Reduced Admissions for Cerebrovascular Events during COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy

Background and Purpose: We aimed to investigate the rate of hospital admissions for cerebrovascular events and of revascularization treatments for acute ischemic stroke in Italy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: The Italian Stroke Organization performed a multicenter study involving 93 Italian Stroke Units. We collected information on hospital admissions for cerebrovascular events from March 1 to March 31, 2020 (study period), and from March 1 to March 31, 2019 (control period). Results: Ischemic strokes decreased from 2399 in 2019 to 1810 in 2020, with a corresponding hospitalization rate ratio (RR) of 0.75 ([95% CI, 0.71-0.80] P<0.001); intracerebral hemorrhages decreased from 400 to 322 (hospitalization RR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.69-0.93]; P=0.004), and transient ischemic attacks decreased from 322 to 196 (hospitalization RR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.51-0.73]; P<0.001). Hospitalizations decreased in Northern, Central, and Southern Italy. Intravenous thrombolyses decreased from 531 (22.1%) in 2019 to 345 in 2020 (19.1%; RR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.75-0.99]; P=0.032), while primary endovascular procedures increased in Northern Italy (RR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.13-2.32]; P=0.008). We found no correlation (P=0.517) between the hospitalization RRs for all strokes or transient ischemic attack and COVID-19 incidence in the different areas. Conclusions: Hospitalizations for stroke or transient ischemic attacks across Italy were reduced during the worst period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Intravenous thrombolytic treatments also decreased, while endovascular treatments remained unchanged and even increased in the area of maximum expression of the outbreak. Limited hospitalization of the less severe patients and delays in hospital admission, due to overcharge of the emergency system by COVID-19 patients, may explain these data

Uniformity and Diversity in Handaxe Shape at the End of the Acheulean in Southwest Asia

This study examines parameters, causes, and spatio-temporal patterns of handaxe shape variation from Tabun cave in the Levant, and Khall Amayshan 4B and Khabb Musayyib in northern Arabia. These assemblages span the range of most pointy to most rounded handaxes found anywhere during the Acheulean. The AGMT3D program is used to conduct high resolution geometric morphometric analysis of handaxe form from 3D models. Shape variation is tested against blank type, allometry, and reduction intensity. None of these factors appears to be a strong influence, but there are significant assemblage-wise differences in form, suggesting the different shapes were intentionally produced. The analysis quantifies a pattern of high diversity in the assemblages from Tabun versus low diversity in the shorter occupations at the Arabian sites. We suggest possible explanations of emerging specificity in utilitarian functions, as well as the manifestation of social identities in artefacts at the end of the Acheulean

Deep endometriosis infiltrating the recto-sigmoid: critical factors to consider before management

Mauricio Simoes Abrao1,, Felice Petraglia2, Tommaso Falcone3, Joerg Keckstein4, Yutaka Osuga5, and Charles Chapron6,7,8 Endometriosis Division, Obstetrics and Gynecological Department – Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Obstetrics, Gynecology andWomen's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Endometriosis, Villach Hospital, Villach, Austria Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan Universite Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Faculte de Medecine, Assistance Publique – Hopitaux de Paris (APHP), Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire (GHU) Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, Department of Gynecology Obstetrics II and Reproductive Medicine, 75679 Paris, France Institut Cochin, Universite Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cite CNRS (UMR 8104), Paris, France Inserm, Universite Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Unite de recherche U1016, Paris, Franc

Contribution to the bryological knowledge of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (Northern Italy)

The inventory of the bryophytes collected during the annual excursion of the Working Group for Bryology of the Italian Botanical Society is reported. This excursion was held in 2018 on the northern slope of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park, in the Administrative Region of Emilia-Romagna. The field work led to the finding of 113 taxa (24 liverworts and 89 mosses), including eight new records and seven confirmations for this Region. The occurrence of rare taxa for Italy (Scapania uliginosa, Rhizomnium pseudopunctatum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Scorpidium cossonii, Grimmia lisae, Orthotrichum pulchellum) is highlighted

Capitale sociale e differenze regionali nella vaccinazione per il COVID-19. C’è un legame?

L’obiettivo dell’articolo è analizzare se le differenze tra regioni italiane nei tassi di vaccinazione per il COVID-19 sono spiegate da differenze nei livelli di capitale sociale. I risultati mostrano che gli italiani non hanno deciso di vaccinarsi rispondendo a caratteristiche specifiche dei contesti regionali. La natura altruistica della scelta di vaccinarsi viene testata facendo ricorso a sei diverse misure di capitale sociale, solo una delle quali risulta statisticamente significativa (e con il segno atteso). Questi risultati supportano l’idea che i fattori culturali possono aver inciso a livello individuale ma non emergono differenze regionali catturate dalle proxy del capitale social

Homo sapiens lithic technology and microlithization in the South Asian rainforest at Kitulgala Beli-lena (c. 45 – 8,000 years ago)

Recent archaeological investigations in Sri Lanka have reported evidence for the exploitation and settlement of tropical rainforests by Homo sapiens since c. 48,000 BP. Information on technological approaches used by human populations in rainforest habitats is restricted to two cave sites, Batadomba-lena and Fa-Hien Lena. Here, we provide detailed study of the lithic assemblages of Kitulgala Beli-lena, a recently excavated rockshelter preserving a sedimentary sequence from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. Our analysis indicates in situ lithic production and the recurrent use of the bipolar method for the production of microliths. Stone tool analyses demonstrate long-term technological stability from c. 45,000 to 8,000 years BP, a pattern documented in other rainforest locations. Foraging behaviour is characterised by the use of lithic bipolar by-products together with osseous projectile points for the consistent targeting of semi-arboreal/arboreal species, allowing for the widespread and recurrent settlement of the wet zone of Sri Lanka.Introduction Mobility and hunter-gatherer tool-kits Kitulgala Beli-lena rockshelter Materials and methods Results - Late Pleistocene (c. 45,000–31,000 cal BP) - Terminal Pleistocene (17,157–11,314 cal BP) - Holocene (10,577–8,029 cal BP) Summary Discussio

Homo sapiens lithic technology and microlithization in the South Asian rainforest at Kitulgala Beli-lena (c. 45 – 8,000 years ago)

Recent archaeological investigations in Sri Lanka have reported evidence for the exploitation and settlement of tropical rainforests by Homo sapiens since c. 48,000 BP. Information on technological approaches used by human populations in rainforest habitats is restricted to two cave sites, Batadomba-lena and Fa-Hien Lena. Here, we provide detailed study of the lithic assemblages of Kitulgala Beli-lena, a recently excavated rockshelter preserving a sedimentary sequence from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. Our analysis indicates in situ lithic production and the recurrent use of the bipolar method for the production of microliths. Stone tool analyses demonstrate long-term technological stability from c. 45,000 to 8,000 years BP, a pattern documented in other rainforest locations. Foraging behaviour is characterised by the use of lithic bipolar by-products together with osseous projectile points for the consistent targeting of semi-arboreal/arboreal species, allowing for the widespread and recurrent settlement of the wet zone of Sri Lanka