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This article is an attempt to develop a formal model of single-actor illness self-regulation; that is, a goal-oriented, emotional and cog- nitive process based upon the creation of anticipated possible futures that trigger plans, decisions, and actions aimed at correct- ing the present state. The contemplated effects of the actions are represented as a transition operator that hopefully transforms the present state into a more desirable future state. As a case study, the model is applied to the self-regulation of glycemia in type-2 diabetes. An outline for the extension of the model to multi-agent, multidimensional self-regulation is also suggested.

BACKGROUND: The Caserta and Naples areas in Campania Region experience heavy environmental contamination due to illegal waste disposal and burns, thus representing a valuable setting to develop a general model of human contamination with dioxins (PCDDs-PCDFs) and dioxin-like-PCBs (dl-PCBs). METHODS: 94 breastfeeding women (aged 19-32 years; mean age 27.9 ± 3.0) were recruited to determine concentrations of PCDDs-PCDFs and dl-PCBs in their milk. Individual milk samples were collected and analyzed according to standard international procedures. A generalized linear model was used to test potential predictors of pollutant concentration in breast milk: age, exposure to waste fires, cigarette smoking, diet, and residence in high/low risk area (defined at high/low environmental pressure by a specific 2007 WHO report). A Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis was carried out by taking into account PCDDs-PCDFs and dl-PCBs as endogenous variables and age, waste fires, risk area and smoking as exogenous variables. RESULTS: All milk samples were contaminated by PCDDs-PCDFs (8.6 pg WHO-TEQ/98g fat ± 2.7; range 3.8-19) and dl-PCBs (8.0 pg WHO-TEQ/98g fat ± 3.7; range 2.5-24), with their concentrations being associated with age and exposure to waste fires (p < 0.01). Exposure to fires resulted in larger increases of dioxins concentrations in people living in low risk areas than those from high risk areas (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A diffuse human exposure to persistent organic pollutants was observed in the Caserta and Naples areas. Dioxins concentration in women living in areas classified at low environmental pressure in 2007 WHO report was significantly influenced by exposure to burns.

