DOCSLIB.ORG

Comparative Assessment of Intraocular Inflammation Following

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Comparative Assessment of Intraocular Inflammation Following Acta Ophthalmologica 2019 Comparative assessment of intraocular inflammation following standard or heavy silicone oil tamponade: a prospective study Francesco Semeraro,1 Andrea Russo,1 Francesco Morescalchi,1 Elena Gambicorti,1 Sara Vezzoli,2 Francesco Parmeggiani,3 Mario R. Romano4 and Ciro Costagliola5 1Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health – Section of Legal Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 3Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy 5Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy ABSTRACT. vitreous substitute (Cibis et al. 1962). Purpose: To evaluate the inflammation associated with the use of standard The use of a vitreous substitute that is silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane; PDMS) and heavy silicone oil (HSO) heavier than water has been recently Densiron-68TM in patients undergoing vitrectomy for retinal detachment. suggested for use as an intraocular Materials and Methods: A prospective study was performed involving 35 patients tamponade in surgical cases of compli- scheduled to undergo vitrectomy for retinal detachment. Patients received PDMS cated retinal detachment of the inferior or Densiron-68TM HSO according to superior or inferior retinal localization of the quadrants (Azen et al. 1998). To date, three groups of heavy tamponades have tears, respectively. For assessing the inflammation, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-1a (IL-1a) levels were evaluated in the aqueous. been introduced into surgical practice: Results: Thirty-five eyes of 35 patients completed the study: 20 eyes received fluorinated silicone oil or fluorosilicone, perfluorocarbon liquids and semifluori- HSO, and 15 eyes received PDMS. The mean aqueous PGE2 level was Æ nated alkanes, such as perfluorohexy- significantly higher in HSO patients than in PDMS patients (869.16 loctane (F H ) (Morescalchi et al. Æ < 6 8 242.83 pg/ml versus 369.38 209.7 pg/ml, respectively; p 0.0001). The mean 2014). Densiron-68TM is a commonly aqueous IL-1a level was also significantly higher in HSO patients than in PDMS used solution comprising F6H8 and patients (81.40 Æ 36.9 pg/ml versus 40.8 Æ 32.5 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.002). 5000c silicone oil, with a specific gravity In HSO, a moderate positive correlation between the endotamponade duration and of 1.06 and a viscosity of 1387 mPas. both PGE2 (r = 0.44; p = 0.05) and IL-1a (r = 0.48; p = 0.033) levels was According to the evidence reported observed. In PDMS, a strong positive correlation between the endotamponade in the literature, the heavy tamponades duration and both PGE2 (r = 0.89; p < 0.0001) and IL-1a (r = 0.68; p = 0.006) are more prone to cause intraocular levels was observed. inflammation compared with standard Conclusion: Although both HSO and PDMS yielded favourable success rates in silicone oil, especially if they remain in the surgical treatment of complicated retinal detachments, HSO triggered a the eye for several months (Morescal- more severe inflammatory reaction, in a time-dependent manner. chi et al. 2014). Side-effects of heavy silicone oil (HSO) are associated with the chemical and physical properties of Key words: heavy silicone oil – inflammation – retinal detachment – standard silicone oil – vitrectomy the tamponading compound and are similar to those associated with con- ventional silicone oil (Semeraro et al. Acta Ophthalmol. 2019: 97: e97–e102 2014). Four main mechanisms are ª 2018 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd reported in the genesis of the inflam- doi: 10.1111/aos.13830 matory reaction to standard and HSO: direct toxicity and immunogenicity, Introduction substitute in vitreoretinal surgery over toxicity due to impurities or instability Introduced in 1962, silicone oil has been the past 50 years, and to date, it remains of the agent, oil emulsification and the most commonly used vitreous the only widely accepted long-term mechanical injury due to gravity e97 Acta Ophthalmologica 2019 (Mackiewicz et al. 2007). However, the PDMS silicone oil (100% PDMS; den- Table 1. Patient