The innermost regions of the Seyfert 2 galaxies NGC613 and NGC1808: the X-ray and millimeter view

One of the main goals of this Thesis is to verify whether the gas traced by the CO transitions in millimeter band can be considered responsible for the obscuration measured in X-ray observations. This multi-band analysis could give information on the characteristic scales where AGN obscuration occurs. In particular, we carried out the multi-frequency study of the local galaxies NGC613 (z = 0.0049) and NGC1808 (z = 0.0033), which belong to the Seyfert 2 galaxies class. The X-ray spectral analysis of the sources were carried on in the energy bands 0.3-7.0 keV (Chandra) and 0.3-10 keV (XMM-Newton). The combination of the data from these two satellites allows us to study not only the main features of the obscuring molecular torus, but also the underlying AGN continuum emission and estimate its intrinsic luminosity. The intrinsic absorption along the line of sight of the source is measured through the column density, which was found to be of the order of 10^{23} for both sources, indicating that NGC613 and NGC1808 host a heavily obscured AGN. The galaxies under examination were observed in the millimetric band, by using the ALMA. We obtained a range of possible values for N(H), to be compared with the those obtained from X-ray spectral analyses. We obtain agreement between ALMA data and X-ray ones by using physically motivated models, which assume a clumpy distribution of the obscuring material. We then conclude that the most plausible geometry of the molecular torus is patchy, instead of uniform and doughnut-like, for both sources

Routes of nutrition for pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy: a prospective snapshot study identifies the need for therapy standardization

The aim of this study is to describe the current utilization of artificial nutrition [enteral (EN) or total parenteral (TPN)] for pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Prospective data of 311 patients who consecutively underwent PD at a tertiary referral center for pancreatic surgery were collected. Data included the use of EN or TPN specifically for POPF treatment, including timing, outcomes, and adverse events related to their administration. POPF occurred in 66 (21%) patients and 52 (79%) of them were treated with artificial nutrition, for a median of 36 days. Forty (76%) patients were treated with a combination of TPN and EN. The median day of artificial nutrition start was postoperative day 7, with a median drain output of 180 cc/24 h. In 33 (63%) patients, artificial nutrition was started while only a biochemical leak was ongoing. Fungal infections and catheter-related bloodstream infection occurred in 13 (28%) and 15 (33%) TPN patients, respectively; among EN patients, 19 (41%) experienced diarrhea not responsive to pancreatic enzymes and 9 (20%) needed multiple endoscopic naso-jejunal tube positioning. The majority of the patients developing POPF after PD were treated with a combination of TPN and EN, with a clinically relevant rate of adverse events related to their administration. Standardization of nutrition routes in patients developing POPF is urgently needed

Refinement of the diagnostic approach for the identification of children and adolescents affected by familial hypercholesterolemia: Evidence from the LIPIGEN study

Background and aims: We aimed to describe the limitations of familiar hypercholesterolemia (FH) diagnosis in childhood based on the presence of the typical features of FH, such as physical sings of cholesterol accumulation and personal or family history of premature cardiovascular disease or hypercholesterolemia, comparing their prevalence in the adult and paediatric FH population, and to illustrate how additional information can lead to a more effective diagnosis of FH at a younger age.Methods: From the Italian LIPIGEN cohort, we selected 1188 (>= 18 years) and 708 (<18 years) genetically-confirmed heterozygous FH, with no missing personal FH features. The prevalence of personal and familial FH features was compared between the two groups. For a sub-group of the paediatric cohort (N = 374), data about premature coronary heart disease (CHD) in second-degree family members were also included in the evaluation.Results: The lower prevalence of typical FH features in children/adolescents vs adults was confirmed: the prevalence of tendon xanthoma was 2.1% vs 13.1%, and arcus cornealis was present in 1.6% vs 11.2% of the cohorts, respectively. No children presented clinical history of premature CHD or cerebral/peripheral vascular disease compared to 8.8% and 5.6% of adults, respectively. The prevalence of premature CHD in first-degree relatives was significantly higher in adults compared to children/adolescents (38.9% vs 19.7%). In the sub-cohort analysis, a premature CHD event in parents was reported in 63 out of 374 subjects (16.8%), but the percentage increased to 54.0% extending the evaluation also to second-degree relatives.Conclusions: In children, the typical FH features are clearly less informative than in adults. A more thorough data collection, adding information about second-degree relatives, could improve the diagnosis of FH at younger age

Pure biliary leak vs. pancreatic fistula associated: non-identical twins following pancreatoduodenectomy

Background: Biliary leak (BL) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) may have diffrent severity depending on its association with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).Methods: Data of 2715 patients undergoing PD between 2011 and 2020 at two European third-level referral Centers for pancreatic surgery were retrospectively reviewed. These included BL incidences, grading, outcomes, specific treatments, and association with POPF. Results: BL occurred in 6% of patients undergoing PD. Among 143 BL patients, 47% had an asso-ciated POPF and 53% a pure BL. Major morbidity (64% vs 36%) and mortality (19% vs 4%) were higher in POPF-associated BL group (all P< 0.01). Day of BL onset was similar between groups (POD 2 vs 3; P = 0.2), while BL closure occurred earlier in pure BL (POD 12 vs 23; P < 0.01). Conservative treatment was more frequent (55% vs 15%; P < 0.01), and the rate of percutaneous and/or trans-hepatic drain placement was lower (30% vs 16%; P = 0.04) in pure BL group. Relaparotomy was more common in POPF-associated BL group (42% VS 17%; P < 0.01) but was performed earlier in pure BL (POD 2 vs 10; P = 0.02).Conclusions: Pure BL represents a more benign entity, managed conservatively in half of the cases

Grotta di Fumane. Indagini sul Musteriano finale (2010-2011)

La campagna di scavi 2012 a Grotta di Fumane si è svolta dal 3 Luglio fino al 29 Settembre e si è incentrata nel settore atriale occidentale della cavità per un'area di circa 12 m2, riprendendo il lavoro che nel medesimo settore era terminato nel 2008; gli scavi, che hanno interessato principalmente il livello denominato A9, attribuito a gruppi Neandertaliani, si sono svolti sotto la direzione del Dott. Marco Peresani dell’Università degli studi di Ferrara, coadiuvato da numerosi studenti e ricercatori provenienti da diversi atenei che si sono alternati nei mesi di scavo