Bassano Bresciano Astronomical Observatory

Background and ImportanceThe role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of migraine seems to be supported by evidence of an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, and by a reduction of regulatory lymphocyte subsets and prevalence of Th1 lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients. During acute severe migraine attacks, the calcitonin gene-related peptide is elevated in the cranial circulation and stimulates the release of inflammatory cytokines.Aim and ObjectivesVerifying and confirming the monoclonal antibody anti CGRP activity in the reduction of inflammation induced by migraine. How the use of monoclonal antibody reduces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.Material and MethodsWe investigated the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, chemokines and adiponectin in the serum of the migraine patients: at each day hospital visit, blood samples were taken before the antibody was administered; 1 month after the infusion, the patient was made to return for visit to assess the cytokine level. Determination of serum levels of the cytokines was performed using commercial ELISA Kits. A Shapiro-Wilk’s test was performed to evaluate each variable’s departure from distribution. The quantitative variables were summarised as median and interquartile range. Midas questionnaire was used to assess change in degree of disability before and after 1 month of antibody treatment.ResultsThe number of patients who underwent sampling was 13. Results showed that Th1/Th2 and TNF/IL-10 profiles are modulated by anti-CGRP treatment with a shift towards a Th2 immune response with concomitant improvement of symptoms in migraineurs (MIDAS scale score). Serum concentration of adiponectin, according to its anti-inflammatory activity, showed a significant increase after anti-CGRP treatment, suggesting a potential connection of a reduction of adiponectin to the pathophysiology of migraine.Conclusion and RelevanceThis preliminary study highlights that anti-CGRP treatment led to a shift towards a For Peer Review Th2 Immune response with concomitant improvement of symptoms in migraineurs, confirming the correlation between migraine and immune system dysfunctions. In conclusion, monoclonal antibody anti-CGRP demonstrate efficacy in the resolution of this pathology.References and/or AcknowledgementsGlobal, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet (London, England) 2018.Conflict of InterestNo conflict of interest

The development of a high flow rate arteriovenous fistula (AVF) can expose the patient to development of heart failure due to increased cardiac preload and pulmonary hypertension. AVF flow measurement (Qa) is considered a screening tool for AVF surveillance, aiming to evaluate the access dysfunction and prevent complications, like a non-maturation, suspected stenosis, high-flow AVF, and distal ischemia. In the upper arm AVF, a high Qa may develops, which can expose the patient to the risk of high-output heart failure and ischemia. Although, the exact threshold to define high-flow access is not universally accepted, AVF with a Qa of 1-1.5 L/min or cardio-pulmonary recirculation (Qa/CO) >20% are considered at risk. In our work we describe the treatment performed in three patients with high flow AVF treated with DRIL technique with interposition of a Prosthetic Patch, revascularization procedures such as distal inflow revision or RUDI and with innovative technique a "tench snout," removal the previous anastomosis and reconstruction of the integrity of the radial artery at the terminal in pre and post anastomosis. A PTFE prosthetic segment measuring 5 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter was interposed, terminally anastomosed with the efferent cephalic vein and terminally lateral with the radial artery, reducing the anastomosis to approximately 4 mm. All treated patients showed a clear improvement in the clinical picture in particularly heart failure. The calculation of the post-intervention flow rate approximately 1500 mL/min. The patient on hemodialysis with arteriovenous fistula must be constantly monitored with clinical examination, monitoring during the hemodialysis session and color Doppler ultrasound of the AVF with calculation of the flow rate. The surgical technique used for flow reduction is chosen on the surgical experience of each operator with the main objective of preserving the autologous AVF.

‘Where there is love for man, there is also love for art’ is the well-known Hippocratic expression often quoted by medical historians as proof of the high ethical level reached by the Master of Things and his school with limpid clarity, and more generally of the subtle spirituality developed by the Greeks to which we are all indebted.