demographics and baseline inflammation associated with HSO sity 970 kg/m3; Alchimia Srl, Ponte characteristics. appears to be due to a delayed type San Nicolo, PD, Italy), and 20 eyes TM HSO PDMS IV hypersensitivity reaction and varies received HSO Densiron-68 (mixture (N = 20) (N = 15) greatly because the duration of appli- of 69.5% ultrapure PDMS and 30.5% cation significantly affects the level of perfluorohexyloctane; viscosity of Age: mean 62.3 (16.7) 58.9 (12.8) inflammation in the eye (Morescalchi 1200 cSt and density of 1040 kg/m3; (SD), years et al. 2014). Fluoron GmbH, Ulm, Germany) Sex: n (%) For the safe and effective use of according to superior or inferior retinal Men 15 (75) 11 (73) retinal tamponades, an awareness of localization of the tears, respectively Women 5 (25) 4 (27) Lens status (%) their physical, chemical and inflamma- (Table 2). Phakic 10 (50) 6 (40) tory properties is a prerequisite; vitre- All phakic patients were operated Pseudophakic 10 (50) 9 (60) oretinal surgeons select the most with phacoemulsification of the crys- Preoperative 0.15 (0.12) 0.14 (0.09) suitable tamponade on the basis of talline lens plus intraocular lens (IOL) visual this knowledge. In this study, we implant at the time of vitrectomy to acuity: mean prospectively evaluated the inflamma- allow a careful cleaning of the vitre- (SD), decimal tion associated with both 1000 cSt ous base. Vitrectomy surgery was HSO = heavy silicone oil, PDMS = poly- silicone oil (100% polydimethylsilox- performed using a 23-gauge transcon- dimethylsiloxane, SD = standard deviation. ane; PDMS) and 1200 cSt HSO (Den- junctival system, and no triamcinolone siron-68TM) in patients undergoing was used during any step of the vitrectomy for retinal detachment. To surgery. determination of prostaglandin E2 the best of our knowledge, this is the After the removal of the posterior (PGE2) levels. Analyses were performed first study designed to compare the hyaloids, the vitreous base was thor- using Dynex Technologies DSXTM (v. inflammatory complications associated oughly removed. All visible proliferative 6.03; Chantilly, VA, USA) according to with Densiron-68TM and standard sili- vitreoretinopathy (PVR) membranes the manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, cone oil. were dissected, and relaxing retino- the analysis was based on the competi- tomies were performed, in two eyes, in tion between PGE2 and PGE2-acetyl- Materials and Methods the inferior retina of PDMS group. The cholinesterase conjugate (AChE; PGE2 retinal periphery was inspected for reti- tracer) for a limited amount of PGE2 This study was conducted at the nal breaks that were marked with endo- monoclonal antibody. As the concen- University Eye Clinic of ‘Spedali diathermy, after that the retina was tration of the PGE2 tracer was constant Civili di Brescia’ in accordance with reattached using perfluorocarbon liquid while the concentration of PGE2 sam- the ethical principles of the Declara- and air. Three rows of endolaser treat- ples varied, the amount of PGE2 tracer, tion of Helsinki. The Ethics Commit- ment were applied behind the posterior which was able to bind to the PGE2 tee of Spedali Civili di Brescia (Italy) vitreous base in all patients (200 spots, monoclonal antibody, was inversely approved the study protocol (regis- 200–250 mW according to retinal pig- proportional to the concentration of tered with clinicaltrials.gov, identifier mentation). Finally, after a complete PGE2 in the well. NCT02361645). All study participants perfluorocarbon liquid-to-air exchange, The interleukin-1a (IL-1a) assay was provided written informed consent. the eye was filled with PDMS or Den- based on a double-antibody ‘sandwich’ This was a prospective study includ- siron-68TM according to tear localiza- technique. Each well of the microtiter ing 35 eyes of 35 patients consecutively tion. All patients in both groups were plate supplied with the kit was coated enrolled from September 2015 to prescribed topical dexamethasone (six with a monoclonal antibody specific March 2016; the patients were sched- times per day) and homatropine (two for IL-1a. This antibody can bind to uled to undergo 23-gauge, three-port times per day). any IL-1a introduced into the well. An pars plana vitrectomy for retinal Both PDMS and HSO were AChE