Adolescents' pain and distress during peripheral intravenous cannulation in a paediatric emergency setting

The objective of the study is to investigate pain and distress experienced by a group of adolescents and children during peripheral intravenous cannulation in a paediatric emergency department. This cross-sectional study was performed between November 2019 and June 2020 at the paediatric emergency department of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health of Trieste, Italy. Eligible subjects were patients between 4 and 17 years old undergoing intravenous cannulation, split into three groups based on their age: adolescents (13-17 years), older children (8-12 years), and younger children (4-7 years). Procedural distress and pain scores were recorded through validated scales. Data on the use of topical anaesthesia, distraction techniques, and physical or verbal comfort during procedures were also collected. We recruited 136 patients: 63 adolescents, 48 older children, and 25 younger children. There was no statistically significant difference in the median self-reported procedural pain found in adolescents (4; IQR = 2-6) versus older and younger children (5; IQR = 2-8 and 6; IQR = 2-8, respectively). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in the rate of distress between adolescents (79.4%), older (89.6%), and younger (92.0%) children. Adolescents received significantly fewer pain relief techniques. Conclusion: This study shows that adolescents experience similar pain and pre-procedural distress as younger children during peripheral intravenous cannulation. What is Known:Topical and local anaesthesia, physical and verbal comfort, and distraction are useful interventions for pain and anxiety management during intravenous cannulation in paediatric settings.No data is available on pain and distress experienced by adolescents in the specific setting of the emergency department. What is New:Adolescents experienced high levels of pre-procedural distress in most cases and similar levels of pain and distress when compared to younger patientsThe number of pain relief techniques employed during procedures was inversely proportional to patient's age, topical or local anaesthesia were rarely use

Cueva de Benzú (Ceuta). Nuevas aportaciones al estudio de las sociedades tribales en el área norteafricana del Estrecho de Gibraltar.

El estudio de las ocupaciones neolíticas en el área del Estrecho de Gibraltar está alcanzando un renovado interés. Nosotros creemos que había contactos entre las sociedades tribales de ambas orillas. La Cueva de Benzú (Ceuta) está siendo excavada desde el año 2002 por un equipo interdisciplinar de investigadores de la Universidad de Cádiz, y otras universidades y centros. Aportamos en este trabajo novedades al estudio funcional de la tecnología lítica y al análisis de los fi tolitos. Los niveles neolíticos de la Cueva de Benzú se relacionan con los interesantes registros de la zona de Tánger y Tetuán y en el ámbito peninsular con los del área atlántica-mediterránea de las Bahías de Cádiz y Málaga, en contextos del VIº milenio a.n.e.. Recent studies about the Neolithic occupations in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar are having a renewed interest. We believe there were contacts between tribal societies of both borders. The Cave of Benzú (Ceuta) is being excavated from year 2002 by an interdisciplinary group of investigators belonging to the University of Cadiz, and others universities and centers. We contributed in this work new features in the use wear analysis of the líthic technology and in the analysis of the phytoliths. The Neolithic levels of the Cave of Benzú are relationed to the interesting registers from the zone of Tánger and Tetuán and in the South of Iberian Peninsula with other documented in the Atlantic-Mediterranean area of the Bays of Cadiz and Malaga, in contexts of the VIº millennium B.C

Molecular and Functional Characterization of NKG2D, NKp80, and NKG2C Triggering NK Cell Receptors in Rhesus and Cynomolgus Macaques: Monitoring of NK Cell Function during Simian HIV Infection

Abstract An involvement of innate immunity and of NK cells during the priming of adaptive immune responses has been recently suggested in normal and disease conditions such as HIV infection and acute myelogenous leukemia. The analysis of NK cell-triggering receptor expression has been so far restricted to only NKp46 and NKp30 in Macaca fascicularis. In this study, we extended the molecular and functional characterization to the various NK cell-triggering receptors using PBMC and to the in vitro-derived NK cell populations by cytofluorometry and by cytolytic activity assays. In addition, RT-PCR strategy, cDNA cloning/sequencing, and transient transfections were used to identify and characterize NKp80, NKG2D, CD94/NKG2C, and CD94/NKG2A in M. fascicularis and Macaca mulatta as well as in the signal transducing polypeptide DNAX-activating protein DAP-10. Both M. fascicularis and M. mulatta NK cells express NKp80, NKG2D, and NKG2C molecules, which displayed a high degree of sequence homology with their human counterpart. Analysis of NK cells in simian HIV-infected M. fascicularis revealed reduced surface expression of selected NK cell-triggering receptors associated with a decreased NK cell function only in some animals. Overall surface density of NK cell-triggering receptors on peripheral blood cells and their triggering function on NK cell populations derived in vitro was not decreased compared with uninfected animals. Thus, triggering NK cell receptor monitoring on macaque NK cells is possible and could provide a valuable tool for assessing NK cell function during experimental infections and for exploring possible differences in immune correlates of protection in humans compared with cynomolgus and rhesus macaques undergoing different vaccination strategies

