Identicars: uno strumento per migliorare la resa testimoniale nelle indagini per omissione di soccorso stradale

L’articolo descrive uno studio sperimentale volto a testare l’efficacia dello strumento Identicars, un catalogo di immagini di automobili e di parti di esse ideato per aiutare i testimoni di omissione di soccorso stradale nel compito di riconoscimento dell’auto fuggita senza prestare soccorso. L’ipotesi di partenza dei ricercatori è quella per cui tale strumento dovrebbe aiutare i testimoni a fornire una descrizione più dettagliata e più accurata dell’auto che si è data alla fuga. Nell’articolo verrà dimostrata la potenziale utilità dello strumento Identicars attraverso l’esposizione dei risultati di un esperimento condotto presso l’Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, i cui risultati mostrano un’accuratezza maggiore del resoconto testimoniale per i soggetti che hanno utilizzato Identicars rispetto ai soggetti che hanno fornito un resoconto testimoniale con il metodo tradizionale di assunzione delle informazioni. L’article décrit une étude pilote conçue pour vérifier l’efficacité du système Identicars. Cet outil est un catalogue d’images de voitures et de pièces de voiture créé pour aider les témoins de délits de fuite à reconnaître la voiture en question. L’hypothèse des chercheurs est que cet outil devrait effectivement aider les témoins à fournir des descriptions plus détaillées et précises. Les auteurs veulent démontrer l’utilité potentielle du système Identicars par le biais des résultats obtenus par une expérience réalisée à l’Université de Bologne (Italie). Ces résultats montrent une plus grande qualité du témoignage de la part des personnes qui ont employé l’outil Identicars par rapport à celles qui ont témoigné en employant les méthodes traditionnelles pour obtenir les informations. The article describes a pilot study designed to test the effectiveness of the Identicars system. This tool is a catalogue of images of cars and car parts created to help the witnesses of hit-and-run driving accidents to recognise the car in question. The researcher’s initial concept is that such a tool should help witnesses to provide more detailed and accurate descriptions. The authors will demonstrate the potential usefulness of the Identicars tool through the results achieved by an experiment carried out at the University of Bologna. These results show a greater accuracy of identification by those witnesses who used the Identicars tool in comparison to those who gave evidence using the traditional method for obtaining the information

Takis Zenetos: Electronic Urbanism

Una riflessione sulla odierna condizione di confinamento e di smart working, in relazione al lavoro svolto da Takis Zenetos negli anni '60 del secolo scorso, in particolare all'interno del contributo teorico "Electronic Urbanism"

Bendamustine plus rituximab is an effective first-line treatment in hairy cell leukemia variant: A report of three cases

Hairy cell leukemia variant (HCLv) is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder classified as a provisional entity in the 2016 WHO Classification of Lymphoid Tumors. HCLv is characterized by unfavorable prognosis, low complete remission rates and limited disease control following classical hairy cell leukemia-based regimens. In this study, we report 3 cases of elderly patients with treatment-naive, TP53 un-mutated HCLv, who were effectively treated with four cycles of bendamustine plus rituximab. The regimen was completed in all the patients with acceptable toxicity. All patients achieved a complete clinical response with no evidence of residual disease at bone marrow biopsy and flow-cytometry examination. After a median follow-up of 19 months, the 3 subjects are still in complete remission. In this work, bendamustine plus rituximab proved to be an effective and feasible first-line treatment strategy for elderly patients with TP53 un-mutated HCLv

A novel GRN mutation in an Italian patient with non-fluent variant of primary progressive aphasia at onset: a longitudinal case report

ObjectivesWe report the clinical presentation and evolution of a case with a novel Progranulin gene (GRN) mutation and non-fluent language disturbances at onset.Materials and methodsA 60 year-old, white patient was followed due to a history of language disturbances. Eighteen months after onset, the patient underwent FDG positron emission tomography (PET), and at month 24 was hospitalized to perform neuropsychological evaluation, brain 3 T MRI, lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, and genotyping. At month 31, the patient repeated the neuropsychological evaluation and brain MRI.ResultsAt onset the patient complained prominent language production difficulties, such as effortful speech and anomia. At month 18, FDG-PET showed left fronto-temporal and striatal hypometabolism. At month 24, the neuropsychological evaluation reported prevalent speech and comprehension deficits. Brain MRI reported left fronto-opercular and striatal atrophy, and left frontal periventricular white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Increased CSF total tau level was observed. Genotyping revealed a new GRN c.1018delC (p.H340TfsX21) mutation. The patient received a diagnosis of non-fluent variant of primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). At month 31, language deficits worsened, together with attention and executive functions. The patient presented also with behavioral disturbances, and a progressive atrophy in the left frontal-opercular and temporo-mesial region.Discussion and conclusionThe new GRN p.H340TfsX21 mutation resulted in a case of nfvPPA characterized by fronto-temporal and striatal alterations, typical frontal asymmetric WMHs, and a fast progression toward a widespread cognitive and behavioral impairment, which reflects a frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Our findings extend the current knowledge of the phenotypic heterogeneity among GRN mutation carriers

