Group b streptococcus late-onset disease: 2003-2010

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient population-based data on group B streptococcus (GBS) late-onset disease (LOD). Risk factors and routes of GBS transmission are poorly understood. METHODS: A prospective, cohort study was conducted to collect incidence data on LOD and evaluate GBS infections over an 8-year period (2003-2010). Starting from January 2007, maternal rectovaginal and breast milk cultures were routinely collected on confirmation of the LOD diagnosis to assess maternal GBS culture status. RESULTS: The incidence rate of LOD was 0.32 per 1000 live births (1.4 and 0.24 per 1000 live births for preterm and term newborns, respectively). The registered cases of LOD (n = 100) were classified as sepsis (n = 57), meningitis (n = 36), or focal infection (n = 7). Thirty neonates were preterm (2 had recurrent infection); 68 were term. Four infants died (3 early preterm, 1 term). At the time the LOD diagnosis was confirmed, 3 (6%) of 53 mothers had GBS mastitis, and 30 (64%) of 47 carried GBS at the rectovaginal site. Early (7-30 days) LOD presentation was associated with neonatal brain lesions or death (odds ratio: 0.96 [95% confidence interval: 0.93-0.99]). Intrapartum antibiotic exposure was significantly associated with mild (12 of 22) rather than severe (11 of 45; P = .03) LOD. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm neonates had the highest rates of LOD and mortality. Most mothers carried GBS at the time of the LOD diagnosis, whereas 6% had mastitis. Intrapartum antibiotics were associated both with delayed presentation of symptoms and milder LOD. Pediatrics 2013;131:e361-e368Early neonatal mortality has remained high and unchanged for many years in Tanzania, a resource-limited country. Helping Babies Breathe (HBB), a novel educational program using basic interventions to enhance delivery room stabilization/resuscitation, has been developed to reduce the number of these deaths. METHODS: Master trainers from the 3 major referral hospitals, 4 associated regional hospitals, and 1 district hospital were trained in the HBB program to serve as trainers for national dissemination. A before (n = 8124) and after (n = 78 500) design was used for implementation. The primary outcomes were a reduction in early neonatal deaths within 24 hours and rates of fresh stillbirths (FSB). RESULTS: Implementation was associated with a significant reduction in neonatal deaths (relative risk [RR] with training 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-0.65; P ≤.0001) and rates of FSB (RR with training 0.76; 95% CI 0.64-0.90; P = .001). The use of stimulation increased from 47% to 88% (RR 1.87; 95% CI 1.82-1.90; P ≤.0001) and suctioning from 15% to 22% (RR 1.40; 95% CI 1.33-1.46; P ≤.0001) whereas face mask ventilation decreased from 8.2% to 5.2% (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.60- 0.72; P ≤ .0001). Copyright © 2013 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

Direct analysis of thymic function in children with Down's syndrome

BACKGROUND: Down's syndrome (DS) is characterized by several immunological defects, especially regarding T cell compartment. DS is considered the best example of accelerated ageing in humans. Direct observations of the thymus have shown that in DS this organ undergoes severe histological and morphological changes. However, no data on its capacity to generate T cells are present in the literature. Here, using a new technology based upon real time PCR, we have investigated the capacity of the thymus to produce and release newly generated T lymphocytes (the so called "recent thymic emigrants", RTE) in children with DS. METHODS: We studied 8 children affected by DS, aged 2–7 years, compared with 8 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to determine different lymphocytes subsets. Real time PCR with the Taqman system was used to quantify the amount of RTE, i.e. peripheral blood lymphocytes that express the T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC). RESULTS: In comparison with control children, those with DS had a significant lower number of TREC+ peripheral blood cells. Moreover, in DS children but not in controls, a strong negative correlation between age and the levels of TREC+ cells was found. CONCLUSIONS: The direct measure of thymic output indicates that the impairment of the organ results in a reduced production of newly generated T cells. This observation could suggest that cytokines able to modulate thymic function, such as interleukins, could be useful to improve the functionality of the organ and to treat the immunodeficiency present in DS subjects