Marine resources exploitation by Palaeolithic hunter-fisher-gatherers and Neolithic tribal societies in the historical region of the Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is a geographic region between the south of Europe and the north of Africa. On the basis of the geological, geographical and ecological evidence, this is considered a historical region. Prehistoric societies that lived during the Pleistocene and Holocene on both sides of the Strait left behind very similar archaeological records. Marine resource exploitation is recorded in the African zone of the Strait, where malacofauna is found in the Middle Pleistocene levels at Benzú rock shelterdated at 254 ka. To the north of the strait, the Cadiz coast has shell midden sites associated with Mousterian technology. Continuity in the technological records related to the Upper Palaeolithic is present in this area and on both slopes of the Strait, as in Nerja Cave (Spain), Gibraltar caves (UK) and the caves in the Tangier area (Morocco). Although some variability in the technological and cultural sequences has been observed on both sides of the strait the marine resources exploitation suggests similar ways of life. During the Holocene, continuity appears among agricultural groups. An increase in the fishing and shellfish collection by the Neolithic societies is a further interesting aspect of this region, as is shown in Tetouan Caves (Gar Cahal and Kaf That el Ghar) and Benzú Cave (Ceuta) on the southern side of the Strait, and Embarcadero Rio Palmones and Retamar (Cádiz) on the north side. The new data collected during recent years demonstrates a deeper antiquity of the shell midden deposits and in the exploitation of marine resources in this area for hunter-gatherer societies with Mousterian technology. A new vision also emerged for the economy of the Neolithic societies of the Strait of Gibraltar, with marine resources exploitation representing as a very important activity

Marine resources exploitation by hunter-gatherer and handfishing and tribal communities societies, in the historical region of the strait of Gibraltar

Desde la denominada Arqueología Social abordamos un análisis de la explotación de los recursos marinos por las formaciones sociales con modo de producción basado en la caza, recolección, pesca y marisqueo y por sociedades tribales comunitarias en la región histórica del Estrecho de Gibraltar. Su análisis nos acerca a los modos de vida y modos de trabajo de las sociedades desde el Pleistoceno Medio hasta el Holoceno Inicial en el sur de la Península Ibérica y Norte de África. Los avances de la investigación en los últimos años están arrojando resultados arqueomalacológicos de gran interés en esta área, evidenciándose la importancia de la pesca y el marisqueo como actividades básicas en el sustento alimenticio desde sociedades vinculadas a tecnología Modo III-Musteriense hasta los grupos tribales, cuando se definen verdaderos modos de vida de pesca y marisqueo.From so-called Social Archaeology boarded an analysis of the exploitation of marine resources for hunter-gatherer-shellfish and tribal community mode social formations in the historic region of the Gibraltar Strait. His analysis brings us closer to the lifestyles and ways of working of the societies from the Medium Pleistocene to the Early Holocene of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Advances in recent year’s research are showing archaeo-malacological results of great interest in this area, demonstrating the importance of fishing and shelling such as activities of great importance in the alimentary sustenance from societies linked to a technology of Mode III- Mousterian, to tribal groups, when real lifestyles of fishing and shellfish are defining

Clinical utility of trabectedin for the treatment of ovarian cancer: current evidence

Among the pharmaceutical options available for treatment of ovarian cancer, attention has been increasingly focused on trabectedin (ET-743), a drug which displays a unique mechanism of action and has been shown to be active in several human malignancies. Currently, single agent trabectedin is approved for treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma after failure of anthracyclines and ifosfamide, and in association with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for treatment of patients with relapsed partially platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. This review aims at summarizing the available evidence about the clinical role of trabectedin in the management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Novel perspectives coming from a better understanding of trabectedin mechanisms of action and definition of patients subgroups likely susceptible to benefit of trabectedin treatment are also presented

