Barriers to and Facilitators of Help-Seeking Behavior Among Men Who Experience Sexual Violence

Research on sexual violence and related support services access has mainly focused on female victims; there is still a remarkable lack of research on men who experience sexual violence. Research demonstrates that people who both self-identify as men and are members of sexual-orientation minority populations are at higher risk of sexual violence. They are also less likely to either report or seek support services related to such experiences. The present study is an exploratory one aimed at filling the gap in the literature and better understanding how men, both straight and gay as well as cisgender and transgender, conceptualize, understand, and seek help related to sexual violence. A sample of 32 men was recruited on-line and participated in either a one-on-one in-depth interview (N = 19) or one of two focus group discussions (N = 13). All interviews and groups were audiotaped, professionally transcribed and coded using NVivo 9 qualitative software. The present analysis focused on barriers to and facilitators of support service access. Emergent and cross-cutting themes were identified and presented, with an emphasis on understanding what factors may prevent disclosure of a sexual violence experience and facilitate seeking support services and/or professional help. Through this analysis, the research team aims to add knowledge to inform the development of tools to increase service access and receipt, for use by both researchers and service professionals. Although this study contributes to the understanding of the issue of men’s experiences of sexual violence, more research with diverse populations is needed

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

Reti epistolari tra Medioevo e Rinascimento: per una edizione in XML-TEI del “Formulario di petitioni, responsioni e repplicationi per Astorre II Manfredi, signore di Faenza” di Bartolomeo Miniatore

peer reviewe

A Double Burial from Shahr-I Sokhta Necropolis (Iran). Bioarcheological Investigations and Non-Invasive Biotechnological Studies on Fragments of Human Remains

The archaeological site of Shahr-i Sokhta, in the Sistan region of south-eastern Iran, is noted for the exceptional preservation of human remains documented in its necropolis. This report describes the results of a non-destructive multidisciplinary investigation into a double burial excavated at Shahr-i Sokhta, preserving two skeletons of subadults. The first part of this study provides an archaeotanatological and bioarchaeological description of the burial. Next, we detail the results of the biotechnological techniques applied to bone fragments pertaining to the femurs of the buried children. Following a non-destructive process for studying these samples, we employ a micromolecular technique based on morphological observation using optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. This molecular analysis of the bone fragments proves the presence of organic compounds such as tubulin. Through these investigations, we demonstrate that it is possible, utilizing only a few grams of sample, to obtain useful details for scientific research based on non-destructive interdisciplinary investigations

Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: New insights in cardiac mechanics and exercise capacity

Background: Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and right ventricular (RV) dilatation and disfunction are common in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (r-TOF).Aims: To compare Echo datawith the gold standard CMR in a paediatric population of r-TOFwith significant PR, to assess the reliability of standard and advanced echo parameters. In addition, to evaluate their correlation with peak oxygen consumption (VO2).Methods and results: All patients underwent standard echo-Doppler study, speckle tracking analysis, and CMR to assess PR and RV size and function. Thirty-six patients underwent also cardiopulmonary exercise test. Fourty-six patients (aged 13.7 +/- 3.0) were included. Echo derived RV areas correlated with CMR RV volumes (p = 150 ml/m(2). RVEF was preserved in all patients, while TAPSE was reduced in 78.2% and RVGLS in 60.8%. Flow-reversal in pulmonary branches showed a sensitivity of 95.8% and a specificity of 59.1% to identify CMRpulmonary regurgitant fraction (RF) = 35%. None of the CMRparameters correlated with peak VO2. Among the Echo data only right atrial strain (RAS) correlated with peak VO2.Conclusion: In children, flow-reversal in pulmonary branches identifies hemodynamically significant RF with a good sensitivity but poor specificity. RV area by echocardiogramis a valid first-line parameter to screen RV dilation. RV longitudinal systolic dysfunction coexistswith a still preserved EF. RAS correlates stronglywith peak VO2 and should be added in their follow up. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: New insights in cardiac mechanics and exercise capacity

