Low dose of Rotigotine in post-stroke patients with vascular parkinsonism and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, effects on quality of life and rehabilitation therapy

Stroke is a frequent cause of disability in U.S.A. (200.000/ year). Aim: The aim of this study is to underline the effect of low dose of Rotigotine patches 2 mg/24 h, a complete dopamine agonist with continuous dopaminergic stimulation through the transdermal administration, in elderly with recent stroke and vascular Parkinsonism about quality of life and adherence to rehabilitation therapy. Methods: We have enrolled 6 elderly patients (3 males and 3 females, range age 60 – 95 years) with recent ischemic and vascular Parkinsonism. We have evaluated quality of life and cognitive function with UPDRS part III, MMSE, ADL, IADL and Morinsky Scale. At the same time we have evaluated the adherence to therapy and timing of rehabilitation therapy before and post-administration of Rotigotine 2 mg/24 hours. Conclusion: In conclusion, Rotigotine could be a new useful approach in the treatment of elderly patients with recent ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke correlated with vascular Parkinsonism which can lead to an akinesia with the need to start rehabilitation therapy. Our preliminary data gives comfortable results but, at this time, we have enrolled only few patients to give conclusive results

Identification of a panel of tumor-associated antigens from breast carcinoma cell lines, solid tumors and testis cDNA libraries displayed on lambda phage

BACKGROUND: Tumor-associated antigens recognized by humoral effectors of the immune system are a very attractive target for human cancer diagnostics and therapy. Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to molecular definition of immunogenic tumor proteins based on their reactivity with autologous patient sera (SEREX). METHODS: Several high complexity phage-displayed cDNA libraries from breast carcinomas, human testis and breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 were constructed. The cDNAs were expressed in the libraries as fusion to bacteriophage lambda protein D. Lambda-displayed libraries were efficiently screened with sera from patients with breast cancer. RESULTS: A panel of 21 clones representing 18 different antigens, including eight proteins of unknown function, was identified. Three of these antigens (T7-1, T11-3 and T11-9) were found to be overexpressed in tumors as compared to normal breast. A serological analysis of the 21 different antigens revealed a strong cancer-related profile for at least five clones (T6-2, T6-7, T7-1, T9-21 and T9-27). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results indicate that patient serum reactivity against five of the antigens is associated with tumor disease. The novel T7-1 antigen, which is overexpressed in breast tumors and recognized specifically by breast cancer patient sera, is potentially useful in cancer diagnosis

A Transmission Power Self-Optimization Technique for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are generally used to monitor hazardous events in inaccessible areas. Thus, on one hand, it is preferable to assure the adoption of the minimum transmission power in order to extend as much as possible the WSNs lifetime. On the other hand, it is crucial to guarantee that the transmitted data is correctly received by the other nodes. Thus, trading off power optimization and reliability insurance has become one of the most important concerns when dealing with modern systems based on WSN. In this context, we present a transmission power self-optimization (TPSO) technique for WSNs. The TPSO technique consists of an algorithm able to guarantee the connectivity as well as an equally high quality of service (QoS), concentrating on the WSNs efficiency (Ef), while optimizing the transmission power necessary for data communication. Thus, the main idea behind the proposed approach is to trade off WSNs Ef against energy consumption in an environment with inherent noise. Experimental results with different types of noise and electromagnetic interference (EMI) have been explored in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the TPSO technique

Organizzare la rete ospedaliera aziendale: costruzione e applicazione di un modello teorico

Nowadays, the organizational development of hospital networks is an important topic for policy makers, managers, and researchers, due to the epidemiological and demographical changes, the technological evolution and the concentration of larger caseloads in order to improving specialization. Moreover, since nineties the merger of hospitals is been an important phenomena in Italy. These mergers have contributed to create Hospital Trust with more hospitals, consequently the healthcare managers need logics and tools to analyze and organize their hospital networks. The aim of this paper is to suggest a methodological framework for the analysis of the hospital networks and for change management. This framework is applied to a case study: a Hospital Trust in Lombardy with a network of five hospitals. The implications for management theory and professional practice are discussed

Organizzare la rete ospedaliera aziendale: costruzione e applicazione di un modello teorico

