Morphometric study on tadpoles of Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anura; Bombinatoridae)

The tadpoles of Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) can be easily recognized from other Italian anuran species, except those of B. pachypus (though the two congeneric species are allopatric). In this paper we report morphometric data on B. variegata tadpoles from a Lombard population living near a torrent at 450 m a.s.l. On a sample of 264 tadpoles (stages 19-44, according to Gosner, 1960) we measured the following five variables: snout-vent length, tail length, maximum tail height, total length and weight. We found a slight allometric relationship between snout-vent length and tail length, while, as expectes,.the weight is nearly proportional to the cube of linear measures. According to literature data, our results point to highly constant proportions during the development phases up to prometamorphic stages. The ratio between snout-vent length and tail length was about 0.75 during the whole growing phase, while from stage 42 the proportion increases as the resorption of the tail starts

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Un teorema di regolarità relativo ad un problema unilaterale

Si considera una disequazione variazionale connessa ad un problema di contatto tra membrane, e si dimostrano un teorema di regolarità ed un teorema di dipendenza continua.A variational inequality connected with a contact problem between membrane is considered. A regularity theorem and a continuous dependence theorem are prove

Morphometric study on tadpoles of <em>Bombina variegata</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anura; Bombinatoridae)

The tadpoles of Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) can be easily recognized from other Italian anuran species, except those of B. pachypus (though the two congeneric species are allopatric). In this paper we report morphometric data on B. variegata tadpoles from a Lombard population living near a torrent at 450 m a.s.l. On a sample of 264 tadpoles (stages 19-44, according to Gosner, 1960) we measured the following five variables: snout-vent length, tail length, maximum tail height, total length and weight. We found a slight allometric relationship between snout-vent length and tail length, while, as expectes,.the weight is nearly proportional to the cube of linear measures. According to literature data, our results point to highly constant proportions during the development phases up to prometamorphic stages. The ratio between snout-vent length and tail length was about 0.75 during the whole growing phase, while from stage 42 the proportion increases as the resorption of the tail starts

Neurocognitive-neurological complications of liver transplantation: a review

Neurological complications are common after liver transplantation (LT) and they are associated with a significant morbidity. Long-term effects of LT on cognitive and psychological outcomes are not clear. The objective of this study was to summarize the present knowledge on the neurological and cognitive complications of LT, resulting from a systematic review of the literature in the last 10 years. Several studies have investigated the incidence and the pathophysiology of neurological complications; in contrast, the knowledge of cognitive and psychological status after LT is poor. Currently, the effect of LT on mental performance is debated. Some studies have shown an improvement of cognitive function after OLTX and, at the same time, a persistence of different cognitive deficits. In addition, the quality of life (QoL) and the psychological status after LT seem to improve but LT recipients have significant deficiencies in most QoL domains. Consequently, future studies are necessary in order to investigate cognitive alterations and QoL in LT recipients

COVID-19 vaccination surveillance: a public health commitment

none9noopenGiacomo Pietro Vigezzi , Vincenza Gianfredi , Alessandra Lume , Massimo Minerva , Paola Nizzero , Anna Biancardi , Anna Odone , Carlo Signorelli , Matteo MoroVigezzi, GIACOMO PIETRO; Gianfredi, Vincenza; Lume, Alessandra; Minerva, Massimo; Nizzero, Paola; Biancardi, Anna; Odone, Anna; Signorelli, Carlo; Moro, Matte

Neurological complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: The number of orthotopic liver transplantation performed each year is increasing due to increased safety and logistic facilities. Therefore, the importance of reducing adverse events is progressively growing. AIM: To review present knowledge on the neurological complications of orthotopic liver transplantation. METHODS: The epidemiology, the clinical features and the pathophysiology of the neurological complications of orthotopic liver transplants, resulting from a systematic review of the literature in the last 25 years, are summarized. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The review highlights that a relevant variety of neurological adverse events can occur in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. The knowledge of neurological complications of orthotopic liver transplantation is important for transplantation teams to reduce their prevalence and improve their management. In addition, the likelihood of neurological adverse effects provides evidence for the need of a careful cognitive and neurological work up of patients in the orthotopic liver transplantation waiting list, in order to recognize and interpret neurological dysfunction occurring after orthotopic liver transplantation

Confounders in the detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a neuropsychological and quantified EEG study

Background and Aims: Chronic alcohol misuse, HCV infection and cirrhosis may cause cognitive alterations. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of alcohol misuse, HCV infection and cirrhosis per se on the neuropsychological and electroencephalogram (EEG) profile and to evaluate the role of alcohol misuse and HCV infections as potential confounding factors in the detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Methods: A comprehensive neuropsychological profile and EEG spectral parameters were obtained in six age‐matched groups of 30 subjects each: (i) HCV‐related hepatitis without cirrhosis, (ii) chronic alcohol abusers, (iii) patients with HCV‐related cirrhosis, (iv) alcohol‐related cirrhosis, (v) cirrhosis not related to alcohol or HCV and (vi) healthy subjects. Cirrhotic patients were matched for MELD score. Results: The factor ‘cirrhosis’ was associated with low Phonemic Verbal Fluency (PVF) and Difference between Trail Making Test B and A (TMT) (B‐A) (P &lt; 0.001). Chronic alcohol misuse was associated with low PVF, TMT (B‐A), Memory with Interference Task at 10 (ITM 10) and 30 s (ITM 30) (all P &lt; 0.05). An interaction was found between the factors ‘cirrhosis’, ‘alcohol misuse’ and tests (P &lt; 0.01). HCV hepatitis reduced ITM 10 (P &lt; 0.05), but no interaction was found between ‘cirrhosis’, ‘HCV infection’ and tests (P = 0.14). The EEG parameters were mainly influenced by ‘cirrhosis’ (P &lt; 0.05), and EEG alterations were more pronounced in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Cirrhosis per se, chronic alcohol misuse and HCV infection were found to be associated with cognitive dysfunction. In patients with cirrhosis, the interaction with alcohol misuse further impinged on brain dysfunction