IRIS Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
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Sport practice and hemorrhoidal disease: results from a self-assessment questionnaire among athletes
Full text linkBackground: Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a common proctologic disease. Dietary and lifestyle play a role in the genesis of the disease or in its progression to more severe forms, although the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. We performed a pilot observational cross-sectional analytical association study to evaluate the possible association between sport activities and HD. Methods: We included subjects aged 18 years old or more, competitive and non-competitive, practicing at least one sport activity, at least twice a week. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, developed on the Microsoft Teams communication platform. Results: Out of the 312 study participants, 34% reported HD. Among subjects who practiced cycling or horseback riding, 57% reported suffering from HD; among those practicing bodybuilding, 48% complained of HD. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, age and bodybuilding practice showed a statistically significant association with HD. Conclusions: Some sport activities could play a role in the onset or worsening of HD. Our results showed a positive association between cycling, horseback riding, bodybuilding, and HD occurrence. Given the numerous health benefits of physical activity, patients should be provided with correct information regarding the practice of sports in relation to their pathology
Caratterizzazione avanzati di componenti realizzati mediante Material Extrusion
No full textThis work aims to carry out a detailed investigation into the characterization methods of components made by Material Extrusion (MatEx) process. There are several articles in the literature that analyze the influence of process parameters on mechanical properties of MatEx components. However, traditional characterization methodologies are used, and these are not specifically developed for parts made by Material Extrusion process. Due to the layer-by-layer production mode, these components have some specific characteristics that are difficult to evaluate by classical mechanical characterization tests. Thus, advanced characterization of components made by Material Extrusion process has been conducted. Appropriately designed test methodologies have been developed for the mechanical evaluation of such components. Through these tests, the possibility to evaluate some characteristics of components with a high impact on their mechanical properties has arisen. Investigations on the presence of porosity, inter-laminar adhesion, and the impact of the size of manufactured components on their mechanical properties were conducted. Local characterization tests, tests for laminar structures, and process monitoring were the key tools used to evaluate these properties. The selected process parameters during the printing stage and the manufacturing strategies of the samples have been found to have a very high impact on the mechanical properties of the components. From the analysis of the obtained results, it was determined that careful characterization of components produced by material extrusion was needed, through tests specifically designed for such parts
Levilactobacillus brevis CD2 as a multifaceted probiotic to preserve oral health: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults
Full text linkBackgroundA growing number of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest the application of probiotics as a natural approach to maintaining oral health. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Levilactobacillus brevis CD2 (CNCM I-5566), a multifunctional probiotic frequently used in oral medicine, in preserving or improving several recognized oral health indicators.MethodsThirty consenting healthy adults were randomized to receive four lozenges per day of L. brevis CD2 probiotic (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) over four weeks. Clinical parameters (full-mouth bleeding on probing (BoP) and plaque index (PI) scores) were recorded. Unstimulated saliva was collected to measure salivation rate, pH, and buffer capacity. Salivary biomarkers were analyzed, including glucose, D-lactate, and secretory immunoglobulins A (sIgA). Clinical and salivary parameters were assessed at baseline, after four weeks of intervention, and two weeks post-intervention. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and robust regression analysis were used for statistical comparisons. The possible mediating effect of PI on BoP changes was assessed.ResultsAfter four weeks, the probiotic group showed significant improvements in BoP and PI compared to baseline and placebo. The probiotic group had a higher salivation rate than baseline and placebo after four weeks of treatment and washout. While changes in salivary pH were not significant, buffering capacity increased in the probiotic group after four weeks of treatment and washout. Salivary glucose and D-lactate levels were lower in the probiotic group post-treatment and after washout. sIgA values increased and remained stable after washout in the probiotic group. No adverse effects were reported.ConclusionsThe treatment with L. brevis CD2 significantly improved clinical and salivary parameters, supporting its efficacy as a probiotic for oral health.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06457724; Registered 7 June 2024 - Retrospectively registered; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06457724?viewType=Table&page=452&rank=4512#study-overview
Synergistic Effect of Oxygen and Water on the Environmental Reactivity of 2D Layered GeAs
No full textWe investigated the reactivity of layered GeAs in the presence of oxygen or water using synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. By performing experiments at near-ambient pressure (up to 20 mbar), we gained detailed insights into the material’s stability under realistic conditions. GeAs showed limited reactivity with dry O2 and deaerated H2O. However, a small amount of humidity (Rw = 0.5% at T = 20 °C) in an O2 atmosphere significantly enhanced reactivity. This synergistic effect was well captured by density functional theory calculations, which revealed a strongly exothermic formation energy for the simultaneous chemisorption of O2 and H2O, compared to the adsorption of each molecule individually
Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Heart Failure. A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Full text linkBACKGROUND Patients with heart failure (HF) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke were underrepresented in clinical trials on MT. Our systematic review and meta‐analysis aim to assess differences in outcomes between patients with HF and their counterparts without HF treated with MT for acute ischemic stroke.
