Acute liver injury and anorexia nervosa: A case report

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restriction of energy intake leading to a significant decrease in body weight. While it is primarily a psychiatric disorder, numerous medical complications can occur. In this article we describe a case of a 25-year-old woman with a 12-year history of severe restrictive anorexia nervosa that was referred to the Emergency Service of our Hospital, transferred from a psychiatric institute, for severe weight loss, dehydration, and progressive increase in transaminases. During the hospital stay she developed an acute liver injury with an increase in transaminase level up to 40× the ULN. Infective and immunological causes of acute hepatitis were excluded. In the suspect of severe starvation acute liver injury, we performed a nutritional assessment and started parenteral nutrition. After 15 days of parenteral nutrition, she gained 2.5 kg of body weight and liver tests were drastically reduced and nearly normal

Geminid meteor shower of 1996-2007: Global activity from forward-scatter observations

Activity and mass distribution of the Geminid meteor shower of 1996-2007 from observations by a forward-scatter radio system operating along Bologna-Modra baseline are analyzed and discussed. Global activity curve for overdense echoes of durations ≥ 1 s and ≥ 8 s depicts two distinct peaks at solar longitudes 261.7◦, 262.3◦ and 261.9◦, 262.3◦, respectively. Larger particles are concentrated more to the centre of the stream and slightly shifted towards the descending branch of the stream activity. The mean mass exponent of the Geminids is 1.73

Microstructure of the Fermo meteorite

Analyses by different electron microscopy methods contribute to draw the overall picture of the microstructure of the Fermo meteorite. Phase composition obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) may provide useful information about the origin of previously reported phases including kamacite, taenite, troilite, enstatite, silicate particles of olivine and pyroxene groups. The morphological aspects of separate micro- and nano-structural constituents revealed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) may reflect transformations that contribute to reconstruct the events affecting the true history of the cosmic body. Achievements of very fine-grained microstructure of minerals investigated by TEM micrographs and ion milling analysis are approaching current nanotechnology efforts

Paraneoplastic Anti-Tif1-gamma Autoantibody-positive Dermatomyositis as Clinical Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rarely associated with autoimmune paraneoplastic syndromes. We report a case of anti-transcriptional intermediary factor-1 gamma (TIF1-??)-positive dermatomyositis (DM) as clinical presentation of HCC recurrence in a 72-year-old male patient admitted to our hospital due to fatigue, myalgia, and typical skin rash. His medical history was notable for hepatitis C-related cir-rhosis, successful treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents, and previously efficacious treatment of HCC. Labo-ratory testing showed significant rhabdomyolysis with anti-TIF1-?? antibodies at high titer, and DM was diagnosed. After a careful diagnostic workup, HCC recurrence was diagnosed. After first-line corticosteroid treatment, azathioprine and in-travenous immunoglobulin treatments were administered; unfortunately, he mounted only partial response. Owing to the compromised performance status, no HCC treatment was feasible, and, according to international guidelines, he received only best supportive care. Here, we discuss the diagnostic, prognostic, and pathogenic roles of anti-TIF1-?? antibodies associated with paraneoplastic DM and the scant literature data on its occurrence in HCC patients. Consider-ing the TIF1 gene family???s established role in oncogenesis, we also review the role of TIF1-?? as a tumor-related neo-antigen, leading to the development of clinically overt anti-TIF1-?? antibodies-positive DM

Electrochemotherapy Is Effective in the Treatment of Bone Metastases

Bone metastases induce pain, risk of fracture, and neural compression, and reduced mobility and quality of life. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a minimally invasive local treatment based on a high-voltage electric pulse combined with an anticancer drug. Preclinical and clinical studies have supported the use of ECT in patients with metastatic bone disease, demonstrating that it does not damage the mineral structure of the bone and its regenerative capacity, and that is feasible and efficient for the treatment of bone metastases. Since 2009, 88 patients with bone metastasis have received ECT at the Rizzoli Institute. 2014 saw the start of a registry of patients with bone metastases treated with ECT, whose data are recorded in a shared database. We share the Rizzoli Institute experience of 38 patients treated with ECT for a bone metastasis, excluding patients not included in the registry (before 2014) and those treated with bone fixation. Mean follow-up was 2 months (1–52). Response to treatment using RECIST criteria was 29% objective responses, 59% stable disease, and 16% progressive disease. Using PERCIST, the response was 36% OR, 14% SD, and 50% PD with no significant differences between the two criteria. A significant decrease in pain and better quality of life was observed at FU