DI ALCUNI PRODROMI ED EFFETTI DEL PICTORIAL TURN

Il testo della relazione analizza alcuni aspetti della teoria di W.J.T. Mitchell in riferimento allo stato attuale dei Visual Studies

A large scale hearing loss screen reveals an extensive unexplored genetic landscape for auditory dysfunction

The developmental and physiological complexity of the auditory system is likely reflected in the underlying set of genes involved in auditory function. In humans, over 150 non-syndromic loci have been identified, and there are more than 400 human genetic syndromes with a hearing loss component. Over 100 non-syndromic hearing loss genes have been identified in mouse and human, but we remain ignorant of the full extent of the genetic landscape involved in auditory dysfunction. As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, we undertook a hearing loss screen in a cohort of 3006 mouse knockout strains. In total, we identify 67 candidate hearing loss genes. We detect known hearing loss genes, but the vast majority, 52, of the candidate genes were novel. Our analysis reveals a large and unexplored genetic landscape involved with auditory function

A “glympse” into neurodegeneration: Diffusion MRI and cerebrospinal fluid aquaporin‐4 for the assessment of glymphatic system in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

The glymphatic system (GS) is a whole‐brain perivascular network, consisting of three compartments: the periarterial and perivenous spaces and the interposed brain parenchyma. GS dysfunction has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). So far, comprehensive research on GS in humans has been limited by the absence of easily accessible biomarkers. Recently, promising non‐invasive methods based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) along with aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) quantification in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were introduced for an indirect assessment of each of the three GS compartments. We recruited 111 consecutive subjects presenting with symptoms suggestive of degenerative cognitive decline, who underwent 3 T MRI scanning including multi‐shell diffusion‐weighted images. Forty nine out of 111 also underwent CSF examination with quantification of CSF‐AQP4. CSF‐AQP4 levels and MRI measures—including perivascular spaces (PVS) counts and volume fraction (PVSVF), white matter free water fraction (FW‐WM) and mean kurtosis (MK‐WM), diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular spaces (DTI‐ALPS) (mean, left and right)—were compared among patients with AD (n = 47) and other neurodegenerative diseases (nAD = 24), patients with stable mild cognitive impairment (MCI = 17) and cognitively unimpaired (CU = 23) elderly people. Two runs of analysis were conducted, the first including all patients; the second after dividing both nAD and AD patients into two subgroups based on gray matter atrophy as a proxy of disease stage. Age, sex, years of education, and scanning time were included as confounding factors in the analyses. Considering the whole cohort, patients with AD showed significantly higher levels of CSF‐AQP4 (exp(b) = 2.05, p = .005) and FW‐WM FW‐WM (exp(b) = 1.06, p = .043) than CU. AQP4 levels were also significantly higher in nAD in respect to CU (exp(b) = 2.98, p < .001). CSF‐AQP4 and FW‐WM were significantly higher in both less atrophic AD (exp(b) = 2.20, p = .006; exp(b) = 1.08, p = .019, respectively) and nAD patients (exp(b) = 2.66, p = .002; exp(b) = 1.10, p = .019, respectively) compared to CU subjects. Higher total (exp(b) = 1.59, p = .013) and centrum semiovale PVS counts (exp(b) = 1.89, p = .016), total (exp(b) = 1.50, p = .036) and WM PVSVF (exp(b) = 1.89, p = .005) together with lower MK‐WM (exp(b) = 0.94, p = .006), mean and left ALPS (exp(b) = 0.91, p = .043; exp(b) = 0.88, p = .010 respectively) were observed in more atrophic AD patients in respect to CU. In addition, more atrophic nAD patients exhibited higher levels of AQP4 (exp(b) = 3.39, p = .002) than CU. Our results indicate significant changes in putative MRI biomarkers of GS and CSF‐AQP4 levels in AD and in other neurodegenerative dementias, suggesting a close interaction between glymphatic dysfunction and neurodegeneration, particularly in the case of AD. However, the usefulness of some of these biomarkers as indirect and standalone indices of glymphatic activity may be hindered by their dependence on disease stage and structural brain damage