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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the Healthcare System, changing the patterns of Emergency Department access. In fact, accesses for trauma and less severe cases decreased significantly. This decline has generally been attributed to both the effects of the lockdown, imposed by the government, and the fear of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 in the hospital. However, the correlation between these elements is not yet clear, since the accesses to the Emergency Department did not increase either at the end of the lockdown or in the summer when the epidemiological situation was more favorable. Aim: To evaluate the association between trends of Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence in 2020. Methods: Data on Emergency Department accesses, by month and severity triage code, from 14 hospitals in southeastern Tuscany (Italy) were obtained from hospitals' data warehouse. Official data on new cases of COVID-19 infection were used to calculate incidence. Hospitals were classified into 4 categories. Differences in Emergency Department access by month, triage code, and hospital type were investigated using Kruskal-Wallis analysis. Association between Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence was evaluated using a random-effect panel data analysis, adjusting for hospital type and triage code. Results: The trend of 268,072 Emergency Department accesses decreases substantially at the first pandemic peak; thereafter, it increased and decreased again until the minimum peak in November 2020. COVID-19 incidence appeared to be overlapping with an inverse direction. Monthly differences were significant (p<0.01) except for most severe codes. There was a significant inverse association between Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence (Coef. =-0.074, p<0.001) except for most severe cases (triage code 1: Coef. =-0.028, p=0.154). Conclusion: Emergency Department admissions trend followed the COVID-19 incidence, except for the most severe cases. Fear of infection seems to discourage patients from accessing Emergency Department for illnesses perceived as not serious.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemias , Estudos Retrospectivos , Incidência , Controle de Doenças Transmissíveis , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Itália/epidemiologiaRESUMO
About 50 years ago, Sarachick and Schappert [Phys. Rev. D. 1, 2738-2752 (1970)] showed that relativistic Thomson scattering leads to wavelength shifts that are proportional to the laser intensity. About 28 years later, Chen et al. [Nature 396, 653-655 (1998)] used these shifts to estimate their laser intensity near 1018 W/cm 2. More recently, there have been several theoretical studies aimed at exploiting nonlinear Thomson scattering as a tool for direct measurement of intensities well into the relativistic regime. We present the first quantitative study of this approach for intensities between 1018 and 1019 W/cm 2. We show that the spectral shifts are in reasonable agreement with estimates of the peak intensity extracted from images of the focal area obtained at reduced power. Finally, we discuss the viability of the approach, its range of usefulness and how it might be extended to gauge intensities well in excess of 1019 W/cm 2.
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The objective of this study was to determine the genetic structure and variability of Bionda Piemontese and Bianca di Saluzzo (Piedmont, Northwest Italy) using an international set of microsatellite loci (AVIANDIV-FAO). Differences compared with commercial lines and other Italian breeds were verified to justify the implementation of conservation programmes. Flock contribution to genetic variability was assessed following the approach implemented in the MolKin software. Comparison was performed using the fixation index and the Reynolds genetic distance. The most likely number of different populations was estimated using the clustering procedure implemented in STRUCTURE. The molecular information suggests that management practices could have prevented random mating and produced inbreeding and heterogeneity across flocks. In this respect, Bionda and Bianca show substructuring and are more similar to British breeds than other continental European breeds. Bionda and Bianca fit into the European breeds provided with the highest number of alleles and expected heterozygosity. There is a clear distinction between the Piedmont breeds and the other populations. The Piedmont poultry differ from both commercial lines and other Italian breeds and retain a high level of genetic variability. As for other indigenous breeds, Bionda and Bianca could make an original contribution to the industry in the future. A collective planned approach to restoration is essential, because the flocks are managed with poor regulation. Enhancing connection between breeders with an efficient replacement interchange and mating plan is the right way of controlling inbreeding, preventing substructuring and increasing variability within the flocks.
