Space robotic system for proximity operations

Key to an efficient accomplishment of space station servicing operations is the development of a scenario where the presence of man in space is well integrated with the capability of teleoperated and automatic robot system outside the stations. Results focusing on mission requirements, trajectory sequences, propulsion subsystem features, and manipulative kit characteristics relevant to proximity servicing during a Man Tended Free Flyers Robotic Mission (MTFF-RM) are illustrated

Direct-acting antivirals and visceral leishmaniasis: A case report

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. The clinical presentation of visceral leishmaniasis strictly depends on the host immunocompetency, whereas depressive conditions of the immune system impair the capability to resolve the infection and allow reactivation from sites of latency of the parasite. Case presentation: We describe a case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) that occurred in a patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA). The hypothesized mechanism is the alteration of protective inflammation mechanisms secondary to DAA therapy. Downregulation of type II and III IFNs, their receptors, which accompany HCV clearance achieved during treatment with sofosbuvir and ribavirin might have a negative impact on a risk for reactivation of a previous Leishmania infection. We know indeed that IFN-\u3b3 is important to enhance killing mechanisms in macrophages, which are the primary target cells of Leishmania. Conclusion: Since VL is endemic in Sicily as well as in other countries of the Mediterranean basin, physicians should be aware of the possible unmasking of cryptic Leishmania infection by DAAs

Ética e Investigación Científica en la Sociedad Globalizada

http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0370-41062009000400001&nrm=is

Trends of influenza B during the 2010–2016 seasons in 2 regions of north and south Italy: The impact of the vaccine mismatch on influenza immunisation strategy

Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for respiratory infections, representing globally seasonal threats to human health. The 2 viral types often co-circulate and influenza B plays an important role in the spread of infection. A 6-year retrospective surveillance study was conducted between 2010 and 2016 in 2 large administrative regions of Italy, located in the north (Liguria) and in the south (Sicily) of the country, to describe the burden and epidemiology of both B/Victoria and B/Yamagata lineages in different healthcare settings. Influenza B viruses were detected in 5 of 6 seasonal outbreaks, exceeding influenza A during the season 2012–2013. Most of influenza B infections were found in children aged ≤ 14 y and significant differences were observed in the age-groups infected by the different lineages. B/Victoria strains prevailed in younger population than B/Yamagata, but also were more frequently found in the community setting. Conversely, B/Yamagata viruses were prevalent among hospitalized cases suggesting their potential role in the development of more severe disease. The relative proportions of viral lineages varied from year to year, resulting in different lineage-level mismatch for the B component of trivalent influenza vaccine. Our findings confirmed the need for continuous virological surveillance of seasonal epidemics and bring attention to the adoption of universal influenza immunization program in the childhood. The use of tetravalent vaccine formulations may be useful to improve the prevention and control of the influenza burden in general population

Rickettsia typhi and Haemophagocytic Syndrome

Appropriate therapy (dexamethasone, cyclosporin, and etoposide) could save the patient in those cases in which the pathogen-direct therapy has not been sufficient by itself to control the disease

ACALCULOUS CHOLECYSTITIS IN A PATIENT WITH PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM MALARIA AND CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION

Acalculous cholecystitis is a syndrome of gallbladder inflammation without gallstones, recognized within the setting of critically ill patients. Acalculous cholecystitis associated with infectious agents is reported in the literature to be rare. Herein we describe a case of acalculous cholecystitis in a patient with malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and apparent cytomegalovirus infection, and discuss the possible role of CMV in the pathogenesis of acalculous cholecystitis in patients with malaria

Monocyte to lymphocyte blood ratio in tuberculosis and HIV patients: Comparative analysis, preliminary data

