Effect of galactooligosaccharide addition on the physical, optical, and sensory acceptance of vanilla ice cream.

The effect of the addition of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on the physicochemical, optical, and sensory characteristics of ice cream was investigated. Vanilla ice cream was supplemented with 0, 1.5, and 3.0% (wt/wt) GOS and characterized for pH, firmness, color, melting, overrun, as well as subjected to a discriminative sensory test (triangle test). For comparison purposes, ice creams containing fructooligosaccharide were also manufactured. The GOS ice creams were characterized by increased firmness and lower melting rates. Different perceptions were reported in the sensory evaluation for the 3.0% GOS ice cream when compared with the control, which was not observed for the fructooligosaccharide ice cream. Overall, the findings suggest it is possible to produce GOS ice cream with improved stability in relation to the physicochemical parameters and sensory perception.

Accuracy of neurosonography and MRI in clinical management of fetuses referred with central nervous system abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of expert neurosonography (two- and three-dimensional NSG) in the characterization of major fetal central nervous system (CNS) anomalies seen at a tertiary referral center and to report the differential clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used as a second-line diagnostic procedure in the same cohort. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all 773 fetuses with confirmed CNS abnormalities referred to our center between 2005 and 2012. The following variables were analyzed: gestational age at NSG and MRI, NSG and MRI diagnoses, indication for MRI (confirmation of NSG findings; diagnostic doubt; search for possible additional brain anomalies), association with other malformations, diagnostic accuracy of NSG vs MRI (no additional clinical value for either MRI or NSG; additional information with clinical/prognostic significance on MRI relative to NSG; additional information with clinical/prognostic significance on NSG relative to MRI, NSG and MRI concordant but incorrect) and final diagnosis, which was made at autopsy or postnatal MRI/surgery. RESULTS: CNS malformations were associated with other anomalies in 372/773 (48.1%) cases and were isolated in the remaining 401 (51.9%) cases. NSG alone was able to establish the diagnosis in 647/773 (83.7%) cases. MRI was performed in 126 (16.3%) cases. The indication for MRI was: confirmation of NSG diagnosis in 59 (46.8%) cases; diagnostic query (in the case of inconclusive or uncertain finding on NSG) in 20 (15.9%) cases; search for possible additional brain anomalies in 47 (37.3%) cases. NSG and MRI were concordant and correct in 109/126 (86.5%) cases. Clinically relevant findings were evident on MRI alone in 10/126 (7.9%) cases (1.3% of the whole population) and on NSG alone in 6/126 (4.8%) cases; in all six of these cases, MRI had been performed at < 24 weeks of gestation. In one case, both NSG and MRI diagnoses were incorrect. The main type of malformation in w ich MRI played an important diagnostic role was space-occupying lesions, MRI identifying clinically relevant findings in 42.9% (3/7) of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: (1) In a tertiary referral center with good NSG expertise in the assessment of fetal CNS malformations, MRI is likely to be of help in a limited proportion of cases; (2) MRI is more useful after 24 weeks of gestation; (3) the lesions whose diagnosis is most likely to benefit from MRI are gross space-occupying lesions.

Freeze-dried powdered yacon: effects of FOS on serum glucose, lipids and intestinal transit in the elderly.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Freeze-dried powdered yacon (FDY) can be considered a prebiotic product due to its fructooligosaccharides (FOS) content. The effect of 9 weeks of daily intake of FDY containing 7.4 g of FOS on glucose, lipid metabolism and intestinal transit in a group of elderly people was investigated. METHODS: Seventy-two elderly (mean age 67.11 ± 6.11) men and women were studied for 9 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment. They were randomly assigned to the supplement group (which received 7.4 g of FOS as FDY) or the control group. At the beginning and end of the study, anthropometric measurements, blood sampling, clinical analyses and dietary intake were assessed. RESULTS: A daily intake of FDY containing 7.4 g of FOS for 9 weeks was associated with a mean decrease in serum glucose (p = 0.013), but supplementation did not reduce serum lipids in the study group. The administered dose did not adversely affect intestinal transit. It did not cause bloating, flatulence or intestinal discomfort. CONCLUSION: Freeze-dried powdered yacon is a good source of FOS, and daily consumption can have a favourable effect on serum glucose in the elderly. It is also practical, easy and safe to use and store.

