530 research outputs found
Drug-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation: a pharmacovigilance study on World Health Organization’s database
Background: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs in several clinical conditions, including drug therapy. We aim to investigate the association between the administration of several drug classes and the onset of DIC by using the reports of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) collected in Vigibase, the World Health Organization (WHO) database of ADR. Methods: We collected reports of drug-related DIC from 1968 to September 2015, classified in Vigibase according to the MedDRA (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities) term “Disseminated intravascular coagulation”. A disproportionality analysis using Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI95%) was performed. Results: Overall, 4653 reports of drug-associated DIC were retrieved and the 75.9% of them was serious according to WHO seriousness criteria. DIC was significantly (ROR > 1, lower limit of CI95% > 1) associated with 88 drugs, mainly antineoplastic agents, antithrombotic agents and antibacterials for systemic use. Among of the most frequently reported individual drugs we found dabigatran (94 reports) ROR = 1.34 (CI95% 1.08–1.67), oxaliplatin and bevacizumab both with 75 reports and ROR = 1.77 (1.38–2.27) and 2.02 (1.57–2.61), respectively. Conclusion: A substantial number of drugs, widely used in the clinical practice, may be associated with the potential occurrence of DIC. For many of these drugs, the ADR is not acknowledged in the corresponding Summary of Product Characteristics. The high number of drugs involved underlines the importance of evaluate this condition such as an ADR that might occur during drug therapy
Level of therapeutic innovation from the registration studies of the new drugs for the prophylaxis of migraine
What is known and objective: Migraine is one of the most prevalent and disabling medical illnesses. Preventive drugs are used to reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of attacks. Most patients were no longer on their medication due to contraindications or poor clinical response. Therefore, there is need for novel prophylactic agents for migraine. New preventive treatments are those of the class of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP)-targeting therapies. We aimed to assess the real level of therapeutic innovation of these new drugs. Methods: The information on the new drugs was collected from several documents, including the European public assessment reports. The level of therapeutic innovation was assessed with the algorithm published by some of us in 2006. Results: All new approved drugs (eptinezumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab, erenumab) are indicated for the prophylaxis of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days for month. All these drugs have been tested only in comparison to placebo. Their level of therapeutic innovation was only modest, that is, the lowest value of our algorithm. Discussion: The new monoclonal antibodies of the class of CGRP targeting therapies have been authorized with efficacy data only against placebo. They do not offer additional clinical benefits compared to available therapies for the prevention of migraine attacks, with the exception of a lower frequency of administration and a more rapid effect. All this assigns to these drugs only a modest role in therapy according to our algorithm for therapeutic innovation with a significantly higher cost than similar therapies
Simulation of a flash-flood event over the Adriatic Sea with a high-resolution atmosphere–ocean–wave coupled system
On the morning of September 26, 2007, a heavy precipitation event (HPE) affected the Venice lagoon and the neighbouring coastal zone of the Adriatic Sea, with 6-h accumulated rainfall summing up to about 360 mm in the area between the Venetian mainland, Padua and Chioggia. The event was triggered and maintained by the uplift over a convergence line between northeasterly flow from the Alps and southeasterly winds from the Adriatic Sea. Hindcast modelling experiments, using standalone atmospheric models, failed to capture the spatial distribution, maximum intensity and timing of the HPE. Here we analyze the event by means of an atmosphere-wave-ocean coupled numerical approach. The combined use of convection permitting models with grid spacing of 1 km, high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) fields, and the consistent treatment of marine boundary layer fluxes in all the numerical model components are crucial to provide a realistic simulation of the event. Inaccurate representations of the SST affect the wind magnitude and, through this, the intensity, location and time evolution of the convergence zone, thus affecting the HPE prediction. © 2021, The Author(s)
Insights into a dinoflagellate genome through expressed sequence tag analysis
BACKGROUND: Dinoflagellates are important marine primary producers and grazers and cause toxic "red tides". These taxa are characterized by many unique features such as immense genomes, the absence of nucleosomes, and photosynthetic organelles (plastids) that have been gained and lost multiple times. We generated EST sequences from non-normalized and normalized cDNA libraries from a culture of the toxic species Alexandrium tamarense to elucidate dinoflagellate evolution. Previous analyses of these data have clarified plastid origin and here we study the gene content, annotate the ESTs, and analyze the genes that are putatively involved in DNA packaging. RESULTS: Approximately 20% of the 6,723 unique (11,171 total 3'-reads) ESTs data could be annotated using Blast searches against GenBank. Several putative dinoflagellate-specific mRNAs were identified, including one novel plastid protein. Dinoflagellate genes, similar to other eukaryotes, have a high GC-content that is reflected in the amino acid codon usage. Highly represented transcripts include histone-like (HLP) and luciferin binding proteins and several genes occur in families that encode nearly identical proteins. We also identified rare transcripts encoding a predicted protein highly similar to histone H2A.X. We speculate this histone may be retained for its role in DNA double-strand break repair. CONCLUSION: This is the most extensive collection to date of ESTs from a toxic dinoflagellate. These data will be instrumental to future research to understand the unique and complex cell biology of these organisms and for potentially identifying the genes involved in toxin production
