Opportunistic communication in smart city: Experimental insight with small-scale taxi fleets as data carriers

How to deliver data to, or collect data from the hundreds of thousands of sensors and actuators integrated in "things" spread across virtually every smart city streets (garbage cans, storm drains, advertising panels, etc.)? The answer to the question is neither straightforward nor unique, given the scale of the issue, the lack of a single administrative entity for such tiny devices (arguably run by a multiplicity of distinct and independent service providers), and the cost and power concerns that their direct connectivity to the cellular network might pose. This paper posits that one possible alternative consists in connecting such devices to their data collection gateways using "oblivious data mules", namely transport fleets such as taxi cabs which (unlike most data mules considered in past work) have no relation whatsoever with the smart city service providers, nor are required to follow any pre-established or optimized path, nor are willing to share their LTE connectivity. We experimentally evaluate data collection and delivery performance using real world traces gathered over a six month period in the city of Rome. Results suggest that even relatively small fleets, such as an average of about 120 vehicles, operating in parallel in a very large and irregular city such as Rome, can achieve an 80% coverage of the downtown area in less than 24 h. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Radioembolisation with 90Y-labelled resin microspheres in the treatment of liver metastasis from breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, commonly affecting the liver. We report our experience with Y-90 radioembolisation (RE) and its effects on the survival of patients with treatment-refractory breast cancer liver metastases. A total of 77 female patients affected by breast cancer were accepted into our department for RE. Inclusion criteria were inoperable and chemotherapy-refractory hepatic metastases, acceptable performance status, sufficient residual liver, no significant hepato-pulmonary shunts. Patients were divided in two groups: group 1 (29 patients) included those with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score 0, liver involvement (0-25 %) and no extrahepatic disease (EHD); group 2 (23 patient) included patients with ECOG score 1-2, liver involvement (26-50 %) and evidence of EHD. A total of 25 patients were considered ineligible. The median age of the remaining 52 patients was 57.5 years. The median overall survival was 11.5 months and better in those whose performance status and liver function were preserved (14.3 versus 8.2 months). According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST), partial response (PR) was achieved in 29 patients (56 %), stable disease (SD) was achieved in a further 18 patients (35 %) and 5 patients showed progressive disease (PD) (10 %). Y-90 RE is effective in the treatment of liver metastases from breast cancer. We demonstrated a relevant survival and encouragingly high response rate in patients with treatment-refractory disease. aEuro cent Interventional radiological techniques are increasingly used for metastatic disease in the liver. aEuro cent (90) Y radioembolisation (RE) seems effective for treating hepatic metastases from breast cancer. aEuro cent RE is safe and well tolerated when performance status and liver function are preserved

Epidemiology of Chronic Pain in the Latium Region, Italy. a Cross-sectional Study on the Clinical Characteristics of Patients Attending Pain Clinics

Background: In Italy, chronic pain affects more than a quarter of the population, while the average European prevalence is 21%. This might be due to the high percentage of people who do not receive treatment, even after the passing of law 38/2010. Aims: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with non-cancer chronic pain. Methods: An observational, multi-center, cross-sectional study was performed and clinical records of adult chronic pain patients attending pain management clinics in the Latium Region, Italy, were retrospectively reviewed. Results. A total of 1606 patients (mean age 56.8 years, sd+11.4), 67% females, were analyzed. Severe pain was present in 54% of the sample. Females experienced it and had pain in 2+ sites more often than males (57% vs 50%; p= 0.02 and 55.2% vs 45.9%; p< 0.001 respectively). Chronic pain was musculoskeletal (45%), mixed (34%), neuropathic (21%). In over 60% of the cases, chronic pain was continuous, in 20% it had lasted for more than 48 months; long-lasting pain was frequently neuropathic. Severe intensity of pain was statistically significantly associated with: female gender (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.06-1.84), with ICD-9 codes for chronic pain syndrome (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.55-2.95), with continuous pain (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.54-2.66). Neuropathic and mixed pain was significantly associated with number of sites and a trend seems to be present (OR 2.11 and 3.02 for 2 and 3+ sites; 95% CI 1.59-2.79 and 2.00-4.55 respectively). Conclusions: Chronic pain is a complex and multidimensional disease which need a holistic and interdisciplinary approach