Un simulador de un modelo poblacional y su caja previsional

By building a system dynamics simulation platform from a demo-graphic model, this document analyzes the behavior of the population over time, as well as the population of the social security system. Simulation results show that there will be different types of problems in the future and will allow the Government to anticipate them. Due to the simplicity of its construction, it is very easy to implement in different regions with different precepts.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Liguria

Risultati dei lavori di ricerca effettuati dal 1999 al 2001 nell'ambito del Programma Europeo Raphael finanziato dalla Commissione Europea DG

Psychological Antecedents of Italian Sport Coaches’ Coaching Behaviors: The Role of Basic Psychological Needs, Motivation and Subjective Vitality

: The extant literature has identified some variables that are associated with sport coaches' coaching style, like their basic psychological need satisfaction, their motivation for coaching, and their psychological well-being. Framed from a conceptual framework based on Self-Determination Theory applied to sport coaches, the current study explored how sport coaches' basic psychological needs are associated with their motivation (intrinsic vs. external), subjective vitality, and coaching behaviors (autonomy-supporting vs. need-thwarting). Participants were 184 Italian sport coaches (males = 65%, Mage = 40.22, SD = 11.55, age range 19-74 years) from the "Centro CONI" project. They were requested to fill out online self-report questionnaires assessing the study variables. Structural equation modeling analyses suggested that sport coaches' satisfaction of basic psychological needs was associated with higher levels of intrinsic motivation to train as well as with higher levels of vitality that, in turn, were associated with coaching behaviors supporting athletes' autonomy. Moreover, sport coaches' frustration of basic psychological needs was associated with higher levels of external motivation to train that, in turn, were associated with higher levels of a need-thwarting coaching style. Overall, the findings provided additional support for understanding how sport coaches' basic psychological needs relate to their coaching styles

Molecular imaging in MSK radiology: Where are we going?

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pathologies are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. However, treatment options and understanding of pathogenetic processes are still partially unclear, mainly due to a limited ability in early disease detection and response to therapy assessment. In this scenario, thanks to a strong technological advancement, structural imaging is currently established as the gold-standard of diagnosis in many MSK disorders but each single diagnostic modality (plain films, high-resolution ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance) still suffer by a low specificity regarding the characterization of inflammatory processes, the quantification of inflammatory activity levels, and the degree of response to therapy. To overcome these limitations, molecular imaging techniques may play a promising role. Starting from the strengths and weaknesses of structural anatomical imaging, the present narrative review aims to highlight the promising role of molecular imaging in the assessment of non-neoplastic MSK diseases with a special focus on its role to monitor treatment response

Patisiran Enhances Muscle Mass after Nine Months of Treatment in ATTRv Amyloidosis: A Study with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Handgrip Strength

Background and aims: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv) is caused by mutations in the TTR gene, leading to misfolded monomers that aggregate generating amyloid fibrils. The clinical phenotype is heterogeneous, characterized by a multisystemic disease affecting the sensorimotor, autonomic functions along with other organs. Patisiran is a small interfering RNA acting as a TTR silencer approved for the treatment of ATTRv. Punctual and detailed instrumental biomarkers are on demand for ATTRv to measure the severity of the disease and monitor progression and response to treatment. Methods: Fifteen patients affected by ATTRv amyloidosis (66.4 ± 7.8 years, six males) were evaluated before the start of therapy with patisiran and after 9-months of follow-up. The clinical and instrumental evaluation included body weight and height; Coutinho stage; Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS); Karnofsky performance status (KPS); Norfolk QOL Questionnaire; Six-minute walking test (6 MWT); nerve conduction studies; handgrip strength (HGS); and bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Results: Body composition significantly changed following the 9-months pharmacological treatment. In particular, the patients exhibited an increase in fat free mass, body cell mass, and body weight with a decrease in fat mass. A significant increase after 9 months of treatment was observed for the 6 MWT. Coutinho stage, KPS, NIS, NIS-W, nerve conduction studies, Norfolk, COMPASS-31 scale, and HGS remained unchanged. Conclusions: BIA might represent a useful tool to assess the effects of multiorgan damage in ATTRv and to monitor disease progression and response to treatments. More evidence is still needed for HGS. Patisiran stabilizes polyneuropathy and preserves motor strength by increasing muscle mass after 9 months of treatment

Neutrophil Elastase, Proteinase 3, and Cathepsin G as Therapeutic Targets in Human Diseases

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils are the first cells recruited to inflammatory sites and form the earliest line of defense against invading microorganisms. Neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3, and cathepsin G are three hematopoietic serine proteases stored in large quantities in neutrophil cytoplasmic azurophilic granules. They act in combination with reactive oxygen species to help degrade engulfed microorganisms inside phagolysosomes. These proteases are also externalized in an active form during neutrophil activation at inflammatory sites, thus contributing to the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. As multifunctional proteases, they also play a regulatory role in noninfectious inflammatory diseases. Mutations in the ELA2/ELANE gene, encoding neutrophil elastase, are the cause of human congenital neutropenia. Neutrophil membrane-bound proteinase 3 serves as an autoantigen in Wegener granulomatosis, a systemic autoimmune vasculitis. All three proteases are affected by mutations of the gene (CTSC) encoding dipeptidyl peptidase I, a protease required for activation of their proform before storage in cytoplasmic granules. Mutations of CTSC cause Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. Because of their roles in host defense and disease, elastase, proteinase 3, and cathepsin G are of interest as potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe the physicochemical functions of these proteases, toward a goal of better delineating their role in human diseases and identifying new therapeutic strategies based on the modulation of their bioavailability and activity. We also describe how nonhuman primate experimental models could assist with testing the efficacy of proposed therapeutic strategies