Th.o.m.a.s.: An exploratory assessment of Theory of Mind in schizophrenic subjects

A large body of literature agrees that persons with schizophrenia suffer from a Theory of Mind (ToM) deficit. However, most empirical studies have focused on third-person, egocentric ToM, underestimating other facets of this complex cognitive skill. Aim of this research is to examine the ToM of schizophrenic persons considering its various aspects (first vs. second order, first vs. third person, egocentric vs. allocentric, beliefs vs. desires vs. positive emotions vs. negative emotions and how each of these mental state types may be dealt with), to determine whether some components are more impaired than others. We developed a Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (Th.o.m.a.s.) and administered it to 22 persons with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and a matching control group. Th.o.m.a.s. is a semi-structured interview which allows a multi-component measurement of ToM. Both groups were also administered a few existing ToM tasks and the schizophrenic subjects were administered the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale and the WAIS-R. The schizophrenic persons performed worse than control at all the ToM measurements; however, these deficits appeared to be differently distributed among different components of ToM. Our conclusion is that ToM deficits are not unitary in schizophrenia, which also testifies to the importance of a complete and articulated investigation of ToM

An unusual presentation of pulmonary lymphoma: When diffuse ground glass opacities can mean anything

Primary lung lymphoma (PLL) is a rare type of lymphoma confined to the lung at the time of diagnosis. Pulmonary diffuse large B cells lymphoma (P-DLBCL) is the second most common type of PLL and it usually appears radiologically as solitary or multiple nodules or areas of consolidation. We present the case of a 63-year-old Caucasian male who developed severe acute respiratory failure and diffuse ground glass opacities (GGO) on chest computerized tomography. Diffuse GGO may be the radiological expression of very different diseases, ranging from infectious processes to interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and neoplastic diseases. In our case, pneumonia and de novo ILD were initially considered given the symptoms and past medical history. However, bronchoscopy with trans-bronchial biopsies demonstrated the presence of P-DLBCL, despite an unusual radiological presentation and negative cytological analyses on bronchoalveolar lavage. In conclusion, P-DLBCL should be considered among the many differential diagnoses of diffuse GGO

La incidencia de la República Popular China en Sudamérica y su impacto en la UNASUR

El contexto internacional en estos últimos años ha cambiado, la crisis financiera internacional, el surgimiento de China y la participación de Rusia en conflictos internacionales, entre otros, han puesto de manifiesto la interdependencia que existe en el mundo y la inestabilidad de ciertas alianzas. El artículo analiza, en ese contexto, el impacto que las relaciones desarrolladas por la RP de China en la región sudamericana depara a los procesos de integración en especial en el seno de la UNASUR.The international context in recent years has changed, the international financial crisis, the rise of China and Russia's participation in international conflicts, among others, they have highlighted the interdependence that exists in the world and the instability of certain alliances. This article analyzes, in this context, the impact that relationships developed by the PR China in the South American region holds for the integration process especially within UNASUR.Instituto de Relaciones Internacionale

Overexpression of the ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 in the brain lesions of Multiple Sclerosis patients: moving from systemic to central nervous system inflammation

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which inflammation plays a key pathological role. Recent evidences showed that systemic inflammation induces increasing cell infiltration within meninges and perivascular spaces in the brain parenchyma, triggering resident microglial ad astrocytic activation. The anti-inflammatory enzyme A20, also named TNF associated protein 3 (TNFAIP3), is considered a central gatekeeper in inflammation and peripheral immune system regulation through the inhibition of NF-kB. The TNFAIP3 locus is genetically associated to MS and its transcripts is down-regulated in blood cells in treatment-naive MS patients. Recently, several evidences in mouse models have led to hypothesize a function of A20 also in the CNS. Thus, here we aimed to unveil a possible contribution of A20 to the CNS human MS pathology. By immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence and bio-molecular techniques on post-mortem brain tissue blocks obtained from control cases (CC) and progressive MS cases, we demonstrated that A20 is present in CC brain tissues in both white matter (WM) regions, mainly in few parenchymal astrocytes, and in grey matter (GM) areas, in some neuronal populations. Conversely, in MS brain tissues, we observed increased expression of A20 by perivascular infiltrating macrophages, resident activated astrocytes and microglia in all the active and chronic active WM lesions. A20 was highly-expressed also in the majority of active cortical lesions compared to the neighboring areas of normal-appearing grey matter (NAGM) and control GM, particularly by activated astrocytes. We demonstrated increased A20 expression in the active MS plaques, particularly in macrophages and resident astrocytes, suggesting a key role of this molecule in chronic inflammation

Evaluating the effect of organization and context on technical efficiency: a second-stage DEA analysis of Italian hospitals

