Diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of head and neck lymph node metastasis: a systematic review

Aim: Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is the ninth most common tumor worldwide. Neck lymph node (LN) status is the major indicator of prognosis in all head and neck cancers, and the early detection of LN involvement is crucial in terms of therapy and prognosis. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a non- invasive imaging technique used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to characterize tissues based on the displacement motion of water molecules. This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature concerning quantitative diffusion imaging for LN staging in patients with HNSCC. Methods: This systematic review performed a literature search on the PubMed database (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) for all relevant, peer-reviewed literature on the subject following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria, using the keywords: DWI, MRI, head and neck, staging, lymph node. Results: After excluding reviews, meta-analyses, case reports, and bibliometric studies, 18 relevant papers out of the 567 retrieved were selected for analysis. Conclusions: DWI improves the diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment response evaluation, and overall management of patients affected by HNSCC. More robust data to clarify the role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and DWI parameters are needed to develop models for prognosis and prediction in HNSCC cancer using MRI

Implementing an ict-based polypharmacy management program in Italy

Although there is evidence of a growing awareness of the problem, no official policy statements or regulatory guidelines on polypharmacy have been released up to date by Italian Health Authorities. Medication review, application of appropriateness criteria and computerized prescription support systems are all possible approaches in order to improve the quality of prescribing in older persons. More focused training courses on multimorbidity and polytherapy management are encouraged. Furthermore a multidisciplinary approach integrating different health care professionals (physicians, pharmacists, and nurses) may positively impact on reducing the sense of fear related to discontinue or substitute drugs prescribed by others; the fragmentation of therapy among different specialists; reducing costs; and improving adverse drug reaction detection and reporting. Aiming at achieving the individualized pharmacotherapy, a multidisciplinary approach starting with identification of patients and risk for drug-related problems, followed by medication review overtime and use of inappropriateness criteria, supported by computerized systems has been proposed

Use of Decision-Support Systems in Defining Scenarios for Sustainable, Shared Urban Development

The subject of sustainability requires the integration of various areas of disciplinary knowledge and in particular, knowledge related to the overall management and dynamics of ecological and social systems. Traditionally, the different disciplines have addressed the theme of sustainability by developing mathematical models and using indicators to measure the different aspects. However, not all of these aspects can be measured in quantitative terms (Bell and Morse 2008; Pollesch and Dale 2015

Physical and mechanical characteristics of pyroclastic soil for the construction of embankments

In the framework of wider research activity on the physical and mechanical behaviour of volcanic soils, this paper reports the results of some laboratory tests on this type of geomaterial. The background of this research is the need for a construction company to possibly use pyroclastic material excavated along a tunnel profile to build railway embankments included in the design of a new High-Speed Train Line near the city of Naples, Italy. However, according to the standards of the National Italian Railways Company, pyroclastic soils cannot be employed as construction materials unless they are supported by a specific testing program demonstrating their good performance. The pyroclastic soil, which is widespread in the project area, is the product of Mt. Vesuvius volcanic activity. It is a coarse-graded soil that includes a significant percentage of non-plastic fines. They should be placed under compact conditions. The experimental campaign was aimed at identifying some physical characteristics that can synthesize the homogeneity of the pyroclastic deposit in terms of shearing resistance. The preliminary results obtained in terms of grading curves, modified Proctor compaction curves, and stress-strain curves from conventional drained triaxial tests are presented and discussed in this paper. The latter were executed on fully saturated specimens after compacting the soil at the optimum water content and on the dry and wet sides of the Proctor curve. The overall initial outcomes of the experimental campaign indicated that this material has acceptable characteristics and is suitable for the construction of railway embankments

Impact of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) on Foraminiferal and Calcareous Nannofossil Assemblages in the Neo-Tethyan Baskil Section (Eastern Turkey): Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimatic Reconstructions

The Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO; ~40 Ma), which interrupted for ~500–600 kyr the long-term cooling trend culminating at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, still requires a comprehensive understanding of the biotic resilience. Here we present a high-resolution integrated foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil study across the MECO from the expanded and continuous Tethyan Baskil section (eastern Turkey) that offers a complete magneto-biostratigraphic and geochemical framework. The five MECO phases identified reveal a transition from oligotrophic (pre-MECO) to eu-mesotrophic conditions, possibly related to accelerated hydrological cycle, during the initial MECO and MECO δ13C negative excursion phases. The MECO WARMING PEAK phase, marking the highest carbonate dissolution interval, records the most striking biotic changes, such as peak in warm and eutrophic nannofossils, virtual disappearance of the oligotrophic planktic foraminiferal large Acarinina and Morozovelloides, and peak in eutrophic deep dwellers Subbotina. Benthic foraminifera suggest in this phase an improvement in the quality of organic matter to the seafloor. The post-MECO phase shows only a partial recovery of the pre-event conditions. Large Acarinina and Morozovelloides did not recover their abundance, possibly due to cooler conditions in this phase. Our reconstruction reveals how paleoenvironment and marine biota from the studied Neo-Tethyan setting reacted to the MECO perturbations

Cli-CC.HE Project- Climate change, cities, communities, and equity in health

The concept of “urban health” and the role of urban design in the quality promotion of the cities’ living spaces are highly debated on a scientific level, but have not yet been effectively introduced into university education. A gap between education, scientific research and professional practice hinders the achievement of a seamless collaboration among the different stakeholders involved in the urban regeneration of our cities. CliCCHE, an Erasmus+ Project aims at developing and testing newer non-formal learning/teaching experiences to stimulate students’ motivation, enhance their engagement and amplify their contribution to generating a participative environment. The CliCCHE educational methodology and tools will be developed seamlessly with the contribution and involvement of students, representative groups of citizens, professionals and public administrations. The adoption of nonformal learning tools will help to identify and define climate change adaptation strategies at the urban scale. Since the educational methodology and tools will be finalized by a European Consortium (University of Camerino, The Cyprus Institute; University of Belgrade; University Institute of Lisbon ISCTE, CNR IRIB) and integrated into the educational offer of each partner, it will be possible to transfer it in other EU countries

