Archeometrical Analysis for the Characterization of Mortars from Ostia Antica

AbstractThe aim of the study is to provide, through the characterization of the mortar samples and the relative raw materials, useful information in order to define the stages of construction, the workers technological and archaeological knowledge. The study is an interdisciplinary approach carried out by different analysis techniques in order to define the mineral-petrographic composition and highlight the differences among the various samples. Mortars are present in all the walls, except dry ones, as a bedding material and as a coating. The mortars may be regarded as markers for excellence, because they must be prepared at the time of their use, during the construction of the masonry, and cannot be re-used after their hardening and socket. Furthermore, the production of mortars in the past depended on the availability of raw materials in situ thus establishing a strong and direct correlation between the origin and use.The chemical and petrographic study of the subtle differences and composition of the mortar makes it possible to use this material as an excellent timeline if the supply of building materials varies over time. Mortars, for these reasons, play two key roles in archaeological survey: an absolutely priority for the correct determination of the contours of Stratigraphic Units; the role of the typological class very representative and very useful for making comparisons between different parts of the building and connecting between them the activities of the individual site

Psychological treatments and psychotherapies in the neurorehabilitation of pain. Evidences and recommendations from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly recognized that treating pain is crucial for effective care within neurological rehabilitation in the setting of the neurological rehabilitation. The Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation was constituted with the purpose identifying best practices for us in this context. Along with drug therapies and physical interventions, psychological treatments have been proven to be some of the most valuable tools that can be used within a multidisciplinary approach for fostering a reduction in pain intensity. However, there is a need to elucidate what forms of psychotherapy could be effectively matched with the specific pathologies that are typically addressed by neurorehabilitation teams. OBJECTIVES: To extensively assess the available evidence which supports the use of psychological therapies for pain reduction in neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review of the studies evaluating the effect of psychotherapies on pain intensity in neurological disorders was performed through an electronic search using PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Based on the level of evidence of the included studies, recommendations were outlined separately for the different conditions. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 2352 results and the final database included 400 articles. The overall strength of the recommendations was medium/low. The different forms of psychological interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, cognitive or behavioral techniques, Mindfulness, hypnosis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brief Interpersonal Therapy, virtual reality interventions, various forms of biofeedback and mirror therapy were found to be effective for pain reduction in pathologies such as musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Central Post-Stroke pain, Phantom Limb Pain, pain secondary to Spinal Cord Injury, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating syndromes, diabetic neuropathy, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, migraine and headache. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological interventions and psychotherapies are safe and effective treatments that can be used within an integrated approach for patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation for pain. The different interventions can be specifically selected depending on the disease being treated. A table of evidence and recommendations from the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation is also provided in the final part of the pape

What is the role of the placebo effect for pain relief in neurorehabilitation? Clinical implications from the Italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

Background: It is increasingly acknowledged that the outcomes of medical treatments are influenced by the context of the clinical encounter through the mechanisms of the placebo effect. The phenomenon of placebo analgesia might be exploited to maximize the efficacy of neurorehabilitation treatments. Since its intensity varies across neurological disorders, the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation (ICCP) summarized the studies on this field to provide guidance on its use. Methods: A review of the existing reviews and meta-analyses was performed to assess the magnitude of the placebo effect in disorders that may undergo neurorehabilitation treatment. The search was performed on Pubmed using placebo, pain, and the names of neurological disorders as keywords. Methodological quality was assessed using a pre-existing checklist. Data about the magnitude of the placebo effect were extracted from the included reviews and were commented in a narrative form. Results: 11 articles were included in this review. Placebo treatments showed weak effects in central neuropathic pain (pain reduction from 0.44 to 0.66 on a 0-10 scale) and moderate effects in postherpetic neuralgia (1.16), in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (1.45), and in pain associated to HIV (1.82). Moderate effects were also found on pain due to fibromyalgia and migraine; only weak short-term effects were found in complex regional pain syndrome. Confounding variables might have influenced these results. Clinical implications: These estimates should be interpreted with caution, but underscore that the placebo effect can be exploited in neurorehabilitation programs. It is not necessary to conceal its use from the patient. Knowledge of placebo mechanisms can be used to shape the doctor-patient relationship, to reduce the use of analgesic drugs and to train the patient to become an active agent of the therapy

