Patient satisfaction after auditory implant surgery. ten-year experience from a single implanting unit center

Conclusions: The satisfaction rate of the subjects with an auditory implant appears strictly related to the resulting auditory improvement, and the surgical variables would play a prevailing role in respect to the esthetic factors. Objectives: To assess the rate of satisfaction in subjects who underwent the surgical application of an auditory device at a single Implanting Center Unit. Method: A series of validated questionnaires has been administered to subjects who underwent the surgical application of different auditory devices. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) have been used to compare the implanted situation with the hearing-aided one; a percutaneous bone conductive implant (pBCI) with an active middle ear implant (AMEI) on the round window in mixed hearing loss; and an invisible, fully-implantable device with a frankly and bulky semi-implantable device. Results: The mean GBI scores were higher in Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB)VR and BonebridgeVR subjects, without significant differences among the various devices. The mean VAS score increased for all the devices in comparison with the conventional hearing aid. The mean APHAB score was similarly better in the implanted condition as total and partial scores

Transitions in auditory rehabilitation with bone conductive implant (bci)

Background: The bone conductive implants (BCI) are nowadays a reliable alternative for rehabilitation of specific forms of hearing loss, i.e. conductive, mixed or single sided deafness (SSD). Aims/Objective: To analyse the various factors in play when considering an auditory rehabilitation with a bone-conductive device (BCI). Materials and Methods: The clinical charts of subjects who underwent BCI application at the same Implanting Center from 2005 to 2018 were retrieved analysing also the reason for eventual explantation and the alternative option (transition) for hearing rehabilitation. Results: Nine BAHA Compact, 4 BAHA Intenso, 21 BAHA Divino, 3 BAHA BP100, 4 Ponto, 2 Sophono, 5 Bonebridge, 5 BAHA5 Attract; 11 BAHA5 Connect were used in 12 unilateral COM; 16 bilateral COM; 3 unilateral cholesteatoma; 6 bilateral cholesteatoma; 2 unilateral otosclerosis; 5 bilateral otosclerosis; 9 congenital malformations; 6 major otoneurosurgical procedures; 5 sudden deafness. Explantation was necessary for five subjects. Conclusions: Middle ear pathology and sequels from surgery represent the most common reason for BCI implantation, both in unilateral and in bilateral cases. Transition from one implantable device to another one can be predictable, mostly when explantation is necessary. Significance: The role of BCI for rehabilitation in middle ear pathology may be extremely important

Multidimensional and nutritional evaluation in post-acute long-term care setting

Since 2011 the Unit of Post Acute Long-Term Care started the activity in Sassari, Sardinia region, initially as Local Health Care Public Service and currently integrated in the University Hospital. The purpose of this paper was to describe the main care methods based on a comprehensive geriatric approach and the multidimensional prognostic index to stratify the risk of mortality and other negative outcomes. With a strong emphasis on nutritional problems, we analyzed the correlations among malnutrition and motility, cognitive impairment, comorbidity and major diseases, and psychosocial determinants

Photochemical R2PI study of chirality and intermolecular forces in supersonic beam

One and two-color, mass selected R2PI spectra of theS1←S0transitions in the bare(+)-(R)- 1-phenyl-1-ethanol(ER) and its complexes with different solvent molecules (solv) (-)-(R)-2-butanol(BR) or(+)-(S)-2-butanol(BS), (—)-(R)-2-pentanol (TR) or(+)-(S)-2-pentanol(TS) and(-)-(R)-2-butylamine(AR) or(+)-(S)-2-butylamine(AS), have been recorded after a supersonic molecular beam expansion. The one-color R2PI excitation spectra of the diastereomeric complexes are characterized by significant shifts of their band origin relative to that of bareER. The extent and the direction of these spectral shifts are found to depend upon the structure and the configuration ofsolvand are attributed to different short-range interactions in the ground and excited states of the complexes. In analogy with other diastereomeric complexes, the phenomenological binding energy of the homochiral cluster is found to be greater than that of the heterochiral one. Preliminary measurements of excitation spectrum of(+)-(R)-1-Indanol(IR) is also reported

Mechanisms underlying the antiproliferative effects of a series of quinoxaline-derived chalcones

The present study aimed to characterize the effects of quinoxaline-derived chalcones, designed on the basis of the selective PI3Kγ inhibitor AS605240, in oral cancer cells. Three lead compounds, namely N9, N17 and N23, were selected from a series of 20 quinoxaline-derived chalcones, based on an initial screening using human and rat squamous cell carcinoma lineages, representing compounds with at least one methoxy radical at the A-ring. The selected chalcones, mainly N9 and N17, displayed marked antiproliferative effects, via apoptosis and autophagy induction, with an increase of sub-G1 population and Akt inhibition. The three chalcones displayed marked in vitro antitumor effects in different protocols with standard chemotherapy drugs, with acceptable toxicity on normal cells. There was no growth retrieval, after exposure to chalcone N9 alone, in a long-term assay to determine the cumulative population doubling (CPD) of human oral cancer cells. A PCR array evaluating 168 genes related to cancer and inflammation, demonstrated striking actions for N9, which altered the expression of 74 genes. Altogether, our results point out quinoxalinic chalcones, mainly N9, as potential strategies for oral cancer treatment

COVID-19 outbreak in Italy: an opportunity to evaluate extended interval dosing of ocrelizumab in MS patients

introduction during the COVID-19 pandemic, ocrelizumab (OCR) infusions for MS patients were often re-scheduled because of MS center's disruption and concerns regarding immunosuppression. The aim of the present study was to assess changes in OCR schedule during the first wave of pandemic in italy and to evaluate the effect of delayed infusion on clinical/radiological endpoints.methods data were extracted from the Italian MS register database. standard interval dosing was defined as an infusion interval <= 30 weeks, while extended interval dosing was defined as an infusion interval > 30 weeks at the time of the observation period. clinico-demographics variables were tested as potential predictors for treatment delay. time to first relapse and time to first MRI event were evaluated. Cumulative hazard curves were reported along their 95% confidence intervals. a final sample of one-thousand two patients with MS from 65 centers was included in the analysis: 599 pwMS were selected to evaluate the modification of OCR infusion intervals, while 717 pwRMS were selected to analyze the effect of infusion delay on clinical/MRI activity. results mean interval between two OCR infusions was 28.1 weeks before pandemic compared to 30.8 weeks during the observation period, with a mean delay of 2.74 weeks (p < 0.001). No clinico-demographic factors emerged as predictors of infusion postponement, except for location of MS centers in the north of italy. clinical relapses (4 in SID, 0 in EID) and 17 MRI activity reports (4 in SID, 13 in EID) were recorded during follow-up period. discussion despite the significant extension of OCR infusion interval during the first wave of pandemic in Italy, a very small incidence of clinical/radiological events was observed, thus suggesting durable efficacy of OCR, as well as the absence of rebound after its short-term suspension