[Well ageing in the XXI century. Political, social and individual strategies]. / Invecchiare bene nel XXI secolo: strategie politiche, sociali e individuali.

Population ageing is a triumph, but because to the tendency to the increase of the phenomenon in all countries of the globe, it is also a concern and a challenge for national governments and societies. Starting from the current picture in the States of European Union and the future predictions, it's provides an overview of the relationship between ageing and health, emphasizing some social, political and person-related aspects. In particular, it's examined the theoretical models, strategies and multilevel actions proposed to well-ageing and with dignity, focusing on the model of "active and healthy ageing" promoted in 2012 by the World Health Organization and the European Union.

[Hip fractures in the elderly. Observational study in an unit of intermediate care]. / Frattura del collo del femore negli anziani. Studio osservazionale in una Lungodegenza riabilitativa.

ASL TO4-ICU inpatients with hip fracture over 5 month-period were 45, 12 men and 33 women, average age 81. In 42 patients the fall was accidental or environment-related, and in 40 cases it occurred at home. More than 3 coexisting diseases were found in 22 patients (48%), and polipharmacotherapy with more than 3 drugs in 27 (60%). Only 4 (8%) patients presented a diagnosis of osteoporosis, and only one treated with antiosteoporotic drugs. Before the fracture occurred, 35 (77%) subjects walked without help; 28 (62%) were functionally independent, 17 (38%) dependent; cognitive impairment was diagnosed in 11 (24%) patients. Side-fracture was intracapsular in 17 (38%), extracapsular in 28 (62%). Surgery treatment was osteosinthesys in 26 (58%), endoprosthesis in 11 (24%), total hip prosthesis in 8 (18%). Surgery-timing was of 3 or more days in 23 (51%) patients. In the elderly osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated, and surgery of hip fracture is always delayed.

Extremely low frequency-modulated static magnetic fields to treat cancer: A pilot study on patients with advanced neoplasm to assess safety and acute toxicity.

Results of a toxicity pilot human study approved by the competent ethical Committee are reported. Eleven patients with heavily pre-treated advanced cancer were enrolled in a pilot study with different schedules of time exposure to static magnetic fields (MF), amplitude modulated by ELF. An area including the neck, thoracic and abdomen was MF exposed daily, 5 days/week for 4 weeks according to two different schedules: 20 min daily (4 patients) and 70 min daily (7 patients). ECOG performance status was 1 (2 patients), 2 (8 patients), 3 (1 patient). Toxicity was assessed according to WHO criteria. ECG, Chest X-ray, physical examination, blood cell count and complete blood chemistry were performed before and at the end of the treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (grade 2 toxicity) in 1 patient and microscopic urinary abnormalities in 5 patients were the only negative effects observed. We conclude that MF can be safely administrated according to the MF exposure schedules.

Increased mouse survival, tumor growth inhibition and decreased immunoreactive p53 after exposure to magnetic fields.

The possibility that magnetic fields (MF) cause antitumor activity in vivo has been investigated. Two different experiments have been carried out on nude mice bearing a subcutaneous human colon adenocarcinoma (WiDr). In the first experiment, significant increase in survival time (31%) was obtained in mice exposed daily to 70 min modulated MF (static with a superimposition of 50 Hz) having a time average total intensity of 5.5 mT. In the second independent experiment, when mice bearing tumors were exposed to the same treatment for four consecutive weeks, significant inhibition of tumor growth (40%) was reported, together with a decrement in tumor cell mitotic index and proliferative activity. A significant increase in apoptosis was found in tumors of treated animals, together with a reduction in immunoreactive p53 expression. Gross pathology at necroscopy, hematoclinical/hematological and histological examination did not show any adverse or abnormal effects. Since pharmacological rescue of mutant p53 conformation has been recently demonstrated, the authors suggest that MF exposure may obtain a similar effect by acting on redox chemistry connected to metal ions which control p53 folding and its DNA-binding activity. These findings support further investigation aimed at the potential use of magnetic fields as anti-cancer agents.