that binds selectively to a dif- detachment, and all patients completed removed using a 23-gauge instrument. ferent epitope on IL-1a was also added the study. Inclusion criteria were age Patients with PDMS were positioned in to the well, forming a ‘sandwich’ by ≥18 years and retinal detachment with prone position for 2 hr before the binding on opposite sides of the IL-1a multiple or giant breaks, such as it surgery, while patients with HSO were molecule. The concentration of the requires the tamponade with silicone maintained in supine for the same analyte was then determined by mea- oil. The exclusion criteria were diabetes amount of time. At the beginning of suring the enzymatic activity of the mellitus, previous vitrectomy in the the surgery, 0.5–1.0 ml of undiluted AChE by adding Ellman’s reagent to study eye, previous buckle surgery, aqueous was removed before opening each well. previous intravitreal injection, concur- the infusion. Samples were immediately rent retinovascular or other ocular frozen and stored at À40 °C until Statistical analysis inflammatory disease, history of ocular analysis. trauma and concomitant intake of any Descriptive statistics were used to pre- topical or systemic NSAID or corti- sent demographic and ocular baseline Measurements of prostaglandin E2 and costeroid therapy. characteristics. An independent-sam- interleukin-1a levels Patient demographics and baseline ples t-test was performed to determine characteristics are listed in Tables 1 Vitreous samples were defrosted whether there were differences in PGE2 and 2.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • S•H IOBC/WPRS Meeting- Florence, Italy, June 4-7, 2018
    - IOBCjWPRS s•h IOBC/WPRS Meeting- Florence, Italy, June 4-7, 2018 Abstract book IOBC OILB WPRS/SROP 8th IOBC-WPRS meeting on “Integrated Protection of Olive Crops” Organising committee Prof. Patrizia Sacchetti Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Prof. Antonio Belcari Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Dr. Marzia Cristiana Rosi Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Dr. Bruno Bagnoli Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forestry Systems, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy Prof. Laura Mugnai Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Prof. Stefania Tegli Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Dr. Elisabetta Gargani Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, CREA), Centro Difesa e Certificazione (Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification), Florence, Italy Dr. Claudio Cantini National Research Council, IVALSA Institute, Follonica, Grosseto, Italy v Scientific Committee Prof. Antonio Belcari Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Prof. Angelo Canale Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa Prof. José Alberto Cardoso Pereira Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Department of Production and Plant Technology Bragança, Portugal Dr. Anna Maria D'Onghia CIHEAM-Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Italy Prof. Riccardo Gucci Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa, Italy Prof. Kostas Mathiopoulos Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Greece Prof. Laura Mugnai Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Italy Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Intention to Be Vaccinated for COVID-19 Among Italian Nurses During the Pandemic
    Article Intention to Be Vaccinated for COVID-19 among Italian Nurses during the Pandemic Marco Trabucco Aurilio 1 , Francesco Saverio Mennini 2,3, Simone Gazzillo 2, Laura Massini 1, Matteo Bolcato 4,*, Alessandro Feola 5 , Cristiana Ferrari 6 and Luca Coppeta 6 1 Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; [email protected] (M.T.A.); [email protected] (L.M.) 2 EEHTA-CEIS, DEF Department, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (F.S.M.); [email protected] (S.G.) 3 Institute for Leadership and Management in Health, Kingston University, London KT1 2EE, UK 4 Legal Medicine, University of Padua, Via G. Falloppio 50, 35121 Padua, Italy 5 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Luciano Armanni 5, 80138 Naples, Italy; [email protected] 6 Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (C.F.); [email protected] (L.C.