The ‘greedy southern woman’ as a national Italian cliché: A preliminary proposal

Unpacking the charged cliché of the ‘greedy southern woman’ involves analytical confrontation with some of the many axes of exclusion that characterize Italy, intended as a patriarchal, northern-centric and body-normative society. Furthermore, it involves a critical grasp of the violent modes of visualization that coordinate the exposure of bodies, practices and subjectivities that are considered anomalous within the ideal norms of the nation: on this premise, drawing upon the work of Perera and Feldman, we have previously deployed the concept of ‘scopic regimes’ to describe contemporary Italy. Among other things, our work on Italy as a ‘scopic regime’ briefly suggests that laughter has a crucial function in facilitating audience acceptance and digestion of these violent visualizations. Although not discussed in that publication, this theoretical insight is connected to the Bakhtinian notion of ‘ritual laughter’, intended as a powerful and ambivalent practice that...

VITOM®-3D in lumbar disc herniation: Preliminary experience

Objectives: In neurosurgery, optimal illumination and surgeon view's magnification are essential to perform delicate and dangerous operations, such as aneurysms clipping and tumors removal. In this paper, the authors report their initial experience using a 3D-exoscope in spinal surgical procedures. Patients and methods: From January to July 2018 we performed 9 lumbar discectomies using a VITOM®-3D exoscope. We decided to examine these cases, with particular attention to the surgical timing and to the postoperative results in terms of pain control (VAS). Patient positioning, surgical instruments and approach technique were essentially the same used routinely in standard spinal disc herniation surgery.A "control" group composed of 9 cases was selected from patients who underwent a standard discectomy during the same period with the same neurosurgeons in order to obtain two homogeneous and comparable populations. Results: The length of operative time was measured and appeared to be longer in exoscope-assisted discectomies than in the traditional procedures (average 160 min vs 133 min); moreover the one-month postoperative VAS of the two groups were collected and compared but, after a statistical analysis, these differences resulted to be not statistically significant. No technical difficulties or surgical complications were noted. Conclusions: Despite the limited group of patients, the VITOM®-3D exoscope can be considered an interesting instrument in spinal procedures. It cannot permanently substitute the operating microscope but it shows interesting characteristics that make it a useful tool for surgeon's comfort and a versatile and relatively economic instrument in the neurosurgical armamentarium, as a part of a 3D working station composed by endoscope and exoscope. Keywords: Exoscope, Lumbar disc herniation, VITOM®-3D, Discectom

Use of equine pericardium sheet (lyomesh®) as dura mater substitute in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the use of equine pericardium sheet (Lyomesh®) as dural substitute for sellar reconstruction after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for the removal of pituitary adenomas. Methods: We reviewed data of patients that underwent surgery by means of an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for the removal of pituitary adenomas over a 12-months period, starting in May 2012, i.e. when we adopted Lyomesh® (Audio Technologies, Piacenza, Italy) an equine pericardium sheet, as dura mater substitute. Results: During the 12-months period evaluated, we performed an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal operation for a variety of pituitary lesions on 102 consecutive patients. Among these, in 12 patients (9.4%) harboring a pituitary adenoma, the implant of the pericardium sheet was used. Four patients (33.3%) presented a small intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak; in these cases the Lyomesh® was placed intradurally with fibrin glue and, thereafter, several layers were positioned in extradural space. In 8 other subjects without any evidence of CSF leak, the dural substitute was placed intradurally and fibrin glue was injected intradurally to hold the material in place. Conclusions: Even if based on a relatively small patient series, our experience demonstrated that the use of equine pericardium sheet (Lyomesh®) as dura mater substitute in transsphenoidal surgery is safe and biocompatible, as compared with other dural substitutes

A new approach to antiglaucoma drugs: carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with or without NO donating moieties. Mechanism of action and preliminary pharmacology.

The clinically used sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitor dorzolamide (DRZ), a new sulfonamide CA inhibitor also incorporating NO-donating moieties, NCX250, and isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) (an NO-donating compound with no CA inhibitory properties) were investigated for their intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effects in rabbits with carbomer-induced glaucoma. NCX250 was more effective than DRZ or ISMN on lowering IOP, increasing ocular hemodynamics, decreasing the inflammatory processes and ocular apoptosis in this animal model of glaucoma. NO participate to the regulation of IOP in glaucoma, having also antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. The ophthalmic artery, both systolic and diastolic velocities, were significantly reduced in NCX250-treated eyes in comparison to DRZ treated ones, suggesting thus a beneficial effect of NCX250 on the blood supply to the optic nerve. Combining CA inhibition with NO-donating moieties in the same compound offers an excellent approach for the management of glaucoma

Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme. Single center experience and literature review

