Magnetic resonance cavitation imaging for the monitoring of ultrasound therapies.

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach that can be used to generate thermal and non-thermal bioeffects. Several non-thermal FUS therapies rely on FUS-induced oscillations of microbubbles (MBs), a phenomenon referred to as cavitation. Cavitation monitoring in real time is essential to ensure both the efficacy and the safety of FUS therapies.

Therapeutic efficacy of intracerebral hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

The conditions supporting the generation of microglia-like cells in the central nervous system (CNS) after transplantation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) have been studied to advance the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we explored the transplantation efficacy of different cell subsets and delivery routes with the goal of favoring the establishment of a stable and exclusive engraftment of HSPCs and their progeny in the CNS of female mice. In this setting, we show that the CNS environment drives the expansion, distribution and myeloid differentiation of the locally transplanted cells towards a microglia-like phenotype.

An innovative hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy approach benefits CLN1 disease in the mouse model.

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) can establish a long-lasting microglia-like progeny in the central nervous system of properly myeloablated hosts. We exploited this approach to treat the severe CLN1 neurodegenerative disorder, which is the most aggressive form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses due to palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1 (PPT1) deficiency. We here provide the first evidence that (i) transplantation of wild-type HSPCs exerts partial but long-lasting mitigation of CLN1 symptoms; (ii) transplantation of HSPCs over-expressing hPPT1 by lentiviral gene transfer enhances the therapeutic benefit of HSPCs transplant, with first demonstration of such a dose-effect benefit for a purely neurodegenerative condition like CLN1 disease; (iii) transplantation of hPPT1 over-expressing HSPCs by a novel intracerebroventricular (ICV) approach is sufficient to transiently ameliorate CLN1-symptoms in the absence of hematopoietic tissue engraftment of the transduced cells; and (iv) combinatorial transplantation of transduced HSPCs intravenously and ICV results in a robust therapeutic benefit, particularly on symptomatic animals.

Magnetic Resonance Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging (MR-ARFI) for the monitoring of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in anisotropic tissue.

Objective: We introduce a non-invasive MR-Acoustic Radiation Force Imaging (ARFI)-based elastography method that provides both the local shear modulus and temperature maps for the monitoring of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy.

Materials And Methods: To take tissue anisotropy into account, the local shear modulus μ is determined in selected radial directions around the focal spot by fitting the phase profiles to a linear viscoelastic model, including tissue-specific mechanical relaxation time τ. MR-ARFI was evaluated on a calibrated phantom, then applied to the monitoring of HIFU in a gel phantom, ex vivo and in vivo porcine muscle tissue, in parallel with MR-thermometry.

Monitoring MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound therapy using transient supersonic shear wave MR-elastography.

The aim of the paper is to propose an all-in-one method based on magnetic resonance-supersonic shear wave imaging (MR-SSI) and proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) to monitor high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) thermal ablations.Mechanical properties have been shown to be related to tissue damage induced by thermal ablations. Monitoring elasticity in addition to temperature changes may help in ensuring the efficacy and the accuracy of HIFU therapies.

A new versatile MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device for the treatment of musculoskeletal tumors.

Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging-guided High Intensity focused Ultrasound (MRgHIFU) is a non-invasive, non-ionizing thermal ablation therapy that is particularly interesting for the palliative or curative treatment of musculoskeletal tumors. We introduce a new modular MRgHIFU device that allows the ultrasound transducer to be positioned precisely and interactively over the body part to be treated. A flexible, MR-compatible supporting structure allows free positioning of the transducer under MRI/optical fusion imaging guidance.

An adaptive and fully automatic method for estimating the 3D position of bendable instruments using endoscopic images.

Background: Flexible bendable instruments are key tools for performing surgical endoscopy. Being able to measure the 3D position of such instruments can be useful for various tasks, such as controlling automatically robotized instruments and analyzing motions.

Methods: An automatic method is proposed to infer the 3D pose of a single bending section instrument, using only the images provided by a monocular camera embedded at the tip of the endoscope.

A three-stage method for the 3D reconstruction of the tracheobronchial tree from CT scans.

This paper proposes a method for segmenting the airways from CT scans of the chest to obtain a 3D model that can be used in the virtual bronchoscopy for the exploration and the planning of paths to the lesions. The method is composed of 3 stages: a gross segmentation that reconstructs the main airway tree using adaptive region growing, a finer segmentation that identifies any potential airway region based on a 2D process that enhances bronchi walls using local information, and a final process to connect any isolated bronchus to the main airways using a morphologic reconstruction process and a path planning technique. The paper includes two examples for the evaluation and discussion of the proposal.

Control of postharvest diseases of fruit by heat and fungicides: efficacy, residue levels, and residue persistence. A review.

Extensive research has been done in recent years to reduce the heavy dependence on chemical fungicides to control postharvest diseases and disorders of horticultural crops. Alternative strategies were based on improved cultural practices, biological control, plant-defense promoters, and physical treatments such as UV illumination, radiofrequency treatment, heat therapy, and storage technologies. Among these, postharvest heat treatments such as hot water dips, short hot water rinsing and brushing, and hot air conditioning have reduced rot development and enhanced fruit resistance to chilling injury in sensitive cultivars while retaining fruit quality during cold storage and shelf life.

Chlorpyrifos residues levels in fruits and vegetables after field treatment.

Chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) was applied with three different formulations on oranges, peaches, tomatoes, wine and table grapes, and its behaviour was evaluated after field treatment. The formulations applied were emulsifiable concentrates (EC), microencapsulates (ME), and wettable granules (WG). The residues were similar in all crops studied in the EC and WG experiments, except peaches with WG treatment, the residue amount was lower than EC values.

Pesticides' influence on wine fermentation.

Wine quality strongly depends on the grape quality. To obtain high-quality wines, it is necessary to process healthy grapes at the correct ripeness stage and for this reason the farmer has to be especially careful in the prevention of parasite attacks on the grapevine. The most common fungal diseases affecting grape quality are downy and powdery mildew (Plasmopara viticola and Uncinula necator), and gray mold (Botrytis cinerea).

Minor crops for export: a case study of boscalid, pyraclostrobin, lufenuron and lambda-cyhalothrin residue levels on green beans and spring onions in Egypt.

Dissipation rates of boscalid [2-chloro-N-(4' -chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)nicotinamide], pyraclostrobin [methyl 2-[1-(4-chlorophenyl) pyrazol-3-yloxymethyl]-N-methoxycarbanilate], lufenuron [(RS)-1-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea] and lambda-cyhalothrin [(R)-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl (1S,3S)-rel-3-[(1Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate] in green beans and spring onions under Egyptian field conditions were studied. Field trials were carried out in 2008 in a Blue Nile farm, located at 70 kilometer (km) from Cairo (Egypt). The pesticides were sprayed at the recommended rate and samples were collected at pre-determined intervals.

Chemical variability, antifungal and antioxidant activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oil from Sardinia.

Essential oil (EO) from aerial parts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., growing wild in different localities of Sardinia (Italy), was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) FID and GC-ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). The yields of EO (v/dry wt) ranged between 0.

Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric determination of quassin and neoquassin in fruits and vegetables.

Quassia amara wood chips are used by organic farmers as a valid alternative to synthetic insecticides. The powder of Q. amara contains high levels of quassin, neoquassin and picrasinoside B.

Fate of azadirachtin A and related azadirachtoids on tomatoes after greenhouse treatment.

The degradation of the main azadirachtoids on tomatoes was studied after greenhouse treatment. These experiments were carried out at 1 and 5x the concentration recommended by the manufacturer. In all experiments the deposition of azadirachtin A (AZA-A) was below the maximum residue level (MRL).

Postinfection activity, residue levels, and persistence of azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, and pyrimethanil applied alone or in combination with heat and imazalil for green mold control on inoculated oranges.

