An Improved Solver for the M/EEG Forward Problem

Noninvasive investigation of the brain activity via electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) involves a typical inverse problem whose solution process requires an accurate and fast forward solver. We propose the Method of Fundamental Solutions (MFS) as a truly meshfree alternative to the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for solving the M/EEG forward problem. The solution of the forward problem is obtained, via the Method of Particular Solutions (MPS), by numerically solving a set of coupled boundary value problems for the 3D Laplace equation. Numerical accuracy and computational load are investigated for spherical geometries and comparisons with a state-of-the-art BEM solver shows that the proposed method is competitive

STIMA DEL POTENZIALE ELETTRICO IN tDCS CON APPROCCIO MESHLESS INNOVATIVO

Transcranial DC stimulation (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS) is a non-invasive technique aimed at modifying neuronal activity for the purpose therapeutic and / or for the improvement of mental performance. A continuous current of entity modest (below the threshold of perception) is injected into the brain via electrodes placed on the scalp surface to produce changes in long-term cortical activity. Despite the increasing use of this and other similar techniques, and the relevant ones applications - for example in the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation - their impact on neuronal activity is not yet fully known, mainly due to the difficulty of predict the spatial distribution of the current within the brain, and to determine the optimal position and size of the electrodes

Using the Sound Card as a Timer

Experiments in mechanics can often be timed by the sounds they produce. In such cases, digital audio recordings provide a simple way of measuring time intervals with an accuracy comparable to that of photogate timers. We illustrate this with an experiment in the physics of sports: to measure the speed of a hard-kicked soccer ball.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Late

Argon plasma coagulation in the treatment of post-radiotherapy rectal bleeding

Introduction: Chronic radiation proctitis is often associated to radiotherapy for treatment of pelvic cancer. The most common side effect of this pathological condition is rectal bleeding but despite the great number of clinical approaches and techniques that have been employed no consensus for the management of it is available. Although prospective randomized trials about hemorrhagic radiation proctitis are still lacking, endoscopic approach delivering an Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) seems to be a successful and available option. Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients suffering from post-radiotherapy rectal bleeding were followed. In the nine cases presenting a rectum ulcerative colitis (RUC) like endoscopic picture a 5-ASA therapeutic approach was chosen initially, followed by an APC treatment of areas of telangectasias. The other cases, presenting only areas of telangectasias, were treated only with APC. Results: 5-ASA therapy led to an improvement of inflammation state related to RUC but recurrence of rectal bleeding caused by telangectasias was observed. In these cases an additional APC treatment gave a total remission of the problem. Also in the other cases, presenting only areas of telangectasias, a remission of rectal bleeding was achieved through APC application. Conclusions: In the cases of radiation proctitis characterized by a severe compromission of rectal mucosa integrity an anti-inflammatory pharmacological therapy is necessary but not sufficient to abrogate rectal bleeding which is often caused by the presence of areas of telangectasias. In these cases a remission of the problem could be achieved through a combination of anti-inflammatory therapy (5-ASA) and APC

The mutant p53-ID4 complex controls VEGFA isoforms by recruiting lncRNA MALAT1

The abundant, nuclear-retained, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been associated with a poorly differentiated and aggressive phenotype of mammary carcinomas. This long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) localizes to nuclear speckles, where it interacts with a subset of splicing factors and modulates their activity. In this study, we demonstrate that oncogenic splicing factor SRSF1 bridges MALAT1 to mutant p53 and ID4 proteins in breast cancer cells. Mutant p53 and ID4 delocalize MALAT1 from nuclear speckles and favor its association with chromatin. This enables aberrant recruitment of MALAT1 on VEGFA pre-mRNA and modulation of VEGFA isoforms expression. Interestingly, VEGFA-dependent expression signatures associate with ID4 expression specifically in basal-like breast cancers carrying TP53 mutations. Our results highlight the key role for MALAT1 in control of VEGFA isoforms expression in breast cancer cells expressing gain-of-function mutant p53 and ID4 proteins

Gastric leiomyosarcoma: case report and review of literature

True smooth muscle neoplasms of the wall of digestive tract are rare, in particular in the stomach, and the benign ones are prevalent. We report a case of gastric leiomyosarcoma (LMS) that we observed, diagnosed to a 71 years-old man, with important comorbidities, who had already underwent the amputation of the right lower limb. In consequence of the discovery of anaemia and melaena he underwent an endoscopy of the upper GI tract and CT scan, which showed the presence of a neoformation of the gastric wall, but because of the thrombosis of the common iliac artery and the occurrence of the clinical picture of critical ischaemia, at first the patient underwent the amputation of the left lower limb e only then an intervention of atypical gastroresection. Despite the neoplastic infiltration of the resection margins and the impossibility to undertake an adjuvant chemotherapy, the follow-up at 6, 12 and 28 months did not show a recurrence of the disease that remained in phase of clinical remission

A complex case of fatal calciphylaxis in a female patient with hyperparathyroidism secondary to end stage renal disease of graft and coexistence of haemolytic uremic syndrome

Background. Calciphylaxis is a potentially fatal complication of persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism; its cause is still not clear. Unfortunately there is no close relation in severity of clinical picture, serological and pathological alteration. For this reason the prognosis is difficult to establish. Administration of sodium thiosulphate may reduce the precipitation of calcium crystals and improve the general clinical conditions before surgical parathyroidectomy, which seems the only therapeutic approach able to reduce the mortality risk in these patients. Methods and Results. A 60 year old female patient suffering from End Renal Stage Disease, on haemodialysis from 2001 due to the onset of haemolytic uremic syndrome, underwent a kidney transplant in April 2008. After transplantation there was a recurrence of the haemolytic uremic syndrome, with temporary worsening of the graft. Six months later there was a definite loss of graft and return to dialysis treatment. On April 2010 a severe systemic calciphylaxis related to secondary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed. The patient underwent parathyroidectomy but, because of the unimproved clinical picture, treatment with sodium thiosulphate was initiated. There was only improvement in cutaneous lesions. The worsening general clinical condition of the patient caused death due to general septic complications. Conclusions. The coexistence of haemolytic uremic syndrome and secondary hyperpathyroidism makes the prognosis poor and, in this case, therapy, which counteracts calcium crystals precipitation, has no effect. Preventive parathyroidectomy can be considered as the only possible treatment