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1.
Vet Pathol ; : 3009858241257903, 2024 Jun 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38864284

ABSTRACT

AA-amyloidosis is frequent in shelter cats, and chronic kidney disease is the foremost cause of death. The aims were to describe kidney laboratory and microscopic findings in shelter cats with AA-amyloidosis. Cats were included if kidney specimens were collected post-mortem and laboratory data were available within 6 months before death. Renal lesions were evaluated with optical and electron microscopy. Mass spectrometry was used to characterize amyloid. Nine domestic short-hair cats were included; 4 females and 5 males with a median age of 8 years (range = 2-13). All cats had blood analyses and urinalyses available. Serum creatinine concentrations were increased in 6 cats and symmetric dimethylarginine was increased in all of the cats. All of the cats had proteinuria. Eight of 9 cats had amyloid in the medulla, and 9 had amyloid in the cortex (glomeruli). All cats had amyloid in the interstitium. Six cats had concurrent interstitial nephritis and 1 had membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. All cats had extrarenal amyloid deposits. Amyloid was AA in each case. In conclusion, renal deposition of amyloid occurs in both cortex and medulla in shelter cats and is associated with azotemia and proteinuria. Renal involvement of systemic AA-amyloidosis should be considered in shelter cats with chronic kidney disease. The cat represents a natural model of renal AA-amyloidosis.

2.
Med Lav ; 112(3): 209-218, 2021 Jun 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34142677

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colleague incivility is one of the subtlest forms of workplace aggression, referring to any low-intensity deviant behavior in violation of the norms of mutual respect with ambiguous intent to harm the target. Although a large corpus of literature has identified the negative consequences of colleague incivility for workers and their organizations, there is a paucity of studies aimed at examining the role played by job characteristics in triggering this form of aggression. The present study, referring to the work environment assumption of Einarsen (2000), proposes that workplace aggression is primarily affected by factors related to deficiencies in the psychosocial work environment. In this view, the present study aimed to test whether the relationships between stressors in the psychosocial work environment (i.e., workload, role conflict, and unfair reward) and burnout (i.e., exhaustion and cynicism) are mediated by colleague incivility. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional and non-randomized. In total, 659 administrative officers employed in a large-sized Italian university completed a self-report questionnaire. Regression and mediation analyses (using the SPSS PROCESS macro) were performed to test the study hypotheses. -Findings: After adjusting for control variables (i.e., superior incivility, age, gender, interactions with teaching staff, and interactions with students), the analyses indicated that colleague incivility mediated the associations of role conflict and unfair reward with the two dimensions of burnout. In contrast, the mediating role of colleague incivility in the associations of workload with exhaustion and cynicism was not supported. DISCUSSION: The present study shed light on the key role of colleague incivility in the linkage of variables describing job characteristics and job burnout. From a practical point of view, the present study suggests that in order to prevent colleague incivility, interventions such as job (re)design should be implemented.


Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional , Incivility , Burnout, Professional/epidemiology , Burnout, Professional/etiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Faculty , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Job Satisfaction , Surveys and Questionnaires , Workplace
3.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 20(1): 504, 2020 Jun 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32503522