Abstract Objectives Spinal glioblastomas represent a rare entity accounting for ca 1–3% of all intramedullary tumors; data about survival, prognostic factors and therapeutic protocols are quite poor. Even with an aggressive multimodal management the spinal glioblastoma patients' survival remains poor, with rapid progression of the disease. This study reports our experience with the management of the primary intramedullary glioblastomas, also in regard to the current literature data. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 5 patients treated at the Department for Neuro-oncology and Spine Surgery of the Clinical Center of Belgrade, Serbia, between January 2007 and December 2016 for a primary intramedullary glioblastoma. Demographic characteristics, pre-operative data and post-operative results were then compared with previous literature regarding spinal GBMs and attempt to identify potential prognostic factors. Results Gross total resection was achieved in two patients, while a subtotal resection was performed in the latter 3 cases; as per protocol, all patients underwent to surgery, followed by radio and chemotherapy. There were no intraoperative complications and no patients developed a new postoperative neurological defect; the median overall survival was 6 months. Progression or recurrence of disease was noted in all patients at the 3-months follow-up, despite the adjuvant treatments. Conclusions To the date, there is a lack of consensus on specific management of spinal glioblastomas: the extent of resection can play an important role, but it appears to be not preeminent. A shorter interval between symptoms onset and treatment and a smaller extension of the tumor seem to be correlated with better outcomes and a longer overall survival. However, there is not an adjunctive viable standardized postoperative therapy yet, which results in concrete and persistent improvement of overall survival and progression free survival

The Hertzsprung progression of Classical Cepheids in the Gaia era

A new fine grid of nonlinear convective pulsation models for the so-called "bump Cepheids" is presented to investigate the Hertzprung progression (HP) phenomenon shown by their light and radial pulsation velocity curves. The period corresponding to the center of the HP is investigated as a function of various model assumptions, such as the efficiency of super-adiabatic convection, the mass-luminosity relation, and the metal and helium abundances. The assumed mass-luminosity relation is found to significantly affect the phenomenon but variations in the chemical composition as well as in the stellar mass (at fixed mass-luminosity relation) also play a key role in determining the value of the HP center period. Finally, the predictive capability of the presented theoretical scenario is tested against observed light curves of bump Cepheids in the ESA Gaia database, also considering the variation of the pulsation amplitudes and of the Fourier parameters $R_{21}$ and $\Phi_{21}$ with the pulsation period. A qualitative agreement between theory and observations is found for what concerns the evolution of the light curve morphology as the period moves across the HP center, as well for the pattern in period-amplitude, period-$R21$ and period-$\Phi_{21}$ planes. A larger sample of observed Cepheids with accurate light curves and metallicities is required in order to derive more quantitative conclusions.Comment: Accepted for publication on MNRA

The frameshift Leu220Phefs*2 variant in KRIT1 accounts for early acute bleeding in patients affected by cerebral cavernous malformation

Abstract Background and Objectives Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a neurovascular disease characterized by abnormally expanded and tortuous microvessels with increased predisposition to thrombosis and focal hemorrhage. Its incidence is estimated to range between 0.4% and 0.8%. Sporadic and familial forms of CCM are described. The first one is characterized by single lesion, while the familial form is defined by multiple malformations. In this scenario, more than 300 mutations affecting the CCM genes have been described to date, but the exact pathogenic mechanism is yet unknown. Most of the causative variants of KRIT1 gene are frameshift but there are many missense and nonsense variants and they have been found some splicing mutations. The diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and genetic testing. Case report A 15-year-old male presented with a two weeks duration worsening headache accompanied by vomiting and three months behavioral changes. Computer tomography revealed a large right temporal lesion with other smaller in left parietal and left cerebellar region. At the time of diagnosis, the two siblings of the proband were asymptomatic. Nevertheless, four months later, the 7-years-old brother was admitted to the emergency room for balance deficit, diplopia, right-hitting nystagmus and stiff neck with deviation of the head. A cerebral CT revealed polylobate hyperdense mass of the middle cerebral pedicle associated to acute bleeding. A genetic testing for hereditary cavernous brain malformation was carried out. Results The molecular analysis identified a 2-bp duplication (NM_194456.1:c.658_659dupTT) as heterozygous within the exon 8 of CCM1/KRIT1 gene (Fig. 1C). This duplication leads to a frameshift variant, resulting in a premature stop codon (p.Leu220Phefs*2). Discussion The clinical data collected confirm the variable phenotypic expression of CCM and suggest a greater severity of symptoms in the youngest patients

Laser Scanning Application for Geostructural analysis of Tuffaceous Coastal Cliffs: the case of Punta Epitaffio, Pozzuoli Bay, Italy

This study presents the results of a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) application aimed at characterizing the structural pattern of Punta Epitaffio tuffaceous coastal cliff, Pozzuoli Bay, Eastern Tyrrhenian margin. The study site is located in the Campi Flegrei, an active volcanic caldera, characterized by dense urbanization, near the town of Naples, Italy. The 3D digital model of the Punta Epitaffio cliff derived from TLS data, provided a base for the classification of rock discontinuities by geostatistical analysis. In particular, the work flow of geostructural data processing included: 1) statistical analysis of spatial orientation of the facets of the 3D mesh derived by the TLS survey; 2) extraction of the best-fit attitudes (dip and dip direction) of discontinuity sets for each sub-planar patch of the rock face; 3) cluster analysis of best-fit structural discontinuities; 4) definition of all the discontinuity sets and geo-structural classification of 3D model facets; 5) kinematic analysis for the definition of possible failure mechanisms. Kinematic analysis took into account primarily structurally-controlled failure mechanisms (planar sliding, wedge sliding, flexural toppling, and direct toppling). The method illustrated in this research can be extensively applied to identify unstable areas along tuffaceous coastal cliffs and define shape and volume of rocks potentially involved by failures