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Aims: Investigating whether and to what extent changes in glomerular hemodynamic parameters, beyond glomerular hyperfiltration, could predict glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline in hypertensive, non-proteinuric type 2 diabetic patients. Materials and methods: We estimated baseline afferent (Ra) and efferent (Re) arteriolar resistances and glomerular hydrostatic pressure in 60 consecutive patients from DEMAND study, using the Gomez’ equations. Baseline renal plasma flow was measured by para-aminohippurate plasma clearance, and GFR was measured by iohexol plasma clearance at baseline and every 6 months for a median of 4.0 years [IQR 3.5–4.0 years]. Patients with a GFR decline > or ≤ 3 mL/min/1.73 m2/year were categorized as “Progressors” and “Non-progressors,” respectively. Predictors of GFR decline were studied by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: •The GFR declined by a median [IQR] of 4.06 [5.46–2.00] mL/min/1.73 m2/year in the study group as a whole and by 5.35 [6.60–4.48] mL/min/1.73 m2/year and 1.71 [2.14–1.33] mL/min/1.73 m2/year in Progressors and Non-progressors, considered separately. Progressors had a higher baseline Ra (3487.3 ± 1349.3 dyne•sec•cm−5 vs. 2877.0 ± 668.9 dyne•sec•cm−5, p < 0.05) and higher Ra/Re ratio (1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3, p < 0.01) than Non-progressors. At multivariable logistic regression analysis, Ra/Re ratio and arterial hypertension duration were independently associated with GFR decline (odds ratio [95% CI] 8.50 [1.56–46.28] and 1.14 [1.01–1.28]), respectively. Conclusions: Increased Ra/Re ratio and arterial hypertension duration predict early GFR decline in hypertensive non-proteinuric type 2 diabetic patients. These findings could be explained by glomerular hypoperfusion and chronic ischemic injury related to pre-glomerular arteriolar narrowing. Clinical trial registration: DEMAND, NCT00157586, September 12, 2005.

Tra gli approcci che una psicologia dell’arte può sviluppare, vi è quello di tipo ‘percettivo’ in cui si studiano e si valutano gli aspetti strutturali delle opere d’arte, secondo una tradizione che ha in Arnheim il capofila. In questo lavoro ci siamo chiesti se la Psicologia della percezione può fornire un vero contributo alla comprensione di fenomeni sensoriali-cognitivi che sono tradizionalmente terreno di ricerca della Storia dell’arte. Attraverso l’analisi di due casi concreti, i quali partivano da un presupposto simile – cioè l’ipotesi che l’esecuzione di un’opera d’arte fosse stata in parte influenzata dalla distorsione spaziale nota come ‘illusione di Poggendorff’ – abbiamo tentato di evidenziare il ruolo rilevante che l’indagine sperimentale può ricoprire anche nello studio di fatti artistici. Se la Psicologia della percezione vuole contribuire in modo serio e originale all’analisi e comprensione di fenomeni artistici, essa deve andare oltre la sola osservazione – punto di partenza imprescindibile per la scoperta di problemi e argomenti di studio, ma che da sola rischia di divenire alla più aneddotica, quando non causa di conclusioni affrettate – mettendo in campo anche i metodi che le sono propri, cioè l’approccio sperimentale

Vittorio Benussi was the first researcher to demonstrate that, in perception, space and time are deeply intertwined. In particular, he showed the effect later known as “tau effect”, where the length of temporal intervals influence the judgement on spatial distances. Although several years passed, the link between space and time has no yet definitely clarified. The aim of this paper is to replicate Benussi’s original experiment in order to better analyse the conditions in which tau effect appears with visual stimuli. Our results confirmed the influence of the duration of temporal intervals on the perceived length of spatial distances. An interaction between space and time with both the position of the Standard Stimulus and the direction of stimuli presentation adds further meaning to Benussi results.