bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vaccine Adjuvant MF59 Promotes Retention of Unprocessed Antigen in Lymph Node Macrophage Compartments and Follicular Dendritic Cells
Authors: Cantisani Rocco , Pezzicoli Alfredo , Cioncada Rossella , Malzone Carmine , De Gregorio Ennio , D’Oro Ugo , Piccioli Diego
Published: January 2015

Ag retention within lymph nodes (LNs) upon vaccination is critical for the development of adaptive immune responses, because it facilitates the encounter of the Ag with cognate lymphocytes. During a secondary exposure of the immune system to an Ag, immune complexes (ICs) that contain the unprocessed Ag are captured by subcapsular sinus macrophages and are transferred onto follicular dendritic cells, where they persist for weeks, facilitating Ag presentation to cognate memory B cells. The impact of adjuvants on Ag retention within the draining LNs is unknown. In this article, we provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that the oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant MF59 localizes in subcapsular sinus and medullary macrophage compartments of mouse draining LNs, where it persists for at least 2 wk. In addition, we demonstrate that MF59 promotes accumulation of the unprocessed Ag within these LN compartments and facilitates the consequent deposition of the IC-trapped Ag onto activated follicular dendritic cells. These findings correlate with the ability of MF59 to boost germinal center generation and Ag-specific Ab titers. Our data suggest that the adjuvant effect of MF59 is, at least in part, due to an enhancement of IC-bound Ag retention within the LN and offer insights to improve the efficacy of new vaccine adjuvants.
Cytotoxic Mediators in Paradoxical HIV–Tuberculosis Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome
Authors: Wilkinson Katalin A. , Walker Naomi F. , Meintjes Graeme , Deffur Armin , Nicol Mark P. , Skolimowska Keira H. , Matthews Kerryn , Tadokera Rebecca , Seldon Ronnett , Maartens Gary , Rangaka Molebogeng X. , Besra Gurdyal S. , Wilkinson Robert J.
Published: January 2015

Tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) frequently complicates combined antiretroviral therapy and antituberculosis therapy in HIV-1–coinfected tuberculosis patients. The immunopathological mechanisms underlying TB-IRIS are incompletely defined, and improved understanding is required to derive new treatments and to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. We performed longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of human PBMCs from paradoxical TB-IRIS patients and non-IRIS controls (HIV-TB–coinfected patients commencing antiretroviral therapy who did not develop TB-IRIS). Freshly isolated PBMC stimulated with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (hkH37Rv) were used for IFN-γ ELISPOT and RNA extraction. Stored RNA was used for microarray and RT-PCR, whereas corresponding stored culture supernatants were used for ELISA. Stored PBMC were used for perforin and granzyme B ELISPOT and flow cytometry. There were significantly increased IFN-γ responses to hkH37Rv in TB-IRIS, compared with non-IRIS PBMC (p = 0.035). Microarray analysis of hkH37Rv-stimulated PBMC indicated that perforin 1 was the most significantly upregulated gene, with granzyme B among the top five (log2 fold difference 3.587 and 2.828, respectively), in TB-IRIS. Downstream experiments using RT-PCR, ELISA, and ELISPOT confirmed the increased expression and secretion of perforin and granzyme B. Moreover, granzyme B secretion reduced in PBMC from TB-IRIS patients during corticosteroid treatment. Invariant NKT cell (CD3+Vα24+) proportions were higher in TB-IRIS patients (p = 0.004) and were a source of perforin. Our data implicate the granule exocytosis pathway in TB-IRIS pathophysiology. Further understanding of the immunopathogenesis of this condition will facilitate development of specific diagnostic and improved therapeutic options.
Macronutrient Deprivation Modulates Antigen Trafficking and Immune Recognition through HSC70 Accessibility
Authors: Deffit Sarah N. , Blum Janice S.
Published: January 2015

B lymphocytes exploit macroautophagy to capture cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins within autophagosomes. Fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes and endosomes facilitates content proteolysis, with the resulting peptides selectively binding MHC class II (MHC II) molecules, which are displayed for recognition by T lymphocytes. Nutrient deprivation or stress amplified this pathway, favoring increased MHC II presentation of cytoplasmic Ags targeted to autophagosomes. By contrast, this stress diminished MHC II presentation of membrane Ags including the BCR and cytoplasmic proteins that use the chaperone-mediated autophagy pathway. Whereas intracellular protease activity increased with nutrient stress, endocytic trafficking and proteolytic turnover of the BCR was impaired. Addition of macronutrients such as high molecular mass proteins restored endocytosis and Ag presentation, evidence of tightly regulated membrane trafficking dependent on macronutrient status. Altering cellular levels of the cytosolic chaperone HSC70 was sufficient to overcome the inhibitory effects of nutritional stress on BCR trafficking and Ag presentation. Together, these results reveal a key role for macronutrient sensing in regulating immune recognition and the importance of HSC70 in modulating membrane trafficking pathways during cellular stress.
Selective Blockade of CD28-Mediated T Cell Costimulation Protects Rhesus Monkeys against Acute Fatal Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Haanstra Krista G. , Dijkman Karin , Bashir Noun , Bauer Jan , Mary Caroline , Poirier Nicolas , Baker Paul , Scobie Linda , ’t Hart Bert A. , Vanhove Bernard
Published: January 2015