This paper aims to compare EVLA to traditional surgery, by evaluating the incidence of recurrences.We performed a meta-analysis to challenge both surgical and LASER treatment, using, as clinical outcome, the presence or the absence of reflux. A systematic review of literature about the treatment of varicose veins was performed, searching in the following databases: PUBMED-MEDLINE, Cochrane Library. Search terms considered were: stripping, HL/S, surgery, LASER, EVL*, varicose vein, GSV, saphenous vein. Only RCTs based at least on sixmonths follow-up were considered eligible in the study. Methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using Cochrane Collaboration Bias Risk Assessment Tool. Effects of the dichotomous variables taken in consideration were evaluated using pooled risk-ratios with 95% C.I. Articles were evaluated initially from abstracts; eligible papers were fulltext examined.We have considered 2 groups, A and B. A Group: 756 legs treated with conventional surgical procedure; B Group: 755 legs treated with EVLA technique. A Group showed 175 post-procedure recurrences, while B showed 97 recurrences. The average O.R. was 1.72; minimum O.R. was of .497 while the maximum was of 8.064.The obtained OR average value is 1.72 with a 95% C.I. of 0.94-3.12, which includes the value 1, contrary to the criteria for rejection of the null hypothesis. For this reason there is not a statistically significant difference between the results obtained by the two techniques.The endovascular laser ablation (EVLA) does not prove to be superior in terms of recurrence, to the surgical technique. However, it remains a viable treatment option in patients with impaired great saphenous vein, reducing postoperative pain and hospital stay.Laser therapy, Meta-analysis, Saphenous vein, Surgery, Venous insufficiency.Questo lavoro si propone di confrontare la tecnica ablativa della vena safena interna con Laser Endovascolare alla chirurgia tradizionale, valutando l’incidenza di recidive.È stata eseguita una meta-analisi per confrontare la validità della tecnica endovascolare Laser con il trattamento chirurgico, utilizzando, come risultato clinico, la presenza o l’assenza di reflusso. È stata effettuata una revisione sistematica della letteratura sul trattamento delle vene varicose, con ricerca nei seguenti database: PUBMED-MEDLINE, Cochrane. I termini di ricerca considerati sono stati: stripping, HL / S, surgery, laser, EVL*, varicose vein*, GSV, saphenous vein. Sono stati considerati ammissibili nello studio Trials Randomizzati e Controllati (RCT) basati almeno su sei mesi di followup. La qualità metodologica degli studi inclusi è stata valutata utilizzando il Cochrane Collaboration Bias Risk Assessment Tool. Gli effetti delle variabili dicotomiche prese in considerazione sono state valutate calcolando il rischio relativo con un intervallo di confidenza al 95% .Gli articoli sono stati valutati inizialmente dagli abstracts; i documenti idonei sono stati esaminati full-text.Abbiamo considerato due gruppi, A e B. Gruppo A: 756 arti trattati con intervento chirurgico convenzionale; Gruppo B: 755 arti trattati con la tecnica EVLA. Il gruppo A ha mostrato 175 recidive postprocedura, mentre B ha mostrato 97 recidive. L’ODDS Ratio (O.R.) medio è 1,72; O.R. minimo è di 0,497, mentre il massimo è stato di 8,064.Il valore OR medio ottenuto è di 1,72 con un Indice di Confidenza al 95% di 0,94-3,12, che comprende il valore 1, contrariamente ai criteri di rifiuto dell’ipotesi nulla. Per questo motivo non vi è una differenza statisticamente significativa tra i risultati ottenuti con le due tecniche.L’ablazione endovascolare laser (EVLA) non dimostra di essere superiore, in termini di recidive, alla tecnica chirurgica. Tuttavia resta una valida opzione terapeutica nei pazienti con insufficienza della safena interna, riducendo la sintomatologia dolorosa postoperatoria e i tempi di degenza.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is a haematopoietic disorder characterized by expansion of phosphatidylinositol glycan-A-defective progenitor(s). Immune-dependent mechanisms, likely involving a deranged T cell-dependent autoimmune response, have been consistently associated with the selection/dominance of PNH precursors. Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes might participate in PNH pathogenesis, but their role is still controversial. NK activity is dependent on the balance between activating and inhibiting signals. Key component in such regulatory network is represented by killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIR are also involved in the regulation of adaptive cytotoxic T cell response and associated with autoimmunity. This study investigated on the frequency of KIR genes and their known human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands in 53 PNH Italian patients. We observed increased frequency of genotypes characterized by ≤2 activating KIR as well as by the presence of an inhibitory/activating gene ratio ≥3.5. In addition, an increased matching between KIR-3DL1 and its ligand HLA-Bw4 was found. These genotypes might be associated with lower NK-dependent recognition of stress-related self molecules; this is conceivable with the hypothesis that an increased availability of specific T cell targets, not cleared by NK cells, could be involved in PNH pathogenesis. These data may provide new insights into autoimmune PNH pathogenesis.

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders characterised by ineffective haematopoiesis with high risk of leukaemia progression. The relevance of immune-dysregulation for emergence, dominance and progression of dysplastic clones has been suggested, but valuable criteria to obtain insight into these connections are lacking. This study showed significant increase of CD8 lymphocytes and mature B cells in the bone marrow (BM) compared to peripheral blood (PB) of low risk MDS patients. Different BM levels of Regulatory T cells (Treg) identified two sub-groups in these patients; only the sub-group with lower Treg percentage showed BM recruitment of CD8 lymphocytes. Different levels of CD54 on BM CD8 cells revealed two sub-groups of Intermediate-1 (Int-1) patients. The sub-group with higher CD54 expression on BM CD8 showed high levels of this molecule also on CD4 cells. BM recruitment of CD8 lymphocytes in the low risk group and/or the presence of high CD54 expression on BM CD8 in Int-1 patients were associated with more pronounced dyserythropoiesis and erythropoietin treatment. Our data shed light on the involvement of immune-mediated mechanisms in Low and Int-1 risk MDS patients and suggest that BM versus PB levels of immune effectors could represent useful criteria for a more homogeneous grouping of MDS patients.

