Il Dipartimento Riformato: eccellente, cattivo o di compromesso?

Dopo l’ultima riforma universitaria della storia italiana (legge n. 240/10 del 30 dicembre 2010, entrata in vigore il 29 gennaio 2011), le università hanno preso atto di dover abolire le Facoltà e organizzarsi in Dipartimenti. Ripensare una struttura universitaria unica, alla quale affidare ricerca e didattica, è indubbiamente un’occasione progettuale di notevole portata, perché rende possibile la costruzione di unità più piccole delle vecchie Facoltà, ma più compatte e più coerenti, al fine di raggiungere gli obiettivi di eccellenza scientifica, di qualità didattica e di efficienza amministrativa, con relativa riduzione dei costi e degli sprechi. Come si costruiranno i dipartimenti, dipenderà, ovviamente, dal modo in cui essi saranno definiti nei diversi statuti delle singole università, ferma restando la definizione dei compiti previsti dalla legge generale, prima ricordata. Se saranno ammessi dei Dipartimenti grandissimi, che sottintendono la prosecuzione mascherata delle vecchie facoltà, allora si avranno le solite trasformazioni all’italiana, che tutto modificano, ma nulla cambiano veramente. Se invece si opererà con saggezza, spirito innovatore e la necessaria dose di autocritica, allora l’università non potrà che avvantaggiarsene, professori e studenti in primo luogo, e il paese di riflesso

Cellular and molecular mediators of bone metastatic lesions

Bone is the preferential site of metastasis for breast and prostate tumor. Cancer cells establish a tight relationship with the host tissue, secreting factors that stimulate or inhibit bone cells, receiving signals generated from the bone remodeling activity, and displaying some features of bone cells. This interplay between tumor and bone cells alters the physiological bone remodeling, leading to the generation of a vicious cycle that promotes bone metastasis growth. To prevent the skeletal-related events (SRE) associated with bone metastasis, approaches to inhibit osteoclast bone resorption are reported. The bisphosphonates and Denosumab are currently used in the treatment of patients affected by bone lesions. They act to prevent or counteract the SRE, including pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and pain associated with bone metastasis. However, their primary effects on tumor cells still remain controversial. In this review, a description of the mechanisms leading to the onset of bone metastasis and clinical approaches to treat them are described

Comparative Analysis of Privilege in Relation to the School District of Philadelphia and the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District

Although public education is an option for all local residents, the variation in American public education is littered with inequalities. In particular, the School District of Philadelphia and the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District are representative of this variation. The School District of Philadelphia is located within the biggest Pennsylvanian city. The Tredyffrin-Easttown School District is a smaller school district operating in a suburban area in close proximity to Philadelphia. There are three focus areas, socio-economic levels, geographic region, and funding, which specifically constitute the differences in these school districts. The differences show how privileged educational circumstances arise. This analysis suggests that the School District of Philadelphia should decrease in size, local relationships for public education should be supported, and conventional public schools should be improved rather than charter schools

Riflessioni sui sistemi di valutazione dell'Università

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The role of extracellular vesicles in bone metastasis

Multiple types of cancer have the specific ability to home to the bone microenvironment and cause metastatic lesions. Despite being the focus of intense investigation, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the metastasis of disseminated tumor cells still remain largely unknown. Bone metastases severely impact quality of life since they are associated with pain, fractures, and bone marrow aplasia. In this review, we will summarize the recent discoveries on the role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in the regulation of bone remodeling activity and bone metastasis occurrence. Indeed, it was shown that extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and microvesicles, released from tumor cells can modify the bone microenvironment, allowing the formation of osteolytic, osteosclerotic, and mixed mestastases. In turn, bone-derived EV can stimulate the proliferation of tumor cells. The inhibition of EV-mediated crosstalk between cancer and bone cells could represent a new therapeutic target for bone metastasis

Immobilismo e accelerazioni nell'Università italiana: 'peroratio' per una velocità costante

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Die simplicianische Literarisierung des Kalenders

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Frequency Of Development Of Connective Tissue Disease In Statin-Users Versus Nonusers

Statins have pleiotropic properties that may affect the development of connective tissue diseases (CTD). The objective of this study was to compare the risk of CTD diagnoses in statin users and nonusers. This study was a propensity score-matched analysis of adult patients (30 to 85 years old) in the San Antonio military medical community. The study was divided into baseline (October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2005), and follow-up (October 1, 2005 to March 5, 2010) periods. Statin users received a statin prescription during fiscal year 2005. Nonusers did not receive a statin at any time during the study. The outcome measure was the occurrence of 3 diagnosis codes of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification consistent with CTD. We described co-morbidities during the baseline period using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. We created a propensity score based on 41 variables. We then matched statin users and nonusers 1:1, using a caliper of 0.001. Of 46,488 patients who met study criteria (13,640 statin users and 32,848 nonusers), we matched 6,956 pairs of statin users and nonusers. Matched groups were similar in terms of patient age, gender, incidence of co-morbidities, total Charlson Comorbidity Index, health care use, and medication use. The odds ratio for CTD was lower in statin users than nonusers (odds ratio: 0.80; 95% confidence interval: 0.64 to 0.99; p = 0.05). Secondary analysis and sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. In conclusion, statin use was associated with a lower risk of CTD. Published by Elsevier Inc.Pharmac

Editorial: Ensuring the Future of Rheumatology: A Multi‐Dimensional Challenge and Call to Action

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144253/1/art40431.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144253/2/art40431_am.pd