Agenesis of the fetal corpus callosum: sonographic signs change with advancing gestational age.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence and degree of indirect signs of agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) according to gestational age and determine the percentage of cases in which each sign is present by 24 gestational weeks. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 54 cases of ACC which underwent three-dimensional neurosonography at our unit between January 2005 and December 2012. A single examination was available in 48 cases and six cases were followed up longitudinally, giving a total of 69 examinations. The following variables were assessed: indication for referral, karyotype, width of the atrium and presence/absence of colpocephaly, the cavum septi pellucidi, dorsal cyst and additional central nervous system (CNS) and non-CNS anomalies. RESULTS: Overall, there were 31 cases of complete ACC (cACC, 42 examinations) and 23 cases of partial ACC (pACC, 27 examinations). The mean gestational age was lower in the cases referred because of anomalies other than ACC than it was in those referred because of ventriculomegaly and/or suspicion of ACC (P < 0.05). Atrial width showed a positive linear correlation with advancing gestational age (P < 0.0001); it was < 10.0 mm in 25/34 (73.5%) examinations < 24 gestational weeks and in 9/35 (25.7%) ≥ 24 weeks (P < 0.001). Colpocephaly was present in 20.6% (7/34) of examinations < 24 weeks and in 68.6% (24/35) of those after 23 weeks (P < 0.05). The cavum septi pellucidi was present and visible at least in part in 17 (63%) of the 27 pACC examinations. In nine of the 27 (33.3%) pACC examinations, there was neither ventriculomegaly nor absence of the cavum septi pellucidi. Associated anomalies were present in 25/54 (46.3%) cases, and in 11 these included or consisted of CNS abnormalities. Karyotype was abnormal in seven of the 40 (17.5%) cases in which it was available. CONCLUSIONS: In a significant proportion of cases, most of the indirect signs of ACC are either absent or barely visible at the time of the midtrimester screening ultrasound examination. Therefore, ACC may escape diagnosis at midtrimester screening ultrasound. In particular, a third of examinations in fetuses with pACC may not show any abnormality in the transventricular screening view < 24 weeks. The medicolegal implications of such findings are important and should be considered.

Modeling chronic oil pollution from ships.

Stochastic simulations of virtual oil spills from ships were performed for the Adriatic Sea over 2017-2020, applying the European Marine Observation and Data Network vessel densities as a proxy for starting locations of operational spillage. The MEDSLIK-II oil spill model was run using high-resolution currents provided by the Copernicus Marine Service and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts winds. Chronic exposure to operational oil spills was reported in terms of hazard indices for five vessel groups: pleasure and passenger ships, cargo and service vessels, the fishing fleet, tankers, and other ships. The northernmost Adriatic expectedly showed the highest hazard values, including the areas of Trieste and Venice, where cargo and service ships were the dominant polluters. The Croatian coastal waters were more chronically polluted than the Italian coastal waters; the predominant contribution was from coastwise pleasure and passenger ships.

Abnormal or delayed development of the posterior membranous area of the brain: anatomy, ultrasound diagnosis, natural history and outcome of Blake's pouch cyst in the fetus.

