Marbodo di Rennes, Lapidari. La magia delle pietre preziose

L’ouvrage offre la première traduction italienne (publiée à partir de l’édition critique présentée par J.M. Riddle, 1977) et le commentaire du De lapidibus et de trois autres brefs lapidaires rédigés par Marbode de Rennes (deux en prose et un en vers). Le De lapidibus est un petit poème didactique en 732 hexamètres latins divisé en soixante chapitres dédiés aux caractéristiques physiques et aux vertus mystérieuses de soixante pierres précieuses différentes; il a été transmis par plus de deux ..

Le rêve médiéval, Études littéraires réunies par Alain Corbellari et Jean-Yves Tilliette

L’objet des onze études réunies dans cet ouvrage est celui d’analyser la vaste matière onirique de la littérature médiévale sans se contenter de focaliser l’attention sur le rêve lui-même, mais en mettant l’accent sur les rêveurs (réels ou fictifs) et sur les discours qu’ils utilisent pour traduire les images nocturnes venues les visiter avec le but de saisir le passage du “rêve” au “récit de rêve”, ou bien à la “littérature”. Ces articles (issus des contributions aux journées d’étude qui se ..

Fatality rate and predictors of mortality in an Italian cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Clinical features and natural history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) differ widely among different countries and during different phases of the pandemia. Here, we aimed to evaluate the case fatality rate (CFR) and to identify predictors of mortality in a cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted to three hospitals of Northern Italy between March 1 and April 28, 2020. All these patients had a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by molecular methods. During the study period 504/1697 patients died; thus, overall CFR was 29.7%. We looked for predictors of mortality in a subgroup of 486 patients (239 males, 59%; median age 71 years) for whom sufficient clinical data were available at data cut-off. Among the demographic and clinical variables considered, age, a diagnosis of cancer, obesity and current smoking independently predicted mortality. When laboratory data were added to the model in a further subgroup of patients, age, the diagnosis of cancer, and the baseline PaO2/FiO2 ratio were identified as independent predictors of mortality. In conclusion, the CFR of hospitalized patients in Northern Italy during the ascending phase of the COVID-19 pandemic approached 30%. The identification of mortality predictors might contribute to better stratification of individual patient risk

The capture of phosphoproteins by 14-3-3 proteins mediates actions of insulin

How does signalling via PI3K–PKB (AKT)–mTORC1–p70S6K and ERK–p90RSK mediate wide-ranging physiological responses to insulin? Quantitative proteomics and biochemical experiments are revealing that these signalling pathways induce the phosphorylation of large and overlapping sets of proteins, which are then captured by phosphoprotein-binding proteins named 14-3-3s. The 14-3-3s are dimers that dock onto dual-phosphorylated sites in a configuration with special signalling and mechanical properties. They interact with the Rab GTPase-activating proteins AS160 and TBC1D1 to regulate glucose uptake into target tissues in response to insulin and energy stress. Dynamic patterns in the 14-3-3-binding phosphoproteome are providing new insights into how insulin triggers coherent shifts in metabolism that are integrated with other cellular response systems

Simple Parameters from Complete Blood Count Predict In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19

Introduction. The clinical course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly heterogenous, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal forms. The identification of clinical and laboratory predictors of poor prognosis may assist clinicians in monitoring strategies and therapeutic decisions. Materials and Methods. In this study, we retrospectively assessed the prognostic value of a simple tool, the complete blood count, on a cohort of 664 patients (F 260; 39%, median age 70 (56-81) years) hospitalized for COVID-19 in Northern Italy. We collected demographic data along with complete blood cell count; moreover, the outcome of the hospital in-stay was recorded. Results. At data cut-off, 221/664 patients (33.3%) had died and 453/664 (66.7%) had been discharged. Red cell distribution width (RDW) (χ2 10.4; p4.68 was characterized by an odds ratio for in-hospital mortality OR=3.40 (2.40-4.82), while the OR for a RDW>13.7% was 4.09 (2.87-5.83); a platelet count>166,000/μL was, conversely, protective (OR: 0.45 (0.32-0.63)). Conclusion. Our findings arise the opportunity of stratifying COVID-19 severity according to simple lab parameters, which may drive clinical decisions about monitoring and treatment