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Introduction. The clinical course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly heterogenous, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal forms. The identification of clinical and laboratory predictors of poor prognosis may assist clinicians in monitoring strategies and therapeutic decisions. Materials and Methods. In this study, we retrospectively assessed the prognostic value of a simple tool, the complete blood count, on a cohort of 664 patients ( F 260; 39%, median age 70 (56-81) years) hospitalized for COVID-19 in Northern Italy. We collected demographic data along with complete blood cell count; moreover, the outcome of the hospital in-stay was recorded. Results. At data cut-off, 221/664 patients (33.3%) had died and 453/664 (66.7%) had been discharged. Red cell distribution width (RDW) ( χ 2 10.4; p < 0.001 ), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NL) ratio ( χ 2 7.6; p = 0.006 ), and platelet count ( χ 2 5.39; p = 0.02 ), along with age ( χ 2 87.6; p < 0.001 ) and gender ( χ 2 17.3; p < 0.001 ), accurately predicted in-hospital mortality. Hemoglobin levels were not associated with mortality. We also identified the best cut-off for mortality prediction: a NL ratio > 4.68 was characterized by an odds ratio for in-hospital mortality OR = 3.40 (2.40-4.82), while the OR for a RDW > 13.7 % was 4.09 (2.87-5.83); a platelet count > 166,000 /μL was, conversely, protective (OR: 0.45 (0.32-0.63)). Conclusion. Our findings arise the opportunity of stratifying COVID-19 severity according to simple lab parameters, which may drive clinical decisions about monitoring and treatment.

Background: CTIBL in breast cancer (BC) women is wellknow. It is commonly, but not exclusively, related to aromataseinhibitors. The “Nota 79” by AIFA contemplatesthe primary prevention of fracture risk in BC women inadjuvant hormonal treatment with bisphosphonates or denosumab,at osteoporosis dosage. At the Modena CancerCenter we started a collaboration with oncologists hematologistsand bone specialists in order to offer thebest tailored treatment in high risk fracture patients.Patients and Methods: patients newly diagnosed with BCin hormonal treatment fill-out a form, in order to evaluatethe risk factors for osteoporosis, and based on the resultsand the bone density they are referred to the osteoncologyunit along with serological and urinary markers of boneturn-over.Results: in over 18 months of activity, more than 600patients have been screened by self-completed questionnaire.From the analysis of the first 400 questionnairesemerged that 61% had one or more risk factors, 20%received supplement of vitamin D, and approximately 5%were on bisphosphonates. At baseline, the measurement ofthe height, the evaluation of the spine at the chest X ray orby morphometry highlighted asymptomatic vertebral fracturesin few patients. Several patients presented with secondaryhyperparathyroidism, that required correctionbefore to start any treatment with antiresorptive agents.Cases with hypercalciuria were also corrected along withantiresorptive therapy. Few cases demonstrated high boneturn-over with CTX levels above the limits. The treatmenthas been individualized based on the medical history andcomorbidities, oncological treatment and the bone turnover.All the patients have been informed of the possiblerisk of osteonecrosis of the jaw; dental medical history wascollected for each patient, but orthopanthomography andodontoiatric evaluation was prescribed in selected patients.Vitamin D level was corrected before any therapy andimprovement of the dietary habits and physical activitywas highly recommended. Data analysis is still ongoing.Conclusions: all the patients receiving AIs require the preventionof CTIBL, but the limited resources pushed us toselect, at this time, the patients with special needs to beevaluated in multidisciplinary group. The complexity of thebone health requires attentive evaluation by bone specialistsin selected cases before to start antiresorptive agents.Supplemental data will be presented at the meeting.

EEG signals recorded by surface electrodes placed on the scalp can be thought as non- stationary stochastic processes in both time and space, especially in response to external stimuli. Cognitive tasks, in particular, are reflected by changes in EEG dynamics concerning both rhythms energy and connectivity across different brain regions. In the frequency-domain, EEG analysis is complicated and time-frequency methodologies are needed. The Wavelet Transform, in particular, represents a powerful tool for analysing, within a time-frequency embedding, the EEG. In this study we applied a wavelet-based methodology to extract quantitative time-frequency parameters from EEG signals recorded during a time discrimination task in 12 subjects. We used a continous wavelet transform with a complex Morlet as mother function. In order to improve the time-frequency resolution and to make it satisfactory, each of the four standard EEG rhythms (i.e. theta, alpha, beta, gamma) was studied with Morlet wavelet parameters tuned ad hoc on the basis of both the width of the specific frequency band and the particular type of activity under examination. The numerical values of the estimated time-frequency indexes were then compared, evidencing statistically significant differences in the brain response between experimental conditions.

Indications to surgery for adeno-tonsillar inflammatory disorders and analysis of the effectiveness of surgical treatment, compared with watchful waiting strategy, continue to be the subject of scientific debate. The present investigation focuses on the surgical activity of 14 Italian Otorhinolaryngological Units between 1999 and 2004. Surgical interventions (adeno-tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy) on 26915 children (age range: 2-11 years) were considered. Data on adeno-tonsillar interventions were analysed in relation to other interventions of ENT interest, performed in the same units and in the same period. Adeno-tonsillar interventions accounted for 35.4% of all operations of ENT interest. Adeno-tonsillectomy accounted for 56.6% of overall adeno-tonsillar operations, adenoidectomy 31.6%, tonsillectomy 11.8%. The percentage for the three interventions was homogeneous in the period of the study and in the recruited units. The percentage of children who underwent adeno-tonsillar surgery in paediatric units was higher as compared to general units, as far as concerns the overall number of operations performed. In southern Italy, the number of adeno-tonsillar interventions, in general, and of adeno-tonsillectomy, in particular, was higher compared to that in northern Italy. Results of the present study suggest that environmental factors, cultural issues and local health demands, may influence indications and, therefore, the different incidence of the operations under consideration in the units taking part in the investigation.

Aspetti statistici e clinici pervadono tutte le fasi della valutazione neuropsicologica, dalla scelta dei test alla loro restituzione. Il presente articolo, utilizzando i dati di due ricerche come esempio, mette in evidenza l’importanza di ognuno dei due aspetti e di come questi influenzino le diverse fasi del processo di valutazione neuropsicologica e soprattutto la decisione finale e l’eventuale intervento.

The research examines the resilience of families with disabled children, giving a review of the major variables concerning family coping skills and their development. The study focuses on a parent training program run with parents of children suffering from Down Syndrome, Autism and Spastic Tetraparesis. A method able to determine the effects of thoughts on the parents' emotional state, using the "Idea Inventory" and the "Mood Thermometer" as instruments of assessment, has been developed and is here presented. Data showed that the parent training intervention produces relevant changes in dysfunctional thoughts of parents and an overall improvement in their mood.