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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, originating in the first decades of life. A better understanding of their early determinants would allow for better prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nutritional and activity-related characteristics during adolescence on young adult cardiovascular risk factors. The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study included adolescents (aged 12.5–17.5 years) in 10 European centres. Four centres designed a nested cohort including 236 participants who were reassessed as young adults (21–32 years). Food consumption was evaluated by dietary recalls, physical activity by accelerometers, physical fitness using physical tests and nutritional knowledge by questionnaires. Cardiovascular health was assessed by Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) Study risk scores and its components. Factors associated with cardiovascular risk were identified using a multivariable regression model. Higher Diet Quality Index (DQI, P = 0.012) and nutritional knowledge (P = 0.015) were significantly associated with lower modified PDAY risk scores. Ultra-processed foods were associated with a lower non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol (P = 0.003), whereas DQI (P = 0.014) and Planetary Health Diet Index (P = 0.016) were associated with a higher HDL cholesterol. Higher DQI was also related to a lower body mass index (BMI, P = 0.006). In addition, cardiorespiratory fitness was related to a lower BMI (P = 0.004). Nutritional knowledge, diet quality and adherence to a sustainable diet in adolescence decrease cardiovascular risk in adulthood, whereas ultra-processed food consumption increases risk. These factors appear as targeted prevention tools for promoting a healthier adolescent lifestyle to decrease long-term cardiovascular risk. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02899416. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, we evaluated whether neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with reduced treatment volumes due to the exclusion of elective pelvic nodal irradiation is a feasible strategy for selected patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients with T2 low-lying/T3, N0-N1 rectal lesions without evidence of disease in the lateral lymph nodes were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent pretreatment testing, including computed tomography imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis with intravenous contrast, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging with intravenous contrast, and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography. The clinical target volume included the primary tumor and the mesorectum with vascular supply containing the perirectal and presacral nodes, with the upper border at the S2/S3 interspace. The total radiation dose was 50.4 Gy, and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy was associated concomitantly. The primary endpoint of the study was the reduction of gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, and the secondary endpoints were pathologic complete response, local control, overall survival, and disease-free survival. Fifty-two patients (30 men, 22 women) with a median age of 67 years (range, 45-85 years) were enrolled in the study. Acute grade 3 GI toxicity was 7.6%, and there were no cases of grade 4 toxicity. Three patients (5.7%) developed a local recurrence. No relapse occurred in the lateral lymph nodes. The local control rate at 5 years was 96.1%. With a median follow-up time of 72.9 months (range, 2.5-127.6 months), the 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 89.4% and 87%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 82.4% and 82.4%, respectively. De-escalation of radiation therapy target volume reduces GI side effects without compromising efficacy in patients with rectal cancer. These results cannot be clearly extended to high-risk disease and need further evaluation in future randomized trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone mainly caused by bacteria and rarely by fungi and parasites. Parasitic osteomyelitis (schistosoma) is a very rare and unique condition with a few literatures. A 14-year- old boy presented with right upper arm sinus for 4 years and exposed bone for 1 year. He has a history of hematuria. Blood tests were normal, urine general was normal and no Ova was seen. In Radiological assessment, X-ray showed Sequestrum in the anterior part of the upper humerus with Involucrum, MRI showed abnormal expansion, cortical thickening and diffuse altered marrow signal in the shaft of humerus with multiple cortical defects, sinus tracts, peri-osseus enhancing sheets and collections. The patient underwent Sequestrectomy and samples were collected for culture & sensitivity and showed no growth, Acid Fast Bacilli was negative, Histopathology test showed marked mixed inflammatory infiltrate composed mainly of eosinophils surrounding numerous Ova of Schistosoma haematobium , the patient was shifted to Praziquantel, wound care and regular follow-up. Long term clinical & radiological follow up showed good healing and the patient was satisfied. Parasitic osteomyelitis caused by Schistosoma is a very rare, and unique condition with a limited published cases in literature. Janet.T.Scott et al. stated that Schistosoma Haematobium is associated with chronic Osteomyelitis during investigation about potential risk factors of Buruli ulcer, which recognized as emerging public health problem by WHO in 1997 in West Africa, that lead to severe complications like amputations. Schistosomiasis can cause chronic osteomyelitis, good history taking and examination, high index of suspicious, collection of adequate tissue samples and sending them to a reliable laboratory are the corner stone of diagnosis. • Parasitic Osteomyelitis is very rare but it exists like schistosomiasis osteomyelitis as in this case. • Adequate and meticulous tissue sampling for culture and sensitivity, ZN stain and biopsy are critical for diagnosis in cases of chronic osteomyelitis. • Teamwork and Multidisciplinary collaboration in managing patients of chronic osteomyelitis improves patients' management outcome and satisfactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a global scale, one out of three people is exposed to earthquakes, and most injuries and deaths in case of seismic events are caused by the damage or collapse of residential buildings. Knowing the type and distribution of exposed assets, in particular buildings, is thus paramount for effective mitigation of disasters. Citizens' involvement in disaster risk reduction activities is constantly increasing by means of crowdsourced data collection, education/training and citizen science activities. In particular, schools have a central role in engaging young students and increasing risk awareness and preparedness. In this work, we explored