Empathy at school project: Effects of didactics of emotions® on emotional competence, cortisol secretion and inflammatory profile in primary school children. A controlled longitudinal psychobiological study.

Background: There is mounting evidence of the presence of chronic stress among children during primary school: girls and boys under the age of 15 years often experience anxiety, irritability and sleeping problems with negative consequences on scholastic climate and the spread of bullying and dropping out of school. The promotion of emotion regulation within school environment through innovative didactic methodologies represents a valuable tool for teachers and parents to reduce emotional distress and associated risk behaviours and to promote wellbeing. Aim: Our research aims to explore the psychological and biological consequences of teaching emotional training in an experimental group of Italian Primary School children. Methods: A sample of pupils (81 children aged between 6 and 8) was divided into an experimental group (33 subjects) and a control group (30 subjects). A further advanced group of 18 subjects, who have experienced the method in the previous school year, was also included. The experimental study lasted one school year (from October 2021 to May 2022). The following psychological tests were administered to all groups: TEC (Test of Emotion Comprehension) to measure the children's different emotional abilities and the Projective test (PT) 'A person in the rain', to identify the coping skills of children in a stressful condition. Morning salivary cortisol, IL-6 and TNF-alpha assays were conducted in all three groups. Psychological and biological tests were administered at the beginning of the study and at the end of the study. Results: The MR-Anova model for TEC score showed that there was not a significant group effect [Fgroup = 2.24, p = 0.114]. Pairwise comparisons showed that mean score significantly increased only in the Experimental group (pB < 0.001) and at the end of the project there was a significant difference between Experimental group and Control group (pB = 0.012). The mean score of PT test increased significantly from baseline to the end of the project for the Experimental group (pB < 0.001) and for the Advanced group (pB = 0.004). At the end of the project, there were significant differences between the Experimental group and the Control group (pB = 0.004) and between the Advanced group and the Control group (pB < 0.001). Salivary cortisol analysis revealed a significant effect between subjects [Fgroup = 9.66; p < 0.001] and significant effects within subjects with the main effect of the time [Ftime = 35.41; p < 0.001] and the significant interaction "time x group" [Ftimexgroup = 3.38; p = 0.040]. Pairwise comparisons showed that cortisol levels decreased significantly over time only in the Experimental group (pB < 0.001). Regarding to IL-6 levels, there was not a significant effect between subjects [Fgroups = 0.0481; p = 0.953]. The mean level decreased significantly for each group from baseline to post project (pB < 0.001). With respect to TNF-alpha levels, the mean levels decreased over time for all groups (pB = 0.006 for Experimental group; pB < 0.001 either for the Advanced or Control group). Conclusion: the results documented in the experimental groups who experienced didactics of emotion for at least one school year show a significant increase in children's ability to cope with reality, stress and anxiety, and an improvement of their emotional competence. Meanwhile, a significant reduction in the amount of salivary cortisol was observed in the experimental group at the end of the scholastic year; meantime a stable reduced amount of salivary cortisol in advanced group throughout the project was also observed. These findings show that an intervention through an emotional education program is able to regulate interpersonal skills and the stress axis response.

Helminth infections in Italian donkeys: Strongylus vulgaris more common than Dictyocaulus arnfieldi.

Donkeys have been used as working animals for transport and farm activities worldwide. Recently, in European countries, there has been an increasing interest in donkeys due to their use as pets, onotherapy or milk production. During 2014-2016, a countrywide survey was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors of principal helminth infections in 1775 donkeys in 77 Italian farms. A questionnaire on management and parasite control practices was filled out for each farm. Faecal samples were examined using a modified McMaster technique, a centrifugation/flotation method and a sedimentation technique. Pooled coprocultures were performed for differentiation of strongylid eggs. Strongyles were the most common parasites detected (84.9%), followed by Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (6.9%), Oxyuris equi (5.8%), Parascaris spp. (3.6%), Anoplocephala spp. (1.0%), Strongyloides westeri (0.3%). Coprocultures revealed an omnipresence of cyathostomins (100%), followed by Strongylus vulgaris (31.0%), Poteriostomum spp. (25.0%), Triodontophorus spp. (9.0%), Strongylus edentatus (7.0%), Strongylus equinus (5.0%). Logistic regression analysis identified breed, co-pasture with horses, living area, herd size and number of treatments as significantly associated with strongyles. Sex, age, living area and herd size were significantly associated with Parascaris spp. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was significantly associated with sex, grass, co-pasture with horses, living area and herd size. Strongylus vulgaris was significantly associated with living area and herd size. The mean number of anthelmintic treatments/year was 1.4; most of the donkeys (71.8%) were dewormed using an ivermectin drug. It is important to design parasite programs to specifically address both D. arnfieldi and S. vulgaris in donkeys, and this is especially important if donkeys co-graze with horses.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in donkeys from Southern Italy.