Attachment models in late-adopted Children and their adopted mothers: A Clinical example

Attachment Theory highlighted the role of secure adoptive mothers in affecting the revision of late-adopted children’s Internal Working Models respect to attachment (Steele, Hodges, Kaniuk, Hillman, Henderson, 2003; Pace, Zavattini, D'Alessio, 2012). Starting from a theoretical discussion on the importance of the quality of parenting, caregiving and reflective capacities of adoptive mothers, a discussion of a case of a child adopted at the age of six years was presented. The mother and her child were seen two times after six months of each other. During the first observation, at the time of adoption, the Separation-Reunion Procedure was administered to the child and the Adult Attachment Interview and Reflective Function Scale were administered to her mother. At the second step, the Separation-Reunion Procedure and the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task were administered to the child. We highlighted that the relationship with a “secure” mother, with a good reflective functioning, and her adopted child can be a facilitating factor for the transformation of child’s attachment patterns, both behavioral and representational

SEC23B Loss-of-Function Suppresses Hepcidin Expression by Impairing Glycosylation Pathway in Human Hepatic Cells

Biallelic pathogenic variants in the SEC23B gene cause congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II (CDA II), a rare hereditary disorder hallmarked by ineffective erythropoiesis, hemolysis, erythroblast morphological abnormalities, and hypo-glycosylation of some red blood cell membrane proteins. Abnormalities in SEC23B, which encodes the homonymous cytoplasmic COPII (coat protein complex II) component, disturb the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi trafficking and affect different glycosylation pathways. The most harmful complication of CDA II is the severe iron overload. Within our case series (28 CDA II patients), approximately 36% of them exhibit severe iron overload despite mild degree of anemia and slightly increased levels of ERFE (the only erythroid regulator of hepcidin suppression). Thus, we hypothesized a direct role of SEC23B loss-of-function in the pathomechanism of hepatic iron overload. We established a hepatic cell line, HuH7, stably silenced for SEC23B. In silenced cells, we observed significant alterations of the iron status, due to both the alteration in BMP/SMADs pathway effectors and a reduced capability to sense BMP6 stimulus. We demonstrated that the loss-of-function of SEC23B is responsible of the impairment in glycosylation of the membrane proteins involved in the activation of the BMP/SMADs pathway with subsequent hepcidin suppression. Most of these data were confirmed in another hepatic cell line, HepG2, stably silenced for SEC23B. Our findings suggested that the pathogenic mechanism of iron overload in CDA II is associated to both ineffective erythropoiesis and to a specific involvement of SEC23B pathogenic variants at hepatic level. Finally, we demonstrated the ability of SEC23B paralog, i.e., SEC23A, to rescue the hepcidin suppression, highlighting the functional overlap between the two SEC23 paralogs in human hepatic cells

Demise of the Planktic Foraminifer Genus Morozovella during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum: New Records from ODP Site 1258 (Demerara Rise, Western Equatorial Atlantic) and Site 1263 (Walvis Ridge, South Atlantic)

Here we present relative abundances of planktic foraminifera that span the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1258 in the western equatorial Atlantic. The EECO (~53.3−49.1 Ma) represents peak Cenozoic warmth, probably related to high atmospheric CO2, and when planktic foraminifera, a dominant component of marine sediment, exhibit a major biotic response. Consistent with previous work, the relative abundance of the genus Morozovella, which dominated early Paleogene tropical-subtropical assemblages, markedly and permanently declined from a mean percentage of ~32% to less than ~7% at the beginning of the EECO. The distinct decrease in Morozovella abundance occurred at Site 1258 within ~20 kyr before a negative excursion in δ13C records known as the J event and which defines the beginning of EECO. Moreover, all morozovellid species except M. aragonensis dropped in abundance permanently at Site 1258, and this is related to a reduction in test-size. Comparing our data with that from other locations, the remarkable switch in planktonic foraminifera assemblages appears to have begun first with unfavourable environmental conditions near the Equator and then extended to higher latitudes. Several potential stressors may explain observations, including some combination of algal photosymbiont inhibition (bleaching), a sustained increase in temperature, or an extended decrease in pH

EduScape Project: Landscape and Climate change adaptation in education

L’articolo presenta il progetto in corso “EduScape - Landscape and Climate Change Adaptation in Education” in cui è coinvolta la Scuola di Ateneo di Architettura e Design (SAAD) dell’Università di Camerino. Il progetto, in linea con gli obiettivi dell’Agenda 2030 dello Sviluppo Sostenibile n.4-11-13 e le politiche europee, affronta il tema paesaggio-educazione-cambiamenti climatici con particolare riferimento alla fascia di età compresa tra i 6 e i 15 anni, rivolgendosi anche agli stessi educatori nonché alla comunità scientifica internazionale. Lo stato dell’arte in materia ci restituisce un quadro carente ed evidenzia la necessità/opportunità di elevare il paesaggio a componente trasversale per affrontare le odierne questioni emergenti ed innovare le modalità e i contenuti dell’insegnamento. Con tale prospettiva il progetto assume un ruolo pedagogicosociale e formativo nel promuovere il valore dell’inclusività e nel sensibilizzare alle questioni climatico-ambientali e alla cultura del paesaggio nella più ampia cornice degli obiettivi di sviluppo sostenibile