Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Disease in Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta)

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical signs, radiographic, endoscopic and CT findings, cytological and microbiological findings and treatments of pulmonary diseases in sea turtles, in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis that avoids unnecessary therapy and antibiotic-resistance phenomena. In total, 14 loggerheads (Caretta caretta), with clinical and/or radiographic findings of pulmonary pathology, were assessed through various combinations of clinical, radiological, CT, endoscopic examination and bronchoalveolar lavage, which recovered fluid for cytologic and microbiologic analysis. In all cases, radiographic examination led to a diagnosis of pulmonary disorders—4 unilateral and 10 bilateral. All bacteria cultured were identified as Gram-negative. Antibiotic resistance was greater than 70% for all beta-lactams tested. In addition, all bacterial strains were 100% resistant to colistin sulfate and tetracycline. Specific antibiotic therapies were formulated for seven sea turtles using Enrofloxacin, and for four sea turtles using ceftazidime. In two turtles, antibiotic therapy was not included due to the presence of antibiotic resistance against all the antibiotics evaluated. In both cases, the coupage technique and environmental management allowed the resolution of the lung disease without antibiotics. All 14 sea turtles were released back into the sea. Radiographic examination must be considered the gold standard for screening sea turtles that show respiratory signs or abnormal buoyancy. Susceptibility testing with antimicrobials allowed appropriate therapy, including the reduction of antibiotic-resistance

Diverticular Disease: a Gut Microbiota Perspective.

Gut microbiota composition and functionality are involved in the pathophysiology of several intestinal andextraintestinal diseases, and are increasingly considered a modulator of local and systemic inflammation.However, the involvement of gut microbiota in diverticulosis and in diverticular disease is still poorlyinvestigated. In this review, we critically analyze the existing evidence on the fecal and mucosa-associatedmicrobiota composition and functionality across different stages of diverticular disease. We also explorethe influence of risk factors for diverticulosis on gut microbiota composition, and speculate on the possiblerelevance of these associations for the pathogenesis of diverticula. We overview the current treatments ofdiverticular disease targeting the intestinal microbiome, highlighting the current areas of uncertainty andthe need for future studies. Although no conclusive remarks on the relationship between microbiota anddiverticular disease can be made, preliminary data suggest that abdominal symptoms are associated withreduced representation of taxa with a possible anti-inflammatory effect, such as Clostridium cluster IV, andovergrowth of Enterobacteriaceae, Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia. The role of the microbiota in the earlystages of the disease is still very uncertain. Future studies should help to disentangle the role of the microbiomein the pathogenesis of diverticular disease and its progression towards more severe forms

Chapter Environmental training of the Italian Coast Guard between tradition and innovation

The Coast Guard is an organization committed to safeguarding the marine environment, that requires specialized personnel. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the "basic" preparation, with "specialist" training in compliance with the high standards of a Q.M.S. of training, which uses teaching methods advanced, classroom and lessons, case studies, but also practice in the field. The latter methodology plays an important role since learning by doing, even more than theory, guarantees the effectiveness of learning, emotional involvement and the formation of experiential memory of learners

Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas treated with immunochemotherapy

Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be a negative prognostic factor in elderly patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas. In vitro data suggest that vitamin D supplementation may enhance rituximab-mediated cytotoxicity. We prospectively assessed 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels at diagnosis in a cohort of 155 patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas of whom 128 had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified. 25(OH)D levels were deficient (<20\uc2 ng/mL) in 105 (67%), insufficient (20\ue2\u80\u9329\uc2 ng/mL) in 32 (21%), and normal (\ue2\u89\ua530\uc2 ng/mL) in 18 (12%) patients with a seasonal variation. Patient characteristics associated with lower 25(OH)D levels were poor performance status, overweight, B-symptoms, elevated LDH, lower albumin and hemoglobin levels. As a result of a change in practice pattern, 116 patients received vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation that included a loading phase with daily replacement and subsequent maintenance phase with a weekly dose of 25,000\uc2 IU until end of treatment. This resulted in a significant increase in 25(OH)D levels, with normalization in 56% of patients. We analyzed the impact of 25(OH)D levels on event-free survival in patients treated with Rituximab-CHOP. 25(OH)D levels below 20\uc2 ng/mL at diagnosis and IPI were independently associated with inferior EFS. Moreover, patients with normalized 25(OH)D levels following supplementation showed better EFS than patients with persistently deficient/insufficient 25(OH)D levels. Our study provides the first evidence that achievement of normal 25(OH)D levels after vitamin D3 supplementation is associated with improved outcome in patients with DLBCL and deficient/insufficient 25(OH)D levels when receiving rituximab-based treatment

La quotazione nei mercati e la negoziazione sui sistemi

Il contributo analizza in maniera completa e critica le tematiche interpretative relative all'ammissione alle sedi di negoziazione, con particolare riferimento alla quotazione

Salute, farmaci e integratori in una visione sistemica: vigilanza su prodotti a base di isoflavoni di soia. Rapporto di ricerca

