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Ultrasound Assessment in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Case Report and Narrative Literature Review
No full textBackground and Clinical Significance Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin malignancy. Early diagnosis is essential to optimize therapeutic strategies and improve prognosis. However, the role of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) in the diagnostic and follow-up phases of MCC remains under-investigated and underutilized in clinical practice. Case Presentation We present a case of MCC initially referred to a physiatric outpatient clinic for a functional disorder of the third finger, where HFUS revealed a well-circumscribed, hypoechoic subdermal lesion with central and peripheral vascularity. Surgical excision, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma. The HFUS findings were correlated with histological features, and a structured sonographic follow-up protocol was established postoperatively. Conclusions This case highlights the diagnostic and prognostic potential of HFUS in MCC, especially in early detection, surgical planning, and longitudinal follow-up. A multidisciplinary approach integrating ultrasound imaging, surgery, and pathology may enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient management
Advanced ultrasonic diagnostics for restoration: effectiveness of natural consolidants on painted surfaces
No full textThis study presents the first application of an automatic ultrasonic mapping system for the assessment of natural consolidants applied to replicas of painted wall surfaces. In Cultural Heritage conservation, evaluating consolidation efficiency remains a critical issue, particularly for substrates characterized by high porosity, heterogeneity, and mechanical fragility. Ultrasonic testing offers a fully non-contact diagnostic approach capable of detecting variations in cohesion, stiffness, and internal discontinuities, thus overcoming the limitations of semi-invasive mechanical procedures. Three polysaccharide-based consolidants—Arabic gum, Funori, and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage—were applied to wall-painting replicas prepared according to historically documented techniques. Their performance was investigated through a comparative methodology combining a peeling test with non-contact air-coupled ultrasonic probes. Results indicate that Opuntia mucilage, although still at an experimental stage, provides significant improvements in cohesion, confirming its potential as a sustainable and substrate-compatible alternative to conventional consolidants. By demonstrating the complementary nature of ultrasonic mapping and peeling tests, this work contributes to the development of reproducible, non-invasive diagnostic strategies for evaluating consolidation treatments, particularly on fragile surfaces where conventional mechanical testing is unsuitable
Experimental investigation of alternative tie-rod solutions for stabilizing masonry façades
No full textHistorical masonry constructions often lack adequate connections between their façades and transverse structures, making them vulnerable to out-of-plane failures during earthquakes. Historically, tie rods have been used to prevent such failures and delivering a box-like behavior of masonry structures, essential for their seismic stability. The strength and the brittle or ductile behavior of tie rods are highly influential on the response of masonry façades. Preliminary experiments available in the literature have shown that tie rods may develop limited displacement capacity due to the threading necessary for their installation and tightening. The research investigates alternative solutions for tie rods, considering homogeneous or fuse-based setups. Homogenous tie rods are made either of carbon or stainless steel, with one or two nuts at each end. The effect of threading length is studied as well, up to fully threaded rods for carbon steel. Fuse-based setups have a plastic middle element, either of nylon or PEEK. Two diameters are considered in all setups. A total of 215 tests are performed. Threading the ends of homogenous steel rods reduces strength and ultimate strain, compared to a smooth rod. Increasing the threading length increases displacement capacity. Adding a nut has a small effect, but it may change the type of failure. Considering a fuse-based solution highly increases ultimate strain but dramatically reduces strength. The most promising solution resorts to fully threaded rods, balancing strength reduction and displacement capacity. However, the delivered displacement capacity is much smaller than usually assumed and might involve the revision of current equivalent-static design procedures
The evolution of the entertainment sector in the metaverse: the case of sports event management
