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

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

Prolonged higher dose methylprednisolone vs. conventional dexamethasone in COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomised controlled trial (MEDEAS)

Dysregulated systemic inflammation is the primary driver of mortality in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Current guidelines favor a 7-10-day course of any glucocorticoid equivalent to dexamethasone 6 mg·day-1. A comparative RCT with a higher dose and a longer duration of intervention was lacking

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements