Gesture, Interjection and Onomatopoeia in Edward Burnett Tylor’s Theory of the Origin and Development of Language

In this paper, I shall focus on E. B. Tylor’s theory on the origin and development of language, as it is expounded in his Researches into the Early History of Mankind (1865), in Primitive Culture (1871) and in Anthropology (1881). In his first work, influenced by Charles Darwin and Max Müller, he tried to explain the emergence of human language from what he called “Gesture-Language”. This line of inquiry prompted him to discuss the relation between objects and names, which in turn led him to the conclusion that primitive minds cannot separate “objects” from “ideas”. This idea stands at the core of his most famous theory, that is, “Primitive Animism”. Tylor’s theory of “Gesture-Language” was in contrast with Müller’s idea of language as the “Rubicon” that separates Men from Animals. This opposition is analysed in Primitive Culture and Anthropology, where Tylor explicitly discusses of interjectional and imitative theories

Somatostatin Analogues according to Ki67 index in neuroendocrine tumours: An observational retrospective-prospective analysis from real life

Somatostatin analogues (SSAs) have shown limited and variable antiproliferative effects in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Whether tumour control by SSAs depends on grading based on the 2010 WHO NET classification is still unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of long-acting SSAs in NETs according to Ki67 index. An observational Italian multicentre study was designed to collect data in patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic or thoracic NETs under SSA treatment. Both retrospective and prospective data were included and they were analysed in line with Ki67 index, immunohistochemically evaluated in tumour samples and graded according to WHO classification (G1 = Ki67 index 0-2%, G2 = Ki67 index 3-20%, G3 = Ki67 index > 20%). Among 601 patients with NET, 140 with a histologically confirmed gastroentero- pancreatic or thoracic NET or NET with unknown primary were treated with lanreotide autogel or octreotide LAR. An objective tumour response was observed in 11%, stability in 58% and progression in 31%. Objective response and tumour stability were not significantly different between G1 and G2 NETs. Progression free survival was longer but not significantly different in G1 than G2 NETs (median: 89 vs 43 months, p = 0.15). The median PFS was significantly longer in NETs showing Ki67 < 5% than in those showing Ki67 ≥5% (89 vs 35 months, p = 0.005). SSA therapy shows significant antiproliferative effects in well differentiated low/ intermediate-proliferating NETs, not only G1 but also in G2 type. A Ki67 index of 5% seems to work better than 3% to select the best candidates for SSA therapy

Eribulin for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treatment: a retrospective, multicenter study based in Campania, south Italy (Eri-001 trial)

Background On the basis of the results of two pivotal phase III clinical trials, eribulin mesylate is currently approved in EU for the treatment of advanced breast cancer (aBC) in patients who have previously received an anthracycline and a taxane in either the adjuvant or the metastatic setting, and at least one chemotherapeutic regimen for metastatic disease.Methods In our study, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of eribulin as second or further line chemotherapy in 137 women affected by aBC.Results Eribulin as monotherapy provided benefit in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) independently of its use as second or late-line therapy. The overall RR and DCR were 17.5% and 64%, respectively. In particular, DCR and overall RR were 50% and 13.6%, 65.4% and 21.1%, 70.4% and 14.8% and 66.7% and 16.7% in second, third, fourth and further lines of treatment, respectively. Median PFS (mPFS) according to the line of therapy was 5.7, 6.3, 4.5 and 4.0 months in patients treated with eribulin in second, third, fourth and over the fourth line, respectively. No significant difference in terms of mPFS was found between the various BC subtypes. Overall, eribulin resulted safe and most adverse events were of grade 1 or 2 and easily manageable. Grades 3-4 toxicities were neutropaenia and neurotoxicity.Conclusions With the limitations due to the observational nature of our findings, eribulin was shown to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in heavily pretreated patients with aBC

Eribulin for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treatment. A retrospective, multicenter study based in Campania, South Italy (ERI-001 trial)

Background On the basis of the results of two pivotal phase III clinical trials, eribulin mesylate is currently approved in EU for the treatment of advanced breast cancer (aBC) in patients who have previously received an anthracycline and a taxane in either the adjuvant or the metastatic setting, and at least one chemotherapeutic regimen for metastatic disease.Methods In our study, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of eribulin as second or further line chemotherapy in 137 women affected by aBC.Results Eribulin as monotherapy provided benefit in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) independently of its use as second or late-line therapy. The overall RR and DCR were 17.5% and 64%, respectively. In particular, DCR and overall RR were 50% and 13.6%, 65.4% and 21.1%, 70.4% and 14.8% and 66.7% and 16.7% in second, third, fourth and further lines of treatment, respectively. Median PFS (mPFS) according to the line of therapy was 5.7, 6.3, 4.5 and 4.0 months in patients treated with eribulin in second, third, fourth and over the fourth line, respectively. No significant difference in terms of mPFS was found between the various BC subtypes. Overall, eribulin resulted safe and most adverse events were of grade 1 or 2 and easily manageable. Grades 3-4 toxicities were neutropaenia and neurotoxicity.Conclusions With the limitations due to the observational nature of our findings, eribulin was shown to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in heavily pretreated patients with aBC

Obesity, inflammatory and thrombotic markers, and major clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID‐19 in the US

Objective This study aimed to determine whether obesity is independently associated with major adverse clinical outcomes and inflammatory and thrombotic markers in critically ill patients with COVID‐19. Methods The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality in adults with COVID‐19 admitted to intensive care units across the US. Secondary outcomes were acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (AKI‐RRT), thrombotic events, and seven blood markers of inflammation and thrombosis. Unadjusted and multivariable‐adjusted models were used. Results Among the 4,908 study patients, mean (SD) age was 60.9 (14.7) years, 3,095 (62.8%) were male, and 2,552 (52.0%) had obesity. In multivariable models, BMI was not associated with mortality. Higher BMI beginning at 25 kg/m2 was associated with a greater risk of ARDS and AKI‐RRT but not thrombosis. There was no clinically significant association between BMI and inflammatory or thrombotic markers. Conclusions In critically ill patients with COVID‐19, higher BMI was not associated with death or thrombotic events but was associated with a greater risk of ARDS and AKI‐RRT. The lack of an association between BMI and circulating biomarkers calls into question the paradigm that obesity contributes to poor outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID‐19 by upregulating systemic inflammatory and prothrombotic pathways