Asymptotic behavior of a semilinear problem in heat conduction with memory

3This paper is devoted to existence, uniqueness and asymptotic behavior, as time tends to infinity, of the solutions of an integro-partial differential equation arising from the theory of heat conduction with memory, in presence of a temperature-dependent heat supply. A linearized heat flux law involving positive instantaneous conductivity is matched with the energy balance, to generate an autonomous semilinear system subject to initial history and Dirichlet boundary conditions. Existence and uniqueness of solution is provided. Moreover, under proper assumptions on the heat flux memory kernel, the existence of absorbing sets in suitable function spaces is achieved.openopenC. GIORGI; MARZOCCHI A.; PATA V.Giorgi, Claudio; Marzocchi, Alfredo; Pata, Vittorin

Microfracture versus microfracture and platelet-rich plasma: arthroscopic treatment of knee chondral lesions. A two-year follow-up study.

Purpose: the aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinical results obtained in patients affected by chondral lesions of the knee submitted to an arthroscopic treatment with the microfracture technique or microfracture + intraoperative autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Methods: a prospective observational study was performed in patients affected by chondral lesions of the knee (classed as grade III-IV according to Outer-bridge's classification) and early osteoarthritis (classed as grade 1-2 according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification). Their mean age was 52.4 years. Thirteen patients were treated with the microfracture technique according to Steadman (Group A), while 14 were treated with microfracture + PRP injection (Group B). Both groups were assessed using series of measures (a visual analog scale for pain, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form) to compare pre-operative and postoperative values at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Statistical analysis was conducted using a two-factor ANOVA for repeated measures. Results: the VAS score decreased from a pre-operative value of 6.62±1.26 to 3.54 ±2.26 at 24 months in Group A (p<0.001), and from 6.43±1.91 to 3.36±2.84 in Group B (p<0.001). The IKDC subjective score increased from a pre-operative value of 37.02±12.00 to 62.13±19.00 at two years in Group A (p<0.001) and from 34.63±15.00 to 67.11±26.74 in Group B (p<0.001); the SF-36 scores showed a similar trend. Although an improvement was recorded over time in both groups, in the short term the IKDC subjective score improvement seemed to be better in Group B; a similar trend was shown by the SF-36 and VAS scores. At two years, the IKDC Subjective Scale, VAS and SF-36 scores seemed to be similar in the two groups. Over time, no significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the three outcomes. Conclusions: the use of autologous PRP in association with the microfracture technique seems to give better clinical and functional results in short-term follow-up, above all as regards pain. At two-year follow-up, however, the clinical results of the two groups were similar. Level of evidence: Level II, prospective cohort study

Quality traits of saffron produced in Italy: geographical area effect and good practices

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most expensive spice in the world and is used in food, cosmetic and dyeing industries. Considering that the production of saffron is increasingly widespread in medium-small Italian farms as well as the scarceness of information and studies regarding the quality of the saffron produced in Italy, the principal aim of this study was to investigate the quality of Italian saffron. Qualitative analysis was conducted in accordance with ISO 3632 1,2:2010-2011 considering 484 samples collected over four years (2015-2018). In particular, moisture content, aroma strength (safranal), colouring strength (crocin) and flavour strength (picrocrocin) were assessed for each sample, and whether spice quality varied according to the geographical area where the spice was produced was also investigated. Qualitative analysis showed that the majority (84-93%) of the samples analysed are of the first quality category, regardless of the year of production. Moisture content and colouring strength are the factors that influence the quality of the spice most. Principal component analysis showed that quality is not influenced by the geographical area where the spice was produced. Finally, some best agricultural practices to obtain a high quality saffron spice are reported

Weekend Effect and in-Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients with Acute Kidney Injury. A Retrospective Analysis of a National Hospital Database in Italy

Background: The aim of this study was to relate the weekend (WE) effect and acute kidney injury (AKI) in elderly patients by using the Italian National Hospital Database (NHD). Methods: Hospitalizations with AKI of subjects aged >= 65 years from 2000-2015 who were identified by the ICD-9-CM were included. Admissions from Friday to Sunday were considered as WE, while all the other days were weekdays (WD). In-hospital mortality (IHM) was our outcome, and the comorbidity burden was calculated by the modified Elixhauser Index (mEI), based on ICD-9-CM codes. Results: 760,664 hospitalizations were analyzed. Mean age was 80.5 +/- 7.8 years and 52.2% were males. Of the studied patients, 9% underwent dialysis treatment, 24.3% were admitted during WE, and IHM was 27.7%. Deceased patients were more frequently comorbid males, with higher age, treated with dialysis more frequently, and had higher admission during WE. WE hospitalizations were more frequent in males, and in older patients with higher mEI. IHM was independently associated with dialysis-dependent AKI (OR 2.711; 95%CI 2.667-2.755,p< 0.001), WE admission (OR 1.113; 95%CI 1.100-1.126,p< 0.001), and mEI (OR 1.056; 95% CI 1.055-1.057,p< 0.001). Discussion: Italian elderly patients admitted during WE with AKI are exposed to a higher risk of IHM, especially if they need dialysis treatment and have high comorbidity burden

Acute Kidney Injury and In-Hospital Mortality. A Retrospective Analysis of a Nationwide Administrative Database of Elderly Subjects in Italy

