The relevance of Giddens' structuration theory for organizational research

Anthony Giddens' Structuration Theory is probably one of the sociological theories more directly referenced and more widely used, in a variety of ways, in organizational research. Why is that, and what does it mean for organizational research? In this paper we explore this issue by reviewing some early, influential contributions, within the organizational field, that used Giddens' theory as the main reference. We will show that the actual utilizations of such theory are very heterogeneous in many relevant concepts, although they are all moved by similar theoretical needs. We also propose that in order to properly answer to those needs, organizational research should focus on some key elements that, while being central in Giddens' contribution, are not always interpreted consistently by "Giddensian" organization scholars. Finally, we will argue that it is possible for the organization reflection, even when it is not built upon Structuration Theory, to share and realize Giddens' main "message" to the organizational discipline: the need for an organization theory truly based on an epistemological view that allows to overcome the objectivist / subjectivist dilemma

18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated renal and hepatic cyst infection in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Infection of renal or hepatic cyst is a serious complication of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and early diagnosis is crucial for the correct management. We report a case of 64-year-old male with ADPKD, who required renal transplantation some years before, with recent recurrent episodes of fever and abdominal pain, who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT twice at 18 months intervals, after not conclusive conventional imaging studies (CT, ultrasonography). 18F-FDG PET/CT has proven to be a useful method for the diagnosis of renal and hepatic cyst infection in a patient with ADPKD and for the subse­quent management

Visual snow: A neuro-ophthalmic syndrome

Background: The visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a rare disease characterized by persistent positive visual phenomena that are enigmatic and may be underestimated. It manifests as the perception of tiny, simultaneous, diffuse, and mobile dots frequently throughout the visual field. Although it affects brain networks, ocular examination is also indicated. This paper was aimed to review recent studies on VSS to identify the best clinical approach. Methods: In this narrative review, PubMed/Medline, Directory of Open Access Journals, and Embase were searched using the following terms: “Visual snow”, “Persistent aura”, “Persistent positive visual phenomena”, “Visual aura”, “Migraine”, “TV static”, “Migraine aura status”, and “Visual disturbance”. We searched relevant publications from January 2014 to January 2021 to find the best clinical approach. Results: VSS may be reconstituted as a distinct entity, although the symptoms may be consistent with typical migraine visual aura. For approximately two-thirds of patients, symptoms worsen and reduce their ability for activities of daily living. It often causes psychogenic detriment of the patient and their capacity to function socially and vocationally. Comprehensive history-taking and ocular examination are required to rule out other causes. However, all ocular and radiological findings may be normal. Conclusions: VSS is a neuro-ophthalmic disorder characterized by continuous chronic and recurrent visual disturbances that involve the entire visual field and may respond to empiric antimigraine or anti-seizure treatments. It may reduce the ability for activities of daily living; therefore, proper diagnosis by eye care professionals is necessary to determine its diagnosis and management

Combined implantation of toric and spherical intraocular lenses for low corneal astigmatism correction

Background: This study compared outcomes of combined toric versus spherical intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with low corneal astigmatism. Methods: In this retrospective contralateral study, patients with corneal astigmatism who received combined toric (FIL 611 T, Soleko, Rome, Italy) and spherical IOL (FIL 611 T, Soleko, Rome, Italy) implants were recruited. Eyes were examined preoperatively and then again 3 months postoperatively. Postoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), residual astigmatism, and spherical equivalent (SE) were compared between the toric IOL-implanted eyes and the spherical IOL-implanted fellow eyes. Results: Among the 46 included cases (age 69 ± 12.7 years [mean± standard deviation]; range: 60‒78 years), 86.9% of eyes (n = 40) in the toric IOL group had a postoperative refractive cylinder of ≤ 0.25 diopters (D), compared with 4.3% (n = 2) of eyes in the spherical IOL group. Both groups showed a statistically significant reduction in refractive cylinder and improvement in UCDVA after cataract surgery (both P = 0.01). Similarly, toric IOLs were superior (69.6%) to spherical lenses (2.2%) in obtaining a SE of ≤ 0.25 D. Conclusions: To our knowledge, no previous study had sought to compare low-power toric and spherical IOLs in low corneal astigmatism in the same patient's eyes. Our findings suggest that low-power toric IOLs may result in good refractive outcomes as compared with spherical IOLs implanted in the fellow eye of the same patient, although both result in significant UCDVA improvement. Wellâ€designed clinical research studies with a longer follow-up and more participants are necessary to confirm these findings

The “Eyeballing” technique : an emerging and alerting trend of alcohol misuse

Alternative methods of alcohol consumption have recently emerged among adolescents and young adults, including the alcohol “eyeballing”, which consist in the direct pouring of alcoholic substances on the ocular surface epithelium. In a context of drug and behavioural addictions change, “eyeballing” can be seen as one of the latest and potentially highly risky new trends. We aimed to analyze the existing medical literature as well as online material on this emerging trend of alcohol misusePeer reviewedFinal Published versio