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Galinhas/genética , Variação Genética , Repetições de Microssatélites , Animais , Cruzamento , Galinhas/classificação , Feminino , Itália , Filogenia , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
Insects are currently being considered as a novel protein source for animal feeds, because they contain a large amount of protein. The larvae of Tenebrio molitor (TM) have been shown to be an acceptable protein source for broiler chickens in terms of growth performance, but till now, no data on histological or intestinal morphometric features have been reported. This study has had the aim of evaluating the effects of dietary TM inclusion on the performance, welfare, intestinal morphology and histological features of free-range chickens. A total of 140 medium-growing hybrid female chickens were free-range reared and randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: (i) a control group and (ii) a TM group, in which TM meal was included at 75 g/kg. Each group consisted of five pens as replicates, with 14 chicks per pen. Growth performance, haematological and serum parameters and welfare indicators were evaluated, and the animals were slaughtered at the age of 97 days. Two birds per pen (10 birds/treatment) were submitted to histological (liver, spleen, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, kidney, heart, glandular stomach and gut) and morphometric (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) investigations. The inclusion of TM did not affect the growth performance, haematological or serum parameters. The morphometric and histological features were not significantly affected either, thus suggesting no influence on nutrient metabolization, performance or animal health. Glandular stomach alterations (chronic flogosis with epithelial squamous metaplasia) were considered paraphysiological in relation to free-range farming. The observed chronic intestinal flogosis, with concomitant activation of the lymphoid tissue, was probably due to previous parasitic infections, which are very frequently detected in free-range chickens. In conclusion, the findings of this study show that yellow mealworm inclusion does not affect the welfare, productive performances or morphological features of free-range chickens, thus confirming that TM can be used safely in poultry diets.
Assuntos
Ração Animal/análise , Galinhas , Dieta/veterinária , Tenebrio/química , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição Animal , Animais , Proteínas Alimentares/administração & dosagem , FemininoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The detection of Streptococcus agalactiae colonization during pregnancy is important in order to prevent neonatal infections and reduce mortality rates. METHODS: A highly sensitive (up to 1,000 UFC/mL), fully automated, and cost effective cylB specific real-time PCR protocol was developed for the detection of S. agalactiae in anal and vaginal swabs of pregnant women. RESULTS: From the 62 test subjects, 24 were considered positive by PCR (38%) and 14 by culture (24%; p = 0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: The observed discrepancies and the reduced turnaround time justifies molecular screening for S. agalactiae.
Assuntos
Infecções Estreptocócicas/diagnóstico , Streptococcus agalactiae , Canal Anal/microbiologia , Primers do DNA , Feminino , Humanos , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/diagnóstico , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/microbiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Infecções Estreptocócicas/microbiologia , Vagina/microbiologiaRESUMO
Tetracyclines, which represent one of the most commonly used antibiotics for poultry, are known to be deposited in bones, where they can remain, despite the observation of appropriate withdrawal times. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of oxytretracycline (OTC) residues in the bone and muscle of chickens, following the oral administration of a commercially available liquid formulation, and to test their cytotoxic effects on an in vitro cell culture model. Seventy-two 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly allotted into 2 groups (control and treated animals). OTC (40 mg/kg BW) was administered via drinking water during the 1 to 5 and 20 to 25 days of life periods. At the end of the trial, the birds were slaughtered and the OTC residues in the target tissues were measured by means of liquid chromatography (LC) - tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Cytotoxicity was assessed by evaluating the pro-apoptotic effect of the bone residues on the K562 erythroleukemic line and on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In all the animals, the OTC residues in the muscle were far below the established MRL of 100 µg/kg. The OTC levels in the bones of the treated animals were instead found in the parts per million (ppm) range. Cell cytotoxicity was assessed by evaluating the pro-apoptotic effect of OTC bone residues on the haematopoietic cell system. This in vitro system has revealed a significant pro-apoptotic effect on both the K562 cell line and PBMC cultures. This result suggests potential human and animal health risks due to the entry of tetracycline residues contained in the bones of treated livestock into the food-chain. This could be of concern, particularly for canine and feline diets, as meat, bone meal, and poultry by-products represent some of the main ingredients of pet foods, especially in the case of dry pet food. Further studies are needed to define the underlying mechanisms of cytotoxicity and to evaluate the in vivo toxicological implications due to the observed in vitro effects.