Il presente lavoro di ricerca propone un modello di riferimento per l’analisi e la mappatura della rete ospedaliera aziendale e per la gestione del processo di accompagnamento al fine della riprogettazione condivisa delle nuove soluzioni a rete. Tale modello è stato applicato alla rimodulazione della rete ospedaliera di un’AO multipresidio presente in regione Lombardia: l’AO “Ospedale di Circolo” di Melegnano. I risultati messi in luce da tale analisi non vogliono in alcun modo dare giudizi di valore sull’azienda stessa, le cui condizioni di contesto – come si vedrà durante la trattazione – ne caratterizzano l’operato, ma sono rilevanti per comprendere efficacemente come modelli teorici di analisi e riprogettazione delle reti ospedaliere possano essere tradotti in pratica e risultare particolarmente utili per i manager delle Aziende Sanitarie Pubbliche

HRV and BIA in healthy young vegetarian people

.The Western diet is one of the leading causes of the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and intractable diseases. For these reasons, there has been increased interest in vegetarian diets. A number of studies have been conducted on long-term vegetarian dietary habits, and several studies have reported that a long-term vegetarian diet reduces death rate, helps regulate diabetes, and reduces the incidence and mortality associated with vascular disease. The term “vegetarian diet” is rather generic, because it actually refers to four types of diet: semi-vegetarian which excludes meat intake; lacto-ovo-vegetarian excludes meat and seafood; lacto-vegetarian excludes meat, seafood, and eggs, except milk and dairy products; and vegan excludes all foods of animal origin. Thus, vegan diet is probably the “true” vegetarian diet. vegetarian diets may play a beneficial role in promoting health and preventing obesity. However, there are conflicting results in the literature on HRV and body composition in people taking an omnivorous diet and those who take a vegetarian diet. The aim of our study is to evaluate the HRV with linear and non linear methods and the body composition analyzed by bioimpedentiometric method (BIA). We enrolled 17 young man: 9 on free diet (age 27±0.85 years) and 8 vegetarian/vegan (age 30±1.53 years) who have been following this diet for a minimum of six months. We did not include people with the following conditions: Body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2; smokers, systolic and or diastolic blood pressure >140/90 mmHg (at rest); cardiac diseases; sportsman. Data collection was performed, between 11 and 14 AM, at a room temperature between 21°C and 25°C. Volunteers were instructed not to ingest alcohol and caffeine for 24 h prior to evaluation. Protocol: After 10 rest minutes we recorded a ECG for 5 minutes. Using dedicated software (Cardiolab – Xai Medica) we analysed the HRV indexes in the time and frequency domain; with the Kubios software we analysed the non linear indexes (Poincaré plot and Detrended Fluctuation analysis – DFA). The second step was the measurement of body composition with bioimpedentiometry (Akern). Standard statistical methods. We used the T-test. Differences was considered significant when the probability of a Type I error was less than 5% (P < 0.05). We used the software SigmaStat 3.5. Data are expressed as mean ± ESM. Results: We reported only the data in which there is a significant difference between the control and the vegetarian group. HRV: LF (nu) 53.23 ± 5.36 vs 69.91 ± 5.47; HF 46.71 ± 5.35 vs 26.44 ± 4.82; LF/HF 1.46 ± 0.38 vs 5.02 ± 2.12; Poincarè Plot: SD2/SD1 1.84 ± 0.14 vs 2.38 ± 0.39; DFA: α1 1.00 ± 0.06 vs α1 1.21 ± 0.10. BIA: ICW 57.60 ± 0.73 vs 54.98 ± 0.54; ECW 42.44 ± 0.73 vs 45.06 ± 0.55; BCM 57.38 ± 0.82 vs 54.60 ± 0.57. In the frequency domain our data shows that there is a significant difference in the LF/HF in vegetarians when compared to control subjects. This fact is due to both a significant increase in LF and a significant decrease in HF oscillatory components. These data indicate an increase of sympathetic modulation to sinus node confirmed also by the non linear analysis of HRV. In fact the Poincarè plot SD2/SD1 ratio is significantly higher, and a significant increase of alpha1 index, using the DFA in the vegetarian people was noticed. That condition is a charming feedback in the data of the bioimpedentiometry. In vegetarian subjects we observed a significant ECW increase and concomitant significant ICW decrease, confirmed by the BCM (body cell mass), higher in the control group. We propose to measure the inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases like reactive C protein, IL-6, TNF-alfa, IL-1 beta, IL17beta. These cytokines will be measured on frozen serum, withdrawn from enrolled subjects in this study

As plantas medicinais no Centro Agrícola Demonstrativo de Porto Alegre

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As plantas medicinais no Centro Agrícola Demonstrativo de Porto Alegre

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