Hot-Wire Method for Kinematic Viscosity Estimation

This paper explores the characterization of thermal and momentum diffusion properties of condensed phase biological fluids. The widely used transient hot-wire technique for determination of thermal diffusion properties is proposed here to investigate also the apparent kinematic viscosity of fluids with the apparatus commonly adopted for thermal conductivity and/or thermal diffusivity determination. The undesired onset of convection in the determination of thermal diffusion properties is in this case the useful effect measured at the wire-fluid interface. From a theoretical point of view, the onset of convection time at a given vertical position along the wire has been related to the Prandtl number, and the reliability of the kinematic viscosity has been studied and preliminarily tested in the case of wate

DO NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL COGNITION ABILITIES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA CHANGE AFTER INTENSIVE COGNITIVE TRAINING? A PILOT STUDY

Objective: Schizophrenia is characterized by significant cognitive deficits on attention, memory, executive function, language and/or sensory motor skills. In addition, patients’ profile is frequently characterized by marked deficits in the domain of social cognition. Cognitive rehabilitation aims has recently become an essential component of the rehabilitation process in schizophrenia. However, to date is not clear whether cognitive rehabilitation impacts positively only on the cognitive deficits specifically trained, or whether the positive effects of rehabilitation training may extend also to other domains such as social cognition abilities. Thus, in the present pilot study, we wanted to see whether an intensive cognitive training, in addition to improving neuropsychological abilities, would also have had an impact on social cognition skills. Method: Ten patients affected by schizophrenia were randomly assigned to two groups: a treatment group (n = 5) undergoing an intensive computerized cognitive training, and a control group (n = 5) undergoing an unstructured computerized control intervention. A detailed neuropsychological, clinical, functional and social cognition assessment was performed before and after the intervention for all the patients. Results: A significant longitudinal effect in the treatment group was found for the BACS verbal memory (p = 0.016), and for the comic strip task – non-social (p = 0.032). A trend towards a significant effect was found for the FAB (p = 0.056). Single-case analysis via modified t-test was conducted too. Conclusions: Our preliminary results showed a significant improvement in the cognitive domain after a structured cognitive training. In addition, an improvement in some social cognition abilities was observed too, even if the impact of the cognitive intervention on these abilities was less evident. Implications for further research were discussed

Phase II study of pemetrexed in combination with carboplatin in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)

none15Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of pemetrexed and carboplatin combination as first-line chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Patients and methods: Patients with measurable advanced MPM and a zero to two Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) were enrolled. The schedule was pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 in combination with carboplatin area under the curve 5, every 21 days. In all, 76 patients were treated. Median age was 65 years; median ECOG PS was zero. Results: Grade 3 hematological toxicity according to World Health Organization criteria was seen in 36 (47.3%) patients; grade 4 hematological toxicity in 5 (6.5%) patients. There were 16 (21%) partial responses and 3 (4%) complete responses, for an overall response rate of 19 (25%) [95% confidence interval (CI) 15.3–34.7]. In all, 29 (39%) (95% CI 28–48) patients reported stable disease. The median survival was estimated at 14 months. Conclusion: This combination of carboplatin and pemetrexed is moderately active and the toxicity is acceptable.Castagneto B; Botta M; Aitini E; Spigno F; Degiovanni D; Alabiso O; Serra M; Muzio A; Carbone R; Buosi R; Galbusera V; Piccolini E; Giaretto L; Rebella L; Mencoboni M.Castagneto, B; Botta, M; Aitini, E; Spigno, Fabio; Degiovanni, D; Alabiso, O; Serra, M; Muzio, A; Carbone, R; Buosi, R; Galbusera, V; Piccolini, E; Giaretto, L; Rebella, L; Mencoboni, M