Subthreshold micropulse laser for long-lasting submacular fluid after rhegmatogeous retinal detachment surgery

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) photo-stimulation in the management of persistent subfoveal fluid (PSF) after surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: In this pilot study, 11 eyes of 11 patients (8 men, 3 women) with long-lasting (12–18 months) PSF after surgery for RRD were evaluated before and after photostimulation with subthreshold micropulse yellow laser. Ophthalmic examination included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Amsler grid test, ophthalmoscopy, autofluorescence (AF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) with measurement of central point foveal thickness (CPFT). Primary outcome was subfoveal fluid resolution and secondary outcome was BCVA improvement. Results: The mean CPFT and BCVA were, respectively, 436.8 ± 28.8 μm and 0.25 ± 0.1 µm decimal equivalent (DE) before photostimulation and 278 ± 54.4 μm and 0.57 ± 0.2 µm DE after photostimulation, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Nine (81.8%) eyes showed improved BCVA, disappearance of macular detachment on ophthalmoscopy, reduced retinal pigment epithelium distress on AF, and restored macular profile with no neuroretinal alterations on OCT scans. Conclusion: Although PSF after RRD surgery is often a self-limiting disease, our results suggest that SML photostimulation may be effective and safe in patients with clinically significant long-lasting PSF. Larger case–control studies are necessary to confirm these results. © 2022 Esposti et al

Nerve Sheath Myxoma of the Tongue

Nerve sheath myxoma (NSM) of the oral mucosa is aslow-growing, benign, often asymptomatic submucosal mass. Wereport on a case of classical NSM of the tongue, with diagnostic andtherapeutic approach to the case.Many NSM arise within the endoneurium of a peripheral nerve. It isa rare condition with no apparent differences between sexes in itsprealence. It can occur at any age..</p

Relación entre ácidos grasos dietarios y la concentración salival de inmunoglobulina a secretoria

OBJETIVO: analizar la relación entre los ácidos grasos (AG) dietarios y la concentración salival de inmunoglobulina A secretoria (IgAs) en adultos sanos de diferentes edades.MÉTODOS: participaron 49 personas que fueron divididas en cuatro grupos según sexo y edad: mujeres de 20-39 años (G1; n=12) y de 40-60 años (G2; n=11); hombres de 20-39 años (G3; n=14) y de 40-60 años (G4; n=12). Se aplicó una encuesta de frecuencia de consumo alimentario cuali-cuantitativo validada, cuya información fue procesada con el programa Interfood v.1.3 a fin de determinar el valor energético total (VET), grasa total (GT), colesterol (C), AG saturados (AGS), monoinsaturados (AGMI) y poliinsaturados (AGPI), ácido linoleico (AL), alfa linolénico (ALA) y araquidónico (AA). Se recolectaron muestras de saliva mixta no estimulada para determinar los valores de IgAs mediante la técnica de inmunodifusión radial simple. Se aplicaron las pruebas de Kruskal Wallis para comparar las variables según los grupos y de Pearson para correlacionar los valores de IgAs con las variables mencionadas, con un nivel de significación del 5%. Se utilizó el programa Infostat.RESULTADOS: la IgAs presentó valores inferiores en G1 con respecto a los otros grupos, pero la diferencia no fue significativa (p=0,23). El consumo de C fue mayor en G3 que en G1 y G2 y la ingesta de ALA fue superior en G4 que en G2 (p<0,05). Se observó una correlación negativa significativa entre VET e ingesta de AGS y la concentración salival de IgAs en G3 (p<0,05). Al analizar independientemente los valores de IgAs inferiores a los normales, se encontraron correlaciones negativas con VET (-0,59; p=0,01), AGS (-0,66; p=0,01), GT (-0,49; p=0,04) y C (-0,51; p=0,03) en general, y con C (-0,78; p=0,04) y AGS (-0,76; p=0,04) en G1.CONCLUSIÓN: la ingesta de AGS se relaciona con una menor concentración salival de IgAs en hombres y mujeres sanos de 20-39 años. El consumo de grasas tendría influencia sobre la concentración salival de IgAs, pero es importante continuar investigando en este sentido.Fil: Costantino, Evangelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Anatomía B; Argentina.Fil: Costantino, Evangelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Fil: Escandriolo Nackauzi, Jorge Dario. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Anatomía B; Argentina.Fil: Escandriolo Nackauzi, Jorge Dario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Bertolotto, Patricia Isolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina.Fil: Heinze, VM. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Pistoresi, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Actis, Adriana Beatríz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Odontología. Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica; Argentina.Fil: Actis, Adriana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Otras Ciencias de la Salu

