25 research outputs found
Language Standardisation and Linguistic Resources: The Case of Central Ladin (Dolomites)
No full textIn this paper we describe the efforts and actions undertaken to promote the development of a unifying standard for the Ladin language spoken in the Dolomites (Italian Alps), called Central Ladin, within the SPELL project (a project supported by the CEC, DGXII, Programme for Regional and Minority Languages). A great part of SPELL has been, and is currently devoted to the development of linguistic resources for the local communities and institutions. We will start by discussing the main geo- and socio-cultural issues involved, then illustrate the actions taken within SPELL towards standardisation, and the development of linguistic resources for the standard languag
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction after liver transplantation
No full textObjective
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in liver transplant (LT) recipients is defined as a “more than expected” postoperative deterioration in cognitive domains, including short-term and long-term memory, mood, consciousness and circadian rhythm. It is diagnosed, after exclusion of other neurological complications, by using specific neuropsychological tests that need preoperative baseline. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of POCD after LT and to analyze patients’ symptoms, type and timing of assessment used.
Methods
PubMed, MEDLINE and The Cochrane Li-brary were searched up from January 1986 to August 2014. Study eligibility criteria are as follows: prospective and retrospective studies on human adult subjects describing prevalence of POCD and/or its sequelae after LT episodes were included.
Results
Eighteen studies were identified. The timing of testing for POCD may vary between different studies and within the single study, ranging from 0.5 to 32weeks. POCD occurs in up to 50% of LT recipient.
Conclusion
Future studies should be focused on detecting preoperative and intraoperative factors associated to POCD in order to carry out appropriate strategies aimed at reducing this disabling health condition. Relationship between POCD and long-term outcome needs to be investigated
Valutazione degli effetti sedativi del midazolam, in pazienti di età pediatrica sottoposti a RMN
No full textPhotochemical Bromination of 2,5-Dimethylbenzoic Acid as Key Step of an Improved Alkyne-Functionalized Blue Box Synthesis**
No full textCyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), also known as "blue box", is a highly electron-deficient macrocycle, widely used as a molecular receptor for small electron-rich molecules. Inserting a reactive functional group onto the molecular structure of this cyclophane is paramount for its inclusion into complex architectures. To this aim, including an alkyne moiety would be ideal, because it can participate in click reactions. However, the synthesis of such alkyne-functionalized cyclophane suffers from several drawbacks: the use of toxic and expensive CCl4, the need for high-pressure reactors, and overall low yield. We have revised the existing synthesis of this cyclophane derivative bearing an alkyne moiety, to overcome all these limitations. In particular, photochemical radical bromination is adopted to obtain a sensitive intermediate. We demonstrated that the synthesized host molecule can be functionalized via click reactions and take part in radical-radical interactions. Our work makes a key functionalized paraquat macrocycle more accessible, facilitating the development of novel redox-responsive systems
Changing the awareness of physiatrists on muscuoskeletal ultrasound: Italy in EURO-MUSCULUS
No full textThe interest of physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) physicians in musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) is increasing. In this study, we aimed to explore the attitudes of a group of Italian physiatrists on this topic before and after a 2½-day MSUS course. A 15-question survey (designed ad-hoc for this study) was administered before the first session of an MSUS course held in the PRM Department of Tor Vergata University, Rome. At the end of the course, a repeat questionnaire with eight of the original 15 questions (on awareness) was administered. The survey contained multiple-choice and open-ended questions addressing three main aspects: personal background, MSUS experience, and awareness about MSUS. All of the course participants (17 physiatrists) completed the precourse and postcourse questionnaires. Almost two-thirds of the participants (11/17) reported that they had never received education on MSUS. Overall, the participants rated MSUS as either ‘essential’ (8/16) or ‘useful to some of my practice’ (8/16). All of them stated at both times that physiatrists should perform MSUS themselves and that MSUS education is necessary for physiatrists. Participants’ awareness significantly increased on the indications for MSUS, the advantages and the structures that could be evaluated with it. We draw attention to the fact that PRM physicians are increasingly becoming aware of the need for MSUS in clinical practice. Unfortunately, the two barriers (i.e. lack of education and lack of device) against the use of MSUS by physiatrists still seem to exist. Finally, we acknowledge the paramount role of international collaborative efforts (e.g. EURO-MUSCULUS) to speed up and standardize the education process and the clinical application of MSUS in our field
Low values of left ventricular ejection time in the post-anhepatic phase may be associated with occurrence of primary graft dysfunction after orthotopic liver transplantation: results of a single-centre case-control study
No full textAbstract. – BACKGROUND: Previous investi- gations on risk factors for orthotopic liver trans- plantation (OLT) surgery have not analyzed he- modynamic aberrations in great detail. Moreover, the usefulness of esophageal Doppler monitor- ing has not been extensively studied in this clini- cal setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the occurrence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) may be anticipated by hemodynamic in- dexes measured by esophageal Doppler (ED) monitoring system as well as by pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in patients undergoing OLT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 38 OLT recipi- ents were studied. Patients with acute liver fail- ure or having non treated esophageal varices and those transplanted with marginal donors were excluded from the study. The haemodynam- ic data – measured by ED monitoring system (HemosonicTM 100, Arrow, OK, USA) and PAC – collected at the following 3 time points were considered for statistical analysis: 30 minutes after the induction of anesthesia but before skin incision, T0; 20 minutes after liver dissection, T1; at the beginning of biliary reconstruction, T2. On the basis of early outcome (72 hours after OLT), patients were distinguished into two groups: those with PGD (grade III-IV of Toronto classifi- cation) and those without PGD (grade I-II).
