Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes? A multicenter retrospective analysis focusing on survival outcome

Objectives: To analyze the demographic data, surgical and adjuvant treatment data and the survival outcomes in adult patients affected by acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland (AciCC). Methods: A retrospective multicenter analysis of patients treated for AciCC of the parotid gland from 2000 to 2021 was performed. Exclusion criteria were pediatric (0–18 years) patients, the absence of follow-up and patients with secondary metastatic disease to the parotid gland. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with survival. Results: The study included 81 adult patients with AciCC of the parotid gland. The median age was 46.3 years (SD 15.81, range 19–84 years), with a gender female prevalence (F = 48, M = 33). The mean follow-up was 77.7 months (min 4–max 361, SD 72.46). The 5 years overall survival (OS) was 97.5%. The 5 years disease-free survival (DFS) was 60%. No statistical differences have been found in prognosis for age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years), sex, surgery type (superficial vs profound parotid surgery), radicality (R0 vs R1 + Rclose), neck dissection, early pathologic T and N stages and adjuvant therapy (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study did not find prognostic factor for poorest outcome. In contrast with the existing literature, our results showed how also high-grade tumours cannot be considered predictive of recurrence or aggressive behaviour

Randomized trial on the effects of a combined physical/cognitive training in aged MCI subjects: the Train the Brain study

Age-related cognitive impairment and dementia are an increasing societal burden. Epidemiological studies indicate that lifestyle factors, e.g. physical, cognitive and social activities, correlate with reduced dementia risk; moreover, positive effects on cognition of physical/cognitive training have been found in cognitively unimpaired elders. Less is known about effectiveness and action mechanisms of physical/cognitive training in elders already suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a population at high risk for dementia. We assessed in 113 MCI subjects aged 65-89 years, the efficacy of combined physical-cognitive training on cognitive decline, Gray Matter (GM) volume loss and Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) in hippocampus and parahippocampal areas, and on brain-blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) activity elicited by a cognitive task, measured by ADAS-Cog scale, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) and fMRI, respectively, before and after 7 months of training vs. usual life. Cognitive status significantly decreased in MCI-no training and significantly increased in MCI-training subjects; training increased parahippocampal CBF, but no effect on GM volume loss was evident; BOLD activity increase, indicative of neural efficiency decline, was found only in MCI-no training subjects. These results show that a non pharmacological, multicomponent intervention improves cognitive status and indicators of brain health in MCI subjects

Viscous spreading of non-Newtonian gravity currents in radial geometry

A gravity current originated by a power-law viscous fluid propagating in axisymmetric geometry on a horizontal rigid plane below a fluid of lesser density is examined. The intruding fluid is considered to have a pure power-law constitutive equation. The set of equations governing the flow is presented, under the assumption of buoyancy-viscous balance and negligible inertial forces. The conditions under which the above assumptions are valid are examined and a self-similar solution in terms of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation is derived for the release of a fixed volume of fluid. The space-time development of the gravity current is discussed for different flow behavior indexes

Viscous spreading of non-Newtonian gravity currents in radial geometry

A gravity current originated by a power-law viscous fluid propagating in axisymmetric geometry on a horizontal rigid plane below a fluid of lesser density is examined. The intruding fluid is considered to have a pure power-law constitutive equation. The set of equations governing the flow is presented, under the assumption of buoyancy-viscous balance and negligible inertial forces. The conditions under which the above assumptions are valid are examined and a self-similar solution in terms of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation is derived for the release of a fixed volume of fluid. The space-time development of the gravity current is discussed for different flow behavior indexes

