Integral Formulas for a Class of Curvature PDE'S and Application to Isoperimetric Inequalities and to Symmetry Problems

We prove integral formulas for closed hypersurfaces in C^(n+1); which furnish a relation between elementary symmetric functions in the eigenvalues of the complex Hessian matrix of the defining function and the Levi curvatures of the hypersurface. Then we follow the Reilly approach to prove an isoperimetric inequality. As an application, we obtain the "Soap Bubble Theorem" for star- shaped domains with positive and constant Levi curvatures bounding the classical mean curvature from above

Graphs with prescribed the trace of the Levi form

We prove existence and uniqueness of a viscosity solution of the Dirichlet problem related to the prescribed Levi mean curvature equation, under suitable assumptions on the boundary data and on the Levi curvature of the domain. We also show that such a solution is Lipschitz continuous by proving that it is the uniform limit of a sequence of classical solutions of elliptic problems and by building Lipschitz continuous barriers

Nonsmooth viscosity solutions of elementary symmetric functions of the complex Hessian

In this paper we prove the existence of nonsmooth viscosity solutions for Dirichlet problems involving elementary symmetric functions of the eigenvalues of the complex Hessian

Complications of Cushing's syndrome: state of the art

Cushing's syndrome is a serious endocrine disease caused by chronic, autonomous, and excessive secretion of cortisol. The syndrome is associated with increased mortality and impaired quality of life because of the occurrence of comorbidities. These clinical complications include metabolic syndrome, consisting of systemic arterial hypertension, visceral obesity, impairment of glucose metabolism, and dyslipidaemia; musculoskeletal disorders, such as myopathy, osteoporosis, and skeletal fractures; neuropsychiatric disorders, such as impairment of cognitive function, depression, or mania; impairment of reproductive and sexual function; and dermatological manifestations, mainly represented by acne, hirsutism, and alopecia. Hypertension in patients with Cushing's syndrome has a multifactorial pathogenesis and contributes to the increased risk for myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, or stroke, which are the most common causes of death; risks of these outcomes are exacerbated by a prothrombotic diathesis and hypokalaemia. Neuropsychiatric disorders can be responsible for suicide. Immune disorders are common; immunosuppression during active disease causes susceptibility to infections, possibly complicated by sepsis, an important cause of death, whereas immune rebound after disease remission can exacerbate underlying autoimmune diseases. Prompt treatment of cortisol excess and specific treatments of comorbidities are crucial to prevent serious clinical complications and reduce the mortality associated with Cushing's syndrome

Simple and complex images: Operationalization and first calibration

The aim of this study is to operationalize the construction of the complexity related to images. In particular, we want to calibrate the judgments of complexity related to colourful images and black and white images who belong to different categories (animals, fruit, transports, technological tools and faces) and examine the parameters related to the different levels of their categorical complexity.The first part of this composition put forward a definition of the construction, a comparison between the various theories of the complexity of the images and an analysis of the various fields of application.In the second part, the purpose is to operationalize the construction, together with the method, the procedures used, and the sample that are described in detail.The article ends with a debate about the results and some thoughts about the importance to operationalize the construct of the complexity.The added value of this study is to provide, for the first time, a contribution to the operationalization of the construct of complexity. The complex and simple images can be used by the scientific community as a catalog that could be used in different fields of application (for example clinical/experimental, marketing/advertising, etc.)

Pathophysiology of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a critically ill patient

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is not a rare problem in the intensive care units and can precipitate hemodynamic shock unresponsive to catecholamine therapy. The use of echocardiographic examination is extremely important in recognizing this phenomenon and its underlying conditions, finally identifying the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. The simple correction of one or more of these factors can dramatically change patients clinical outcome. We report the clinical case of a 72-year-old man who developed hemodynamic shock in the intensive care unit. Hypovolemia, catecholamine infusion, and mechanical ventilation induced geometric modification of the left ventricle causing a systolic anterior motion of the mitral anterior leaflet and a severe subaortic gradient. Simple restoration of fluids and discontinuation of medical therapy dramatically changed the outcome of the patient. A review of the medical literature has been carried out to deeply investigate pathophysiology of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in critically ill patients. © 2010, Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Aspetti igienico-sanitari in ambito urbanistico: conflittualità nelle norme urbanistiche nazionali e locali in tema di sanità pubblica [Hygienic and sanitary aspects in urban planning: contradiction in national and local urban legislation regarding public health]

Nowadays, the majority of world population lives in urban areas and this portion is going to increase in the coming decades. The health impact of urban areas is well established and described in scientific literature. Italian health and hygiene legislation dealing with urban health is fragmented and not coordinated with the regulation about environment and city planning. The overlapping of legal competences between different authorities and the conflict of attribution between the Central State and Regional Governments deeply contributed to generate uncertainty. The authors here analyse the Italian regulatory framework and depict its lacks in terms of public health protection

The GH-IGF-SST system in hepatocellular carcinoma: biological and molecular pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Different signalling pathways have been identified to be implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC; among these, GH, IGF and somatostatin (SST) pathways have emerged as some of the major pathways implicated in the development of HCC. Physiologically, GH-IGF-SST system plays a crucial role in liver growth and development since GH induces IGF1 and IGF2 secretion and the expression of their receptors, involved in hepatocytes cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolism. On the other hand, somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) are exclusively present on the biliary tract. Importantly, the GH-IGF-SST system components have been indicated as regulators of hepatocarcinogenesis. Reduction of GH binding affinity to GH receptor, decreased serum IGF1 and increased serum IGF2 production, overexpression of IGF1 receptor, loss of function of IGF2 receptor and appearance of SSTRs are frequently observed in human HCC. In particular, recently, many studies have evaluated the correlation between increased levels of IGF1 receptors and liver diseases and the oncogenic role of IGF2 and its involvement in angiogenesis, migration and, consequently, in tumour progression. SST directly or indirectly influences tumour growth and development through the inhibition of cell proliferation and secretion and induction of apoptosis, even though SST role in hepatocarcinogenesis is still opened to argument. This review addresses the present evidences suggesting a role of the GH-IGF-SST system in the development and progression of HCC, and describes the therapeutic perspectives, based on the targeting of GH-IGF-SST system, which have been hypothesised and experimented in HCC

The influence of cognitive factors on pathological gambling

The purpose of this study wasto examine the role of cognitive factors, such as superstition, locus of control, decision-making and unrealistic optimism,on gambling.Eighty-six subjects participated in this study. They were divided into four groups: non-players, social players, problem gamblers, and pathological gamblers. Groups were formed on the basis of South Oaks Gambling Screen  Scale. Results showed that pathological gamblers group obtained a high superstition index. With reference to unrealistic optimism, gambler groupbelieved that they had a better chance of success compared to non-gamblers. They also showed a higher impulsivity index in decision making than non-gamblers. This study supports the idea that cognitive factors such as superstition, unrealistic optimism, impulsivity and external locus of control are involved in gambling

Psychological factors may impacton postmenopausal women fracture risk

Anxiety and osteoporosis are common diseases and major public health problems. The association between  anxiety levels and bone loss was poorly investigated, thus we aimed to explore whether anxiety severity could be considered as an independent fracture risk. In a setting of postmenopausal women we measured anxiety levels by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), depressive symptoms by Beck Depression Inventory and evaluated quality of life by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Women with higher anxiety levels showed lower BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck, and exhibited a poorer quality of life after grouping our population in tertiles of HAMA score. Anxiety levels were predictive of reduced BMD after correcting for other known clinical risk of fractures