myositis an evolving spectrum of disease

AbstractThe idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized, as common feature, by inflammation of skeletal muscle and muscle weakness. Traditionally,..

Valutazione dell'interessamento subclinico e stratificazione del rischio cardiovascolare in pazienti con miopatia infiammatoria idiopatica mediante l'utilizzo di tecniche strumentali innovative non invasive

I pazienti con miopatia infiammatoria idiopatica presentano un rischio maggiore rispetto alla popolazione generale di essere colpiti da eventi cardiovascolari. Il presente lavoro cerca di identificare i fattori di rischio e la presenza di danno cardiovascolare subclinico in un gruppo di pazienti con miopatia infiammatoria idiopatica seguiti presso l'UO Reumatologia dell'Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana

Extended model for the interaction of dielectric thin films with an electrostatic force microscope probe

To improve measurements of the dielectric permittivity of nanometric portions by means of Local Dielectric Spectroscopy (LDS), we introduce an extension to current analytical models for the interpretation of the interaction between the probe tip of an electrostatic force microscope (EFM) and a thin dielectric film covering a conducting substrate. Using the proposed models, we show how more accurate values for the dielectric constant can be obtained from single-frequency measurements at various probe/substrate distances, not limited to a few tip radii

Rendimento a scuola: quanto penalizza essere stranieri? Un’indagine nella provincia di Pisa

I grandi flussi di immigrazione iniziati dopo gli anni ottanta stanno trasformando l’Italia in una società multietnica. Nell’attuale fase storica in cui, a causa della persistente crisi economica e dei conflitti internazionali, l’intolleranza e l’integralismo stanno aumentando è prioritario promuovere un’efficace interazione tra differenti culture, in un quadro di reciproco rispetto. In questa prospettiva, la scuola può giocare un ruolo fondamentale contrastando le discriminazioni contro i nati stranieri, attraverso il contenimento delle disuguaglianze nell’istruzione, come premessa per ridurre le frustrazioni e l’emarginazione ed alimentare un’armonia sociale e culturale

In inflammatory myopathies, dropped head/bent spine syndrome is associated with scleromyositis: an international case–control study

Dermatomyositis; Polymyositis; Systemic sclerosisDermatomiositis; Polimiositis; Esclerosis sistémicaDermatomiositis; Polimiositis; Esclerosi sistèmicaBackground Some myopathies can lead to dropped head or bent spine syndrome (DH/BS). The significance of this symptom has not been studied in inflammatory myopathies (IM). Objectives To assess the significance of DH/BS in patients with IM. Methods Practitioners from five IM networks were invited to report patients with IM suffering from DH/BS (without other known cause than IM). IM patients without DH/BS, randomly selected in each participating centre, were included as controls at a ratio of 2 to 1. Results 49 DH/BS-IM patients (DH: 57.1%, BS: 42.9%) were compared with 98 control-IM patients. DH/BS-IM patients were older (65 years vs 53 years, p<0.0001) and the diagnosis of IM was delayed (6 months vs 3 months, p=0.009). Weakness prevailing in the upper limbs (42.9% vs 15.3%), dysphagia (57.1% vs 25.5%), muscle atrophy (65.3% vs 34.7%), weight loss (61.2% vs 23.5%) and loss of the ability to walk (24.5% vs 5.1%) were hallmarks of DH/BS-IM (p≤0.0005), for which the patients more frequently received intravenous immunoglobulins (65.3% vs 34.7%, p=0.0004). Moreover, DH/BS-IM patients frequently featured signs and/or complications of systemic sclerosis (SSc), fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for this disease in 40.8% of the cases (vs 5.1%, p<0.0001). Distribution of the myopathy, its severity and its association with SSc were independently associated with DH/BS (p<0.05). Mortality was higher in the DH/BS-IM patients and loss of walking ability was independently associated with survival (p<0.05). Conclusion In IM patients, DH/BS is a marker of severity and is associated with SSc (scleromyositis)

CEP em Selfie: abordando sexting com adolescentes como forma de exposição virtual da sexualidade

