Role of nutrition and adherence to the mediterranean diet in the multidisciplinary approach of hidradenitis suppurativa: Evaluation of nutritional status and its association with severity of disease

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory and debilitating skin disorder. The exacerbating factors of HS include nutrition and adiposity. We aimed to investigate the relationships between body composition and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) with the severity of HS in a sample of naive-treatment patients with HS. In this case⁻controlled, cross-sectional study, we enrolled 41 HS patients and 41 control subjects. Body composition was evaluated by a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) phase-sensitive system. PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) and the 7-day food records were used to evaluate the degree of adherence to the MD and dietary pattern, respectively. The clinical severity was assessed by using the Sartorius HS score. HS patients had a worse body composition, in particular lower phase angle (PhA) (p < 0.001), and a lower adherence to the MD than controls, in spite of no differences in energy intake between the two groups. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis showing a value of PhA of ≤ 5.7 and a PREDIMED score of ≤ 5.0 identified HS patients with the highest clinical severity of the disease. After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and total energy intake, the HS Sartorius score maintained negative correlations with PhA (p < 0.001), PREDIMED score, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.005). The results of the multivariate analysis showed PhA and PREDIMED score were the major determinants of HS Sartorius score, explaining 82.0% and 30.4% of its variability, respectively (p < 0.001). Novel associations were demonstrated between PhA and the degree of adherence to the MD with the HS severity. PhA and PREDIMED score might represent possible markers of severity of HS in a clinical setting

Optimising healthcare transition of adolescents and young adults to adult care: a perspective statement of the Italian Society of Obesity

The transition to adult health care (HCT, Health Care Transition), is the purposeful, planned movement of patients from paediatric to adult services. For the adolescent living with obesity (ALwO), the HCT represents a crucial window for effective intervention that can help improve body weight, adiposopathy, and metabolic complications. Nevertheless, no transition guidelines, models, and tools have been developed for these patients. The present statement of the Italian Society of Obesity examines the critical transition of ALwO from paediatric to adult healthcare. It synthesises current knowledge and identifies gaps in HCT of ALwO. Drawing on successful practices and evidence-based interventions worldwide, the paper explores challenges, including disparities and barriers, while advocating for patient and family involvement. Additionally, it discusses barriers and perspectives within the Italian health care scenario. The need for specialised training for healthcare providers and the impact of transition on healthcare policies are also addressed. The conclusions underscore the significance of well-managed transitions. The SIO recognises that without proper support during this transition, ALwOs risk facing a gap in healthcare delivery, exacerbating their condition, and increasing the likelihood of complications. Addressing this gap requires concerted efforts to develop effective transition models, enhance healthcare provider awareness, and ensure equitable access to care for all individuals affected by obesity. The document concludes by outlining avenues for future research and improvement

An Architecture for Recommendation Based Service Mediation,” Semantics of a Networked World

Abstract. Resource brokering is a crucial activity in Grid infrastructures and other environments with dynamic resource selection. The mediation between resource requirements and available resources relies on adequate resource description, which becomes a special challenge when the resources are (Grid) services. In addition to the description of service semantics, service quality is another useful selection criteria in effective service mediation. Inspired by the success of community-and usage-pattern-based filtering and recommendation systems for targeted information access, this paper discusses automatic and manual service rating as an option for judging service quality. Such ratings can contribute to targeted service selection and complement the mediation based on service semantics

FROM CONCEPTUAL MODELLING TO ARCHITECTURAL MODELLING — A UCD METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS

Abstract. Software design is a process of transformation from problem domain to implementation domain based on two crucial models: conceptual and system models. User-Centred Design (UCD) differs from traditional software design in the perspective providing to conceptual modelling. It concentrates on knowledge about the context of use rather than the accidental features of problem domain. UCD is also concerned with the integration of that knowledge into the system model by means of contextualization that allows combining the descriptions of usage with the functional specifications during the process in order to accomplish a valid design solution. In this paper, we present the ADOI (Another Dimension of Information) approach that aims at providing support for contextual development. Due to its declarative specifications ADOI allows explicit conceptualization of usage, as well as of contextual linkage required for the transformation. A conceptualization- driven architecture is in ADOI open with respect to different perspectives for the user interface and the system. As a result, ADOI realizes the role of a complement of existing methods by providing a development support that can be integrated into different design models. Key words. User-centered design, conceptual models, Architectural models, Contextual development, Software design processes 1. Introduction.

Providing On-line Trade Fair Services with FAIRWIS

The EU funded FAIRWIS project (Trade Fair Web-based Information Services) aims at offering on-line innovative services to support the management of trade fairs, either real or Web-based virtual fairs. One of the main differences with respect to what is currently available on Web sites is that these sites have static data that it is difficult to update and to put on-line in an appropriate format. FAIRWIS has a real time connection with an underlying database to guarantee coherence of data and up-to-date status. Moreover, the available data about companies involved in the fair are exploited to provide company managers a valuable support for improving their business. This paper describes some of the innovative features of the system under development

The effect of the ketogenic diet on Acne: Could it be a therapeutic tool?

: Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit resulting from androgen-induced increased sebum production, altered keratinization, inflammation, and bacterial colonization of the hair follicles of the face, neck, chest and back by Propionibacterium acnes. Overall, inflammation and immune responses are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of acne. Although early colonization with Propionibacterium acnes and family history may play an important role in the disease, it remains unclear exactly what triggers acne and how treatment affects disease progression. The influence of diet on acne disease is a growing research topic, yet few studies have examined the effects of diet on the development and clinical severity of acne disease, and the results have often been contradictory. Interestingly, very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) has been associated with both significant reductions in body weight and inflammatory status through the production of ketone bodies and thus it has been expected to reduce the exacerbation of clinical manifestations or even block the trigger of acne disease. Given the paucity of studies regarding the implementation of VLCKD in the management of acne, this review aims to provide evidence from the available scientific literature to support the speculative use of VLCKD in the treatment of acne

Current evidence on the diagnostic and prognostic role of native T1 mapping in heart diseases

Tissue characterization represents a prerogative of cardiac magnetic resonance. Beside late gadolinium enhancement, native T1 mapping (nT1m) reveals tissue composition. It could represent a useful tool for example when contrast medium can't be administrated. The present review summarises current evidence about nT1m in main heart diseases

Left atrial appendage closure guided by 3D computed tomography printing technology: A case control study

Background: We sought to evaluate the additional value of left atrial appendage (LAA) 3D printing derived from computed tomography (CCT) in determining the size for LAA occlusion (LAAO) devices as compared to standard measurement by using occurrence of LAA leak as endpoint. Methods: We evaluated 6 patients with LAA leak (cases) and 14 matched patients without LAA leak (controls) after LAAO. For each group, a patient-specific 3D printed model of LAA was manufactured using CT pre-operative images. The size recommended by the 3D printed model was compared with the size of the implanted device. Results: Compared to the 3D printed model, 55% of the devices were underestimated, the two sizing approaches agreed in 35% of the patients, while the 3D printed model overestimated the size in 10% of patients. The prevalence of LAA leak was significantly higher in the subset of patients with underestimation of prosthesis implanted with the standard approach as compared to the other patients (p = 0.019). Conclusion: 3D printing of the LAA may provide additional value to standard practice for LAAO device prosthesis sizing with the potential impact to reduce LAA leak