New System Delivering Microwaves Energy for Inducing Subcutaneous Fat Reduction: In - Vivo Histological and Ultrastructural Evidence

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been developed a new technology for the reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue through a non-invasive treatment by microwaves. The main objective of the present study is to demonstrate the feasibility of utilising a non-invasive, localised microwaves (MW) device to induce thermal modifications into subcutaneous adipose tissue only by a controlled electromagnetic field that heats up fat preferentially. This device is provided with a special handpiece appropriately cooled, directly contacting the cutaneous surface of the body, which provides a calibrated energy transfer by microwaves. AIM: In this paper, microscopic and ultrastructural modifications of subcutaneous adipose tissue induced by microwaves irradiation are evaluated. METHODS: Our experimental plan was designed for collecting biopsy samples, for each skin region treated with a single irradiation session, 1) before treatment (control), 2) immediately after treatment, 3) after 6 hrs, 4) after 1 month, 5) after 2 months. Bioptic samples from each step were processed for light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. At the same time, each region where biopsies were collected was subjected to ultrasound examination. Recorded images permitted to evaluate the thickness of different layers as epidermis, dermis, hypodermis, connective fasciae, until to muscle layer, and related modifications induced by treatment. RESULTS: In every biopsy collected at different time-steps, epidermis and superficial dermis appeared not modified compared to control. Differently, already in the short-term biopsies, in the deep dermis and superficial hypodermis, fibrillar connective tissue appeared modified, showing reduction and fragmentation of interlobular collagen septa. The most important adipose tissue modifications were detectable following 1 month from treatment, with a significant reduction of subcutaneous fat, participating both the lysis of many adipocytes and the related phagocytic action of monocytes/macrophages on residuals of compromised structures of adipocytes. In the samples collected two months following treatment, the remnants of adipose tissue appeared normal, and macrophages were completely absent. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound, microscopic and ultrastructural evidence are supporting significant effectiveness of the new device treatment in the reduction of subcutaneous fat. In this paper, the possible mechanisms involved in the activation of the monocytes/macrophages system responsible for the removal of adipocytes residuals have also been discussed

EoE CONNECT, the European Registry of Clinical, Environmental, and Genetic Determinants in Eosinophilic Esophagitis:rationale, design, and study protocol of a large-scale epidemiological study in Europe

BACKGROUND: The growing prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) represents a considerable burden to patients and health care systems. Optimizing cost-effective management and identifying mechanisms for disease onset and progression are required. However, the paucity of large patient cohorts and heterogeneity of practice hinder the defining of optimal management of EoE. METHODS: EoE CONNECT is an ongoing, prospective registry study initiated in 2016 and currently managed by EUREOS, the European Consortium for Eosinophilic Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Patients are managed and treated by their responsible specialists independently. Data recorded using a web-based system include demographic and clinical variables; patient allergies; environmental, intrapartum, and early life exposures; and family background. Symptoms are structurally assessed at every visit; endoscopic features and histological findings are recorded for each examination. Prospective treatment data are registered sequentially, with new sequences created each time a different treatment (active principle, formulation, or dose) is administered to a patient. EoE CONNECT database is actively monitored to ensure the highest data accuracy and the highest scientific and ethical standards. RESULTS: EoE CONNECT is currently being conducted at 39 centers in Europe and enrolls patients of all ages with EoE. In its aim to increase knowledge, to date EoE CONNECT has provided evidence on the effectiveness of first- and second-line therapies for EoE in clinical practice, the ability of proton pump inhibitors to induce disease remission, and factors associated with improved response. Drug effects to reverse fibrous remodeling and endoscopic features of fibrosis in EoE have also been assessed. CONCLUSION: This prospective registry study will provide important information on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of EoE and evidence as to the real-world and long-term effectiveness and safety of therapy. These data will potentially be a vital benchmark for planning future EoE health care services in Europe