La casa: una ricerca su un luogo molto derubato e poco studiato

RiassuntoQuesto articolo presenta i principali risultati di una ricerca sui furti nelle abitazioni, un argomento poco discusso e studiato. La ricerca si è svolta per vent'anni (con interruzioni) accumulando una mole imponente di dati, in un’ottica comparativa e con ampi riferimenti ai classici della sociologia, della criminologia, della letteratura. Il fenomeno appare assai rilevante (perché riguarda milioni di persone), politicamente significativo (perché riguarda la fiducia nelle istituzioni di questi milioni di cittadini) e rischioso (perché mette in rilievo le responsabilità istituzionali, denunciate dai cittadini come insopportabili). Purtroppo e involontariamente, i risultati non sono politicamente corretti.La ricerca sui furti nelle abitazioni è gradualmente diventata una ricerca sul rapporto dei cittadini con lo Stato, inteso come la grande "casa" degli italiani e generalmente percepito come una "casa" che avrebbe bisogno di una migliore difesa e di una profonda ristrutturazione.AbstractThis article presents an overview of the principal results of our research on burglaries, a little-discussed and studied topic. Our research has gone on for twenty years (with interruptions), and has accumulated an impressive amount of data, in a comparative perspective and with extensive references to the classics of sociology, criminology, and literature.The phenomenon appears very relevant (since it affects millions of people), politically significant (since it concerns the trust in the institutions of these millions of citizens), risky (since it highlights the institutional responsibilities, denounced by citizens as unbearable). Unfortunately and unintentionally, the principal results of our research are not politically correct.A research on burglaries has gradually become a research on the relationship of the citizens with the State, understood as the large "home" of the Italians and generally perceived as a house that would need a better defense from thieves as well as a profound renovation.sociology, trust, politics, burglar

What Does It Mean to be European?

In these pages I will present the results of a project, launched in 2008 by the European Union, the subject of which were the values of Europe. The idea of a Europe built on knowledge, civility, rule of law, inclusiveness, was in our mind, but we understood that this idea of Europe was conflicting with many other ideas about Europe and its destiny. At the end of our search, we have found that the best Europe is the Europe of the Founding Fathers. In 1946, Winston Churchill advocated European integration precisely to prevent the horrors of two world wars from ever happening again. From the beginning, the EU was linked to the USA. European heritage and American heritage are strictly connected. Many scholars, such as and T.G. Ash and J.G.A. Pocock, underline the point. The rebirth of classical Europe is the rebirth of collaboration, alliance, partnership, mutual friendship, common values. Western declinism is the classic self‑fulfilling prophecy, while, actually, however, what continue to exist are reasons for US strength and European eminence, which can be maximized rather than minimized (for those who care about the stability of the international system). The inventor of dynamite and philanthropist, Alfred Nobel is an icon of European ambivalence on science, which can be used in order to build bombs and in order to build peace. At the annual Nobel Prize Award Ceremony, in the Stockholm City Hall, every 10th December, the classical European spirit is alive and kicking even more each year

Rhabdomyolysis Following Bariatric Surgery: a Retrospective Analysis

Background: Rhabdomyolysis (RML) indicates a skeletal muscle necrosis which results in an emission of intracellular contents from myocytes into the circulatory system. It has been recognized to be a complication of bariatric surgery. A high BMI and a prolonged operative time are the main risk factors associated to the development of RML. The aim of this study is to define the incidence and the main features of RML in a cohort of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: a retrospective observational analysis was carried out on 100 patients undergone bariatric surgery. The bariatric operations were open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG); they were performed at the university hospital Nuovo S. Chiara in 2011. Results: 6 of 100 patients enrolled developed RML. Three of these also showed acute kidney injury due to RML (50%). A significant correlation between post-operative increased creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels and BMI was found (r=0.369; r2=0,137; p=0.005) as well as a significant correlation between the increased levels of creatine phosphokinase, myoglobin and operative time (increased operative time - highest CPK: r=0.550; r2=0.302; p<0.0001; increased operative time - highest myoglobin: r=0.553; r2=0.305; p<0.0001). Moreover, hypertension and prolonged operative time were found to be variables associated with RML in bivariate analysis. Conclusions: The incidence of RML following bariatric surgery was 6%. Since rhabdomyolysis is the most important complication of bariatric surgery, appropriate precautions should be taken during surgery. Post-operative monitoring of CPK and myoglobin levels is essential for an early diagnosis of RML

Early identification of acute kidney injury after bariatric surgery: Role of NGAL and cystatin C