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Due to an increasingly elderly population, a higher incidence of chronic diseases and higher expectations regarding public service provision, healthcare services are under increasing strain to cut costs while maintaining quality. The importance of promoting systems of co-produced health between stakeholders has gained considerable traction both in the literature and in public sector policy debates. This study provides a comprehensive map of the extant literature and identifies the main themes and future research needs. METHODS: A quantitative bibliometric analysis was carried out consisting of a performance analysis, science mapping, and a scientific collaboration analysis. Web of Science (WoS) was chosen to extract the dataset; the search was refined by language, i.e. English, and type of publication, i.e. journal academic articles and reviews. No time limitation was selected. RESULTS: The dataset is made up of 295 papers ranging from 1994 to May 2019. The analysis highlighted an annual percentage growth rate in the topic of co-production of about 25%. The articles retrieved are split between 1225 authors and 148 sources. This fragmentation was confirmed by the collaboration analysis, which revealed very few long-lasting collaborations. The scientific production is geographically polarised within the EU and Anglo-Saxon countries, with the United Kingdom playing a central role. The intellectual structure consists of three main areas: public administration and management, service management and knowledge translation literature. The co-word analysis confirms the relatively low scientific maturity of co-production applied to health services. It shows few well-developed and central terms, which refer to traditional areas of co-production (e.g. public health, social care), and some emerging themes related to social and health phenomena (e.g. the elderly and chronic diseases), the use of technologies, and the recent patient-centred approach to care (patient involvement/engagement). CONCLUSIONS: The field is still far from being mature. Empirical practices, especially regarding co-delivery and co-management as well as the evaluation of their real impacts on providers and on patients are lacking and should be more widely investigated.


Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Health Policy , Stakeholder Participation , Bibliometrics , Humans , United Kingdom
4.
J Gen Virol ; 98(7): 1963-1967, 2017 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28691895

ABSTRACT

The presence of lysine (K) at codon 222 has been associated with resistance to classical scrapie in goats, but few scrapie cases have been identified in 222Q/K animals. To investigate the contribution of the 222K variant to PrPres formation in natural and experimental Q/K scrapie cases, we applied an immunoblotting method based on the use of two different monoclonal antibodies, F99/97.6.1 and SAF84, chosen for their different affinities to 222K and 222Q PrP variants. Our finding that PrPres seems to be formed nearly totally by the 222Q variant provides evidence that the 222K PrP variant confers resistance to conversion to PrPres formation and reinforces the view that this mutation has a protective role against classical scrapie in goats.


Subject(s)
Goat Diseases/metabolism , Lysine/metabolism , PrPSc Proteins/metabolism , Scrapie/metabolism , Amino Acid Motifs , Animals , Codon/genetics , Codon/metabolism , Genotype , Goats , Lysine/genetics , Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism , PrPSc Proteins/chemistry , PrPSc Proteins/genetics , Scrapie/genetics
5.
Med Lav ; 107(3): 223-34, 2016 05 26.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27240226

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Aggressive behaviour of patients and their relatives represent a risk factor for healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to explore the context of high risk departments (emergency department, psychiatric department) and of low risk departments (midwifery/paediatrics and outpatients clinic): a) the risk of exposure to various forms of aggression (physical, verbal, threats) by patients and their visitors towards healthcare professionals; b) how the healthcare professionals react to such aggressive events; c) the relationship between verbal aggression and healthcare professional burnout, compared to other work-related stressors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study involved 620 healthcare workers in a hospital in northern Italy (47.7% redemption rate, equivalent to 296 subjects). The data were gathered through a self-report on-line questionnaire. RESULTS: The risk of aggression, regardless of its form, was not dependent on the role of the healthcare professional, while risk was lower for older professionals and for women. The risk index for emergency department health professionals was higher than the index for professionals in the other three areas. Perceived levels of verbal aggression in the midwifery/paediatrics department were similar to those in the psychiatric department. Verbal aggression was found to be linked to the three dimensions of burnout and to a higher contribution to depersonalisation. CONCLUSIONS: the study showed that specific prevention initiatives and health profession support are also needed in clinical departments traditionally considered at low risk.


Subject(s)
Aggression , Health Personnel , Visitors to Patients , Workplace Violence , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hospital Departments , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Workplace Violence/prevention & control , Workplace Violence/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult
6.
J Gen Virol ; 96(12): 3698-3702, 2015 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26399471

ABSTRACT

Prion protein (PrP) is present at extremely low levels in the blood of animals and its detection is complicated by the poor sensitivity of current standard methodologies. Interesting results have been obtained with recent advanced technologies that are able to detect minute amounts of the pathological PrP (PrPSc), but their efficiency is reduced by various factors present in blood. In this study, we were able to extract cellular PrP (PrPC) from plasma-derived exosomes by a simple, fast method without the use of differential ultracentrifugation and to visualize it by Western blotting, reducing the presence of most plasma proteins. This result confirms that blood is capable of releasing PrP in association with exosomes and could be useful to better study its role in the pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.


