Congenital supravalvar mitral ring: An underestimated anomaly

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Nutritional intake influences zinc levels in preterm newborns: an observational study

(1) Background: Zinc is a key element for protein synthesis in preterm newborns. Early aggressive nutrition, promoting protein synthesis, may increase zinc consumption; (2) Methods: We performed a prospective observational study, to assess the relationship between early macronutrients intake and serum zinc levels, in preterm newborns with Gestational Age (GA) of 24-35 weeks, consecutively observed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). (3) Results: We enrolled 130 newborns (GA 31.5 ± 2.8). A significant negative correlation between serum zinc level at 28 days of life and energy (r -0.587, p < 0.001) and protein intake (r -0.556, p < 0.001) in the first week of life was observed. Linear regression analysis showed that zinc levels depended on energy (β -0.650; p < 0.001) and protein (β -0.669; p < 0.001) intake given through parenteral nutrition (PN) in the first week of life; (4) Conclusions: zinc status of preterm neonates was influenced by early protein and energy intake. An additional zinc supplementation should be considered when high protein and energy intake are received by preterm newborns in the first week of life

Spectral study of the diffuse synchrotron source in the galaxy cluster Abell 523

The galaxy cluster Abell 523 (A523) hosts an extended diffuse synchrotron source historically classified as a radio halo. Its radio power at 1.4 GHz makes it one of the most significant outliers in the scaling relations between observables derived from multiwavelength observations of galaxy clusters: it has a morphology that is different and offset from the thermal gas, and it has polarized emission at 1.4 GHz typically difficult to observe for this class of sources. A magnetic field fluctuating on large spatial scales (similar to 1 Mpc) can explain these peculiarities but the formation mechanism for this source is not yet completely clear. To investigate its formation mechanism, we present new observations obtained with the LOw Frequency ARray at 120-168 MHz and the Jansky Very Large Array at 1-2 GHz, which allow us to study the spectral index distribution of this source. According to our data the source is observed to be more extended at 144 MHz than previously inferred at 1.4 GHz, with a total size of about 1.8 Mpc and a flux density S-144 MHz = (1.52 +/- 0.31) Jy. The spectral index distribution of the source is patchy with an average spectral index alpha similar to 1.2 between 144 MHz and 1.410 GHz, while an integrated spectral index alpha similar to 2.1 has been obtained between 1.410 and 1.782 GHz. A previously unseen patch of steep spectrum emission is clearly detected at 144 MHz in the south of the cluster. Overall, our findings suggest that we are observing an overlapping of different structures, powered by the turbulence associated with the primary and a possible secondary merger.Peer reviewe

Use of defibrotide in COVID-19 pneumonia: comparison of a phase II study and a matched real-world cohort control

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to an unprecedented burden on healthcare systems around the world and a severe global socioeconomic crisis, with more than 750 million confirmed cases and at least 7 million deaths reported by 31st December 2023. The DEFI-VID19 study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04335201), a phase II, single-arm, multicenter, open-label trial was designed in mid-2020 to assess the safety and efficacy of defibrotide in treating patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Defibrotide was administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg/d intravenously, divided into four daily doses over a planned 14-day period for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia receiving non-invasive ventilation. The primary endpoint was Respiratory Failure Free Survival (RFFS); Overall Survival (OS), the number of post-recovery days, and adverse events were the secondary endpoints. For comparison, a contemporaneous control cohort receiving standard of care only was retrospectively selected by applying the eligibility criteria of the DEFI-VID19 trial. To adjust for the imbalance between the two cohorts in terms of baseline variable distributions, an outcome regression analysis was conducted. In adjusted analysis, patients receiving defibrotide reported a trend towards higher RFFS (HR=0.71[0.95CI: 0.34 to 1.29, P= .138]) and OS (HR=0.78[0.95CI: 0.33 to 1.53, P= .248]) and showed a significantly increased number of post-recovery days (difference in means: 3.61[ 0.95CI: 0.97 to 6.26, P= .0037]). Despite concomitant thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin, the safety profile of defibrotide proved to be favorable. Taken together, our findings suggest that defibrotide may represent a valuable addition to the COVID-19 therapeutic options

A Comparison of Blood Biochemical Parameters as a Tool to Measure Welfare in Free-ranging Red Deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) after Chemical and Physical Restraint

Eighteen red deer were captured in box traps and then physically restrained in an immobilizing box; three red deer were captured twice, once by chemical restraint (anesthetized with a mixture of Xylazine, Tiletamine and Zolazepam) and once in the immobilizing box. It was found that microhaematocrit, total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, as well as plasma cortisol, were higher after the physical restraint. Anserine and 3-methyl-L-histidine concentrations were higher after the physical restraint in animals undergoing both captures. Data supports previous studies indicating that the physical restraint after cap-ture is more stressful than the chemical one. Anserine and 3-methyl-L-histidine were higher after the physical restraint in red deer undergoing both methods, suggesting that measuring plasma aminoacyl–imidazole dipeptides and their components may be important in stressed animals prone to capture myopathy

[Long-term survival of patients with inoperable hepatocarcinoma, treated with interventional radiology].

Survival rates in untreated patients with unresectable HCC are rather disappointing. Our study was aimed at assessing long-term survival in the patients submitted to combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). We treated 223 patients, but long-term follow-up is available in 143 of them only. Eighty-seven of 143 patients had Child's A liver cirrhosis, 45 had Child's B and 6 Child's C. Five patients did not have cirrhosis. Eighty-seven patients had single lesions--45 of them 5 cm. Fifty-six patients had multiple/diffuse lesions. All patients underwent TACE while PEI was performed in selected patients with single or double lesions. Survival rates were calculated with the life-table analysis by Kaplan and Meyer. Follow-up was 1-72 months (median: 28 months). At 1, 3 and 5 years, the overall survival rates were 72%, 34.5% and 16.4%, respectively. The survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years in single lesions 5 cm and 58.8%, 12.5% and 0% in multiple/diffuse lesions. In conclusion, the long-term results of the radiologic treatment of unresectable HCC are comparable with surgical results obtained in selected cases