Monitoring Biological Damage on Paper-based Documents in the Historical Archive of the Palermo Astronomical Observatory

Libraries and archives house a wide variety of documents made of materials of vegetal and animal origin: unbound papers and books, manuscripts and printed books, photographs (negative and positive), prints, maps, available to the public for reading needs, study and information. These materials are often subject to fluctuations in environmental and micro-environmental parameters. For this reason, it is essential to implement constant monitoring and control of environmental conditions and potential deteriogens in order to slow down deterioration processes.The monitoring of the microbial degradation of paper documents in the Historical Archives of Palermo Astronomical Observatory has revealed microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that may be considered responsible for damaging the items examined, thus enabling an evaluation of the real risks and the proper methodologies to use to avoid future recolonization.Gli archivi e le biblioteche custodiscono diverse tipologie di documenti composti da materiali di origine vegetale e animale: carte sciolte e volumi, sia manoscritti che a stampa, fotografi e (negativi e positivi), mappe, stampe, a disposizione del pubblico per esigenze di lettura, studio e informazione. Questa varietà di materiali sono spesso sottoposti a parametri ambientali e micro-ambientali non costanti. Per questo motivo è fondamentale operare sia un controllo costante delle condizioni ambientali sia un campionamento microbiologico sulla superficie, al fine di rallentare i processi di deterioramento.Il monitoraggio del degrado microbiologico di documenti presenti nell’Archivio Storico dell’Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo ha permesso di rilevare diversi microrganismi (batteri e funghi) che possono essere considerati responsabili del degrado dei documenti analizzati, valutando il reale rischio e le metodologie più idonee per impedire la ricolonizzazione futura

Preparazione di bifenoli naturali funzionalizzati con unità fotosensibili reversibili

Il lavoro di ricerca ha voluto investigare la funzionalizzazione di bifenili naturali al fine di una loro applicazione nel campo dei materiali organici fotosensibili reversibili, appartenenti alla classe delle molecole switches

The therapeutic effects of physical treatment for patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia: a narrative review

BackgroundHereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) encompass a variety of neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by progressive deterioration of walking ability and a high risk for long-term disability. The management of problems associated with HSP, such as stiffness, deformity, muscle contractures, and cramping, requires strict adherence to recommended physiotherapy activity regimes. The aim of this paper is to conduct a critical narrative review of the available evidence focusing exclusively to the therapeutic advantages associated with various forms of physical therapy (PT) in the context of HSP, emphasizing the specific benefit of every distinct approach in relation to muscle relaxation, muscle strength, spasticity reduction, improvement of weakness, enhancement of balance, posture, walking ability, and overall quality of life.MethodsTo conduct a literature review, the databases PubMed, Scopus, and DOAJ (last access in June 2023) were searched.ResultsThe PubMed search returned a total of 230 articles, Scopus returned 218, and DOAJ returned no results. After screening, the final list included 7 papers on PT treatment for HSP patients.ConclusionElectrostimulation, magnetotherapy, hydrotherapy, PT, robot-assisted gait training, and balance rehabilitation have the potential to increase lower extremity strength and decrease spasticity in HSP patients

Clinical Applications of Myocardial Work in Echocardiography: A Comprehensive Review

Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) has recently garnered attention as a reliable and objective method for evaluating LV systolic function. One of the key advantages of GLS is its ability to detect subtle abnormalities even when the ejection fraction (EF) appears to be preserved. However, it is important to note that GLS, much like LVEF, is significantly influenced by load conditions. In recent years, researchers and clinicians have been exploring noninvasive myocardial work (MW) quantification as an innovative tool for assessing myocardial function. This method integrates measurements of strain and LV pressure, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the heart’s performance. Notably, MW offers an advantage over GLS and LVEF because it provides a load‐independent assessment of myocardial performance. The implementation of commercial echocardiographic software that facilitates the noninvasive calculation of MW has significantly broadened the scope of its application. This advanced technology is now being utilized in multiple clinical settings, including ischemic heart disease, valvular diseases, cardiomyopathies, cardio‐oncology, and hypertension. One of the fundamental aspects of MW is its correlation with myocardial oxygen consumption, which allows for the assessment of work efficiency. Understanding this relationship is crucial for diagnosing and managing various cardiac conditions. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the noninvasive assessment of myocardial by echocardiography, from basic principles and methodology to current clinical applications

Management of the vaccination campaign in a population of frail older outpatients affected by cognitive or endocrinological conditions: a pilot study in Italy

