University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

About: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is a education organization based out in Modena, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 8179 authors who have published 22418 publications receiving 671337 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia & Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia.

Magnetic anisotropy of the antiferromagnetic ring [Cr8F8Piv16].

Abstract: A new tetragonal (P4212) crystalline form of [Cr8F8Piv16] (HPiv=pivalic acid, trimethyl acetic acid) is reported. The ring-shaped molecules, which are aligned in a parallel fashion in the unit cell, form almost perfectly planar, regular octagons. The interaction between the CrIII ions is antiferromagnetic (J=12 cm−1) which results in a S=0 spin ground state. The low-lying spin excited states were investigated by cantilever torque magnetometry (CTM) and high-frequency EPR (HFEPR). The compound shows hard-axis anisotropy. The axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters of the first two spin excited states (S=1 and S=2, respectively) are D1=1.59(3) cm−1 or 1.63 cm−1 (from CTM and HFEPR, respectively) and D2=0.37 cm−1 (from HFEPR). The dipolar contributions to the ZFS of the S=1 and S=2 spin states were calculated with the point dipolar approximation. These contributions proved to be less than the combined single-ion contributions. Angular overlap model calculations that used parameters obtained from the electronic absorption spectrum, showed that the unique axis of the single-ion ZFS is at an angle of 19.3(1)° with respect to the ring axis. The excellent agreement between the experimental and the theoretical results show the validity of the used methods for the analysis of the magnetic anisotropy in antiferromagnetic CrIII rings.

Predictors of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly: an Italian survey

Abstract: Objective: To describe demographic and hormonal characteristics, comorbidities (diabetes mellitus and hypertension), therapeutic procedures and their effectiveness, as well as predictors of morbidity and mortality in a nationwide survey of Italian acromegalic patients Design: Retrospective multicenter epidemiological study endorsed by the Italian Society of Endocrinology and performed in 24 tertiary referral Italian centers The mean follow-up time was 120 months Results: A total of 1512 patients, 41% male, mean age: 45G13 years, mean GH: 31G37 mg/l, IGF1: 744 G318 ng/ml, were included Diabetes mellitus was reported in 16% of cases and hypertension in 33% Older age and higher IGF1 levels at diagnosis were significant predictors of diabetes and hypertension At the last follow-up, 65% of patients had a controlled disease, of whom 55% were off medical therapy Observed deaths were 61, with a standardized mortality ratio of 113 95% (confidence interval (CI): 087‐146) Mortality was significantly higher in the patients with persistently active disease (193; 95% CI: 134‐270) Main causes of death were vascular diseases and malignancies with similar prevalence A multivariate analysis showed that older age, higher GH at the last follow-up, higher IGF1 levels at diagnosis, malignancy, and radiotherapy were independent predictors of mortality Conclusions: Pretreatment IGF1 levels are important predictors of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly The full hormonal control of the disease, nowadays reached in the majority of patients with modern management, reduces greatly the disease-related mortality

Oxidative stress tests: overview on reliability and use. Part I.

Abstract: Although the healthcare field is increasingly aware of the importance of free radicals and oxidative stress, screening and monitoring has yet become a routine test since, dangerously, there are no symptoms of this condition. Therefore, in very few cases is oxidative stress addressed. Paradoxically, patients are often advised supplementation with antioxidants and or diets with increased antioxidant profile, which range from vitamins to minerals which is action against oxidative stress states and even more so no test is advised to assess whether the patient is under attack by free radicals or has a depleted antioxidant capacity. Hence oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals (ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species) production and existing antioxidant capacity (AC), living organisms have a complex anti-oxidant power. A decrease in ROS formation is often due to an increase in antioxidant capacity whilst an increase in the AC may be associated to decreased ROS values. But this is not always apparently so. Test kits for photometric determinations applicable to small laboratories are increasingly available.