Subject(s)
Exosomes/chemistry , Prions/blood , Scrapie/diagnosis , Animals , Chemical Precipitation , Gene Expression Regulation , Scrapie/blood , Sheep
7.
J Adv Nurs ; 70(6): 1299-309, 2014 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24138152

ABSTRACT

AIM: In Emergency Departments, fragmentation and breakdown in information exchange can be important factors leading to adverse events. This article aims to consider the critical aspects of collaborative teamwork in Emergency Departments that may have an impact on the information flow. BACKGROUND: On the basis of Distributed Cognition Theory, we have assumed that cognitive outcomes in critical-care settings are not confined to the thoughts of isolated individuals; rather, they are better understood as properties of a distributed cognitive system across the minds of the clinical team members and across the technological artefacts. DESIGN: We report on an exploratory ethnographic study of two Emergency Departments. METHODS: Data were collected over a period of four months in 2008 via observation and interviews. RESULTS: The results highlight a specific distribution of cognitive work between physicians and nurses. The nurse's roles as information highlighter, memory keeper and process organizer helped to ensure the information flow and to overcome some of the problems identified with the computer-assisted communication process. Such distribution of cognitive work improved care quality, but it crossed established professional boundaries. CONCLUSION: As cross-boundary distribution of cognitive work in Emergency Departments can be perceived as role substitution, building an interprofessional working system is needed to avoid information breakdown in fast-moving contexts. To realize an interprofessional working system, practice-based training is required, aimed at developing a deep understanding of team cognition.


Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Information Dissemination/methods , Interdisciplinary Communication , Patient Care Team/organization & administration , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Cognition , Decision Making, Computer-Assisted , Female , Hospitals, General/statistics & numerical data , Hospitals, Pediatric/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Nurse Practitioners/psychology , Nurse's Role , Quality of Health Care , Young Adult
8.
Children (Basel) ; 11(6)2024 Jun 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38929262

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mobile technology is increasingly prevalent in healthcare, serving various purposes, including remote health monitoring and patient self-management, which could prove beneficial to early hospital discharges. AIMS: This study investigates the transitional care program experience facilitating early discharges in a pediatric setting through the use of an easy-to-use mobile medical device (TytoCare™, TytoCare Ltd., Natanya, Israel). OUTCOMES: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of telehomecare in achieving complete resolution of diseases without readmission, compare the length of stay between intervention and standard care groups, and gather user and professional experiences. METHODS: A randomized open-label, controlled pilot study enrolled 102 children, randomly assigned to the telehomecare (TELE) group (n = 51, adopting early hospital discharge with continued home monitoring) or the standard-of-care (STAND) group (n = 51). Primary outcomes include complete disease resolution without readmission. Secondary objectives include recording a shorter length of stay in the intervention group. Surveys on user and professional experiences were conducted. A group of 51 children declining telemedicine services (NO-TELE) was also included. RESULTS: In the TELE group, 100% of children achieved complete disease resolution without readmission, with a median duration of stay of 4 days, significantly shorter than the 7 days in the STAND group (p = 0.01). The telemedicine system demonstrated efficient performance and high satisfaction levels. The NO-TELE group showed no significant differences in demographics or digital technology competence. Perceived benefits of telemedicine included time and cost savings, reduced hospital stays, and technology utility and usability. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that user-friendly mobile medical devices effectively facilitate early hospital discharges in a pediatric setting. These devices serve as a bridge between home and hospital, optimizing care pathways.