OBJECTIVES: To review the normal and pathological development of the posterior membranous area (PMA) in the fetal brain, to define sonographic criteria with which to diagnose a Blake's pouch cyst (BPC) in the fetus and to review the ultrasound features, associations and outcome of 19 cases of BPC seen at our center over the last 5 years. METHODS: We conducted a MEDLINE search using the terms 'Blake's pouch', with or without 'fourth ventricle' or '4(th) ventricle', with or without 'roof' and identified articles describing normal and/or abnormal development of the PMA, whether or not they were cited in the limited clinical literature on BPC. A description of the normal and abnormal development of BPC was derived by collating these articles. The clinical retrospective study included 19 cases of posterior fossa anomalies with a final diagnosis of BPC seen at our institution. The following variables were assessed: referral indication, gestational age at diagnosis, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, associated anomalies, natural history and pregnancy and neonatal outcome. A transvaginal three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination was performed in all cases and 15 cases underwent MRI. To confirm the diagnosis, postnatal MRI, transfontanellar ultrasound or autopsy were available in all cases. RESULTS: Among the 19 cases reviewed, referral indications were: suspicion of vermian abnormality in 11 (58%) cases and other non-central nervous system anomaly in eight (42%) cases. Sonographically, all cases showed the following three signs: 1) normal anatomy and size of the vermis; 2) mild/moderate anti-clockwise rotation of the vermis; 3) normal size of the cisterna magna. On 3D ultrasound, the upper wall of the cyst was clearly visible in 11/19 cases, with choroid plexuses on the superolateral margin of the cyst roof. On follow-up, the BPC had disappeared by 24-26 gestational weeks in six of the 11 cases which did not undergo termination of pregnancy (TOP), and remained unaltered until birth in the other five cases. There were associated anomalies in eight (42%) cases, in five of which this consisted of or included congenital heart disease. Karyotype was available in 14 cases, two of which were abnormal (both trisomy 21). Regarding pregnancy outcome, there were eight (42%) TOPs, two (10%) neonatal deaths and nine (48%) survivors. One neonate, in whom the BPC had disappeared by the time of birth, had obstructive hydrocephaly confirmed. Another neonate was diagnosed with Down syndrome after birth. Excluding the Down syndrome baby, neurodevelopmental outcome was normal at the time of writing in all eight cases. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our analysis of ultrasound features, we propose that for BPC to be diagnosed in a fetus the following three criteria should be fulfilled: 1) normal anatomy and size of the vermis; 2) mild/moderate anti-clockwise rotation of the vermis; 3) normal size of the cisterna magna. Furthermore, we found that BPC can undergo delayed fenestration at 24-26 weeks in more than 50% of cases. Finally, it seems that BPC shows a risk of association with extracardiac anomalies (heart defects in particular) and, to a lesser extent, trisomy 21.

Aberrant right subclavian artery: incidence and correlation with other markers of Down syndrome in second-trimester fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) and other strong markers of Down syndrome and their correlation in a large population of second-trimester Down syndrome fetuses assessed in a tertiary referral center. METHODS: Presence or absence of ARSA and other major ultrasound markers of Down syndrome was assessed in a population of 106 second-trimester Down syndrome fetuses referred to our unit for expert assessment and/or termination of pregnancy after karyotyping performed for positive first- or second-trimester screening or advanced maternal age or on maternal request. All cases in which the diagnosis of Down syndrome followed the ultrasound detection of major anomalies or soft markers were excluded from the study, as were all cases with a gestational age less than 14 + 0 weeks. We searched for the ARSA on the three vessels and trachea view using color or power Doppler. All fetuses underwent a thorough anatomic assessment and fetal echocardiography. The other Down syndrome markers assessed were: absent or hypoplastic nasal bone (NB-), defined as length < 5(th) centile; nuchal fold ≥ 5 mm; and mild pyelectasis (> 5 mm). In addition, the presence of major cardiac and extracardiac defects was recorded. A correlation analysis was then performed in order to investigate possible associations between markers and/or major anomalies. Postmortem or postnatal diagnostic confirmation was available in all cases. RESULTS: The mean (SD) gestational age at ultrasound assessment was 20.4 (4.1) weeks. The incidence of the various variables in the population of Down syndrome fetuses was: ARSA, 25%; NB-, 43%; nuchal fold ≥ 5 mm, 16%; pyelectasis, 17%; major heart defects, 41%; atrioventricular septal defect, 25%; and extracardiac anomaly, 24%. The presence of ARSA did not correlate with any of the other variables. The only positive correlations (P < 0.05) were between NB- and pyelectasis, and between cardiac and extracardiac defects. CONCLUSIONS: This represents the largest Down syndrome population assessed for ARSA. In this series, the incidence of ARSA was 25%, lower than previously reported in much smaller series. Its presence did not correlate with the presence of any other marker or major anomaly, including heart defects.

