Fixation free incisional hernia repair with a newly designed mesh with integrated bands

Introdution: Implant fixation and how to ensure adequate mesh overlap are key issues in abdominal hernia repair. A newly developed technique for ventral and incisional hernia repair using a proprietary implant with incorporated straps makes fixation unnecessary through tissue friction. This new implant allows for a broader coverage of the abdominal wall and results in simplified repair. Midterm follow- up in a cohort of patients indicates a decrease in postoperative com- plications and no recurrences to date. Matcrial and methods: A lightweight, large porous polypropylene mesh with a central body and eight radiating arms was used to repair ventral or incisional hernia. The implant was place…

Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms: An uncertain nosological entity. Report of a case

Introduction: Appendiceal mucocele is a relatively rare condition characterized by progressive dilation of the appendix caused by intraluminal accumulation of mucoid substance. Its incidence is 0.07 - 0,63% of all appendectomies performed. Case report: We report the case of a 70-year-old man who came to our observation with gravative pain in right lower abdominal region. A computed tomography abdominal scan revealed a cystic/tubular structure like an appendicular mass with wall enhancement but without calcifications suggestive of a mucocele. Into peritoneal cavity we found profuse mucinous material with a 1,5 cm size parietal nodule. We also identified a free perforation of the cecum with c…

Biologic response of inguinal hernia prosthetics: a comparative study of conventional static meshes versus 3D dynamic implants.

Despite improvements in prosthetics and surgical techniques, the rate of complications following inguinal hernia repair remains high. Among these, discomfort and chronic pain have become a source of increasing concern among surgeons. Poor quality of tissue ingrowth, such as thin scar plates or shrinking scars-typical results with conventional static implants and plugs-may contribute to these adverse events. Recently, a new type of 3D dynamically responsive implant was introduced to the market. This device, designed to be placed fixation-free, seems to induce ingrowth of viable and structured tissue instead of regressive fibrotic scarring. To elucidate the differences in biologic response be…

Bus Speed Estimation By Neural Networks To Improve The Automatic Fleet Management

In the urban areas, public transport service interacts with the private mobility. Moreover, on each link of the urban public transport network, the bus speed is affected by a high variability over time. It depends on the congestion level and the presence of bus way or no. The scheduling reliability of the public transport service is crucial to increase attractiveness against private car use. A comparison between a Radial Basis Function network (RBF) and Multi layer Merceptron (MLP) was carried out to estimate the average speed, analysing the dynamic bus location data achieved by an AVMS (Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System). Collected data concern bus location, geometrical parameters and tr…

La pomice per il confezionamento di calcestruzzi leggeri strutturali

The possibility of using pumice aggregates for concrete in structural applications is discussed. In particular, the mix design of lightweight concrete for the manufacturing masonry units having proper strength, is discussed. Moreover, the design of the unit shape according to the technical code requirements and making it possible to arrange reinforcing steel bars is described. Reinforced bearing masonry walls, made with the concrete units in question, were manufactured and tests on the panels and on the designed units were carried out. For comparison, tests on concrete units and structural elements were carried out after the substitution of pumice aggregates with ordinary lightweight aggreg…

The control of amygdaloid and temporal paroxysmal activity by the caudate nucleus

In gatti curarizzati ed in gatti portatori di elettrodi a dimora e liberi di muoversi, la stimolazione ripetitiva ad alta frequenza del nucleo caudato inibisce la comparsa sia dei fenomeni bioelettrici parossistici focalizzati nell'amigdala e nella corteccia temporale sia dei fenomeni comportamentali omologabili all'epilessia psicomotoria.

Modifications in Evoked Activity in the Visual Cortex Induced by the Caudate Nucleus

The visual system, like the other sensorial systems, is subjected to intrinsic, complex control, originating both in the retina (CHANG et al., 1959; ARDUINI and HIRAO, 1960; STERIADE, 1967) and in the visual cortex (BUSER et a/., 1963; JASSIK-GERSCHENFELD and ASCHER, 1963; MEULDERS, 1965), which regulates its input at various levels of the specific pathways. However, the visual system is also influenced by subcortical structures which, though not exerting on it a strictly selective control, determine notable modifications in the level of excitability of the cortical sensorial neurons. It is in fact we11 known that activation of the mesencephalic reticular formation, by increasing the level …

Open mini-invasive cholecystectomy in high risk elderly. A review of 121 consecutive procedures.

INTRODUCTION: the report describes the features of a low cost, open mini-invasive procedure for cholecystectomy in a sample of 121 consecutive high risk elderly (ASA score 3 to 5). PATIENTS AND METHODS: the surgery is performed through a 3 - 4 cm right subcostal skin incision. An optimal exposition of the operating field was achieved thanks to an innovative three valve retractor. RESULTS: a mean hospital stay of 3,02 days, low complication rate and 2,4% mortality are the results of the described procedure. CONCLUSIONS: in high risk elderly the results are extremely encouraging, particularly in comparison with both laparoscopic and traditional open cholecystectomy. The open minisurgical chol…

Morpho-agronomic and genetic diversity among twelve sicilian agro-ecotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris)

Although Sicily is relatively small (about 25000 km2), it accounts for several agro-ecotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), for many of which no data on morphological, agronomic, and organoleptic characteristics are available to date. Thus, experiments were performed to characterize 12 lentil agro-ecotypes from different areas of Sicily, including some small islands surrounding the main island, and to assess the extent of genetic diversity (by means of six inter-simple sequence repeat [ISSR] primers). A famous agro-ecotype from central Italy (Castelluccio di Norcia) and two commercial varieties from Canada (Eston and Laird) were also included in the study. The results showed a large deg…

The Function of the Caudate Nucleus in the Control of Some Paroxystic Activities in the Neuraxis

(1969). The Function of the Caudate Nucleus in the Control of Some Paroxystic Activities in the Neuraxis. Archives Internationales de Physiologie et de Biochimie: Vol. 77, No. 3, pp. 465-484.

FRCM systems for strengthening masonry structures

Composite materials have been widely used for strengthening weak masonry buildings. Particularly, wrapping with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites has become a common method for strengthening masonry members primarily subjected to compressive static loads or seismic actions. More recently, in an effort to alleviate some drawbacks associated with the use of FRP materials, fibrereinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites have received a lot of interests for external strengthening of historical masonry structures. It is used as an alternative to FRP in situations where these composites have shown some disadvantages or their use is banned. This paper presents a literature review on …

Performance Assessment of Basalt FRCM for the Confinement of Clay Brick Masonry Cylinders

Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites have been proved to be a suitable strengthening material for masonry structures in the last years. Moreover, basalt fibres are increasingly used as reinforcement of composites as a more sustainable alternative to glass fibres. The goal of this work is to investigate the effectiveness of basalt FRCM to confine masonry circular columns. A total of eighteen clay brick masonry cylinders were tested in compression. The specimens were cored from two different masonry assemblies and wrapped with one or two layers of BFRCM composite. The stress-strain curves and the gains of strength and strain capacity of confined cylinders compared to the con…

Experimental investigation on mansory panels manufactured with pumice lightweight concrete

The possibility of using pumice aggregates for concrete in structural applications is discussed. In particular, the mix design of lightweight concrete for the manufacturing masonry units having proper strength, is discussed. Moreover, the design of the unit shape according to the technical code requirements and making it possible to arrange reinforcing steel bars is described. Reinforced bearing masonry walls, made with the concrete units in question, were manufactured and tests on the panels and on the designed units were carried out. For comparison, tests on concrete units and structural elements were carried out after the substitution of pumice aggregates with ordinary lightweight aggreg…

Contralateral potentials in the suprasylvian gyrus evoked by pulvinar stimulation.