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) has been frequently described in donkeys in subtropical and tropical regions, but published data reflecting large scale surveys are very limited in Europe. The seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi was determined in a donkey population from Campania Region in Southern Italy using a commercial indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the infection were assessed. Of 203 samples, the overall seroprevalence for EP was 57.1% (116/203), with 35.5% (72/203) for B. caballi and 44.3% (90/203) for T. equi. Co-infection was detected in 46 donkeys (22.6%). The distribution of IFAT antibody titres to B. caballi was: 1:80 (n= 67), 1:160 (n= 2), 1:320 (n= 3); while the distribution of IFAT antibody titres to T. equi was: 1:80 (n= 25), 1:160 (n= 42), 1:320 (n= 12), 1:640 (n= 8), 1:1280 (n= 3). All examined donkeys were asymptomatic, except one adult male (with a titre of 1:640 against T. equi) that showed clinical signs corresponding to the acute stage of EP, reported for the first time in Italy. The unique risk factor associated with a higher B. caballi seroprevalence was the presence of horses in the farms, while risk factors associated with a higher T. equi seroprevalence were poor body condition, presence of ruminants in the farms and milk production. The results indicate a high level of exposure in donkeys living in Southern Italy and suggest that donkeys may be an important reservoir of EP.

T-cell lymphoma of the oral cavity: a case report.

Lymphomas are defined as heterogeneous malignancies of the lymphatic system characterized by a proliferation of lymphoid cells or their precursors. Malignant lymphoma of the oral cavity has been described previously although reports on the occurrence of intraoral extranodal T-cell lymphomas are scarce. Oral lesions may appear as a painless enlargement, erythematous, often with surface ulceration secondary to trauma. This is a report of a rare case in which a specific subtype of T-cell lymphoma appeared in the oral cavity.

A study of the post-burned restored skin.

The color of restored skin (RS) resulting from healing of partial skin thickness burns was analyzed. Comparisons within symmetric skin areas were performed between RS and healthy undamaged skin (HS), using spectrophotometry, in 118 subjects, 64 males, 54 females with an age range of 1-70 years. A total of 379 samples were analyzed. The CIE-1976 color system was adopted where L*, a* and b*, characterizes the sample color. L*, a* and b* values from restored and healthy skin were obtained and differences between them calculated. Age, sex, sun exposure and time span after burn were taken into account and the data was submitted to statistical analysis: Wilcoxon test for age and chi 2 for other variables. RS became darker: one year after the original burn; in subjects with sun exposure and in older subjects. Sex did not show any influence on brightness index. RS became more red in subjects with sun exposure; in older subjects; within the first six months after the burn. Sex did not show any influence on a* chromaticity axis. RS became more blue: in male subjects and within one year after the burn. Age and sun exposure did not yield any influence on b* chromaticity axis.

Contraction and myofibroblasts in restored skin.

Myofibroblasts and the contraction of split skin-graft donor sites were studied in 18 patients. For each patient five samples were studied, taken on days 0, 14, 21, 28, and 35. On each occasion the extensions and densities of myofibroblasts were calculated. After the initial measurement, the subsequent extensions were expressed in percentages of the first, resulting in mean measurements of 100, 95, 97, 99, and 99%, respectively. The myofibroblasts in 10 dermic fields were counted under light microscopy at a magnification of 1000 marked with anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibodies using immunoperoxidase, resulting in the means of 0.2, 3.8, 1.3, 1.3, and 0.4, respectively. The contraction and the increase in density of myofibroblasts were transitory and significant in the samples measured on day 14, but in sample 35 neither of the variables was significantly different from the initial sample. These variables evolved concurrently, corroborating the hypothesis that myofibroblasts are responsible for the contraction.

The tegument resulting from the healing of burns.

First the authors conceptualized healed burns, the tegument resulting from the healing of burns (TRH), and the 4 main species of teguments: 1--Regenerated skin; 2--Restored skin; 3--Grafts and 4--Scars. One hundred patients at the Unit Burn from the Division of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil, were then studied prospectively, and the respective teguments which resulted from the healing of the burns were analyzed in their qualitative and quantitative aspects. From the qualitative point of view, TRHs were classified into 7 types. The extensions of the species which comprised each type were calculated as a % of the TRH. From this analysis it was seen that restored skin was present in all patients and that pos-burn restored skin was the most frequent and most extensive species. It also became evident that restored skin has not been considered as such, since it has been incorrectly referred to as scar. From this qualitative and quantitative analysis a Quality Index was drawn up to objectively evaluate healed burns and, indirectly the caliber of the treatment carried out. It also become clear how heterogeneous are the teguments that make up healed burns and the importance of this fact for treating patients.

