Oral 24% sucrose associated with nonnutritive sucking for pain control in healthy term newborns receiving venipuncture beyond the first week of life

Objective: To test the hypothesis that oral administration of 24% sucrose associated with nonnutritive sucking in healthy newborns receiving venipuncture beyond the first week of life controls pain and pain-related variation in heart rate (HR) and noninvasive oxygen saturation (SpO2). Methods: A total of 66 term newborns were enrolled between February and September 2017 in the Neonatology Department of AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, Naples. They were randomly assigned to receive oral 1 mL 24% sucrose (treated group [TG], n=33; gestational age 38.53±1.49 weeks; body weight 3,035±55 g; age 22.40±6.82 weeks) or oral 1 mL 10% glucose (control group [CG], n=33; gestational age 38.91±1.45 weeks; body weight 3,203±65 g; age 23.36±7.02 weeks) 1 minute before and during venipuncture. Evaluations were carried out between 8 and 9 am in all newborns. The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) was used to assess pain in newborns. Outcome measurements (HR, SpO2) were obtained before (T0), during (T1), and 1 minute after (T2) venipuncture using a Nellcor bedside SpO2 patient-monitoring system. NIPS scores were recorded throughout the procedure. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. Changes in HR and SpO2 were assessed by mixed ANOVA for repeated measures. NIPS scores were evaluated by Mann–Whitney U test. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in HR or SpO2 between TG and CG at T0. HR was significantly lower in TG than CG at both T1 and T2 (P<0.05), whereas SpO2 was significantly higher in TG than CG at both T1 and T2 (P<0.05). NIPS scores were significantly lower in TG (median 0) than CG (median 6) during the entire procedure (P<0.05). Conclusion: Oral administration of 24% sucrose associated with nonnutritive sucking prior to and during a painful procedure has a strong impact on pain response in term newborns, reducing NIPS scores and influencing pain-associated variations in HR and SpO2. Complete analgesia during painful procedures in term newborns might prevent pain reactivity and its behavioral and neurodevelopmental consequences. Replication of this study is needed before widespread application of findings

thermal and mechanical characterization of panels made by cement mortar and sheep s wool fibres

Abstract Green building and environmental sustainability are two important concepts for technicians and engineers. Among natural materials, usually considered as waste, sheep wool plays a fundamental role. This paper is intended to learn more about the potential of these fibres inserted in cement mortar panels, investigating both the insulation properties and mechanical strength, trying to achieve an optimal compromise between these two aspects. Therefore, in the laboratory of materials ENEA Research Centre Trisaia, several panels with different percentages of sheep wool were manufactured, tested and characterized according to technical standards

Measurement of corneal thickness using Pentacam HR versus Nidek CEM-530 specular microscopy.

Objective To compare corneal thickness (CT) measurements using the CEM-530 (Nidal, Gamagori, Japan) and Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). Methods The CT of 209 healthy subjects (209 right eyes) aged 24 to 89 years (71.35 ± 10.72 years) was measured at the corneal apex (CA), pupil center (PC), and thinnest point (TP) with the Pentacam HR and at the corneal center with the CEM-530 in random order at the same time of day. Results A good correlation but statistically significant difference was found between the CEM-530 and Pentacam HR measurements at the CA (6.10 ± 8.12 µm, R2 = 0.8947), PC (7.46 ± 8.57 µm, R2 = 0.8826), and TP (12.44 ± 10.04 µm, R2 = 0.8392). Comparison of the two devices produced the following regression formulas: y = 0.8859x + 57.644 for the CA, y = 0.8852x +56.657 for the PC, and y = 0.8557x + 68.148 for the TP, where x is the CT obtained with the CEM-530 and y is that obtained with the Pentacam HR. Conclusions These findings indicate that the CEM-530 produces a thicker corneal measurement than the Pentacam HR. The herein-proposed correcting factors are needed to reliably compare these devices

Métodos gráficos de análisis exploratorio de datos espaciales con variables espacialmente distribuidas

