Offline ventral subiculum-ventral striatum serial communication is required for spatial memory consolidation.

The hippocampal formation is considered essential for spatial navigation. In particular, subicular projections have been suggested to carry spatial information from the hippocampus to the ventral striatum. However, possible cross-structural communication between these two brain regions in memory formation has thus far been unknown. By selectively silencing the subiculum-ventral striatum pathway we found that its activity after learning is crucial for spatial memory consolidation and learning-induced plasticity. These results provide new insight into the neural circuits underlying memory consolidation and establish a critical role for off-line cross-regional communication between hippocampus and ventral striatum to promote the storage of complex information.

Needs and challenges of daily life for people with Down syndrome residing in the city of Rome, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Population-based surveys on the quality of life of people with Down syndrome (DS) are difficult to perform because of ethical and legal policies regarding privacy and confidential information, but they are essential for service planning. Little is known about the sample size and variability of quality of life of people with DS living in the city of Rome, which has a population of 2.7 million inhabitants. The aim of the present study is to explore the needs and challenges in health, social integration and daily life, of people with DS living in Rome. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, census-based survey was conducted in 2006. All family doctors (3016 in total) of the National Health Service were involved by the Statistical Bureau of the Municipality of Rome. As per the census, every resident citizen is registered with a family doctor and every person with disabilities is coded. Associations for Down Syndrome encouraged their members to participate in the research. Questionnaires were completed by families of people with DS, in accordance with privacy laws. FINDINGS: An initial survey, conducted via a letter and a telephone contact with family doctors, identified 884 people with DS residing in the city of Rome. Data on the medical and social conditions of 518 people with DS, ranging in age from 0 to 64 years, were collected. Some 88% of these were living with their original family; 82.1% had one or more siblings, and 19.5% had lost one or both parents. A full 100% of children with DS were enrolled in the public school system. This ensures that they are fully occupied and entirely integrated in society. After secondary school there is a lack of opportunities. Thus, only 10% of adults were working with a regular contract. A mere 42.2% of people with DS aged 25-30 were involved in some form of regular activity (although not always on a daily basis). After the age of 30, the percentage of people demonstrating decline in function increased sharply, while disability-related support decreased. In other words, as people with DS age, daily life evolves increasingly around the home, with only occasional outdoor activities. CONCLUSION: The health, employment and social needs of the majority of people with DS in the city of Rome are not being met. The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for more comprehensive inclusion in society of adults with DS and for the provision of support services to create an enabling environment for inclusion. Because of the variability of performance among individuals with DS, there is a need to create more case-specific options in terms of work, living arrangements, social networking and medical services. Schooling and social inclusion in childhood alone do not guarantee a satisfactory quality of life in adulthood. It is argued herewith that policy of inclusion and support should extend over the entire lifetime of people with DS.

[Fetal biliary lithiasis: ultrasonographic diagnosis and clinical interpretation. Report of 3 cases]. / La litiasi biliare fetale: diagnosi ecografica e interpretazione clinica. Descrizione di tre casi.

Fetal cholelithiasis was first diagnosed in 1983 and since then there have been only few reports about the presence of gallstones in the fetus. Maternal conditions, fetal or obstetrical predisposing risk factors have been proposed to have a causative role, but the pathogenesis of fetal gallstones remains unknown. Clinical sequelae of fetal gallstones are poorly understood as well as the role of fetal cholelithiasis in predisposing the adult to gallstones. We report on 3 patients whose cholelithiasis was diagnosed by obstetrical ultrasonography. Repeated ultrasound scans were performed in each patient until resolution of the US images. The goal of US was to correctly identify the number, size, and US features of the material within the gallbladder. The presence of distal shadowing or comet-tail artifact was assessed. Multiple, small echogenic foci without distal shadowing were recognized in the fetal gallbladder in our patients. Echogenic material was present at the US exams after birth in two patients and disappeared in the second month of life. In the third case echogenic foci disappeared during pregnancy. In all the cases, US showed no biliary tract abnormality, and neither the mothers nor the patients had clinical or laboratory findings consistent with liver or biliary diseases. The Authors discuss a diagnostic protocol to detect and follow-up gallstones in the perinatal period by ultrasonography. In our experience, fetal cholelithiasis confirmed to be a self-limiting disease without complications and did not require any form of therapy. However, a close follow-up is indicated in these patients until spontaneous resolution is demonstrated by US.

