181,052 research outputs found
Tra XIII e XIV secolo. Produzione nell’area monetaria di Milano e sue attestazioni nel Seprium
No full textIl contributo è suddiviso in due parti. La prima sezione, a cura di Claudia Perassi, presenta analiticamente la monetazione di Milano tra XIII e XIV secolo, centro emittente dell'omonima area monetaria; nella seconda, a cura di Alessandro Bona, si relazionano i ritrovamenti monetali dello stesso arco cronologico avvenuti nella regione storica del Seprio, comprendendo tutte le modalità di rinvenimento: single finds, esemplari deposti in tomba e ripostigli
Soggetti architettonici su monete di età romana. Casi di studio da esemplari del ‘Fondo Acquisti’
No full textThe impact of antiviral treatments on the course of chronic hepatitis C: an evidence-based approach
No full textHepatitis C virus chronic infection is currently the most common cause of end-stage liver disease. The benefit of antiviral therapy on liver histology and its impact on the long-term course of the disease has been extensively studied. However, the results are still equivocal and the overall assessment of treatment effect remains difficult to evaluate. Although the conclusions of the last National Institute of Health Consensus Development Conferences on Hepatitis C have recently been published, several important issues still remain unanswered. We review the available data by an evidence-based approach and conclude that: 1) peginterferon alfa is more effective than conventional interferon in improving liver histology; 2) monotherapy with PEG-interferon induces a marked reduction in staging in virological sustained responders and to a lesser degree in relapsers, but provides no benefit to nonresponders after 24-48 weeks of treatment; 3) maintenance therapy aiming to improve histology in virological nonresponders should be considered experimental and of unproven benefit; 4) although the reduction in the number of events in sustained responders suggests a long-term benefit of IFN therapy, available evidence is still insufficient to confirm that IFN prolongs life in HCV infected patients. Data of the long-term benefit of subjects treated with IFN plus ribavirin are still not available; 5) pooling of published data suggests a slight preventive effect of IFN on HCC development in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. The magnitude of this effect is low and the observed benefit might be due to spurious associations. The preventive effect is more evident among sustained responders to interferon
When and how to treat acute hepatitis C?
No full textBackground: Appropriate treatment of acute hepatitis C is still a matter of controversy due to the lack of large controlled trials. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of interferon as treatment for acute hepatitis C by meta-analysis. Methods: MEDLINE search (1985-2002) was supplemented with manual searches of reference lists. Studies were included if they were controlled trials comparing interferon to no treatment and if they included patients with either post-transfusion or sporadic acute hepatitis C. Twelve trials were analyzed (414 patients). The outcome assessed was the sustained virological response (SVR) rate (undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA in serum at least 6 months after cessation of therapy). Results: Interferon significantly increased the SVR (risk difference 49%; 95% confidence interval 32.9-65%) in comparison to no treatment. The risk difference of SVR increased from 5 to 90% when trials were ordered by increasing interferon weekly dose. Delaying therapy by 8-12 weeks after the onset of disease does not compromise the SVR rate. Conclusions: Current evidence is sufficient to recommend interferon treatment of patients with acute hepatitis C. A later initiation of therapy yields the same likelihood of response as early treatment. A daily induction dose during the 1st month is the best option of treatment. © 2003 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Inusuali tracce di predazione in Ursus spelaeus
No full textThe present study led to the identification of a failed attempt at predation dating about 39,000 years ago. This attack left healed signs of trauma on the cranial vault. The object of this study is a young cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) found at the Caverna Generosa (Lo Co 2694), located on Italian side of Monte Generoso (Como). The study entailed CAT scans and the macroscopic study of the bones which showed how the trauma suffered by the young bear was not lethal: in fact the animal died probably 3 to 12 months after this attack. The morphology of the partially healed lesion has led the authors to the following reconstruction: an attack from behind and above, using probably the two right canines (upper and lower). The list of possible predators includes: Panthera leo spelaea, Crocuta crocuta spelaea, Canis lupus and the cave bears themselves. Given the characteristics of Crocuta crocuta spelaea and Canis lupus, the most likely predators are bear and lion
Exploring the Functional Strategies Adopted by Coastal Plants Along an Ecological Gradient Using Morpho-functional Traits
No full textCoastal dunes are characterised by strong interactions between biotic and abiotic factors along a short gradient from the shoreline to the inland region. We carried out an ecological analysis of the vegetation in a protected area of the Italian coast to evaluate the relationships among species abundance, the occurrence of morphoanatomical traits related to leaves, stems, and roots, and soil variables. Three transects were established perpendicular to the shoreline, with 27 plots distributed in the frontal dunes, backdunes, and temporarily wet dune slacks. An analysis based on community-weighted mean values showed that the pioneer communities of the frontal dunes were dominated by ruderals that are well adapted to the harsh ecological conditions of these environments, showing succulent leaves, high limb thickness values, and low values for leaf dry matter content (LDMC). The backdune vegetation was a mosaic of annual herbaceous and perennial shrub communities showing both ruderal and stress-tolerant strategies (clonality, sclerified leaves, high LDMC values, root phenolics) consistent with less extreme ecological conditions. The dune slack areas were dominated by plants showing adaptations to both arid and flooded environments, such as C4 photosynthesis, amphistomatic leaves, and abundant aerenchyma in the roots. The invasive status, C4 photosynthesis, leaf trichomes, and aerenchyma in the roots were significantly correlated with soil humidity, organic matter content, and pH. These results demonstrate the usefulness of anatomical traits (including root system traits) in understanding the functional strategies adopted by plants. Invasive species tended to occupy plots with high levels of soil moisture, suggesting an avoidance strategy for the harsh environmental conditions of coastal sand dunes. Finally, we suggest including information regarding root systems into coastal monitoring programs because they are directly linked to soil parameters useful in coastal dune management and protection
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