Concentración salival de inmunoglobulina A secretoria según la ingesta de fitoquímicos dietarios

OBJETIVO: analizar la influencia de los fitoquímicos (Fq) dietarios sobre la concentración salival de inmunoglobulina A secretoria (IgAs) en personas sanas de diferentes edades.MÉTODOS: se incluyeron 49 personas que fueron agrupadas en: mujeres de 20-39 años (G1; n=12) y de 40-60 años (G2; n=11); hombres de 20-39 años (G3; n=14) y de 40-60 años (G4; n=12). Mediante una encuesta de frecuencia de consumo alimentario cuali-cuantitativo validada se determinó la ingesta habitual de alimentos fuente de Fq -vegetales, frutas frescas y secas, derivados del tomate, cereales y legumbres- y el consumo de los siguientes Fq: antocianos, daidzeína, flavanoles, flavanonas, flavonas, flavonoles, genisteína, isoflavonas, licopeno y polifenoles. La información fue procesada por el programa informático Interfood v.1.3. Se obtuvieron muestras de saliva mixta no estimulada y se determinaron los valores de IgAs por inmunodifusión radial simple. Se compararon las variables según los grupos (prueba de Kruskal Wallis) y se correlacionaron los valores de IgAs con las variables mencionadas (coeficiente de correlación de Spearman) (p<0,05).RESULTADOS: la ingesta total de alimentos fuente de Fq fue menor en G3 que en G1 (p=0,043) y el consumo de frutas frescas fue menor en G3 que en los demás grupos (p=0,002). La ingesta de antocianos fue menor en G3 (p=0,007) y la de flavanonas mayor en G1 (p=0,037), ambos con respecto a los otros grupos. El consumo de flavonas fue superior en G1 que en G3 (p=0,025), y el de polifenoles fue mayor en G1 y G3 con relación a G2 y G4 (p=0,0002). Se halló una correlación negativa entre la ingesta del total de alimentos fuente de Fq y la concentración salival de IgAs en G3 (-0,61; p=0,03), y correlaciones positivas entre el consumo de flavanonas (0,59; p=0,05) y polifenoles (0,62; p=0,04) y los valores de IgAs en G1.CONCLUSIÓN: según estos resultados, el consumo de flavanonas y polifenoles se relaciona con una mayor concentración salival de IgAs en mujeres sanas de 20 a 39 años, en tanto que en hombres de esa edad la ingesta de alimentos fuente de Fq se asocia a una disminución de IgAs salival.Fil: Costantino, Evangelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Anatomía B; Argentina.Fil: Costantino, Evangelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Fil: Escandriolo Nackauzi, Jorge Dario. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Anatomía B; Argentina.Fil: Escandriolo Nackauzi, Jorge Dario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Bertolotto, Patricia Isolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina.Fil: Heinze, Verónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Pistoresi, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Actis, Adriana Beatríz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Odontología. Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica; Argentina.Fil: Actis, Adriana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina.Otras Ciencias de la Salu

Targeting prolyl-isomerase Pin1 prevents mitochondrial oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction: insights in patients with diabetes

The present study demonstrates that Pin1 is a common activator of key pathways involved in diabetic vascular disease in different experimental settings including primary human endothelial cells, knockout mice, and diabetic patients. Gene silencing and genetic disruption of Pin1 prevent hyperglycaemia-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular inflammation. Moreover, we have translated our findings to diabetic patients. In line with our experimental observations, Pin1 up-regulation is associated with impaired flow-mediated dilation, increased oxidative stress, and plasma levels of adhesion molecules. In perspective, these findings may provide the rationale for mechanism-based therapeutic strategies in patients with diabete

Lack of application of the European Work Time Directive: effects on workload, work satisfaction and burnout among Italian physicians

