Integral Formulas for a Class of Curvature PDE'S and Application to Isoperimetric Inequalities and to Symmetry Problems

We prove integral formulas for closed hypersurfaces in C^(n+1); which furnish a relation between elementary symmetric functions in the eigenvalues of the complex Hessian matrix of the defining function and the Levi curvatures of the hypersurface. Then we follow the Reilly approach to prove an isoperimetric inequality. As an application, we obtain the "Soap Bubble Theorem" for star- shaped domains with positive and constant Levi curvatures bounding the classical mean curvature from above

Graphs with prescribed the trace of the Levi form

We prove existence and uniqueness of a viscosity solution of the Dirichlet problem related to the prescribed Levi mean curvature equation, under suitable assumptions on the boundary data and on the Levi curvature of the domain. We also show that such a solution is Lipschitz continuous by proving that it is the uniform limit of a sequence of classical solutions of elliptic problems and by building Lipschitz continuous barriers

Nonsmooth viscosity solutions of elementary symmetric functions of the complex Hessian

In this paper we prove the existence of nonsmooth viscosity solutions for Dirichlet problems involving elementary symmetric functions of the eigenvalues of the complex Hessian

Perfluoroalkyl compounds and their methods of use and manufacture

Fluorinated alkyl compounds may be used as reaction intermediates or reaction products in polymerizing amino acid structures into peptides. Fluorinated methyl groups have been found to be particularly useful. A compound having a fluorinated methyl group such as that set forth below: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: alkyls, hydrogen, aryls, aromatic compounds, amines, sulfur-containing alkyl groups, sulfur-containing aryl groups, and heterocyclic compounds may be utilized alone, or reacted in combination with other amino acids, to form a dipeptide, or polypeptide

6-Chloromethylierte 2-(tert-Butyl)-1,3-dioxan- und -1,3-dioxin-4-one aus (R)- oder (S)-4,4,4- Trichloro-3- hydroxybuttersaure

Enantiopure (2S,6R)-and (2R,6S)-2-(tert-butyl)-1,3-dioxan-3-ones (2 and 3, resp., cis-configuration) are prepared from each of the commercially available enantiomeric 4,4,4-trichloro-3-hydroxybutanoic acids and pivalaldehyde (52%, after crystallization). Bromination of 2 with NBS in CCl4 gives an unstable bromo-trichloro-dioxanone to which structure D is tentatively assigned. Passing a solution of the crude product D in Et2O through a column of acidic Al2O3, (S)-6-(bromodichloromethyl)-2-(tert-butyl)-1,3-dioxin-4-one (7) is formed (ca, 70% overall yield from 2 on a 50-mmol scale). Treatment of the crude D with Zn powder in Et2O leads to (S)-2-(tert-butyl)-6-(dichloromethyl)-1,3-dioxin-4-one (9, ca. 35% from 2 on a 20-mmol scale). Reductive dehalogenations of 2 and 7 with triphenyltin hydride can be carried out selectively to produce the (dichloromethyl)- and (chloromethyl)-dioxanones 5 and 6, resp., and the (dichloromethyl)-, (chloromethyl)-, and non-chlorinated dioxinones 9, 10, and 11, resp. (yields after distillation and chromatography 37–49%)

Drug-induced gynecomastia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Objective: To review the evidence concerning treatment-related gynecomastia in patients taking spironolactone, antiandrogens, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, lipid-lowering and psychotropic drugs. Material and methods: A search of Medline and EMBASE was performed up to 30 June 2021. We included randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of a drug belonging to these classes versus placebo or versus a drug of the same class. Results: A total of 32 randomized controlled trials were included in the final review. There was an increased odds of gynecomastia in men receiving antiandrogens (OR = 17.38, 95% CI: 11.26 to 26.82; 6 trials, 9599 participants) and 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors compared to controls (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.53 to 2.06; 7 series out of 6 trials, 34860 participants). The use of spironolactone in mixed gender populations was characterized by significantly higher odds of having gynecomastia compared to controls (OR = 8.39, 95% CI: 5.03 to 13.99; 14 trials, 3745 participants). No placebo-controlled trials focusing on the risk of gynecomastia in patients taking antipsychotic drugs was available, although there was a significant difference in the odds of having gynecomastia in a comparison between risperidone and quetiapine (OR = 4.32, 95% CI: 1.31 to 14.27; 3 trials, 343 participants). Limited evidence about the effects of statins on mammary glands was found. Conclusions: Antiandrogens and to a lesser extent 5 alphareductase inhibitors and spironolactone are associated with an increased risk of developing gynecomastia. Such effect can be explained by a modification of the testosterone to estradiol ratio. Gynecomastia (and galactorrhea) associated to the use of conventional and certain atypical antipsychotics can be related to high prolactin levels