9.
PLoS One ; 18(3): e0281822, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36989207

ABSTRACT

Systemic AA-amyloidosis is a protein-misfolding disease characterized by fibril deposition of serum amyloid-A protein (SAA) in several organs in humans and many animal species. Fibril deposits originate from abnormally high serum levels of SAA during chronic inflammation. A high prevalence of AA-amyloidosis has been reported in captive cheetahs and a horizontal transmission has been proposed. In domestic cats, AA-amyloidosis has been mainly described in predisposed breeds but only rarely reported in domestic short-hair cats. Aims of the study were to determine AA-amyloidosis prevalence in dead shelter cats. Liver, kidney, spleen and bile were collected at death in cats from 3 shelters. AA-amyloidosis was scored. Shedding of amyloid fibrils was investigated with western blot in bile and scored. Descriptive statistics were calculated. In the three shelters investigated, prevalence of AA-amyloidosis was 57.1% (16/28 cats), 73.0% (19/26) and 52.0% (13/25), respectively. In 72.9% of cats (35 in total) three organs were affected concurrently. Histopathology and immunofluorescence of post-mortem extracted deposits identified SAA as the major protein source. The duration of stay in the shelters was positively associated with a histological score of AA-amyloidosis (B = 0.026, CI95% = 0.007-0.046; p = 0.010). AA-amyloidosis was very frequent in shelter cats. Presence of SAA fragments in bile secretions raises the possibility of fecal-oral transmission of the disease. In conclusion, AA-amyloidosis was very frequent in shelter cats and those staying longer had more deposits. The cat may represent a natural model of AA-amyloidosis.


Subject(s)
Acinonyx , Amyloidosis , Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis , Humans , Cats , Animals , Amyloidosis/epidemiology , Amyloidosis/veterinary , Amyloid , Serum Amyloid A Protein/metabolism
10.
Foods ; 11(12)2022 Jun 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35741870

ABSTRACT

European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) is one of the most economically important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea area. Despite strict requirements regarding indications of production method (wild/farmed), incorrect labelling of sea bass is a practice still frequently detected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capabilities of two techniques, Near-InfraRed (NIR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, to discriminate sea bass according to the production method. Two categories were discriminated based on the docosahexaenoic and arachidonic fatty acid ratio by using a Direct Sample Analysis (DSA) system integrated with a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The cut-off value of 3.42, of fatty acid ratio, was able to discriminate between the two types of fish with sensitivity and specificity of 100%. It was possible to classify fish production by using multivariate analysis with portable NIR. The results achieved by the developed validation models suggest that this approach is able to distinguish the two product categories with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (90%). The results obtained from this study highlight the potential application of two easy, fast, and accurate screening methods to detect fraud in commercial sea bass production.

11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35412417

ABSTRACT

The illicit use of dexamethasone and other glucocorticoids for cattle fattening in livestock production has been widely described; evidence for illegal treatments can be obtained by direct or indirect detection. In our previous study, we applied two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) to identify plasma protein markers of dexamethasone administration in veal calves. Comparison of 2DE maps obtained from blood samples before and after treatment showed the disappearance of two protein spots identified as serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 precursor (PON1). In the present study, we validated PON1 as a marker by analysing a larger number of samples treated with dexamethasone for illicit use. Analysis of samples from experimental treatment with other glucocorticoids, androgens and oestrogens confirmed that their influence on PON1 could be excluded. The specificity of the PON1 protein marker was verified on expected negative field samples to exclude interfering factors. However, there is poor statistical evidence to support a significant association between the outcome of PON1 and the considered variables. The results on field samples were compared with histological examination of the thymus as a biomarker of corticosteroid treatment monitored in the Italian histological plan for the control of growth promoters in animals. Two suspect cases were identified from two Piedmont farms where other animals had tested positive at histological examination. In conclusion, the absence of PON1 in the plasma of veal calves can indirectly reveal illicit dexamethasone treatment in individual animals and so identify suspect farms for further investigation. It is effective in a period ranging from 3 to about 10 days from illicit treatment, covering a time span that goes beyond the limits of official chemical controls and preceding histological controls on the thymus of slaughtered animals. PON1 detection in plasma can be coupled with other tests to identify illegal dexamethasone use on veal calf farms.


