Both treatments improved genital symptoms, colposcopical features and MV, although genistein was more effective on genital score. Both treatments did not significantly influence flow cytometry parameters, although genistein showed slight decrease in DI, with a normalization of the aneuploid content present in some cases that could represent an additional application of intravaginal phytoestrogen therapy, providing an alternative therapy of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal patients. The results of this investigation should be considered preliminary and need to be verified in larger, prospective studies.

Structural properties and medium-range order (MRO) in calcium metasilicate (CaSiO3) glass are investigated at different concentrations of calcium oxide through the molecular dynamics technique. Calculations are based on the Born–Mayer–Huggins potential, and show that the experimental Ca–Ca partial structure factor, which documents the existence in the glass of Ca MRO, can qualitatively be reproduced within such a model. The characteristics of Ca MRO are then examined in the context of the overall structure of the system. At equimolar concentrations of CaO and SiO2, the simulation evidentiates the formation in the glass of clusters of CaO6 octahedra in which Ca ions are roughly lying on a plane, in a configuration that closely resembles the one of crystalline CaSiO3. On the other hand, the ‘network’ structure and MRO of pure SiO2 glass appear sensibly affected by the presence of Ca ions, with considerable loose of connectivity between SiO4 tetrahedral units, and reduction of the first sharp diffraction peak in the neutron structure factor. The q-space investigation of charge–charge correlations signals the presence of medium-range charge ordering in the calcium vs oxygen ion distribution, at a wave vector equal to that associated to Ca MRO. The meaning and implications of this result are discussed.

Extensive Monte Carlo (MC) and integral equation calculations of thermodynamic and structural properties for the 1-1 aqueous electrolyte regime of the primitive model are reported. The salt concentration covers the range 0.1–2 M. The ratio of the radii of the two ionic species α covers the range 0.1–0.8. The MC results are compared to the results of the HNC, MSA, and EXP approximations. The excess internal energies calculated in the HNC are found to be in good agreement with the MC values. In the MSA the energy turns out to be too high for large α and too small for small α. For α=0.4 the MSA value is accurate as compared to the simulation. Similar remarks hold for the osmotic coefficient. The radial distribution functions (RDF) calculated in the EXP approximation agree fairly well with the MC results at all molarities and radius ratios investigated, except for α=0.1, where the agreement is only qualitative. The MSA yields RDF which are in qualitative agreement with the MC only at high concentrations and for not too small α. Some preliminary MC results are also reported for the 2-2 aqueous electrolyte solutions at 2 M with α=0.4. An enhancement occurs in the peak of g++(r) and g−−(r) with respect to the peak of the corresponding glike(r) of the 2-2 symmetrical case (α=1). This peak is commonly associated with ion clustering. It appears that this effect is more pronounced for ions of different diameters.

The mean spherical approximation for a fluid of charged hard spheres of different radii is applied to the evaluation of diffraction patterns for the whole family of molten alkali halides. The ionic radii entering the model are determined from the liquid-state compressibility. The liquid-state radii are shown to be characteristic temperature-dependent lengths for each ion through the family of salts, and a good one-parameter fit of the whole set of compressibilities at each temperature is obtained through the assumption that the radius ratios are those for basic radii yielded by the Born–Mayer theory of alkali halide crystals. The analysis also provides new evidence against the older sets of crystal ionic radii. Calculations of partial structure factors and of x-ray diffraction patterns are then reported for all the salts and compared with the results of x-ray and neutron diffraction experiments wherever possible. The model emerges as having semiquantitative value in the prediction of x-ray diffraction from simple ionic fluids and in its detailed interpretation.

BackgroundThe DREAM Project operates within the framework of the national health systems of several sub-Saharan African countries and aims to introduce the essential components of an integrated strategy for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The project is intended to serve as a model for a wide-ranging scale-up in the response to the epidemic. This paper aims to show DREAM's challenges and the solutions adopted. One of the solutions is the efficient management of the clinical data regarding the treatment of the patients and epidemiological analyses.MethodsSpecific software for the management of the patients' EMR has been created within the DREAM programme in order to deal with the challenges deriving from the context in which DREAM operates. Setting up a computer infrastructure in health centres, providing a power supply, as well as managing the data and the project resources efficiently and reliably, are some of the questions that have been analysed in this study.ResultsOver the years this software has proved that it is able to respond to the need for efficient management of the clinical data and organization of the health centres. Today it is used in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa by thousands of professionals and by now it has reached its fourth version. The medical files of over 73,000 assisted patients are managed by this software and the data collected with it have become essential for the epidemiological research that is carried out to improve the effectiveness of the therapy.ConclusionSub-Saharan Africa is the region hardest hit by HIV and AIDS in the world. However, the resources and responses adopted so far, to confront the epidemic, have at times been rather minimalist. The DREAM project has faced the battle against the epidemic by equipping itself with qualitative standards comparable to Western ones. The experience of DREAM has revealed that it is indeed possible to guarantee levels of excellence in developing countries, also in the sphere of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), thus making the intervention even more effective and contributing to bridging the digital divide.