102,003 research outputs found
F. Gambardella, Vite connesse: l'abitare tra iperrealtà e perdita del mondo, in Il fenomeno vita. tra proprio e improprio, potenza e impotenza, singolare e comune, a cura di S. Prinzi
No full textLa visione dominante nelle nostre società sembra intendere la vita come un capitale di cui ogni individuo sarebbe dotato, collezione di crediti e skill che deve essere valorizzata per produrre performance caratterizzate da sempre maggiore rapidità, impatto, efficienza. Tutto sembra pensato per incrementare una vita di cui noi saremmo padroni, i cui progressi o regressi possono essere valutati secondo criteri quantitativi, per poter comparare le differenti vite e ottenere la migliore selezione possibile. Così si diffondono ovunque tecniche che si propongono di potenziare la vita, di renderla maggiormente produttiva, mentre imprese e istituzioni ne mettono a profitto ogni aspetto. Una frenesia che si rovescia nel suo contrario, in un paradossale sacrificio della vita, nella perdita di un controllo democratico, di una pianificazione che guarda al futuro. Come ci dimostrano la pandemia e la Guerra in Ucraina, che hanno rivelato i limiti delle pratiche di potenziamento, la fragilità della vita, la connessione inestricabile fra le nostre vite, la loro co-appartenenza a una più grande vita della specie. Se questi eventi sono il frutto delle modalità in cui la vita è stata istituita, allora, in questi tempi in cui tutta l’umanità è messa di fronte a sfide di carattere sanitario, bellico, ecologico, il fenomeno vita va forse ripensato alla radice, come incontro più che come competizione, come riconoscimento, comunicazione
Vite connesse: l'abitare tra iperrealtà e perdita del mondo
No full textLa visione dominante nelle nostre società sembra intendere la vita come un capitale di cui ogni individuo sarebbe dotato, collezione di crediti e skill che deve essere valorizzata per produrre performance caratterizzate da sempre maggiore rapidità, impatto, efficienza. Tutto sembra pensato per incrementare una vita di cui noi saremmo padroni, i cui progressi o regressi possono essere valutati secondo criteri quantitativi, per poter comparare le differenti vite e ottenere la migliore selezione possibile. Così si diffondono ovunque tecniche che si propongono di potenziare la vita, di renderla maggiormente produttiva, mentre imprese e istituzioni ne mettono a profitto ogni aspetto. Una frenesia che si rovescia nel suo contrario, in un paradossale sacrificio della vita, nella perdita di un controllo democratico, di una pianificazione che guarda al futuro. Come ci dimostrano la pandemia e la Guerra in Ucraina, che hanno rivelato i limiti delle pratiche di potenziamento, la fragilità della vita, la connessione inestricabile fra le nostre vite, la loro co-appartenenza a una più grande vita della specie. Se questi eventi sono il frutto delle modalità in cui la vita è stata istituita, allora, in questi tempi in cui tutta l’umanità è messa di fronte a sfide di carattere sanitario, bellico, ecologico, il fenomeno vita va forse ripensato alla radice, come incontro più che come competizione, come riconoscimento, comunicazione
Kawasaki disease in Sicily: clinical description and markers of disease severity
No full textBackground: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis of small and middle size arteries; 15-25 % of untreated patients and 5 % of patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) develop coronary artery lesions (CAL). Many studies tried to find the most effective treatment in the management of resistant KD and to select the risk factors for CAL. Our data are assessed on children from west Sicily, characterized by a genetic heterogeneity. Methods: We studied the clinical data of 70 KD Sicilian children (36 males: 51 %; 34 females: 49 %), analysed retrospectively, including: demographic and laboratory parameters; echocardiographic findings at diagnosis, at 2, 6 and 8 weeks, and at 1 year after the onset of the illness. Results: Forty-seven had Typical KD, three Atypical KD and twenty Incomplete KD. Age at the disease onset ranged from 0.1 to 8.9 years. IVIG were administered 5 ± 2 days after the fever started. Defervescence occurred 39 ± 26 hours after the first IVIG infusion. Fifty-six patients (80 %) received 1 dose of IVIG (responders); 14 patients (20 %) had a resistant KD, with persistent fever after the first IVIG dose (non responders). Ten (14 %) non responders responded to the second dose, 4 (5 %) responded to three doses; one needed treatment with high doses of steroids and Infliximab. Cardiac involvement was documented in twenty-two cases (eighteen with transient dilatation/ectasia, fifteen with aneurysms). Pericardial effusion, documented in eleven, was associated with coronaritis and aneurysms, and was present earlier than coronary involvement in seven. Hypoalbuminemia, D-dimer pre-IVIG, gamma-GT pre-IVIG showed a statistically significant direct correlation with IVIG doses, highlighting the role of these parameters as predictor markers of refractory disease. The persistence of elevated CRP, AST, ALT levels, a persistent hyponatremia and hypoalbuminemia after IVIG therapy, also had a statistical significant correlation with IVIG doses. Non responders showed higher levels of D-dimer and gamma-GT pre-IVIG, persistent high levels of D-dimer, CRP, AST, ALT, hypoalbuminemia and hyponatremia after IVIG. Conclusions: This is the first study on KD in Sicily. We suggest some laboratory parameters as predictive criteria for resistant KD. Patients who show early pericarditis need careful surveillance for coronary lesions
A morphological three-dimensional analysis of the repeatability of two attacks in traditional shotokan karate