Background: Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and right ventricular (RV) dilatation and disfunction are common in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (r-TOF).Aims: To compare Echo datawith the gold standard CMR in a paediatric population of r-TOFwith significant PR, to assess the reliability of standard and advanced echo parameters. In addition, to evaluate their correlation with peak oxygen consumption (VO2).Methods and results: All patients underwent standard echo-Doppler study, speckle tracking analysis, and CMR to assess PR and RV size and function. Thirty-six patients underwent also cardiopulmonary exercise test. Fourty-six patients (aged 13.7 +/- 3.0) were included. Echo derived RV areas correlated with CMR RV volumes (p = 150 ml/m(2). RVEF was preserved in all patients, while TAPSE was reduced in 78.2% and RVGLS in 60.8%. Flow-reversal in pulmonary branches showed a sensitivity of 95.8% and a specificity of 59.1% to identify CMRpulmonary regurgitant fraction (RF) = 35%. None of the CMRparameters correlated with peak VO2. Among the Echo data only right atrial strain (RAS) correlated with peak VO2.Conclusion: In children, flow-reversal in pulmonary branches identifies hemodynamically significant RF with a good sensitivity but poor specificity. RV area by echocardiogramis a valid first-line parameter to screen RV dilation. RV longitudinal systolic dysfunction coexistswith a still preserved EF. RAS correlates stronglywith peak VO2 and should be added in their follow up. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Alexandra Kollontaï: Stato comunista e liberazione femminile

In this article one of the most important yet least examined protagonists of the October revolution, Alexandra Kollontaï, will be introduced. She was the only woman in Lenin’s government and her reforms modified structures of female subordination, dating back thousands of years, within the young Soviet Republic. Alexandra Kollontaï’s reflections on female emancipation will thus be illustrated, as well as her initial project for women’s economic freedom, more specifically her developments regarding work, family and the state. To do this, her text “La famille et l’État communiste” will be analysed. The historical period taken into consideration corresponds to the first years of the young Soviet Republic, from the regime’s consolidation until Stalinisation. The first paragraph will discuss paid work as an instrument of female emancipation; the second will focus on housework and on the idea of a new family and state structure; at the end the difficulties observed by Kollontaï and the problem of Kollontaï’s legacy will be analyzed

Clinical presentation and long-term outcomes of infantile hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a European multicentre study

Aims: Children presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in infancy are reported to have a poor prognosis, but this heterogeneous group has not been systematically characterized. This study aimed to describe the aetiology, phenotype, and outcomes of infantile HCM in a well-characterized multicentre European cohort. Methods and results: Of 301 children diagnosed with infantile HCM between 1987 and 2019 presenting to 17 European centres [male n = 187 (62.1%)], underlying aetiology was non-syndromic (n = 138, 45.6%), RASopathy (n = 101, 33.6%), or inborn error of metabolism (IEM) (n = 49, 16.3%). The most common reasons for presentation were symptoms (n = 77, 29.3%), which were more prevalent in those with syndromic disease (n = 62, 61.4%, P &lt; 0.001), and an isolated murmur (n = 75, 28.5%). One hundred and sixty-one (53.5%) had one or more co-morbidities. Genetic testing was performed in 163 (54.2%) patients, with a disease-causing variant identified in 115 (70.6%). Over median follow-up of 4.1 years, 50 (16.6%) underwent one or more surgical interventions; 15 (5.0%) had an arrhythmic event (6 in the first year of life); and 48 (15.9%) died, with an overall 5 year survival of 85%. Predictors of all-cause mortality were an underlying diagnosis of IEM [hazard ratio (HR) 4.4, P = 0.070], cardiac symptoms (HR 3.2, P = 0.005), and impaired left ventricular systolic function (HR 3.0, P = 0.028). Conclusions: This large, multicentre study of infantile HCM describes a complex cohort of patients with a diverse phenotypic spectrum and clinical course. Although overall outcomes were poor, this was largely related to underlying aetiology emphasizing the importance of comprehensive aetiological investigations, including genetic testing, in infantile HCM.</p