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-049-9941096 Abstract: Background: While the COVID-19 pandemic has spread globally, health systems are overwhelmed by both direct and indirect mortality from other treatable conditions. COVID-19 vaccination was crucial to preventing and eliminating the disease, so vaccine development for COVID-19 was fast-tracked worldwide. Despite the fact that vaccination is commonly recognized as Citation: Trabucco Aurilio, M.; the most effective approach, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccine hesitancy Mennini, F.S.; Gazzillo, S.; Massini, L.; is a global health issue.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    FINAL REPORT Pieve Tesino, Italy, 22 - 24 September 2015 EUROPEAN FORESTRY COMMISSION Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds Thirtieth session FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2015 1 INTRODUCTION 1. The 30th Session of the European Forestry Commission Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds (EFC WPMMW) was held in Pieve Tesino, Italy. The session was held 22- 24 of September 2015 and was jointly organized by the European Forest Institute (EFI) Project Centre on Mountain Forests (MOUNTFOR), the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy), and FAO. The main topic under discussion during the seminar and of the national reports was “Mountain Watersheds and Ecosystem Services: - Balancing multiple demands of forest management in head-watersheds”. The agenda and the session programme are presented in ANNEX A. 2. On 23 September 2015 the hosts of the session organized a study tour. 3. The session was attended by delegates, lecturers and observers from the following countries and international organizations: Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Romania and Switzerland, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), Alpine Convention, FAO sub regional office for central Asia and FAO. The list of participants can be found in ANNEX B. OPENING OF THE SESSION 4. Welcoming words were delivered by Giuseppe SCARASCIA MUGNOZZA (Tuscia University), Roberto TOGNETTI (University of Molise), Alessandro RUGGIERI (Tuscia University), Gernot FIEBIGER (on behalf of IUFRO), Chiara AVANZO (Region of Trento), Olivier MARCO (Chair of the Working Party), and Antonio BALLARIN DENTI (Catholic University of Brescia). The speakers welcomed the participants on behalf of the institutions they represented.
    [Show full text]
  • Dynamical Behavior of the Human Ferroportin Homologue from Bdellovibrio Bacteriovorus
    Article Dynamical behavior of the human ferroportin homologue from Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Insight into the ligand recognition mechanism. Valentina Tortosa1, Maria Carmela Bonaccorsi di Patti2, Federico Iacovelli3, Andrea Pasquadibisceglie1, Mattia Falconi3, Giovanni Musci4, Fabio Polticelli1,5* 1Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (V.T.); [email protected] (A.P.) 2Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (M.C.B.P.) 3Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (F.I.); [email protected] (M.F.) 4Department Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche, Italy; [email protected] (G.M.) 5National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Roma Tre Section, 00146 Rome, Italy *Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-06-5733-6362 Supplementary Materials Figure S1. Root mean-square deviation (RMSD) values calculated on protein heavy atoms for the three simulation replicas of the inward-facing conformation as a function of simulation time. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, x; doi: FOR PEER REVIEW www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 9 Figure S2. RMSD values calculated on protein heavy atoms for the three simulation replicas of the outward-facing conformation as a function of the simulation time. Figure S3. RMSD values calculated on protein heavy atoms for the three simulation replicas of the Fe_WT as a function of the simulation time. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 9 Figure S4 Structural comparison of the inward-facing (rainbow helices) and outward-facing states (white helices), (A front view; B front view rotated of 180˚; C extracellular view; D intracellular view).