Parental and primary care physicians' views on the management of chronic diseases: a study in Italy. The Italian Collaborative Group on Paediatric Chronic Diseases.

A survey on the burden and quality of care and the parental and primary care physicians' views on management of eight chronic illnesses and disabilities was conducted from 1990 to 1993. Data were collected on 993 children and adolescents from family interviews and physicians' postal questionnaires. Approximately 70% of patients used two or more services for care management and 149 children were treated outside their region. Only 36% of the physicians were case managers and half of these agreed that better communication with other care providers could facilitate their role. A wide difference in parental satisfaction was found between medical and disabling conditions. Approximately 90% of the parents expressed satisfaction with care for children with coeliac disease (112/120), asthma (80/89) and diabetes (98/111), whereas approximately one-third of parents of children with cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome were dissatisfied (88/242 and 72/189, respectively). Primary care physicians expressed similar satisfaction with case management. Distance from hospital, the need for more information on disease management and financial aid were the sources of greatest dissatisfaction. Children with disabling diseases had more problems integrating at school than children with other chronic disorders. Closer interaction between health services, providers and families is necessary to manage the needs of disabled (Italian) children better.

[Injuries in childhood: a study on emergency department admissions of pediatric population in an Emilia-Romagna USL]. / Infortuni nell'infanzia: uno studio sugli accessi al dipartimento di emergenza della popolazione pediatrica di una USL Emiliano-Romagnola.

A study of childhood injuries of 0-14 year-olds children based on emergency room records of the five hospitals was conducted in USL 39 of Emilia-Romagna during 1988. The incidence of visits was 164, 14/1000 child-years with 95% confidence intervals (CI = 163, 28-165). The rate was 198, 93/1000 child-years (CI = 195, 36-202, 51) among the 0-4 year-olds, 140, 65/1000 child-years (CI = 139, 17-142, 13) in the 5-9 age group and 170, 86/1000 child-years (CI = 169, 77-171, 95) among 10-14 year-olds. The male to female ratio was 1.4 for the 0-4 year-olds, 1.7 for the 5-9 year-olds and for the 10-14 year-olds. The most frequent causes of injuries were falls (49.52%), being road accidents (22.1%) and bites-stings (17.4%); 4.8% of the injured children were admitted to hospital and 0.044% dead.

[Hospital admissions in a pediatric department]. / Percorso dei ricoveri ospedalieri in una divisione pediatrica.

Admission of 429 children in Pediatric Department were examined. 249 children had been taken to emergency ward by parents, 131 had been hospitalized by other physician. 175 children had been examined before admission by panel doctor who decided admission of 114 in Pediatric Department. Parents decided admission of 30 children. The necessity of admission in Department was only in 33 per cent of children admitted.

[Neurologic risks caused by perinatal and neonatal problems in a provincial hospital]. / Rischio neurologico da problemi perinatali e neonatali in un ospedale di provincia.

The study intends to value results of follow-up of risk neonates hospitalized for the period 1980-88 at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Bufalini Hospital Cesena and the course with time of neurologic and neuropsychological alterations, reported to the birth-rate of territory in which operates the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The survivor infants attended in follow up have been 419: 63 of neonatal weight less than or equal to 1500 g (group A), 117 of weight 1501-2000 g (group B), 239 of weight greater than 2000 g (group C). The follow-up provided at first 12 months of life a pediatric examination together with motoscopic examination to Milani-Comparetti every two months, at 3 years--4 years and 6 months, 7 years a pediatric examination with evaluation of Intelligence Quotient (N.E.M.I.), at last two months of 1st Primary School evaluation of acquired scholastic learning capacities by reading test of Inizan and calculation test of Meljac. Diagnosis of cerebral palsy (C.P.) has been always placed at first 12 months of life. All the survivors have been executed pediatric checks as foreseen at first 12 months of life. The subjects with CP are 26 (%); of these 13 have an I.Q. less than or equal to 70. The risk to develop CP seems to depend strictly by hypoxic perinatal stress (21/26 infants). The type of CP seems to be conditioned by neonatal weight, in particular as regards spastic paraplegia (10/12 infants of weight less than or equal to 2000 g), but hemiplegia and tetraplegia are with equality distributed (7/14 infants of weight less than or equal to 2000 g).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The diagnostic value of the intelligence quotient in learning disabilities]. / Il valore diagnostico del quoziente intellettivo nei disturbi di apprendimento.