Subject(s)
Glucocorticoids , Red Meat , Animals , Aryldialkylphosphatase , Biomarkers , Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases , Cattle , Dexamethasone
12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33804862

ABSTRACT

Co-produced practices and publications in the healthcare sector are gaining momentum, since they can be a useful tool in addressing the sustainability and resilience challenges of health systems. However, the investigation of positive and, mainly, negative outcomes is still confused and fragmented, and above all, a comprehensive knowledge of the metrics used to assess these outcomes is lacking. To fill this gap, this study aims to systematically review the extant literature to map the methods, tools and metrics used to empirically evaluate co-production in health services. The search took place in six databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Psych INFO, PubMed, Cochrane and CINAHL. A total of 2311 articles were screened and 203 articles were included in the analysis, according to PRISMA guidelines. Findings show that outcomes are mainly investigated through qualitative methods and from the lay actor or provider perspective. Moreover, the detailed categorisation of the quantitative measures found offers a multidimensional performance measurement system and highlights the impact areas where research is needed to develop and test new measures. Findings should also promote improvements in empirical data collection on the multiple faceted co-produced activities and spur the consciousness of the adoption of sustainable co-productive initiatives.


Subject(s)
Benchmarking , Delivery of Health Care , Health Facilities
13.
Int J Integr Care ; 21(2): 15, 2021 Apr 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33981192

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Co-production is more and more considered as a promising tool for dealing with the main challenges in the health sector (e.g., growing rates of chronic diseases, budget constraints, higher patients' expectations of the quality and the value of services, equity to access of care, etc.). However, there is still little evidence on co-production determinants and impacts. DESCRIPTION: This research protocol aims to present a framework to assess the determinants and impacts of the co-productive approach in healthcare delivery on patients, professionals, and providers from economic, organisational, and clinical perspectives. To this end, the paper examines the co-produced outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), applied to cystic fibrosis patients in an Italian hospital. A mixed methods approach will be adopted and data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and surveys of patients, caregivers, and professionals; biological samples of patients; archival sources. Then, the analyses to be performed are the following: (i) cost evaluation, (ii) content, (iii) descriptive and inferential statistical, (iv) microbiome analysis, and (v) desk analysis. CONCLUSION: The research protocol contributes to both theoretical and practical knowledge. It represents the first attempt to develop a systematic analytical framework for the evaluation of co-production in healthcare. Moreover, the findings gathered within the study will provide evidence to support policy makers and managers in decision-making and managerial processes within the health service.

14.
J Food Prot ; 84(4): 592-596, 2021 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33211848

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: Because the world's wild fish stocks are limited and the market demand is increasing, fish farming has become an alternative food source and a way to reduce costs for consumers. The sale of farmed as wild fish is a fraudulent practice; it is, therefore, important to find new and alternative tools that can help in the fight against fraud to protect consumers and to ensure food traceability. The proteomic profiles of farmed and wild fish differ. With this study we wanted to identify liver protein markers via two-dimensional electrophoresis that would allow us to distinguish wild from farmed gilthead seabream. The liver samples from 32 gilthead seabream, wild and farmed, were stored at -80°C before protein extraction. The samples were subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis to detect qualitative and quantitative differences. Proteomic analysis showed a protein spot (molecular weight of ∼34 kDa and isoelectric point of ∼6.9) only in the samples from the wild gilthead seabream; liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified the spot as ubiquitin. Ubiquitin could be a valid marker to differentiate wild from farmed gilthead seabream; it could be used to ensure continuous monitoring throughout the entire commercial chain and to fight commercial fraud.