Assuntos
Osso e Ossos/química , Galinhas/metabolismo , Resíduos de Drogas/química , Leucócitos Mononucleares/efeitos dos fármacos , Oxitetraciclina/toxicidade , Administração Oral , Adulto , Animais , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/toxicidade , Linhagem Celular , Água Potável , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Músculo Esquelético/química , Oxitetraciclina/químicaRESUMO
Despite the inevitable shift in medical practice towards a deeper understanding of disease etiology and progression through multigenic analysis, the profound historical impact of Mendelian diseases cannot be overlooked. These diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and thalassemia, are characterized by a single variant in a single gene leading to clinical conditions, and have significantly shaped our medical knowledge and treatments. In this respect, the monogenic approach inevitably results in the underutilization of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data. Herein, a retrospective study was performed to assess the diagnostic value of the clinical exome in 32 probands with specific phenotypic characteristics (patients with autoinflammation and immunological dysregulation, N = 20; patients diagnosed with Hemolytic uremic syndrome N = 9; and patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia, N = 3). A gene enrichment analysis was performed using the *. VCF file generated by SOPHiA-DDM-v4. This analysis selected a subset of genes containing pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants with autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance. In addition, all variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were included, filtered by AD inheritance mode, the presence of compound heterozygotes, and a minor allele frequency (MAF) cutoff of 0.05 %. The aim of the pipeline described here is based on a perspective shift that focuses on analyzing patients' gene assets, offering new light on the complex interplay between genetics and disease presentation. Integrating this approach into clinical practices could significantly enhance the management of patients with rare genetic disorders.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex condition characterized by different phenotypes, according to the combinations of risk factors and is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities. Whether control of MetS components by treatment produces improvement in the associated cardiovascular abnormalities is unknown. We investigated whether partial control of components of MetS was associated with less echocardiographic abnormalities than the complete presentation of MetS based on measured components. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated markers of echocardiographic preclinical cardiovascular disease in MetS (ATP III) defined by measured components or by history of treatment, in 1421 African-American and 1195 Caucasian non-diabetic HyperGEN participants, without prevalent cardiovascular disease or serum creatinine >2 mg/dL. Of 2616 subjects, 512 subjects had MetS by measured components and 328 by history. Hypertension was found in 16% of participants without MetS, 6% of those with MetS by history and 42% of those with MetS by measured components. Obesity and central fat distribution had similar prevalence in both MetS groups (both p < 0.0001 vs. No-MetS). Blood pressure was similar in MetS by history and No-MetS, and lower than in MetS by measured components (p < 0.0001). LV mass and midwall shortening, left atrial (LA) dimension and LA systolic force were similarly abnormal in both MetS groups (all p < 0.0001 vs. No-MetS) without difference between them. CONCLUSIONS: There is a little impact of control by treatment of single components of MetS (namely hypertension) on echocardiographic abnormalities. Lower blood pressure in participants with MetS by history was not associated with substantially reduced alterations in cardiac geometry and function.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico por imagem , Síndrome Metabólica/terapia , Negro ou Afro-Americano , Anti-Hipertensivos/uso terapêutico , Índice de Massa Corporal , Doenças Cardiovasculares/complicações , Doenças Cardiovasculares/terapia , HDL-Colesterol/sangue , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Ventrículos do Coração/diagnóstico por imagem , Humanos , Hipertensão/complicações , Hipolipemiantes/uso terapêutico , Resistência à Insulina , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólica/complicações , Síndrome Metabólica/diagnóstico por imagem , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Obesidade/complicações , Triglicerídeos/sangue , Ultrassonografia , População BrancaRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The ESC/ESH guidelines for arterial hypertension recommend using statins for patients with high cardiovascular (CV) risk for both secondary and primary prevention. A recent meta-analysis, combining previous studies on statins, concluded that they are associated with a 9% increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). There is no information on whether statins increase incidence of DM in primary prevention. METHOD AND RESULTS: We evaluated risk of incident DM in relation to statin prescription in 4750 hypertensive, non-diabetic outpatients (age 58.57 ± 9.0 yrs, 42.3% women), from the CampaniaSalute Network, without chronic kidney disease more than grade 3, free of prevalent CV disease and with at least 12 months of follow-up. DM was defined according to ADA criteria. At the end of follow-up period (55.78 ± 42.5 months), 676 patients (14%) were on statins. These patients were older (62.54 ± 7.3 vs 57.91 ± 9.1 yrs; p < 0.0001), more often female (49% vs 41.2%; p = 0.0001), with higher initial total cholesterol (217.93 ± 44.3 vs 205.29 ± 36.6 mg/dl), non-HDL cholesterol (167.16 ± 44.5 vs 155.18 ± 36.7 mg/dl) and triglycerides (150.69 ± 85.2 vs 130.98 ± 72.0 mg/dl; all p < 0.0001) than patients no taking statins, without other differences in clinical and laboratory characteristics. At the end of follow-up, prevalence of DM was 18.1% among patients on statins and 7.2% among those without lipid-lowering therapy (p < 0.0001). However, incident DM was 10.2% in patients on statins and 8.7% in those free of statin therapy (NS). CONCLUSION: In real-life outpatient environment, statin prescription for primary prevention is not associated with increased risk of incident DM.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/prevenção & controle , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/induzido quimicamente , Inibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Redutases/efeitos adversos , Hipertensão/fisiopatologia , Prevenção Primária , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Doenças Cardiovasculares/etiologia , Colesterol/sangue , Estudos de Coortes , Estudos Transversais , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Inibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Redutases/uso terapêutico , Hipertensão/sangue , Incidência , Itália/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Caracteres Sexuais , Centros de Atenção TerciáriaRESUMO
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of supplementation with sodium salt of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG-Na) on apparent digestibility (AD) in broiler chickens fed low- and high-fat diets. Twenty-eight 1-d-old broiler chickens were fed one of the dietary treatments: a low-fat diet (LF) or a high-fat diet (HF) supplemented with or without 1,000 mg/kg of DMG-Na. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at 14 and 35 d of age. Average daily growth, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. The AD of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, total fat (TF), and α-tocopheryl-acetate were assessed by 2 digestibility trials (at 18-21 and 32-35 d, respectively). Serum protein and plasma α-tocopherol concentrations were assessed at 35 d of age. Final BW, feed intake, carcass, breast, and spleen weight were higher in groups fed LF than HF diets (P = 0.048, P = 0.002, P = 0.039, P < 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). Liver weight was increased in DMG-Na-unsupplemented groups (P = 0.011) for both fat levels. During the first digestibility trial (18-21 d), the AD of DM (P = 0.023), OM (P = 0.033), CP (P = 0.030), and α-tocopheryl-acetate (P = 0.036) was higher in the DMG-Na-supplemented group than control. Digestibility of total fat was increased by DMG-Na supplementation in the LF groups (P = 0.038). A trend for improvement of digestibility was observed during the second digestibility trial (32-35 d) for DM (P = 0.089), OM (P = 0.051), and CP (P = 0.063) in DMG-Na groups. Total serum proteins (and relative fractions) were positively influenced by DMG-Na supplementation both in LF and HF diets (P = 0.029). Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was higher in groups fed LF than HF diets (P < 0.001).
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Galinhas/fisiologia , Gorduras na Dieta/metabolismo , Digestão , Sarcosina/análogos & derivados , Absorção , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição Animal , Animais , Proteínas Sanguíneas/análise , Galinhas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Dieta com Restrição de Gorduras/veterinária , Dieta Hiperlipídica/veterinária , Suplementos Nutricionais , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Masculino , Sarcosina/administração & dosagem , Vitamina E/metabolismo , Aumento de PesoRESUMO
Highly pathogenic (HP) and low pathogenic (LP) avian influenza viruses (AIVs) belonging to H5 and H7 subtypes have been found to be associated with human infection as the result of direct transmission from infected poultry. Human infections by AIVs can cause mild or subclinical disease, and serosurveys are believed to represent an important tool to identify risk of zoonotic transmission. Therefore, we sought to examine Italian poultry workers exposed during LPAI and HPAI outbreaks with the aim of assessing serologic evidence of infection with H5 and H7 AIVs. From December 2008 to June 2010 serum samples were collected from 188 poultry workers and 379 nonexposed controls in Northern Italy. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay using horse red blood cells (RBCs) and a microneutralization (MN)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test were used to analyze human sera for antibodies against the following H5 and H7 LPAI viruses: A/Dk/It/4445/07(H5N2); A/Ty/It/2369/09(H5N7); A/Ty/It/218-193/ 10; A/Ck/It/3775/99(H7N1); A/Ty/It/214845/03(H7N3); and A/Dk/It/332145/09(H7N3). Since previous studies identified low antibody titer to AIVs in people exposed to infected poultry, a cutoff titer of > or = 1:10 was chosen for both serologic assays. Only HI-positive results confirmed by MN assay were considered positive for presence of specific antibodies. The Fisher exact test was used to analyze differences in seroprevalence between poultry workers and control groups, with the significance level set at P < 0.05. MN results showed a proportion of H7-seropositive poultry workers (6/188, i.e., 3.2%), significantly higher than that of controls (0/379), whereas no MN-positive result was obtained against three H5 LPAI subtypes recently identified in Italy. In conclusion, the survey indicated that assessing seroprevalence can be an important tool in risk assessment and health,surveillance of poultry workers.
