Neonatal outcome in pregnancy hypotiroidee women.

To evaluate the impact that hypothyroidism may have on the course of pregnancy and on neonatal outcome. This cross-sectional study consisting of 160 pregnant women (60 with hypothyroidism and 100 as control) who had been hospitalized at the Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Siena. The obstetric visit, the collection of anamnestic data and serum concentrations of TSH, FT4 and AbTPO were performed for each woman.

Search for patterns by combining cosmic-ray energy and arrival directions at the Pierre Auger Observatory.

Energy-dependent patterns in the arrival directions of cosmic rays are searched for using data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. We investigate local regions around the highest-energy cosmic rays with [Formula: see text] eV by analyzing cosmic rays with energies above [Formula: see text] eV arriving within an angular separation of approximately 15[Formula: see text]. We characterize the energy distributions inside these regions by two independent methods, one searching for angular dependence of energy-energy correlations and one searching for collimation of energy along the local system of principal axes of the energy distribution.

Measurement of the proton-air cross section at √s=57 TeV with the Pierre Auger Observatory.

We report a measurement of the proton-air cross section for particle production at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon of 57 TeV. This is derived from the distribution of the depths of shower maxima observed with the Pierre Auger Observatory: systematic uncertainties are studied in detail. Analyzing the tail of the distribution of the shower maxima, a proton-air cross section of [505±22(stat)(-36)(+28)(syst)] mb is found.

Speeding up the process urine sample pre-treatment: some perspectives on the use of microwave assisted extraction in the anti-doping field.

In this contribution we described a fast and efficient method for the liquid/liquid extraction from human urine of different classes of drugs, included in the list of prohibited substances published every year by the World Anti-doping Agency, using microwave irradiation. Liquid/liquid extraction was conducted in a temperature controlled single beam microwave oven equipped with an extraction unit and closed vessels. The effects of microwave power and time on the liquid/liquid extraction process were investigated utilizing different organic solvents.

Measurement of the depth of maximum of extensive air showers above 10{18} eV.

We describe the measurement of the depth of maximum, X{max}, of the longitudinal development of air showers induced by cosmic rays. Almost 4000 events above 10;{18} eV observed by the fluorescence detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory in coincidence with at least one surface detector station are selected for the analysis. The average shower maximum was found to evolve with energy at a rate of (106{-21}{+35}) g/cm{2}/decade below 10{18.

Observation of the suppression of the flux of cosmic rays above 4 x 10 (19) eV.

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays above 2.5 x 10;{18} eV, derived from 20,000 events recorded at the Pierre Auger Observatory, is described. The spectral index gamma of the particle flux, J proportional, variantE;{-gamma}, at energies between 4 x 10;{18} eV and 4 x 10;{19} eV is 2.

Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory.

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from nu(tau) charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electromagnetic component. The data collected between 1 January 2004 and 31 August 2007 are used to place an upper limit on the diffuse flux of nu(tau) at EeV energies.

Correlation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects.

Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 x 10(19) electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within approximately 75 megaparsecs. We rejected the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays with at least a 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test.

Increased plasma levels of oxysterols, in vivo markers of oxidative stress, in patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia: reduction during atorvastatin and fenofibrate therapy.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), the most common inherited disorder of lipid metabolism, is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis that is not fully explained by the metabolic disturbances of these patients. Oxidative damage to lipid components accumulating in the plasma of FCHL patients might contribute to explaining this lack of evidence. Cholesterol is one of the preferential targets of oxidation in LDL and this may contribute to setting a proatherogenetic phenotype in FCHL.

Topical prostaglandin E1 SEPA gel for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: We compare the systemic effects, local tolerance and effectiveness of topical gel formulations on the penis containing alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) plus 5% SEPA versus SEPA alone (placebo) in men with erectile dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: Erectile response, skin discomfort and erythema were measured in 48 men with erectile dysfunction secondary to vascular, neurogenic, psychogenic or mixed etiologies in this single-blind, placebo controlled trial.

Results: Application of prostaglandin E1 gel correlated positively with erectile response as 67 to 75% of patients had an erection compared to 17% of controls (p<0.

Cocaine and D-amphetamine induce changes in central beta-adrenoceptor sensitivity: effects of acute and chronic drug treatment.

The effects of acute and chronic treatment with psychomotor stimulants on specific binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol to beta-adrenoceptors in rat brain were examined. At a dose of 10 mg/kg both acute and chronic treatment with cocaine and chronic treatment with D-amphetamine (10 mg/kg) caused increased binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol. The molecular mechanism for this enhanced binding appears to be augmentation of the density of beta-adrenoceptors in rat brain.