168 research outputs found
Flexible Bioelectronic Devices Based on Micropatterned Monolithic Carbon Fiber Mats
Polymer-derived carbon can serve as an electrode material in multimodal neural stimulation, recording, and neurotransmitter sensing platforms. The primary challenge in its applicability in implantable, flexible neural devices is its characteristic mechanical hardness that renders it difficult to fabricate the entire device using only carbon. A microfabrication technique is introduced for patterning flexible, cloth-like, polymer-derived carbon fiber (CF) mats embedded in polyimide (PI), via selective reactive ion etching. This scalable, monolithic manufacturing method eliminates any joints or metal interconnects and creates electrocorticography electrode arrays based on a single CF mat. The batch-fabricated CF/PI composite structures, with critical dimension of 12.5 µm, are tested for their mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical stability, as well as to chemicals that mimic acute postsurgery inflammatory reactions. Their recording performance is validated in rat models. Reported CF patterning process can benefit various carbon microdevices that are expected to feature flexibility, material stability, and biocompatibility
Obesity and iron deficiency anemia as risk factors for asymptomatic bacteriur
Background: Few studies examined the risk factors of asymptomatic bacteriuria, showing contradictory results.
Our study aimed to examine the association between different clinical and laboratory parameters and
asymptomatic bacteriuria in internal medicine patients.
Materials and methods: 330 consecutive hospitalized subjects, asymptomatic for urinary tract infections (UTIs),
underwent to microscopic examination of urine specimens. 100 subjects were positive for microscopic
bacteriuria and were recruited into the study. At the quantitative urine culture 31 subjects of study population
were positive while 69 subjects were negative for bacteriuria.
Results: The analysis of clinical characteristics showed that the two groups of subjects (positive and negative
urine culture for bacteriuria) were significant different (p b 0.05) about obesity (76.7% vs 42% respectively),
metabolic syndrome (80.6% vs 44,9%), cholelithiasis (35.5% vs 13,2%) and iron deficiency anemia (80.6% vs
53,6%). The univariate analysis showed that only obesity, cholelithiasis and iron deficiency anemia were
positively associated with positive urine culture for bacteriuria (Odds Ratios [OR] = 3.79, p = 0.0003;
OR = 2,65, p =0.0091; OR = 2.63, p = 0.0097; respectively). However, the multivariate analysis by
logistic regression showed that only obesity and iron deficiency anemia, independently associated with
positive urine culture for bacteriuria (OR = 3.9695, p = 0.0075; OR = 3.1569, p = 0.03420 respectively).
Conclusions: This study shows that obesity and iron deficiency anemia are independent risk factors for
asymptomatic bacteriuria
Prolonged survival in the absence of disease-recurrence in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma following chemo-immunotherapy: 13-year update of the prospective, multicenter randomized GITMO-IIL trial
Aprospective trial conducted in the period 2000-2005 showed no survival advantage for high-dose chemotherapy with rituximab and autograft (RHDS) versus conventional chemotherapy with rituximab (CHOP-R) as firstline therapy in 134 high-risk follicular lymphoma patients aged <60 years. The study has been updated at the 13-year median follow up. As of February 2017, 88 (66%) patients were alive, with overall survival of 66.4% at 13 years, without a significant difference between R-HDS (64.5%) and CHOP-R (68.5%). To date, 46 patients have died, mainly because of disease progression (47.8% of all deaths), secondary malignancies (3 solid tumor, 9 myelodysplasia/acute leukemia; 26.1% of all deaths), and other toxicities (21.7% of all deaths). Complete remission was documented in 98 (73.1%) patients and associated with overall survival, with 13- year estimates of 77.0% and 36.8% for complete remission versus no-complete remission, respectively. Molecular remission was documented in 39 (65%) out of 60 evaluable patients and associated with improved survival. In multivariate analysis, complete remission achievement had the strongest effect on survival (P<0.001), along with younger age (P=0.002) and female sex (P=0.013). Overall, 50 patients (37.3%) survived with no disease recurrence (18 CHOP-R, 32 R-HDS). This follow up is the longest reported on follicular lymphoma treated upfront with rituximab-chemotherapy and demonstrates an unprecedented improvement in survival compared to the pre-rituximab era, regardless of the use of intensified or conventional treatment. Complete remission was the most important factor for prolonged survival and a high proportion of patients had prolonged survival in their first remission, raising the issue of curability in follicular lymphoma
Geological record of tsunami inundations in Pantano Morghella (south-eastern Sicily) both from near and far-field sources
Abstract. Analysis of tsunami deposits from the Pantano Morghella area provided geological evidence for two inundations occurred along the south-eastern Ionian coast of Sicily. Pantano Morghella is a large pond characterised by a fine-grained sedimentation indicating a low-energy depositional environment. Two anomalous yellow sandy layers found at different depths indicate the occurrence of high-energy marine inundations. We studied sedimentological and paleontological features of the anomalous deposits as well as their spatial distribution observing the following properties: different facies with respect to the local stratigraphic sequence; erosive bases, rip-up clasts and broken elements testifying violent deposition mechanisms; macro and micro fauna of marine environment; relatively constant thickness throughout most of the depositional zone with thinning at the distal end; large sand sheets that extend inland. These observations, jointly with their infrequency in the sedimentary record and the age indicating a fast deposition, provided strong evidence for tsunami inundations. Correlations between anomalous layers and historical tsunamis are supported by radiocarbon and OSL dating results. The younger deposit is likely due to the 1908 near-source tsunami, whereas the flooding of the oldest event is most likely associated with a far and large source, the Crete 365 AD earthquake
Efficacy of rituximab-bendamustine in cold agglutinin haemolytic anaemia refractory to previous chemo-immunotherapy : a case report
Post Treatment Sexual Function and Quality of Life of Patients Affected by Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review
Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze the available scientific evidence regarding the quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (SF) in patients affected by cervical cancer (CC) after surgical and adjuvant treatments. Materials and Methods: Preliminary research was conducted via electronic database (MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane Library) with the use of a combination of the following keywords: SF, QoL, and CC. The principal findings considered in the present review were the study design, the number of patients included in each study, the information about the malignancy (histology and stage of disease), the questionnaires administered, and the principal findings concerning SF and QoL. Results: All studies were published between 2003–2022. The studies selected consisted of one randomized control study, seven observational studies (three prospective series), and nine case control studies. The scores used were focused on SF, QOL, fatigue, and psychological aspects. All studies reported a decreased SF and QOL. The most developed questionnaires were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). Discussion: All studies reported a decreased SF and QOL. In addition to the perception of body image, several factors coexist in influencing the outcomes such as the physical, hormonal, psychological. Conclusions: Sexual dysfunction after CC treatment has a multifactorial aetiology which negatively affects the quality of life. For these reasons, it is important to follow and support patients with a multidisciplinary team (doctors, nurses, psychologists, dieticians) before and after therapy. This type of tailored therapeutic approach should become a standard. Women should be informed about possible vaginal changes and menopausal symptoms after surgery and on the positive effects of psychological therapy
Geological record of tsunami inundations in Pantano Morghella (south-eastern Sicily) both from near and far-field sources
Analysis of tsunami deposits from the Pantano
Morghella area provided geological evidence for two inundations occurred along the south-eastern Ionian coast of Sicily.
Pantano Morghella is a large pond characterised by a finegrained sedimentation indicating a low-energy depositional environment. Two anomalous yellow sandy layers found at different depths indicate the occurrence of high-energy marine inundations. We studied sedimentological and paleontological features of the anomalous deposits as well as their spatial distribution observing the following properties: different facies with respect to the local stratigraphic sequence; erosive bases, rip-up clasts and broken elements testifying violent deposition mechanisms; macro and micro fauna of marine environment; relatively constant thickness throughout
most of the depositional zone with thinning at the distal end; large sand sheets that extend inland. These observations, jointly with their infrequency in the sedimentary record and the age indicating a fast deposition, provided strong evidence
for tsunami inundations. Correlations between anomalous layers and historical tsunamis are supported by radiocarbon
and OSL dating results. The younger deposit is likely due to the 1908 near-source tsunami, whereas the flooding of the oldest event is most likely associated with a far and large source, the Crete 365AD earthquake
A Multicentric Randomized Trial to Evaluate the ROle of Uterine MANipulator on Laparoscopic/Robotic HYsterectomy for the Treatment of Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: The ROMANHY Trial
Objective: This prospective randomized trial aimed to assess the impact of the uterine manipulator in terms of lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) in patients undergoing minimally invasive staging for early-stage endometrial cancer. Methods: In this multicentric randomized trial, enrolled patients were randomly allocated in two groups according to the no use (arm A) or the use (arm B) of the uterine manipulator. Inclusion criteria were G1-G2 early-stage endometrial cancer at preoperative evaluation. The variables collected included baseline demographic characteristics, perioperative data, final pathology report, adjuvant treatment, and follow-up. Results: In the study, 154 patients (76 in arm A and 78 in arm B) were finally included. No significant differences were recorded regarding the baseline characteristics. A statistically significant difference was found in operative time for the laparoscopic staging (p=0.005), while no differences were reported for the robotic procedures (p=0.419). The estimated blood loss was significantly lower in arm A (p=0.030). No statistically significant differences were recorded between the two study groups in terms of peritoneal cytology, LVSI (p=0.501), and pattern of LVSI (p=0.790). No differences were detected in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival (p=0.996 and p=0.480, respectively). Similarly, no differences were recorded in the number of recurrences, 6 (7.9%) in arm A and 4 (5.2%) in arm B (p=0.486). The use of the uterine manipulator had no impact on DFS both at univariable and multivariable analyses. Conclusions: The intrauterine manipulator does not affect the LVSI in early-stage endometrial cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic/robotic staging. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier (NCT: 02762214
The issue of refractory disease in follicular and other lymphoma subtypes
The outcome of lymphoma has definitely improved over the last few decades which is mainly due to the introduction and development of novel and effective therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, a small though notable group of patients may display a poor response to treatments, with a true refractoriness or a transient response followed by early relapse. The present review addresses the issue of refractory disease among patients with lymphoma, focusing on the overall incidence and the main clinical aspects associated with refractoriness
Quelles compétences et littératies pour les humanités numériques ?
Un atelier qui concerne également l'identification de compétences. Question qui se pose souvent dans le cadre de projet. L'idée serait d'identifier ces compétences afin de contribuer à la définition de formations pour pouvoir disposer des personnes qui aient cette somme de compétences nécessaire pour monter des projets ambitieux. Sans doute faire un début de cartographie avec du mindmapping pour identifier des compétences clefs à développer dans les formations. L'objectif est de débattre sur les compétences et littératies nécessaires pour s'investir dans les humanités numériques. Quelles sont les compétences numériques, informatiques et intellectuelles pour y parvenir. Faut-il faire évoluer les formations actuelles ? L'objectif est de tenter de dessiner une matrice des compétences minimales et d'envisager celles qui seront nécessaires à l'avenir pour accueillir et former les futurs chercheurs notamment en SHS.
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