ABSTRACT We present the largest optical photometry compilation of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with redshifts (z). We include 64813 observations of 535 events (including upper limits) from 28 February 1997 to 18 August 2023. We also present a user-friendly web tool grbLC which allows users to visualize photometry, coordinates, redshift, host galaxy extinction, and spectral indices for each event in our database. Furthermore, we have added a Gamma-ray Coordinate Network (GCN) scraper that can be used to collect data by gathering magnitudes from the GCNs. The web tool also includes a package for uniformly investigating colour evolution. We compute the optical spectral indices for 138 GRBs, for which we have at least four filters at the same epoch in our sample, and craft a procedure to distinguish between GRBs with and without colour evolution. By providing a uniform format and repository for the optical catalogue, this web-based archive is the first step towards unifying several community efforts to gather the photometric information for all GRBs with known redshifts. This catalogue will enable population studies by providing light curves (LCs) with better coverage since we have gathered data from different ground-based locations. Consequently, these LCs can be used to train future LC reconstructions for an extended inference of the redshift. The data gathering also allows us to fill some of the orbital gaps from Swift in crucial points of the LCs, e.g. at the end of the plateau emission or where a jet break is identified.

Background: Dual disorders (DD) entail the coexistence of a substance use disorder (SUD) and another mental health condition, often within psychotic and affective disorders. This study aims to evaluate lurasidone, an innovative atypical antipsychotic, in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and concurrent comorbidities of alcohol use disorder/substance use disorder (AUD/SUD). Methods: A cohort of 23 subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and comorbid AUD/SUD underwent psychometric assessments at baseline (T0) and one-month (T1) post-lurasidone initiation. Results: Lurasidone exhibited significant reductions in psychopathological burden, evidenced by decreased total PANSS scores (Z = 2.574, p = 0.011). Positive symptoms, substance craving (VAS Craving; Z = 3.202, p = 0.001), and aggressivity (MOAS scale; Z = 2.000, p = 0.050) were notably reduced. Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores significantly improved (Z = 2.934, p = 0.003). Quality of life enhancements were observed in SF-36 subscales (energy, emotional well-being, and social functioning) (p < 0.05) and Q-LES-Q-SF scale (Z = -2.341, p = 0.021). A safety analysis indicated lurasidone's good tolerability, with only 8.7% reporting discontinuation due to side effects. Conclusions: This study offers initial evidence supporting lurasidone's efficacy and safety in dual diagnoses, highlighting positive effects on psychopathology, substance craving, and quality of life. These findings emphasize the need for tailored, comprehensive treatment strategies in managing the complexities of this patient population.

Abstract AimHigh‐elevation specialist species are threatened by climate change and habitat loss, and their distributions are becoming increasingly reduced and fragmented. In such a context, dispersal ability is crucial to maintain gene flow among patches of suitable habitat. However, information about dispersal is often lacking for these species, especially for those taxa that are usually considered as good dispersers such as birds. We adopted a landscape genomics approach to investigate dispersal in a climate‐sensitive high‐elevation specialist bird. Our aims were to assess the levels of gene flow within a wide mountain area, and to assess the effects of geographic distance and landscape characteristics on dispersal, by testing the isolation by distance (IBD) hypothesis against the isolation by resistance (IBR) hypothesis.LocationEuropean Alps.Taxon Montifringilla nivalis. MethodsWe sampled individuals from several breeding areas and obtained single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by ddRAD sequencing. We then calculated site‐ and individual level genetic distances and individual inbreeding coefficients. To test IBD versus IBR, we related genetic distances to both geographic distances and different measures of landscape resistance by using maximum likelihood population effects models.ResultsGene flow among breeding areas was partly restricted, and we found support for IBD, indicating that geographic distance limits snowfinch dispersal. Spatial patterns of genetic distances suggested that philopatry strongly contributed to determine the observed IBD. High inbreeding coefficients in several individuals indicated frequent mating among relatives.Main ConclusionsRestricted dispersal and frequent inbreeding within ‘sky island’ systems can also occur in highly mobile species, because their potential ability to cover very large distances can be counteracted by high philopatry levels that are likely related to high dispersal costs. IBD and philopatry will increasingly hinder snowfinch dispersal among suitable areas within the future more restricted and fragmented breeding range, increasing the risks of local extinctions.

