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Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health concern due to its various physical, psychological, and social consequences. Despite regulatory differences, abstinence remains the primary treatment objective. Addressing the multifaceted nature of alcohol use disorder requires a comprehensive approach. Methods: 150 AUD patients (66%male) with a mean age of 54.10 ± 11.3 years were recruited for the study. Depression, impulsivity, alexithymia, and hopelessness were assessed to determine if there were significant differences in these dimensions between abstinent (N=72) and active drinkers (N=78). Results: The study found significant differences in the psychological dimensions scores, active drinkers exhibited higher levels of depression, impulsivity, alexithymia, and hopelessness compared to abstinent patients. Conclusion: Treatment outcomes for patients with AUD vary between regulatory agencies, but abstinence remains the safest and most preferred objective in managing AUD. Prioritizing abstinence-oriented interventions is crucial for achieving long term recovery and minimizing relapse risk. These results emphasize the intricate relationship between AUD and mental health issues, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions addressing both alcohol consumption and associated psychological distress. Promoting abstinence (or at least reducing alcohol consumption) not only preserves mental health but also prevents life-threatening consequences such as suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential SAR Interferometry is a largely exploited technique to study ground deformations. A key application is the detection of the effects promoted by earthquakes, including detailed variations in ground deformations at different scales. In this work, an implemented Python script (Snap2DQuake) based on the "snappy" module by SNAP software 9.0.8 (ESA) for the processing of satellite imagery is proposed. Snap2DQuake is aimed at producing detailed coseismic deformation maps using Sentinel-1 C-band data by the DInSAR technique. With this alternative approach, the processing is simplified, and several issues that may occur using the software are solved. The proposed tool has been tested on two case studies: the Mw 6.4 Petrinja earthquake (Croatia, December 2020) and the Mw 5.7 to Mw 6.3 earthquakes, which occurred near Tyrnavós (Greece, March 2021). The earthquakes, which occurred in two different tectonic contexts, are used to test and verify the validity of Snap2DQuake. Snap2DQuake allows us to provide detailed deformation maps along the vertical and E-W directions in perfect agreement with observations reported in previous works. These maps offer new insights into the deformation pattern linked to earthquakes, demonstrating the reliability of Snap2DQuake as an alternative tool for users working on different applications, even with basic coding skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To summarize available meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for preventing surgical site infections (SSI, primary outcome) and other wound complications (incidence of seroma, bleeding, dehiscence of the wound, need for readmission and re-operation) in obese women (BMI>=30kg/m2) undergoing cesarean section (CS) compared to a standard dressing. Method: We systematically searched PubMed using Mesh terms and found 3 meta-analysis and systematic reviews published from 2017 to 2021. Results: Based on the evaluation of 2 meta-analysis, the use of NPWT systems is associated with a statistically significant reduction of SSI (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.95, p<0.01) with a moderate grade quality categorization (RR =0,68, IC 95% = 0,51--0,90, p = 0,008). According to the oldest meta-analysis there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (RR 0,97, IC 95% 0,63-1,49) but the quality of the studies was judged lower. The secondary outcomes of all the evaluated meta-analysis were not found statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevention of ISS must be a priority for health professionals. Considering the cost-effectiveness of NPWT, also the Cochrane review of 2022 and the Nice guideline on Cesarean Section of 2021 suggest using NPWT on obese women undergoing CS, establishing as recommended BMI above 35 kg/m2 as a surgical indication to prevent ISS. However, all the authors agree on conducting new RCTs in order to be able to ponder on clinical choices also on the basis of the main limit of this type of dressing: its economic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]