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and in-hospital mortality (IHM) in a large nationwide cohort of elderly subjects in Italy. Methods: We analyzed the hospitalization data of all patients aged >= 65 years, who were discharged with a diagnosis of AKI, which was identified by the presence of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and extracted from the Italian Health Ministry database (January 2000 to December 2015). Data regarding age, gender, dialysis treatment, and comorbidity, including the development of sepsis, were also collected. Results: We evaluated 760,664 hospitalizations, the mean age was 80.5 +/- 7.8 years, males represented 52.2% of the population, and 9% underwent dialysis treatment. IHM was 27.7% (210,661 admissions): Deceased patients were more likely to be older, undergoing dialysis treatment, and to be sicker than the survivors. The population was classified on the basis of tertiles of comorbidity score (the first group 7.48 +/- 1.99, the second 13.67 +/- 2,04, and third 22.12 +/- 4.13). IHM was higher in the third tertile, whilst dialysis-dependent AKI was highest in the first. Dialysis-dependent AKI was associated with an odds ratios (OR) of 2.721; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.676-2.766; p < 0.001, development of sepsis was associated with an OR of 1.990; 95% CI 1.948-2.033; p < 0.001, the second tertile of comorbidity was associated with an OR of 1.750; 95% CI 1.726-1.774; p < 0.001, and the third tertile of comorbidity was associated with an OR of 2.522; 95% CI 2.486-2.559; p < 0.001. Conclusions: In elderly subjects with AKI discharge codes, IHM is a frequent complication affecting more than a quarter of the investigated population. The increasing burden of comorbidity, dialysis-dependent AKI, and sepsis are the major risk factors

Cardiac tamponade as a late complication of a minor trauma due to syncope: A case report and literature review

Haemopericardium with cardiac tamponade following minor blunt trauma is a rare, life-threatening condition. The diagnosis of cardiac tamponade as well as therapeutic management may be delayed, since the link between trauma and illness is often overlooked. We report the case of an old woman who developed a relatively delayed cardiac tamponade due to an otherwise minor blunt chest trauma following syncope

Individual Circadian Preference, Eating Disorders and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Dangerous Liaison? A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis

Obesity and other eating disorders are an actual public health problem, especially in childhood and adolescents, and could be also related with chronotype. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the relationship between eating disorders, obesity and the different chronotypes in children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic review of observational studies evaluating young populations dealing with and evaluating chronotype was conducted. Electronic searches were performed in six international databases. A qualitative thematic-categorical analysis was carried out and a random-effects model was used for the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). Results: Fifteen studies were included, but quantitative analysis was only carried out in three of them. Children and adolescents with an evening chronotype had higher body mass index, consumed more junk food or were more predisposed to suffer from food addiction and night eating syndrome. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with evening chronotype had higher tendency to incorrect eating behaviors and were suffering from overweight/obesity. Environment but also lifestyle factors should be considered in the association between chronotype and eating disorders and obesity

Daylight Saving Time and Spontaneous Deliveries: A Case–Control Study in Italy

(1) Background: Although the current literature shows that daylight saving time (DST) may play a role in human health and behavior, this topic has been poorly investigated with reference to Obstetrics. The aim of this case–control study was to evaluate whether DST may influence the number of spontaneous deliveries. (2) Methods: A low-risk pregnancy cohort with spontaneous onset of labor (n = 7415) was analyzed from a single Italian region for the period 2016–2018. Primary outcome was the number of spontaneous deliveries. Secondary outcomes were: gestational age at delivery, type and time of delivery, use of analgesia, birth weight, and 5-min Apgar at delivery. We compared the outcomes in the two weeks after DST (cases) to the two weeks before DST (controls). (3) Results: Data showed no significant difference between the number of deliveries occurring before and after DST (Chi-square = 0.546, p = 0.46). Vaginal deliveries at any gestational age showed no statistical difference between the two groups (Chi-square = 0.120, p = 0.73). There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes, as well. (4) Conclusions: DST has neither a significant impact on the number of deliveries nor on the obstetric variables investigated by this study

Acute Hypotension and Chest Pain as the Presentation of a Post-Myocardial Infarction Acute Pericarditis (Dressler's Syndrome)

We report a case of a 53-year old man admitted because of fever (38.5°C) and atypical chest pain. He also complained of epigastric pain spread to left hypochondrium and exacerbated by breathing. In his past medical history, Hodgkin's lymphoma, gastric MALToma (oncologic follow-up only), hypothyroidism, and hypertension are recorded. Fifteen days prior actual hospital admission, the patient underwent angioplasty with stenting due to a ST elevation myocardial infarction. Moreover, he was enrolled in the experimental clinical double-blind trial GEMINI-ACS [1], designed to compare the safety of rivaroxaban vs aspirin in addition to either clopidogrel or ticagrelor. Thus, his complete therapy included also ticagrelor, bisoprolol, perindopril, levothyroxine, pantoprazole, and atorvastatin. At the time of admission chest X-ray showed bilateral pleural effusion. Blood chemistry panel showed moderate anemia, increase of inflammatory indexes, in particular fibrinogen 1057 mg/dl (normal range 150-400 mg/dl), C-reactive-protein 17.6 mg/dl (normal range <0.5 mg/dl), serum ferritin 650 ng/ml (normal range 11-306 ng/ml), while serum pro-calcitonin was normal. Electrocardiography and cardiac troponin I were not suggestive of further heart ischemic damage. Two days later, the patient showed hypotension, exacerbation of chest pain, as well as a rapid drop hemoglobin values. A thoracicabdominal CT (figure 1) was performed, showing peri-hepatic and pericardial effusions associated with hyper-reflectivity of pericardial leaflets. After a precautionary discontinuation of the experimental drugs, acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel were only given, together with antibiotics, diuretics and steroids. Clinical conditions slowly improved, blood pressure levels raised, together with hemoglobin values, and inflammatory parameters decreased. The patient was discharged in good clinical conditions, with the conclusive discharge diagnosis of Dressler syndrome (DS) related to angioplasty and stenting procedure for acute myocardial infarction