Identifying climate refugia is key to effective biodiversity conservation under a changing climate, especially for mountain‐specialist species adapted to cold conditions and highly threatened by climate warming. We combined species distribution models (SDMs) with climate forecasts to identify climate refugia for high‐elevation bird species (Lagopus muta, Anthus spinoletta, Prunella collaris, Montifringilla nivalis) in the European Alps, where the ecological effects of climate changes are particularly evident and predicted to intensify. We considered future (2041–2070) conditions (SSP585 scenario, four climate models) and identified three types of refugia: (1) in‐situ refugia potentially suitable under both current and future climate conditions, ex‐situ refugia suitable (2) only in the future according to all future conditions, or (3) under at least three out of four future conditions. SDMs were based on a very large, high‐resolution occurrence dataset (2901–12,601 independent records for each species) collected by citizen scientists. SDMs were fitted using different algorithms, balancing statistical accuracy, ecological realism and predictive/extrapolation ability. We selected the most reliable ones based on consistency between training and testing data and extrapolation over distant areas. Future predictions revealed that all species (with the partial exception of A. spinoletta) will undergo a range contraction towards higher elevations, losing 17%–59% of their current range (larger losses in L. muta). We identified ~15,000 km2 of the Alpine region as in‐situ refugia for at least three species, of which 44% are currently designated as protected areas (PAs; 18%–66% among countries). Our findings highlight the usefulness of spatially accurate data collected by citizen scientists, and the importance of model testing by extrapolating over independent areas. Climate refugia, which are only partly included within the current PAs system, should be priority sites for the conservation of Alpine high‐elevation species and habitats, where habitat degradation/alteration by human activities should be prevented to ensure future suitability for alpine species.

Background The study has the primary objective of assessing the efficacy/safety of rac-methadone, levomethadone, and buprenorphine in maintenance patients and naïve, in pharmacological polytherapy. The secondary objective of the study is to evaluate efficacy/safety of the treatments in subgroups of patients with comorbidity under psychological support. Methods The primary endpoint was the temporal reduction of urinary positivity to the substance of abuse evaluated every three months, expressed as a percentage of responders out of the total number of recruits. Secondary endpoints were: the safety assessment. Psychopathology was assessed by ASI, Scl90, and a novel COVID-19 questioner. Results To date, 211 patients have been recruited, made up of 81% by males with an average age of 44.41 +5.24 and 19% by females with an average age of 43.16 + 2.89, over 98% of patients recruited are of Italian Caucasian. At recruitment, 75% of patients were already on treatment, most of them from less than (> 80%) to 1 year. 20% + 1.3, 12% + 5.9, 7%+5, and 5% + 0.9 had psychiatric, infectious, cardiological, and metabolic comorbidity. At enrollment, 65% of female patients were treated with rac-methadone at a mean dose of 55 mg + 10 mg/day, 35% were treated with levomethadone at the dose of 45.11 mg + 6.5 mg/ day and the rest were treated with buprenorphine/naloxone at a dosage of 4 mg + 2.62 mg/day. In the male group, 50% of patients were treated with rac-methadone with a mean dosage of 57.21 mg +10.88 mg/day, 25% were treated with levomethadone with a mean dosage of 28.75 mg + 7.5 mg/day and the rest were treated with buprenorphine/naloxone at a mean dosage of 8 mg +3.62 mg/day. The starting Craving was respectively 32/100 in males and 31/100 in females, according to VAS. Out of 30% of patients who have completed their visits to date, 180 days after recruitment showed stability in urinary methadone positivity with a marked decrease in heroin positivity -53% + 4%, cannabinols -48% + 2% and cocaine -37% + 6%. The observed ADRs were: constipation, muscle fatigue, and one case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. 60 patients at enrollment showed a mean QTc of 430.2 +12.4, mean BPM of 75.23 + 5.3, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 122.5 + 2.14 and 81.4 + 3.3 mmHg respectively, which remained unchanged. Adverse events of any nature were: decreased willpower, job loss, increased alcohol use, changes in personality including dullness and depression. Conclusion The patients were stabilized after 180 days of observation in our SERDs with a marked decreased dosing of levomethadone in males but with minor dosing reduction in the female. Whether this is due to factors affecting PD/PK is under investigation.