The patient-physician relationship can be conceived as a process of structuring an ill-structured emotional-cognitive problem. So, new methods should be developed in order to capture the relations among emotions and cognitions, and physicians should be educated to recognize the influence of emotions on medical decision-making. The paper describes GRASP, an e-learning application based upon the assumption that cognitions and emotions are dual concepts. The results of a blended e-learning experiment are shown. The students were confronted with a role-playing based illness narrative. Their observations were segmented into information units, and uploaded on the e-learning system DVLN. The set of information units was then transformed into a bipartite graph, and analysed by means of STRUCTURE, an application aimed at grasping the structure of the relations among a set of ''objects''. The results were compared with Correspondence Analysis. The implications for medical education, medical reasoning, and medical record design are discussed.

Objective A survey-based study was designed to assess opinions related to transsphenoidal endoscopy, to evaluate the current global attitudes of neurosurgeons regarding the use of this procedure, and to solicit basic data from key institutions worldwide, with the advantage that large series of cases become available for analysis. Methods A web-based multi-item questionnaire was distributed to the surgical departments of 393 neurosurgical centers by means of an invitation e-mail. The questionnaire was composed of 2 sections: section 1 focused on the surgical technique for pituitary adenomas (standard technique), and section 2 concentrated on surgery for skull base tumors (extended technique). Each section was composed of 2 parts: multiple choice questions and free textual responses. Results From a total of 393 neurosurgical centers, from 23 countries, that received the questionnaire, 87 of them (22%) submitted complete or incomplete responses. The surgical procedure, in 60 cases had been performed by a neurosurgeon, in 53 cases by a neurosurgeon and an otolaryngologist, and in 4 cases by an otolaryngologist only. The endoscope (2- and 3-dimensional) was used in 85.2% of transsphenoidal procedures versus the microscope in 14.8% of cases. The endonasal route was used for approach in 93.2% versus the sublabial route in 6.8% of cases. Computer-guided navigation was used by survey population in 71 cases, micro-Doppler in 51 cases, and Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator in 43 cases. Several hundreds of extrasellar tumors were operated using the extended technique. Conclusions Transsphenoidal endoscopy for pituitary and anterior skull base tumors has become established as a routine method of dealing with a variety of lesions. The level of interest in the neurosurgical surgery community is reflected by the geometric expansion of contributions to the literature on endoscopic surgery.

Background: The most common TP53 gene polymorphism, which alters the amino acid sequence of the oncosuppressor p53 protein, is located at the codon 72, resulting in either Pro72 or Arg72 p53 variant. Several studies have associated this polymorphism with different types of cancer. We have analyzed the distribution and the role of TP53 Arg72 and Pro72 alleles in conjunctival neoplasia. Method: The study included 41 invasive conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (ICSCC), 33 conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 3 (CIN3), 33 of moderate grade (CIN1 and CIN2), and 115 controls from Uganda, a sub-Saharan country with the highest incidence rate of conjunctival neoplasia in the World, particularly in the era of AIDS. The TP53 Arg/Arg codon 72 genotype was detected in 21.9% of ICSCC and in 18.2% of CIN3 but only in 6% of CIN1–2 and in 5.2% of controls ( P Results: These data show an increased risk of ICSCC (odds ratio (OR)=6.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–24.6) and CIN3 (OR=4.1, 95% CI: 1.0–18.0) associated with TP53 Arg homozygosity, not observed in CIN1–2 lesions (OR=0.8, 95% CI: 0.1–5.1). Moreover, the frequency of the Arg homozygosity was similar in HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups. We conclude that TP53 Arg/Arg codon 72 genotype is a relevant risk factor for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva and for CIN3 in the Ugandan population. Discussion: The absence of statistically significant difference in the distribution of TP53 Arg72 or Pro72 encoding alleles between HIV-positive and -negative subjects, affected by conjunctival neoplasia, suggests that HIV infection and/or the associated immunodeficiency represent further independent risk factors for ICSCC.

Objective : To describe the clinical results of the first working year of a telemedicine project based on computerised telecardiotocography. Study design : The project is based on the “TOCOMAT” system, which remotely recorded and processed cardiotocograms performed at five peripheral units from high and low risk patients, then transferred them to a University Operative Centre, where they were displayed, stored and analysed by the 2CTG system and by two expert observers. Results : 457 traces were analysed. The perinatal outcome was good, except for two high-risk fetuses. Both patients and carers had favourable reactions. The management of patients with pregnancies at risk was improved by the interaction of the physicians involved with the experts at the Operative Centre. Conclusions : Telemedicine could enable the decentralization of perinatal surveillance, improving quality of life for pregnant and newborn and rationalizing costs for prenatal care.