Stokes flow between sinusoidal walls

In this paper, we study two-dimensional Stokes flow between sinusoidal walls. A stream function is introduced, thus transforming the Stokes equation into a biharmonic one, whose solution is then derived for a single periodic cell of length equal to the wall fluctuation wavelength, and for a given pressure drop. Relevant boundary conditions are the no-slip and no-flow conditions on the boundary, as well as those deriving from the periodicity and an auxiliary condition based on an energy argument. For such a mathematical problem, an approximate solution is possible via a series expansion in terms of a small parameter equal to the ratio between the mean channel width and the wavelength. We present closed-form second-order expressions for stream function, flow rate, and velocity components, and discuss the implications of the zero-order solution (lubrication approximation) for different values of two dimensionless parameters. Expressions derived for the velocity components show flow reversal for strong channel sinuosity; they will be useful for several purposes, such as study of solute transport in rough-walled fractures or of heat and mass transfer in conduits with wavy wall

Procedura operativa per la ricerca di perdite idriche

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Confabulations in Cases of Dementia: Atypical Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease or Misleading Feature in Dementia Diagnosis?

Confabulations, also known as false memories, have been associated with various diseases involving mainly the frontal areas, such as Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome or frontal epilepsy. The neuropsychological dysfunctions underlying mechanisms of confabulation are not well known. We describe two patients with memory impairment and confabulations at the onset speculating about neuropsychological correlates of confabulations and self-awareness. Both patients, a 77-year-old woman and a 57-years-old man, exhibited confabulations as first symptom of cognitive decline. She later developed memory impairment without awareness of her memory deficits and her cognitive and imaging profile suggested an amnesic mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Unlike her, he developed a prevalent involvement of frontal functions despite a clear consciousness of his cognitive deficits. However, the clinical diagnostic hypothesis of behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia was not supported by imaging findings, which suggested AD. Both patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation including the Confabulation Battery. Despite that the exact anatomical correlation of confabulations is still not defined, imaging data shown by our patients is consistent with recent theories according to which at the origin of confabulatory tendency in AD there is an impairment of the connections between crucial hubs in frontal and mediotemporal areas, mainly involving the right hemisphere. Besides, it would be reasonable to hypothesize that self-awareness and confabulations should not be considered as necessarily associated dimensions

Non-communicable chronic diseases: The role of neonatal characteristics

Background: Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are still the major cause of mortality and morbidity in young adults. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of neonatal characteristics on NCD development. Methods: A questionnaire was assessed to evaluate the influence of cesarean section (CS), breastfeeding and prematurity on development of some NCDs. The questionnaire was distributed through an online form. Results: We received 6,379 responses. According to data, CS was not associated with the development of asthma and allergies, celiac disease, type I and II diabetes or obesity and a tendency to be overweight. The study revealed an inverse association between breastfeeding and risk of asthma and allergies, type II diabetes, obesity and a tendency to be overweight. No association was found in relation to type I diabetes or celiac disease. Preterm birth was not associated with development of asthma and allergy, celiac disease or type I and II diabetes, but seems to have a protective role in the development of obesity. Conclusions: Many neonatal characteristics could influence the development of NCDs during life. These characteristics could have a direct or indirect influence on neonatal gut establishment with subsequent health implications later in life. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our conclusions

Non-communicable chronic diseases: The role of neonatal characteristics

Background: Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are still the major cause of mortality and morbidity in young adults. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of neonatal characteristics on NCD development. Methods: A questionnaire was assessed to evaluate the influence of cesarean section (CS), breastfeeding and prematurity on devel- opment of some NCDs. The questionnaire was distributed through an online form. Results: We received 6,379 responses. According to data, CS was not associated with the development of asthma and allergies, celiac disease, type I and II diabetes or obesity and a tendency to be overweight. The study revealed an inverse association between breast- feeding and risk of asthma and allergies, type II diabetes, obesity and a tendency to be overweight. No association was found in relation to type I diabetes or celiac disease. Preterm birth was not associated with development of asthma and allergy, celiac disease or type I and II diabetes, but seems to have a protective role in the development of obesity. Conclusions: Many neonatal characteristics could influence the development of NCDs during life. These characteristics could have a direct or indirect influence on neonatal gut establishment with subsequent health implications later in life. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our conclusions

Gestione e affidabilit? delle reti idriche urbane. Un esempio di approccio integrato: il programma di ricerca europeo CARE-W

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