Costimulatory and coinhibitory receptor–ligand pairs on T cells and APC control the immune response. We have investigated whether selective blockade of CD28–CD80/86 costimulatory interactions, which preserves the coinhibitory CTLA4–CD80/86 interactions and the function of regulatory T (Treg) cells, abrogates the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rhesus monkeys. EAE was induced by intracutaneous immunization with recombinant human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (rhMOG) in CFA on day 0. FR104 is a monovalent, PEGylated-humanized Fab′ Ab fragment against human CD28, cross-reactive with rhesus monkey CD28. FR104 or placebo was administered on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. FR104 levels remained high until the end of the study (day 42). Placebo-treated animals all developed clinical EAE between days 12 and 27. FR104-treated animals did not develop clinical EAE and were sacrificed at the end of the study resulting in a significantly prolonged survival. FR104 treatment diminished T and B cell responses against rhMOG, significantly reduced CNS inflammation and prevented demyelination. The inflammatory profile in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain material was also strongly reduced. Recrudescence of latent virus was investigated in blood, spleen, and brain. No differences between groups were observed for the β-herpesvirus CMV and the polyomaviruses SV40 and SA12. Cross-sectional measurement of lymphocryptovirus, the rhesus monkey EBV, demonstrated elevated levels in the blood of FR104-treated animals. Blocking rhesus monkey CD28 with FR104 mitigated autoreactive T and B cell activation and prevented CNS pathology in the rhMOG/CFA EAE model in rhesus monkeys.
Comparative immunolocalization of the plasma membrane calcium pump and calbindin D28K in chicken retina during embryonic development
Authors: Tolosa de Talamoni N. , PÃ©rez A. , Riis R. , Smith C. , Norman M. L. , Wasserman R. H.
Published: January 2015

The immunolocalization of the plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) was studied in 4-week-old chick retina in comparison with calbindin D28K (CaBP) immunostaining. We have demonstrated that the monoclonal anti-PMCA antibody 5F10 from human erythrocyte plasma membrane crossreacts with a Ca2+ pump epitope of the cells from the neural retina. The immunolocalization of both proteins was also studied during the embryonic development of the chicken retina. At age 4.5 days, the cells of the retina were faintly immunoreactive to PMCA and CaBP antibodies, but the lack of cellular aggregation and differentiation did not allow discrimination between the two proteins. A clear difference in the localization was seen from the tenth day of development through post-hatching with slight variation. PMCA localized mainly in the outer and inner plexiform layers, in some cells in the ganglion layer, in the nerve fiber layer and slightly in the photoreceptor cells. CaBP was intensely stained in cones, cone pedicles and some amacrine cells. The number of CaBP positive amacrine cells declined after hatching. A few ganglion cells and several nerve fibers were CaBP 333 immunoreactive. The role of these proteins in the early stages of retinal development is unknown, but the results suggest that Ca2+ homeostasis in the retina is well regulated, probably to avoid excessive accumulation of Ca2+, which often leads to neurodegeneration.
Zinc ions alter morphology and chitin deposition in an ericoid fungus
Authors: Lanfranco L. , Balsamo R. , Martino E. , Perotto S. , Bonfante P.
Published: January 2015

A sterile mycelium PS IV, an ascomycete capable of establishing ericoid mycorrhizas, was used to investigate how zinc ions affect the cellular mechanisms of fungal growth. Asignificant reduction of the fungal biomass was observed in the presence of millimolar zinc concentrations; this mirrored conspicuous changes in hyphal morphology which led to apical swellings and increased branching in the subapical parts. Specific probes for fluorescence and electron microscopy localised chitin, the main cell wall polysaccharide, on the inner part of the fungal wall and on septa in control specimens. In Zn-treated mycelium, hyphal walls were thicker and a more intense chitin labelling was detected on the transverse walls. Aquantitative assay showed a significant increase in the amount of chitin in metal- treated hyphae.
Effects of ageing on peroxidase activity and localization in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeds
Authors: Scialabba A. , Bellani L. M. , Dell'Aquila A.
Published: January 2015

Peroxidase activity was assayed in crude extracts of integument, cotyledons and embryo axis of radish seeds, deteriorated under accelerated ageing conditions. Over five days of ageing, in which germination decreased from 100 to 52%, the enzyme activity in integument was higher than that in other seed parts, increasing in the first days of ageing and then decreasing sharply in extremely aged seeds. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed four peroxidase isoenzymes with MM of 98, 52.5, 32.8 and 29.5 kDa in the embryo axis of unaged seeds, and only the 32.8 and 29.5 kDa MM isoforms in the integument and cotyledons. In these parts of the seed, only the 29.5 kDa MM isoenzyme increased in activity in early days of ageing and decreased thereafter. In the embryo axis, the 29.5 kDa MM isoenzyme activity increased slowly in the first day of ageing, while the 98 and 52.5 kDa MM isoenzyme activities disappeared. A cytochemical localization of peroxidase activity in the various tissues showed that main differences between unaged and extremely aged seeds occurred in the embryo axis.
Use of periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde for the fixation of multiple antigens in human skin biopsies
Authors: Pieri L. , Sassoli C. , Romagnoli P. , Domenici L.
Published: January 2015

Periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde (PLP) has been proposed as a fixative for glycoprotein antigens which should stabilize periodate oxidized polysaccharide chains through lysine mediated crosslinks, either directly or by the intermediation of formaldehyde. In spite of premises and attempts reported in the literature, this fixative has never become popular for the study of membrane antigens of immune system cells, which leads to doubts on its real efficacy. We have addressed this issue in biopsies of human skin and found that PLP followed by cryoprotection with 30% sucrose and cryosectioning, or PLP fixation of isolated epidermal sheets, consistently provided for good preservation of morphology and intense labeling of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, CD1a, CD4, CD8, E-cadherin, cytokeratins in general, cytokeratin-18 in particular, and bromodeoxyuridine, incorporated by cycling cells in vitro, and for the demonstration of tyrosinase enzyme activity. PLP-fixed, osmicated and epon-embedded epidermal sheets proved as good as sheets fixed 365 with a mixture of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde for electron microscopic morphological analysis. Also, these sheets were amenable to immunoperoxidase staining of Langerhans cell membrane antigen CD1a and keratinocyte membrane antigen E-cadherin before being osmicated and prepared for electron microscopy. In a parallel paper, we had also shown that oral mucosa biopsies fixed in PLP showed good morphology and immunolabeling of CD54, CD80, CD83 and CD86. Therefore, we conclude that PLP can be proposed as a multi-task fixative for light and electron microscopic analysis of membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens of immune system cells and keratinocytes.
XXXVIII Congresso Nazionale AIEOP, Roma 9-11 giugno 2013 - Abstracts
Authors: Editors the
Published: January 2015

XXXVIII Congresso Nazionale AIEOP, Roma 9-11 giugno 2013 - Abstracts
Giornate AIEOP 2012 - Riccione, 11-13 Novembre 2012
Authors: Editors the
Published: January 2015

Le GIORNATE AIEOP 2012 rinnovano l’incontro di aggiornamento a cadenza annuale riservato agli iscritti all'AIEOP e a chi è impegnato nei Centri di Oncoematologia Pediatrica.
Development of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Patient with Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma: Clonal Identity between Two B-Cell Neoplasms
Authors: Shiseki Masayuki , Masuda Akihiro , Watanabe Norimichi , Fujii Masami , Kimura Tomofumi , Yoshinaga Kentaro , Mori Naoki , Teramura Masanao , Motoji Toshiko
Published: January 2015

Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM)/ lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is an indolent mature B-cell neoplasm. In rare cases of WM/LPL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) develops as a result of histologic transformation. In this report, we present a case of DLBCL developing in a patient with WM/LPL. Combination chemotherapy for DLBCL was effective and complete remission was eventually achieved. We attempted to determine the clonal relatedness between WM/LPL and DLBCL in the patient by analyzing complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. A common CDR3 sequence was found in tumor cells of DLBCL and those of WM/LPL, indicating that tumor cells of DLBCL are clonally identical to those of WM/LPL. Therefore, in the present case, DLBCL is developed from WM/LPL cells by clonal evolution.
Tricuspid Regurgitant Velocity Elevation in a Three-Year Old Child with Sickle Cell Anemia and Recurrent Acute Chest Syndromes Reversed Not by Hydroxyurea but by Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Colombatti Raffaella , Varotto Elena , Ricato Silvia , Nardo Daniel , Maschietto Nicola , Teso Simone , Pillon Marta , Messina Chiara , Milanesi Ornella , Sainati Laura
Published: January 2015

Elevated Tricuspid Regurgitant Velocity (TRV) has been related to higher mortality in adults and to hemolysis, lower oxygen saturation during 6-minute walk test and acute chest syndrome (ACS) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Hydroxyurea (HU) has reduced TRV value in children and adults. We describe a three year old HbSS child with recurrent ACS, hypoperfusion of the left lung, mild hemolysis and persistent TRV elevation. TRV did not normalize after HU, despite improvement in clinical conditions and in baseline laboratory parameters related to hemolysis and blood viscosity, but normalized after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Our experience suggests that in young patients, TRV reduction can be a positive concomitant effect of BMT.
Acquisition of Mixed Lineage Leukemia Rearrangement in a Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patient While on Imatinib
Authors: Zámečníkova Adriana
Published: January 2015

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder with a specific genetic abnormality, the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) generating the BCR-ABL1 gene fusion [...]
A Report of Disseminated Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Authors: Valle Alonso Joaquín , Fonseca Javier , Lopera Lopera Elisa , Aguayo Miguel Ángel , Hernandez Montes Yelda , Llamas Jose Carlos
Published: January 2015