Este artigo objetiva relatar e refletir sobre intervenções feitas pelo Centro de Estudos Psicológicos (CEP-RUA) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG) acerca do compartilhamento de fotos com conteúdo sexual – sexting – entre adolescentes, a fim de colaborar com o desenvolvimento saudável desse público. Foram realizadas três intervenções no município entre os anos de 2014 e 2015, a primeira numa escola privada com cerca de 100 estudantes que estavam entre o 7º ano do Ensino Fundamental e o 3º ano do Ensino Médio, a segunda na zona rural da cidade com 25 participantes sendo eles adolescentes e responsáveis atendidos pela a equipe do Centro de Referência em Assistência Social (CRAS) da área, a terceira foi feita com 120 adolescentes participantes de um projeto social. Para abordar a temática usou-se dinâmicas grupais, contextualizando a necessidade humana de se autorretratar, a exposição da sexualidade durante diferentes contextos históricos e com diferentes ferramentas, da arte à utilização de dispositivos eletrônicos como celulares, câmeras digitais e computadores. Além disso fez-se a apresentação dos dispositivos legais para proteção e acolhimento da vítima em casos de exposição indevida da imagem, principalmente disposições do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescentes sobre direito a imagem e punição em caso do denunciado ter também até 18 anos incompletos. As intervenções revelaram que a maioria dos adolescentes já tinham conhecimentos prévios sobre o assunto, embora desconhecem-se o termo sexting, também predominou a culpabilização das vítimas quando se tratava de mulheres expostas. Afirmou-se a necessidade de investir na abordagem multidisciplinar da educação para sexualidade com intuito de desmistificar e desconstruir alguns tabus sobre o tema.     

Gradual caldera collapse at Bárdarbunga volcano, Iceland, regulated by lateral magma outflow

Large volcanic eruptions on Earth commonly occur with a collapse of the roof of a crustal magma reservoir, forming a caldera. Only a few such collapses occur per century, and the lack of detailed observations has obscured insight into the mechanical interplay between collapse and eruption.We usemultiparameter geophysical and geochemical data to show that the 110-squarekilometer and 65-meter-deep collapse of Bárdarbunga caldera in 2014-2015 was initiated through withdrawal of magma, and lateral migration through a 48-kilometers-long dike, from a 12-kilometers deep reservoir. Interaction between the pressure exerted by the subsiding reservoir roof and the physical properties of the subsurface flow path explain the gradual, nearexponential decline of both collapse rate and the intensity of the 180-day-long eruption.</p

Geographical heterogeneity of clinical and serological phenotypes of systemic sclerosis observed at tertiary referral centres. The experience of the Italian SIR-SPRING registry and review of the world literature

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by a complex etiopathogenesis encompassing both host genetic and environmental -infectious/toxic- factors responsible for altered fibrogenesis and diffuse microangiopathy. A wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes may be observed in patients' populations from different geographical areas. We investigated the prevalence of specific clinical and serological phenotypes in patients with definite SSc enrolled at tertiary referral centres in different Italian geographical macro-areas. The observed findings were compared with those reported in the world literature.Materials and methods: The clinical features of 1538 patients (161 M, 10.5%; mean age 59.8 +/- 26.9 yrs.; mean disease duration 8.9 +/- 7.7 yrs) with definite SSc recruited in 38 tertiary referral centres of the SPRING (Systemic sclerosis Progression INvestiGation Group) registry promoted by Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) were obtained and clustered according to Italian geographical macroareas.Results: Patients living in Southern Italy were characterized by more severe clinical and/or serological SSc phenotypes compared to those in Northern and Central Italy; namely, they show increased percentages of diffuse cutaneous SSc, digital ulcers, sicca syndrome, muscle involvement, arthritis, cardiopulmonary symptoms, interstitial lung involvement at HRCT, as well increased prevalence of serum anti-Scl70 autoantibodies. In the same SSc population immunusppressive drugs were frequently employed. The review of the literature underlined the geographical heterogeneity of SSc phenotypes, even if the observed findings are scarcely comparable due to the variability of methodological approaches.Conclusion: The phenotypical differences among SSc patients' subgroups from Italian macro-areas might be correlated to genetic/environmental co-factors, and possibly to a not equally distributed national network of information and healthcare facilities

Covid-19 And Rheumatic Autoimmune Systemic Diseases: Role of Pre-Existing Lung Involvement and Ongoing Treatments

The Covid-19 pandemic may have a deleterious impact on patients with autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) due to their deep immune-system alterations