1,721,086 research outputs found
Tessuto umano da organi espiantati determinazione 10B per sperimentazione BNCT in ambito ospedaliero.
No full textIslet cell transplantation
No full textIslet cell transplantation is an attractive alternative therapy to conventional insulin treatment or vascularized whole pancreas transplantation for type 1 diabetic patients. It represents a successful example of somatic cell therapy in humans based on complex procedures for islet isolation from whole pancreas. The islets, that are only 1% of the total pancreas tissue, are isolated by two steps method starting with collagenase digestion that operates a rapid dissociation of the stromal component of the gland, while preserving islet anatomical integrity. After digestion, islets are then separated from exocrine tissue by centrifugation in density gradients. Transplantation consists of a simple injection of few milliliter-purified tissue in the portal vein through a percutaneous trans- hepatic approach performed in local anesthesia. Several studies have now demonstrated that islet transplant can replace pancreatic endocrine function without major side effects and with liver viability preservation in selected patients affected by longterm type 1 diabetes. It can restore endogenous insulin secretion, achieve insulin independence in more than 80% of patients, and recover the metabolism of glucose, protein and lipids. Improved control of glycated HbAlc, reduced risk of recurrent hypoglycemia and of diabetic complications are also seen as important benefits of islet cell transplantation, irrespective of the status of insulin independence. Many protocols are now on going for reduction of immunosuppression therapy in recipients, induction of tolerance, and prolongation of graft function
Temporal clustering for blood glucose analysis in the ICU: identification of groups of patients with different risk profile.
No full textBlood Glucose (BG) analysis and control in critically ill patients became an important research challenge in the last few years. Despite the big improvements that have been achieved both in research and in clinical practice, there are still many aspects that need to be elucidated. A first step towards a better comprehension of the phenomena underlying BG dynamics is represented by the study of retrospectively collected data. In this paper we propose an analysis of blood glucose time series through a combined temporal clustering and standard statistical analysis approach. The ultimate goal of the analysis is the identification of groups of patients showing different BG dynamics and evaluate their risk profiles, which is a very important issue in the Intensive Care Units. The method is applied to a set of patients treated at the Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies in Palermo, Italy. We show that it is possible to identify two groups based on the initial blood glucose trends, and that the two groups significantly differ in terms of their future BG behaviour
Sensitivity and specificity of a visual acuity screening protocol performed with the Lea Symbols 15-line folding distance chart in preschool children.
No full textPurpose: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a visual acuity
(VA) test using the Lea Symbols 15-line folding distance chart and its diagnostic
validity in detecting VA deficiency in preschool children.
Methods: A group of 149 children aged 38–54 months underwent VA examination
performed with the Lea 15-line folding optotype at a distance of 3 metres,
according to a test protocol described in the Methods section. After the VA test,
a complete ophthalmological examination, including cycloplegic retinoscopy,
a cover test and examination of the anterior and posterior segments, was performed
on each child in order to detect any VA-threatening ocular abnormality.
The Lea Symbols test’s sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood
ratios (LR +, LR )) and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve
were calculated by means of standard procedures using each VA level of the
chart from 0.1 to 1 (1–0 logMAR) as a cut-off point.
Results: The Lea Symbols test could be successfully used in 95.9% of the population.
The most useful cut-off points for screening preschool children were
found to be 0.8 (LR +5.73, LR ) 0.05) or 0.63 (LR +11.7, LR ) 0.23).
Conclusion: The Lea Symbols test proved to be clinically useful in detecting
VA deficiency in preschool children. The choice between the two best performing
cut-off levels should be made according to the expected cost-effectiveness
of the screening programme
Evaluation of a custom-made, titratable MAD (ORTHOAPNEA NOA®) for treatment of OSAS
No full textAim: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of ORTHOAPNEA NOA® MAD in the treatment of OSAS patients. Noa ® is a two-piece MAD, the first worldwide one customized according to the mandibular kinematic of each patient.
Methods: The study is carried out on a sample recruited from the Department of Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Dentistry of Pavia. The sample meets the following inclusion criteria: AHI>5, age between 18 and 75 years old, initial PSG supplied.
PSG is repeated both at the baseline (T0) and 3 months after the start of therapy with NOA® (T1).
Sleep parameters, such as AHI, supine AHI, ODI, SpO2<90% time, mean desaturation (%), are analyzed and compared between T0 and T1.
Results: The evaluation of the effectiveness of the NOA device® is based on a sample of 7 patients, 3 males and 4 females (mean age 57,4±10,72). T0 indexes were AHI 19,4±8,74, supine AHI 34.58±14.46, ODI 13,25±9,87, SpO2<90% time 55.2±93.64 minutes, mean desaturation 92,74±2,23.
This sample includes 4 patients with mild OSAS (530).
After treatment with NOA®, a relevant decrease of AHI (8.5±1,55), supine AHI (6,95±0,77), ODI (10,05±0,9) and SpO2<90% (0,35±0,49min) was observed.
Conclusion: MAD NOA® could be an effective alternative in the treatment of OSAS; the device has obtained significant results with the improvement of the PSG parameters
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Diabetes mellitus: an opportunity for therapy with stem cells?
No full textIn both Type 1 and 2 diabetes, insufficient numbers of insulin-producing p-cells are a major cause of defective control of blood glucose and its complications. Restoration of damaged beta-cells by endocrine pancreas regeneration would be an ideal therapeutic option. The possibility of generating insulin-secreting cells with adult pancreatic stem or progenitor cells has been investigated extensively. The conversion of differentiated cells such as hepatocytes into beta-cells is being attempted using molecular insights into the transcriptional make-up of beta-cells. Additionally, the enhanced proliferation of beta-cells in vivo or in vitro is being pursued as a strategy for regenerative medicine for diabetes. Advances have also been made in directing the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into beta-cells. Although progress is encouraging, major gaps in our understanding of developmental biology of the pancreas and adult beta-cell dynamics remain to be bridged before a therapeutic application is made possible
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