Ocimum gratissimum essential oil improved the health, innate immunity and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum.

This study evaluated the effects of diets containing alfavaca essential oil on the zootechnical performance, plasma glucose, leukocyte respiratory activity, haematology, and intestinal histomorphometry in "cachara" (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos de dietas contendo óleo essencial de alfavaca sobre o desempenho zootécnico, glicose plasmática, atividade respiratória leucocitária, hematologia e histomorfometria intestinal em cachara (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum) desafiado com Aeromonas hydrophila.Título em português: Óleo essencial de Ocimum gratissinum melhorou a saúde, imunidade inata e resistência à infecção por Aeromonas hydrophila em Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum

Epidemiology and drug susceptibility of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Italy in 2016-2020

Introduction. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental mycobacteria which may cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary diseases. These organisms are difficult to treat due to their intrinsic drug-resistance. In Italy, no major nationwide study on NTM epidemiology and drug susceptibility was performed. Methods. Data on the epidemiology of 7,469 NTM clinical isolates identified in Italy in 2016-2020 and on the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1,506 of these strains were analysed. Results. Overall, 63 species were identified in 42 hospital laboratories located in 16 out of 20 regions, with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) being the most frequently iso-lated, followed by M. gordonae, M. xenopi, M. abscessus. The MICs of 12 drugs for MAC, M. xenopi, M. kansasii, M. abscessus, M. fortuitum and M. chelonae were interpreted for clinical significance (susceptible, intermediate, resistant) based on the guidelines pub-lished by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute in November 2018. Conclusions. Our data are in line with other nationwide studies and may be of value for further update of microbiological and clinical guidelines

Effect of psychoanalytic psychosomatic in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope: a randomized study

Introdução: A síncope vasovagal recorrente, embora apresente prognóstico benigno em termos de sobrevida, está associada a importante comprometimento da qualidade de vida, especialmente nos quadros refratários. Reações a antecedentes de perda podem influenciar na recorrência dos episódios sincopais e no grau de comprometimento social dos pacientes. Objetivos: 1) Comparar o número de síncopes e présíncopes entre o grupo no qual se acrescentou, ao tratamento médico habitual, sessões semanais de psicoterapia e o grupo que seguiu o cuidado médico convencional de forma isolada. 2) Avaliar o efeito da psicoterapia na economia psicossomática e na qualidade de vida dos pacientes com síncopes vasovagais recorrentes. 3) Analisar os processos psicossomáticos envolvidos em situações de adoecimento por síncope vasovagal e estabelecer possíveis relações entre a eclosão da doença e vivências anteriores de traumas, focando em prováveis somatizações. Métodos: Foi realizado um ensaio clínico controlado randomizado, envolvendo 10 pacientes com síncope vasovagal refratária. Doenças cardíacas e intervenções psiquiátricas e psicoterapêuticas em curso foram critérios de exclusão. Após a randomização, metade dos pacientes foi submetida a sessões semanais de psicoterapia durante um ano, embasada na linha teórica da Psicossomática Psicanalítica, e todos os pacientes (grupo controle e intervenção) continuaram com tratamento assistencial padrão. A recorrência, o número de síncopes/pré-síncopes e a qualidade de vida (SF36) foram avaliados no contato inicial e aos 6 e 12 meses após a inclusão. Resultados: Dentre os 10 pacientes incluídos, 80% eram do sexo feminino e a idade média de 48,8 (± 11,4) anos. A frequência média de eventos sincopais era de um episódio de pré-síncope por semana e quatro síncopes ao ano. Todos apresentavam tilt test positivo, sendo 80% com resposta vasovagal mista. A análise da recorrência de eventos e QV não mostrou diferença relevante no grupo controle, mas no grupo de intervenção houve redução significativa na frequência de pré-síncopes por mês (5,7 ± 1,4 x 1,7 ± 1,0; P < 0,01) e na frequência de síncopes em um ano (4,6 ± 0,9 x 1,0 ± 0,7; P < 0,01). Houve também uma melhora considerável na avaliação geral da QV (44,1 ± 10,0 vs. 70,3 ± 10,3; P < 0,01). Ao comparar ambos os grupos em um ano, houve significativamente menos síncopes e pré-síncopes e melhor qualidade de vida no grupo de intervenção. Em relação aos fatores psíquicos que precedem o diagnóstico de síncope vasovagal, foram identificadas experiências traumáticas. Conclusões: Pacientes com SVV xii refratária submetidos à intervenção psicoterápica apresentaram menor recorrência de episódios e melhora na qualidade de vida, com mudança favorável na maneira de lidar com as situações de perdasIntroduction: Although recurrent vasovagal syncope has a benign prognosis in terms of survival, it is associated with a significant impairment of quality of life, especially in refractory conditions. Reactions to previous traumatic conditions can influence the recurrence of syncopal episodes and the social impairment of these patients. Objectives: 1) To compare the number of syncope and near-syncope events between the group submitted to weekly sessions of psychotherapeutic intervention in addition to conventional medical therapy and the control group, that followed the standard of care alone. 2) To evaluate the effect of psychotherapy on psychosomatic economy and quality of life in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope. 3) To analyse the psychosomatic processes involved in situations of illness due to vasovagal syncope and establish possible relationships between the onset of the disease and previous experiences of trauma, focusing on probable somatization Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial involving 10 patients with refractory vasovagal syncope was performed. Heart disease and ongoing psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions were exclusion criteria. After randomization, half of the patients underwent weekly sessions of psychotherapy based on the theoretical line of Psychoanalytic Psychosomatics for one year and all patients (control and intervention group) continued with standard care treatment. Recurrence, number of syncope/near-syncope and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months after inclusion. Results: Among the 10 patients included, 70% were female, with a mean age of 47.4 ± 11.1 years. The average frequency of syncope events was approximately one presyncope per week and four episodes of syncope per year. All had a positive tilt test, 80% with mixed vasovagal response. The analysis of recurrence of events and QoL did not show any significant change in the control group, but in the intervention group there was a significant reduction in the frequency of presyncope per month (5.7 ± 1.4 x 1.7 ± 1.0; P < 0.01) and the frequency of syncope in one year (4.6 ± 0.9 x 1.0 ± 0.7; P < 0.01). There was also a considerable improvement in the overall assessment of QoL (44.1 ± 10.0 vs. 70.3 ± 10.3, P < 0.01). Comparing both groups after one year of follow-up, there were significantly less syncope and near syncope events and better QoL in the intervention group. Regarding the psychic factors that precede the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope, traumatic experiences were identified. Conclusion: Patients undergoing psychotherapeutic intervention had less recurrence of episodes of syncope and near-syncope and improved quality of life, with a favourable change in the way they deal with previous traumatic event