Acido laurico saponificato con il calcio nella dieta di suinetti in post svezzamento: effetti sulle performance di crescita e sulla salute intestinale

\uc8 noto che gli acidi grassi a media catena (MCFA) hanno un\u2019azione antibatterica, in particolare nei confronti dei batteri Gram+. Lo scopo del lavoro \ue8 stato valutare gli effetti dell\u2019acido laurico (C12) saponificato con il calcio sulle performance produttive e la salute intestinale dei suinetti in svezzamento. Per la prova sono stati impiegati 192 suinetti, ripartiti in 3 gruppi, alimentati rispettivamente con una dieta basale (Db= Ctr), Db+Amoxicillina, 400mg/kg (T1) e Db+C12-Ca, 1kg/ton (T2). L\u2019integrazione della dieta con C12-Ca ha comportato una riduzione della mortalit\ue0 e dei trattamenti medicamentosi rispetto ai soggetti Ctr. L\u2019efficienza alimentare \ue8 risultata analoga nei soggetti alimentati con la dieta integrata con laurato di calcio e in quelli trattati con antibiotico, con una differenza significativa rispetto ai controlli (P<0,05). La somministrazione del laurato ha infine determinato un miglioramento dello stato antiossidante della mucosa intestinale rispetto ai soggetti degli altri due gruppi con un aumento della capacit\ue0 antiossidante totale TAOC (P <0,01) e una riduzione dei livelli di Malondialdeide (P<0,01). I risultati suggeriscono che l\u2019inclusione nella dieta dei suinetti di C12-Ca pu\uf2 migliorare la salute intestinale e pu\uf2 rappresentare una possibile alternativa all\u2019antibiotico, impiegato per scopi di profilassi

Clinical and functional outcomes of the saddle prosthesis

BACKGROUND:The implantation of a saddle prosthesis after resection of a pelvic tumor has been proposed as a simple method of reconstruction that provides good stability and reduces the surgical time, thus limits the onset of intraoperative complications. There are no studies in the literature of patients evaluated using gait analysis after being implanted with a saddle prosthesis. The present study is a retrospective case review aimed at illustrating long-term clinical and functional findings in tumor patients reconstructed with a saddle prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A series of 15 patients who received pelvic reconstruction with a saddle prosthesis were retrospectively reviewed in terms of clinical, radiographic, and functional evaluations. Two patients were additionally assessed by gait analysis. RESULTS:Long-term functional follow-up was achieved in only 6 patients, and ranged from 97 to 167 months. Function was found to be rather impaired, as a mean of only 57 % of normal activity was restored. Gait analysis demonstrated that the implant had poor biomechanics, as characterized by very limited hip motion. CONCLUSIONS: Though the saddle prosthesis was proposed as advance in tumor-related pelvic surgery, the present study indicates that it yields unsatisfactory clinical and functional results due to both clinical complications and the poor biomechanics of the device. The use of a saddle prosthesis in tumor surgery did not provide satisfactory results in long-term follow-up. It is no longer implanted at our institute, and is currently considered a "salvage technique.

What is theoretical progress of science?

The epistemic conception of scientific progress equates progress with accumulation of scientific knowledge. I argue that the epistemic conception fails to fully capture scientific progress: theoretical progress, in particular, can transcend scientific knowledge in important ways. Sometimes theoretical progress can be a matter of new theories ‘latching better onto unobservable reality’ in a way that need not be a matter of new knowledge. Recognising this further dimension of theoretical progress is particularly significant for understanding scientific realism, since realism is naturally construed as the claim that science makes theoretical progress. Some prominent realist positions (regarding fundamental physics, in particular) are best understood in terms of commitment to theoretical progress that cannot be equated with accumulation of scientific knowledge