Spatiotemporal patterns of cholera hospitalization in Vellore, India

Systematically collected hospitalization records provide valuable insight into disease patterns and support comprehensive national infectious disease surveillance networks. Hospitalization records detailing patient’s place of residence (PoR) can be utilized to better understand a hospital’s case load and strengthen surveillance among mobile populations. This study examined geographic patterns of patients treated for cholera at a major hospital in south India. We abstracted 1401 laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera between 2000–2014 from logbooks and electronic health records (EHRs) maintained by the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. We constructed spatial trend models and identified two distinct clusters of patient residence—one around Vellore (836 records (61.2%)) and one in Bengal (294 records (21.5%)). We further characterized differences in peak timing and disease trend among these clusters to identify differences in cholera exposure among local and visiting populations. We found that the two clusters differ by their patient profiles, with patients in the Bengal cluster being most likely older males traveling to Vellore. Both clusters show well-aligned seasonal peaks in mid-July, only one week apart, with similar downward trend and proportion of predominant O1 serotype. Large hospitals can thus harness EHRs for surveillance by utilizing patients’ PoRs to study disease patterns among resident and visitor populations

The utility of fluorescence lifetime imaging in routine bone marrow

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The ribonuclease DIS3 promotes let-7 miRNA maturation by degrading the pluripotency factor LIN28B mRNA

Multiple myeloma, the second most frequent hematologic tumor after lymphomas, is an incurable cancer. Recent sequencing efforts have identified the ribonuclease DIS3 as one of the most frequently mutated genes in this disease. DIS3 represents the catalytic subunit of the exosome, a macromolecular complex central to the processing, maturation and surveillance of various RNAs. miRNAs are an evolutionarily conserved class of small noncoding RNAs, regulating gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Ribonucleases, including Drosha, Dicer and XRN2, are involved in the processing and stability of miRNAs. However, the role of DIS3 on the regulation of miRNAs remains largely unknown. Here we found that DIS3 regulates the levels of the tumor suppressor let-7 miRNAs without affecting other miRNA families. DIS3 facilitates the maturation of let-7 miRNAs by reducing in the cytoplasm the RNA stability of the pluripotency factor LIN28B, a inhibitor of let-7 processing. DIS3 inactivation, through the increase of LIN28B and the reduction of mature let-7, enhances the translation of let-7 targets such as MYC and RAS leading to enhanced tumorigenesis. Our study establishes that the ribonuclease DIS3, targeting LIN28B, sustains the maturation of let-7 miRNAs and suggests the increased translation of critical oncogenes as one of the biological outcomes of DIS3 inactivation

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Medicina del lavoro e psicologia del lavoro: un incontro nella Milano del secondo dopoguerra

In Italia, negli anni cinquanta del novecento, la medicina del lavoro e la psicologia del lavoro trovarono un campo comune di azione nella Clinica del Lavoro di Milano. Scopo: Analizzare il contributo della medicina del lavoro allo sviluppo della psicologia del lavoro in Italia. Metodi: Analisi di fonti storiche. Risultati: La psicologia sperimentale poteva avvalersi di strutture dipendenti dal Comune di Milano; era presente presso l\u2019Universit\ue0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Marcello Cesa-Bianchi (1926-2018) fu il primo titolare dell\u2019insegnamento di Psicologia medica presso la facolt\ue0 di Medicina; egli diresse l\u2019Istituto di Psicologia del Comune di Milano. Collabor\uf2 con industrie grafiche, tessili e farmaceutiche per la formazione ed organizzazione del personale; condusse importanti ricerche di Psicologia del lavoro per conto della Comunit\ue0 Europea del Carbone e dell\u2019Acciaio. La prima sede della cattedra di psicologia medica fu ospitata nella Clinica del Lavoro e l\u2019attivit\ue0 del gruppo di Cesa-Bianchi si orient\uf2 verso l\u2019elaborazione dei profili professionali e la job analysis. Inoltre Cesa-Bianchi proprio in quegli anni condusse pionieristiche ricerche in campo psicogerontologico. Conclusioni: L\u2019esperienza che integr\uf2 la psicologia e la medicina del lavoro nel contesto scientifico milanese merita di essere ricordata perch\ue9 i suoi protagonisti furono portatori di una serie di valori che possono utilmente essere proposti alla riflessione odierna. Il nostro \ue8 anche un invito alla salvaguardia della documentazione: noi crediamo che solo una migliore conoscenza degli eventi possa garantirne un miglior destino.\uabOccupational medicine and occupational psychology: a rendezvous in Milan after World War II\ubb. Background: In the 1950s, occupational medicine and occupational psychology found a common field of action in the Clinica del Lavoro in Milan. OBJECTIVES This study aims to analyze and document how this encounter took place and, in particular, the contribution of the Clinica del Lavoro to the development of occupational psychology in Italy. Methods: Historical sources of that period were investigated. Results: Before the 1950s, experimental psychology was only taught at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. The first professor of clinical psychology in the School of Medicine at the State University of Milan, was Marcello Cesa-Bianchi (1926-2018). He collaborated with the graphic, textile and pharmaceutical industries for the personnel training and management, and carried out important research in occupational psychology on behalf of the European Coal and Steel Community. The Chair of Clinical Psychology was initially located in the Clinica del Lavoro and the activity of the team of Cesa-Bianchi was oriented towards the elaboration of professional profiles and job analysis. In those years Cesa-Bianchi also conducted pioneering research in the field of psycho-gerontology. Conclusions: The historical experience that integrated psychology and occupational medicine in the scientific context of Milan contains a series of values, useful to today\u2019s reflection and practice. Our work also undelines the importance of preserving historical documents: only a better knowledge of history can guarantee a better destin