Trace elements in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hemodialysis patients are at risk for deficiency of essential trace elements and excess of toxic trace elements, both of which can affect health. We conducted a systematic review to summarize existing literature on trace element status in hemodialysis patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All studies which reported relevant data for chronic hemodialysis patients and a healthy control population were eligible, regardless of language or publication status. We included studies which measured at least one of the following elements in whole blood, serum, or plasma: antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, tellurium, thallium, vanadium, and zinc. We calculated differences between hemodialysis patients and controls using the differences in mean trace element level, divided by the pooled standard deviation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 128 eligible studies. Available data suggested that levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and vanadium were higher and that levels of selenium, zinc and manganese were lower in hemodialysis patients, compared with controls. Pooled standard mean differences exceeded 0.8 standard deviation units (a large difference) higher than controls for cadmium, chromium, vanadium, and lower than controls for selenium, zinc, and manganese. No studies reported data on antimony, iodine, tellurium, and thallium concentrations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Average blood levels of biologically important trace elements were substantially different in hemodialysis patients, compared with healthy controls. Since both deficiency and excess of trace elements are potentially harmful yet amenable to therapy, the hypothesis that trace element status influences the risk of adverse clinical outcomes is worthy of investigation.</p

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Continuità d'uso e restauri antichi nei mosaici pavimentali delle Terme del Sileno, della Caupona del dio Pan e del Caseggiato delle due scale a Ostia antica

International audienc

Un nuovo sectile policromo dalle Terme del Sileno nel quartiere fuori porta Marina a Ostia

National audienc

Nuovi dati e argomenti per Ostia tardoantica dal Progetto Ostia Marina

Nuove ricerche condotte dal Dipartimento di Storia, Culture e Civiltà dell’Università di Bologna nell’ambito del « Progetto Ostia Marina » sono attualmente in corso nel quartiere fuori porta Marina dell'antica città costiera di Roma, un settore extraurbano che sta rivelando un notevole potenziale informativo. È stato per ora possibile documentare diversi momenti della vita della città (I-VI sec. d.C.), così come i tempi di abbandono e di decomposizione del tessuto urbano (VII-XVIII sec.). Il fronte mare era caratterizzato dal passaggio della via « consolare » Severiana, già per lungo tratto documentata dagli scavi del Novecento. Nel settore A, isolato IV, ix, dello scavo attualmente in corso è stato rinvenuto un « balneum » pubblico di grandi proporzioni, detto « del Sileno » dalla maschera scolpita su un frammento di fregio dionisiaco rinvenuto nel 2011. L’edificio è stato incisivamente ristrutturato nella seconda metà del IV secolo. Il settore B comprende un grande complesso edilizio (il c.d. Caseggiato lungo via della Marciana, IV, IX) di età adrianea (post 134 d.C., sulla base dei bolli di Serviano III trovati in opera), con varie fasi di vita che si estendono fino al V sec. d.C. Le ricerche si sono concentrate su un grande vano, frazionato in epoca severiana e utilizzato come esercizio commerciale, tra IV e V secolo occupato da una o più officine (ergasteria) probabilmente specializzate in attività metallurgiche. L’eccezionale numero di monete bronzee di piccolo taglio rinvenute sembra sottendere la particolare intensità degli scambi al minuto.A new and very relevant bulk of informations is coming from the researches currently being carried out by the Department of History, Cultures and Civilizations of the University of Bologna, as part of the « Ostia Marina Project », developing in these years in the neighborhood outside Porta Marina (a gate of the ancient city), a suburban area that is proving to be a significant potential of archaeological data. For now it has been possible to record the different moments of the life of Ostia (Ist-VIth cent. AD), and also the time of abandonment and decomposition of the urban structures (VIIth-XVIIIth century). The sea front was characterized by the via Severiana, already documented by the twentieth-century excavations. In area A, block IV, IX, the excavations have revealed a new public « balneum », which takes now its name from the mask of Silenus carved in a dionysiac frieze fragment discovered in 2011. The building was significantly renovated in the second half of the IV century. The area B includes a large building complex (the so-called « House along the street of Marciana », IV, ix) of Hadrian’s age (post 134 AD, according to the stamps of Servianus III found in the masonry) with various stages of life extending up to the V century. The researches focused on a large building, that in the Severan period was divided and used as a shop, and occupied between IV and V century by one or more workshops (ergasteria) specialized perhaps in metallurgical activities. The exceptional discovery of a large number of small bronze coins seems to underlie the particular intensity of the exchanges by retail