La comunità concreta: progetto ed immagine

Quaderni della Fondazione Adriano Olivetti ; 15- Indice #7- Il progetto politico di Adriano Olivetti #25- L'immagine della nuova società #75- Il piano della Valle d'Aosta #139- Note sulla formazione del pensiero di Adriano Olivetti #197- Catalogo della mostra #21

Hyperacusis in children: a preliminary study on the effects of hypersensitivity to sound on speech and language

There is a growing awareness that children may experience hyperacusis, a condition that is often associated with behavioral and developmental disorders. This preliminary study was aimed to investigate the effects of hyperacusis alone on various components of speech and language in children without developmental disorders. This study was conducted on 109 children aged between 4 and 7 years attending kindergarten and primary school. Hyperacusis was assessed through behavioral observation of children and questionnaires for parents. Different components of speech and language were assessed through specific tests. Hyperacusis was diagnosed in fifteen children (13.8%); ten (66.7%) were attending primary school and five (33.3%) kindergarten. A significant difference between children with and without hyperacusis was found for tests evaluating the average number of words in a sentence and phonemic fluency; older children appeared to have more difficulties. Several differences in education profiles were found: parents of children with hyperacusis spent less time with their children compared to parents of children without hyperacusis. Our preliminary results suggest some difficulties in lexical access and the use of shorter sentences by children with hypersensitivity to sound; however, the small size of our sample and the largely unknown interactions between hyperacusis and developmental disorders suggest caution when interpreting these results. Further studies on larger samples are necessary to gain additional knowledge on the effects of hyperacusis on speech and language in children without developmental disorders

Preclinical Imaging Evaluation of miRNAs' Delivery and Effects in Breast Cancer Mouse Models: A Systematic Review

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the advancements in preclinical molecular imaging protocols used to study the delivery, tracking and therapeutic efficacy of miRNAs in mouse models of breast cancer. For this aim we have interrogated several browsers (PubMed, EMBASE, BIOSIS™ and Scopus) using the following terms: breast cancer, mouse, mice, microRNA(s) and miRNA(s). From 114 articles selected according to a PRISMA protocol, we focused on mouse models, routes of miRNA administration, therapy efficacy and molecular imaging. Importantly, we highlight here the advancements made in all imaging techniques’ applications used, providing a useful tool, on the basis of the current evidence, with which to suggest the best preclinical imaging protocol. ABSTRACT: Background: We have conducted a systematic review focusing on the advancements in preclinical molecular imaging to study the delivery and therapeutic efficacy of miRNAs in mouse models of breast cancer. Methods: A systematic review of English articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed, EMBASE, BIOSIS™ and Scopus was performed. Search terms included breast cancer, mouse, mice, microRNA(s) and miRNA(s). Results: From a total of 2073 records, our final data extraction was from 114 manuscripts. The most frequently used murine genetic background was Balb/C (46.7%). The most frequently used model was the IV metastatic model (46.8%), which was obtained via intravenous injection (68.9%) in the tail vein. Bioluminescence was the most used frequently used tool (64%), and was used as a surrogate for tumor growth for efficacy treatment or for the evaluation of tumorigenicity in miRNA-transfected cells (29.9%); for tracking, evaluation of engraftment and for response to therapy in metastatic models (50.6%). Conclusions: This review provides a systematic and focused analysis of all the information available and related to the imaging protocols with which to test miRNA therapy in an in vivo mice model of breast cancer, and has the purpose of providing an important tool to suggest the best preclinical imaging protocol based on available evidence

Subtyping patients with somatic tinnitus: modulation of tinnitus and history for somatic dysfunction help identify tinnitus patients with temporomandibular joint disorders