Objective To describe size charts developed from fetuses of Italian couples. Method Prospective cross-sectional investigation conducted in three referral centers for prenatal diagnosis. The population of the study included fetuses between the 16th and the 40th week of gestation recruited prospectively and examined only once for the purpose of this study. Exclusion criteria comprised all maternal and/or fetal conditions possibly affecting fetal biometry. The following biometric variables were measured: biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur, tibia, humerus, ulna and radio length. The statistical procedure recommended for analyzing this type of data set was employed to derive normal ranges and percentiles. Birthweight was also recorded. Our centiles were then compared with results from other studies. Results The best-fitted regression model to describe the relationships between head circumference and abdominal circumference and gestational age was a cubic one, whereas a simple quadratic model fitted BPD, and length of long bones. Models fitting the SD were straight lines or quadratic curves. Neither the use of fractional polynomials (the greatest power of the polynomials being 3) nor the logarithmic transformation improved the fitting of the curves. Conclusion We have established size charts for fetuses from Italian couples using the recommended statistical approach. Since the mean birthweight in this study is not statistically different from the official birthweight reported for the Italian population, these reference intervals, developed according to the currently approved statistical methodology, can be employed during second- and third-trimester obstetric ultrasound of fetuses from Italian couples. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

to assess both clinical and non clinical factors associated with elective caesarean section practice and to highlight those typologies of expectant mothers who underwent elective caesarean delivery even in the absence of clinical risk factors.Birth Certificates archive has been used as data source: 62888 available records of all the births that occurred in the Campania region in 2005 both in public and private hospitals. Only those births pertained to women without previous caesarean sections were analyzed.type of delivery, dichotomized as elective caesarean section and vaginal delivery.after adjusting the data for known risk factors, elective caesarean section practice emerged as much more prevalent in private hospitals than in public ones (53.1% vs 24.3%, p0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model showed a significant association between primiparity and elective caesarean section. This association was stronger in private hospitals (OR for interaction between parity and hospital typology 1.81, CI 95% 1.62-2.04). Being older than 34 years, having recoursed to medically assisted procreation and a previous voluntary termination of pregnancy cause an increase in the odd of resorting to elective caesarean section (p0.01). Being foreigner, high educational qualification and young age were protective factors for elective caesarean section (respectively, OR 0.36 CI 95% 0.31-0.42, OR 0.81 CI 95% 0.77-0.86 e OR 0.84 CI 95% 0.78 -0.90). Five different typologies of primiparous women were found by means of a hierarchical classification procedure. A high percentage of elective caesarean section was found in women assisted in private structure with no clinical risk.in Campania there is an excess of elective caesarean sections among primiparous women without manifest clinical risk factors; this excess is higher when the delivery occurs in Private Hospitals. Public health policy and actions aimed at reducing caesarean section rates should be addressed mainly to this typology of women.

The present paper is an attempt to explore the role of measurement in clinical decision-making. First an outline of the bayesian approach to clinical evidential reasoning is carried out. Then, the complex and somewhat counterintuitive features of the dynamics of physiological variables in health and illness are described. Finally, the diagnostic and prognostic value of the measures of biological complexity is discussed.

Histogram Thresholding is an image processing technique whose aim is that of separating the objects and the background of the image into non overlapping regions. In gray scale images this task is obtained by properly detecting, on the corresponding gray levels histogram, the valleys that space out the concentration of the pixels around the characteristic gray levels of the different image structures. In this paper, a novel procedure will be discussed exploiting fuzzy set theory and fuzzy entropy to find automatically the optimal number of thresholds and their location in the image histograms.