    [Show full text]
  • European Papers
    European Papers A Journal on Law and Integration Vol. 4, 2019, N0 2 www.europeanpapers.eu European Papers – A Journal on Law and Integration (www.europeanpapers.eu) Editors Ségolène Barbou des Places (University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne); Enzo Cannizzaro (University of Rome “La Sapienza”); Gareth Davies (VU University Amsterdam); Christophe Hillion (Universities of Leiden, Gothenburg and Oslo); Adam Lazowski (University of Westminster, London); Valérie Michel (University Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III); Juan Santos Vara (University of Salamanca); Ramses A. Wessel (University of Twente). Associate Editor Nicola Napoletano (University of Rome “Unitelma Sapienza”). European Forum Editors Charlotte Beaucillon (University of Lille); Stephen Coutts (University College Cork); Daniele Gallo (Luiss “Guido Carli” University, Rome); Paula García Andrade (Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid); Theodore Konstatinides (University of Essex); Stefano Montaldo (University of Turin); Benedikt Pirker (University of Fribourg); Oana Stefan (King’s College London); Charikleia Vlachou (University of Orléans); Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel (University of Liège). Scientific Board M. Eugenia Bartoloni (University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”); Uladzislau Belavusau (University of Amsterdam); Marco Benvenuti (University of Rome “La Sapienza”); Francesco Bestagno (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan); Giacomo Biagioni (University of Cagliari); Marco Borraccetti (University of Bologna); Susanna Maria Cafaro (University of Salento); Roberta Calvano (University
    [Show full text]
  • Global Partners —
    EXCHANGE PROGRAM Global DESTINATION GROUPS Group A: USA/ASIA/CANADA Group B: EUROPE/UK/LATIN AMERICA partners Group U: UTRECHT NETWORK CONTACT US — Office of Global Student Mobility STUDENTS MUST CHOOSE THREE PREFERENCES FROM ONE GROUP ONLY. Student Central (Builing 17) W: uow.info/study-overseas GROUP B AND GROUP U HAVE THE SAME APPLICATION DEADLINE. E: [email protected] P: +61 2 4221 5400 INSTITUTION GROUP INSTITUTION GROUP INSTITUTION GROUP AUSTRIA CZECH REPUBLIC HONG KONG University of Graz Masaryk University City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Baptist University DENMARK BELGIUM The Education University of Aarhus University Hong Kong University of Antwerp University of Copenhagen The Hong Kong Polytechnic KU Leuven University of Southern University BRAZIL Denmark UOW College Hong Kong Federal University of Santa ESTONIA HUNGARY Catarina University of Tartu Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas FINLAND ICELAND Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro University of Eastern Finland University of Iceland University of São Paulo FRANCE INDIA CANADA Audencia Business School Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) Concordia University ESSCA School of Management IFIM Business School HEC Montreal Institut Polytechnique LaSalle Manipal Academy of Higher McMaster University Beauvais Education University of Alberta Lille Catholic University (IÉSEG School of Management) O.P. Jindal Global University University of British Columbia National Institute of Applied University of Calgary
    [Show full text]
  • Pasquale Femia - Curriculum Vitae
    Pasquale Femia - Curriculum Vitae Education: 1981 Scientific Lyceum Diploma 60/60 1986: Degree in Law 110/110 cum laude University of Salerno 1990–1992 Doctoral Degree University of Naples Federico II Academic Employment: 1992–99: University of Molise, Campobasso Assistant Professor ("Ricercatore universitario") 1999–2001: University of Sannio Benevento Associate Professor ("Professore II Fascia") 2001–2004: University of Sannio Benevento Full Professor ("Professore I Fascia") 2004–: Second University of Naples Full Professor Professional appointments and memberships: 1992- Professor at the Specialization School in Private Law, University of Camerino 2015- President of the Campania Section of the Italian Society of Private Law Scholars (Sisdic) (elected) 2015- Honorary member of the national Board of Directors of the Italian Society of Private Law Scholars (Sisdic) 2003-2015 Member of the national Board of Directors of the Italian Society of Private Law Scholars (Sisdic) (elected twice in succession) 2015- Editor in Chief of The Italian Law Journal (http://www.theitalianlawjournal.it/editors/) 2015- Founder and Director of digital archive "FondoDiritto" (http://www.valar.unina2.it/jsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Ite mid=181) 2011 - Member of the international research network PLT (Private Law Theory: www.privatelawtheory.net) 2011-2013 Head of the Doctoral School "I problemi civilistici della persona" University of Sannio 2005- Director of the book series "Il Diritto e l'Europa" (Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane) 2005-2006 Principal investigator of the research group about constitutional interpretation (50th anniversary of italian Constitutional Court) Awards and Grants: 1990 Fellowship CNR (National Council for Research) 1990-1992 Doctoral course in “I Problemi civilistici della persona” (University of Naples); first-ranked, with scholarship.
