dabPna: Design, Synthesis, And Dna Binding Studies

In continuing our research efforts for developing new oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)-like drugs and diagnostics, we designed diaminobutyric peptide nucleic acids (dabPNAs), nucleopeptides characterized by a diaminobutyric-based building block that is an isomer of the aminoethylglycyl PNA (aegPNA) unit and the acyclic modification of the aminoprolyl PNA (ampPNA) monomer. In this work we present the solid phase synthesis of a dabPNA oligomer and of two aegPNAs containing a single dabPNA unit. A study relative to their binding ability towards DNA is also reported even in comparison with the well known aegPNAs

Screening of a Small Number of Italian COVID-19 Syndrome Survivors by Means of the Fatigue Assessment Scale: Long COVID Prevalence and the Role of Gender

Months after healing, a number of COVID-19 syndrome survivors are affected by both psychological and physical limitations. They are mainly troubled with long-term fatigue, which is a crucial aspect of Long Covid syndrome. This paper aims to investigate the level and persistency of fatigue among COVID-19 survivors from the first wave of the pandemic in Western Liguria and to elucidate the role of gender, age, and lifestyle. It also provides data to the scientific community to help drawing a consistent picture of Long Covid syndrome. The patients were requested to fill a Fatigue Assessment Questionnaire twice: (i) a few weeks after discharge from hospital or home confinement and (ii) a few months later. Statistical analysis was carried out on the global scores and on the score for every single item of the questionnaire. The outcome of the two questionnaires were analyzed separately and compared. Females are more affected by fatigue than males. This results holds for both physical and mental fatigue. All the males’ fatigue scores were reduced at the second control, while 40% of females worsened it. Home-confined patients showed a higher fatigue score at the first check. In the initial stages of the recovery, patients are more affected by physical, rather than mental, fatigue. This is worth of further investigation as well as the reasons leading to a higher initial fatigue score for home cared patients

Is early detection of late-onset Pompe disease a pneumologist's affair? A lesson from an Italian screening study 11 Medical and Health Sciences 1103 Clinical Sciences

Background: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a recessive disease caused by α-glucosidase (GAA) deficiency, leading to progressive muscle weakness and/or respiratory failure in children and adults. Respiratory derangement can be the first indication of LOPD, but the diagnosis may be difficult for pneumologists. We hypothesize that assessing the GAA activity in suspected patients by a dried blood spot (DBS) may help the diagnosis of LOPD in the pneumological setting. Population and methods: We performed a multicenter DBS survey of patients with suspected LOPD according to a predefined clinical algorithm. From February 2015 to December 2017, 140 patients (57 ± 16 yrs., 80 males) were recruited in 19 Italian pneumological units. The DBS test was performed by a drop of blood collected on absorbent paper. Patients with GAA activity < 2.6 μmol/L/h were considered positive. A second DBS test was performed in the patients positive to the first assay. Patients testing positive at the re-test underwent a skeletal muscle biopsy to determine the GAA enzymatic activity. Results: 75 recruited subjects had outpatient access, 65 subjects were admitted for an acute respiratory failure episode. Two patients tested positive in both the first and second DBS test (1.4% prevalence), and the LOPD diagnosis was confirmed through histology, with patients demonstrating a deficient GAA muscle activity (3.6 and 9.1 pmol/min/mg). A further five subjects were positive in the first DBS test but were not confirmed at re-test. The two positive cases were both diagnosed after hospitalization for acute respiratory failure and need of noninvasive ventilation. Most of the recruited patients had reduced maximal respiratory pressures (MIP 50 ± 27% and MEP 55 ± 27% predicted), restrictive pattern (FEV 1 /FVC 81.3 ± 13.6) and hypoxaemia (PaO 2 70.9 ± 14.5 mmHg). Respiratory symptoms were present in all the patients, but only 48.6% of them showed muscle weakness in the pelvic girdle and/or in the scapular girdle (35.7%). Conclusions: DBS GAA activity test may be a powerful screening tool among pneumologists, particularly in the acute setting. A simple clinical algorithm may aid in the selection of patients on which to administer the DBS test

The use of 3D laparoscopic imaging systems in surgery : EAES consensus development conference 2018

Background: The use of 3D laparoscopic systems is expanding. The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) initiated a consensus development conference with the aim of creating evidence-based statements and recommendations for the surgical community. Methods: Systematic reviews of the PubMed and Embase libraries were performed to identify evidence on potential benefits of 3D on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Statements and recommendations were prepared and unanimously agreed by an international surgical and engineering expert panel which were presented and voted at the EAES annual congress, London, May 2018. Results: 9967 abstracts were screened with 138 articles included. 18 statements and two recommendations were generated and approved. 3D significantly shortened operative time (mean difference 11 min (8% [95% CI 20.29–1.72], I2 96%)). A significant reduction in complications was observed when 3D systems were used (RR 0.75, [95 CI% 0.60–0.94], I2 0%) particularly for cases involving laparoscopic suturing (RR 0.57 [95% CI 0.35–0.90], I2 0%). In 69 box trainer or simulator studies, 64% concluded trainees were significant faster and 62% performed fewer errors when using 3D. Conclusion: We recommend the use of 3D vision in laparoscopy to reduce the operative time (grade of recommendation: low). Future robust clinical research is required to specifically investigate the potential benefit of 3D laparoscopy system on complication rates (grade of recommendation: high)