Roadmap on printable electronic materials for next-generation sensors

The dissemination of sensors is key to realizing a sustainable, ‘intelligent’ world, where everyday objects and environments are equipped with sensing capabilities to advance the sustainability and quality of our lives—e.g., via smart homes, smart cities, smart healthcare, smart logistics, Industry 4.0, and precision agriculture. The realization of the full potential of these applications critically depends on the availability of easy-to-make, low-cost sensor technologies. Sensors based on printable electronic materials offer the ideal platform: they can be fabricated through simple methods (e.g., printing and coating) and are compatible with high-throughput roll-to-roll processing. Moreover, printable electronic materials often allow the fabrication of sensors on flexible/stretchable/biodegradable substrates, thereby enabling the deployment of sensors in unconventional settings. Fulfilling the promise of printable electronic materials for sensing will require materials and device innovations to enhance their ability to transduce external stimuli—light, ionizing radiation, pressure, strain, force, temperature, gas, vapours, humidity, and other chemical and biological analytes. This Roadmap brings together the viewpoints of experts in various printable sensing materials—and devices thereof—to provide insights into the status and outlook of the field. Alongside recent materials and device innovations, the roadmap discusses the key outstanding challenges pertaining to each printable sensing technology. Finally, the Roadmap points to promising directions to overcome these challenges and thus enable ubiquitous sensing for a sustainable, ‘intelligent’ world

HSV-1 induces dysregulation of monocyte anticandida functions

Clinical cases of double infections by fungi and viruses are increasing, especially in immunocompromised hosts. To date, the biomolecular events characterizing the outcome of polymicrobic diseases remain poorly investigated: little is known on the mutual interactions occurring between pathogens and on their concomitant, either synergistic or antagonistic, effects. In order to investigate the interplay occurring between pathogens in the course of double infections, we set up an in vitro model in which the monocytic cell line THP-1, was infected with HSV-1 and then exposed to Candida albicans. The effects of HSV-1 infection on macrophages were measured as capability to alter macrophage-mediated effector functions, namely phagocytosis and killing of Candida, and as gene and protein expression by FACS and RNA microarrays. Phagocytosis of Candida by THP-1 cells was significantly increased when macrophages were infected with HSV-1. Conversely, antifungal activity was impaired in HSV-1 infected macrophages at 6 hours after infection with Candida. FACS analysis of protein expression revealed a significant downregulation of TLR2 and TLR4, important molecules involved in fungi recognition and increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Gene expression profile disclosed a huge decrease in gene presence in HSV-1 infected macrophage (40% of gene presence in uninfected cells vs 20% in infected cells). The analysis of gene clusters showed a downregulation of genes involved in opsonized phagocytosis and intracellular killing, of many adhesion molecules and of TLR2; on the contrary, several lectin receptor genes (involved in Candida adhesion and phagocytosis) and apoptosis genes were significantly up-regulated

Diatom biodiversity in karst springs of Mediterranean geographic areas with contrasting characteristics: islands vs mainland

Karst ecosystems are considered as priority environments for the protection of biodiversity on a global scale. This study provides a first comparative analysis of epilithic diatom flora from karst springs in two Mediterranean geographic areas (Spain and Italy) with contrasting characteristics (islands vs mainland). We investigated twenty-three springs with different anthropogenic impact levels once in the winter season between 2007 and 2017 (N = 23). A total of 176 diatom taxa (56 genera) were found of which 101 (44 genera) were observed in single sites. A general good biotic integrity was revealed by structural indices (species richness, diversity and evenness). However, crenophilous species were generally present and abundant in less impacted springs. Comparing islands and mainland, significant differences were found in species composition and diversity (H\u2019) based on multivariate analyses (global R = 0.610; p = 0.001) and t-test (t = 2.304; p = 0.031). Discharge and Cl 12 were the most significant variables in determining diatom assemblages. Our results confirm the role of springs as multiple ecotones and refuges for rare species and suggest that the geographic insularity may be an important factor in maintaining diatom biodiversity

Early diagnosis of branchio-oculo-facial syndrome in a patient with inner ear malformation and mild ocular involvement

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LE COLLEZIONI MUSEALI COME FONDAMENTALE RISORSA PER LA RICERCA SCIENTIFICA MARINA: ECOLOGIA E DIVERSITÀ SPECIFICA STORICA DI GRANDI VERTEBRATI DEL MAR MEDITERRANEO