The Italian Parliament has excluded hospital physicians from the application of the European Work Time Directive (EWTD), which imposes a maximum workweek of 48 h and compulsory resting periods. This resulted in extended and excessive work time for the category. This paper is aimed at evaluating the impact of this legislation gap, by assessing the presence of excessive work-related stress and risk for burnout syndrome among Italian physicians working in public hospitals. This observational study is based on an on-line survey conducted on a sample of 1925 Italian doctors (covering a wide range of age, work experience and contractual positions) from October 2014 to February 2015. The questionnaire included 30 questions concerning their personal and professional life (e.g., assessment of workloads, number of uncomfortable or extra shifts, unused days-off, etc.). On the basis of the results, it can be inferred that the average Italian doctor working in public hospitals is under considerable stress at work with negative consequences on his health. He is exposed to high risk of suffering from sleep disorders and cardiovascular diseases (due to the lack of time for private practice and eating regular meals). Overall, his perception is that his job worsens his quality of life. This study shows the relevance of the risk of burnout among Italian physicians employed in public hospitals due to severe workload and work conditions. The resulting impact on the quality of care and the significant cost involved - both in human and economic terms - calls for significant emergency measures by the Italian health work organization. An important increase and prolonged working time is associated with a worsening of the objective cognitive performance and an increase of clinical risk, but also to an increased risk of diseases for operators and of the burnout syndrome. Our survey shows that lack of application of the EWTD has adverse effects on the quality of life and performance of Italian doctors. Failure to respond by all Italian doctors is the greatest limitation of our survey

Direct observations of CO2 emission reductions due to COVID-19 lockdown across European urban districts

The measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 included restrictions of people's mobility and reductions in economic activities. These drastic changes in daily life, enforced through national lockdowns, led to abrupt reductions of anthropogenic CO(2 )emissions in urbanized areas all over the world. To examine the effect of social restrictions on local emissions of CO2, we analysed district level CO(2 )fluxes measured by the eddy-covariance technique from 13 stations in 11 European cities. The data span several years before the pandemic until October 2020 (six months after the pandemic began in Europe). All sites showed a reduction in CO2 emissions during the national lockdowns. The magnitude of these reductions varies in time and space, from city to city as well as between different areas of the same city. We found that, during the first lockdowns, urban CO2 emissions were cut with respect to the same period in previous years by 5% to 87% across the analysed districts, mainly as a result of limitations on mobility. However, as the restrictions were lifted in the following months, emissions quickly rebounded to their pre-COVID levels in the majority of sites.Peer reviewe

Stress echo 2020 : the international stress echo study in ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease

Background: Stress echocardiography (SE) has an established role in evidence-based guidelines, but recently its breadth and variety of applications have extended well beyond coronary artery disease (CAD). We lack a prospective research study of SE applications, in and beyond CAD, also considering a variety of signs in addition to regional wall motion abnormalities. Methods: In a prospective, multicenter, international, observational study design, > 100 certified high-volume SE labs (initially from Italy, Brazil, Hungary, and Serbia) will be networked with an organized system of clinical, laboratory and imaging data collection at the time of physical or pharmacological SE, with structured follow-up information. The study is endorsed by the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Echography and organized in 10 subprojects focusing on: contractile reserve for prediction of cardiac resynchronization or medical therapy response; stress B-lines in heart failure; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; mitral regurgitation after either transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement; outdoor SE in extreme physiology; right ventricular contractile reserve in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot; suspected or initial pulmonary arterial hypertension; coronary flow velocity, left ventricular elastance reserve and B-lines in known or suspected CAD; identification of subclinical familial disease in genotype-positive, phenotype- negative healthy relatives of inherited disease (such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Results: We expect to recruit about 10,000 patients over a 5-year period (2016-2020), with sample sizes ranging from 5,000 for coronary flow velocity/ left ventricular elastance/ B-lines in CAD to around 250 for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or repaired Tetralogy of Fallot. This data-base will allow to investigate technical questions such as feasibility and reproducibility of various SE parameters and to assess their prognostic value in different clinical scenarios. Conclusions: The study will create the cultural, informatic and scientific infrastructure connecting high-volume, accredited SE labs, sharing common criteria of indication, execution, reporting and image storage of SE to obtain original safety, feasibility, and outcome data in evidence-poor diagnostic fields, also outside the established core application of SE in CAD based on regional wall motion abnormalities. The study will standardize procedures, validate emerging signs, and integrate the new information with established knowledge, helping to build a next-generation SE lab without inner walls

Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

Background. Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time. Methods. The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain. Results. 319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p &lt; 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 \ub1 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823. Conclusions. This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings