Psicologia positiva e disabilit\ue0: affrontare le sfide del futuro nell'adulto con disabilit\ue0 acquisita, cronica e progressiva

La diffusione della prospettiva ecologico-comportamentale e le posizioni assunte nei documenti ufficiali dall\u2019OMS che sottoscrivono l\u2019idea che la disabilit\ue0 costituisce un continuum dell\u2019esperienza umana, qualcosa che chiunque pu\uf2 trovarsi a sperimentare in qualche modo, hanno portato alla promozione di approcci positivi nella psicologia della disabilit\ue0, basati sui punti di forza e finalizzati a promuovere una buona qualit\ue0 di vita per tutte le persone, anche per quelle che presentano disabilit\ue0. L\u2019analisi che segue mostrer\ue0 i risultati di una serie di studi recenti condotti secondo un approccio positivo, nell\u2019ottica di individuare e sottolineare la presenza di punti di forza, di fattori di protezione e di risorse individuali che persone in situazioni di particolare vulnerabilit\ue0 possono mettere in campo per far fronte alle possibili sfide future e alle barriere che la realt\ue0 sociale ed economica attuale pu\uf2 prospettare loro

Pediatric reference values for urine particle quantification by using automated flow cytometer: Results of a multicenter study of Italian urinalysis group.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this Italian multicenter study was to define pediatric upper reference values for urine particle quantification by using automated flow cytometry. DESIGN AND METHODS: Four hospital-based clinical laboratories participated in this multicenter investigation, which included a total study population of 161 Italian children aged from 1 to 12years. Two laboratories used Sysmex UF-100 and analyzed 86 children, whereas the other two used Sysmex UF-1000i and analyzed 75 subjects. Particle quantification included the analysis of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), squamous epithelial cells (EC), transitional epithelial cells (TC), casts (CAST) and bacteria (BACT). RESULTS: The upper reference values in subjects tested with the Sysmex UF-100 were 9.7WBC/\u3bcL, 10.1RBC/\u3bcL, 7.5EC/\u3bcL, 2.5TC/\u3bcL, 0.7CAST/\u3bcL and 3090BACT/\u3bcL, whereas the upper reference values in subjects tested with the Sysmex UF-1000i were 10.5WBC/\u3bcL, 8.3RBC/\u3bcL, 7.2EC/\u3bcL, 2.9TC/\u3bcL, 0.7CAST/\u3bcL and 48BACT/\u3bcL. No statistically significant differences between genders were found in the value distribution of any of the parameters tested. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two urine analyzers, except for BACT. CONCLUSIONS: Automated analysis of urine particles appears a suitable means to optimize the workflow of routine urinalysis of children specimens. The upper reference limits for pediatric subjects obtained in this study were comparable to those previously reported in the literature, with no significant differences between genders and analyzers

Evaluation of reference intervals for complete blood count on Sysmex XN 9000

We aimed to define reference intervals for complete blood count in 240 apparently healthy Italian adults (120 males and 120 females) using Sysmex XN 9000 platform, as recommended by international standards. The recruitment criteria for reference individuals were based on negative anamnesis and physiological serum concentrations of glucose, creatinine, transaminases, ferritin and C-reactive protein. The results were comparable to those previously generated on different European populations. Interesting results were found for some research parameters, for which limited information was available in Italian populations so far. With regard to reticulocyte-related parameters, a significant gender difference was found for reticulocyte hemoglobin, highly fluorescent reticulocyte fraction and delta-He, which represents the difference in hemoglobin content between reticulocytes and erythrocytes. The results also support the reference interval of immature platelet fraction observed in previous studies, except for the absolute value for which larger range and higher values were found. For leukocyte morphological and functional parameters, we were able to define reference intervals in the whole study population as well as in male and female subgroups, since gender-related differences were observed for some parameter

Benign multiple sclerosis: physical and cognitive impairment follow distinct evolutions

BACKGROUND: Benign multiple sclerosis (BMS) definitions rely on physical disability level but do not account sufficiently for cognitive impairment which, however, is not rare.OBJECTIVE: To study the evolution of physical disability and cognitive performance of a group of patients with BMS followed at an University Hospital Multiple Sclerosis Center.METHODS: A consecutive sample of 24 BMS cases (diagnosis according to 2005 McDonald's criteria, relapsing-remitting course, disease duration 6510 years, and expanded disability status scale [EDSS] score 642.0) and 13 sex- and age-matched non-BMS patients differing from BMS cases for having EDSS score 2.5-5.5 were included. Main outcome measures were as follows: (i) baseline and 5-year follow-up cognitive impairment defined as failure of at least two tests of the administered neuropsychological battery; (ii) EDSS score worsening defined as confirmed increase 651 point (or 0.5 point if baseline EDSS score = 5.5).RESULTS: At inclusion, BMS subjects were 41 \ub1 8 years old and had median EDSS score 1.5 (range 0-2), while non-BMS patients were 46 \ub1 8 years old and had median EDSS score 3.0 (2.5-5.5). At baseline 16% of patients in both groups were cognitively impaired. After 5 years, EDSS score worsened in 8% of BMS and 46% of non-BMS patients (P = 0.008), while the proportion of cognitively impaired subjects increased to 25% in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BMS had better physical disability outcome at 5 years compared to non-BMS cases. However, cognitive impairment frequency and decline over time appeared similar. Neuropsychological assessment is essential in patients with BMS given the distinct pathways followed by disease progression in cognitive and physical domains