Genotypic variation and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida pelliculosa clinical isolates

At the Istituto Ricovero Cura Carattere Scientifico, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy, Candida pelliculosa accounted for 3\ub73 and 4\ub74% of all Candida species other than Candida albicans collected during 1996 and 1998, respectively. Genetic variability was investigated by electrophoretic karyotyping and inter-repeat PCR, and the susceptibility to five antifungal agents of 46 strains isolated from 37 patients during these 2 years was determined. Combination of the two typing methods yielded 14 different DNA types. Although the majority of DNA types were randomly distributed among different units, one DNA type was significantly more common in patients hospitalized in a given unit compared with those from other wards (P = 0\ub7034), whereas another DNA type was more frequently isolated in patients hospitalized during 1996 than in those hospitalized during 1998 (P = 0\ub7002). Fluconazole, itraconazole and posaconazole MIC90 values were 16,1 and 4 \u3bcg ml-1, respectively. All isolates but three were susceptible in vitro to flucytosine. All isolates were susceptible in vitro to amphotericin B. These data suggest that there are possible relationships among strains of C. pelliculosa, wards and time of isolation. Amphotericin B seems to be the optimal drug therapy in infections due to this yeast species

De novo Diagnosis of Fabry Disease among Italian Adults with Acute Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Cerebrovascular complications are often the first cause of hospitalization in patients with Fabry disease (FD). Screenings for FD among stroke patients have yielded discrepant results, likely as a result of heterogeneous or incomplete assessment. We designed a study to identify FD among adults 60 years of age or younger who were consecutively admitted for acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) to a stroke neurology service in Italy

The alpha- and beta-noradrenergic receptors blockade in the dorsal raphe nucleus impairs the panic-like response elaborated by medial hypothalamus neurons.

Dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) neurons are reciprocally connected to the locus coeruleus (LC) and send neural pathways to the medial hypothalamus (MH). The aim of this work was to investigate whether the blockade of alpha(1)-, alpha(2)- or beta-noradrenergic receptors in the DRN or the inactivation of noradrenergic neurons in the LC modify defensive behaviours organised by MH neurons. For this purpose, Wistar male rats received microinjections of WB4101, RX821002, propranolol (alpha(1)-, alpha(2)- and beta-noradrenergic receptor antagonists, respectively) or physiological saline in the DRN, followed 10 min later by MH GABA(A) receptor blockade. Other groups of animals received DSP-4 (a noradrenergic neurotoxin), physiological saline or only a needle insertion (sham group) into the LC, and 5 days later, bicuculline or physiological saline was administered in the MH. In all these cases, after MH treatment, the frequency and duration of defensive responses were recorded over 15 min. An anterograde neural tract tracer was also deposited in the DRN. DRN neurons send pathways to lateral and dorsomedial hypothalamus. Blockade of alpha(1)- and beta-noradrenergic receptors in the DRN decreased escape reactions elicited by bicuculline microinjections in the MH. In addition, a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviours was observed after the blockade of alpha(2)-noradrenergic receptors in the DRN. LC pretreatment with DSP-4 decreased both anxiety- and panic attack-like behaviours evoked by GABA(A) receptor blockade in the MH. In summary, the present findings suggest that the norepinephrine-mediated system modulates defensive reactions organised by MH neurons at least in part via noradrenergic receptors recruitment on DRN neurons