No full textPurpose – This article aims to analyse how event management in knowledge-intensive organisations (KIOs) evolves in the metaverse, focusing on the changes in the business model of professional sports events. Design/methodology/approach – This study employed a qualitative method based on the multi-case study approach. Starting from the main cases of sports events managed in the metaverse, we analysed and discussed how to develop a business model that allows the exploitation of the metaverse in managing events in KIOs. Findings – We found two main case studies in different sports in Italy. We explained that the metaverse impacts the main levers of a sports event business model: experiential and relational character, marketability, innovation and revenue sources. Additionally, enjoyment has led to a broadening of the audience. It has been determined that it is possible to distinguish different business models based on the modalities of event enjoyment, which generate distinct target audiences. In this scenario, fan engagement has a crucial role. Research limitations/implications – This study has some limitations: the cases do not cover all sports that exist in the real world, and as a multi-case study, it reduces the generalisability of the results. Practical implications – This article supports academic researchers, policymakers, and managers by providing tools to extract value from the metaverse and to develop policies that address the legal and economic issues associated with this technology. Originality/value – This article fills a literature gap. Despite the relevance of this topic, as demonstrated by the initiatives undertaken by professional sports clubs, there is a literature gap on how to develop a business model to leverage the potential of the metaverse in the KIOs
Bias Detection in Cultural Heritage Metadata: Preliminary Results from the IMAGES Project
No full textThis paper presents early findings from a pilot study within IMAGES (Inclusive Machine Learning Using Art and Culture for Tackling Gender and Ethnicity Stereotypes), a PRIN PNRR interdisciplinary project investigating the role of artificial intelligence in supporting inclusive cultural representations. Focusing on a sample of 50 image-text pairs drawn from the Central Catalog of the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC), we test the capacity of GPT-4o to detect gender and ethnic bias in visual and textual cultural heritage metadata. We evaluate the model’s autonomous and guided performance in identifying stereotypical representations and in generating bias-aware, machine-readable metadata. Preliminary results suggest that while GPT-4o is proficient in identifying overt gender stereotypes, it tends to over-interpret ambiguous content and under-detect subtle or culturally embedde bias—especially in ethnic representations. These results underscore the need for hybrid validation frameworks that integrate human oversight, culturally situated taxonomies, and transparent prompt engineering strategies.
The study contributes to the broader aims of the IMAGES project by offering operational and epistemological insights into the promises and pitfalls of using large language models in bias-aware cultural metadata generation
Genetic investigations and implications of genetic diagnosis in childhood onset neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders
No full textNeurological and neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood represent an area of growing interest in biomedical research, as they are among the leading causes of intellectual disability, motor impairment, and social-communicative difficulties in children. These conditions encompass a wide range of pathologies, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), childhood epilepsies, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, movement disorders, and numerous rare genetic diseases. Their clinical heterogeneity reflects an underlying biological complexity in which genetic factors play a key role.
Over the past two decades, the advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies has revolutionized the ability to identify genetic variants associated with these disorders, opening new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. Large-scale genomic studies have revealed numerous mutations, deletions, duplications, and chromosomal rearrangements that disrupt the development and function of the central nervous system from the earliest stages of life.
Understanding the genetic basis of these disorders is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy, guiding early intervention strategies, and, in some cases, accessing targeted therapies. Moreover, integrating genetic, phenotypic, and neurobiological data allows for the development of new pathogenic models, contributing to a redefinition of traditional clinical classifications.
This thesis aims to explore the role of genetics in neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood, analyzing the molecular mechanisms underlying major conditions, the currently available diagnostic techniques, and the clinical and bioethical implications of genomic medicine in the pediatric setting
Renal function alteration after bridging stenting in branched and fenestrated endoprostheses
No full textObjective: The aim of this prospective single-center study was to evaluate the impact of renal artery configurations—branches versus fenestrations—on renal function in the early post-operative period.
Methods: Between March 2018 and June 2023, we enrolled 112 patients who underwent elective fenestrated and branched endovascular aneurysm repair (F/BEVAR). Participants were categorized into two groups based on their renal bridging component configuration: fenestrations or branches. All patients underwent dynamic renal scintigraphy with 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) two weeks before surgery, and at three months and one year after the procedure. The primary endpoints included peri-procedural technical success, incidence of major adverse events within 30 days, differences in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between the two configurations, and variations in pre-operative and post-operative dynamic renal scintigraphy results. Finally, concordance between the scintigraphy findings and the long-term eGFR assessment basing on creatinine level measurement was analyzed.