METHODS A systematic review of the English language literature from inception up to March 7, 2024, was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Studies focused on patients with and without HF who were treated with MT for acute ischemic stroke were included. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of modified Rankin Scale scores of 0–2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes of interest included rates of 90‐day mortality, successful reperfusion, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.
RESULTS
Of 5394 initially retrieved studies, 5 studies were included in the systematic review with a final population of 44 385 patients with ischemic stroke with and without HF treated with MT. Four studies were combined for the primary outcome and showed comparable rates of 0–2 modified Rankin Scale scores between patients with HF and patients without HF (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CIs, 0.70–1.06]; P = 0.15). Ninety‐day mortality was significantly higher in the HF group (odds ratio, 1.92 [95% CIs, 1.66–2.23]; P<0.0001) although the sample size was small (n of study = 3) and only unadjusted estimates were used. Successful reperfusion and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rates were similar between the groups.
CONCLUSION In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, patients with HF experienced worse 90‐day mortality post‐MT. Our data encourage further research on MT outcomes in patients with large vessel‐occlusion ischemic stroke and concomitant HF
ESR Essentials: percutaneous bone consolidation—practice recommendations by the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology
No full textPercutaneous bone consolidation is increasingly used for the management of bone pain resulting from benign and malignant conditions. Percutaneous vertebroplasty was first performed in 1984 through the injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement directly into the cancellous bone of the vertebral body. Then, in the late nineties, balloon kyphoplasty was introduced consisting of the positioning of an inflatable balloon at the fracture site to create a cavity and restore the vertebral height, followed by PMMA injection. In recent years, more advanced techniques involving spinal implants combined with cement injection have also been developed in an attempt to restore vertebral body height. Vertebral augmentation techniques have been shown to be more effective for the treatment of vertebral fragility fractures than non-surgical management. Apart from osteoporotic fractures, vertebral augmentation has also demonstrated pain reduction and function improvement in patients with metastatic fractures. In extraspinal bone sites, percutaneous osteoplasty has proved helpful in treating both osteoporotic and pathological fractures, as well as in preventing tumor-related impending fractures. Recently, screw-mediated osteosynthesis has been described to withstand shear and rotational forces in the pelvic ring and long bones. We herein provide recommendations for the most common clinical situations that may benefit from such bone consolidation techniques
The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Advancing Total Hip Arthroplasty
Full text linkTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) is a widely performed surgical procedure that has evolved significantly due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. As demand for THA grows, reliable tools are essential to enhance diagnosis, preoperative planning, surgical precision, and postoperative rehabilitation. AI applications in orthopedic surgery offer innovative solutions, including automated hip osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis, precise implant positioning, and personalized risk stratification, thereby improving patient outcomes. Deep learning models have transformed OA severity grading and implant identification by automating traditionally manual processes with high accuracy. Additionally, AI-powered systems optimize preoperative planning by predicting the hip joint center and identifying complications using multimodal data. Robotic-assisted THA enhances surgical precision with real-time feedback, reducing complications such as dislocations and leg length discrepancies while accelerating recovery. Despite these advancements, barriers such as cost, accessibility, and the steep learning curve for surgeons hinder widespread adoption. Postoperative rehabilitation benefits from technologies like virtual and augmented reality and telemedicine, which enhance patient engagement and adherence. However, limitations, particularly among elderly populations with lower adaptability to technology, underscore the need for user-friendly platforms. To ensure comprehensiveness, a structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Keywords included "artificial intelligence", "machine learning", "robotics", and "total hip arthroplasty". Inclusion criteria emphasized peer-reviewed studies published in English within the last decade focusing on technological advancements and clinical outcomes. This review evaluates AI and robotics' role in THA, highlighting opportunities and challenges and emphasizing further research and real-world validation to integrate these technologies into clinical practice effectively
Security and Fairness in Multi-Party Quantum Secret Sharing Protocol