Subject(s)
Sea Bream , Animals , Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional , Fisheries , Proteomics
15.
J Food Prot ; 82(11): 1870-1873, 2019 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31617756

ABSTRACT

A simple method based on direct sampling analysis, coupled with a time of flight mass spectrometer, was developed to discriminate between wild and farmed sea bream on the basis of the docosahexaenoic and arachidonic fatty acid ratio. Good precision in repeatability and reproducibility (relative standard deviation < 15%) was obtained. The fatty acid ratios of the two types of fish were statistically significant (Student's t < 0.001). The use of a simple, rapid, and cost-effective tool could aid in the detection of commercial fish fraud, increase the number of controlled samples, and strengthen control along the entire commercial chain.


Subject(s)
Animals, Domestic , Animals, Wild , Food Analysis , Sea Bream , Animals , Animals, Domestic/classification , Animals, Wild/classification , Fatty Acids/chemistry , Food Analysis/methods , Mass Spectrometry , Reproducibility of Results , Sea Bream/classification
16.
Front Psychol ; 9: 671, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29867649

ABSTRACT

Workplace aggression is a critical phenomenon particularly in the healthcare sector, where nurses are especially at risk of bullying and third-party aggression. While workplace aggression has been frequently examined in relation to health problems, less is known about the possible negative impact such aggression may have on the (un)ethical behavior of victims. Our research aims to fill this gap. Drawing on literature on counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and the social-cognitive literature on aggression we investigated in two independent studies (NStudy1 = 439; NStudy2 = 416), the role of negative emotions - in particular anger, fear, and sadness, - and of moral disengagement (MD) in the paths between workplace aggression, CWB and health symptoms. The focus on these relationships is rooted in two reasons. First, misbehavior at work is a pervasive phenomenon worldwide and second, little research has been conducted in the healthcare sector on this type of behavior despite the potential importance of the issue in this context. We empirically tested our hypotheses considering a specific form of workplace aggression in each study: workplace bullying or third-party aggression. Results from the two empirical studies confirm the hypotheses that being target of workplace aggression (bullying or third-party aggression) is not only associated with health symptoms but also with misbehavior. In addition, the results of structural equation modeling attest the importance of examining specific discrete negative emotions and MD for better understanding misbehavior at work. In particular, this research shows for the first time that anger, fear, and sadness, generally aggregated into a single dimension, are indeed differently associated with MD, misbehavior and health symptoms. Specifically, in line with the literature on discrete emotions, while sadness is only associated with health symptoms, anger and fear are related to both health and misbehavior.

17.
J Proteomics ; 186: 1-7, 2018 08 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30055322

ABSTRACT

The substitution and sale of frozen-thawed fish labeled as fresh is a widespread, difficult to unmask commercial fraud and a potential risk for consumer health. Proteomics could help to identify markers for the rapid screening of food samples and the identification of frozen-thawed seafood. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and high-resolution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we identified biomarkers that are able to discriminate between fresh and frozen-thawed tissue samples of curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa). The 2-DE analysis showed a significant reduction in two protein spots (molecular weight of 45-50 kDa, isoelectric point of 6.5-7) identified as transgelin. At shotgun analysis, nine proteins resulted modulated and transgelin was confirmed as down-regulated, making it a potentially useful marker for differentiating between fresh and frozen-thawed fish product samples. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This work, based on two different proteomics approaches, investigated differentially expressed proteins in the tentacles of the curled octopus (E. cirrhosa) after freezing-thawing processes. We were able to characterize the proteome of the tentacles, increasing our knowledge on this species, and a common down-regulated protein was identified by 2-DE and shotgun analysis, a calponin-like protein called transgelin, suggesting a potential use as a marker to distinguish different states of conservation in this species.