Role of four-dimensional ultrasound (spatiotemporal image correlation and sonography-based automated volume count) in prenatal assessment of atrial morphology in cardiosplenic syndromes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic role of four-dimensional ultrasound using spatiotemporal image correlation and Sonography-based Automated Volume Count (STIC-SonoAVC) in the identification of the morphology of the atrial appendages in cases with cardiosplenic syndrome. METHODS: This was a retrospective investigation of 22 fetuses with cardiosplenic syndromes seen at our institution over a 5-year period from January 2004. As control groups, 10 normal fetuses, five cases with a non-isomeric atrioventricular septal defect and five cases with other congenital heart diseases were also analyzed. For all fetuses, one or more cardiac volume datasets were available for offline analysis. Two-dimensional and four-dimensional echocardiography was carried out in all cases at the time of diagnosis using high quality three-dimensional equipment. Dedicated software was used to assess chamber morphology using the SonoAVC technique, which allows the creation of casts of hollow structures. Two different operators used the software. The first performed all steps up to positioning of the region of interest box. The second operator, who was blinded to clinical information, then rendered the cardiac chambers using the SonoAVC technique. This operator then used the rendered image to subjectively assess atrial morphology. RESULTS: Suitable rendered images of the cardiac chambers could be produced in 40/42 fetuses. In two cases of left atrial isomerism, advanced (34 weeks) and early (13 weeks) gestational age made it impossible to obtain adequate rendered images. In the remaining 40 cases (13 cases of left atrial isomerism, seven cases of right atrial isomerism, five cases of non-isomeric atrioventricular septal defect, five cases of other congenital heart diseases and 10 normal fetuses), atrial morphology was correctly identified by evaluation of the rendered images. CONCLUSION: Four-dimensional ultrasound with SonoAVC rendering allows correct identification of the morphology of atrial appendages in all cases of cardiosplenic syndromes in which an adequate cardiac volume dataset can be obtained for analysis.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria and Parvovirus B19; a case of acute co-infection.

BACKGROUND: Co-infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and Parvovirus B19 in adults is an extremely rare occurrence and, apparently, only one case has been previously reported. Herein we describe a case of acute co-infection with severe anemia and renal failure. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 34-year-old African man presenting myalgia, fatigue, headache, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly. A thin peripheral smear showed Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites and the patient was treated with oral mefloquine. After an initial amelioration, fever, fatigue and myalgia reappeared, the anemia worsened and there was evidence of acute renal failure. No malarial parasites were found with a blood smear. A bone marrow aspiration showed marked erythroid hypoplasia. Parvovirus B19-specific IgM and IgG and viremia were positive. The patient was treated with steroids and blood cell transfusions. After ten days, anemia and renal failure progressively decreased. When last seen, the patient was asymptomatic and the blood values were within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of Parvovirus B19 acute infection should be considered in any case of persistent severe anemia and/or renal failure, even in clinical conditions that are well-known causes of anemia and renal failure, such as malaria.

[The IPSEMA initiative on health and safety at the maritime work place]. / Iniziative dell'IPSEMA in materia di salute e sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro marittimo.

IPSEMA, founded in 1994 on former Casse Marittime institute, provides insurance to maritime workers from work injuries and occupational disease. According to current law IPSEMA, together with INAIL and ISPESL is engaged in the field of workplace safety and health, and in its promotion. For this purpose, IPSEMA is involved in injuries and diseases monitoring and in technical education. Recently ISPEMA has published "Quaderni di Formazione per la Sicurezza a Bordo delle Navi" and the research results on physical agent-based dams realized together with INSEAN. IPSEMA is now involved, with INMP institute, in "Salute in Mare" project in order to realize an information campaign on sea workers' self-health and health education.