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders characterised by ineffective haematopoiesis with high risk of leukaemia progression. The relevance of immune-dysregulation for emergence, dominance and progression of dysplastic clones has been suggested, but valuable criteria to obtain insight into these connections are lacking. This study showed significant increase of CD8 lymphocytes and mature B cells in the bone marrow (BM) compared to peripheral blood (PB) of low risk MDS patients. Different BM levels of Regulatory T cells (Treg) identified two sub-groups in these patients; only the sub-group with lower Treg percentage showed BM recruitment of CD8 lymphocytes. Different levels of CD54 on BM CD8 cells revealed two sub-groups of Intermediate-1 (Int-1) patients. The sub-group with higher CD54 expression on BM CD8 showed high levels of this molecule also on CD4 cells. BM recruitment of CD8 lymphocytes in the low risk group and/or the presence of high CD54 expression on BM CD8 in Int-1 patients were associated with more pronounced dyserythropoiesis and erythropoietin treatment. Our data shed light on the involvement of immune-mediated mechanisms in Low and Int-1 risk MDS patients and suggest that BM versus PB levels of immune effectors could represent useful criteria for a more homogeneous grouping of MDS patients.

PURPOSE. To evaluate visual outcomes, eye movement abnormalities, and postoperative complications after secondary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in aphakic children who had initial LAC correction. METHODS. A retrospective study was carried out on 53 patients (94 eyes). Following aphakic surgery and LAC correction the patients received secondary IOL implantation in the posterior chamber. Special attention was paid to factors that may have influenced their visual outcomes, such as eye movement abnormalities, cataract unilaterality, and cataract density. RESULTS. No association was found between age at surgery and the onset of strabismus (p=0.611) or with visual acuity (p=0.086). However, unilaterality and total cataract density were found to have a negative association with poor vision (p

This paper is an attempt to define the main features of a new educational model aimed at satisfying the needs of a rapidly changing society. The evolutionary epistemology paradigm of culture diffusion in human groups could be the conceptual ground for the development of this model. Multidimensionality, multi-disciplinarity, complexity, connectivity, critical thinking, creative thinking, constructivism, flexible learning, contextual learning, are the dimensions that should characterize distance learning models aimed at increasing the epistemological variability of learning communities. Two multimedia educational software, Dynamic Knowledge Networks (DKN) and Dynamic Virtual Learning Networks (DVLN) are described. These two complementary tools instantiate these dimensions, and were tested in almost 150 online courses. Even if the examples are framed in the medical context, the analysis of the shortcomings of the traditional educational systems and the proposed solutions can be applied to the vast majority of the educational contexts.

Some authors claim that the genetic metaphor can be used for describing intergenerational cultural transmission. In analogy with genes, memes can be conceived as cultural units that can be transmitted from one generation to another. A variant of this metaphor conceives cultural transmission as a sort of contagion within a social network of individuals.In this respect, distance learning networks provide a valuable tool for analyzing the spreading of information in virtual communities. In this article, the time evolution of the student's applications to an interactive distance learning platform was analysed. The platform DVLN was developed at the University of Naples and allows tracking all the students' interactions with the system. The diffusion of the innovation among the students of the Course of Medical Statistics was modelled by means of a system of differential Equations where the diffusion of the innovation adoption depends on the contact rate between two types of students: the innovators a...

The study assessed the agreement in cardiotocogram interpretation between the 2CTG computerized system and experienced and inexperienced observers involved in a telecardiotocography project called 'TOCOMAT'. Both observers and computer analyzed FHR baseline, FHR variability, and number of large accelerations and of decelerations. The k coefficient was calculated for the statistical analysis. The interobserver agreement about the evaluation of the FHR baseline and of the large accelerations was good; it was poor about the assessment of the FHR variability and the decelerations. Similar results were obtained for the agreement among observers and computer. The use of a computerized system provides exact values for most CTG parameters; the experts, however, should rely both on clinical features and on the computerized interpretation, to make decisions about management.

A retrospective analysis of time series of hemoglobin (Hb) destruction of 24 children (11 males and 13 females) with thalassemia from the age of 6 to 12 years showed that the Hb destruction rate typically oscillated with an average period of 50 days. A possible relation between the periodism and the severity of the disease is also suggested.