    [Show full text]
  • Student Guide 2018 / 2019 Student Guide 2018 / 2019
    STUDENT GUIDE 2018 / 2019 STUDENT GUIDE 2018 / 2019 The courses Second cycle degree course Single cycle degree course PHD research First and second level master courses School of specialization WELCOME FROM THE RECTOR his guide has been created in collaboration with our students to help you find your way around the Uni- versity of Tuscia (Unitus) and make full use of all the Topportunities and facilities it offers. The Guide provides an overview of the dis- ciplines available at our university, the main areas of research and all the infor- mation you need to enrol on our degree courses. The guide provides information on applying for a grant, overseas study with the Erasmus+ programme, sports facilities (CUS) and our libraries. You will also find out more about the historical buildings that host our Uni- versity, the beauty and diversity of our Botanic Gardens, the uniqueness of our research centres and our specialized Professor Alessandro Ruggieri support services including counselling, Rector of the University of Tuscia special needs, and the ombudsman. The guide includes the contact infor- mation you will need during your study period and after graduation in order to support you during your transition into the job market. For further details on the degree pro- grammes, please refer to the individual Department guides providing specific information on the courses of study. My best wishes to you all for a rewarding period of study. INDEX The city of the University 6 School of specialization 24 Viterbo as Unitus for legal professions Departments
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Contributors Summer 2011
    Bulletin of Italian Politics Vol. 3, No. 1, 2011, 211-213 Notes on Contributors Gabriele Bracci is currently the secretary-treasurer of the Italian Society for Electoral Studies (Società Italiana di Studi Elettorali, SISE). He has been the holder of a grant, for the year 2011, made available by the Silvano Tosi Working Group for Parliamentary Studies and Research (Seminario di Studi e Ricerche Parlamentari Silvano Tosi) under whose auspices he has contributed to the execution of a research project entitled, ‘The Italian parliament in complex processes of regulation’ (Il Parlamento italiano nei processi di regolazione complessi). Stefano Braghiroli is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Political Change (CIRCaP), University of Siena and Yggdrasil fellow at the ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo. His main research interests include EU party politics, electoral politics in Central and Eastern Europe, Italian politics, and internet-based electoral communication. His most recent works include articles published in the Journal of Contemporary European Research , Rivista Il Mulino , and Transitions and book chapters published by Il Mulino (Bologna), Palgrave (London), and Nomos Verlag (Baden-Baden). He is actively involved in the project “Asia in the Eyes of Europe” financed by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), within the framework of which he covers the Italian section of the study. He is also co-editor of the journal, Interdisciplinary Political Studies . Maria Tullia Galanti is PhD candidate in comparative politics and public policy at SUM – Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane, Florence. Her research interests range from the quality of democracy to local politics and policy, with particular interest in public administration reforms, institutional performance and the political-bureaucratic relationship.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Technologies Management for Retailing: Frameworks and Cases
    An Excellent Addition to Your Library! Released: June 2011 Advanced Technologies Management for Retailing: Frameworks and Cases Eleonora Pantano (University of Calabria, Italy) and Harry Timmermans (Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands) The application of advanced technologies to point of sale systems is a promising and relatively unexplored field of study, in particular when considering the introduction of digital content and technologies allowing consumers to inter- act with products in new ways. Many e-retailers already exploit the opportunities offered by interactive technologies, such as 3D virtual models, in order to enhance consumers shopping experience. Their use in stores, however, is still limited. The development and use of new shopping assistants for supporting and influencing