Volatile constituents of Centaurea paniculata subsp. carueliana and C. rupestris s.l. (Asteraceae) from Mt. Ferrato (Tuscany, Italy)

The essential oil composition of two endemic species of Centaurea, collected on serpentine rocks on Mt. Ferrato (Tuscany, Italy), were investigated by GC and GC/MS. Several classes of compound were detected, of which sesquiterpenes, (representing the 25.6% of the total oil from C. paniculata and 74.5% from C. rupestris), alcohols (27.8% in C. paniculata and 4.3% in C. rupestris) and aldehydes (12.0% C. paniculata and 2.0% in C. rupestris) were the most abundant, followed by acids, monoterpenes, esters, ketones, hydrocarbons, diterpenes and miscellaneous. A series of unidentified compounds were also detected. Difference in qualitative and quantitative composition were evidenced and discusse

Volatile components of two endemic species from the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy) Centaurea aachnoidea and C. montis-borlae. (Asteraceae)

The volatile fractions of Centaurea arachnoidea and C. montis-borlae, two endemic species growing wild on the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy), were isolated by steam distillation from fresh leaves and flowerheads and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. The yield in essential oil ranged from 0.01% to 0.09% of fresh material. A wide variety of volatile compounds was detected in the examined plant species and organs, both in qualitative and quantitative terms. Sesquiterpenes were identified as the major constituents ranging from 18.9% to 73.2% of the total oil. Alcohols (1.6-25.8%), aldehydes (1.5-12.0%), hydrocarbons (1.8-11.9%), acids (0.2-25.4%), esters (0.2-1.3%), monoterpenes (0.7-1.4%), and miscellaneous compounds (0.6-2.6%), were also detected at variable amounts in all different sample tissues. A series of unidentified compounds was also isolated from the two species, both in leaves and flowerheads, accounting for 2.4-6.7% of the total oil. According to MS spectral data, these substances likely belong to the class of polyunsaturated compounds; moreover they appear to be species-specific, as their presence was only detected either in one or in the other Centaurea species

Cervical subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum as an unusual complication of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

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Clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with COVID-19 predicting hospital readmission after emergency department discharge: a single-centre cohort study in Italy

Objective We aimed at identifying baseline predictive factors for emergency department (ED) readmission, with hospitalisation/death, in patients with COVID-19 previously discharged from the ED. We also developed a disease progression velocity index. Design and setting Retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. The charts of consecutive patients with COVID-19 discharged from the Reggio Emilia (Italy) ED (2 March 2 to 31 March 2020) were retrospectively examined. Clinical, laboratory and CT findings at first ED admission were tested as predictive factors using multivariable logistic models. We divided CT extension by days from symptom onset to build a synthetic velocity index. Participants 450 patients discharged from the ED with diagnosis of COVID-19. Main outcome measure ED readmission within 14 days, followed by hospitalisation/death. Results Of the discharged patients, 84 (18.7%) were readmitted to the ED, 61 (13.6%) were hospitalised and 10 (2.2%) died. Age (OR=1.05; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.08), Charlson Comorbidity Index 3 versus 0 (OR=11.61; 95% CI 1.76 to 76.58), days from symptom onset (OR for 1-day increase=0.81; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.90) and CT extension (OR for 1% increase=1.03; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06) were associated in a multivariable model for readmission with hospitalisation/death. A 2-day lag velocity index was a strong predictor (OR for unit increase=1.21, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.36); the model including this index resulted in less information loss. Conclusions A velocity index combining CT extension and days from symptom onset predicts disease progression in patients with COVID-19. For example, a 20% CT extension 3 days after symptom onset has the same risk as does 50% after 10 days