Neuromuscular adaptations to a motor skills training program for adults with intellectual disabilities

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relationship between an injury reduction program and the improvement of stability and muscle strength in adults with intellectual disabilities because, so far, the impact of strength training has been little studied in people with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, a sample of 16 people (aged between 20 and 40) divided randomly into 2 groups: A experimental with specific protocol and control B with traditional program. The training period lasted 3 months with 3 sessions per week. Tests were administered before the start of the program and after 3 months to assess stability and physical fitness. Physical fitness tests assessed the functional aspects of muscle strength and endurance, as well as flexibility. In order to identify the factors associated with the participation of physical activity among active subjects, staff and assisted placement organizations were asked to identify the people they believed to be physically active. The results indicated differences in performance between the two groups. Group A presented better strength in the lower limbs and increased mobility with the use of Pearson's correlation statistical tool and Student's t test. Therefore, the null hypothesis is confirmed

Naturalness consumption and Biodiversity in an Ecoregion of Central Italy

Landscape naturalness and landscape biodiversity are closely connected with ecosystem sustainability. In this study, “naturalness consumption” and “induced biodiversity” created by human interference were evaluated in an ecoregion of Central Italy that represents a meaningful local example of land-use pattern in a Mediterranean environment. A core set of selected indicators and indexes applied to the database produced by GIS was used first to evaluate the landscape naturalness for each phyto-climatic unit and then to calculate the naturalness consumption. Moreover, the landscape biodiversity of each phyto-climate was evaluated, considering the ecomosaic space organization and taking into account the presence of some important ecological structures like ecotones and hedges. In the naturalness analysis, the highest naturalness consumption occurred in phyto-climates with a higher presence of cultivated areas. In the biodiversity analysis, the phyto-climates with a lower naturalness and a higher presence of agricultural land showed higher values of landscape biodiversity in comparison with the other phyto-climatic units. The results suggest that biodiversity in agro-ecosystems can compensate for naturalness consumption in terms of landscape sustainability. Indeed, natural landscapes carry out a conservative role, while more bio-diverse landscapes offer a balance between human requirements and native ecosystem conditions in a frame of co-evolutionary development

Efficacy and toxicity of bevacizumab in recurrent ovarian disease: an update meta-analysis on phase III trials

Background: To analyze the efficacy and toxicity of bevacizumab on survival outcomes in recurrent ovarian cancer. Results: Bevacizumab was associated with significant improvement of PFS and OS compared with standard treatment with HRs of 0.53 (95% CI 0.44 - 0.63; p < 0.00001) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.99; p = 0.03), respectively. Bevacizumab increased the incidence of G3/G4 hypertension (RR 19.01, 95% CI 7.77 - 46.55; p < 0.00001), proteinuria (RR 17.31, 95% CI 5.42 - 55.25; p < 0.00001), arterial thromboembolic events (ATE) (RR 4.99, 95% CI 1.29 - 19.27; p = 0.02) and bleeding (RR 3.14, 95% CI 1.35 - 7.32; p = 0.008). Materials and Methods: Three randomized phase III trials representing 1502 patients were identified. Pooled hazard ratio (HR), odd ratio (OR), risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed or random effects model. Conclusions: Adding bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy improved ORR, PFS and OS, and it had a higher, but manageable, incidence of toxicities graded 3 to 4

Fertility preservation in gynaecologic cancers

Due to substantial improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of gynaecologic cancers, a better understanding of patient care needs to be revised. We reviewed the literature related to fertility preservation strategies in gynaecological cancer and discussed current general management approaches. New technical modalities and patients’ own desire for motherhood should be integral and paramount in the clinical evaluation to significantly contribute to preserving fertility in those women diagnosed with gynaecologic cancers during the reproductive years

Clinical predictive factors of pathologic complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer

Background: Predictive factors of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are still not identified. The purpose of this study was to define them. Materials and Methods: Data from consecutive LARC patients treated between January 2008 and June 2014 at our Institution were included in the analysis. All patients were treated with a long course of nCRT. Demographics, initial diagnosis and tumor extension details, as well as treatment modalities characteristics were included in the univariate and logistic regression analysis. Results: In total 99 patients received nCRT, of whom 23 patients (23.2%) achieved pCR. Patients with and without pCR were similar in term of age, sex, comobidities, BMI and tumor characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that pre-treatment tumor size <= 5 cm was a significant predictor for pCR (p = 0.035), whereas clinical N stage only showed a positive trend (p = 0.084). Conclusions: Tumor size at diagnosis could be used to predict pCR, and thus to individualize therapy in LARC patients management. Validation in other studies is needed

PARP-1 cooperates with Ptc1 to suppress medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma

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Chapter Electromagnetic Sensing Techniques for Non-Destructive Diagnosis of Civil Engineering Structures

Environmental policy & protocol

UAV data acquisition and analysis for a Cultural Landscape Heritage: the emergency area of the Vallone d’Elva.

In the last decades, the technology progress in the cultural and environmental field has had a loud growth. The authors applied drone and terrestrial photogrammetric techniques for a complete survey on a complex Cultural Landscape Heritage, requiring protection and promoting actions. These technologies were used to obtain even more detailed 3D point clouds, terrain models, orthophotos (also new quasi-vertical product) with a centimetre accuracy, for tourism development and landslide hazard prevention on road and villages, also reducing survey costs in a complex and limited orography site