Concordanza inter-individuale nella misurazione dei parametri clinici parodontali = Inter-examiner concordance in periodontal clinical parameters measurements

OBIETTIVI L\u2019obiettivo dello studio \ue8 stato quello di valutare la riproducibilit\ue0 della misurazione dei parametri clinici parodontali rilevati da due operatori con diversi livelli di esperienza in materia di parodontite. MATERIALI E METODI Le misure dei parametri clinici parodontali (PD, REC, CAL, coinvolgimento delle forcazioni e mobilit\ue0 dentale) sono state rilevate da due esaminatori nello stesso quadrante dei medesimi soggetti. RISULTATI Sono stati valutati 22 pazienti. La Kappa di Cohen ha dimostrato una modesta concordanza (0,376) nell\u2019identificazione di un sito con profondit\ue0 di sondaggio uguale o superiore a 4 mm, e una moderata concordanza nell\u2019identificazione di un dente con almeno un sito con profondit\ue0 di sondaggio uguale o superiore a 4 mm. CONCLUSIONI Considerando i risultati di questo studio, \ue8 possibile osservare una moderata concordanza tra i due esaminatori nell\u2019identificazione dei siti con perdita di attacco clinico.OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the reproducibility of periodontal clinical parameters measurements taken by two operators with different level of experience in subjects with periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Measures about periodontal clinical parameters (PD, REC, CAL, furcation involvement and tooth mobility) were taken by two examiners on the same quadrant of the same subjects. RESULTS Twenty-Two patients were evaluated in the study. The Cohen's Kappa showed a fair agreement (0.376) in the identification of one site with probing depth equal or higher than 4 mm, and a moderate agreement in the identification of one tooth with at least one site with probing depth equal or higher than 4 mm. CONCLUSIONS Considering the results of the present investigation, a moderate concordance in identifying sites with clinical attachment loss could be found between the two examiners

Secondary cytoreduction plus oxaliplatin-based HIPEC in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients: A pilot study

Objectives: To assess feasibility, complications and efficacy of secondary surgical cytoreduction (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in a selected group of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients. Methods: Recurrent ovarian cancer patients with a platinum-free interval of at least 6 months were prospectively enrolled. After complete CRS they were submitted to intraperitoneal perfusion of oxaplatinum (460 mg/m2) heated to 41.5 °C for 30 min. Then they received systemic chemotherapy with taxotere 75 mg/m2 and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 for 6 cycles. Patients were followed up routinely until recurrence or death. Results: Twenty-five recurrent ovarian cancer patients were valuable for the study. The median Platinum Free Interval (PFI) was 25 months (range 7-67). The majority of the patients (76%) had diffuse carcinosis. Nobody had ascites. An optimal residual disease was obtained in all patients. The median duration of CRS + HIPEC was 312 min (range138-619). Median intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 2 days (1-6), median hospital stay was 13 days (7-30). Post-operative major complications were observed in 7 patients (28%). Post-operative mortality was 0%. With a median follow-up time of 18 months (range 3-38), 24 patients (96%) are alive, but seven women (28%) have relapsed. Conclusions: Adequate pre-operative selection can improve feasibility of CRS and HIPEC. Morbidity rate is comparable to aggressive cytoreduction without HIPEC. Although associated with some post-operative morbidity, long-term results are encouraging, waiting for larger series and longer follow-up data. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Secondary cytoreduction plus oxaliplatin-based HIPEC in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients: a pilot study

To assess feasibility, complications and efficacy of secondary surgical cytoreduction (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in a selected group of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients

Parabolic trough demonstrator for high temperature solar energy in sardinia using gas as heat transfer fluid

ESTATE Lab (Laboratorio per l’Energia Solare Termica ad Alta Temperatura) project is aimed towards building up a laboratory for the development of high temperature concentrated solar technologies in Sardinia, Italy. The main purpose of the R&D activities is the construction of a demonstration plant for the production and storage of energy at 550°C by means of sun-heated gaseous fluids. The plant will be built in the industrial area of Macchiareddu, nearby Cagliari and mainly consists of two 100 m. lines of parabolic trough collectors and one thermocline pebble-bed energy storage for each line. The Estate Lab project demonstrator will be developed in order to prove the good findings of the research activities and to validate the expected results. The optimisation of the system will be also investigated for a proper scale up of the plant to a commercial size for bulk electricity production. This paper presents the key technical data of the experimental facility and the significant and innovative aspects of the project

Neutrophil migration into the placenta: Good, bad or deadly?

Almost 2 decades have passed since the discovery that pregnancy is associated with a basal inflammatory state involving neutrophil activation, and that this is more overt in cases with preeclampsia, than in instances with sepsis. This pivotal observation paved the way for our report, made almost a decade ago, describing the first involvement of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in a non-infectious human pathology, namely preeclampsia, where an abundance of these structures were detected directly in the placental intervillous space. Despite these remarkable findings, there remains a paucity of interest among reproductive biologists in further exploring the role or involvement of neutrophils in pregnancy and related pathologies. In this review we attempt to redress this deficit by highlighting novel recent findings including the discovery of a novel neutrophil subset in the decidua, the interaction of placental protein 13 (PP13) and neutrophils in modulating spiral artery modification, as well as the use of animal model systems to elucidate neutrophil function in implantation, gestation and parturition. These model systems have been particularly useful in identifying key components implicated in recurrent fetal loss, preeclampsia or new signaling molecules such as sphingolipids. Finally, the recent discovery that anti-phospolipid antibodies can trigger NETosis, supports our hypothesis that these structures may contribute to placental dysfunction in pertinent cases with recurrent fetal loss