In 1983-88 period, 206 subjects with a average age of 9 years and 6 months, referred [correction of envoied] to our service for learning disabilities, have been submitted to neuropsychiatric visit with a psychometric evaluation, I.Q. included, by which a neuropsychological diagnosis has been expressed. The distribution curves of I.Q. of different diagnostic groups (neurosis, psychosis, specific learning disability with and without sociocultural deprivation, central neuromotor damage, psychomotor delay, Down syndrome, mental retardation) have been examined. The analysis shows that only subjects with central neuromotor damage, psychomotor delay, Down syndrome, mental retardation have an I.Q. less than or equal to 70. The anamnesis and clinical evaluation consent to assert an "organic" etiopathogenesis in 9 of 20 subjects with mental retardation. Therefore for diagnostic evaluation of children with learning disabilities seems useful to perform always an I.Q. and, when I.Q. less than or equal to 70, to execute an instrumental examination to exclude an "organic" etiopathogenesis.

[Airborne pollen on the Romagna coast]. / Studio dei pollini aerodiffusi nella costa Romagnola.

Data are reported of a study on airborne pollen diffusion carried out in the area of Cesena (Emilia Romagna) during the years 1984-85-86 to create a pollen calendar. The seasonal trend of Graminacee, Fagacee, Betulacee, Chenopodiacee, Urticacee, Oleacee, Composite, Plantaginacee, Salicacee concentration has been investigated using the method of daily, weekly and mobile mean which provides the elimination of interferences brought about by atmospheric phenomena.

[An intra-oral device for orojejunal feeding of low-weight neonates]. / Apparecchio endorale per nutrizione oro-digiunale nel neonato di basso peso.

An intraoral device has been experimented to stabilize oro-gastric or oro-jejunal feeding tubes in low birth weight newborns.

[Epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of school accidents]. / Epidemiologia ed eziopatogenesi degli incidenti nella scuola.

The study purpose to take a contribution to the Knowledge of circumstance and of consequences in which happen the scholastic incidents. Have been taken into consideration 92 scholastic incidents happened during the school year 83/84 at nursery, primary and secondary schools of the Municipality of Cesena, for a total of 11,856 children and have been compared with 1,185 incidents not scholastic of children with same age, happened in Municipality of Cesena and registered at first aid of the "Bufalini" Hospital of Cesena in months of November-December '83 and March, April, July, August 1984. The frequency of such scholastic and not scholastic incidents results superior at male child and of age more low. The seat of damage of scholastic and not scholastic is prevalently the head for children in age 3-6 years and the limbs for those in age 7-11 and 12-14 years. The type of damage of scholastic and not scholastic incidents are prevalently the wounds-abrasions for children in age 3-6 years and the bruises-luxations-stretchings-distortions for those in age 7-11 and 12-14 years. The 77% of scholastic incidents applies to treatment of first aid, the prognostic opinions of which are not significantly different from those emitted for not scholastic incidents. The scholastic incidents at nursery school happen prevalently in court on the occasion of recreation activities for falling from a play equipment, at primary school in schoolroom or in corridor on the occasion of recreation for push of schoolfellow, at secondary school in palaestra during time of physical education for falling or traumatic contact with the ball.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hybrid genes in the analysis of transformation conditions : I. Setting up a simple method for direct gene transfer in plant protoplasts.

Direct gene transfer into plant protoplasts has been recently developed, and conditions for high frequency transformation of SR1 tobacco protoplasts established. In this paper we analyse numerous transformation parameters in a comparative study on SR1 Nicotiana tabacum and N. plumbaginifolia, and report on a simple chemical technique for very efficient protoplast transformation. It is based on the synergistic interaction of MgCl2 and PEG. The technique yielded up to 1400 transformants per 3×10(5) treated N. tabacum protoplasts (up to 4.8% of the survivors, late selected clones). Using N. plumbaginifolia, the frequencies were 10-fold lower, indicating that the 'competence' for transformation has a species-specific component.