No full textSystemic lupus erythematosus and bullous pemphigoid with dramatic response to dapsone
No full textObjective: Unusual clinical course Background: Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune blistering disease, with relapses, isolated or associated with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Joint manifestations rapidly respond to small or moderate doses of corticosteroids, whereas skin manifestations usually respond to antimalarial drugs. Case Report: We describe the clinical case of an 11-year-old girl with SLE. She showed bullous skin lesions with arthralgia, mild proteinuria, resolved after steroid treatment. At the tapering of her prednisone dose, the patient had new skin lesions requiring an increased dose of prednisone. She started dapsone at the dosage of 1 mg/kg/day, maintaining low dose prednisone; this treatment was successfully followed by the dramatic disappearance of skin lesions and limb pain. Conclusions: Bullous skin lesions can represent the first clinical presentation of pediatric SLE and could influence the treatment and the outcome of these patients. This case showed an atypical course as both skin manifestations and arthritis promptly and persistently resolved with dapsone without the use of high-dose glucocorticoids. Only a few cases of patients with SLE associated with bullous pemphigoid have been reported in the literature, and very few in the pediatric population
Risk factors for refractory Kawasaki disease: clinical records of the paediatric clinic of palermo
No full textEndoscopic repair of an abdominal intercostal hernia.
No full textAbdominal viscera herniation through the chest wall is a rare condition. A case is presented of an abdominal intercostal hernia of the seventh right intercostal space; its pathogenesis and clinical features are described, and also the combined endoscopic and percutaneous surgical approach employed for its repair
Role of videofluorography with water siphon test in otolaryngologic presentations of GERD
No full textIn recent years digital videofluorography (VFG) with water siphon test (WST) has been proposed just for diagnosing hiatal hernia and/or gastroesophageal reflux.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Fifteen patients undergone Laparoscopic Nissen (LN) for complicated GERD associated to hiatal hernia, were referred for VFG and WST in order to evaluate the functional results of surgery. At one-month videofluorographic control thirteen patients had just a minimal prolonged esophageal transit time but only six of these had an early postoperative dysphagia, whereas at six months control the prolonged esophageal transit time was present in three patients two of which complained a very light dysphagia. One patient at one month control had a severe dysphagia, her videofluorography showed a very prolonged esophageal transit time and she had to redo surgery. She had a complete resolution of dyspagia and at the six months videofluorographic control she had a normal esophageal and esophagogastric transit time. One patient, underwent surgery in another hospital, complained a persistent and moderate dysphagia and at one month videofluorografic control was evident a malposition of wrap around the upper part of the stomach and a WST positive for reflux and at six months control clinical finding was worst. He will be evaluated for further endoscopic or surgical treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
In our experience we believe that VFG is a valid test to identificate the postoperative outcomes giving the surgeons a visual evaluation of their work
Psycho-cognitive assessment and quality of life in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-carrying the rs4713916 gene polymorphism (G/A) of gene FKBP5 and response to pulmonary rehabilitation: a proof of concept study
No full textPurpose Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by pulmonary and extra-pulmonary multi-morbidity including depression, anxiety and cognitive disorders. Several studies investigated the association of the FKBP5 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders. The FKBP5 gene codifies the FKBP51 protein which modulates the glucocorticoid receptor in the adaptive stress response. Genetic variants of the FKBP5 gene have been associated to a higher risk of developing mental disorders. We analyzed the association of genetic variants and stress exposure investigating the susceptibility to psychological distress and the impact on cognitive balance and quality of life (QoL) of COPD patients carrying the rs4713916 polymorphism (G/A) and we examined its association, with COPD rehabilitative outcomes. Materials and methods A pilot study evaluated cognitive, psychological, clinical alterations/disorders, QoL, and coping strategies in 70 older adults with COPD, undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation, stratified according to the FKBP5 rs4713916 genotype (GG or GA). Results Carriers of rs4713916 polymorphisms (G/A) show better cognitive performances, a higher degree of independence in the daily living activities, better QoL, no presence of depressive mood and anxiety symptoms, no family history of psychiatric disorders, more ability to cope with stressors by avoiding emotions but demanding emotional support, and lesser use of anti-anxiety, antidepressant, anti-psychotic, hypnotic-sedative drugs. No difference was found in the number of comorbidities. Conclusion These results offer valuable insights into the role of FKBP5 in the complex network of mechanisms associated to clinical, psychological and behavioral features of COPD patients
New perspectives in breath by breath determination of alveolar trans-membrane gas exchange at the onset of exercise in humans
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