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Indústria Alimentícia , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza , Vírus da Influenza A/classificação , Exposição Ocupacional , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Anticorpos Antivirais/classificação , Feminino , Humanos , Vírus da Influenza A/genética , Itália/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Aves Domésticas , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The distribution and population size of the red sheep tick (Haemaphysalis punctata) are increasing in Northern Europe, and in the United Kingdom reports of human biting by this species have increased in recent years. To assess the risk of tick-borne disease (TBD) transmission to humans and livestock by H. punctata, ticks sampled from sites in Southern England were screened using PCR for either Borrelia species or piroplasms over a three year period, 2018-2020. A total of 302 H. punctata were collected from eight locations. From these, two Babesia species associated with TBD infections in livestock, Babesia major and Babesia motasi, and the human pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi were detected, predominantly from a single location in Sussex. Consequently, the range expansion of this tick across Southern England may impact public and livestock health.
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Babesia , Borrelia , Ixodes , Ixodidae , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos , Animais , Babesia/genética , Borrelia/genética , Ovinos , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/epidemiologia , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/veterináriaRESUMO
This paper describes the epidemiology of hospitalised cases with influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed influenza A cases in Sicily (Italy) during the 2009 influenza pandemic. The first ILI case diagnosed as infected with pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 in Sicily was reported in June 2009 and it rapidly became the dominant circulating strain. In the period from 30 April 2009 through 31 December 2010, a total of 2,636 people in Sicily were hospitalised for ILI and 1,193 were laboratory-confirmed for influenza A. Basic demographic and clinical information for all hospitalised patients was collected and population mortality rates (PMRs) and case fatality ratios (CFRs) were calculated. The median age of hospitalised patients infected with pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 was significantly lower than that of hospitalised ILI cases in general (18.0 vs. 32.1 years; p<0.0001). Among adults, women were more susceptible than men. The majority of clinical presentations were mild, but 6.6% of hospitalised patients required admission to an intensive care unit, of whom 26.3% had confirmed influenza A. Twenty-four fatal cases were documented. The age group of 4554 year-olds showed the highest PMRs once hospitalised, while CFRs were higher in elderly patients of 65 years and older. All fatal cases were confirmed as influenza A(H1N1)2009 and most of them had established risk factors for influenza complications.
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Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/isolamento & purificação , Influenza Humana/mortalidade , Influenza Humana/virologia , Pandemias , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Influenza Humana/diagnóstico , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vigilância da População , Fatores de Risco , Estações do Ano , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Sicília/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Adenomyosis is the consequence of the myometrial invasion by endometrial glands and stroma. Transvaginal ultrasonography plays a decisive role in the diagnosis and monitoring of this pathology. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of LNG-IUS (Levonorgestrel Releasing Intrauterine System) as medical therapy. We analyzed both clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic aspects of menometrorrhagia and dysmenorrhea in patients with adenomyosis and the control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out on 28 patients suffering from symptomatic adenomyosis treated with LNG-IUS. Adenomyosis was diagnosed through transvaginal ultrasonography by an expert sonographer. A control group of 27 symptomatic patients (menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea) without a transvaginal ultrasonographic diagnosis of adenomyosis was treated in the same way. The two cohorts were compared to the efficacy of LNG-IUS on menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. Patients are evaluated at the time of LNG-IUS insertion and six months after for: increased uterine volume, globulous uterine morphology, uterine symmetry, alterations in the junctional zone, heterogeneous myometrial texture, presence of myometrial cysts, hyperechogenic lines crossing the myometrium, adenomyomas, menstrual blood loss and dysmenorrhea. RESULTS: After six months, the uterine volume decreased significantly in both cohorts (p=0.005; p=0.005). Furthermore, uterine symmetry, visibility of the junctional zone, heterogeneity of myometrial texture, presence of myometrial cysts, hyperechogenic lines and adenomyomas improved in patients affected by adenomyosis (p>0.001; p>0.001; p>0.001; p=0.014; p=0.025; p=0.014). The blood loss decreased significantly in both the cohorts (p<0.001) and particularly in adenomyotic patients. Pain relief was observed in all the patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LNG-IUS can be considered an effective treatment for managing symptoms and improving uterine morphology.