The association between prostatitis and prostate cancer. Systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The main outcome of this review was the association between a history of clinical chronic prostatitis (NIH category II or III) and a histologically confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer. Materials and methods: Crude odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to analyze dichotomous data. For analysis of pooled data we adopted a random-effects model and the inverse variance weighing method. Heterogeneity was assessed by calculating the I2 value. Results: Out of 2794 screened records, we retrieved 16 full-text articles written in English, reporting the data of 15 case-control studies, involving 422.943 patients. Pooled analysis resulted in a significant crude odds ratio of 1.83 (95% CI: 1.43 to 2.35; P < 0.00001). The total set of data showed considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 91%). Both the Egger's test and the Begg's test for funnel plot asymmetry did not reach statistical significance. The 'trim and fill' method applied to the funnel plot imputed 3 missing studies and the resulting adjusted estimate of the odds ratio was 2.12 (95% CI: 1.38 to 3.22). According to GRADE criteria, the overall quality of the meta-analysis data is low, mainly due to the presence of bias, confounders and extreme effect size outliers. Five among the included studies reported data assessed in 8015 African-American subjects. Pooled analysis resulted in a non-significant crude odds ratio of 1.59 (95% CI: 0.71 to 3.57; P = 0.26), and considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 90%). Conclusions: Meta-analysis of 15 case-control studies shows that a history of clinical chronic prostatitis can significantly increase the odds for prostate cancer in the general population, whereas such association in African-American individuals remains uncertain

Bortezomib Plus Dexamethasone Followed by Escalating Donor Lymphocyte Infusions for Patients with Multiple Myeloma Relapsing or Progressing after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract Multiple myeloma relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) has a poor outcome. To assess the safety and efficacy of bortezomib and dexamethasone (VD) combination followed by donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) in myeloma patients relapsing or progressing after alloSCT, a prospective phase II study was designed. The treatment plan consisted of three VD courses followed by escalated doses of DLIs in case of response or at least stable disease. Nineteen patients were enrolled with a median age of 57 years (range, 33 to 67); 14 patients were allografted from human leukocyte antigen–identical siblings and 5 from alternative donors. Sixteen of 19 patients received the planned treatment, but 3 patients did not: 2 patients because of disease progression and 1 refused. After the VD phase the response rate was 62%, with 1 complete remission, 6 very good partial remissions, 5 partial remissions, 2 patients with stable disease, and 5 with progressive disease. After the DLI phase, the response rate was 68%, but a significant upgrade of response was observed: 3 stringent complete remissions, 2 complete remissions, 5 very good partial remissions, 1 partial remission, 4 with stable disease, and 1 with progressive disease. With a median follow-up of 40 months (range, 29 to 68), the 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 31% and 73%, respectively. Neither unexpected organ toxicities, in particular severe neuropathy, nor severe acute graft-versus-host disease flares were observed. VD-DLIs is a safe treatment for multiple myeloma patients relapsing or progressing after alloSCT and may be effective

Review of global change pressures on Urban Water Cycle Systems. Assessment of TRUST Pilots

The design of appropriate tools to deal with future stresses requires an understanding of the potential pressures, either opportunities or threats. This report identifies and describes different pressures of critical importance for the water sector, taking into account that global trends often take diverse forms and have dissimilar impacts on a local scale. Chapter 1 introduces the UWCS components and the sustainability approach considered in this context. In Chapter 2 the different pressures affecting UWCS are framed according to the sustainability dimensions: environmental, social and economic. A general description of relevant pressures is presented in terms of context situation, geographic dependency and expected tendencies for the future. Chapter 3 identifies possible future trends on UWCS according to those pressures. Their consideration will allow many countries to undergo considerable changes and to define strategies to solve impending problems and exploit emerging opportunities. Based on the identified trends for the water sector, Chapter 4 presents the prediction of major global change pressures and its impacts on Pilots of TRUST. The two annexes of this report present the principal climatic drivers, in terms of the future projection of weather variables (precipitation and temperature) in the areas of the TRUST pilot citiesRamôa, AR.; Toth, E.; Proença De Oliveira, R.; Di Frederico, V.; Montanari, A.; Monteiro, AJ. (2015). Review of global change pressures on Urban Water Cycle Systems. Assessment of TRUST Pilots. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/5364

The incidence of hip, forearm, humeral, ankle, and vertebral fragility fractures in Italy: results from a 3-year multicenter study

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the incidence and hospitalization rate of hip and "minor" fragility fractures in the Italian population. METHODS: We carried out a 3-year survey at 10 major Italian emergency departments to evaluate the hospitalization rate of hip, forearm, humeral, ankle, and vertebral fragility fractures in people 45 years or older between 2004 and 2006, both men and women. These data were compared with those recorded in the national hospitalizations database (SDO) to assess the overall incidence of fragility fractures occurring at hip and other sites, including also those events not resulting in hospital admissions. RESULTS: We observed 29,017 fractures across 3 years, with hospitalization rates of 93.0% for hip fractures, 36.3% for humeral fractures, 31.3% for ankle fractures, 22.6% for forearm/wrist fractures, and 27.6% for clinical vertebral fractures. According to the analyses performed with the Italian hospitalization database in year 2006, we estimated an annual incidence of 87,000 hip, 48,000 humeral, 36,000 ankle, 85,000 wrist, and 155,000 vertebral fragility fractures in people aged 45 years or older (thus resulting in almost 410,000 new fractures per year). Clinical vertebral fractures were recorded in 47,000 events per year. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of fragility fractures in the Italian population is very high and calls for effective preventive strategies