whether students' participation in this kind of activities can lead to the improvement of current exposure datasets, while increasing citizens' risk-related understanding. In 2021, due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS started a new project to be deployed in fully remote mode, named "CEDAS: building CEnsus for seismic Damage ASsessment". The project consists in the collection and elaboration of crowdsourced data on main residential buildings typologies of northeastern Italy, a seismically active area which suffered consequences from strong past earthquakes. During the project, 170 high school students collected reports on more than 3200 buildings, performing a statistical analysis of theing results. The CEDAS project makes a first step beyond crowdsourcing activities and applies citizen science to exposure development. Results allow identifying the most common building typologies in the region and the challenges and opportunities associated with data collection and analysis. The experience collected during the CEDAS project shows that crowdsourcing and citizen science activities can contribute to both enhancing the exposure data available for the scientific community and increasing risk awareness among young students in the region. • High school students can contribute to the development of reliable exposure databases. • Citizen science activities increase students' scientific knowledge and risk awareness. • The online activity allows reaching a broad audience even in case of limited mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A widE-Ranging investigation of the first COVID-19 LOCkdown effects on the atmospheric composition in five Italian Urban Sites (AER–LOCUS) has been carried out and is presented in this study. The analysis uses particle and gas concentrations from surface in situ sampling, column aerosol and gas properties from photometer/spectrometers, and satellite NO 2 determinations at five sites distributed over the whole Italian territory: Aosta, Milan, Bologna, Rome, and Taranto. These data are related to meteorological conditions to identify the numerous events of long-range transport and separate local from remote influences. Four different types of long-range transport over Italy are identified during the lockdown period, affecting PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and NO 2 concentrations, and aerosol optical depths: fires plumes from Eastern Europe and Montenegro, dust from the Caspian area and from the Sahara, and pollution from the Po Valley. Once the long-range transport events are identified and excluded, the variation of gas and particle concentrations occurring during the containment period is calculated with respect to the period 2015–2019. A general decrease of PM 10 (ranging from a maximum of −52% in Aosta to a minimum of −4% in Taranto), PM 2.5 (from −46% in Aosta and Milan to −0.6% in Bologna), BC (from −77% in Aosta to −25% in Milan), NO 2 (from −72% in Rome to −4% in Taranto), and benzene (about −50%) concentration is found. A positive variation of PM 2.5 is conversely found during March in the southern sites due to some stagnation events, and a strong increase of benzene (up to +104%) in the industrial area of Taranto. Ozone is found to increase by an average of about 30% in all sites. The removal of the long-range transport contributions affects the variations with respect to the reference period reducing the concentrations by up to 22% for PM 10 and 29% for PM 2.5 in the northern sites, and 18% for PM 10 and 16% for PM 2.5 in the southern sites. For NO 2 the reduction due to the removal is up to 14% in Milan and 6% in the southern sites, while for the aerosol optical depth it is up to 70% in Aosta and 50% in Rome. [Display omitted] • Pollutant concentrations during the lockdown are affected by long-range transports of air masses from outside. • The long-range transports are spotted by ground/space remote sensing, in situ sampling and meteorological analysis. • The effects on the local emissions due only to the restrictions are identified. • The relative variation of gas and particle concentrations with respect to the period 2015–2019 is calculated. • The removal of the long-range transports leads to a greater reduction of the concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Uterine rupture (UR) in early pregnancy in nulliparous women is a rare and unpredictable occurrence with high maternal morbidity and fatal fetal outcomes. Intrauterine anomalies could be the primum movens of this dangerous condition and underestimated in the literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An uncommon case of uterine rupture at the 23rd week of gestation in a nulliparous woman, who became pregnant before the resection of an uterine septum. To provide more insight into the possible risk factors, a literature review was performed. DISCUSSION: Loss of pregnancy is common, despite prompt uterine repair. In all cases reviewed abdominal pain characterized by indistinct vague symptoms constitutes the initial symptom of this obstetrical life threatening condition. CONCLUSION: The current case highlights the association of curettage and septate uterus as a risk factor for UR in the second trimester of pregnancy. It''s reasonable that obstetricians must take into account that common gastrointestinal tract problems might be an indicator of the initial weakness of uterine wall leading to the rupture, which is unpredictable all of cases reviewed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report a case of para-articular chondroma located in the infrapatellar fat pad of the knee of a 42-year-old woman with a history of anterior knee pain and restricted range of motion. On clinical examination, a solid palpable mass in the infrapatellar region was detected. Radiography and computed tomography of the knee revealed the presence of 3 different “popcorn”-like gross calcifications within Hoffa’s fat pad. Magnetic resonance imaging showed areas of signal intensity in Hoffa’s fat pad that were consistent with calcific nodules surrounded by chondral tissue. During arthroscopy, a dense extrasynovial mass was discerned within Hoffa’s fat pad. The mass was entirely removed through an open approach medial to the patellar tendon. Resection specimens consisted of 3 well-circumscribed nodules of 5 × 2.5 × 1.5, 2 × 2 × 1, and 1.5 × 2 × 1 cm, respectively. Grossly, these nodules were surrounded by adipose tissue and presented a thin fibrous membrane. Histologic examination showed that the nodules were composed of cartilaginous tissue surrounded by fibrous connective and adipose tissue with multifocal endochondral ossification. The precise pathogenetic mechanism of these tumors remains unknown, but cartilaginous metaplasia of articular and para-articular connective tissue seems to be the primary cause. Patients with these lesions are currently treated with the use of marginal resection or excision. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]