Citato 93 volte in letteratura internazionale (Fonte: Scopus.com) ---- http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-0034009904&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&sid=1BklTwBDkRxWaxt9FLi7YAz%3a70&sot=aut&sdt=a&sl=37&s=AU-ID%28%22Benassai%2c+Giacomo%22+6602920646%29&relpos=7&relpos=7&searchTerm=AU-ID(\"Benassai, Giacomo\" 6602920646) ----- Background and Objectives: Recent reports have demonstrated improvement in the 5-year actuarial survival for patients with resected ductal adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors favoring long-term survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods: Between 1974 and 1995, 75 patients with pancreatic head carcinoma underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in our department. Results: Overall postoperative mortality rate was 5.3% and morbidity was 24%. Median survival following resection was 17 months. Estimated 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 68%, 46.7%, and 18.7%, respectively. Five-year survival was greater for node- negative than for node-positive patients (41.7% vs. 7.8%, P < 0.001) and for smaller (

This paper is an attempt to develop a distance learning model grounded upon a strict integration of problem based learning (PBL), dynamic knowledge networks (DKN) and web tools, such as hypermedia documents, synchronous and asynchronous communication facilities, etc. The main objective is to develop a theory of distance learning based upon the idea that learning is a highly dynamic cognitive process aimed at connecting different concepts in a network of mutually supporting concepts. Moreover, this process is supposed to be the result of a social interaction that has to be facilitated by the web. The model was tested by creating a virtual classroom of medical and nursing students and activating a learning session on the concept of knowledge representation in health sciences.

Renal functional reserve: Its significance in normal and salt depletion conditions. The aim of this study was the evaluation, in healthy subjects, of the renal functional reserve (RFR), that is, the GFR increase induced by a combined infusion of amino acids (AA) and dopamine (D), in conditions of extracellular volume depletion caused by diuretic administration. In particular, this study was undertaken: a) to evaluate whether and to which extent, AA + D can reverse the functional GFR impairment induced by salt depletion, without volume restoration; b) to study whether any relationship may be found between the GFR in normal condition (the so-called “resting” GFR), and/or the renal functional reserve and the GFR impairment induced by salt depletion, in order to understand the role of both “resting” GFR and RFR in the degree of renal dysfunction induced by salt depletion. In control conditions the i.v. infusion of AA + D significantly increased RPF (+ 41% vs. baseline period) with a mean absolute increase of 211 ml/min. A similar pattern was observed in GFR behavior (+ 31.5% with 34 ml/min of mean absolute increase). A significant inverse exponential relationship was observed between GFR before A A + D i.v. infusion (“resting” GFR) and renal functional reserve (P < 0.05), suggesting that, in normal conditions, these inversely related parameters may widely vary according to the tone of the glomerular arterioles. Following salt depletion, we observed a variable degree of GFR impairment. Both GFR and RPF were significantly decreased (-25.9%, P < 0.05 and -29%, P < 0.05, respectively). The GFR impairment was mainly caused by a significant increase in tone of glomerular arterioles presumably induced by vasoactive substances (angiotensin, catecholamines) as mirrored by the increase of both plasma renin activity (PRA) and urinary norepinephrine (NE) excretion (+164% and +426%, respectively, vs. control period). AA + D infusion after salt depletion determined a striking rise of both GFR (+30 ml/min, corresponding to 37%) and RPF (+193 ml/min, corresponding to 31%) versus the baseline study of salt depleted condition. The GFR value obtained by AA + D i.v. infusion in the normal condition, however, was not reached presumably because of persistence of extracellular volume contraction, which was confirmed by the persistence of high values of PRA and NE urinary excretion and low values of urinary sodium excretion after AA + D i.v. infusion. GFR impairment due to salt depletion was directly related to the “resting” GFR (P < 0.05) and inversely related to the RFR (P < 0.01): the latter relationship suggests that the greater the “resting” tone of glomerular arterioles (and consequently the value of the RFR), the more minor the role of renal vasoconstriction in causing the fall of GFR following salt depletion. Finally, AA + D infusion in the salt depleted condition induced a GFR increase that is inversely related to the GFR value obtained after salt depletion (P < 0.05). This finding suggests that glomerular arteriolar tone influences, also in a salt depletion condition, the response to AA + D infusion: subjects with a lower GFR (with a greater vasoconstriction), in fact, show a greater increase in GFR after the infusion of these vasodilating substances. depletion condition, the response to AA + D infusion: subjects with a lower GFR (with a greater vasoconstriction), in fact, show a greater increase in GFR after the infusion of these vasodilating substances.

Mathematical epidemiological models do not take into account that diagnostic reasoning plays a key role in Statistical Medical Data(SMD) Production.