Recent data confirmed the hypothesis suggested by historical studies that the ratio of peripheral blood monocytes to lymphocytes (M/L) is associated with the risk of tuberculosis (TB) disease. We retrospectively analyzed the electronic health records of tuberculosis and HIV-positive patients who had followed day-care programs at the AIDS Center of the University of Palermo, Italy. 261 patients were recruited and divided into 6 groups as follows: healthy control group (HCG: 47 pts), latent HIV negative infected TB group (LIG, 43 pts), active HIV negative tuberculosis (TAG: 61 pts), treated tuberculosis HIV negative (TTG: 44 pts), HIV drug-naive patients tested TST and QFT-IT-negative with negative chest x-Ray (HIVnG: 44 pts), and HIV-tuberculosis coinfection (HIVTB-G: 22 pts). For each group, absolute lymphocyte (L), monocyte (M) and M/L ratio by peripheral blood was calculated. The mean value of monocytes in the TAG group was significant, the highest (0.70\uc2\ub10.37 1x103/\uce\ubcl) in comparison to HGC (0.70>0.44, p-value <0.05), HIVnG (0.70>0.40, p-value <0.05) and HIVTB-G (0.70>0.45, p-value<0.05). Monocyte to lymphocyte blood RATIO showed a significant difference between groups (p-value <0.001). In particular, the mean score of M/L ratio was higher in the TAG group compared to the HGC (0.49>0.27, p-value<0.05), LIG (0.49>0.29, p-value<0.05), TTG (0.49>0.32) and HIVTB-G groups (0.49>0.27, p-value<0.05). Our data confirm a significant difference in monocyte to lymphocyte blood ratio in tuberculosis disease. These data may be useful for monitoring and revising implementation plans for the different phases of tuberculosis disease (latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection versus TB active disease). Regarding HIV samples, the small sample size is somewhat offset by the need, fully satisfied in our sample, to enlist specific patients such as co-infected HIV/TBC who voluntarily submit to clinical trials in our geographical area

A NEW CASE OF LOUSE-BORNE RELAPSING FEVER IN SICILY: CASE REPORT AND MINI REVIEW

Body lice transport B. recurrentis from man to man and humans are the only host. The presence of lice in Italy and an increasing number of cases in migrants can contribute to the onset of autochthonous cases. In this paper, we report a new case of Louse-borne Relapsing Fever (LBRF) diagnosed among migrants in Sicily exactly one year after the first case was recorded. We reviewed all cases reported in Europe from February 2016 until now. Our study identified two new cases of LBRF in migrants arrived in Europe: one who came from Somalia and one from Mali. Here we report data on a new case in Sicily. The number of migrants and refugees to transit in Sicily has increased, and this has led to the introduction of infectious diseases. Therefore, in our opinion it is essential to upgrade control of the sanitation conditions of migrants

Early carotid atherosclerosis and cardiac diastolic abnormalities in hypertensive subjects

Despite the fact that it is known that hypertension may be associated to early atherosclerosis manifestations, few data are to date available on the relationship between early carotid abnormalities and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. To address this issue, 142 hypertensive patients (64 females and 78 males) younger than 55 years, at the first diagnosis of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension (WHO/ISH criteria), were selected from a database consisting of 3541 subjects referred to ultrasound cardiovascular laboratory in the last 5 years. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was detected by high-resolution vascular ultrasound and left ventricular structure and function by the use of Doppler echocardiography. According to carotid IMT values, all patients were subgrouped into two groups consisting of 89 (62.6%) pts with IMT > or = 1 mm (A) and 53 (37.4%) pts with IMT < 1 mm (B). Our results show that isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), deceleration time of E velocity (EDT) and left ventricular relative wall thickness (LV-RWT) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in group A (IVRT 112 +/- 8.9 ms; EDT 288 +/- 21.8 ms; LV-RWT 0.40 +/- 0.08) than in group B (IVRT 92.3 +/- 4.6 ms; EDT 203.3 +/- 27.01 ms; LV- RWT 0.37 +/- 0.06). Moreover, the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in group A (30/89; 33.7%) than in group B (8/53; 15%). A positive correlation (P < 0.001) between IMT, EDT and IVRT was found only in hypertensives without LVH. These results are consistent with the indication that IMT evaluation has to be recommended both in hypertensive patients with LVH and in those without LVH, but with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. This approach might improve the prognostic stratification of hypertensive subjects and it might be suitable to recognize the subset of patients at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or events early