Democrazia e normazione in tempo di pandemia.

La condizione d’emergenza causata dalla pandemia da Covid-19 non rappresenta solo un’esperienza memorabile (emblematico è il suo accostamento ai più gravi conflitti bellici) ma anche un evento che ha evidenziato la difficoltà di conciliare la tutela di alcuni diritti e libertà fondamentali con la necessità di salvaguardare la salute pubblica. Nel contempo, permane l’interrogativo se si ritornerà allo status quo ante Covid-19. Interrogativo che coinvolge anche le ricadute della pandemia in campo sociale, politico ed economico. Sussiste, poi, l’allarme per le possibili conseguenze del fermo controllo sulla comunità, che farebbe quasi presagire uno stato hobbesianamente fondato (sulla paura di ammalarsi), in linea, per certi versi, con le nozioni agambeniane di “nuda vita” e “stato di eccezione” o un “dispotismo mite”, come delineato da Tocqueville. Inoltre, si è sollevata la preoccupazione di giungere ad una “deriva illiberale”. Dinanzi alla difficoltà del Parlamento di svolgere celermente le sue funzioni, le misure di contrasto al Covid sono state adottate principalmente con provvedimenti dell’esecutivo, in ragione di uno stato di necessità ed urgenza, in sintonia con le riflessioni dottrinali sulla “necessità come fonte del diritto” di Santi Romano. Ciò ha generato però il timore di travalicare il limite della straordinarietà per assurgere a prassi ricorrente. English versionAs well as leaving an unforgettable mark comparable to that of a major armed conflict, the emergency situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the difficulty in balancing the protection of public healt and some fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. A question which remains to be answered is whether society will return to the pre-Covid-19 status quo, taking into consideration the effects of the pandemic on social, political and economic issues. Further sources of concern are the possible consequences of the recent higher level of control over the community, which might lead to prefiguring a Hobbesian state (founded on the fear of being infected with the virus). To some extent, such a concept may be said to be in line with Agamben’s ideas of “bare life” and “state of exception”, or de Tocqueville’s “soft despotism”. Additionally, a potential “illiberal drift” is feared. With the Italian Parliament failing to rapidly perform its functions, anti-Covid-19 measures have mainly been taken by the Executive. Such a decision has been justified because of a state of necessity, following Santi Romano’s reflections on “necessity as a source of law”. This unorthodox process, however, is leading to the frightening thought that its extraordinariess might become an ordinary practice

Simplification of the tetracyclic SIRT1-selective inhibitor MC2141: Coumarin- and pyrimidine-based SIRT1/2 inhibitors with different selectivity profile

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Osteosarcopenia and Pain: Do We Have a Way Out?

osteosarcopenia (OSP) is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia and associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures, disability, and mortality. for patients with this syndrome, musculoskeletal pain represents the most significant challenge since, in addition to limiting the individual's functionality and promoting disability, it has a huge psychological burden involving anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and persistence of pain in OSP have not yet been fully elucidated, although immune cells are known to play a key role in these processes. Indeed, they release several molecules that promote persistent inflammation and nociceptive stimulation, resulting in the gating of ion channels responsible for the generation and propagation of the noxious stimulus. the adoption of countermeasures to counteract the OSP progression and reduce the algic component appears to be necessary, providing patients with a better quality of life and greater adherence to treatment. In addition, the development of multimodal therapies, based on an interdisciplinary approach, appears to be crucial, combining the use of anti-osteoporotic drugs with an educational programme, regular physical activity, and proper nutrition to eliminate risk factors. based on this evidence, we conducted a narrative review using the pubmed and google scholar search engines to summarize the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in the pain development in OSP and the potential countermeasures to be taken. the lack of studies addressing this topic highlights the need to conduct new research into the resolution of an ever-expanding social problem

Effects of Wooden Embers Cover on thermo-hydrological response of silty volcanic cover and implications to post-wildfire slope stability