Il patrimonio culturale marino italiano ha per tradizione e storia un’imponente ricchezza di collezioni museali naturalistiche, con migliaia di reperti ossei e tassidermizzati di vertebrati marini, costruite in oltre due secoli di attività. I reperti museali rappresentano la conoscenza primaria ed unica della biodiversità organismica ed ecosistemica storica del Mediterraneo e costituiscono un ampio archivio di tessuti e dati scientifici potenzialmente sfruttabile grazie alle nuove tecnologie biomolecolari per comprendere pattern, processi e possibili cause della perdita di biodiversità, degrado degli ecosistemi e declino delle popolazioni. Con l’obiettivo di ricostruire le traiettorie evolutive ed ecologiche di specie e popolazioni di grandi predatori marini del Mediterraneo (cetacei ed elasmobranchi) abbiamo costituito un network di 27 collezioni osteologiche museali (universitarie e civiche) e private italiane, da cui abbiamo ottenuto oltre 500 campioni (fotografie geometriche e tessuti biologici di crani, rostri, mascelle, vertebre e denti) di individui storici di Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Carcharodon carcharias e quattro specie di pesce sega dei generi Pristis e Anoxypristis. I reperti sono stati analizzati attraverso un approccio analitico multidisciplinare combinando morfometria tradizionale e geometrica con analisi su DNA antico e isotopi stabili di C, N e Zn. I principali risultati sono 1) una rappresentazione completa della diversità pre-estinzione dei pesci sega del Mediterraneo, che risulta apparentemente maggiore di quella attesa da avvistamenti e documenti aneddotici; 2) l’identificazione tassonomica dei reperti di delfinidi, la loro distribuzione spazio-temporale e l’identificazione di potenziali ibridi interspecifici e 3) la ricostruzione dell’ecologia storica e dei cambiamenti ontogenetici di habitat pre- e post-natale degli squali bianchi del Mediterraneo. Nonostante ulteriori analisi genomiche e isotopiche saranno necessarie per risolvere i cambiamenti delle popolazioni di questi predatori apicali nel Mediterraneo, i campioni museali e l’approccio utilizzato si sono dimostrati risolutivi per ricostruire la paleodiversità e ottenere dati utili per la loro conservazione. Inoltre, i risultati raggiunti rendono ulteriormente tangibile l’inestimabile valore delle collezioni scientifiche e dell’attualità della mission dei musei naturalistici e di coloro che le hanno arricchite e curate per decenni e secoli

Historical ecology and species diversity of Mediterranean marine apex predators

The Mediterranean Sea has played a crucial role for the development and socio-economic progress of the civilizations that have inhabited it for millennia and exploited its marine resources, determining a strong competition for habitat and food between humans and apex predators such as large epipelagic fish (e.g. sharks) and marine mammals (seals, whales, dolphins). To date, the undeniable decline of most of them has led conservationists to consider the knowledge of natural/anthropogenic drivers of this decrease as a key-target for protection. We multidisciplinary analyzed the historical biodiversity of three dolphin species and five species of elasmobranchs, the great white shark and four locally extinct sawfish species, using more than 500 historical osteological specimens (i.e. skulls, rostra, jaws, vertebra and teeth from 19th-21st centuries) provided by a network of more than 30 museums and private collections in the Mediterranean region. We combined traditional and geometric morphometry species identification with ancient DNA and multi-element stable isotope analyses to assess biocomplexity spatio-temporal shifts, identify the drivers of such changes and whenever possible assess historical baselines of biodiversity. Main goals we achieved are 1) a full representation of the pre-extinction species diversity of the Mediterranean sawfish apparently greater than that expected from sightings and anecdotal/documental records; 2) relative species frequency shifts of dolphins in the Italian seas with the identification of putative historical interspecific hybrids and 3) ecological shifts for habitat preferences and for feeding and reproductive behavior in the historical and contemporary Mediterranean white sharks. Knowledge of the pristine baseline of large predator populations is useful for the comparison with the current levels of biocomplexity and related human impacts, assuming crucial relevance both in scientific knowledge of nature and in conservation management