Search

Objective: The aim of the presentstudy was to assess emergency neurology management in Italy by comparing patients admitted to the hub and spoke hospitals. Methods: Data obtained from the annual Italian national survey (NEUDay) investigating the activity and facilities of neurology in the emergency room conducted in November 2021 were considered. Information for each patient who received a neurologic consultation after accessing the emergency room was acquired. Data on facilities were also gathered, including hospital classification (hub vs spoke), number of consultations, presence of neurology and stroke unit, number of beds, availability of neurologist, radiologist, neuroradiologist, and instrumental diagnostic accessibility. Results: Overall, 1,111 patients were admitted to the emergency room and had neurological consultation across 153 facilities (out of the 260 Italian ones). Hub hospitals had significantly more beds, availability of neurological staff, and instrumental diagnostic accessibility. Patients admitted to hub hospital had a greater need for assistance (higher number of yellow/red codes at neurologist triage). A higher propensity to be admitted to hub centers for cerebrovascular problems and to receive a diagnosis of stroke was observed. Conclusions: The identification of hub and spoke hospitals is strongly characterized by the presence of beds and instrumentation mainly dedicated to acute cerebrovascular pathologies. Moreover, the similarity in the number and type of accesses between hub and spoke hospitals suggests the need to look for adequate identification of all the neurological pathologies requiring urgent treatment.

[EN] Dried and sterile acellular esophageal matrix was obtained within a new drying process based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Experiments were performed coupling a conventional detergent enzymatic treatment with two different drying methods: (i) SC-CO2 drying alone; (ii) dehydration in ethanol and a subsequent SC-CO2 drying. Long term preservation was achieved for several months after drying, demonstrating the maintenance of extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility within cell repopulation studies in vitro. Overall, the results highlighted the potential of this novel technology to obtain a dry and sterile acellular matrix that can be easily stored for oesophageal regeneration in patients with emergency need.

[EN] Dried and sterile acellular esophageal matrix was obtained within a new drying process based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Experiments were performed coupling a conventional detergent enzymatic treatment with two different drying methods: (i) SC-CO2 drying alone; (ii) dehydration in ethanol and a subsequent SC-CO2 drying. Long term preservation was achieved for several months after drying, demonstrating the maintenance of extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility within cell repopulation studies in vitro. Overall, the results highlighted the potential of this novel technology to obtain a dry and sterile acellular matrix that can be easily stored for oesophageal regeneration in patients with emergency need.

[EN] Dried and sterile acellular esophageal matrix was obtained within a new drying process based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Experiments were performed coupling a conventional detergent enzymatic treatment with two different drying methods: (i) SC-CO2 drying alone; (ii) dehydration in ethanol and a subsequent SC-CO2 drying. Long term preservation was achieved for several months after drying, demonstrating the maintenance of extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility within cell repopulation studies in vitro. Overall, the results highlighted the potential of this novel technology to obtain a dry and sterile acellular matrix that can be easily stored for oesophageal regeneration in patients with emergency need.

[EN] Dried and sterile acellular esophageal matrix was obtained within a new drying process based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Experiments were performed coupling a conventional detergent enzymatic treatment with two different drying methods: (i) SC-CO2 drying alone; (ii) dehydration in ethanol and a subsequent SC-CO2 drying. Long term preservation was achieved for several months after drying, demonstrating the maintenance of extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility within cell repopulation studies in vitro. Overall, the results highlighted the potential of this novel technology to obtain a dry and sterile acellular matrix that can be easily stored for oesophageal regeneration in patients with emergency need.

[EN] Dried and sterile acellular esophageal matrix was obtained within a new drying process based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Experiments were performed coupling a conventional detergent enzymatic treatment with two different drying methods: (i) SC-CO2 drying alone; (ii) dehydration in ethanol and a subsequent SC-CO2 drying. Long term preservation was achieved for several months after drying, demonstrating the maintenance of extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, mechanical properties and biocompatibility within cell repopulation studies in vitro. Overall, the results highlighted the potential of this novel technology to obtain a dry and sterile acellular matrix that can be easily stored for oesophageal regeneration in patients with emergency need.

Background. The therapeutic management of psoriasis includes conventional treatments as well as the new generation of highly effective TNF-alpha inhibitors. However, psoriasis has proven to be a complex therapeutic challenge and treatment failures are not uncommon. Thus, laboratory biomarkers of disease progression/therapeutic efficacy may greatly help in the clinical management of psoriasis. Aims. To identify laboratory biomarkers for clinical management and therapeutic monitoring of psoriasis. Methods. An observational study performed on 59 patients, presenting moderate to severe psoriasis, undergoing treatment with anti-TNF-alpha agents (etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab). Soluble and cellular immune/inflammatory parameters were assessed at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Results. Clinical efficacy was achieved in 88% of the subjects at 12 weeks, reaching 90% after 24 weeks. IL-6 and IL-22, which were elevated at baseline, were significantly reduced, in association with a significant decrease of CLA+ T cells and an increase of Treg lymphocytes. T, B, and NK cell subsets and T cell response to recall antigens did not show any evidence of immune suppression. Conclusions. Immune/inflammatory parameters including IL-6 and IL-22, CLA+ T cells, and Treg lymphocytes may prove to be valuable laboratory tools for the clinical and therapeutic monitoring of psoriasis.

Background. The therapeutic management of psoriasis includes conventional treatments as well as the new generation of highly effective TNF-alpha inhibitors. However, psoriasis has proven to be a complex therapeutic challenge and treatment failures are not uncommon. Thus, laboratory biomarkers of disease progression/therapeutic efficacy may greatly help in the clinical management of psoriasis. Aims. To identify laboratory biomarkers for clinical management and therapeutic monitoring of psoriasis. Methods. An observational study performed on 59 patients, presenting moderate to severe psoriasis, undergoing treatment with anti-TNF-alpha agents (etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab). Soluble and cellular immune/inflammatory parameters were assessed at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Results. Clinical efficacy was achieved in 88% of the subjects at 12 weeks, reaching 90% after 24 weeks. IL-6 and IL-22, which were elevated at baseline, were significantly reduced, in association with a significant decrease of CLA+ T cells and an increase of Treg lymphocytes. T, B, and NK cell subsets and T cell response to recall antigens did not show any evidence of immune suppression. Conclusions. Immune/inflammatory parameters including IL-6 and IL-22, CLA+ T cells, and Treg lymphocytes may prove to be valuable laboratory tools for the clinical and therapeutic monitoring of psoriasis.