Wildfires striking vegetated hillslopes appear to increase the hazard towards rainfall-induced landslides. One mechanism little investigated in the literature consists of the formation of Wooden Embers Cover (WEC) following the wildfire. This layer has very peculiar thermohydraulic properties and may affect the interaction between the atmosphere and the subsoil. The paper presents an experiment conducted in an outdoor lysimeter filled with pyroclastic silt (SILT) up to 75 cm covered with 5 cm of WEC. Water storage in the SILT layer, soil water content, suction, and temperature were recorded for several years initially under bare (no-WEC) condition (4 years), then vegetated (no-WEC) condition (5 years) and, finally, with the WEC placed on top of the SILT (SILT+WEC condition; 3 years). The hydrological effect of the WEC was assessed by comparing the response of the SILT+WEC with the SILT under bare or vegetated conditions. The WEC reduces water losses by evaporation, thus increasing the average water content in the underlying SILT, an effect that is detrimental to slope stability. To discriminate whether the barrier effect was associated with the lower thermal or hydraulic conductivity of the WEC, a numerical simulation was carried out by considering the case of a WEC with its real thermal and hydraulic properties and the case of a fictitious top layer placed on the top of the SILT having the same hydraulic properties of the WEC but the thermal properties of the SILT. It is concluded that the barrier effect of the WEC is mainly associated with its hydraulic properties, i.e. the WEC acts as a capillary barrier. To demonstrate the practical implications of this work, a case study of rainfall-induced landslide has been reanalysed by simulating the presence of a WEC layer, which has the same thermohydraulic properties as the material characterised in this study. It is shown that a WEC can substantially reduce the severity of the triggering rainfall event, increasing the vulnerability of the slope to rainfall-induced failure

Benzodeazaoxaflavins as Sirtuin Inhibitors with Antiproliferative Properties in Cancer Stem Cells

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Chronic constipation diagnosis and treatment evaluation: The "CHRO.CO.DI.T.E." study

Background: According to Rome criteria, chronic constipation (CC) includes functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Some patients do not meet these criteria (No Rome Constipation, NRC). The aim of the study was is to evaluate the various clinical presentation and management of FC, IBS-C and NRC in Italy. Methods: During a 2-month period, 52 Italian gastroenterologists recorded clinical data of FC, IBS-C and NRC patients, using Bristol scale, PAC-SYM and PAC-QoL questionnaires. In addition, gastroenterologists were also asked to record whether the patients were clinically assessed for CC for the first time or were in follow up. Diagnostic tests and prescribed therapies were also recorded. Results: Eight hundred seventy-eight consecutive CC patients (706 F) were enrolled (FC 62.5%, IBS-C 31.3%, NRC 6.2%). PAC-SYM and PAC-QoL scores were higher in IBS-C than in FC and NRC. 49.5% were at their first gastroenterological evaluation for CC. In 48.5% CC duration was longer than 10 years. A specialist consultation was requested in 31.6%, more frequently in IBS-C than in NRC. Digital rectal examination was performed in only 56.4%. Diagnostic tests were prescribed to 80.0%. Faecal calprotectin, thyroid tests, celiac serology, breath tests were more frequently suggested in IBS-C and anorectal manometry in FC. More than 90% had at least one treatment suggested on chronic constipation, most frequently dietary changes, macrogol and fibers. Antispasmodics and psychotherapy were more frequently prescribed in IBS-C, prucalopride and pelvic floor rehabilitation in FC. Conclusions: Patients with IBS-C reported more severe symptoms and worse quality of life than FC and NRC. Digital rectal examination was often not performed but at least one diagnostic test was prescribed to most patients. Colonoscopy and blood tests were the "first line" diagnostic tools. Macrogol was the most prescribed laxative, and prucalopride and pelvic floor rehabilitation represented a "second line" approach. Diagnostic tests and prescribed therapies increased by increasing CC severity

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

A Qualitative Exploration of the Use of Contraband Cell Phones in Secured Facilities

Offenders accepting contraband cell phones in secured facilities violate state corrections law, and the possession of these cell phones is a form of risk taking behavior. When offenders continue this risky behavior, it affects their decision making in other domains where they are challenging authorities; and may impact the length of their incarceration. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experience of ex-offenders who had contraband cell phones in secured correctional facilities in order to better understand their reasons for taking risks with contraband cell phones. The theoretical foundation for this study was Trimpop\u27s risk-homeostasis and risk-motivation theories that suggest an individual\u27s behaviors adapt to negotiate between perceived risk and desired risk in order to achieve satisfaction. The research question explored beliefs and perceptions of ex-offenders who chose to accept the risk of using contraband cell phones during their time in secured facilities. Data were collected anonymously through recorded telephone interviews with 8 male adult ex-offenders and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicated participants felt empowered by possession of cell phones in prison, and it was an acceptable risk to stay connected to family out of concern for loved ones. The study contributes to social change by providing those justice system administrators, and prison managers responsible for prison cell phone policies with more detailed information about the motivations and perspectives of offenders in respect to using contraband cell phones while imprisoned in secured facilities