33 research outputs found

    Recent advances in ankylosing spondylitis: understanding the disease and management

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    The term spondyloarthritis refers to a group of immune-mediated diseases characterised by inflammation of the axial skeleton, peripheral joints, and entheses. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the most common and characteristic of these entities and even though it was first described over two centuries ago, the understanding of the underlying disease mechanism remains incomplete. It is known that around 40% of patients with AS have subclinical bowel inflammation, suggesting that the origin of the disease could be in the gut. Also, more genes and new molecules have demonstrated a role in the pathogenesis of AS. In this review, we analyse the latest therapies for spondyloarthritis and the most relevant discoveries over the last three years, together with their implications for different aspects of the disease

    Investigation of the mechanical properties of MnSi via EBSD-nanoindentation coupling and ab-initio calculation

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    The goal of this study is to investigate the mechanical and elastic characteristics of the Mn15_{15}Si26_{26} compound via experimental nanoindentation measurements and ab-initio calculations. The mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus (E) and nanohardness are important inputs for improving the design and mechanical reliability of thermoelectric modules. The high-energy X-ray diffraction pattern of Mn15_{15}Si26_{26} has been indexed with the Miller indices of a tetragonal crystalline structure whose cell parameters are the following: a = b = 5.535(3) Å and c = 65.552(4) Å. Nanoindentation measurements, with a Berkovich indenter tip have been performed on higher manganese silicide (HMS) compound mainly composed of Mn15_{15}Si26_{26} grains. For the first time ever, it has been evidenced that both elastic modulus and nanohardness of the latter varied significantly depending on their crystallographic orientations provided by electron backscatter diffraction. Nanohardness and Young’s modulus along the orientations are higher than the ones. The nanohardness value of Mn15_{15}Si26_{26} ranges from 16 GPa to 20 GPa and the Young’s modulus measured varies between 234 GPa and 300 GPa. The stiffness tensor (Sij_{ij} = (Cij_{ij})1^{−1}) of Mn15_{15}Si26_{26} has been deduced from these experimental measurements as well as calculated using Ab-initio calculations. The macroscopic elastic modulus (E, G, Β) and Poisson's coefficient have been examined and discussed and their 3D-representation has been plotted. The mechanical anisotropy hereby evidenced as the existence of anisotropy of the thermoelectric properties could be a significant factor for the mechanical reliability of thermoelectric modules which consisted of Mn15_{15}Si26_{26} legs with a possible preferred crystallographic orientation induced during their fabrication

    Gender balance in skeletal radiology:suffrage rather than suffering?

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    Reaching equity in the distribution of opportunity between men and women is in the agenda of premier international agencies worldwide, and in the last decades a significant improvement in women’s access to care and education as well as in terms of equality in the labor market has been achieved. In the medical field and, in particular, in radiology, the number of women progressively increased but still much has to be done to guarantee equal opportunities. Aiming to provide an overview of the European musculoskeletal imaging community regarding gender equity, we developed a 39-item survey addressed to the 2481 members of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Imaging (ESSR). The responses of the 74 participants (3%) demonstrated that for most of the addressed clinical, academic, and ESSR-related questions, no statistically significant differences gender-related occurred except for instance for the experienced gender discrimination, which affected women more often (55% of women vs 21.9% of men; p = 0.017). Despite the low participation rate, our results suggest that there is hope of ‘suffrage’ with leadership and steering roles in the Executive Committee and Subcommittees and a real-time reduction in the gender gap.</p

    Gender balance in skeletal radiology:suffrage rather than suffering?

    No full text
    Reaching equity in the distribution of opportunity between men and women is in the agenda of premier international agencies worldwide, and in the last decades a significant improvement in women’s access to care and education as well as in terms of equality in the labor market has been achieved. In the medical field and, in particular, in radiology, the number of women progressively increased but still much has to be done to guarantee equal opportunities. Aiming to provide an overview of the European musculoskeletal imaging community regarding gender equity, we developed a 39-item survey addressed to the 2481 members of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Imaging (ESSR). The responses of the 74 participants (3%) demonstrated that for most of the addressed clinical, academic, and ESSR-related questions, no statistically significant differences gender-related occurred except for instance for the experienced gender discrimination, which affected women more often (55% of women vs 21.9% of men; p = 0.017). Despite the low participation rate, our results suggest that there is hope of ‘suffrage’ with leadership and steering roles in the Executive Committee and Subcommittees and a real-time reduction in the gender gap.</p
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