Dynamics and energy landscape in a tetrahedral network glass-former: direct comparison with models of fragile liquids.

We report molecular dynamics simulations for a new model of tetrahedral network glass-former, based on short-range spherical potentials. Despite the simplicity of the forcefield employed, our model reproduces some essential physical properties of silica, an archetypal network-forming material. Structural and dynamical properties, including dynamic heterogeneities and the nature of local rearrangements, are investigated in detail and a direct comparison with models of close-packed, fragile glass-formers is performed. The outcome of this comparison is rationalized in terms of the properties of the potential energy surface, focusing on the unstable modes of the stationary points. Our results indicate that the weak degree of dynamic heterogeneity observed in network glass-formers may be attributed to an excess of localized unstable modes, associated with elementary dynamical events such as bond breaking and reformation. In contrast, the more fragile Lennard-Jones mixtures are characterized by a larger fraction of extended unstable modes, which lead to a more cooperative and heterogeneous dynamics.

Risk of second malignant neoplasms after childhood central nervous system malignant tumours: an international study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) other than central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms after childhood CNS cancer in an international multicentre study. METHODS: Individual data on cases of CNS cancer in children (0-14 years) and on subsequent SMNs were obtained from 13 population-based cancer registries contributing data for different time periods in 1943-2000. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), absolute excess risk and cumulative incidence of SMNs were computed. RESULTS: We observed 43 SMNs in 8431 CNS cancer survivors. The SIR was 10.6 (4.85-20.1) for thyroid cancer (nine cases), 2.75 (1.01-5.99) for leukaemia (six cases) and 2.47 (0.90-5.37) for lymphoma (six cases). The SIRs were highest in the first 10 years after CNS cancer diagnosis. The cumulative incidence of non-CNS SMNs was 3.30% (0.95-5.65%) within 45 years after a CNS cancer diagnosis. Within 15 years, the cumulative incidence was highest for cases diagnosed after 1980 (0.56%, 95% CI: 0.29-0.82%). CONCLUSION: This population-based study indicates that about one every 180 survivors of a childhood CNS cancer will develop a non-CNS SMN within the following 15 years. The excess is higher after glioma and embryonal malignant tumour than after another CNS tumour.

Normal and abnormal development of the fetal anterior fontanelle: a three-dimensional ultrasound study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methodology for correct visualization of the anterior fontanelle using three-dimensional ultrasound, to report its normal development during gestation, and to compare this with abnormal development. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional prospective evaluation of development of the anterior fontanelle in a series of 78 normal fetuses and 47 fetuses with congenital anomalies between 12 and 38 weeks of gestation. The anterior fontanelle was visualized in a mid-sagittal view of the fetal head, preferably with a pocket of fluid between the fetal head and the uterine wall, to ensure an optimal acoustic window. Visualization using volume contrast imaging mode in the coronal plane (VCI-C) was preferred to static acquisition of three-dimensional (3D) volumes, as the former allows real-time evaluation of the 3D image. Anteroposterior and laterolateral diameters, perimeter and area of the fontanelle were measured offline, with the diameters normalized for biparietal diameter and the perimeter and area normalized for head circumference. The variables were then regressed against gestational age. RESULTS: The best fitting regression model to describe the relationships between the fontanelle anteroposterior diameter and area and gestational age was a quadratic one, whereas a simple linear model fitted all remaining variables. All variables showed a positive or biphasic correlation with advancing gestational age, but a negative one after normalization for biparietal diameter or head circumference. Twenty of the 47 fetuses with abnormalities had abnormal (18 enlarged and two reduced) fontanelle dimensions, particularly those with chromosomal or non-chromosomal syndromes, primary or secondary cardiac overload, primary skeletal dysplasias or central nervous system malformations. Hydrops was not associated with abnormal fontanelle dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: We have described the methodology to obtain correct visualization of the fetal anterior fontanelle. The actual size of the fontanelle increases during gestation, while its size in relation to the volume of the fetal head diminishes, possibly due to the rapid development of the brain hemispheres and the consequent outward growth of the calvarial bones. The fact that enlarged fontanelle dimensions may be associated with certain fetal abnormalities may be employed advantageously in the differential diagnosis of some syndromic conditions in utero.