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, peripheral thrombocytopenia, and organ failure of variable severity. TMAs encompass thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), typically characterized by fever, central nervous system manifestations and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which renal failure is the prominent abnormality. In patients with cancer TMAs may be related to various antineoplastic drugs or to the malignant disease itself. The reported series of patients with TMAs directly related to cancer are usually heterogeneous, retrospective, and encompass patients with hematologic malignancies with solid tumors or receiving chemotherapy, each of which may have distinct presentations and pathophysiological mechanisms. Patients with disseminated malignancy who present with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia may be misdiagnosed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Only a few cases of TTP secondary to metastatic adenocarcinoma are known in the literature. We present a case of a 34-year-old man with TTP syndrome secondary to metastatic small-bowel adenocarcinoma. Patients with disseminated malignancy had a longer duration of symptoms, more frequent presence of respiratory symptoms, higher lactate dehydrogenase levels, and more often failed to respond to plasma exchange treatment. A search for systemic malignancy, including a bone marrow biopsy, is appropriate when patients with TTP have atypical clinical features or fail to respond to plasma exchange.
Bosentan and Oral Anticoagulants in HIV Patients: What We Can Learn of Cases Reported So Far
Authors: Morales-Molina José Antonio , Martínez-de la Plata Juan Enrique , Urquízar-Rodríguez Olivia , Molina-Arrebola María Angustias
Published: January 2015

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is an infrequent but nevertheless serious life-threatening severe complication of HIV infection. It can be treated with bosentan and oral anticoagulants. Bosentan could induce the acenocoumarol metabolism and it increases the INR values. Until now, no study of interaction between bosentan and oral anticoagulants in HIV patients has reported. So we present a case of this interaction between these drugs and we reviewed MEDLINE to identify all the papers published so far. In our case, several weeks after increasing dose of bosentan acenocoumarol dose had to be progressively increased to 70 mg/week (+33%) without obtaining an adequate INR level (2.0–3.0). Forty-nine days later, we achieved a therapeutic INR with 90 mg/week of warfarin. The use of bosentan and oral anticoagulants together in these patients require a closer monitoring during first weeks of treatment, after increasing the bosentan dose and even during longer periods of time.
Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia with FIP1L1-PDGFRA Transcripts after Occupational and Therapeutic Exposure to Radiation
Authors: Balatzenko Gueorgui , Stoyanov Nikolay , Bekrieva Elena , Guenova Margarita
Published: January 2015

We present for the first time a 40-year-old male patient with a 20 year history of occupational exposure to radiation as a nuclear power plant worker, who developed FIP1L1-PDGFRA-positive chronic eosinophilic leukaemia 27 months after radiotherapy for testicular seminoma. After an one-year history of dry cough, itching and night sweats, the patient presented with an elevated leukocyte count with absolute eosinophilia of 14.2 × 109/L, bone marrow and lymph node involvement. Treatment with Imatinib was initiated, resulting in complete haematological remission at the sixth month and complete molecular response by nested primers reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction–at the end of the first year. This case contributes for the clinical heterogeneity of FIP1L1-PDGFA–positive myeloproliferative neoplasms and the possible role of occupational and therapeutic radiation, raising the question if one or both of them might be the causative factor.
Cholesterol Esterification during Differentiation of Mouse Erythroleukemia (Friend) Cells
Authors: Mulas Maria Franca , Mandas Antonella , Abete Claudia , Dessì Sandra , Mocali Alessandra , Paoletti Francesco
Published: January 2015

Cholesterol is an essential constituent of all mammalian cell membranes, and its availability is therefore a prerequisite for cellular growth and other functions. Several lines of evidence are now indicating an association between alterations of cholesterol homeostasis and cell cycle progression. However, the role of cholesterol in cell differentiation is still largely unknown. To begin to address this issue, in this study we examined changes in cholesterol metabolism and in the mRNA levels of proteins involved in cholesterol import and esterification (multi-drug resistance, MDR-3) and acylCoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and cholesterol export (caveolin-1) in Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia cells (MELC), in the absence or in the presence of the chemical inducer of differentiation, hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). FBS-stimulated growth of MELC was accompanied by an immediate elevation of cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol esterification, and by an increase in the levels of MDR-3 and ACAT mRNAs. A decrease in caveolin-1 expression was also observed. However, when MELC were treated with HMBA, the inhibition of DNA synthesis caused by HMBA treatment, was associated with a decrease in cholesterol esterification and in ACAT and MDR-3 mRNA levels and an increase in caveolin-1 mRNA. Detection of cytoplasmic neutral lipids by staining MELC with oil red O, a dye able to evidence CE but not FC, revealed that HMBA-treatment also reduced growth-stimulated accumulation of cholesterol ester to approximately the same extent as the ACAT inhibitor, SaH. Overall, these results indicate for the first time a role of cholesterol esterification and of some related genes in differentiation of erythroid cells.
Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma Presenting with Primary Cardiac Involvement
Authors: Lepeak Lisa M. , Yang David T. , Chang Julie E.
Published: January 2015