Objective: Determine in a cohort of patients with normal hearing and chronic tinnitus if self-reported history for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and a positive modulation of tinnitus in the TMJ region could be suggestive of an underlying TMJ disorder. Patients and Methods: The study included 226 patients presenting to the Head and Neck Service of our University Hospital. Following audiological and somatic tinnitus evaluation, patients were divided into two groups. The study group (n= 134) included subjects that met both the following criteria: A) a self-reported history for TMJ dysfunction and B) a positive modulation of tinnitus following somatic maneuvers in the TMJ region. The control group (n=92) included patients with similar demographic and tinnitus characteristics that did not meet the proposed criteria for somatic tinnitus. Afterwards, patients underwent clinical TMJ evaluation in the Service of Clinical Gnathology of our University. Results: One hundred thirty-one patients (57.9%) received a clinical diagnosis of TMJ disorder according to DC/TMD Axis I; 79.1% in the study group and 27.2% in the control group. Ninety-five (42.1%) patients were negative for TMJ disorders; 20.9% in the study group and 72.8% in the control group. A significantly higher number of TMJ disorders was found in patients in the study group compared to the control group (p<0.0001). Most patients had joint disorders (67.2%), followed by other (29.8%) and pain disorders (29%). Logistic regression analysis in the study group showed that female gender was more prevalent in patients with TMJ disorders. Conclusion: Our findings in patients with chronic tinnitus and normal hearing suggest that self-reported history for somatic dysfunction and modulation of tinnitus, when occurring simultaneously in the TMJ region, can be useful to preliminarily identify patients with TMJ disorders

Evaluation of posttreatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of ultrasonography with second-generation ultrasound contrast agent and multidetector CT

We evaluated the ability of one-month follow-up contrast- enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with second-generation contrast agent in monitoring radio frequency ablation (RFA) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One-hundred forty-eight HCCs were studied using CEUS: 110 nodules were treated with RFA [41/110 RFA were performed using a pretreatment and an immediate postablation evaluation using CEUS (group 1); 69/110 using only US guidance (group 2)] and 38 nodules treated with TACE. For statistical analysis, McNemar test was used. Overall complete response was observed in 107/148 nodules (92/110 treated with RFA and 15/38 with TACE). A better rate of complete response was found in group 1 compared to group 2 (92.7% vs. 78.3%). In RFA treatment, CEUS showed a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 100% (diagnostic accuracy of 97%) using MDCT as reference standard with no statistical difference (p > 0.05). CEUS detected all cases of incomplete response in HCC treated with TACE using angiography as reference standard (diagnostic accuracy 100%).We recommend assessing residual intratumoral flow on CEUS during RFA procedure to determine the necessity of immediate additional treatment. In case of positive CEUS results, HCC treated with TACE should be considered still viable

Multipoint Turbulence Analysis with Helioswarm

Exploration of plasma dynamics in space, including turbulence, is entering a new era of multi-satellite constellation measurements that will determine fundamental properties with unprecedented precision. Familiar but imprecise approximations will need to be abandoned and replaced with more advanced approaches. We present a preparatory study of the evaluation of second- and third-order statistics, using simultaneous measurements at many points. Here, for specificity, the orbital configuration of the NASA Helioswarm mission is employed in conjunction with three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics numerical simulations of turbulence. The Helioswarm 9-spacecraft constellation flies virtually through the turbulence to compare results with the exact numerical statistics. We demonstrate novel increment-based techniques for the computation of (1) the multidimensional spectra and (2) the turbulent energy flux. This latter increment-space estimate of the cascade rate, based on the third-order Yaglom-Politano-Pouquet theory, uses numerous increment-space tetrahedra. Our investigation reveals that Helioswarm will provide crucial information on the nature of astrophysical turbulence

Laryngeal sensitivity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Recent studies have shown the involvement of the sensory nervous system in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between the laryngeal sensitivity deficit and the type of ALS onset (bulbar or spinal) in a large series of 114 consecutive ALS patients. Participants were subdivided into two groups, bulbar and spinal ALS, according to the clinical onset of disease and submitted to a clinical and instrumental evaluation of swallowing, including a fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing. Dysphagia severity was scored using the Penetration–Aspiration Scale (PAS) and the Pooling score (P-score). In addition, three patients with laryngeal sensitivity deficit were submitted to a laryngeal biopsy to assess the status of the sensory innervation. All patients showed a normal glottal closure during phonation and volitional cough. Fifty-six subjects (49%), 14 spinal- and 42 bulbar-onset ALS, showed dysphagia at the first clinical observation (PAS score >1; P-score >5). Dysphagia resulted more frequently in bulbar-onset ALS (P < 0.01). Thirty-eight (33%) patients had a sensory deficit of the larynx. The sensory deficit of the larynx was significantly more frequent in bulbar-onset ALS (P < 0.01). The sensory deficit of the larynx among dysphagic patients was also significantly more frequent in bulbar-onset ALS (P = 0.02). Several abnormalities were found in all three subjects who underwent a laryngeal biopsy: in one patient, no intraepidermal fiber was found; in the other two, the fibers showed morphological changes. Our observations are important to consider for assessment and management of dysphagia in patients with AL