Features of retinitis-like lesions in vitreoretinal lymphoma

Purpose: To describe the distinguishing features of retinitis-like lesions seen in vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) from viral and toxoplasma retinitis. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective study, we reviewed charts and imaging of consecutive patients with VRL. The associated features and the characteristics of retinitis-like lesions were assessed and compared with those of viral and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Primary outcome measures were the unique features of VRL retinitis-like lesions. Results: Out of 76 eyes of 38 patients with VRL, retinitis-like lesions were identified in 6 eyes and confirmed on OCT. Distinctive features of VRL retinitis-like lesions were massive retinal thickening, associated sub-retinal pigment epithelium infiltrates and partial restoration of retinal layers after specific therapy. Conclusion: VRL can present with retinitis-like lesions that have distinctive OCT features on presentation as well as healing that can help to differentiate them from other lookalike etiologies and can guide further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

Quantitative Evaluation of Fibrosis in IPF Patients: Meaning of Diffuse Pulmonary Ossification

To investigate the role of diffuse pulmonary ossification (DPO) in disease severity in a population of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) patients. This retrospective study was carried out on 95 IPF patients—44 with DPO on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and 51 with no calcifications detected on HRCT. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) acquired nearest to the HRCT were collected. Images were analyzed by two radiologists using a qualitative method, based on HRCT fibrosis visual score, and using a quantitative method, based on histogram-based analysis. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to measure the strength and direction of the linear relationship between HRCT fibrosis score and PFTs; in addition, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to explore the relationships between HRCT fibrosis score and quantitative index and between quantitative indexes and PFTs. A weak correlation between HRCT fibrosis score and PFTs was proven (r =–0.014 and p = 0.9347 for FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), r = −0.379 and p = 0.0174 for DLCO (Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity)). We found a moderate negative correlation between HRCT fibrosis score and kurtosis (r = −0.448, p = 0.004272) and skewness (r = −0.463, p = 0.003019) and a weak positive correlation with High Attenuation Area (HAA)% (r = 0.362, p = 0.0235). Moreover, a moderate linear correlation between Quantitative Indexes and FVC (r = 0.577, p = 0.000051 for kurtosis and FVC, r = 0.598, p = 0.000023 for skewness and FVC, r = −0.519, p = 0.0000364 for HAA% and FVC) and between quantitative indexes and DLCO (r = 0.469, p = 0.001508 for kurtosis, and DLCO, r = 0.474, p = 0.001309 for skewness and DLCO, r = −0.412, p = 0.005996 for HAA% and DLCO) was revealed. To better investigate the influence of DPO in disease progression, a longitudinal evaluation should be performed

2020 Dataset on local gambling regulations in Italy

The dataset provides the complete enumeration of gambling policies implemented by Italian Municipalities between 2003 and 2021. The dataset comprises information on all municipalities existing in 2017 and following years (thus considering also merging). The following variables are available: Municipality ISTAT Code (ID), Municipality Name (Name) Province, Region, Researcher, and a series of variables identifying the number and the type of rulings adopted ('regolamento', 'ordinanza' and 'delibera'). The rulings are distinguished between identified and downloaded or only identified (because the document is no longer available). Additional variables describe municipal activism with other administrative acts (Anti-gambling Manifesto, events, projects or tax reductions). Overall, the dataset comprises 8031 units

On ancient vs. modern, eastern vs. western, contributions to text coherence theory

[[abstract]]In modern linguistics, coherence is considered a fundamental property of text. The study of this phenomenon is quite novel, since its origin dates back to the 1960s. However, although in the historiography of linguistics we find no traces of it, both the concept and its study are not so modern as one might think. By studying text unity, current linguistics addresses a central question both in Aristotle’s Poetics and in 19th–century hermeneutical speculation. Also, linguists are addressing a basic notion of ancient Chinese literary criticism, which we cannot ignore. Thus, the objectives of this paper are to analyse these little-known antecedents, with the purpose of contrasting them; to insert the modern study of coherence in the tradition of both Western and Chinese thought; and to assess directly the contributions and merits of these traditions within the history of linguistics. The research carried out shows surprising results. A similar idea of text coherence is identified in both Western and Chinese traditions, but the most astonishing finding is the existence of a pioneering theory of coherence which was fully developed in China more than 1,500 years ago, predating modern explanatory models by many centuries.[[sponsorship]]Tamkang University[[notice]]補正完

2020 Dataset on local gambling regulations in Italy

The dataset provides the complete enumeration of gambling policies implemented by Italian Municipalities between 2003 and 2021. The dataset comprises information on all municipalities existing in 2017 and following years (thus considering also merging). The following variables are available: Municipality ISTAT Code (ID), Municipality Name (Name) Province, Region, Researcher, and a series of variables identifying the number and the type of rulings adopted (“regolamento”, “ordinanza” and “delibera”). The rulings are distinguished between identified and downloaded or only identified (because the document is no longer available). Additional variables describe municipal activism with other administrative acts (Anti-gambling Manifesto, events, projects or tax reductions). Overall, the dataset comprises 8031 units