Serological survey on immunity status against polioviruses in children and adolescents living in a border region, Apulia (Southern Italy).

Background: In 1988 the World Health Assembly adopted the goal to eradicate poliomyelitis by routine immunization using Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). On 21 June 2002 the WHO European Region was declared polio-free. In 2008 poliomyelitis is still endemic in 4 countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan), where 1201 new cases were registered in 2007; 107 sporadic cases were also notified in countries where poliovirus is not endemic.

Ion cyclotron resonance as a tool in regenerative medicine.

The identification of suitable stem cell cultures and differentiating conditions that are free of xenogenic growth supplements is an important step in finding the clinical applicability of cell therapy in two important fields of human medicine: heart failure and bone remodeling, growth and repair. We recently demonstrated the possibility of obtaining cardiac stem cells (CSCs) from human endomyocardial biopsy specimens. CSCs self-assemble into multi-cellular clusters known as cardiospheres (CSps) that engraft and partially regenerate infarcted myocardium.

A new motion-compensated reduced-order model Kalman filter for space-varying restoration of progressive and interlaced video.

We propose a new approach for motion-compensated, reduced order model Kalman filtering for restoration of progressive and interlaced video. In the case of interlaced inputs, the proposed filter also performs deinterlacing. In contrast to the literature, both motion-compensation and reduced-order state modeling are achieved by augmenting the observation equation, as opposed to modifying the state-transition equation.

Artifact reduction for set theoretic super resolution image reconstruction with edge adaptive constraints and higher-order interpolants.

In this paper, we propose to improve the POCS-based super-resolution reconstruction (SRR) methods in two ways. First, the discretization of the continuous image formation model is improved to explicitly allow for higher order interpolation methods to be used. Second, the constraint sets are modified to reduce the amount of edge ringing present in the high resolution image estimate.

A fast parametric motion estimation algorithm with illumination and lens distortion correction.

Methods for estimating motion in video sequences that are based on the optical flow equation (OFE) assume that the scene illumination is uniform and that the imaging optics are ideal. When these assumptions are appropriate, these methods can be very accurate, but when they are not, the accuracy of the motion field drops off accordingly. This paper extends the models upon which the OFE methods are based to include irregular, time-varying illumination models and models for imperfect optics that introduce vignetting, gamma, and geometric warping, such as are likely to be found with inexpensive PC cameras.

Chiral HPLC analysis of milnacipran and its FMOC-derivative on cellulose-based stationary phases.

The HPLC enantioseparation of the last generation antidepressive drug milnacipran (+/-)-1 was investigated on different cellulose-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs). On carbamate-type columns, Chiralcel OD and OD-H (+/-)-1 could be separated with alpha value about 1.20 but the resolution was quite low because of the tailing of the peaks.

HEV prevalence in the general population and among workers at zoonotic risk in Latium Region.

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infections are responsible for large waterborne outbreaks in developing countries. Sporadic cases in the developed world are mainly imported from endemic areas. HEV has been suggested to be a zoonotic infection, for which pigs may be the reservoir; specific swine strains of HEV have been identified.

Cytomegalovirus (AD169) infection in human chondrocyte cell cultures.

Human chondrocytes are susceptible to productive human cytomegalovirus (HCMV, AD169 strain) infection. Infection of chondrocytes resulted in pronounced cytopathic effects including cell rounding and aggregation, fusions, and lysis. Immunohistochemical staining reveals that a portion of chondrocytes expressed antigens reactive to monoclonal antibodies against early HCMV proteins.

Monte carlo simulation of self-assembled ordered hybrid materials.

Lattice Monte Carlo simulations were performed to study the structure of hybrid organic-inorganic materials. Several cases were modeled where the composition corresponds to high surfactant concentration phases similar to that obtained from the synthesis of hybrid materials resulting from a phase separation. When using hybrid inorganic precursors, comparable to organosilicas, we observe that the organic segment is well mixed with the inorganic precursor and surfactant heads and no preferential location of the organic groups is observed.

Comparative HPLC enantioseparation of ferrocenylalcohols on two cellulose-based chiral stationary phases.

The direct HPLC enantiomeric separation of several ferrocenylalcohols on the commercially available Chiralcel OD and Chiralcel OJ columns has been evaluated in normal-phase mode. Almost all the compounds were resolved on one or both chiral stationary phases (CSPs) with separation factor (alpha) ranging from 1.06 to 2.

RAGE-NF-kappaB pathway activation in response to oxidative stress in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Objectives: An increased expression of adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT1), found in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), is known to lead to a decrease in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding and to sensitize muscle cells to oxidative stress and apoptosis. Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) mediated by NF-kappaB activation is involved in proinflammatory pathomechanism and in muscle fiber regeneration in inflammatory myopathies and in limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Oxidative stress can stimulate RAGE- NF-kappaB pathway.

O-Alkylation of a lignite humic acid by phase-transfer catalysis.

A mild phase-transfer catalytic reaction has been conducted to O-alkylate the acidic functions of a lignite humic acid (HA), using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as the phase-transfer catalyst. The HA acidic functional groups were made to react, in tetrahydrofuran, by nucleophilic substitution with several alkyl halides-methyl iodide, and ethyl, propyl, and butyl, and benzyl bromide. The occurrence of the O-alkylation reaction was assessed by elemental analysis and 1H NMR, CPMAS 13C NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy.

Brain apparent diffusion coefficient evaluation in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Objective: The most frequent intracranial appearance in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is represented by the presence of hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted images, the so-called "unidentified bright objects" (UBOs). Di Paolo demonstrated that these lesions represent foci of myelin vacuolization with increased water content. The aim of this study was to investigate the isotropic apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within the UBOs and normal-appearing brain and at the regressed UBO sites.

Preparation of a chiral ferrocenyl derivative containing a biphenyl unit via nickel-mediated homocoupling.

Ferrocenyl derivative 2, which possesses a biphenyl unit, was prepared by nickel(0)-mediated homocoupling of a chiral ferrocenyloxazoline. Compound 2 exists as an equilibrium mixture of two diastereomers, in a ratio dependent on temperature and solvent, due to the partially hindered rotation around biaryl bond. Upon complexation with Cu(I) or Zn(II), complete fixation of the stereogenic axis was obtained and a single stable atropoisomer was formed, whose absolute configuration was assigned on the basis of its NOESY spectrum.

Diagnostic applications of cardiac multislice CT with sixteen-row scanner: state of the art.

Coronary angiography is nowadays the diagnostic standard in the evaluation of coronary artery anatomy, in the identification of stenoses and in the follow-up of revascularization procedures (PTCA-stenting, bypass). The limitations of such technique in terms of invasivity and high cost has targeted research efforts towards the development of non invasive diagnostic tools. Technological evolution in the field of helical CT has provided 2, 4, 8 and 16 detector-row multislice scanners characterized by progressive improvements in terms of spatial and temporal resolution that have made them increasingly suitable for the analysis of moving structures with high quality anatomic detail.

[Osteoporosis: problems and considerations of economical nature].

In 1991 WHO classified osteoporosis as a major social disease, on the basis of its high prevalence, expected to rise in the future, its physical and psychological consequences and its economical costs for both the society and the individual. In the past, costs, especially the undirected and intangible ones, have been largely underestimated, due to their complex quantification. A more accurate and a deeper evaluation of the pathology and its economical burden on National Health Services will lead to a better planning of prevention strategies.

[Viral zoonoses].

In different areas of the World, whether in industrialized or developing countries, zoonoses represent an emerging Public Health concern either as known agents appear in areas or species in which they had not been reported or as new pathogens parasite Human as consequence of successful host switching. Epidemiological data outlined that vectorborne viral zoonoses are of particular relevance. This paper review the changes in epidemiology of bat rabies and arbovirus encephalitis.

Diffuse, micronodular lung disease. The high-resolution CT approach. A pictorial essay.

Careful HRCT evaluation of the preferential distribution of micronodular lesions within the secondary lobule provides a fundamental contribution in the correct interpretation of the different associated patterns. This paper suggests a modern diagnostic algorithm that, together with clinical-anamnestic data and additional imaging features, is able to provide a definitive diagnosis or to reduce the possible differential diagnoses.

Experimental posterolateral spinal fusion with porous ceramics and mesenchymal stem cells.

Alternatives to autogenous bone graft for spinal fusion have been investigated for many years. It has been shown that osteoconductive materials alone do not give a rate of fusion which is comparable to that of autogenous bone graft. We analysed the effectiveness of porous ceramic loaded with cultured mesenchymal stem cells as a new graft material for spinal fusion in an animal model.