Meccanica quantistica e "lensing" gravitazionale

La deflessione della luce in un campo gravitazionale è una delle prove sperimentali più rilevanti della relatività generale. In questo contesto si discutono alcuni effetti della meccanica quantistica sulla propagazione dei fotoni in uno spazio-tempo curvo. In particolare si presentano le correzioni quantistiche del Modello Standard delle particelle elementari alla diffusione del fotone da una sorgente gravitazionale

The spine in Paget’s disease

Paget’s disease (PD) is a chronic metabolically active bone disease, characterized by a disturbance in bone modelling and remodelling due to an increase in osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity. The vertebra is the second most commonly affected site. This article reviews the various spinal pathomechanisms and osseous dynamics involved in producing the varied imaging appearances and their clinical relevance. Advanced imaging of osseous, articular and bone marrow manifestations of PD in all the vertebral components are presented. Pagetic changes often result in clinical symptoms including back pain, spinal stenosis and neural dysfunction. Various pathological complications due to PD involvement result in these clinical symptoms. Recognition of the imaging manifestations of spinal PD and the potential complications that cause the clinical symptoms enables accurate assessment of patients prior to appropriate management

Exploring the In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Specific Probiotic Strains against Oral Pathogens

The microbiota in the oral cavity has a strict connection to its host. Its imbalance may determine oral diseases and can also have an impact on the systemic health. Probiotic strains may help in the restoration of a balanced condition. For this purpose, we screened the antibacterial and antiadhesive activities of many viable probiotic strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus PBS066, Lactobacillus crispatus LCR030, Lactobacillus gasseri LG050, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PBS067, Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH020, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL050, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LPC 1101, L. paracasei LPC 1082, and L. paracasei LPC 1114) against two main oral pathogens, Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, involved in dental caries and periodontal disease development and progression. Considering both the agar overlay preventive and treatment models, seven probiotics determined greater inhibition zones against the tested pathogens. This behavior was further analyzed by the plate count method and scanning electron microscope imaging. L. plantarum PBS067, L. rhamnosus LRH020, L. paracasei LPC 1101, L. paracasei LPC 1082, and L. paracasei LPC 1114 prevent the growth and adhesion of oral pathogens in a strain-specific manner (p < 0.0001). These probiotics might be considered as an alternative effective adjuvant to improve oral and systemic well-being for future personalized treatments

Cerebral involvement in a large cohort of italian HHT patients

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Role of metabolic abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome in prostatic adenomyomatosis and prostate cancer.

Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between the metabolic abnormalites characteristic of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), according to NCEP-ATPIII, and the prostatic adenomyomatosis or prostate cancer. Methods: 111 patients were enrolled. Subjects underwent a medical examination including digital rectal exploration (DRE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) determination and, when indicated a transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) with prostate biopsy. Patients were subsequently divided into 3 groups: subjects with DRE -, TRUS - and PSA < 4 ng/ml (controls, n=24); patient with histological diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC n=32) and patient with prostatic alterations (DRE+ and/or TRUS + and/or PSA > 4 mg/dl) without histological evidence of prostate cancer (DRE/TRUS/PSA+/Bio- n=55). Results: Total cholesterol, LDL-chol and not-HDL-chol were significantly lower in the DRE/TRUS/PSA +/Bio - group compared to controls and PC group. Triglycerides, glycemia, HDL-chol and insulin sensitivity, estimated with HOMA index, were not significantly different however the prevalence of the glycemic criteria for MetS was significantly higher in the DRE/TRUS/PSA +/biopsy - group. The three groups did not differ in terms of adiposity index except for BMC which was significantly lower in PC group. Prevalence of MetS was similar in the 3 groups however subjects in the DRE/TRUS/PSA+ Bio - group met a significantly higher number of diagnostic criteria for MEtS. Conclusions: Our results support a possible association between MetS and benign prostatic hyperplasia while metabolic abnormalities do not seem to be associated with prostate cancer