Current practice of iron prophylaxis in preterm and low birth weight neonates: A survey among Italian Neonatal Units.

Background: Preterm babies are at high risk of iron deficiency. Methods: We investigated current practices regarding iron prophylaxis in preterm and low birth weight newborns among Local Neonatal Units (LNUs, n = 74) and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs, n = 20) of three Italian Regions (Piemonte, Marche and Lazio). Results: Birth weight is considered an indicative parameter in only 64% of LNUs and 71% of NICUs, with a significant difference between LNUs in the three regions (86%, 20% and 62%, respectively; p < 0.001). Iron is recommended to infants with a birth weight between 2000 and 2500 g in only 25% of LNUs and 21% of NICUs, and to late-preterm (gestational age between 34 and 37 weeks) in a minority of Units (26% of LNUs, 7% of NICUs). Conclusions: Our pilot survey documents a great variability and the urgent need to standardize practices according to literature recommendations. Key Words: iron, iron deficiency anemia, newborn, preterm, prophylaxi

Cytogenetic characterization of the genome of mealybug Planococcus citri (Homoptera, Coccoidea)

Summary Mealybugs although being agriculturally harmful insects have been very poorly studied by modern cytogenetics techniques, and no cytotaxonomic criteria to distinguish between closely related species is available yet. In the mealybug Planococcus citri (2n=10) male and female individuals are both diploid, however in males, at the stage of blastula, the haploid chromosome set of paternal origin becomes heterochromatic, even though its complete inertia has been considered questionable. Here we present data on the cytogenetic characterization of the chromosomes of Planococcus citri. We report on (i) the fluorescence karyotype (D287/170), which to our knowledge is the first banded karyotype of a mealybug to be described; (ii) the chromosome localization of constitutive heterochromatin; (iii) the chromosome localization of rDNA sites; (iv) NORs activity. Our data also show, for the first time, that in the heterochromatic chromosome set ribosomal genes are still active

A Fatal Case of Nosocomial Legionnaires' Disease: Implications From an Extensive Environmental Investigation and Isolation of the Bacterium From Blood Culture

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Inflammatory and antioxidant pattern unbalance in &quot;clopidogrel-resistant&quot; patients during acute coronary syndrome.

Background. In acute coronary syndrome (ACS), inflammation and redox response are associated with increased residual platelet reactivity (RPR) on clopidogrel therapy. We investigated whether clopidogrel interaction affects platelet function and modulates factors related to inflammation and oxidation in ACS patients differently responding to clopidogrel. Material andMethods. Platelet aggregation was measured in 29 ACS patients on dual (aspirin/clopidogrel) antiplatelet therapy. Nonresponders (NR) were defined as RPR ≥70% by ADP. Several inflammatory and redox parameters were assayed and platelet proteome was determined. Results. Eight (28%) out of 29 ACS patients resulted NR to clopidogrel. At 24 hours, the levels of Th2-type cytokines IL-4, IFN, andMCP-1 were higher in NR, while blood GSH (r-GSHbl) levels were lower in NR than responders (R). Proteomic analysis evidenced an upregulated level of platelet adhesion molecule, CD226, and a downregulation of the antioxidant peroxiredoxin-4. In R patients the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 decreased, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1Ra increased. Conclusions. In patients with high RPR on clopidogrel therapy, an unbalance of inflammatory factors, platelet adhesion molecules, and circulatory and platelet antioxidantmolecules was observed during the acute phase. Proinflammatory milieu persists in nonresponders for a long time after the acute event while antioxidant blood factors tend to conform to normal responsiveness

Functional Neuromyofascial Activity: Interprofessional Assessment to Inform Person-Centered Participative Care-An Osteopathic Perspective

: Introduction: Health professionals and bodyworkers may be pivotal in promoting prevention programs, providing tailored advice and guidance to patients' adherence to self-care strategies, such as physical activity. Contemporary evidence encourages manual therapists to involve patients in decision-making and treatment procedures integrating passive and active approaches in treatment planning. This manuscript provides a definition and applications of neuromyofascial movement patterns, discusses the significance of functional assessment, and gives an example of clinical applications in the osteopathic field to highlight how this assessment can promote interdisciplinarity. Methods: The reporting framework used in the current manuscript followed guidelines for writing a commentary. Results: The manuscript highlights the crucial role that the neuromyofascial system plays in human movement and overall well-being and the importance of a functional neuromyofascial activity assessment in the context of person-centered participative care. Conclusions: Understanding individual neuromyofascial patterns could help healthcare practitioners, movement specialists, and bodyworkers in tailoring treatment plans, meeting patients' unique needs, and promoting a more effective personalized approach to care. The current perspective could spark debates within the professional community and provide a research roadmap for developing an evidence-informed interprofessional framework

HO-1 up-regulation: a key point in high-risk neuroblastoma resistance to bortezomib.

AbstractHigh-risk neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by the development of chemoresistance, and bortezomib (BTZ), a selective inhibitor of proteasome, has been proposed in order to overcome drug resistance. Considering the involvement of the nuclear factor-erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the antioxidant and detoxifying ability of cancer cells, in this study we have investigated their role in differently aggressive NB cell lines treated with BTZ, focusing on the modulation of HO-1 to improve sensitivity to therapy. We have shown that MYCN amplified HTLA-230 cells were slightly sensitive to BTZ treatment, due to the activation of Nrf2 that led to an impressive up-regulation of HO-1. BTZ-treated HTLA-230 cells down-regulated p53 and up-regulated p21, favoring cell survival. The inhibition of HO-1 activity obtained by Zinc (II) protoprophyrin IX (ZnPPIX) was able to significantly increase the pro-apoptotic effect of BTZ in a p53- and p21-independent way. However, MYCN non-amplified SH-SY5Y cells showed a greater sensitivity to BTZ in relation to their inability to up-regulate HO-1. Therefore, we have shown that HO-1 inhibition improves the sensitivity of aggressive NB to proteasome inhibition-based therapy, suggesting that HO-1 up-regulation can be used as a marker of chemoresistance in NB. These results open up a new scenario in developing a combined therapy to overcome chemoresistance in high-risk neuroblastoma

Bleeding events and maintenance dose of prasugrel: BLESS pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in residual platelet reactivity (RPR) over time, and bleeding and ischaemic events rate using 5 vs 10 mg maintenance dose (MD) regimens of prasugrel 1 month after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). BACKGROUND: The optimal level of RPR with prasugrel may change over time after an ACS. METHODS: After 60 mg loading dose of prasugrel (T0) followed by 10 mg/day for 1 month, patients were randomised to receive prasugrel 10 mg/day (n=95, group A) or 5 mg/day MD (n=98, group B) up to 1 year. RPR was assessed at T0, 37 (T1) and 180 days (T2). The primary end point was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) bleeding events ≥2 between 1 and 12 months, and the secondary composite end point was cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke and definite/probable stent thrombosis. RESULTS: From T0 to T1, RPR significantly increased in both groups A and B and the increase was higher for group B (δ ADP 10 µmol: 13.8%±14.7% vs 23.5%±19.2%, p=0.001). At T2 a lower rate of high RPR patients were found in group A (2.6% vs13.3%; p=0.014). The BARC type ≥2 bleeding occurred in 12.6% of group A versus 4.1% of group B (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.94) and secondary end point in 2.1% vs 1.0% (p=0.542), respectively, without stent thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: RPR increases shifting from 60 mg loading dose to 10 mg/day prasugrel MD with a further increase of RPR reducing prasugrel MD to 5 mg 1 month after ACS. Clinical value of these pharmacodynamic findings should be proved in larger clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01790854