Fever with spontaneous gingival bleeding: A diagnostic challenge

A previously healthy 4-year-old girl was admitted to our institution with fever and painless spontaneous gingival bleeding, persisting over a week, without evident lesions or trauma. She was born in Italy and had always lived in Palermo. She had never travelled internationally. Lab oratory testing showed a negative swab test for Sars-CoV2 and a tri linear pancytopenia with neutropenia (0.6 × 103/mm3), lymphopenia (1.17 × 103/mm3), thrombocytopenia (115 × 103/mm3) and anemia (Hb 7.1 g/dL, RBC 3.48 × 103/mm3, Hct 21.2%, RDW-CV 23.4%, RDW SD 51,6 fL). Other laboratory findings showed hyponatremia (130 mmol/dL), hypocalcemia (8.7 mmol/dL), hypoalbuminemia (3.5 g/dL), increase of LDH (267 IU/L), C-reactive protein (1.64 mg/dL) and alka line phosphatase levels (190 IU/L). On physical examination she appeared in pain, pale, with hyperemic pharynx without plaque or pu rulent secretion and hypertrophic bleeding gingiva (see Fig. 1). There was notable cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly (1 cm below the costal margin), and splenomegaly (3 cm below the costal margin). An abdominal ultrasound showed an enlarged spleen (15.6 × 6.6 cm) and ascites. Additional history revealed the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, treated with six doses of Amphotericin B liposomal (administered for first 5 days plus one dose on the 10th day) seven months earlier. A subsequent leishmania polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on blood and gingival brush confirmed the diagnosis of a leishmaniasis relapse. A comprehensive immunological evaluation including an HIV test excluded any primary or acquired immunodeficiency disease. Treatment with amphotericin B was administered over 10 days, leading to a full recovery. Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in the Mediterranean region. Mucocutaneus lesions are extremely rare with this species and usually affect immunosuppressed patients. In children leishmaniasis relapse with atypical mucosal involvement represent a rarity. Clinical follow up and periodic PCR tests (performed at 3-6-9-12 months after treatment) should be considered for early recognition of a relapse

25C-NBOMe: preliminary data on pharmacology, psychoactive effects and toxicity of a new potent hallucinogenic drug

Copyright © 2014 Francesco Saverio Bersani et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly citedIntroduction. The use of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) has rapidly increased as well as their online availability. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the nature and the risks associated with 25C-NBOMe, which has recently appeared in the drug market. Methods. A systematic analysis of the scientific literature and a qualitative assessment of online and media resources (e.g., e-newsgroups, chat-rooms, and e-newsletters) in 10 languages were carried out. Results. 25C-NBOMe is sold online as legal LSD or as research chemical with different designations such as “Boom,” “Pandora,” “Holland film,” or “N-bomb.” It is a partial agonist of 5-HT2A receptors. It is usually ingested orally/sublingually and, less commonly, nasally, through injection, vaginally, rectally, and smoked. Its effects include sublingual numbing, stimulation, “body high,” hallucinations, dissociation, and anxiety. 25C-NBOMe presents high risk of overdoses; acute toxicity and fatalities have been reported. Conclusions. 25C-NBOMe consumption represents an emerging phenomenon with potential harmful effects. Its use is increased by its online availability at low costs. Health and other professionals should be informed about this new trend of substance usePeer reviewedFinal Published versio

Scoring rules in experimental procurement

We report the results of an experiment where subjects compete for procurement contracts to be awarded by means of a scoring auction. Two experimental conditions are considered, depending on the relative weight of quality vs price in the scoring rule. We show that different quality-price weights dramatically alter the strategic environment and affect efficiency. Our evidence shows that each weighting better delivers against a matching objective function than using a scoring rule which misrepresents the buyer's objective function. Nonetheless, there are large deviations in how each performs, with the higher weight on quality delivering much greater efficiency evaluated against its own objective function than a low weight on quality evaluated against its own objective function, despite the higher quality weight inducing higher deviations from equilibrium. We propose a “mediation analysis” to show that the “direct effect” (due to the different strategic properties of the induced game-forms) outweighs the “indirect” one (how the different game-forms affect out-of-equilibrium behaviour). We also perform a structural estimation of the Quantal Response Equilibrium induced by subjects’ behavior, where we find that subjects are risk averse and noisy play affects behavior in the direction of underbidding.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grant PID2022-142356NB-I00) and Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo/2021/073 and Research Groups 3/086) is gratefully acknowledged

Incidental 18F-FDG PET/CT bilateral breast uptake due to carcinoma

We report a case of 71-year-old female patient, previously treated with chemotherapy and surgical resection of sigmoid tract of the large bowel for adenocarcinoma (pT3N1M0), who underwent a 18F-FDG PET/CT for a suspicious hepatic lesion detected at CT scan during follow-up. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed no abnormal uptake in the liver both at 60 minutes and 120 minutes after injection but revealed a pathological uptake in two breast nodules, (one localized in upper-internal-quadrant of the right breast and the other in the upper-external-quadrant of the left breast). The patient underwent breast MRI, which confirmed the suspicious nature of both lesions; subsequently she underwent a trucut biopsy of both lesions witch demonstrated a bilateral localization of papillary carcinoma (both lesion were classified as pT1c). The patient underwent bilateral mastectomy and the final biopsy confirmed the presence of breast cancer, while bilateral sentinel nodes biopsy showed no lymph-nodes metastases