Hearing loss in Takayasu's arteritis: a role for hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

In the scientific community, there is growing interest regarding associated symptoms in Takayasu’s arteritis (TA), an autoimmune condition that mainly affects the medium and large arteries. Hearing loss (HL) is a rare complication of TA that is often overlooked and has severe consequences on the quality of life. HL mainly presents as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and responds to corticosteroid therapy. In the authors’ opinion, the reasons for misdiagnosing HL in patients with TA are lack of evidence re- garding this rare complication and because TA involves large caliber arteries, instead of small vessels that are typical of the inner ear. We recently used HBOT for a 36-year-old woman with TA, who had two SSNHL episodes in different ears in an 11-month period and observed a significant improvement in the patient's hearing. Although this was a single case finding and HBOT was administered together with steroid therapy, the significant recovery of HL in both ears following this therapeutic approach may be worth sharing with the scientific community. In conclusion, we recommend that awareness for inner ear involvement in TA should increase and that HL should be considered a possible complication of TA and should be treated with corticosteroid therapy and, after collecting further evidence, HBOT

Calibration of a visual method for the analysis of the mechanical properties of historic masonry

The conservation and preservation of historic buildings affords many challenges to those who aim to retain our building heritage. In this area, the knowledge of the mechanical characteristics of the masonry material is fundamental. However, mechanical destructive testing is always expensive and time-consuming, especially when applied to masonry historic structures. In order to overcome such kind of problems, the authors of this article, proposed in 2014 a visual method for the estimation of some critical mechanical parameters of the masonry material. Based on the fact that the mechanical behavior of masonry material depends on many factors, such as compressive or shear strength of components (mortar and masonry units), unit shape, volumetric ratio between components and stone arrangement, that is the result of applying a series of construction solutions which form the "rule of art". Taking into account the complexity of the problem due to the great number of variables, and being on-site testing a not-always viable solution, a visual estimate of the mechanical parameters of the walls can be made on the basis of a qualitative criteria evaluation. A revision of this visual method is proposed in this paper. The draft version of new Italian Building Code have been used to re-calibrate this visual method and more tests results have been also considered for a better estimation of the mechanical properties of masonry

Optimal management of Cogan’s syndrome: a multidisciplinary approach

Cogan's syndrome (CS) is a rare disorder characterized by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis (IK) and audio-vestibular symptoms. CS affects mainly young Caucasian adults, mostly during their first three decades of age, and may develop into typical and atypical variants. Typical CS manifests primarily with IK and hearing loss, whereas atypical CS usually presents with inflammatory ocular manifestations in association with audio-vestibular symptoms but mostly different Ménière-like symptoms and, more frequently, with systemic inflammation (70%), of which vasculitis is the pathogenic mechanism. CS is considered as an autoimmune- or immune-mediated disease supported mainly by the beneficial response to corticosteroids. Using well-developed assays, antibodies to inner ear antigens, anti-Hsp70, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were found to be associated with CS. Corticosteroids represent the first line of treatment, and multiple immunosuppressive drugs have been tried with variable degrees of success. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers and other biological agents are a recent novel therapeutic option in CS. Cochlear implantation is a valuable rescue surgical strategy in cases with severe sensorineural hearing loss unresponsive to intensive and/or innovative immunosuppressive regimens

Il confine pattugliato

No abstract availableIl confine tra uomini ed altri animali appare fortemente presidiato da paradigmi concettuali che propugnano la discontinuit?. Tale concetto viene esaminato alla luce delle recenti acquisizioni sulla capacit? di alcuni animali di sottostare a regole sociali, di sapere comporre i disaccordi, di provare compassione ed empatia, di percepire non solo la propria sofferenza ma anche quella altrui

Al lupo. Al lupo...

No abstract availablePartendo dalla storia del salvataggio di un lupo si affronta il tema del rapporto tra dimensione razionale e istintiva, con riferimento ai significanti linguistici

In cammino...

No abstract availableUna breve rassegna dei processi selettivi che hanno accompagnato gli organismi viventi nella conquista della locomozione. La storia della tibia e del perone dai rettili-mammifero all?uomo

Gli abiti del potere

No abstract availablePlasticit? fenotipica, polimorfismi ed assimilazione genetica sono analizzate in relazione alle condizioni di status; in particolare sono evidenziate le convergenze tra il ruolo gerarchico svolto da alcuni soggetti nella comunit? di appartenenza e la manifestazione di specifici caratteri morfologici