Primary cardiac lymphoma is extremely uncommon. We report a case of a 54 year old Caucasian male with a history of non-small cell lung cancer treated by surgical resection who presented with chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. Computerized tomography (CT) imaging confirmed a 7.8 × 3.8 cm right atrial soft tissue mass infiltrating the lateral wall of the right atrium, and a 5 cm pericardiophrenic mass. Echocardiography confirmed a moderate pericardial effusion without tamponade physiology. Percutaneous biopsy of the pericardiophrenic mass revealed pathologic features diagnostic of NK/T-cell lymphoma. He received CHOP chemotherapy with some improvement in symptoms, but experienced radiographic progression after 2 cycles. He received palliative involved field radiotherapy but developed new sites of progressive disease within the abdomen and died shortly after completing radiotherapy. NK/T-cell lymphomas are aggressive tumors that may present with unusual extranodal disease sites. Prompt diagnosis with consideration for referral to a specialty center with experience in treatment of these rare tumors may offer the greatest potential for improving treatment outcomes.
9th International Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Scientific Conference, 20–24 May 2011 Kemer, Antalya—Turkey
Authors: PAGEPress Publications
Published: January 2015

HHT shows considerable clinical variability in severity of phenotypes even within families harboring the same pathogenic mutation, suggestive of environmental and/or genetic factors that modify the penetrance and expressivity of the clinical manifestatio [...]
Awareness, Treatment, And Control of Hypertension among Adult Population in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past Decade
Authors: Pilav Aida , Doder Vildana , Branković Suada
Published: January 2015

Background

Many studies throughout the world show that hypertension is not effectively treated and controlled, which continued to pose an important challenge in health systems in the world.

Design and methods

Population surveys were carried out in 2002 and 2012 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH) on representative sample at the age of 25-64. The surveys used systematic stratified sample. Questionnaires and anthropometric measure protocols were adapted from internationally recommended surveys.

Results

In the past ten years there has been a slight increase in hypertension prevalence in researched population (41% vs. 42%). Percentage of hypertensive male and female respondents who are not aware of their hypertension actually dropped in the past decade from 54.3% to 51.4%. In 2002 total number of hypertensive respondents aware of their hypertension included 8.1% of male respondents and 10.3% female respondents whose condition was not treated and this rate effectively dropped during the 10-year period. Number of hypertensive, treated, and uncontrolled respondents dropped as reported in the 2012 survey; consequently percentage of hypertensive, treated, and controlled respondents in the 2012 survey increased, in particular in female population.

Conclusions

Investments in primary health care, improved availability, and improved quality of health care in the FBIH in the past 10 years can explain increased rate of hypertension detection and treatment; however, efforts should be continued to introduce hypertension screening programs and hypertension control programs.
Bilateral Ultrasound Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in A Patient Affected from Menkes Disease
Authors: Galante Dario , Caruselli Marco , Dones Francesco , Meola Salvatore , Russo Gianluca , Pellico Giuseppe , Caso Antonio , Lambo Massimo , Donadei Flora , Mincolelli Giuseppe
Published: January 2015

This case report demonstrates the utility and safety of ultrasound transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in a paediatric patient suffering from Menkes disease. Anaesthetists, and particularly paediatric and neonatal anaesthetists, have to make a careful assessment of these patients, who are subjected to frequent surgeries, despite their tender years. These operations are often necessary in order to improve the patient’s quality of life as much as possible. The choice of anaesthetic technique must take the particular nature of the disease and the patient’s medical history into consideration, while careful preparation and preoperative evaluations make it possible to administer the general or local anaesthetic safely. Official literature on the subject does not provide sufficient information about the use of local anaesthetic techniques. Moreover, the use of ultrasound TAP block in patients affected by Menkes disease has never been published in literature. In our experience, ultrasound TAP block has provided positive results, although the rarity of this childhood disease makes a detailed study difficult.
Successful Use of Antihistamines in Severe Hypereosinophilia
Authors: Vallero Stefano , Mondino Anna , Farinasso Loredana , Ansaldi Giulia , Davitto Mirella , Ramenghi Ugo
Published: January 2015

Eosinophilia is common in childhood, and in most cases it is mild and of limited clinical relevance, being often secondary to allergy or infections. In rare cases, eosinophilia may be idiopathic or related to neoplastic aetiology. When severe and protracted, it can cause potentially irreversible organ or system damage, whose prevention is the first priority in the clinical management of hypereosinophilia. We describe the case of a patient with very severe eosinophilia, in whom antihistamines proved to be effective and safe in contributing to the eosinophil count normalization, thus avoiding the use of steroids until the hypothesis of an underlying neoplastic disorder was reasonably excluded.
Chronic ringworm infestation and Marjolin's ulcer, an association unknown in the literature
Authors: Ashraf Mohammad , Biswas Jaydip
Published: January 2015

We report here a case of Marjolin's ulcer developing in a long-standing, inadequately treated, chronic ringworm infestation of the lower limb. A 35-year-old female patient with a ten-year history of a chronic ringworm infestation had developed a nonhealing ulcer in an area of infestation on the right leg. A biopsy revealed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma associated with the ringworm infection. A below-knee amputation by an inguinal block dissection was performed. We conclude that proper and timely treatment of fungal infections of the skin is needed to allow for healing of dermal infections and thus the prevention of the disastrous consequences that recurrent mechanical trauma from scratching of the affected area, leading to occult malignancy, which may occur in a small number of patients.
Granular cell tumour of the urinary bladder
Authors: Knief Juliana , Becker Jan Ulrich , Kreipe Hans-Heinrich , Kuczyk Markus Antonius , Gabuev Alexander , von Klot Christoph
Published: January 2015

With only 16 cases reported in the literature, the mostly benign granular cell tumour of the urinary bladder is exceptionally rare. We present the case of a 68-year old patient with one of these lesions demonstrating our histological findings including several immunohistochemical stainings used to differentiate between other more common entities.
A global survey of cloud overlap based on CALIPSO and CloudSat measurements
Authors: Li J. , Huang J. , Stamnes K. , Wang T. , Lv Q. , Jin H.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Using 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR (radar–lidar) cloud classification and 2B-FLXHR-LIDAR radiation products from CloudSat over 4 years, this study evaluates the co-occurrence frequencies of different cloud types, analyzes their along-track horizontal scales and cloud radiative effects (CREs), and utilizes the vertical distributions of cloud types to evaluate cloud-overlap assumptions. The statistical results show that high clouds, altostratus (As), altocumulus (Ac) and cumulus (Cu) tend to coexist with other cloud types. However, stratus (St) (or stratocumulus, Sc), nimbostratus (Ns) and convective clouds are much more likely to exhibit individual features than other cloud types. On average, altostratus-over-stratus/stratocumulus cloud systems have a maximum horizontal scale of 17.4 km, with a standard deviation of 23.5 km. Altocumulus-over-cumulus cloud types have a minimum scale of 2.8 km, with a standard deviation of 3.1 km. By considering the weight of each multilayered cloud type, we find that the global mean instantaneous net CREs of multilayered cloud systems during the daytime are approximately −41.3 and −50.2 W m−2, which account for 40.1 and 42.3% of the global mean total net CREs at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface, respectively. The radiative contributions of high-over-altocumulus and high-over-stratus/stratocumulus (or cumulus) in the all multilayered cloud systems are dominant due to their frequency. Considering the overlap of cloud types, the cloud fraction based on the random overlap assumption is underestimated over vast oceans, except in the west-central Pacific Ocean warm pool. Obvious overestimations mainly occur over tropical and subtropical land masses. In view of a lower degree of overlap than that predicted by the random overlap assumption to occur over the vast ocean, particularly poleward of 40° S, the study therefore suggests that a linear combination of minimum and random overlap assumptions may further improve the predictions of actual cloud fractions for multilayered cloud types (e.g., As + St/Sc and Ac + St/Sc) over the Southern Ocean. The establishment of a statistical relationship between multilayered cloud types and the environmental conditions (e.g., atmospheric vertical motion, convective stability and wind shear) would be useful for parameterization design of cloud overlap in numerical models.
Laboratory photochemical processing of aqueous aerosols: formation and degradation of dicarboxylic acids, oxocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls
Authors: Pavuluri C. M. , Kawamura K. , Mihalopoulos N. , Swaminathan T.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. To better understand the photochemical processing of dicarboxylic acids and related polar compounds, we conducted batch UV irradiation experiments on two types of aerosol samples collected from India, which represent anthropogenic (AA) and biogenic aerosols (BA), for time periods of 0.5 to 120 h. The irradiated samples were analyzed for molecular compositions of diacids, oxoacids and α-dicarbonyls. The results show that photochemical degradation of oxalic (C2) and malonic (C3) and other C8-C12 diacids overwhelmed their production in aqueous aerosols whereas succinic acid (C4) and C5-C7 diacids showed a significant increase (ca. 10 times) during the course of irradiation experiments. The photochemical formation of oxoacids and α-dicarbonyls overwhelmed their degradation during the early stages of experiment, except for ω-oxooctanoic acid (ωC8) that showed a similar pattern to that of C4. We also found a gradual decrease in the relative abundance of C2 to total diacids and an increase in the relative abundance of C4 during prolonged experiment. Based on the changes in concentrations and mass ratios of selected species with the irradiation time, we hypothesize that iron-catalyzed photolysis of C2 and C3 diacids dominates their concentrations in Fe-rich atmospheric waters, whereas photochemical formation of C4 diacid (via ωC8) is enhanced with photochemical processing of aqueous aerosols in the atmosphere. This study demonstrates that the ambient aerosols contain abundant precursors that produce diacids, oxoacids and α-dicarbonyls, although some species such as oxalic acid decompose extensively during an early stage of photochemical processing.
Free amino acids in Antarctic aerosol: potential markers for the evolution and fate of marine aerosol