Il lavoro propone una lettura del rapporto tra management e salute di matrice interdisciplinare che si sofferma prima sugli aspetti prospettici di una interpretazione sistemica del problema indagato, e presenta poi metodi e risultati di una ricerca empirica sul comportamento di consumo di integratori alimentari, sui relativi benefici e potenziali effetti indesiderati e sul problema delle possibili interazioni con i farmaci. In tale contesto, la scarsa conoscenza dei possibili rischi associati all’assunzione di integratori-nutraceutici e la necessità di acquisire maggiori informazioni hanno indirizzato il gruppo di ricerca del Centro Interdipartimentale Pharma-Nomics del Dipartimento di Farmacia dell’Università di Salerno a progettare e realizzare una ricerca osservazionale specifica nel settore, con un progetto di farmacovigilanza attiva su tali prodotti, per i quali i dati di letteratura suggeriscono la necessità di approfondire le condizioni d’uso. Risultato di una collaborazione scientifica multidisciplinare, il lavoro evidenzia il fondamentale contributo interpretativo della visione sistemica quale insieme di schemi interpretativi generali comuni alle diverse discipline

Methicillin-resistant staphilococci carriage in the oral cavity:a study conducted in Bari Italy

Objectives: The oral cavity may represent a site of colonization by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS). To define the prevalence of staphylococci and MRS in the oral cavity, an observational study was carried out in the city of Bari (Italy). Methods: Sixty subjects were asked to provide oral samples and a questionnaire about risk factors of colonization by MRS. An enrichment medium specific for staphylococci was used for the isolation. Results: Swabs and corresponding questionnaires were available from 36 out of 60 patients. Staphylococci were isolated from seven out of 36 samples (prevalence 19.4%). Among the seven staphylococcal isolates, three were Staphylococcus aureus, and one strain, belonging to S. epidermidis species, was found to be MR (1.7%). No methicillin-resistant S. aureus were isolated. Five out of seven staphylococcal isolates exhibited resistance to more than two classes of non-beta-lactams antimicrobials. None of the risk factors analysed correlated with the status of MRS carriers, except the presence of oral disease. Conclusions: The results underline the potential role of the oral cavity as a reservoir of staphylococc

Salute, farmaci e integratori in una visione sistemica: vigilanza su prodotti a base di isoflavoni di soia. Rapporto di ricerca

Il lavoro propone una lettura del rapporto tra management e salute di matrice interdisciplinare che si sofferma prima sugli aspetti prospettici di una interpretazione sistemica del problema indagato, e presenta poi metodi e risultati di una ricerca empirica sul comportamento di consumo di integratori alimentari, sui relativi benefici e potenziali effetti indesiderati e sul problema delle possibili interazioni con i farmaci. In tale contesto, la scarsa conoscenza dei possibili rischi associati all’assunzione di integratori-nutraceutici e la necessità di acquisire maggiori informazioni hanno indirizzato il gruppo di ricerca del Centro Interdipartimentale Pharma-Nomics del Dipartimento di Farmacia dell’Università di Salerno a progettare e realizzare una ricerca osservazionale specifica nel settore, con un progetto di farmacovigilanza attiva su tali prodotti, per i quali i dati di letteratura suggeriscono la necessità di approfondire le condizioni d’uso. Risultato di una collaborazione scientifica multidisciplinare, il lavoro evidenzia il fondamentale contributo interpretativo della visione sistemica quale insieme di schemi interpretativi generali comuni alle diverse discipline

Panchromatic Fluorescence Emission from Thienosquaraines Dyes: White Light Electrofluorochromic Devices

Electrofluorochromic devices (EFCDs) that allow the modulation of the light emitted by electroactive fluorophores are very attractive in the research field of optoelectronics. Here, the electrofluorochromic behaviour of a series of squaraine dyes was studied for the first time. In solutions, all compounds are photoluminescent with maxima located in the range 665–690 nm, characterized by quantum yields ranging from 30% to 4.1%. Squaraines were incorporated in a polymer gel used as an active layer in all-in-one gel switchable EFCDs. An aggregation induced quenching occurs in the gel phase, causing a significant decrease in the emission quantum yield in the device. However, the squaraines containing the thieno groups (thienosquaraines, TSQs) show a panchromatic emission and their electrofluorochromism allows the tuning of the fluorescence intensity from 500 nm to the near infrared. Indeed, the application of a potential difference to the device induces a reversible quenching of their emission that is significantly higher and occurs at shorter switching times for TSQs-based devices compared to the reference squaraine dye (DIBSQ). Interestingly, the TSQs fluorescence spectral profile becomes more structured under voltage, and this could be explained by the shift of the aggregates/monomer equilibrium toward the monomeric species, due to electrochemical oxidation, which causes the disassembling of aggregates. This effect may be used to modulate the colour of the fluorescence light emitted by a device and paves the way for conceiving new electrofluorochromic materials based on this mechanism