1,721,129 research outputs found
Prevalence of primary headaches in Italian elderly: Preliminary data from the ZabÃot Aging Project
No full textWe describe preliminary 1-year prevalence data of recurrent migraine headache (MH), tension-type headache (TTH), and other headaches (OH) in a rural elderly population. A door-to-door two-phase survey was conducted on all elderly (â¥65 years) residents of a rural village in southern Italy. Participants underwent a two-phase screening including a validated semi-structured questionnaire for headaches based on the International Headache Society criteria, and a neurological evaluation. Recurrent headache was defined as 3 or more attacks within the past 12 months. Out of 1031 participants evaluated, 225 (21.8%) suffered from recurrent headaches. One-year prevalence rates for headaches were respectively 4.6% for MH, 16% for TTH, and 1.3% for OH. For MH and TTH, but not for OH, prevalence rates were significantly higher for women than for men. Only MH prevalence rates significantly decrease with increasing age. In our population, about one-fifth of elderly subjects suffered from recurrent primary headaches. Prevalence rates were higher in women, and tended to decline with increasing age
Persistent Cognitive Dysfunction in a Non-Hospitalized COVID-19 Long-Hauler Patient Responding to Cognitive Rehabilitation and Citicoline Treatment
Full text linkThe Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is characterized by severe flu-like symptoms, which can progress to life-threatening systemic inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction. The nervous system is involved in over one-third of patients, and the most common neurological manifestations concern the central nervous system, such as headache, fatigue, and brain fog. The activation of innate, humoral, and cellular immune responses, resulting in a cytokine storm and endothelial and mitochondrial dysfunctions, are the main pathophysiological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Citicoline is an exogenous source of choline and cytidine involved in intracellular phospholipid synthesis, which improves blood flow, brain activity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This report will present the case of a non-hospitalized, 59-year-old female. After a mild form of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the patient developed cognitive disturbances such as forgetfulness and anomia. The multidimensional neuropsychological assessment revealed an impairment in episodic memory with borderline performance in executive and visuospatial functioning. Cognitive rehabilitation and treatment with citicoline 1000 mg/daily led to a marked improvement in symptoms after six months. Early identification of the neurological sequelae of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and timely rehabilitation interventions are required in non-hospitalized long-hauler patients with COVID-19. Long-term treatment with citicoline should be considered as potentially effective in improving cognitive functioning in subjects with Post COVID-19 Neurological Syndrome
The key role of miRNA in syndromic and sporadic forms of ascending aortic aneurysms as biomarkers and targets of novel therapeutic strategies
Full text linkIncreasing evidence shows that epigenetics also plays a key role in regulating the pathogenetic mechanism of all types of aortic aneurysms. It is well-known that epigenetic factors modulate gene expression. This mechanism appears to be of interest especially knowing the relevance of genetic susceptibility and genetic factors in the complex pathophysiology of aortic aneurysms, and of sporadic forms; in fact, the latter are the result of a close interaction between genetic and modifiable lifestyle factors (i.e., nutrition, smoking, infections, use of drugs, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, etc.). Epigenetic factors include DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, and non-coding RNA. Here, our attention is focused on the role of miRNA in syndromic and sporadic forms of thoracic aortic aneurysms. They could be both biomarkers and targets of novel therapeutic strategies
Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Diseases: How Much Do We Still Not Know?
Full text linkThe term "neuroinflammation" defines the typical inflammatory response of the brain closely related to the onset of many neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Neuroinflammation is well known, but its mechanisms and pathways are not entirely comprehended. Some progresses have been achieved through many efforts and research. Consequently, new cellular and molecular mechanisms, diverse and conventional, are emerging. In listing some of those that will be the subject of our description and discussion, essential are the important roles of peripheral and infiltrated monocytes and clonotypic cells, alterations in the gut-brain axis, dysregulation of the apelinergic system, alterations in the endothelial glycocalyx of the endothelial component of neuronal vascular units, variations in expression of some genes and levels of the encoding molecules by the action of microRNAs (miRNAs), or other epigenetic factors and distinctive transcriptional factors, as well as the role of autophagy, ferroptosis, sex differences, and modifications in the circadian cycle. Such mechanisms can add significantly to understanding the complex etiological puzzle of neuroinflammation and ND. In addition, they could represent biomarkers and targets of ND, which is increasing in the elderly
(3H)-DA release evoked by low pH medium and internal H+accumulation in rat hypothalamic synaptosomes: involvement of calcium ions
No full textGli Elementi Prefabbricati in Cemento Armato dell’ex Sede SGES di Palermo
No full textThe aim of the paper is to analyse the decay of the precast concrete elements which characterize the building envelope of the Enel-SGES Building, designed by Giuseppe Samonà in 1959 and built after two years in Palermo.
Thanks to the original technical documents, saved in the IUAV archive in Venice and in the Samonà's archive of Parma, and according to contemporary evidence the building history has been defined in detail.
Moreover we have studied in deep particular elements of the building envelope made of concrete like the windowsills that have different shape in relation to their position on the different building façades.
The analysis of these elements, which represent the first example of precast concrete elements assembled on site in Palermo, allowed us to classify 17 type of windowsills that are different in shape and in relation to the water downflow.
We have also determined the different mechanisms of decay pathologies and, at the end we have defined three different solutions in order to recover the windowsills based on the different entity of the decay
Cognitive deficits in beta-thalassemia major
No full textOBJECTIVES:
To assess cognitive functioning in patients affected by beta-thalassemia major (beta-th) by using a neuropsychological battery, and to identify clinical correlates.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:Forty-six beta-th patients and 46 controls similar for age, sex, and education participated in the study. All subjects performed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery including tests of abstract reasoning, attention, executive functions, language, constructional/visuospatial skills, and memory.
RESULTS:Compared to controls beta-th patients, in particular those showing signs of hemosiderosis, were significantly impaired on all neuropsychological tests. There was no relationship between cognitive performances and signs of deferoxamine toxicity, deferoxamine dosage, and levels of hemoglobin and ferritin, while duration of transfusional therapy and time interval between onset of blood transfusions and onset of chelating treatment correlated with performances of tests assessing abstract reasoning, attention, constructional/visuospatial skills, memory and with the scores of the Mini Mental State Examination.
CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that beta-th is associated with neuropsychological impairment involving multiple cognitive domains and argue for a potential role of hemosiderosis on cognitive functionin
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