consumers during their shopping experience plays a key role for both retailers and researchers. Advanced Technologies Management for Retailing: Frameworks and Cases contributes to our understanding of applications of new technologies and their impact on the design and development of point of sale systems and on consumers’ behavior. This volume covers a large range of topics that contribute to understanding consumers’ behavior in new computer-aided retailing environments, and how this influences buying behavior while providing useful knowledge on the management of these new technologies and on the management of the digital contents as a reliable teaching resource for teachers and researchers. Topics Covered: • Changing In-Store Consumers’
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Climate Change Effects on Mountain Ecosystems Through a Cross-Site Analysis in the Alps and Apennines
    Assessment of climate change effects on mountain ecosystems through a cross-site analysis in the Alps and Apennines. Rogora M.1*a, Frate L.2a, Carranza M.L.2a, Freppaz M.3a, Stanisci A.2a, Bertani I.4, Bottarin R.5, Brambilla A.6, Canullo R.7, Carbognani M.8, Cerrato C.9, Chelli S.7, Cremonese E.10, Cutini M.11, Di Musciano M.12, Erschbamer B.13, Godone D.14, Iocchi M.11, Isabellon M.3,10, Magnani A.15, Mazzola L.16, Morra di Cella U.17, Pauli H.18, Petey M.17, Petriccione B.19, Porro F.20, Psenner R.5, 21, Rossetti G.22, Scotti A.5, Sommaruga R.21, Tappeiner U.5, Theurillat J.-P.23, Tomaselli M.8, Viglietti D.3, Viterbi R.9, Vittoz P.24, Winkler M.18 Matteucci G.25a *Corresponding author: e-mail address: [email protected] (M. Rogora) a joint first authors 1 CNR Institute of Ecosystem Study, Verbania Pallanza, Italy 2 DIBT, Envix-Lab, University of Molise, Pesche (IS), Italy 3 DISAFA, NatRisk, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Turin, Italy 4 Graham Sustainability Institute, University of Michigan, 625 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA 5 Eurac Research, Institute for Alpine Environment, Bolzano (BZ), Italy 6 Alpine Wilidlife Research Centre, Gran Paradiso National Park, Degioz (AO) 11 Valsavarenche, Italy; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich. Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland 7 School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Plant Diversity and Ecosystems Management Unit, University of Camerino (MC) Italy 8 Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability University of Parma, Parma, Italy 9 Alpine Wilidlife Research Centre, Gran Paradiso National Park, Degioz (AO) 11 Valsavarenche, Italy 10 Environmental Protection Agency of Aosta Valley, ARPA VdA, Climate Change Unit, Aosta, Italy 11 Department of Biology, University of Roma Tre, Viale G.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on Ecosystem Services Research in Italy
    Report on Ecosystem Services research in Italy version 1 _ September 2015 The report provides an overview of the most significant studies and main research groups in the field of Ecosystem Services in Italy, based on an online survey that was distributed during summer 2015. The initiative RESEARCH GROUPS AFFILIATION TYPE has been promoted by the ESP National Network Lead for Italy and is a first step towards building a strong and motivated ESP National Network. Twenty-one research groups voluntarily adhered to the survey and provided Small and Medium-sized Enterprises the information that are summarized in this report. International organisation of European interest International organisation The report is composed of two parts. The first part contains a list of the research groups that answered the Non-profit questionnaire and summarizes the main results of the survey in terms of ES considered and scale and type of Public body analysis, thus providing a general overview of ES research in Italy. The second part contains more detailed Research organisation information for each research group, including a direct link to the website as well as name and mail address of Secondary or Higher education establishment the contact person. A table sums up types and scales of analysis for each ES. A short description of the three 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 most representative studies of each group in the ES field completes the sheet. The table below lists the research groups that adhered to the survey. The detailed information regarding each The following pages summarize scale and type of analysis of the ES studies realized by the respondents.
    [Show full text]