Results: A total of 226 kidneys were analyzed, comprising 126 from the 63 patients with branches and 100 from the 49 patients with fenestrations. The mean baseline GFR was 58.4 ± 18.6 mL/min for the fenestration group and 65.1 ± 19.8 mL/min for the branch group. Only kidneys with a patent fenestration or branch were included in the final analysis of split GFR. The mean total GFR demonstrated a decrease of 6.0 ± 1.2 mL/min in the fenestration group and a reduction of 23.4 ± 6.4 mL/min in the branch group at the three-month follow-up. The split GFR decreased by 3.5 ± 0.6 mL/min for fenestrations, while it declined by 15.4 ± 5.4 mL/min for branches. Notably, the decrease in GFR persisted at one year. Additionally, the scintigraphy results were corroborated at two years, 2 years eGFR was calculated for both groups and demonstrated to be 59.5 ± 22.1 in the fenestrations group and 50.9±11.7 in the branches group.
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Conclusion: This study indicates that utilizing branches for renal arteries during F/BEVAR is associated with a more significant decline in GFR compared to patients treated solely with fenestrations. The scintigraphic changes were observed as early as the three-month follow-up, highlighting the impact of configuration on renal function
Beyond endocrine features in non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a narrative review of psychoneuro-social perspectives in pediatric and adolescent patients
No full textNon-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) is a late-onset, milder form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency marked by adrenal androgen excess. While endocrine aspects are well described, psychoneuro-social outcomes in pediatric and adolescent patients remain less clearly defined. A literature search of MEDLINE (PubMed) was conducted in July 2025 using “Non-Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia” with terms related to mental health, cognition, social adaptation, gender identity, sexual orientation, and heterozygous carriers. In females, androgen excess is frequently associated with anxiety, depression, body image concerns, and increased prevalence of gender nonconformity or non-heterosexual orientation, although most maintain a female gender identity. Males generally present fewer gender identity concerns, with inconsistent evidence for higher externalizing behaviors. Neurocognitive outcomes are variable, with occasional subtle deficits in working memory, executive function, or attention, alongside possible strengths in visuospatial tasks. Health-related quality of life in adequately treated pediatric NCCAH is generally comparable to that of healthy peers, though age-specific psychosocial vulnerabilities may occur. Social difficulties, particularly among females, may involve stigmatization and reduced peer acceptance. Heterozygous CYP21A2 carriers are usually asymptomatic and do not exhibit significant psychoneuro-social burden; interventions are not routinely indicated unless hyperandrogenic symptoms are present. Conclusions: Psychoneuro-social effects of NCCAH are heterogeneous and shaped by sex, age, and clinical presentation. An individualized, multidisciplinary approach integrating endocrinology, psychological support, and social resources is recommended. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify long-term trajectories and optimize targeted interventions
Siti Unesco e turismo, il caso di Roma
No full textl saggio riflette sul rapporto tra siti UNESCO e turismo attraverso il caso del centro storico di Roma, evidenziando il paradosso di un riconoscimento che, pur orientato alla tutela del patrimonio, può contribuire a rafforzare processi di turisticizzazione e pressione urbana. Analizzando il ruolo del label UNESCO, i piani di gestione e le dinamiche di fruizione, il testo mette in discussione l’effettiva incidenza del riconoscimento in un contesto già fortemente turistico. Ne emerge la necessità di un approccio territoriale e relazionale, capace di superare una visione iconica del patrimonio e di orientare strategie più sostenibili di valorizzazione
Sulla questione delle abitazioni e la nuova ondata di co-housing sostenibile
No full textThis paper examines the issue of housing, focusing on the non-homogeneous global phenomenon of collaborative housing, also known as co-housing. First, it traces the concept's origins back to the nineteenth-century cooperative movement. It then explores its evolution in Scandinavia, the birth of the term 'co-housing', and its subsequent global expansion. Finally, it considers the relationship between co-housing and sustainable development in today's neoliberal cities, suggesting that sustainable co-housing enables the renewal of the capitalist system. However, it fails to protect the right to housing, merely representing a compromise intended to create social pacification