Limited diagnostic value of lymphocytic karyotype in primary amenorrhea with streak gonads.

Cytogenetic data represent a first line diagnostic aid in gonadal dysgenesis. Generally, the results of a peripheral blood examination reflect the genotypic alteration of the patient. Nevertheless, on occasion one may encounter cases in which clinical and hormonal evidence suggestive of dysgenesis is not accompanied by an anomalous chromosomal finding, upon cytogenetic analysis of the peripheral blood. In these cases, a cytogenetic alteration may be present in cellular components of the ovary and the cutis. In the light of the above, two patients presenting with primary hypergonadotropic amenorrhea, streak gonads and normal peripheral karyotype are described. In one patient presenting with phenotype alterations, ovarian wedge biopsy via laparotomy followed by cytogenetic analysis of ovarian tissue and tissue from the cutis revealed a 45,X/46,XX-type mosaicism. In the other patient, the ovarian cytogenetic findings were unremarkable. Extending chromosomal analysis to several tissues, beyond the peripheral level, in selected cases, is discussed

Non-mosaic isodicentric X-chromosome in a patient with secondary amenorrhea.

An isodicentric X-chromosome idic(X) (pter----q26.1::q26.1----pter) was found in lymphocytes and ovarian tissue of a 40-year-old female patient with secondary amenorrhea. No mosaicism was observed. The phenotype-karyotype correlation of our case and of previously described non-mosaic cases of idic(X) (q::q) with different breakpoints is discussed

Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Polymer-Brush Gradients within Elastomeric Supports by Cu0-Mediated Surface-Initiated ATRP

Cu0-mediated surface-initiated ATRP (Cu0 SI-ATRP) emerges as a versatile, oxygen-tolerant process to functionalize three-dimensional (3D), microporous supports forming single and multiple polymer-brush gradients with a fully tunable composition. When polymerization mixtures are dispensed on a Cu0-coated plate, this acts as oxygen scavenger and source of active catalyst. In the presence of an ATRP initiator-bearing microporous elastomer placed in contact with the metallic plate, the reaction solution infiltrates by capillarity through the support, simultaneously triggering the controlled growth of polymer brushes. The polymer grafting process proceeds with kinetics that are determined by the progressive infiltration of the reaction solution within the microporous support and by the continuous diffusion of catalyst regenerated at the Cu0 surface. The combination of these effects enables the accessible generation of 3D polymer-brush gradients extending across the microporous scaffolds used as supports, finally providing materials with a continuous variation of interfacial composition and properties