Probabilistic analysis of the telegrapher's process with drift by means of relativistic transformations

The telegrapher's process with drift is here examined and its distribution is obtained by applying the Lorentz transformation. The related characteristic function as well as the distribution are also derived by solving an initial value problem for the generalized telegraph equation

High serum osteopontin levels are associated with prevalent fractures and worse lipid profile in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes

Purpose: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have increased fracture risk. Osteopontin (OPN) is a protein involved in bone remodeling and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of OPN with fracture prevalence and with metabolic parameters in post-menopausal women with T2DM. Methods: Sixty-four post-menopausal women with T2DM (age 67.0 ± 7.8 years, diabetes duration 8.9 ± 6.7 years), enrolled in a previous study, were followed up (3.6 ± 0.9 years). Previous fragility fractures were recorded. The FRAX score (without BMD) was calculated and biochemical parameters (plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile and renal function) were assessed. Serum 25OH-vitamin D, calcium, PTH and OPN were evaluated at baseline. The association between OPN and fracture prevalence at baseline was evaluated by a logistic model. Results: OPN levels were higher in patients with previous fractures (n.25) than in patients without previous fractures at baseline (n.39) (p = 0.006). The odds of having fractures at baseline increased by 6.7 (1.9–31.4, 95% CI, p = 0.007) for each increase of 1 ng/ml in OPN levels, after adjustment for vitamin D and HbA1c levels. Fracture incidence was 4.7%. Higher OPN associated with a decrease in HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.048), after adjustment for age, basal HDL-cholesterol, basal and follow-up HbA1c and follow-up duration. 25OH-vitamin D associated with an increase in FRAX-estimated probability of hip fracture at follow-up (p = 0.029), after adjustment for age, 25OH-vitamin D and time. Conclusions: In post-menopausal women with T2DM, OPN might be a useful marker of fracture and worse lipid profile

Gastro-intestinal parasites of pigs in Sardinia: a copromicroscopical investigation

This paper illustrates a copromicroscopical investigation carried out in Sardinia to update epidemiological data on diffusion of gastro-intestinal parasites in swine. Results obtained lead to suggest the employment of copromicroscopic exam to monitorate parasites diffusion in swine breedings in order to set up correct prophylactic and therapeutically intervents

Effetto di alcuni trattamenti preliminari sulle cinetiche di essiccamento di frutti di olivo

Olive fruits (Olea europea sativa Hoffm. and Link) of two Sardinian cultivars, after being harvested at full maturation stage, were calibrated and subjected to several preliminary treatments, in order to break the peel, before being dehydrated. Dehydration was carried out at 60°C with a constant flow rate. Fruits were placed on trays according to a completely randomised design. Dehydration kinetics were computed by taking fruits during dehydration, while changes in some chemical-physical parameters (pH, water activity and colour) were assessed by sampling at the start and at the end of the drying step. Results will be discussed. Frutti eli olivo (Olea europea sativa Hoffm. and Link) di due varietà sarde, dopo la raccolta allo stadio di completa invaiatura, sono stati calibrati e hanno subito una serie di trattamenti preliminari, atti a favorire la rottura dell'epicarpo, prima di essere sottoposti ad un processo di essiccamento. La disidratazione è stata condotta alla temperatura di 60°C ed a flusso d'aria costante, disponendo i frutti delle tesi secondo un piano completamente randomizzato. Ad intervalli prestabiliti durante l'essiccamento sono stati effettuati dei prelievi di frutti, al fine di determinare le cinetiche di essiccamento, mentre per la determinazione delle variazioni di alcuni parametri chimico-fisici (pH, attività dell'acqua e colore) è stato fatto un campionamento ad inizio ed a fine processo. Nel presente contributo saranno discussi i dati relativi alla sperimentazione

Liposarcoma pleomorfo a localizzazione mammaria in un cane = Canine pleomorphic liposarcoma of mammary gland

Liposarcoma is the most common malignant soft tissue tumors in humans, whereas in dog is an uncommon neoplasm of all skin and subcutaneous tumors. Lipocytic tumors have been categorized as atypical lipoma, well differentiated liposarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma

The Epidemiology of Hypoparathyroidism in Italy: An 8-Year Register-Based Study

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder, but few studies have focused on the epidemiology and hospital management of the disease and none has been performed in Italy. We investigated the prevalence of dif- ferent forms of hypoparathyroidism among hospitalized patients in Italy during an 8-year period. This study is designed as a retrospective register-based study. We retrieved data from the ‘‘Record of Hospital Discharge’’ (SDO) of the Italian Health Ministry, from the year 2006 to 2013 and analyzed the codes corresponding to hypoparathyroidism-related diagnoses. The inpatient prevalence of the disease was also calculated after excluding repeated hospitalizations. Overall, 27,692 hos- pitalization episodes for hypoparathyroidism were identi- fied during the entire period (72.2% in women and 27.8% in men; mean age 49.5 ± 22.9 years). The mean length of stay was 7.4 ± 9.8 days (25.9% of the episodes requiring less than 3 days of stay). The mean hospitalization rate for hypoparathyroidism was 5.9/100,000 inhabitants per year and there was a significant decrease during the period of 2006–2013 ( p \ 0.0001). The mean hospitalization rate for postsurgical hypoparathyroidism was 1.4/100,000 inhabi- tants per year and the trend showed a significant reduction during the years ( p \ 0.0001). The mean prevalence of hypoparathyroidism among inpatients was 5.3/100,000 inhabitants per year, and there was a significant decrease over the years ( p \ 0.0001). Hypoparathyroidism, partic- ularly the postsurgical form of the disease, is not an uncommon condition among hospitalized patients in Italy. We observed a tendency to a decrease in the frequency of hospitalization during the period 2006–201

Evaluation of the efficacy of anthelminthic treatments against sheep gastro-intestinal nematodes in Sardinia

Despite the rising of new methodologies for the controi of endoparasites in animais of zootechnic value, such as phytotherapy, homeopathy, and genetie selection for screening of resistant individuais (Gruner L, 2002, Acta SIPAOC, 15: 80-89; Carta A, Scala A, 2004, Parassitologia, 46: 251-255) and hypothetic vaccinations against NGI (Vercruysse J, 2004, Parassitologia, 46: 261), anthelminthie treatments stilI remains the most applied measure in the field