Subject(s)
Food Handling/standards , Frozen Foods/analysis , Octopodiformes/chemistry , Proteomics/methods , Animals , Biomarkers , Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional , Food Handling/methods , Freezing , Microfilament Proteins/analysis , Microfilament Proteins/metabolism , Muscle Proteins/analysis , Muscle Proteins/metabolism , Proteome/analysis , Seafood/analysis
18.
Recenti Prog Med ; 98(9): 437-42, 2007 Sep.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17902568

ABSTRACT

A retrospective study was carried out on 79 patients with deep neck infections (DNI) admitted to our Department between 1990 and 2005 in order to review our experience with DNI and verify if diabetic and immunocompromised patients have more aggressive infections and poorer prognosis. Demographics, clinical presentation, etiology, site of infection, associated systemic diseases (26.6%-21/79), microbiology, treatment and complications were considered.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/epidemiology , Neck , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacokinetics , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Bacterial Infections/surgery , Child , Child, Preschool , Combined Modality Therapy , Diabetes Complications/epidemiology , Diabetes Complications/microbiology , Female , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies
19.
J Food Prot ; 80(4): 640-644, 2017 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28294682

ABSTRACT

Sudan dyes are synthetic azo dyes used by industry in a variety of applications. Classified as carcinogenic, they are not allowed in foodstuffs; however, their presence as adulterants in food products has been regularly reported. Here, we describe an innovative screening method to detect Sudan I, II, III, and IV in tomato sauce, palm oil, and chilli powder. The method entails minimal sample preparation, completely avoiding the liquid chromatography phase, followed by detection and identification through atmospheric pressure chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, in positive ionization mode. Analytes were efficiently identified and detected in samples, fortified both with individual analytes and with their mixture, with an error in mass identification less than 5 ppm. Limits of identification of the analytes in the fortified samples were 0.5 to 1 mg/kg, depending on the dye and matrix. The method had a linear range of 0.05 to 5 mg/kg and good linear relationships (R2 > 0.98). Repeatability was satisfactory, with a coefficient of variation lower than 20%. The method was applied to detect the dyes in real adulterated chilli samples, previously found positive by confirmatory high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and ELISA, and in commercial products purchased from supermarkets. In all positive samples, analytes were correctly identified with an error in mass identification lower than 5 ppm, while none of the 45 commercial samples analyzed were found to be contaminated. The proposed new assay is sensitive, with a limit of identification, for all the three matrices, complying with the limits defined by the European Union (0.5 to 1 mg/kg) for analytical methods. Compared with conventional methods, the new assay is rapid and inexpensive and characterized by a high throughput; thus, it could be suitable as screening technique to identify Sudan dyes in adulterated food products.


Subject(s)
Coloring Agents , Solanum lycopersicum , Azo Compounds , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Palm Oil , Plant Oils , Sudan
20.
Front Psychol ; 8: 812, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28634455

ABSTRACT

Currently we observe a gap between theory and practices of patient engagement. If both scholars and health practitioners do agree on the urgency to realize patient engagement, no shared guidelines exist so far to orient clinical practice. Despite a supportive policy context, progress to achieve greater patient engagement is patchy and slow and often concentrated at the level of policy regulation without dialoguing with practitioners from the clinical field as well as patients and families. Though individual clinicians, care teams and health organizations may be interested and deeply committed to engage patients and family members in the medical course, they may lack clarity about how to achieve this goal. This contributes to a wide "system" inertia-really difficult to be overcome-and put at risk any form of innovation in this filed. As a result, patient engagement risk today to be a buzz words, rather than a real guidance for practice. To make the field clearer, we promoted an Italian Consensus Conference on Patient Engagement (ICCPE) in order to set the ground for drafting recommendations for the provision of effective patient engagement interventions. The ICCPE will conclude in June 2017. This document reports on the preliminary phases of this process. In the paper, we advise the importance of "fertilizing a patient engagement ecosystem": an oversimplifying approach to patient engagement promotion appears the result of a common illusion. Patient "disengagement" is a symptom that needs a more holistic and complex approach to solve its underlined causes. Preliminary principles to promote a patient engagement ecosystem are provided in the paper.

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