En el presente artículo se exponen, de manera compacta, los aspectos teóricos más relevantes de econometría espacial en la etapa de exploración estadística de datos, mediante las técnicas del análisis exploratorio de datos espaciales (AEDE), así como la fase previa a la formulación del modelo econométrico espacial. Con este artículo, se brindan herramientas para describir y visualizar distribuciones espaciales, que permitan darle validez a un modelo econométrico y que herramientas de la econometría tradicional no incorporan al rezagar efectos espaciales. La metodología utilizada se desarrolla a partir del AEDE y sus aplicaciones; para tal fin, se analizan las técnicas gráficas y estadísticas del AEDE que ofrece el software GeoDa 1.0.1, desarrollado por el profesor Luc Anselin de la Arizona State University, en dos dimensiones: (1) el análisis de datos univariante, es decir, se estudian las características de distribución espacial con respecto a una sola variable y (2) el análisis de datos multivariante, que involucra más de dos variables. Finalmente, se concluye que el AEDE debe constituir el primer eslabón en un análisis para la toma de decisiones en investigaciones de tipo ambiental, social y económica, cuyas técnicas principales a través de la estadística y la representación gráfica, posibilitan el análisis de las distribuciones espaciales y agrupamientos espaciales.

Análisis de la política energética a partir del cumplimiento de la reducción de emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) entre países de América latina con economía extractivista

Herein we presents an analysis of the energy policy about the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the most representative extractive economies in Latin America, in order to accomplish the Kyoto Protocol released in 1997. The observed reduction in the CO2 emissions could be explain by the relationships between each country and their institutions. For the analysis, we used qualitative and quantitative resources, where we compared the behavior of average emission rates, emissions per unit of economic production and the demand for energy in different countries in Latin America. According to the analysis, we demonstrated that the hypothesis of the Kuznets curve was not achieved; therefore, it cannot be considered that the rapid economic growth will eventually solve the environmental problems. In the same way, the analysis showed that the high rate of economic growth in Latin America makes necessary the idea to have a diversification in the energetic sources where renewable energies should have &nbsp;a relevant role in order to accomplish competitive costs and decrease the deficiency of the energy policy.El artículo de investigación presenta un análisis de la política energética a partir del cumplimiento del Protocolo de Kioto en 1997, referente a la reducción de emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) entre los países con economía extractiva más representativos de América Latina, cuya transformación puede explicarse tanto por las dinámicas de cada país con sus instituciones, como por el resultado de situaciones de cambio potencial. El apoyo documental de la investigación se realizó mediante&nbsp;recursos de análisis de tipo cualitativo y cuantitativo, donde se evidencian el comportamiento de las tasas promedio de emisiones, las emisiones por unidad de producción económica y la demanda de energía por fuente en América Latina. De acuerdo con los resultados se evidencian empíricamente que la hipótesis de la curva de Kuznets no se cumple por tanto no puede considerarse que el rápido crecimiento económico solucionara, eventualmente, los problemas ambientales. Asimismo se evidencia el elevado ritmo de crecimiento económico en el largo plazo en América Latina lo que hace necesario disponer de una matriz energética diversificada, eficiente, con costos competitivos y donde las energías renovables tengan un papel relevante y así disminuir la deficiencia de la política energética

Performances of low level hospital health caregivers after a neonatal resuscitation course

Background: High fidelity simulation has been executed to allow the evaluation of technical and non-technical skills of health caregivers. Our objective was to assess technical and non-technical performances of low level hospitals health caregivers who attended a Neonatal Resuscitation course using high fidelity simulation in a standard-setting scenario. Methods: Twenty-three volunteers were asked to manage a simple scenario (infant with secondary apnea) after the course. Technical and non-technical skills were assessed by using previously published scores. Performances were assessed during the scenario and after 2 months by filmed video recordings. Results: Sixteen (69.5%) participants failed to pass the minimum required technical score. Staff experience and participation in previous courses were associated to higher score in technical and non-technical skills, while working in level I or II hospitals did not affect the scores. Previous experience in neonatal resuscitation requiring positive pressure ventilation was associated to better non-technical performance. Technical and non-technical scores were significantly correlated (r = 0.67, p = 0.0005). Delayed and direct evaluation of technical skills provided the same scores. Conclusions: A neonatal resuscitation course, performed by using a high fidelity simulation manikin, had a limited impact on technical and non-technical skills of participants working in low level hospitals. Training programs should be tailored to the participants\u2019 professional background and to the more relevant sessions

