CT enterography as a powerful tool for the evaluation of inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease: relationship of CT findings with CDAI and acute-phase reactants

Few studies have correlated computed tomography enterography (CTE) findings with Crohn's disease (CD) clinical and biochemical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between CTE findings with CD activity.The CTE datasets from 62 patients were retrospectively reviewed for different parameters: bowel wall thickening and hyperenhancement, mesenteric alterations, abdominal free fluid and complications related to the disease (fistulas, strictures, abscesses). Activity was assessed using the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and some biochemical markers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alpha 2-globulins, fibrinogen, platelets, haemoglobin). Correlations between CTE parameters, clinical activity score and laboratory parameters were assessed by logistic regression.CDAI was significantly correlated with increased fat density (p = 0.03) and intestinal strictures (p = 0.04). Platelet counts were elevated in patients with enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes (p = 0.009) and the comb sign (p = 0.05). Serum alpha 2-globulins were higher in the presence of the comb sign (p = 0.03).The CTE finding of perienteric inflammation (increased fat density) and vascular engorgement of the vasa recta in CD patients suggest that the disease is clinically active and that these patients may require more aggressive treatment than patients without these findings

Swallowing evaluation with videofluoroscopy in the paediatric population

Paediatric swallowing disorders can have several causes, from prematurity and congenital anomalies to gastro-oesophageal reflux and infective or inflammatory pathologies of the upper digestive tract. In neonates, the swallowing process is reflexive and involuntary. Later in infancy, the oral phase comes under voluntary control, while the pharyngeal phase and oesophageal phases remain involuntary. Swallowing difficulties can severely compromise pulmonary health and nutritional intake of paediatric patients. Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) is a radiographic procedure that provides a dynamic view of the swallowing process and is frequently considered to be definitive evaluation for objective assessment of dysphagia in paediatric patients. This review focuses on the different possible aetiologies of paediatric swallowing disorders and related videofluoroscopic swallowing study procedures and appearances

Swallowing disorders after thyroidectomy: What we know and where we are. A systematic review

Introduction Dysphagia and hoarseness are possible complications that can be observed in patients undergoing thyroidectomy or other neck surgery procedures. These complaints are usually related to superior and inferior laryngeal nerves dysfunction, but these can appear even after uncomplicated surgical procedure. Methods We reviewed the current literature available on MEDLINE database, concerning the swallowing disorders appearing after the thyroidectomy. The articles included in the review reported pathophysiology and diagnostic concerns. Results Twenty articles were selected for inclusion in the review. Depends on the possible causes of the difficulty swallowing (related to nerve damage or appearing after uncomplicated thyroidectomy), different types of diagnostic procedures could be used to study patient discomfort, as well as intraoperative nerve monitoring, fiber optic laryngoscopy, endoscopy, pH monitoring, esophageal manometry and videofluorography. Among all these procedures, videofluorography is considered the gold standard to evaluate the entire swallowing process, since that allows a real-time study of all the three phases of swallowing: oral phase, pharyngeal phase and esophageal phase. Conclusion The diagnostic procedures described can help to identify the mechanisms involved in swallowing disorders, with the aim to choose the best therapeutic option. More studies are needed for understanding the causes of the dysphagia appearing after thyroidectomy

Rapporto sulla comunicazione tra ricercatori e stakeholder: un caso di studio nel settore agro‐biologico

Il rapporto presenta i risultati di un’indagine realizzata nell’ambito del progetto premiale Gestione sostenibile della risorsa acqua in agricoltura - AQUA del Dipartimento Scienze Bio-Agroalimentari del CNR, che si è svolto tra ottobre 2014 e ottobre 2015. L’obiettivo dello studio è stato acquisire il punto di vista dei ricercatori del progetto e degli stakeholder con cui collaborano, soprattutto aziende agricole e amministratori, rispetto alla comunicazione della ricerca. Tra i risultati emersi da due questionari somministrati alle due categorie: l’interesse alla comunicazione è reciproco e non si riscontrano problemi di comunicazione tra settori diversi; entrambe le parti vorrebbero comunicare di più con i politici; gli stakeholder acquisiscono i risultati di ricerca soprattutto tramite eventi collettivi come conferenze o contatti individuali con i ricercatori. Gli stakeholder hanno inoltre proposto alcune soluzioni per migliorare la comunicazione con il mondo della ricerca

the cost advantage of sicilian wine farms

This study presents the results of research carried out on a Sicilian wine farm in order to demonstrat e the economic convenience of the mechanized harvest. After the determination of the minimum optimal farm size that justifies the introduction of grape harve ster in the farm, it has been estimated production cost and the relative profitability of two wine grape cultiv ars (Chardonnay and Nero d'Avola), comparing three hypotheses of harvest: manual, with farm property g rape harvester and with rented grape harvester. The economic analysis shows that the introduction of th e grape harvester in the wine farm is justified in large sized farms. However, even in small farms the use o f rented grape harvester decreases the harvest cost s, increasing profit and achieving a cost advantage fo r the wine-producer farm

Study of "the upper Cabo Ladrillero beds" in the homonym locality, lower Miocene of the Austral basin, Tierra del fuego

In the cliffs of the Ladrillero cape, situated on the Atlantic coast of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the uppermost records of the Austral or Magallanes foreland basin infill crop out. This locality contains Lower Miocene deposits informally named "Cabo Ladrillero beds" and "Cabo San Pablo beds" being the "upper Cabo Ladrillero beds" analyzed in this paper. This locality is situated around ten kilometers to the north of the emerging orogenic front (Punta Gruesa locality) where four facies association have been defined from gravitationally-driven supra batial to prograding and shallowing upward deltaic wedges. Deformed and massive beds by liquefaction processes and resedimentation are connected with abundant clastic dykes and synsedimentary faults. The statistic study suggests they are associated tectonic activity related to a transtensive episode rather than tectonic quiescence sometimes suggested in previous works. We conclude that microfossils documented in the area and used as a tool to support a deep marine environment are situated in underlying stratigraphic intervals that form part of the Desdémona Formation and the "lower Cabo Ladrillero beds" cropping out to the south of the study area. Sedimentological evidence are not conclusive respect to the batimetry but absence of classical turbidites, hyperpycnal flows and abundant deformed and resedimented deposits are more compatible with deltaic deposits, with high detritus supply generating unstable slopes rather than deep marine depositional settings, suggesting a more complex depositional evolution than the foraminiferal-based framework dominant in the literature.Fil:Tudisca, E.P. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Pazos, P.J. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Ghiglione, M.C. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Cianfagna, F.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Dyslexia and Second Language Learning. State of the art and future perspectives at Pisa University.

In this thesis, I focus my attention on the problems connected with English language learning by dyslexic students, concentrating on the university system and, in particular, on the present situation and on future perspectives at Pisa University. I further described the difficulties caused by the study of a foreign language, in particular English, through the answers given by five students of the University of Pisa to a questionnaire that I gave them to complete. As the answers to my questionnaire prove, English language learning is an extremely challenging task for a dyslexic student. They find it hard to apply the grammar rules, to write and comprehend written texts and to speak in English and exhibit problems in the memorization of lexicon and in the correct pronunciation of foreign words. The main objective of this thesis is to find adequate methods and didactic instruments to let dyslexic students reach a good level in second language learning, focusing the attention, in particular, on the university system