AbstractIn encephale isole cats the transmission of the bioelectrical activity in the suprasylvian gyrus, evoked by contralateral pulvinar stimulation was explored. Through the excitability increase and decrease of the pulvinar (by strychnine or KCl, respectively), the surgical removal of the ipsilateral suprasylvian gyrus and the electrocoagulation of the posterior commissure it appeared that the transmission of the activity in the suprasylvian gyrus evoked by contralateral pulvinar stimulation occurs through both the callosal and the interthalamic pathway.

Esplorazione inguinale “open” nel vanishing testis intracanalicolare. E' sempre necessaria dopo laparoscopia diagnostica?

Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) leaves and stems as a potential biofuel feedstock

Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L. syn., Sulla coronaria [L.] Medik.) is a short-lived perennial legume native to the Mediterranean basin, where it is extensively grown as a 2-year forage crop playing a key role in cereal-based systems of semi-arid regions thanks to its versatility, (e.g., used for grazing, hay and silage production, and grazing associated with hay production), good-quality forage, and environmental benefits. To date, sulla has not been considered as a bioenergy crop. This research aimed to evaluate the potential of sulla biomass as a biofuel feedstock; in addition, due to the possibility to separate the leaves from the stems as suggested for alfalfa, the biomass composition wa…

La colecistectomia con procedura mininvasiva open nei soggetti anziani ad alto rischio.

Colecistectomia mininvasiva open. Risultati su una casistica di 285 pazienti consecutivi non selezionati. Confronto con la VLC e la colecistectomia tradizionale.

A simplified method for ductility calculation in RC jacketed columns

Reinforced concrete (RC) jacketing is a common method to retrofit existing columns with poor structural performance. It can be applied in two different ways: if the continuity of the jacket is ensured, the axial load of the column can be transferred to the jacket, which will be directly loaded; conversely, if no continuity is provided, the jacket induces only confinement action. In both cases the strength and ductility evaluation is rather complex, due to the different physical phenomena included, such as confinement, composite action core-jacket, preload, buckling of longitudinal bars. Although different theoretical studies have been carried out to calculate the confinement effects, a prac…

COMBINED INGUINAL HERNIA, A PROGRESSIVE PROTRUSION DISEASE

Les Réponses évoquées Du Noyau Caudé Par Stimulation Du Noyau Cochleaire

Relationship between the caudate nucleus and the dorsal hippocampus, in the cat.

Functional Relations Between the Caudate Nucleus and the Dorsal Hippocampus in the Cat

Cadmium as apoptotic inductor in sea urchin embryos: possible implication of extrinsic pathway

Calibrazione Sperimentale di un Modello Ciclico per Tamponamenti

Reduction of plasma granzyme A correlates with severity of sepsis in burn patients.

The risk of mortality is high in burn patients and correlates with age, burn area extent, and sepsis. Immunosuppression has been reported to occur after severe burn. Cytotoxic cells possess specialized granules containing perforin and a group of serine proteases (granzymes). Granzyme A is a serine protease constitutively expressed by gammadelta and NK cells, in agreement with their functional cytolytic potential. In vitro studies have shown that GrA may be released extracellularly during cytotoxic cell degranulation, indicating the activation of cytotoxic cells. The aim of our study was to determine plasma GrA activity in burned patients and to verify if decreased GrA levels were associated…

Scorpiurus muricatus L.: an interesting legume species for Mediterranean forage systems

Scorpiurus muricatus L. (prickly scorpion’s tail) is a legume species widely distributed as a spontaneous plant in Mediterranean pastures. In Sicily, farmers ascribe to this species a very high palatability and galactogogue effect, so that its abundance increases the value of the pasture. However, despite its worthy traits, the use of S. muricatus as a forage within cropping systems has not been well investigated. A field experiment was performed during two growing seasons in a semiarid Mediterranean environment to acquire information on the productivity of S. muricatus in comparison with other forage species grown in Mediterranean areas (e.g. berseem clover, burr medic, subterranean clover…