A Geometrical Analysis of the Layout of Acaya, Italy

The analysis of the urban fabric contained within the city walls of the town of Acaya, made possible by a new integrated survey involving manual, topographical, photogrammetric and 3D laserscan techniques, has cast doubts on the conventional attribution of the city layout to Gian Giacomo dell’Acaya. A rectangular layout consisting of six blocks divided by six longitudinal streets and three lateral streets is indicative of a medieval date. The geometrical analysis shows how the site of the ancient town of Salappya was transformed by Charles I d’Anjou in 1273, renaming it Segine, and how, in about 1500, Alfonso dell’Acaya enlarged the city and its walls according to the same proportional criteria. In 1536 Gian Giacomo dell’Acaya succeeded his father as Baron, redesigning the city walls in order to make them suitable lines of defense against firearms, renaming the city Acaya

Home care: a safe and attractive alternative to inpatient administration of intensive chemotherapies.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate feasibility, safety, perception, and costs of home care for the administration of intensive chemotherapies. METHODS: Patients receiving sequential chemotherapy in an inpatient setting, living within 30 km of the hospital, and having a relative to care for them were offered home care treatment. Chemotherapy was administered by a portable, programmable pump via an implantable catheter. The main endpoints were safety, patient's quality of life [Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC)], satisfaction of patients and relatives, and costs. RESULTS: Two hundred days of home care were analysed, representing a total of 46 treatment cycles of intensive chemotherapy in 17 patients. Two cycles were complicated by technical problems that required hospitalisation for a total of 5 days. Three major medical complications (heart failure, angina pectoris, and major allergic reaction) could be managed at home. Grades 1 and 2 nausea and vomiting occurring in 36% of patients could be treated at home. FLIC scores remained constant throughout the study. All patients rated home care as very satisfactory or satisfactory. Patient benefits of home care included increased comfort and freedom. Relatives acknowledged better tolerance and less asthenia of the patient. Home care resulted in a 53% cost benefit compared to hospital treatment (€420 ± 120/day vs. €896 ± 165/day). CONCLUSION: Administration of intensive chemotherapy regimens at home was feasible and safe. Quality of life was not affected; satisfaction of patients and relatives was very high. A psychosocial benefit was observed for patients and relatives. Furthermore, a cost-benefit of home care compared to hospital treatment was demonstrated