Authors: Barbaro E. , Zangrando R. , Vecchiato M. , Piazza R. , Cairns W. R. L. , Capodaglio G. , Barbante C. , Gambaro A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. To investigate the impact of marine aerosols on global climate change it is important to study their chemical composition and size distribution. Amino acids are a component of the organic nitrogen in aerosols, particles containing amino acids have been found to be efficient ice nuclei. The main aim of this study was to investigate the L- and D-free amino acid composition as possible tracers of primary biological production in Antarctic aerosols from three different areas: two continental bases, Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) on the coast of the Ross Sea, Concordia Station at Dome C on the Antarctic Plateau, and the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic continent. Studying the size distribution of amino acids in aerosols allowed us to characterize this component of the water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in marine aerosols near their source and after long-range transport. The presence of only free L-amino acids in our samples is indicative of the prevalence of phytoplanktonic material. Sampling at these three points allowed us to study the reactivity of these compounds during long-range transport. The mean total amino acid concentration detected at MZS was 11 pmol m−3, a higher percentage of amino acids were found in the fine fraction. The aerosol samples collected at Dome C had the lowest amino acid values (0.7 and 0.8 pmol m−3) and the coarse particles were found to be enriched with amino acids compared to the coastal site. The amino acid composition had also changed suggesting that physical and chemical transformations had occurred during long range transport. During the sampling cruise on the R/V talica on the Southern Ocean, high concentrations of amino acids were found in the total suspended particles, this we attribute to the presence of intact biological material in the sample.
Fiber optic distributed temperature sensing for the determination of air temperature
Authors: de Jong S. A. P. , Slingerland J. D. , van de Giesen N. C.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. This paper describes a method to correct for the effect of solar radiation in atmospheric distributed temperature sensing (DTS) applications. By using two cables with different diameters, one can determine what temperature a zero diameter cable would have. Such a virtual cable would not be affected by solar heating and would take on the temperature of the surrounding air. With two unshielded cable pairs, one black pair and one white pair, good results were obtained given the general consensus that shielding is needed to avoid radiation errors (WMO, 2010). The correlations between standard air temperature measurements and air temperatures derived from both cables of colors had a high correlation coefficient (r2=0.99) and a RMSE of 0.38 °C, compared to a RMSE of 2.40 °C for a 3.0 mm uncorrected black cable. A thin white cable measured temperatures that were close to air temperature measured with a nearby shielded thermometer (RMSE of 0.61 °C). The temperatures were measured along horizontal cables with an eye to temperature measurements in urban areas, but the same method can be applied to any atmospheric DTS measurements, and for profile measurements along towers or with balloons and quadcopters.
On the comparisons of tropical relative humidity in the lower and middle troposphere among COSMIC radio occultations, MERRA and ECMWF data sets
Authors: Vergados P. , Mannucci A. J. , Ao C. O. , Jiang J. H. , Su H.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The spatial variability of the tropical tropospheric relative humidity (RH) throughout the vertical extent of the troposphere is examined using Global Positioning System Radio Occultation (GPSRO) observations from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) mission. These high vertical resolution observations capture the detailed structure and moisture budget of the Hadley Cell circulation. We compare the COSMIC observations with the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Re-Analysis Interim (ERA-Interim) and the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) climatologies. Qualitatively, the spatial pattern of RH in all data sets matches up remarkably well, capturing distinct features of the general circulation. However, RH discrepancies exist between ERA-Interim and COSMIC data sets, which are noticeable across the tropical boundary layer. Specifically, ERA-Interim shows a drier Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) by 15–20% compared both to COSMIC and MERRA data sets, but this difference decreases with altitude. Unlike ECMWF, MERRA shows an excellent agreement with the COSMIC observations except above 400 hPa, where GPSRO observations capture drier air by 5–10%. RH climatologies were also used to evaluate intraseasonal variability. The results indicate that the tropical middle troposphere at ±5–25° is most sensitive to seasonal variations. COSMIC and MERRA data sets capture the same magnitude of the seasonal variability, but ERA-Interim shows a weaker seasonal fluctuation up to 10% in the middle troposphere inside the dry air subsidence regions of the Hadley Cell. Over the ITCZ, RH varies by maximum 9% between winter and summer.
Experimental test of the ρ(1-α) evolution for rotational discontinuities: cluster magnetopause observations
Authors: Blagau A. , Paschmann G. , Klecker B. , Marghitu O.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Rotational discontinuities (RDs) are governed by two relations: the Walén relation predicting that the plasma velocity observed in the deHoffmann–Teller frame equals the local Alfvén velocity and another relation that connects the variation in plasma mass density, ρ, to variations in the pressure anisotropy factor, α, defined as α: ≡(p∥ − p⊥) μ0/B2, so that ρ(1 − α) is constant. While the Walén relation has become a standard tool for classifying magnetopause crossings as RDs , the ρ(1 − α)= const. condition has never been directly verified at the same time, largely due to problems with determining ρ when no ion composition measurements were available. In fact, to overcome the lack of composition information, the validity of the relation has often been assumed and the Walén relation reformulated so that variations in ρ are replaced by variations in α. In this paper we exploit the availability of high-time-resolution composition measurements on the Cluster spacecraft to directly test the ρ (1− α)= const. condition for three magnetopause crossings, identified as RDs from the application of the Walén relation to measurements of plasma ions and magnetic field by the CIS (Cluster Ion Spectrometry) and FGM (flux-gate magnetometer) instruments, respectively. We find that the relation is not fulfilled in either case. In one event, with a fairly large content of oxygen ions, the Walén test improved when the contribution from these ions was taken into account. Through comparisons of the measured ion densities with simultaneously measured total electron densities by the Waves of HIgh frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron density by Relaxation (WHISPER) instrument, we were able to exclude the possibility that ion populations hidden to the CIS instrument because of their very low energies could have changed ρ to match the ρ(1 − α)= const. condition. We also excluded the possibility that energetic ions above the CIS energy range could have sufficiently changed the true α. It thus appears that the ρ(1 − α)= const. condition, for reasons not presently understood, is not valid for the kind of RD-like structures we observe.