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Adenomiose/tratamento farmacológico , Dismenorreia/tratamento farmacológico , Dispositivos Intrauterinos Medicados , Levanogestrel/uso terapêutico , Menorragia/tratamento farmacológico , Adenomiose/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Estudos de Coortes , Dismenorreia/diagnóstico por imagem , Feminino , Humanos , Menorragia/diagnóstico por imagem , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
Haemagglutinin sequences of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) viruses circulating in Italy were examined, focusing on amino acid changes at position 222 because of its suggested pathogenic relevance. Among 169 patients, the D222G substitution was detected in three of 52 (5.8%) severe cases and in one of 117 (0.9%) mild cases, whereas the D222E mutation was more frequent and evenly distributed in mild (31.6%) and severe cases (38.4%). A cluster of D222E viruses among school children confirms reported human-to-human transmission of viruses mutated at amino acid position 222.
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Substituição de Aminoácidos/genética , Hemaglutininas/genética , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/genética , Influenza Humana/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/isolamento & purificação , Influenza Humana/transmissão , Influenza Humana/virologia , Itália/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Vigilância da População , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Distribuição por Sexo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The MAL (MAL/VIP17) proteolipid is a nonglycosylated integral membrane protein expressed in a restricted pattern of cell types, including T lymphocytes, myelin-forming cells, and polarized epithelial cells. Transport of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) to the apical surface of epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells appears to be mediated by a pathway involving glycolipid- and cholesterol- enriched membranes (GEMs). In MDCK cells, MAL has been proposed previously as being an element of the protein machinery for the GEM-dependent apical transport pathway. Using an antisense oligonucleotide-based strategy and a newly generated monoclonal antibody to canine MAL, herein we have approached the effect of MAL depletion on HA transport in MDCK cells. We have found that MAL depletion diminishes the presence of HA in GEMs, reduces the rate of HA transport to the cell surface, inhibits the delivery of HA to the apical surface, and produces partial missorting of HA to the basolateral membrane. These effects were corrected by ectopic expression of MAL in MDCK cells whose endogenous MAL protein was depleted. Our results indicate that MAL is necessary for both normal apical transport and accurate sorting of HA.
Assuntos
Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras , Proteínas da Mielina , Proteolipídeos/fisiologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/farmacologia , Transporte Biológico/efeitos dos fármacos , Polaridade Celular , Detergentes/farmacologia , Cães , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Rim , Lipídeos de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas Proteolipídicas Associadas a Linfócitos e Mielina , Oligonucleotídeos Antissenso/farmacologia , Proteolipídeos/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteolipídeos/genética , Proteolipídeos/imunologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , TransfecçãoRESUMO
Creation of a nuclear export signal (NES) motif and loss of tryptophans (W) 288 and 290 (or 290 only) at the COOH terminus of nucleophosmin (NPM) are both crucial for NPM aberrant cytoplasmic accumulation in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) carrying NPM1 mutations. Hereby, we clarify how these COOH-terminal alterations functionally cooperate to delocalize NPM to the cytoplasm. Using a Rev(1.4)-based shuttling assay, we measured the nuclear export efficiency of six different COOH-terminal NES motifs identified in NPM mutants and found significant strength variability, the strongest NES motifs being associated with NPM mutants retaining W288. When artificially coupled with a weak NES, W288-retaining NPM mutants are not exported efficiently into cytoplasm because the force (W288) driving the mutants toward the nucleolus overwhelms the force (NES) exporting the mutants into cytoplasm. We then used this functional assay to study the physiologic NH(2)-terminal NES motifs of wild-type NPM and found that they are weak, which explains the prominent nucleolar localization of wild-type NPM. Thus, the opposing balance of forces (tryptophans and NES) seems to determine the subcellular localization of NPM. The fact that W288-retaining mutants always combine with the strongest NES reveals mutational selective pressure toward efficient export into cytoplasm, pointing to this event as critical for leukemogenesis.