Characterization of monoterpene biotransformation in two pseudomonads.

AIMS: To study the metabolic profile of Pseudomonas rhodesiae and Pseudomonas fluorescens in water-organic solvent systems using terpene substrates for both growth and biotransformation processes and to determine the aerobic or anaerobic status of these degradation pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Substrates from pinene (alpha-pinene, alpha-pinene oxide, beta-pinene, beta-pinene oxide, turpentine) and limonene (limonene, limonene-1,2-oxide, orange peel oil) families were tested. For the bioconversion, the terpene-grown biomass was concentrated and used either as whole cells or as a crude enzymatic extract. CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas rhodesiae was the most suitable biocatalyst for the production of isonovalal from alpha-pinene oxide and did not metabolize limonene. Pseudomonas fluorescens was a more versatile micro-organism and metabolized limonene in two different ways. The first (anaerobic, cofactor-independent, noninducible) allowed limonene elimination by synthesizing alpha-terpineol. The second (aerobic, cofactor-dependent) involved limonene-1,2-oxide as an intermediate for energy production through a beta-oxidation process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Enzymatic isomerization of beta- to alpha-pinene was described for the first time for both strains. Alpha-terpineol production by P. fluorescens was very efficient and appeared as a promising alternative for the commercial production of this bioflavour.

Vibrational fingerprint of localized excitons in a two-dimensional metal-organic crystal.

Long-lived excitons formed upon visible light absorption play an essential role in photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and even in high-density information storage. Here, we describe a self-assembled two-dimensional metal-organic crystal, composed of graphene-supported macrocycles, each hosting a single FeN4 center, where a single carbon monoxide molecule can adsorb. In this heme-like biomimetic model system, excitons are generated by visible laser light upon a spin transition associated with the layer 2D crystallinity, and are simultaneously detected via the carbon monoxide ligand stretching mode at room temperature and near-ambient pressure. The proposed mechanism is supported by the results of infrared and time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopies, and by ab initio theoretical methods, opening a path towards the handling of exciton dynamics on 2D biomimetic crystals.

Mortality from second tumour among long-term survivors of retinoblastoma: a retrospective analysis of the Italian retinoblastoma registry.

Survivors of retinoblastoma (Rb) are at high risk of dying from second malignant tumour. The occurrence of second malignant neoplasm (SMN) and related mortality in a cohort of 1111 cases from the Italian Retinoblastoma Registry was analysed, considering the possible role of both genetic and iatrogenic causes. Rb patients had a greater than 10-fold excess in overall mortality compared with the general population (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 10.73, 95% CI 9.00-12.80). Their excess risk attributable to cancers other than Rb was 14.93 95% CI 10.38-21.49). Survivors of hereditary Rb had an SMR for all causes of 16.25 (95% CI 13.20-20.00), whereas their SMR for all cancers was 25.72 (95% CI 17.38-38.07). Survivors of unilateral sporadic Rb had an SMR of 4.12 from all cancers (95% CI 1.55-10.98) and a much higher excess for overall mortality (SMR 13.34, 95% CI 10.74-16.56). As expected, survivors of hereditary Rb had higher mortality from cancers of the bone (SMR 391.90, 95% CI 203.90-753.20) and soft tissue (SMR 453.00, 95% CI 203.50-1008.40), small intestine (SMR 1375.50, 95% CI 344.00-5499.70), nasal cavity (SMR 13.71, 95% CI 1.93-97.35) and cancers of the brain and central nervous system (SMR 41.14, 95% CI 13.2-127.55).