Seasonal variations in concentration and lability of dissolved organic carbon in Tokyo Bay
Authors: Kubo A. , Yamamoto-Kawai M. , Kanda J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Concentrations of recalcitrant and bioavailable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and their seasonal variations were investigated at three stations in Tokyo Bay, Japan, and in two freshwater sources flowing into the bay. On average, recalcitrant DOC (RDOC), as a remnant of DOC after 150 days of bottle incubation, accounted for 78% of the total DOC in Shibaura sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent, 67% in the upper Arakawa River water, 66% in the lower Arakawa River water, and 78% in surface bay water. Bioavailable DOC (BDOC) concentrations, defined as DOC minus RDOC, were lower than RDOC at all stations. In freshwater environments, RDOC concentrations were almost constant throughout the year. In the bay, RDOC was higher during spring and summer than in autumn and winter because of freshwater input and biological production. The relative concentration of RDOC in the bay derived from phytoplankton, terrestrial, and open-oceanic waters was estimated to be 8–10, 21–32, and 59–69%, respectively, based on multiple regression analysis of RDOC, salinity, and chl a. In addition, comparison with previous data from 1972 revealed that concentrations of RDOC and BDOC have decreased by 33 and 74% at freshwater sites and 39 and 76% in Tokyo Bay, while the ratio of RDOC to DOC has increased. The change in DOC concentration and composition was probably due to increased amounts of STP effluent entering the system. Tokyo Bay exported mostly RDOC to the open ocean because of the remineralization of BDOC.
How can effect the synergy of climate change, soil units and vegetation groups the potential global distribution of plants up to 2300: a modelling study for prediction of potential global distribution and migration of the N2 fixing species Alnus spp.
Authors: Sakalli A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Plant migration is a well known adaptation strategy of plant groups or species with evidence from historical to present observation and monitoring studies. Importance of N2-fixing plants has increased in last decades. Alnus (alder) is an important plant group because of its nitrogen fixation ability. Alders are generally distributed in humid locations of boreal, temperate and tropical climate zones, where the nitrogen fixation is an important nitrogen source for other plants. To model the nitrogen fixation by alder, data about the global distribution of alder is absolutely required. In this study a new method and model are presented to predict the distribution of N2-fixing genus on global scale and its migration in the future by using climate change scenarios. Three linear functions were defined for the determination of climate niche of alders. The distribution and migration model (Alnus-Distribution-Model (ADM)) was improved with the aid of the soil units from FAO-Unesco Soil Database, and vegetation types from Schmithüsen's biogeographical atlas. The model was also developed to predict the impact of climate change on alder distribution by using climate data from experiments performed by the Community Climate System Model version 4 (CCSM4) including the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) mitigation scenarios, and extensions of the scenarios beyond 2100 to 2300. The model covered basic approaches to understand the combine effect of climate, soil and vegetation on plant distribution and migration in the current time and future.
On-line and off-line data assimilation in palaeoclimatology: a case study
Authors: Matsikaris A. , Widmann M. , Jungclaus J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Different ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) approaches for palaeoclimate reconstructions have been recently undertaken, but no systematic comparison among them has been attempted. We compare an off-line and an on-line ensemble-based method, with the testing period being the 17th century, which led into the Maunder Minimum. We use a low-resolution version of Max Planck Institute for Meteorology Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) to assimilate the Past Global Changes (PAGES) 2k continental temperature reconstructions. In the off-line approach, the ensemble for the entire simulation period is generated first and then the ensemble is used in combination with the empirical information to produce the analysis. In contrast, in the on-line approach, the ensembles are generated sequentially for sub-periods based on the analysis of previous sub-periods. Both schemes perform better than the simulations without DA. The on-line method would be expected to perform better if the assimilation led to states of the slow components of the climate system that are close to reality and the system had sufficient memory to propagate this information forward in time. In our comparison, which is based on analysing correlations and differences between the analysis and the proxy-based reconstructions, we find similar skill for both methods on the continental and hemispheric scales. This indicates either a lack of control of the slow components in our setup or a lack of skill in the information propagation on decadal timescales. Additional experiments are however needed to check whether the conclusions reached in this particular setup are valid in other cases. Although the performance of the two schemes is similar and the on-line method is more difficult to implement, the temporal consistency of the analysis in the on-line method makes it in general preferable.