Circadian blood pressure rhythm and intimal-medial thickness changes in non-dipper normotensive patients

We investigated 25 non-dipper normotensive vs 25 dipper normotensive patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in the two groups. At the admission patients underwent anamnesis and general examination, blood sampling for lipid profile measurement, glycemia, homocysteine, ambulatory blood pressure measurement to assess the circadian blood pressure profile, and Doppler ultrasound to measure carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT). Our results showed that IMT is significantly higher in the non-dipper group (P&lt;0.006) vs dippers. Non-dipper status has been recognized in several studies a condition with increased risk for target organ damage in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. However, to our knowledge, a possible relationship between IMT and normotensive non-dipper patients has not yet clearly investigated. Our study instead has clearly demonstrated a significant relationship between IMT and the non-dipper status.</p

Integrated-light VRI imaging photometry of globular clusters in the Magellanic clouds

We present accurate integrated-light photometry in Johnson/Cousins V, R, and I for a sample of 28 globular clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. The majority of the clusters in our sample have reliable age and metallicity estimates available in the literature. The sample encompasses ages between 50 Myr and 7 Gyr, and metallicities ([Fe/H]) between -1.5 and 0.0 dex. The sample is dominated by clusters of ages between roughly 0.5 and 2 Gyr, an age range during which the bolometric luminosity of simple stellar populations is dominated by evolved red giant branch stars and thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars whose theoretical colours are rather uncertain. The VRI colours presented in this paper have been used to calibrate stellar population synthesis model predictions.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P &lt; .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Sperimentazione di un servizio di Radiologia Domiciliare per non deambulanti nell’Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est

L’invecchiamento generale della popolazione, dato dalla diminuzione della mortalità associata ad una bassa natalità, costituisce uno scenario futuro che il Servizio Sanitario Regionale della Regione Toscana dovrebbe prepararsi ad affrontare e gestire con efficienza. A questo scopo una possibile soluzione potrebbe essere l’avvalersi di un servizio di Radiologia Domiciliare, già garantito dalle Aziende Sanitarie di diverse altre Regioni (Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, Campania), dove viene utilizzato per l’assistenza radiologica a domicilio dei pazienti fragili, disabili o con notevoli problematiche di deambulazione. A fronte di costi contenuti e di modalità operative piuttosto semplici questo servizio può presentare notevoli vantaggi: una maggiore attenzione alla popolazione fragile, un’aumentata integrazione tra ospedale e territorio e una maggiore umanizzazione delle cure, che verrebbero così rese più confortevoli sia per i pazienti che per le loro famiglie. Prendendo come modello l’esperienza della Regione Piemonte, che presenta caratteristiche territoriali e demografiche analoghe a quelle della Toscana e dove il servizio risulta attivo dal 2007, questo studio si pone come obiettivo la dimostrazione delle potenzialità della Radiologia Domiciliare in territorio toscano

Accuracy of Computer-Assisted Flapless Implant Placement by Means of Mucosa-Supported Templates in Complete-Arch Restorations: A Systematic Review

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current scientific literature regarding the accuracy of fully guided flapless implant positioning for complete-arch rehabilitations in edentulous patients and to assess if there was any statistically significant correlation between linear deviation at shoulder point, at apex point and angular deviation. The electronic and manual literature search of clinical studies was carried out using specified indexing terms. A total of 13 studies were eligible for qualitative analysis and 277 edentulous patients were rehabilitated with 1556 implants patients by means of fully guided mucosa-supported template-assisted flapless surgery. Angular deviation was 3.42&deg; (95% CI 2.82&ndash;4.03), linear deviation at shoulder point 1.23 mm (95% CI 0.97&ndash;1.49) and linear deviation at apex point 1.46 mm (95% CI 1.17&ndash;1.74). No statistically significant correlations were found between the linear and angular deviations. A statistically significant correlation was found between the two linear deviations (correlation coefficient 0.91) that can be summarized by the regression equation y = 0.03080 + 0.8254x. Computer-assisted flapless implant placement by means of mucosa-supported templates in complete arch restorations can be considered a reliable and predictable treatment choice despite the potential effects that flapless approach could bring to the overall treatment

Circadian blood pressure rhythm and intimal media thickness changes in non-dipper normotensives patients

We investigated 25 non-dipper normotensive vs 25 dipper normotensive patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in the two groups. At the admission patients underwent anamnesis and general examination, blood sampling for lipid profile measurement, glycemia, homocysteine, ambulatory blood pressure measurement to assess the circadian blood pressure profile, and Doppler ultrasound to measure carotid IMT. Our results showed that IMT is significantly higher in the non-dipper group (P<0.006) vs dippers. Non-dipper status has been recognized in several studies as a condition with increased risk for target organ damage in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. However, to our knowledge, a possible relationship between IMT and normotensive non-dipper patients has not yet been clearly investigated. Our study instead has clearly demonstrated a significant relationship between IMT and the non-dipper status

Italia fascista e seconda guerra mondiale (1922-1943) in Repertorio bibliografico della politica estera italiana dall'Unità ad oggi. Guida agli studi apparsi dal 1980 al 1990

bibliografia relativa agli anni 1980-1990 dedicata alla politica estera italiana durante il fascismo e la seconda guerra mondial