Search

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the go-to method for obtaining samples from gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic lesions. When the transduodenal approach is utilized, the use of a more flexible needle, such as a nitinol 19-gauge (G) needle, has been recommended. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of 19-G flexible aspiration needles in obtaining samples from solid lesions through a transduodenal approach. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from eight Italian endoscopy centers. Consecutive patients with solid lesions who underwent transduodenal EUS-FNA with a 19-G flexible needle were included. Results: A total of 201 patients were enrolled. According to histology, EUS, radiology and 12 months of follow-up, 151 patients had malignant lesions and 50 patients had benign lesions. EUS-FNA was feasible in all cases. An adequate histologic sample was obtained in all except eight cases (96.1%). The sensitivity of EUS-FNA was 92.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86.8%-95.7%), and the specificity was 100% (95% CI, 90.5%-100%). The positive predictive value was 100% (95% CI, 93.4%-100%), and the negative predictive value was 74% (95% CI, 62.8%-82.7%). The diagnostic accuracy was 93.5% (95% CI, 89.2%-96.5%). Conclusions: The transduodenal approach for obtaining samples from solid lesions using a 19-G flexible needle seems feasible and accurate. Clin Endosc 2021;54:229-235

Background and Objectives: In this work, yellow and green varieties of Cucumis melo fruits belonging to different cultivars were studied. In detail, three Sicilian cultivars of winter melons tutelated by TAP (Traditional agro-alimentary products) labels were considered, whereas asun protected the Calabrian winter melon was studied too. With the aim to compare the selective uptakes of inorganic elements among winter and summer fruits, the “PGI Melone Mantovano” was investigated. The purpose of this work was to apply the obtained results i) to guarantee the quality and healthiness of fruits, ii) to producers defend, iii) to help the customers in safe food purchase. Method: All samples were analyzed by ICP-MS and the obtained results, subsequently, were subjected to Cluster analysis (CA), Principal component analysis (PCA) and Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). Results: CA results were generally in agreement with samples origin, whereas the PCA elaboration has confirmed the presence of a strong relation between fruit origins and trace element contents. In particular, two principal components justified the 57.32% of the total variance (PC1= 40.95%, PC2= 16.37%). Finally, the CDA approach has provided several functions with high discrimination power, confirmed by the correct classification of all samples (100%). Conclusions: CA, PCA and CDA could represent an integrated to label to discriminate the origin of agri-food products and, thus, protect and guarantee their healthiness.

The main purpose of the work is to identify a training path within a learning model based on the study of the territory. The fundamental assumption of the study is the consideration of the usefulness of frequenting the territory, and of the goods distributed in it, not as an occasional event, but as a didactic practice for the purpose of achieving disciplinary, training and development objectives of the territory. In this frame of reference there is a training course that involves some clay quarries in the Province of Messina that have had and still have a considerable importance for the territory, due to the development of methodologies for improving the properties of clay-based materials. and, consequently, for the cultural and economic exchanges that derive from it. The educational path traced around the following main items: 1) archaeological information on the findings of clay quarries in the area of Venetico and Spadafora; 2) information on the presence of kilns and quarries in the Province of Messina in 1890; 3) use of clay for the production of ceramics, bricks and for the future development of geopolymer products and artefacts and 4) description of the Hoffmann furnace in Venetico which has recently been renovated and enlarged with the creation of classrooms, laboratories and exhibition and meeting spaces. Scopo principale del lavoro è l’individuazione di un percorso formativo in seno a un modello di apprendimento basato sullo studio del territorio. Assunto fondante dello studio è la considerazione dell’utilità di una frequentazione del territorio, e dei beni in esso distribuiti, non come fatto occasionale, ma come prassi didattica ai fini del raggiungimento di obiettivi disciplinari, formativi e di sviluppo del territorio. In questo quadro di riferimento si colloca un percorso formativo che interessa alcune cave di argilla della Provincia di Messina che hanno avuto e hanno ancora oggi una notevole importanza per il territorio, in ragione dello sviluppo delle metodologie per il miglioramento delle proprietà di materiali a base argillosa e, di riflesso, per gli scambi culturali ed economici che ne derivano. Il percorso didattico tracciato si snoda sulle seguenti voci principali: 1) informazioni archeologiche sui ritrovamenti di cave di argilla nella zona di Venetico e Spadafora; 2) notizie sulla presenza di fornaci e cave in Provincia di Messina nel 1890; 3) utilizzo dell’argilla per la realizzazione di ceramiche, laterizi e per lo sviluppo futuro di prodotti e manufatti geopolimerici e 4) descrizione della Fornace Hoffmann di Venetico che è stata recentemente ristrutturata e ampliata con la realizzazione di aule, laboratori e spazi di esposizione e incontro.

Technological advances have impacted almost every facet of modern culture and even in the educational methodologies. As new technologies become available, they are often embraced in educational innovation in an attempt to enhance traditional instruction. To this purpose, the “flipped classroom” is a learning model in which content attainment is shifted forward to outside of class, then followed by teacher-facilitated concept application activities in class. The constructivist approach, realized through an active-learning style of teaching, is more important respect to the order with which the teacher participated in the learning process. In this respect, the goal is to provide an alternative teaching approach on environmental issue. In particular, thanks to active learning (flipped classroom) it is possible to know and to appreciate a new \textit{eco-friendly} material named to “Geopolymers”. One of the most important environmental advantage that can be attributed to this material is represented by the lower energy requirements for its production. Thus, this material could represent a potential tool able to mitigate the environmental pollution. In this regard, the geopolymers could provide a possible solution to wastes reuse as a resource to scale down the demand for extraction of new resources. This paper looks at some positive aspects of technology and waste treatment, and deals with the production of innovative building materials obtained by waste recycling known as geopolymers. Specifically, it is important to highlight the possibility of using wastes characterized by high silica and aluminum amounts as raw materials, particularly suitable to produce geopolymers by chemical activation with alkali. This is a useful method to improve hazardous-waste management and to reduce health and environmental issues due to the strong capability of make inert hazardous waste. This solution confirms the importance of re-manufacturing, reusing and recycling and, moreover, making a waste a new raw material and helps to move toward a more circular economy where wastes become negligible and further natural resources are used in an efficient and sustainable way. The proposed topic is addressed to students and aims to arouse their interest in the fields of the environmental protection and waste management, but overall it gives the perspective of natural resource preservation, and a most efficient way of their use without depleting the planet's resources.