Metabolomic Profile of Young Adults Born Preterm

Prematurity is a risk factor for the development of chronic adult diseases. Metabolomics can correlate the biochemical changes to a determined phenotype, obtaining real information about the state of health of a subject at that precise moment. Significative differences in the metabolomic profile of preterm newborns compared to those born at term have been already identified at birth. An observational case–control study was performed at the University Hospital of Siena. The aim was to evaluate and compare the metabolomic profiles of young adults born preterm to those born at term. Urinary samples were collected from 67 young adults (18–23 years old) born preterm (mean gestational age of 30 weeks, n = 49), and at term of pregnancy (mean gestational age of 38 weeks, n = 18). The urinary spectra of young adults born preterm was different from those born at term and resembled what was previously described at birth. The Random Forest algorithm gave the best classification (accuracy 82%) and indicated the following metabolites as responsible for the classification: citrate, CH2 creatinine, fumarate and hippurate. Urine spectra are promising tools for the early identification of neonates at risk of disease in adulthood and may provide insight into the pathogenesis and effects of fetal programming and infants’ outcomes

Impacto social del internet de las cosas (IdC): una reflexión conceptual

Every day the number of people, households and companies using devices with an Internet connection is increasing. This shows that the social impact of the tools offered by the Internet of Things extends to the whole world, the access and use of these technologies change social interactions in a country, in a community and between individuals. This article presents a conceptual reflection on the social impact of the internet of things, as a megatrend of the fourth industrial revolution (Schwab, 2016). Through a rigorous documentary exploration, the debate regarding ignoring or studying the social impact is proposed and the literature used is consolidated in plausible assumptions to deepen the investigation in the next future.Cada día aumenta el número de personas, hogares y empresas que utilizan dispositivos con conexión a Internet. Esto muestra que el impacto social de las herramientas que ofrece el internet de las cosas se extiende a todo el mundo, el acceso y uso de estas tecnologías cambia las interacciones sociales en un país, en una comunidad y entre individuos. Este artículo presenta una reflexión conceptual sobre el impacto social del internet de las cosas, como megatendencia de la cuarta revolución industrial (Schwab, 2016). A través de una rigurosa exploración documental, se propone el debate sobre el desconocimiento o estudio del impacto social y la literatura utilizada se consolida en supuestos plausibles para profundizar la investigación en un futuro próximo. La conclusión principal destaca la necesidad de investigar en profundidad sobre los usos y abusos de la conexión humano-internet-cosa para identificar los cambios de la humanidad en torno a los avances tecnológicos

Rooming-in Reduces Salivary Cortisol Level of Newborn

Background. Rooming-in practice improves breastfeeding and reduces newborn stress reactivity. When this modality is not available, partial rooming-in after birth can be considered. Salivary cortisol levels (SCLs) are considered reliable biomarkers to indicate stress. Objective. To test the hypothesis that rooming-in duration impacts neonatal stress response in hospitalized newborns. Design/methods. Forty term newborns, enrolled in the Neonatology and Obstetrics Nursing, C.G. Ruesch, Naples, Italy, were divided, according to the mother's choice, into the study (SG; n = 20) and control (CG; n = 20) groups if they received full (24 hs) or partial (14 hs) rooming-in care, respectively. Saliva samples were collected from all babies between 7: 00 a.m. and 8: 00 a.m. of the 3rd day of life by using oral swab. Salivary cortisol levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit (Salimetrics LLC, PA, USA). Results. A statistically significant difference in the SCLs between SG and CG was found (median: 258 ng/dl versus 488.5 ng/dl; p = 0 048). Conclusions. Data support the practice of full rooming-in care compared with partial rooming-in. The rooming-in duration clearly reduces SCLs and likely neonatal stress. These lower SCLs may have long-term positive effects reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and cognitive and behavioural changes