[Local treatment of burns: analysis of the use of antimicrobial agents]. / Tratamento local das queimaduras: análise do uso de antimicrobianos.

The authors studied the local treatment of burns in 11045 cases: 6063 (54.9%) were treated without topical antibacterials and 4985 (45.1%) with antibacterial agents. In 62.1% of cases the topical antibacterial treatment was done mainly in the hospital ward (69.5%) while the treatment without topical medication was mostly performed in the operating room. The use of topical antibacterials was studied during eight years, from 1985 to 1992. In the earlier periods the justifications were not related to burn wound sepsis. In the recent years the topical antibacterials were used chiefly for the treatment and prophylaxis of wound infection (96.8% of cases).

[The classification of skin grafts by the coverage of the receptor area]. / Classificação das enxertias de pele quanto ao revestimento da área receptora.

Classification of skin grafting in use at the Division of Plastic Surgery and Burns of the São Paulo University for 16 years is presented. It is based on the type and way of the wound coverage from which the esthetic results essentially depend. This classification takes in consideration whether the healing at the receptor site should be or not by second intention or by the limitation of the healing through the reduction of the epithelialization time.

Retracao primaria dos enxertos de pele / Primary retraction in skin grafting

Os autores estudaram a retracao primaria dos enxertos de pele relacionando-a com a espessura dos mesmos e a distencao da area doadora, apos a excisao dos enxertos, relacionando-a com a espessura da derme residual. Foram estudados dez areas doadoras e os respectivos enxertos. A espessura media dos enxertos estudados foi 318,0 micra que corresponde a 20,0 por cento da pele doadora. A retracao primaria desses enxertos foi 17,6 por cento da area doadora. Os autores compararam os resultados com aqueles obtidos por Davis e Ketowsk, salientando as diferencas entre os metodos utilizados nos dois trabalhos. A espessura media da derme residual das areas doadoras logo apos a excisao dos enxertos foi 1.287,0 micra que corresponde a 85,2 por cento da espessura media da derme reticular da pele doadora. A distencao da area doadora apos a retirada do enxerto foi de 2,1 por cento da original.

[Primary retraction in skin grafting]. / Retração primária dos enxertos de pele.

In ten patients a study of skin grafts and of the changes that occurred in the donor area was carried out: the primary retraction of the grafts in relation to their thickness was determined as well as the distension of the donor area of the graft after the excision of the same and comparison of it's thickness with that of the residual skin. The average thickness of the grafts was 318.0 micra, which corresponded to 20% of the donor skin. The primary retraction was 17.6%. The mean thickness of the residual skin at the donor area was 1,287.0 micra or 85.2% of the mean thickness of the reticular derma: the distension of the donor skin area after the removal of the graft corresponded to 2.1% of the original size.

Avaliacao dos curativos absorventes como veiculos de antimicrobianos. / Evaluation of absorbent dressings as antimicrobial vehicles

A ineficiencia dos curativos absorventes como meio de aplicacao de antimicrobianos topicos no tratamento das feridas granulantes foi evidenciada. A atividade antimicrobiana foi estudada em tres amostras de gaze de raiom, a inicial (A1), a de 24 horas (A24) e a de 48 horas (A48). As amostras contendo antimicrobianos foram colocadas em tubos estereis com caldo glicosado e autoclavadas. De cada uma das amostras foram feitos diluicoes de 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 e 1:16. Todos os trezentos tubos apos a esterilizacao foram semeados com 0,02ml de suspensao de Staphylococcus epidermis sensivel a nitrofurazona e encubados por 48 horas a 37oC. A maior inibicao foi de 60% dos tubos da amostra inicial. As amostras de 24 e 48 horas tiveram inibicao de 35% e 5% dos tubos respectivamente. Esses niveis de inibicao correspondem a diluicoes de 1:2 e 1:8 respectivamente. Essas inibicoes nao sao aceitaveis do ponto de vista clinico

Gestacoes complicadas por queimaduras. / Burns complicating pregnancy

Os autores fazem revisao da literatura mundial e acrescentam aos 53 casos publicados, 23 de sua casuistica. O obito materno e fetal foi praticamente a regra nos casos em que a area corporea atingida foi superior a 60%. O desencadeamento de contracoes uterinas ocorreu em 43,4% dos casos. Assinalam a importancia da associacao de um centro de atendimento especializado em queimaduras com o atendimento obstetrico. Enfatizam a necessidade da adequada reposicao de fluidos e do combate a hipoxia para o melhor prognostico fetal. Recomendam a interrupcao da gravidez nos casos graves com feto viavel; nos casos sem gravidade e com fetos prematuros, na presenca de contracoes uterinas, o emprego de uteroliticos estaria indicado