Il Medioevo tra mito e realtà

Prendendo in considerazione le diverse fasi della storia dell’uomo risulta evidente che ogni periodo ha avuto via via una connotazione talvolta positiva talvolta negativa. A tal proposito, è giusto puntualizzare che tra tutti i periodi storici, quello che ha subito una maggiore mitizzazione e deformazione prospettica, in senso fortemente negativo, è indubbiamente l’epoca medievale. L’idea generale che si ha del Medioevo è quella di un lungo periodo di riempimento della storia, compreso tra la caduta dell’Impero Romano d’Occidente (476 dc) e l’età dell’Umanesimo e del Rinascimento (XIV sec.). Già l’idea stessa del Medioevo come “periodo intermedio”, quindi mobile, confuso e caotico è da considerarsi sbagliata. In effetti, nel corso della storia è impossibile distinguere fasi di movimento e trasformazione, da fasi di pura immobilità. Proprio per questa sua collocazione tra due epoche che, alla luce delle fonti forniteci degli intellettuali dall’epoca moderna in poi, potremmo definire “positivi”, si tende a conferire al Medioevo una condizione di negatività che lo accosta in maniera spontanea al concetto ormai consolidato dei “secoli bui

Italiani nella neve: Il cinema della campagna italiana di Russia

Nel maggio-giugno 1940, dopo la sigla dell’armistizio franco-tedesco a Compiègne, Hitler emanò delle direttive per intensificare le azioni aeree su Londra e sulla Manica con lo scopo di spingere il governo britannico a chiedere la pace ed avere così la vittoria totale in Europa.1 Queste aspettative furono ben presto disattese, in quanto il Regno Unito, sostenuto da crescenti aiuti americani, non aveva alcuna intenzione di arrendersi. Hitler, prendendo coscienza di tale situazione, decise di forzare le tappe e rivolgere la propria potenza bellica verso l’Unione Sovietica (Operazione Barbarossa), ordinando che l’attacco avrebbe dovuto avere luogo entro e non oltre il 22 giugno 1941. In questa data, lungo il confine russotedesco, era pronta a fronteggiarsi una forza complessiva di 7.750.000 uomini, divisi tra sovietici, tedeschi e i relativi alleat

Antioxidant supplementation and premature rupture of the membranes: a planned secondary analysis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if antioxidant supplementation during pregnancy reduces the incidence of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM).STUDY DESIGN: A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted. PROM and preterm PROM (PPROM) were planned secondary outcomes of the trial. Women between 12(0/7) and 19(6/7) weeks of gestation and diagnosed to have chronic hypertension or a prior history of preeclampsia were randomized to daily treatment with both vitamin C (1000 mg) and E (400 IU) or placebo.RESULTS: Outcome data for PROM were available for 697 of 739 patients. The rates of PROM (37/349 [10.6%] vs 19/348 [5.5%]; adjusted risk ratio [RR] 1.89 [95.42% CI, 1.11-3.23]; P = .015), and PPROM (16/349 [4.6%] vs 6/348 [1.7%]; RR 2.68 [1.07-6.71]; P = .025) were increased in the antioxidant group.CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectations, vitamins C and E supplementation in this dose combination may be associated with an increased risk of PROM and PPROM

Serum inhibin A and angiogenic factor levels in pregnancies with previous preeclampsia and/or chronic hypertension: are they useful markers for prediction of subsequent preeclampsia?

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether measurement of placenta growth factor (PLGF), inhibin A, or soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) at 2 times during pregnancy would usefully predict subsequent preeclampsia ( PE) in women at high risk. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed serum obtained at enrollment (12(0/7) to 19(6/7) weeks) and follow-up (24-28 weeks) from 704 patients with previous PE and/or chronic hypertension (CHTN) enrolled in a randomized trial for the prevention of PE. Logistic regression analysis assessed the association of log-transformed markers with subsequent PE; receiver operating characteristic analysis assessed predictive value. RESULTS: One hundred four developed preeclampsia: 27 at 37 weeks or longer and 77 at less than 37 weeks (9 at less than 27 weeks). None of the markers was associated with PE at 37 weeks or longer. Significant associations were observed between PE at less than 37 weeks and reduced PLGF levels at baseline (P =.022) and follow-up (P <.0001) and elevated inhibin A (P <.0001) and sFlt-1 (P =.0002) levels at follow-up; at 75% specificity, sensitivities ranged from 38% to 52%. Using changes in markers from baseline to follow-up, sensitivities were 52-55%. Associations were observed between baseline markers and PE less than 27 weeks (P <=.0004 for all); sensitivities were 67-89%, but positive predictive values (PPVs) were only 3.4-4.5%. CONCLUSION: Inhibin A and circulating angiogenic factors levels obtained at 12(0/7) to 19(6/7) weeks have significant associations with onset of PE at less than 27 weeks, as do levels obtained at 24-28 weeks with onset of PE at less than 37 weeks. However, because the corresponding sensitivities and/or PPVs were low, these markers might not be clinically useful to predict PE in women with previous PE and/or CHTN

The impact of prior preeclampsia on the risk of superimposed preeclampsia and other adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with chronic hypertension

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the rates of superimposed preeclampsia and adverse outcomes in women with chronic hypertension with or without prior preeclampsia.STUDY DESIGN: We conducted secondary analysis of 369 women with chronic hypertension (104 with prior preeclampsia) enrolled at 12-19 weeks as part of a multisite trial of antioxidants to prevent preeclampsia (no reduction was found). Outcome measures were rates of superimposed preeclampsia and other adverse perinatal outcomes.RESULTS: Prepregnancy body mass index, blood pressure, and smoking status at enrollment were similar between groups. The rates of superimposed preeclampsia (17.3% vs 17.7%), abruptio placentae (1.0% vs 3.1%), perinatal death (6.7% vs 8.7%), and small for gestational age (18.4% vs 14.3%) were similar between groups, but preterm delivery <37 weeks was higher in the prior preeclampsia group (36.9% vs 27.1%; adjusted risk ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.03; P = .032).CONCLUSION: In women with chronic hypertension, a history of preeclampsia does not increase the rate of superimposed preeclampsia, but is associated with an increased rate of delivery at <37 weeks