RESULTS: LVETc (left ventricular ejection time) values, registered at the beginning of biliary re- construction (T2), were lower in patients with PGD compared to those without PGD (p < 0.000), while there were no differences in hemodynamic para- meters derived from PAC between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Since LVETc is related to pre- load, the results of this study would suggest that normovolemia could be the end point of a fluid replacement strategy in OLT setting
A microsatellites-based survey on the genetic structure of two Italian local chicken breeds
No full textThe biodiversity safeguard is an important goal of poultry production in every developed country. Nowadays, the high chicken meat demand from the world market has been leading to a large spread of strongly producing commercial chicken lines. The creation of these standard types is causing a progressive loss of genetic variability. Ancona and Livorno are two Italian autochthonous chicken breeds which represent a great resource in terms of specific genetic richness. Aim of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity of these breeds as potential valuable genetic variability source. In fact, in spite of their endangered status, these chicken breeds are very appreciated for their ability to adapt themselves to extensive organic rearing systems. Blood samples from 131 individuals were collected and genotyped through a thirty microsatellites-based analysis. All the observed descriptive statistical indexes suggested a heterozygosity deficiency and an inbreeding level (mean observed heterozygosity = 0.46, mean expected heterozygosity = 0.53, Fis in Ancona and Livorno = 0.251 and 0.086). The tree from inter-individual DAS distance using Neighbour-Joining algorithm and the FCA analysis showed a higher internal variability in Livorno than in Ancona. STRUCTURE analysis showed the genetic uniqueness of the breeds and the presence of sub-groups in Ancona originating from a possible genetic isolation. This research could be a suitable starting point to set up improved selection schemes and a potential preliminary genotypic test for all the cocks to be used in the selection
Prediction of poor graft function by means of gastric tonometry in patients undergoing liver transplantation
No full textINTRODUCTION. Splanchnic hypoperfusion appears to play a key role in the failure of functional recovery of the graft after orthotopic liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to determine if alterations of tonometric parameters, which are related to splanchnic perfusion, could predict poor graft function in patients undergoing LT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
After Ethics Committee approval, 68 patients undergoing LT were enrolled. In all the patients, regional-arterial CO2 gradient (Pr-aCO2) was recorded; in addition, the difference between Pr-aCO2 recorded at anhepatic phase (T1) and at the end of surgery (T2) (T2- T1 = ΔPr-aCO2) was calculated. Poor graft function was determined on the basis of Toronto's classification 72 hours after LT. Student t-test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical purpose. Results. ΔPr-aCO2 was significantly greater in patients with poor graft function (3.5 ± 13.2) compared to patients with good graft function (-5.8 ± 12.3) (p = 0.014). The logistic regression analysis showed that the ΔPr-aCO2 was able to predict the onset of poor graft function (p = 0.037). A value of ΔPr-aCO2 ≥ -4 was associated with poor graft function with a sensibility of 93.3% and a specificity of 42.3%. CONCLUSION. Our study suggests that the change of Pr-aCO2 may be a valuable index of graft dysfunction. Gastric tonometry might give early prognostic information on the graft outcome, and it may aid clinicians in planning a more strict follow-up and proper interventions in order to improve graft survival