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate plasmatic and urinary NGAL and serum cystatin C as early diagnostic markers of acute kidney injury in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: For this this prospective observational study, we recruited 23 patients undergoing gastric by-pass or sleeve gastrectomy, and admitted to the Low Dependence Unit after the surgery. Plasma NGAL (pNGAL), urinary NGAL (uNGAL), serum cystatin C, serum creatinine, and serum urea were measured before surgery as well as 10 h and 24 h after surgery. Mean values of pNGAL, uNGAL, cystatin C, creatinine, and urea concentrations of pre- and post-surgery periods were compared using Student’s t test for paired data. We also evaluated the presence of correlation between modifications of NGAL and cystatin C after surgery and fluid balance, hydration (ml/kg) and diuresis using Pearson’s coefficient of correlation. Results: No patient developed AKI according to the AKIN criteria. pNGAL was significantly higher at T10th than T0(p=0.004). There was no significant difference between uNGAL at T0 and T10th (p=0.53) and between uNGAL at T0 and T24th (p=0.31). uNGAL at T24th was significantly higher in comparison to T10th (p=0.024). uNGAL concentrations were normal in all patients at every time step. Cystatin C concentration did not increase after surgery. Serum creatinine level was significantly higher at T48th, despite being still within the normal range, when compared to T0 (p=0.038). Conclusion: Our study shows that pNGAL can reflect mild tubular damage as its levels increase within a few hours from surgery and return to normal limits afterwards. Concerning uNGAL, there is a minimal increase at T24th, when NGAL concentration in plasma has already decreased. Serum cystatin C does not show any relevant kidney changes, or at least, no more than those ones shown by pNGAL

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Leishmania seropositivity in a sample population of Western Sicily (Italy)

Background: Leishmania is a vector-borne parasite responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for Leishmania infantum seropositivity in a sample of Sicilian population.Methods: A total of 260 subjects were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire and requested for an venous blood sample.Results: Overall, 36 subjects (13.8%) were seropositive against L. infantum with a statistically significant higher prevalence of positivity in older subjects (p=0.04). After adjustment for age, a higher risk for Leishmania seropositivity was found in subjects who had pets living outdoors and untreated with anti-pests, and in those who were current smokers (adj-OR = 2.95 and adj-OR = 3.11, respectively; p < 0.05).Conclusions: Our data confirm that Leishmania infections among Sicilian citizens can be considered relatively frequent, suggesting that a percentage of Leishmania seropositivity can be probably attributed to exposure to both old and new risk factors

Ultrasound- versus landmark-guided subclavian vein catheterization: a prospective observational study from a tertiary referral hospital

This was a single-center, observational, prospective study designed to compare the effectiveness of a real-time, ultrasound- with landmark-guided technique for subclavian vein cannulation. Two groups of 74 consecutive patients each underwent subclavian vein catheterization. One group included patients from intensive care unit, studied by using an ultrasound-guided technique. The other group included patients from surgery or emergency units, studied by using a landmark technique. The primary outcome for comparison between techniques was the success rate of catheterization. Secondary outcomes were the number of attempts, cannulation failure, and mechanical complications. Although there was no difference in total success rate between ultrasound-guided and landmark groups (71 vs. 68, p\u2009=\u20090.464), the ultrasound-guided technique was more frequently successful at first attempt (64 vs. 30, p\u2009<\u20090.001) and required less attempts (1 to 2 vs. 1 to 6, p\u2009<\u20090.001) than landmark technique. Moreover, the ultrasound-guided technique was associated with less complications (2 vs. 13, p\u2009<\u20090.001), interruptions of mechanical ventilation (1 vs. 57, p\u2009<\u20090.001), and post-procedure chest X-ray (43 vs. 62, p\u2009=\u20090.001). In comparison with landmark-guided technique, the use of an ultrasound-guided technique for subclavian catheterization offers advantages in terms of reduced number of attempts and complications

Study on mastering data for tourism by EU destinations.

In the European Union, tourism represents one of the main sectors for job and business creation, source of income, and territorial development. Moreover, tourism has social, cultural, and environmental implications, as it can greatly contribute to social cohesion, poverty eradication, and conservation and promotion of cultural and naturalistic heritage. At the same time, tourism can also generate adverse impacts on destinations and residents if its activities are not managed sustainably. Disparities in regional development, pressure on environmental ecosystems, deterioration of resident population quality of life are just a few of the most common drawbacks in connection with poorly managed tourism activities, which are sometimes worsened by the intrinsic characteristics of the sector, such as seasonality. For these reasons, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that tourism policies are geared toward an ever-stronger promotion of growth, while at the same time embracing the essential principles of sustainable development. In this context, the diffusion of technologies applied to tourism represent a pivotal element to support effective and efficient tourism management, as well as to unlock the benefits offered by the sector to communities and destinations. The present report – delivered in the context of the “Smart Tourism Destinations” project funded by the European Commission – aims at contributing to the knowledge base for European destinations wanting to become smarter in their development and management of tourism. In particular, it focuses on how European destinations are nowadays making use of data for tourism, outlining features and enabling conditions, challenges, good practices, trends, cases of cooperation, and proposing a preliminary set of recommendations for future action

Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management