Coupled wave-2D hydrodynamics modeling at the Reno River mouth (Italy) under climate change scenarios
This work presents the results of the numerical study implemented for the natural area of Lido di Spina, a touristic site along the Italian coast of the North Adriatic Sea, close to the mouth of River Reno. High-resolution simulations of nearshore dynamics are carried out under climate change conditions estimated for the site. The adopted modeling chain is based on the implementation of multiple-nested, open-source numerical models. More specifically, the coupled wave-2D hydrodynamics runs, using the open-source TELEMAC suite, are forced at the offshore boundary by waves resulting from the wave model (SWAN) simulations for the Adriatic Sea, and sea levels computed following a joint probability analysis approach. The system simulates presentday scenarios, as well as conditions reflecting the high IPCC greenhouse concentration trajectory named RCP8.5 under predicted climate changes. Selection of sea storms directed from SE (Sirocco events) and E-NE (Bora events) is performed together with Gumbel analysis, in order to define ordinary and extreme sea conditions. The numerical results are here presented in terms of local parameters such as wave breaking position, alongshore currents intensity and direction and flooded area, aiming to provide insights on how climate changes may impact hydrodynamics at a site scale. Although the wave energy intensity predicted for Sirocco events is expected to increase only slightly, modifications of the wave dynamics, current patterns, and inland flooding induced by climate changes are expected to be significant for extreme conditions, especially during Sirocco winds, with an increase in the maximum alongshore currents and in the inundated area compared to past conditions. \ua9 2018 by the authors
Evaluation of the safety profile of rotavirus vaccines: a pharmacovigilance analysis on American and European data
Rotaviruses (RVs) are the most common cause of severe diarrheal disease. To date two rotavirus oral vaccines are licensed: Rotarix and Rotateq. Our aim was to contribute to the post-marketing evaluation of these vaccines safety profile. We collected all RV vaccines-related reports of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) in US Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and VigiBase between January 2007 and December 2017. A disproportionality analysis using Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) was performed. A total of 17,750 reports in VAERS and 6,358 in VigiBase were retrieved. In VAERS, 86.2% of the reports concerned RotaTeq, whereas in VigiBase 67.7% of them involved Rotarix. Across the databases, diarrhea (1,672 events in VAERS, 1,961 in VigiBase) and vomiting (1,746 in VAERS, 1,508 in VigiBase) were the most reported AEFIs. Noteworthy, the RV vaccines-intussusception pair showed a ROR greater than 20 in both databases. Some new potential safety signals emerged such as fontanelle bulging, hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode, livedo reticularis, and opisthotonus. Overall, our data show that most of the reported AEFIs are listed in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPCs). However, there remains the need to investigate the potential safety signals arose from this analysis, in order to complete the description of the AEFIs
Optimal index related to the shoreline dynamics during a storm: the case of Jesolo beach
The paper presents an application of shoreline monitoring aimed at
understanding the response of a beach to single storms and at identifying its
typical behaviour, in order to be able to predict shoreline changes and to
properly plan the defence of the shore zone. On the study area, in Jesolo
beach (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy), a video monitoring station and an
acoustic wave and current profiler were installed in spring 2013, recording,
respectively, images and hydrodynamic data. The site lacks previous detailed
hydrodynamic and morphodynamic data.
Variations in the shoreline were quantified in combination with available
near-shore wave conditions, making it possible to analyse the relationship
between the shoreline displacement and the wave features. Results denote
characteristic patterns of beach response to storm events, and highlight the
importance of improving beach protection in this zone, notwithstanding the
many interventions experimented in the last decades. A total of 31
independent storm events were selected during the period October
2013–October 2014, and for each of them synthetic indexes based on storm
duration, energy and maximum wave height were developed and estimated. It was
found that the net shoreline displacements during a storm are well correlated
with the total wave energy associated to the considered storm by an empirical
power law equation. A sub-selection
of storms in the presence of an artificial dune protecting the beach (in the
winter season) was examined in detail, allowing to conclude that the adoption
of this coastal defence strategy in the study area can reduce shoreline
retreat during a storm. This type of intervention can sometimes contribute to
prolonging overall stability not only in the replenished zone but also in
downdrift areas.