The postinfection activity of azoxystrobin (AZX), fludioxonil (FLU), and pyrimethanil (PYR), applied alone or in combination with imazalil (IMZ), in controlling postharvest green mold in 'Salustiana' oranges inoculated with Penicillium digitatum was studied. Fruits were immersed for 30 or 60 s in (i) water or water mixtures at 20 degrees C containing AZX, FLU, or PYR at 600 mg/L; and (ii) IMZ at 600 mg/L, alone or in combination with AZX, FLU, or PYR at 600 mg/L. Similar treatments were performed at 50 degrees C using the active ingredients at half rates with respect to the treatments at 20 degrees C.

Floral markers of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) honey.

Strawberry tree honey, due to its characteristic bitter taste, is one of the most typical Mediterranean honeys, with Sardinia being one of the largest producers. According to specific chemical studies, homogentisic acid was identified as a possible marker of this honey. This work, based on HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.

Influence of post-harvest application rates of cyprodinil, treatment time and temperature on residue levels and efficacy in controlling green mould on 'Valencia' oranges.

The effectiveness of heat treatments with water and cyprodinil in controlling post-harvest green mould caused by Penicillium digitatum was investigated on artificially inoculated 'Valencia' oranges. Residue levels of cyprodinil were determined in the oranges as a function of active ingredient concentration, temperature and treatment time. Cyprodinil residues were significantly dependent on treatment time when applied at 600 mg l(-1) and 20 degrees C, but not when fruit were treated at 150-300 mg l(-1).

Flavonoid characterization and antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Achillea ligustica All.

Ethanolic extracts of Achillea ligustica All. (Asteraceae) flowering tops were evaluated. High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry was used for the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds.

Methyl syringate: a chemical marker of asphodel (Asphodelus microcarpus Salzm. et Viv.) monofloral honey.

During the liquid chromatographic study of the phenolic fraction of monofloral honeys was detected in the asphodel honey ( Asphodelus microcarpus Salzm. et Viv.) chromatogram a distinctive peak not detected in other monofloral honeys such as Arbutus unedo L.

Persistence of two neem formulations on peach leaves and fruit: effect of the distribution.

Persistence of azadirachtins (A+B) and of the other limonoids (nimbin, salannin, deacetylnimbin, and deacetylsalannin) on peach leaves and fruits was studied using a commercial formulation (form. C) compared with an experimental formulation (form. E) prepared with coformulations allowed in organic culture.

Residue-free wines: fate of some quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides in the winemaking process.

The fate of three fungicide residues (fenamidone, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin) from vine to wine was studied to evaluate the decay ratio and the influence of the technological process. The aim of this work was to identify pesticides that can degrade rapidly or be eliminated together with byproduct (lees and cake) of the winemaking process to obtain wine free of residues. The disappearance rate on grapes was calculated as pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the half-life (t(1/2)) was in the range from 5.

Factors affecting the synergy of thiabendazole, sodium bicarbonate, and heat to control postharvest green mold of citrus fruit.

The efficacy of thiabendazole (TBZ) to control postharvest decay caused by Penicillium digitatum of citrus fruit can be enhanced by co-application with sodium bicarbonate (SBC) and/or heat treatment. The impact of these treatments was investigated in citrus fruit, as a function of TBZ and SBC concentration and temperature, and were related to the amount of TBZ residues in fruit (total residues), in fruit surface, in the cuticular wax, and in the inner fruit. The residue levels of TBZ were determined in 'Valencia' oranges following a 1 min dip in an aqueous mixture of SBC at 0.

Chemical characterization and DNA tracking of Sardinian botargo by Mugil cephalus from different geographical origins.

The chemical composition of the Sardinian botargo by Mugil cephalus from different geographical origins was investigated. Fat ( approximately 20%), proteins ( approximately 50%), moisture ( approximately 22%), and salt ( approximately 7%) were measured in ground (G) and whole (W) commercial products. Among the nutritional compounds, omega-3 fatty acids were approximately 8%, squalene was approximately 15 mg/100 g, vitamin E was approximately 8.