled to embodied simulation systems rather than abstract emulation systems. These first steps may help reintegrate the specialized research agendas in the social and affective sciences.

http://ift.tt/2pNOgq4

Infliximab wirkt rasch gegen Psoriasis

In einer Vergleichsstudie haben Patienten mit Psoriasis unter Infliximab rascher einen PASI 75 erreicht als unter Etanercept. Längerfristig war aber kein Unterschied im Therapieerfolg festzustellen.

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Schwimmbadgranulom

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