The implemented methodology, which confirms to be economically attractive if
compared to more traditional monitoring systems, proves to be a valuable
system to monitor beach erosive processes and provide detailed indications on
how to better plan beach-maintenance activities. The presented methodology
and the proposed results can therefore be used as a basis for improving the
collaboration between coastal scientists and managers to solve beach erosion
problems, in locations where data are scattered and sporadic.</p
ResistĂŞncia de porta-enxertos de maracujazeiro a Fusarium spp em Terra Nova do Norte/MT.
Com objetivo de estudar o comportamento de porta-enxertos de maracujazeiro em relação Ă resistĂŞncia a Fusarium spp, no ano de 2012, em Terra Nova do Norte/MT, foram conduzidos dois ensaios, por trĂŞs anos, nas propriedades do Sr. Pedro e do Sr. Maciel, com histĂłrico de fusariose em maracujazeiro. As mudas foram conduzidas no viveiro da COOPERNOVA e foram utilizados os porta-enxertos dos seguintes genĂłtipos: (T1) CPAC M5-H-67, (T2) CPAC MJ-H-65, (T3) CPAC MJ-H-66, (T4) Gigante Amarelo, (T5) CPAC MJ-45-03, CPAC MJ-H-68, (T6) P. edulis (PE), (T7) Passiflora nitida e (T8) P. alata, sob a copa da cultivar BRS Gigante Amarelo. Os materiais foram fornecidos pela Embrapa Cerrados, pelo Dr. Dr. Givanildo Roncato e COOPERNOVA. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso. Cada unidade experimental foi constituĂda de quatro plantas com espaçamento de 4 m entre plantas e 3 m entre ruas Os tratamentos 6 e 8 foram as testemunhas suscetĂvel e resistente, respectivamente. Na propriedade do Sr. Pedro, onde o solo Ă© mais argiloso, as plantas começaram a apresentar sintomas de fusariose mais cedo, em relação à área do Sr. Maciel, que Ă© mais arenosa. Os tratamentos: 4 (Gigante Amarelo) e 6 (P. edulis) foram os que apresentaram maior mortalidade de plantas, nas duas propriedades, o que já era esperado, uma vez que sĂŁo materiais extremamente suscetĂveis Ă fusariose. Os tratamentos 1 (CPAC M5-H-67), 3 (CPAC MJ-H-66), 5 (CPAC MJ-45-03) e 8 (P. alata), apresentaram entre de 25 e 50% de mortalidade, na propriedade do Sr. Maciel, possivelmente, como resultado do manejo, uma vez que as mesmas apresentaram mortalidade menor na área do Sr. Pedro, mesmo esta possuindo solo mais argiloso. Os tratamentos 2 (CPAC MJ-H-65); e 7 (P. nĂtida) apresentaram menor mortalidade ao longo das avaliações, nas duas propiedades. O tratamento 8 (P. alata), nĂŁo apresentou mortes de plantas na propriedade do Sr. Pedro, o que era esperado, uma vez que esse material Ă© resistente a fusariose do maracujazeiro
Effects of different feeding frequencies on growth, feed utilisation, digestive enzyme activities and plasma biochemistry of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) fed with different fishmeal and fish oil dietary levels
In the context of Mediterranean aquaculture little attention has been paid to
the manipulation of feeding frequency at the on-growing phase. The effects of
different feeding frequencies: one meal per day, two meals per day, three meals
per day on growth, digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility and plasma
biochemistry were studied in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L. 1758) fed
with high and low fishmeal and fish oil levels. Isonitrogenous and isolipidic
extruded diets were fed to triplicate fish groups by a fixed ration over 109
days. No significant effects of feeding frequency on overall performance, feed
efficiency and feed digestibility during the on-growing of gilthead sea bream
fed high or low fishmeal and fish oil dietary level were observed. Pepsin
activity showed an apparent decrease in fish receiving more than one meal a day
which was not compensated by an increased production of alkaline proteases
particularly in fish fed on low FM. Although there were no effects on growth
and feed utilisation at increasing feeding frequency, trypsin decreased
significantly with an increasing number of meals only under low FMFO diet.
Thus, it seemed that consecutive meals could have amplified the potential
trypsin inhibitor effect of the vegetable meal-based diet adopted. Results of
the plasma parameters related to nutritional and physiological conditions were
not affected by feeding frequency. The higher level of plasma creatinine
detected in fish fed a single daily meal with high FMFO level seems to be
within physiological values in relation to the higher protein efficiency
observed with this diet. According to the results, gilthead sea bream seems
able to maximise feed utilisation regardless of the number of meals, and this
could be a useful indicator for planning feeding activity at farm level to
optimise growth of fish and costs of feeding procedures
A structured inventory of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in natural and artificial forest gaps at Porto Urucu, Western Brazilian Amazonia
- …