Objective: the purpose of this study was to compare the technical efficiency of Italian hospitals at a regional level and to examine if differences could be explained by organisational and contextual factors. Technical efficiency was defined as the ability of the operating units evaluated to use optimal resource levels for their level of output. Methods: the effect of external factors was explored through a second stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Efficiency scores were calculated for each hospital using the DEA method (Stage I). Through Tobit regression analysis, the estimated efficiency scores were regressed against a set of organisational and contextual characteristics beyond managerial control, which reflected differences in the population demographics and regional health expenditure (Stage II). Stage I and Stage II efficiency scores were compared in order to indirectly assess managerial contribution in relation to hospital efficiency. Results: the highest efficiency (M±SD) was observed in hospitals in the North-West (75.7±15.1), followed by those in the North-East (75.5±15.1), Central Italy (73.9±16.4) and then Southern Italy (70.6±17.9). Hospital Trusts (HTs) were shown to be more technically efficient than Local Public Hospitals (LPHs). Organisational and contextual indicators were statistically significantly different at Tobit regression analysis for HTs and LPHs. Emilia Romagna and Lombardia were the regions whose management contributed to increased efficiency. Conclusions: in our study, the distribution of regions according to technical efficiency only partly reflected the North-South gradient shown by other studies regarding the gap of expenditure. The important role of organisation and environment in establishing efficiency differences among hospitals was demonstrated

Las recientes evoluciones en las relaciones entre China y Latinoamérica: el caso de Argentina

El artículo se enfoca en el papel de China en el mundo de las relaciones internacionales actuales, buscando elementos tradicionales aplicables a su relación con los países latinoamericanos y con Argentina, en particular. Se traza un análisis del término-clave “relación” Guānxì (关系) en la cultura tradicional china y sus corolarios efectivos en las relaciones internacionales.The article focuses on the role of China in the world of current international relations, looking traditional elements applicable to Chinese relationship with Latin American and particularly Argentina. The survey proposes, as well, an analysis of the key-term "relationship" Guānxì (关系) in traditional Chinese culture and its effective corollaries in Chinese international relations.Instituto de Relaciones Internacionale

La condición de la mujer en la China de hoy: el fenómeno de las Shèngnǚ

El artículo traza un análisis de la condición de la mujer en China hoy en día, a través de un enfoque lingüístico, sociológico y jurídico. Los derechos de las mujeres han sido los primeros que la RPC ha reconocido en términos de acuerdos internacionales y que todavía tienen más dificultades en desarrollarse según equidad e igualdad a causa de la cultura tradicional. Particular enfasis se dará al fenómeno de las 剩女 (Shèngnǚ), es decir las “mujeres dejadas de lado”, un problema muy actual que se está desarrollando en China.The article provides an analysis of the status of women in China today, through a linguistic, sociological and legal approach. The rights of women are the first recognized by the PRC in terms of international agreements and still have several difficulties to develop as equity and equality because of the traditional culture. Particular emphasis is given to the phenomenon of 剩女 (Shèngnǚ), ie the "left-over women" a current problem that is being developed in China.Instituto de Relaciones Internacionale

Relative Frequencies of Blue Stragglers in Galactic Globular Clusters: Constraints for the Formation Mechanisms

We discuss the main properties of the Galactic globular cluster (GC) blue straggler stars (BSS), as inferred from our new catalog containing nearly 3000 BSS. The catalog has been extracted from the photometrically homogeneous V vs. (B-V) color-magnitude diagrams (CMD) of 56 GCs, based on WFPC2 images of their central cores. In our analysis we used consistent relative distances based on the same photometry and calibration. The number of BSS has been normalized to obtain relative frequencies (F_{BSS}) and specific densities (N_S) using different stellar populations extracted from the CMD. The cluster F_{BSS} is significantly smaller than the relative frequency of field BSS. We find a significant anti-correlation between the BSS relative frequency in a cluster and its total absolute luminosity (mass). There is no statistically significant trend between the BSS frequency and the expected collision rate. F_{BSS} does not depend on other cluster parameters, apart from a mild dependence on the central density. PCC clusters act like normal clusters as far as the BSS frequency is concerned. We also show that the BSS luminosity function for the most luminous clusters is significantly different, with a brighter peak and extending to brighter luminosities than in the less luminous clusters. These results imply that the efficiency of BSS production mechanisms and their relative importance vary with the cluster mass.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. accepted for publication in ApJ

A compact and automated ex vivo vessel culture system for the pulsatile pressure conditioning of human saphenous veins

Saphenous vein (SV) graft disease represents an unresolved problem in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). After CABG, a progressive remodelling of the SV wall occurs, possibly leading to occlusion of the lumen, a process termed 'intima hyperplasia' (IH). The investigation of cellular and molecular aspects of IH progression is a primary end-point toward the generation of occlusion-free vessels that may be used as 'life-long' grafts. While animal transplantation models have clarified some of the remodelling factors, the pathology of human SV is far from being understood. This is also due to the lack of devices able to reproduce the altered mechanical load encountered by the SV after CABG. This article describes the design of a novel ex vivo vein culture system (EVCS) capable of replicating the altered pressure pattern experienced by SV after CABG, and reports the results of a preliminary biomechanical conditioning experimental campaign on SV segments. The EVCS applied a CAGB-like pressure (80-120\u2009mmHg) or a venous-like perfusion (3\u2009ml/min, 5\u2009mmHg) conditioning to the SVs, keeping the segments viable in a sterile environment during 7\u2009day culture experiments. After CABG-like pressure conditioning, SVs exhibited a decay of the wall thickness, an enlargement of the luminal perimeter, a rearrangement of the muscle fibres and partial denudation of the endothelium. Considering these preliminary results, the EVCS is a suitable system to study the mechanical attributes of SV graft disease, and its use, combined with a well-designed biological protocol, may be of help in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in SV graft disease