Correlation between dosage and antipyretic effect of aspirin in children.

One hundred and forty-five children aged 3 months to 11.5 years, with rectal temperatures greater than 38.9 degrees C, were randomly treated with aspirin 5, 10 or 15 mg/kg p.o. Temperatures were recorded just before medication, every 30 min thereafter for 4 h and subsequently hourly up to 6 h. In all dosage regimens the average temperature was significantly reduced in the time interval 1-6 h after drug administration; the antipyretic effect, however, was significantly greater with the 10 and 15 mg/kg doses. Both had significantly better and comparable clinical efficacy, defined as reduction in fever below 38.9 degrees C. The duration of the clinical effect was not dose-related. A dose of 10 mg/kg appears rational for the treatment of children with fever.

[Long-term subacute sclerosing panencephalitis with sensorial transcortical aphasia. Description of a case]. / Panencefalite sclerosante subacuta (PESS) a lunga sopravvivenza con afasia transcorticale sensoriale. Descrizione di un caso.

A 16 year boy with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in stage 4 is described. Neuropsychological analysis reveal a transcortical sensorial aphasia. Behavior therapies of shaping and fading are proposed.

Co-segregation of nitrate-reductase activity and normal regeneration ability in selfed sibs of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia somatic hybrids, heterozygotes for nitrate-reductase deficiency.

The nitrate-reductase (NR) defective cell lines of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia isolated in our laboratory could not be regenerated into plants on the standard medium (Márton et al. 1982 a). The normal regeneration potential, however, was restored in somatic hybrids obtained by fusing the NR(-) (green) lines with a pigment deficient (P(-)), but NR(+) line, A28. Somatic hybrid plants were fertile in two combinations (A28 + NA9 and A28 + NX9). As expected, segregation for NR(-) and P(-) was found after selfing the somatic F1 (SF1) obtained by protoplast fusion, and in the F2. The variable segregation ratios are explained by chromosome abnormalities. Co-segregation of the NR(-) phenotype and the altered response to shoot induction on standard medium suggest the involvement of the nitrate-assimilatory pathway in determining shoot regeneration ability.

Early and late neutropenia in children treated with cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole).

The incidence of hematologic abnormalities was evaluated in 120 children with otitis media treated respectively with cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) (group 1), cotrimoxazole plus folinic acid (group 2) and amoxicillin (group 3) in therapeutic doses for ten days. Only eosinophilia (an absolute count greater than or equal to 0.5 X 10(9)/l) (group 1 = 10%, 2 = 5%, 3 = 7.5%) and neutropenia (polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leucocyte count less than or equal to 1.5 X 10(9)/l) (group 1 = 35%, 2 = 17.5%, 3 = 13.3%) were noted. Early neutropenia (evident on the 5th day of therapy) occurred in all the treatment groups, thus it is not related to cotrimoxazole administration and in most cases neutrophil count reversed to normal in few days without drug discontinuation. Late neutropenia (evident after 10 days of treatment) appeared only in cotrimoxazole treated children (p less than 0.05). No superimposed bacterial infection was demonstrated in any case. Late neutropenia seems to be strictly related to the sequential blockage of folinic acid metabolism and can be prevented by the concomitant administration of folinic acid.

[Antibiotic treatment of lung disease in cystic fibrosis]. / Il trattamento antibiotico della pneumopatia nella fibrosi cistica.

Patients suffering from chronic lung infections are a major problems in therapy of cystic fibrosis (CF). Resistance frequently occurs with great rapidity among isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonal aeruginosa. The rational for the use of frequent antibiotics (reduction of bacterial count), and the principle to follow while using antibiotics in CF patients are discussed. Research on amikacin peak levels and its average levels in serum, saliva and sputum is presented.

[Hypertrophic exudative gastropathy in a child. A case report]. / La gastropathie hypertrophique et exsudative de l'enfant. Description d'un cas.

Case report of a four-year-old atopic boy with protein-losing hypertrophic gastropathy. The diagnosis was confirmed radiologically and with radioisotope examinations. Already after one week of a high protein diet, spontaneous remission occurred, accompanied by an asthmatic attack.