154 research outputs found

    Early-onset brain alterations during postnatal development in a mouse model of CDKL5 deficiency disorder

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    Mutations in the CDKL5 gene are the cause of CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a rare and severe neurodevelopmental condition characterized by early-onset epilepsy, motor impairment, intellectual disability, and autistic features. A mouse model of CDD, the Cdkl5 KO mouse, that recapitulates several aspects of CDD symptomology, has helped to highlight brain alterations leading to CDD neurological defects. Studies of brain morphogenesis in adult Cdkl5 KO mice showed defects in dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons and in synaptic connectivity, a hypocellularity of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and a generalized microglia over-activation. Nevertheless, no studies are available regarding the presence of these brain alterations in Cdkl5 KO pups, and their severity in early stages of life compared to adulthood. A deeper understanding of the CDKL5 deficient brain during an early phase of postnatal development would represent an important milestone for further validation of the CDD mouse model, and for the identification of the optimum time window for treatments that target defects in brain development. In sight of this, we comparatively evaluated the dendritic arborization and spines of cortical pyramidal neurons, cortical excitatory and inhibitory connectivity, microglia activation, and proliferation and survival of granule cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in hemizygous Cdkl5 KO male (-/Y) mice aged 7, 14, 21, and 60 days. We found that most of the structural alterations in Cdkl5 -/Y brains are already present in pups aged 7 days and do not worsen with age. In contrast, the difference in the density of excitatory and inhibitory terminals between Cdkl5 -/Y and wild-type mice changes with age, suggesting an age-dependent cortical excitatory/inhibitory synaptic imbalance. Confirming the precocious presence of brain defects, Cdkl5 -/Y pups are characterized by an impairment in neonatal sensory-motor reflexes

    How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

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    COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

    Progettare l'inserimento di General Purpose Technologies nelle Organizzazioni con il Design Thinking: evidenze dal campo e metodologia proposta

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    Vista la crescente necessità di svolgere progetti d'innovazione guidati dalle nuove tecnologie, la presente ricerca risponde all'esigenza di trovare una metodologia efficace per poterli affrontare proficuamente. In un primo momento, l'elaborato propone una metodologia che permette di elaborare una classificazione dei progetti d'innovazione technology-driven in classi ed un pacchetto di tools funzionali al riconoscimento dell'appartenenza alle stesse. In un secondo momento, giunti a comprensione del fatto che ad ognuna delle classi corrisponde uno specifico fine raggiungibile con una specifica metodologia, lo studio descrive la metodologia seguita per raggiungere una efficace e ripetibile elaborazione di principi progettuali, buone pratiche e strumenti che permettano ad una Organizzazione di appropriarsi del valore di una tecnologia General Purpose (GPT) attraverso l'ideazione di soluzioni innovativa. La progettazione è figlia di un approccio di Design Thinking (DT), sia poichè esso è stato usato nello svolgimento stesso della ricerca, sia perchè la metodologia DT è alla base della modellazione del processo proposto per la classe

    Platelet rich plasma (PRP) for difficult-to-treat ulceratedmucosal lesions: an exploratory prospective observational study

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    Le lesioni della mucosa orale in corso di malattia bollosa autoimmune sono tra le più difficili da gestire e tendono a recidivare con maggiore frequenza rispetto alle lesioni cutanee, con notevole impatto sulla qualità di vita. Attualmente il PRP è stato approvato anche per le lesioni aperte cutanee e mucose. Il meccanismo d'azione si basa sull nota capacità riparativa, strutturale e funzionale, e sull sua capacità di stimolare la proliferazione e la rigenerazione tissutale. Si tratta inoltre di una tecnica sicura che finora non ha mostrato alcun effetto collaterale. Attualmente abbiamo utilizzato il gel piastrinico su 10 pazienti affetti da MBA e, nonostante il numero ridotto, è stato possibile effettuare una prima valutazione circa l’efficacia ma anche i limiti di tale trattamento. Tutti i pazienti hanno mostrato un rapido miglioramento della sintomatologia dolorosa con conseguente miglioramento della qualità della vita.Mucosal Lesions in patients with autoimmune bullous diseases are the most difficult to manage and tend to relapse more frequently than skin lesions. Consequentially, these lesions have a very important impact on quality of life of affected patients. PRP has recently been approved for the treatment of dermatological diseases characterized by difficult-to-treat mucosal and cutaneous ulcerated lesions. The mechanism of action is based on the its well-known repairing capacity (structural and functional) and on its ability to stimulate tissue proliferation and regeneration. PRP is very safety and side effects have not been described so far. We have currently used platelet gel on 10 patients with MBA and, despite the small number, it was possible to observe an initial assessment of the effectiveness but also the limits of this treatment. All patients showed a rapid improvement in pain symptoms with a consequent improvement in the quality of life
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