Full text linkQuantum secret sharing (QSS) is a cryptographic protocol that leverages quantum mechanics to distribute a secret among multiple parties. With respect to the classical counterpart, in QSS the secret is encoded into quantum states and shared by a dealer such that only an authorized subsets of participants, i.e., the players, can reconstruct it. Several state-of-the-art studies aim to transpose classical Secret Sharing into the quantum realm, while maintaining their reliance on traditional network topologies (e.g., star, ring, fully-connected) and require that all the n players calculate the secret. These studies exploit the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state, which is a type of maximally entangled quantum state involving three or more qubits. However, none of these works account for redundancy, enhanced security/privacy features or authentication mechanisms able to fingerprint players. To address these gaps, in this paper we introduce a new concept of QSS which leans on a generic distributed quantum-network, based on a threshold scheme, where all the players collaborate also to the routing of quantum information among them. The dealer, by exploiting a custom flexible weighting system, takes advantage of a newly defined quantum Dijkstra algorithm to select the most suitable subset of t players, out of the entire set on n players, to involve in the computation. To fingerprint and authenticate users, CRYSTAL-Kyber primitives are adopted, while also protecting each player's privacy by hiding their identities. We show the effectiveness and performance of the proposed protocol by testing it against the main classical and quantum attacks, thereby improving the state-of-the-art security measures
Intention to leave and missed nursing care: a scoping review
Full text linkINTRODUCTION
The nursing profession is fundamental to the functioning of healthcare systems but is often characterised by high turnover rates, considerable job dissatisfaction, and a significant intention to leave. A closely related phenomenon is "missed nursing care," defined as essential nursing tasks that are omitted (partially or completely), delayed, or not performed. The relationship between missed nursing care and the intention to leave the profession represents a critical issue in modern healthcare.
AIMS
This scoping review aims to synthesize evidence on the relationship between Missed Nursing Care (MNC) and Intention to Leave (ITL), highlighting the factors influencing both phenomena.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A scoping review was conducted to examine the relationship between "missed nursing care" and "intention to leave" among nurses. The search, conducted between May and June 2024, included PUBMED, SCOPUS, and EBSCO databases, focusing on English-language studies from the last 10 years. Zotero was used for study management, and quality assessment was performed using the "JBI Critical Appraisal Tools." Two independent reviewers screened studies and resolved discrepancies through discussion and consensus.
RESULTS
The electronic research strategies used produced 102 papers, of which 24 were relevant to the aims of the review. The results of this study show a clear correlation between missed nursing care and intention to leave among nurses in different healthcare settings.
DISCUSSION
This literature review demonstrates a strong and consistent correlation between missed nursing care and nurses' intention to leave the profession. The findings indicate that missed nursing care is closely linked to heightened job dissatisfaction, which in turn significantly increases the likelihood of nurses considering leaving their roles.
CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between missed nursing care and intention to leave the profession is well documented in the literature and highlights the importance of addressing the factors that contribute to missed nursing care. Improving nurses' working conditions is essential to reduce their intention to leave the profession. To effectively tackle missed nursing care and mitigate the intention to leave, it is necessary to adopt targeted strategic and management approaches and to foster an organisational culture that prioritises the well-being of nurses
A bone remodeling model involving two mechanical stimuli originated from shear and normal load conditions within the 3D continuum mechanics framework
No full textWe propose a three-dimensional macroscopic continuum model designed to predict the remodeling phenomenon of bone tissue. In the proposed model, we focus on the evolution of two crucial stiffness parameters: the bulk and shear moduli. These parameters independently adapt to the mechanical demands to which bone tissue is subjected, mainly to withstand hydrostatic and deviatoric deformations. These mechanical stimulations influence the activity of bone cells, leading to changes in bone structure and strength and, in turn, the above-mentioned moduli. The formulation is simplified, serving as an initial step towards a more comprehensive modeling approach. The evolution of these stiffness parameters is proposed based on an energetic argument to describe the functional adaptation process. Numerical experiments, conducted on a cylindrical specimen resembling a femur, demonstrate the feasibility of modeling the bone remodeling process with distinct evolutions for multiple material parameters, in contrast to the conventional approach that permits only one-parameter evolution