Assuntos
Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Proteínas Nucleares/química , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Motivos de Aminoácidos , Animais , Transformação Celular Neoplásica , Citoplasma/metabolismo , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/metabolismo , Camundongos , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Mutação , Células NIH 3T3 , Nucleofosmina , Plasmídeos/metabolismo , Estrutura Terciária de ProteínaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This is a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment with Vaginal Soft gels technology in the improvement of common signs and symptoms in postmenopausal, postpartum and with recurrent vulvovaginitis patients. These conditions may cause the onset of Vulvovaginal Atrophy (VVA) with effects on sexual activity, self-confidence and daily activities. The main symptoms are itching, irritation and dryness. Many therapies have been evaluated and almost all those without hormonal component have shown poor results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women diagnosed with severe VVA from January to September 2018 were recruited. The study groups were composed of 25 postmenopausal women, 30 post-partum women and 30 women with recurrent vulvovaginitis. For each group, patients were randomized 1:1 among those who carried out the experimental treatment and those that did not perform it. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated with a clinical visit in which Vaginal Health Index (VHI) was estimated. The symptomatology was determined through the questionnaire Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: A significant improvement has been shown with regard to the sexual function (orgasm, lubrification, pain) in patients who performed the treatment. A significant increase in VHI has been evaluated in postmenopausal patients (4 months p=0.054, 6 months p=0.005) and in recurrent vulvovaginitis but not in post-partum patients (4 months p=0.681, 6 months p=0.109). An improvement of lubrication, satisfaction, orgasm, pain, as well as dyspareunia, was observed in the three study groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study the treatment with soft gels seems to be effective in improving sexual health and atrophy being a treatment available for all types of patients thanks to the absence of systemic and local side effects. It is an excellent alternative especially for patients who cannot use hormones. These findings must be confirmed by larger and randomized further studies.
Assuntos
Vaginite Atrófica/prevenção & controle , Cremes, Espumas e Géis Vaginais/administração & dosagem , Vulvovaginite/tratamento farmacológico , Vulvovaginite/psicologia , Adulto , Vaginite Atrófica/psicologia , Desenho de Equipamento , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Projetos Piloto , Pós-Menopausa , Período Pós-Parto , Distribuição Aleatória , Resultado do Tratamento , Cremes, Espumas e Géis Vaginais/química , Vulvovaginite/complicações , Adulto JovemRESUMO
As quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is maturing, more clinical applications are being explored. With this comes the question whether QSM is sufficiently robust and reproducible to be directly used in a clinical setting where patients are possibly not cooperative and/or unable to suppress involuntary movements sufficiently. Twenty-nine patients with Alzheimer's disease, 31 patients with mild cognitive impairment and 41 healthy controls were scanned on a 3 T scanner, including a multi-echo gradient-echo sequence for QSM and an inversion-prepared segmented gradient-echo sequence (T1-TFE, MPRAGE). The severity of motion artifacts (excessive/strong/noticeable/invisible) was categorized via visual inspection by two independent raters. Quantitative susceptibility was reconstructed using 'joint background-field removal and segmentation-enhanced dipole inversion', based on segmented subcortical gray-matter regions, as well as using 'morphology enabled dipole inversion'. Statistical analysis of the susceptibility maps was performed per region. A large fraction of the data showed motion artifacts, visible in both magnitude images and susceptibility maps. No statistically significant susceptibility differences were found between groups including motion-affected data. Considering only subjects without visible motion, significant susceptibility differences were observed in caudate nucleus as well as in putamen. Motion-effects can obscure statistically significant differences in QSM between patients and controls. Additional measures to restrict and/or compensate for subject motion should be taken for QSM in standard clinical settings to avoid risk of false findings.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Artefatos , Mapeamento Encefálico/métodos , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador/métodos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Movimento , Idoso , Doença de Alzheimer/diagnóstico por imagem , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of partial or total replacement of finisher diet soybean oil with black soldier fly (Hermethia illucens L.; HI) larva fat on the growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, intestinal morphology and histological features of broiler chickens. At 21 days of age, a total of 120 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to three experimental groups (five replicates and eight birds/pen). To a basal control diet (C; 68.7 g/kg as fed of soybean oil), either 50% or 100% of the soybean oil was replaced with HI larva fat (HI50 and HI100 group, respectively). Growth performance was evaluated throughout the trial. At day 48, 15 birds (three birds/pen) per group were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Carcass yield and proportions of carcass elements were recorded. Blood samples were taken from each slaughtered chicken for haematochemical index determination. Morphometric analyses were performed on the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Samples of liver, spleen, thymus, bursa of fabricius, kidney and heart were submitted to histological investigations. Growth performance, carcass traits, haematochemical parameters and gut morphometric indexes were not influenced by the dietary inclusion of HI larva fat. Histopathological alterations developed in the spleen, thymus, bursa of fabricius and liver and were identified in all of the experimental groups, but HI larva fat inclusion did not significantly affect (P>0.05) the severity of the histopathological findings. The present study suggests that 50% or 100% replacement of soybean oil with HI larva fat in broiler chickens diets has no adverse effects on growth performance or blood parameters and had no beneficial effect on gut health.