Up-to-date monitoring of childhood cancer long-term survival in Europe: tumours of the sympathetic nervous system, retinoblastoma, renal and bone tumours, and soft tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Prognosis for most types of childhood tumours has improved during the last few decades. In this article we estimate up-to-date period survival for less common, but important childhood malignancies in Europe. METHODS: Using the database of the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System we calculated period estimates of 10-year survival for the 1995-1999 period for children aged 0-14 years diagnosed during 1985-1999 with tumours of the sympathetic nervous system (NS), retinoblastoma, renal tumours, bone tumours and soft tissue sarcomas in four European regions. RESULTS: Ten-year period survival for 1995-1999 was 66% in children with tumours of the sympathetic NS, 96% for retinoblastoma, 87% for renal tumours, 58% for bone tumours and 61% for soft tissue sarcomas. The higher period estimates, as compared with cohort and complete estimates indicate recent improvement in survival for tumours of the sympathetic NS and to a lesser extent for retinoblastoma and renal tumours. Region-specific period survival estimates were lowest for Eastern Europe for renal, bone and soft tissue tumours, but not for the other two tumour groups. CONCLUSION: There have been further improvements in the 1990s in long-term survival of children diagnosed with several malignancies, albeit to a different extent in different European regions.

Amebic liver abscess: report of three cases.

Amebic abscess is a common manifestation of extraintestinal amebiasis and it is associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality. We present three cases seen in Bari, Southern Italy, one of which was autochthonous and the other two were not. Diagnosis was performed by elevated antibody titre for E. histolytica through immunofluorescence assay and positive antigen determination by ELISA in stools and in abscess aspirate. Fever often accompanied by chills, abdominal pain, weight loss and hepatomegaly were present. Laboratory findings also revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia. Pleural effusion was observed in two patients. In all our patients multiple abscesses were observed. All the patients were treated with metronidazole and two of them also underwent the aspiration of the amoebic abscess. In all of them there was improvement of the clinical picture, as demonstrated by computerized tomography.

Manufacture of Requeijão cremoso processed cheese with galactooligosaccharide.

The addition of galactooligosaccharide, (GOS, 0, 1.5, 3 or 4g/100g) on the quality parameters of requeijão cremoso was investigated. Chemical characteristics (pH, moisture, fat and protein), color (L*, a*, b*), water mobility by TD- nuclear magnetic resonance, rheology (flow curve and oscillatory tests), microstructure and sensory acceptance (consumer test) were evaluated. The addition of GOS provided a denser and compact structure and reduced number and size of fat globules. Increased GOS level (3 and 4g/100g) improved the softness and spreadability (decrease of G', G″ and apparent viscosity and an increase of tan δ and melting index) and impacted positively on the aroma and taste of the requeijão cremoso. Overall, the addition of GOS in requeijão cremoso was proved to be a potential and interesting technological option.

Risk factors and outcome among a large patient cohort with community-acquired acute hepatitis C in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of acute hepatitis C has changed during the past decade in Western countries. Acute HCV infection has a high rate of chronicity, but it is unclear when patients with acute infection should be treated. METHODS: To evaluate current sources of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in Italy and to assess the rate of and factors associated with chronic infection, we enrolled 214 consecutive patients with newly acquired hepatitis C during 1999-2004. The patients were from 12 health care centers throughout the country, and they were followed up for a mean (+/- SD) period of 14+/-15.8 months. Biochemical liver tests were performed, and HCV RNA levels were monitored. RESULTS: A total of 146 patients (68%) had symptomatic disease. The most common risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C that were reported were intravenous drug use and medical procedures. The proportion of subjects with spontaneous resolution of infection was 36%. The average timespan from disease onset to HCV RNA clearance was 71 days (range, 27-173 days). In fact, 58 (80%) of 73 patients with self-limiting hepatitis experienced HCV RNA clearance within 3 months of disease onset. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that none of the variables considered (including asymptomatic disease) were associated with increased risk of developing chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of medical procedures as risk factors in the current spread of HCV infection in Italy. Because nearly all patients with acute, self-limiting hepatitis C--both symptomatic and asymptomatic--have spontaneous viral clearance within 3 months of disease onset, it seems reasonable to start treatment after this time period ends to avoid costly and useless treatment.