Epidemiology of intracerebral haemorrhage in Livorno district

BACKGROUND: Intracranial haemorrhage represents the most feared stroke subtype. AIM: To evaluate the burden of intracranial haemorrhage in Tuscany hospitals with special reference to Livorno district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of patients discharged in 2009 from Tuscan and Livorno hospitals with codes ICD-9-CM related to any type of spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage were selected and analyzed. RESULTS: 3,472 patients were discharged from Tuscan hospitals with these diagnoses. Overall mortality was 24.3%. 50% of patients were admitted in Internal Medicine wards. Incidence of intracranial haemorrhage and intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in population of Livorno district was 64 and 45/100,000 inhabitants/year with related mortality of 36.5% and 39.4%respectively. Intra-hospital mortality of patients admitted in Livorno hospitals for intracranial haemorrhage were 36.7%. 40% of deaths occurred in the first 48 hours. 69.6% of intracranial haemorrhage were ICHs, 16.8% subaracnoideal. Intra-hospital mortality, admissions for intracranial haemorrhage in respect of total admissions and mortality for intracranial haemorrhage in respect to total mortality increased in the last decade. 23% of patients with intracranial haemorrhage and 16% of patients with ICH underwent to surgical procedures. ICHs related to antithrombotic treatment significantly increased in the last years. Mortality in patients on antithrombotic drugs was three times over compared to that in patients not undergone these drugs (43.7% vs 12.8%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There is an increasing trend in frequency, mortality and hospital burden of intracranial haemorrhage and ICH. Efforts aimed at reducing the burden and consequences of this devasting disease are warranted

Global disparities in surgeons’ workloads, academic engagement and rest periods: the on-calL shIft fOr geNEral SurgeonS (LIONESS) study

: The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity &gt; 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI

Emerging Mueller matrix microscopy applications in biophysics and biomedicine

Polarized and wide-field light microscopy has been studied for many years to develop accurate and information-rich images within a focused framework on biophysics and biomedicine. Technological advances and conceptual understanding have recently led to significant results in terms of applications. Simultaneously, developments in label-free methods are opening a new window on molecular imaging at a low dose of illumination. The ability to encode and decode polarized light pixel by pixel, coupled with the computational strength provided by artificial intelligence, is the running perspective of label-free optical microscopy. More specifically, the information-rich content Mueller matrix microscopy through its 16 elements offers multimodal imaging, an original data set to be integrated with other advanced optical methods. This dilates the spectrum of possible and potential applications. Here, we explore the recent advances in basic and applied research towards technological applications tailored for specific questions in biophysics and biomedicine

Safety and feasibility of balloon aortic valvuloplasty in non-TAVI centers: The “BAV for life” experience

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and the feasibility of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) procedure made by trained operators in centers not performing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Background: BAV is a valuable therapeutic tool for patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) at prohibitive risk for TAVI or surgery. Methods: Consecutive high-risk AS patients underwent BAV in five non-TAVI centers, where BAV operators had completed a 6-month training period in high-volume TAVI centers (Group A). All clinical, echocardiographic, and procedural data were prospectively collected and compared with data of patients treated in TAVI center (Group B). Results: Between June 2016 and June 2017, 55 patients (83.9 ± 7.0 years) were enrolled: 25 in Group A and 30 in Group B. After BAV, a substantial reduction of the peak-to-peak aortic valve gradient was obtained in both groups (−35.3 ± 15.2 vs −28.8 ± 13.9 mmHg, P =0.25). No major bleeding or vascular complications occurred. In-hospital death was observed in three patients of Group A and two patients of Group B (P =0.493). The mean follow-up time was 303 ± 188 days; no patients were lost. The 1-year survival free from overall death (Group A 75.8% vs Group B 68.8%; P =0.682) and heart failure rehospitalization (Group A 73.0% vs Group B 66.8%; P =0.687) was similar in the two groups. At multivariable analysis, low left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HR: 0.943; P = 0.011) and cardiogenic shock (HR: 5.128; P = 0.002) at admission were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: BAV is a safe and effective procedure that can be performed by trained operators in centers not performing TAVI

E pluribus unum

La Revue italienne d’études françaises présente dans la section monographique de son numéro 9 une partie des communications du colloque du Seminario di Filologia Francese, À propos de genres : e pluribus unum, qui a eu lieu à Turin en novembre 2018. La question du mélange des genres, qui a une évidente portée théorique, a été traitée dans une perspective historique : « La nécessité de brouiller les frontières entre les genres – souligne Gabrielle Bosco, organisatrice du Colloque–, de les forcer ou bien carrément de les ignorer, a été ressentie souvent au cours des siècles. La contemporanéité en a fait un de ses atouts, un signe distinctif, visant le dépassement de toute contrainte venue d’ailleurs, tout comme la mise en avant d’une volonté iconoclaste, d’un refus de la notion de code, qui pourrait être considéré aussi comme une réaction – court-circuit mental et culturel affichant une attitude d’autocontestation critique – aux dérives du postmodernisme ». Dans nos Rubriques d’approfondissement, pour ce neuvième numéro nous proposons, dans « Rencontres », une conversation entre Ilaria Vidotto et Laurent Demanze à propos de son essai Un nouvel âge de l’enquête (Paris, José Corti, « Les Essais », 2019). La forme de l’enquête, déjà adoptée par les romanciers du XIXe, se présente à nouveau dans la littérature contemporaine. Il s’agissait donc de préciser les variantes de son revival par rapport à la tradition et de comprendre les raisons de sa fortune actuelle. Pour « Seuils poétiques », Concetta Cavallini a réuni six spécialistes qui ont traduit, en italien ou en français moderne, chacun un poème du XVIe siècle et commenté leur traduction, apportant ainsi une contribution significative non seulement à la pratique de la traduction, mais aussi à son histoire. Dans la Rubrique qui réunit les « Documents » nous présentons deux contributions. En premier lieu Andrea Schellino présente vingt-neuf lettres inédites de Champfleury à Auguste Poulet-Malassis et à Eugène de Broise, envoyées entre octobre 1863 et octobre 1872 ; cet ensemble s’ajoute aux lettres de Champfleury (novembre 1858-septembre 1863) que Schellino avait publiées dans le numéro 8 de la RIEF. En second lieu Vincenzo De Santis présente l’édition critique commentée de l’Opinion de Lemercier sur le Génie du christianisme. La section « Mélanges » ouvre le numéro avec quatorze articles qui portent sur des sujets hétérogènes relatifs à différentes époques de la littérature et de la culture française et francophone, de Théophile de Viau à nos jours. Le nombre d’articles, la multiplicité des points de vue et des questions affrontées dans ce numéro 9 soulignent, une fois de plus, la vitalité de notre Revue, toujours ouverte aux contributions de tous pays. Toutes les propositions sont d’abord accueillies et ensuite jugées avec impartialité et rigueur, un modus operandi qui nous a permis d’atteindre des résultats dont nous sommes orgueilleux. Tout d’abord, l’Agence italienne d’évaluation a confirmé la classification de la RIEF dans la catégorie A, ensuite notre Revue a été reçue dans Scopus, la plus grande base de données transdisciplinaire approuvées par des pairs et enfin nous enregistrons une augmentation considérable du nombre des visites, des pages vues et des pays de contact. Nous tenons à remercier tous nos lecteurs et nos collaborateurs, aussi bien ceux qui nous ont envoyé des articles que ceux qui les ont évalués. Dans les difficultés que nos études rencontrent aujourd’hui dans les institutions européennes et américaines, nous avons pu apprécier la résistance, la compétence et la passion de la communauté savante actuelle