1,721,539 research outputs found
Behçet's syndrome: focus on pathogenetic background, clinical phenotypes and specific treatments
No full textBehçet’s syndrome: focus on pathogenetic background, clinical phenotypes and specifc treatment
Weaving AI into Society: The Co-Evolution of Artificial Intelligence and the social fabric of organizations
No full textBefore outlining the structure of the present dissertation, this section offers a narrative and discursive reflection on the path that led to this work, which represents the culmination of my Ph.D. journey. My interest in the study of technology emerged naturally in response to the widespread enthusiasm surrounding the advent of technologies commonly associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Smart contracts, blockchain technology, and cloud computing are just a few examples of the technologies (and buzzwords) that were dominating public debate at the time. Numerous best-sellers and essays talked about how these technologies were transforming industries and society. These narratives emphasized how technologies could enable coordinated action without trust, control without central authority, and enforce decisions without human intervention. These narratives were not purely theoretical; in my daily experience, I was already observing anecdotal evidence of how common aspects of everyday life, such as shopping, mobility, and even dating, had become increasingly dependent on digital technologies. From this perspective, technologies appeared to be continuously influencing behaviors and decisions, gradually taking over many defining aspects of human existence. It seemed to me that technology was reshaping the very experience of being human.
However, the fascination and apprehension elicited by this perception were tempered by the sense that it represented only a partial view. At that time, my growing interest in the works of historians such as Thomas Hughes and Melvin Kranzberg convinced me that there was more to this story. In one of his works, Kranzberg recounts an anecdote in which, after a concert, a lady praised Fritz Kreisler's violin for its beautiful music. Kreisler, holding the instrument to his ear, replied, "I don't hear any music coming out" (Kranzberg, 1986, p. 558). Indeed, the experience of music is not merely the product of the violin itself but rather the result of the interaction between technology, humans, and various socio-cultural factors. These factors are also crucial in explaining why violins exist in their present form, as Kranzberg later noted:
“Man is a constituent element of the technical process. Machines are made and used by human beings. Behind every machine, I see a face—indeed, many faces: the engineer, the worker, the businessman or businesswoman, and, sometimes, the general and admiral. Furthermore, the function of the technology is its use by human beings—and sometimes, alas, its abuse and misuse” (Kranzberg, 1986, p. 558).
Acknowledging the “human dimension” of technology inevitably fostered my curiosity not only concerning how technology was reshaping the social fabric of society and organizational structures but also about how these elements, in turn, influenced technology. During my journey, these ideas were further developed through engagement with diverse research traditions that recognize the interdependent and co-evolving relationship between technology and social structures (e.g., Weick, 1990a; Kallinikos et al., 2013; Orlikowski and Scott, 2008; Leonardi, 2011). These perspectives have inevitably shaped the arguments presented in this work. As will be discussed in more detail, the materiality of technologies and social action are considered here as two sides of the same coin, continuously shaping one another in a dynamic equilibrium. The present dissertation represents an attempt to understand a part of this ever-changing flow and its implications, particularly in the specific case of AI technologies
Anti-TNF-α agents in vascular Behçet's disease
No full textComment on
Thrombotic therapy in patients with Behçet's disease. [Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2014]
Vascular Behçet's disease: new insights in the management of thrombosis. [Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2013
Vascular Behçet's disease: New insights in the management of thrombosis
No full textComment in
Thrombotic therapy in patients with Behçet's disease. [Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2014]
Anti-TNF-α agents in vascular Behçet's disease. [Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2014
The use of cytokines and chemokines in the cancer immunotherapy
No full textThe response of the body to cancer is not a unique mechanism and has many parallels with inflammation and wound healing. Unresolved inflammation generates a microenvironment favorable for cellular transformation and the growth of cancer cells. Chronic tissue damage triggers a repair response that includes the production of growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. Cytokines and chemokines have a crucial role in cancer-related inflammation with consequent, direct and indirect effects on the proliferative and invasive properties of tumor cells. In view of the multifactorial functions of cytokines and chemokines in tumorigenesis, the elucidation of their roles will further advance our understanding of the patho-physiological processes of tumor development and highlights potential innovative anti-cancer strategies. Despite recent advances, main anti-cancer therapies, namely surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, are limited in their ability to treat minimal and metastatic residual disease. Furthermore, the benefit of conventional therapies is often limited by collateral damage to normal tissues. Immunotherapy is a new avenue of cancer treatment being investigated by researchers and clinicians for different cancer types. The aim of this paper is to analyze the recent patents and scientific reviews on the major cytokine/chemokine pathways involved in cancer immunotherapy and discuss their basic biology, clinical relevance and potential directions for future anti-cancer therapeutic applications
Behçet's disease as a cause of cerebral sinus vein thrombosis: an emerging role
No full textBehçet's disease as a cause of cerebral sinus vein thrombosis: an emerging role
Factor XI inhibitors: cardiovascular perspectives
No full textAnticoagulants are the cornerstone for prevention and treatment of thrombosis but are not completely effective, and concerns about the risk of bleeding continue to limit their uptake. Animal studies and experience from patients with genetic coagulation factor XI deficiency suggesting that this factor is more important for thrombosis than for haemostasis raises the potential for drugs that target factor XI to provide safer anticoagulation. Multiple factor XI inhibitors are currently under evaluation in clinical trials, including parenterally administered antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and orally active small-molecule inhibitors. Promising results of phase 2 trials in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery, and in those with end-stage kidney disease, atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes have led to large phase 3 trials that are currently ongoing. We here review premises for the use of these agents, results so far accrued, ongoing studies, and perspectives for future patient care
What is recent in pancreatic cancer immunotherapy?
Full text linkPancreatic cancer (PC) represents an unresolved therapeutic challenge, due to the poor prognosis and the reduced response to currently available treatments. Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal type of digestive cancers, with a median survival of 4-6 months. Only a small proportion of PC patients is curative by surgical resection, whilst standard chemotherapy for patients in advanced disease generates only modest effects with considerable toxic damages. Thus, new therapeutic approaches, specially specific treatments such as immunotherapy, are needed. In this paper we analyze recent preclinical and clinical efforts towards immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer, including passive and active immunotherapy approaches, designed to target pancreatic-cancer-associated antigens and to elicit an antitumor response in vivo
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