Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes: the glycalock study

Aim: To assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown on glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods: In this observational, multicentre, retrospective study conducted in the Lazio region, Italy, we compared the differences in the HbA1c levels of 141 subjects with T2D exposed to lockdown with 123 matched controls with T2D who attended the study centres 1 year before. Basal data were collected from 9 December to 9 March and follow-up data from 3 June to 10 July in 2020 for the lockdown group, and during the same timeframes in 2019 for the control groups. Changes in HbA1c (ΔHbA1c) and body mass index (ΔBMI) during lockdown were compared among patients with different psychological well-being, as evaluated by tertiles of the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBS). Results: No difference in ΔHbA1c was found between the lockdown and control groups (lockdown group −0.1% [−0.5%−0.3%] vs. control group −0.1% [−0.4%−0.2%]; p =.482). Also, no difference was found in ΔBMI (p =.316) or ΔGlucose (p =.538). In the lockdown group, subjects with worse PGWBS showed a worsening of HbA1c (p =.041 for the trend among PGWBS tertiles) and BMI (p =.022). Conclusions: The COVID-19 lockdown did not significantly impact glycaemic control in people with T2D. People with poor psychological well-being may experience a worsening a glycaemic control because of restrictions resulting from lockdown. These findings may aid healthcare providers in diabetes management once the second wave of COVID-19 has ended

Incidence of parasitoids and predators on eggs of seven species of Therididae (Araneae)

Although many characteristics of the egg sacs of spiders likely evolved to reduce the effect of parasites and predators that attack their eggs, many parasite and predator insects have become specialized on spider eggs. Eggs of six of the seven species of Theridiidae included in this study were attacked by wasp parasites (Baeus achaearaneus, Idris sp., and Comastichus zopheros), and two by the specialized spider egg predator (Neuroptera: Zeugomantispa minuta). The incidence of parasites in the egg sacs varied across species. Parasites attacked more than 60% of the egg sacs of Tidarren sisyphoides and Parasteatoda tepidariorum, but none of the sacs of Latrodectus geometricus. The incidence of parasites in the egg sacs was higher during the dry season for T. sisyphoides, and during the rainy season for P. tepidariorum. The proportion of the eggs parasitized per egg sac varied from 0.09 (± 0.19) in Nesticodes rufipes to 0.50 (± 0.46) in T. sisyphoides. Differences in the biology of parasites, as well as in the structure of spider webs and hábitat preference of spiders, may influence the incidence of parasitism and proportion of eggs parasitized in each egg sac.Vicerrectoría de InvestigaciónUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

MILANO: LE DUE “MANICHE” DI SMISTAMENTO DELLO SCALO FARINI E IL LORO RIUSO A SEDE DELL’ACCADEMIA DI BRERA

The quest for a new extension of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan found an interesting localization in an big old industrial building of the early 20th century placed in the center of the former Farini marshalling field of the Italian Ferrovie dello Stato, now interested of a process of urban reform and regeneration. This type of building, with a beautiful concrete frame structure, was evoked by Camillo Boito in an his desire for a big “capannone”. It is the subject of a project of architectural preservation and renewal to introduce in it new spaces for the academy of fine arts, for teaching, exhibition and services. The project implies theoretical issues related to the idea of restoration and the design of new additions

Balloon dilation in the management of severe airway stenosis in children and adolescents

Background/Purpose Children and adolescents with airway stenosis pose a clinical challenge. Recently, balloon dilation has been described, primarily for the treatment of early, immature, less severe airway stenosis. We describe our experience with 8 children and adolescents managed with balloon dilation, including severe, mature subglottic and tracheal stenosis. Methods This is a case series of 8 children and adolescents with acquired subglottic and tracheal stenosis treated by the primary author with balloon dilation between August 2006 and April 2010 at an academic tertiary care center. In the four patients who were tracheotomy-dependent at the time of presentation, suprastomal stents or Montgomery T-tubes were used. In 1 patient with 99% subglottic stenosis (SGS), balloon dilation and stenting were used to create a lumen prior to laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR). Results All 4 patients with tracheotomy were decannulated. The remaining 4 patients were successfully managed without tracheotomy. Conclusions Mature, severe laryngeal and tracheal stenosis in pediatric patients can be successfully managed with balloon dilation. In the most severe cases with prior tracheotomy, stenting is necessary. Balloon dilation with stenting can also facilitate LTR. In patients without prior tracheotomy, tracheotomy and stenting can often be safely avoided with appropriate postoperative management

OCULAR INVOLVEMENT IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA - AN ECHOGRAPHIC STUDY

We report a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with ocular involvement in which bilateral swelling of the optic disk head was noticed. Massive direct infiltration of the optic nerve head by leukemic cells can give rise to a clinical picture identical to that of a true papilledema. Ocular echography allowed a better and more complete interpretation of the optic disk involvement. No echographic description of a leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve head has been reported previously

Proposta di metodo per la raccolta e la gestione dei dati sui materiali da costruzione negli strumenti di pianificazione per i centri storici. il caso di Palazzolo Acreide

Lo studio, pluridisciplinare, fa parte di un progetto Murst indirizzato al progetto di un sistema informativo per la gestione dei piani di recupero di centri antichi. Nello specifico, partendo da uno dei casi campione assunti, il centro storico di Palazzolo Acreide, partendo da rilievi, studi e più specifiche caratterizzazioni, si sono voluti mettere in evidenza alcuni caratteri e denominatori comuni utile alla conoscenza per la gestione e la pianificazione dei lavori nei centri storici