Vaccination, particularly against pneumococcus and influenza, is a low-cost primary prevention, useful to avoid hard complications, particularly among frail older people. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the effect of a strategy for influenza and pneumococcal vaccination for outpatients mainly affected by cognitive or endocrinological conditions, evaluating what could stimulate or demotivate vaccination among older people. This study was conducted during the 2023-2024 influenza season at the outpatient clinics in Palermo, Italy. A total 76 patients were included. More than half of the patients could be considered as pre-frail and about 20% frail, according to a comprehensive geriatric evaluation. Among patients, 46.05% received only vaccination against pneumococcus, 28.95% both vaccinations, and 25.0% only against influenza. Compared with the previous seasons, a 19.5% increase of influenza and 90.2% of pneumococcal vaccine uptake was observed. Side effects of vaccination were the main reason of the previous rejection, namely 76.9% for influenza and 53.8% for anti-pneumococcal vaccination. In conclusion, our study indicates how a new vaccination strategy in different settings could be feasible. Proposing influenza and pneumococcal vaccination for frail older outpatients could be an effective instrument to improve immunization coverage that is still low among older people

NUP85 as a Neurodevelopmental Gene: From Podocyte to Neuron

Pathogenic gene variants encoding nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins were previously implicated in the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The NUP85 gene, encoding nucleoporin, is related to a very rare form of SRNS with limited genotype-phenotype information. We identified an Italian boy affected with an SRNS associated with severe neurodevelopmental impairment characterized by microcephaly, axial hypotonia, lack of achievement of motor milestones, and refractory seizures with an associated hypsarrhythmic pattern on electroencephalography. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and a simplified gyration of the cerebral cortex. Since the age of 3 years, the boy was followed up at our Pediatric Nephrology Department for an SRNS, with a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis at renal biopsy. The boy died 32 months after SRNS onset, and a Whole-Exome Sequencing analysis revealed a novel compound heterozygous variant in NUP85 (NM_024844.5): 611T>A (p.Val204Glu), c.1904T>G (p.Leu635Arg), inherited from the father and mother, respectively. We delineated the clinical phenotypes of NUP85-related disorders, reviewed the affected individuals so far reported in the literature, and overall expanded both the phenotypic and the molecular spectrum associated with this ultra-rare genetic condition. Our study suggests a potential occurrence of severe neurological phenotypes as part of the NUP85-related clinical spectrum and highlights an important involvement of nucleoporin in brain developmental processes and neurological function

Le lesioni da decubito: fra sofferenze individuali e costi sociali

Le ulcere/lesioni da pressione hanno una genesi multifattoriale e possono essere causa di svariate complicanze. Un aspetto troppo spesso dimenticato è il loro costo per il Sistema Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). I casi di due pazienti ricoverate presso il reparto di Geriatria e Lungodegenza dell’Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria “Paolo Giaccone” di Palermo sono in proposito emblematic

Implant replacement and anaplastic large cell lymphoma associated with breast implants: a quantitative analysis

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIAALCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma associated with breast reconstruction post-mastectomy or cosmetic-additive mammoplasty. The increasing use of implants for cosmetic purposes is expected to lead to an increase in BIA-ALCL cases. This study investigated the main characteristics of the disease and the factors predicting BIA-ALCL onset in patients with and without an implant replacement

Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a multicenter Italian survey

Background: Law 219/2017 was approved in Italy in December 2017, after a years-long debate on the autonomy of healthcare choices. This Law, for the first time in Italian legislation, guarantees the patient's right to request for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, including mechanical ventilation (MV). Objective: To investigate the current status of MV withdrawal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in Italy and to assess the impact of Law 219/2017 on this practice. Methods: We conducted a Web-based survey, addressed to Italian neurologists with expertise in ALS care, and members of the Motor Neuron Disease Study Group of the Italian Society of Neurology. Results: Out of 40 ALS Italian centers, 34 (85.0%) responded to the survey. Law 219/2017 was followed by an increasing trend in MV withdrawals, and a significant increase of neurologists involved in this procedure (p 0.004). However, variations across Italian ALS centers were observed, regarding the inconsistent involvement of community health services and palliative care (PC) services, and the intervention and composition of the multidisciplinary team. Conclusions: Law 219/2017 has had a positive impact on the practice of MV withdrawal in ALS patients in Italy. The recent growing public attention on end-of-life care choices, along with the cultural and social changes in Italy, requires further regulatory frameworks that strengthen tools for self-determination, increased investment of resources in community and PC health services, and practical recommendations and guidelines for health workers involved

Indici per la valutazione della qualit? ecologica dei laghi

Collection of methods to evaluate lake quality using biological element