14 research outputs found
The burden of Candida species colonization in NICU patients: a colonization surveillance study
Fungal infections are an important cause
of morbidity and mortality in neonatal
intensive care units (NICUs). The identification
of specific risk factors supports prevention
of candidemia in neonates. Effective
prophylactic strategies have recently
become available, but the identification
and adequate management of high-risk infants
is still a priority. Prior colonization is
a key risk factor for candidemia. For this
reason, surveillance studies to monitor incidence,
species distribution, and antifungal
susceptibility profiles, are mandatory.
Among 520 infants admitted to our NICU
between January 2013 and December
2014, 472 (90.77%) were included in the
study. Forty-eight out of 472 (10.17%) patients
tested positive for Candida spp. (C.),
at least on one occasion. All the colonized
patients tested positive for the rectal swab,
whereas 7 patients also tested positive for
the nasal swab. Fifteen out of 472 patients
(3.18%) had more than one positive rectal
or nasal swab during their NICU stay.
Moreover, 9 out of 15 patients tested negative
at the first sampling, suggesting they
acquired Candida spp. during their stay.
Twenty-five of forty-eight (52.1%) colonized
patients carried C.albicans and 15/48
(31.25%) C.parapsilosis. We identified as
risk factors for Candida spp. colonization:
antibiotic therapy, parenteral nutrition,
the use of a central venous catheter, and
nasogastric tube. Our experience suggests
that effective microbiological surveillance
can allow for implementing proper, effective
and timely control measures in a highrisk
setting
Cnidarians as a Source of New Marine Bioactive CompoundsâAn Overview of the Last Decade and Future Steps for Bioprospecting
Marine invertebrates are rich sources of bioactive compounds and their biotechnological potential attracts scientific and economic interest worldwide. Although sponges are the foremost providers of marine bioactive compounds, cnidarians are also being studied with promising results. This diverse group of marine invertebrates includes over 11,000 species, 7500 of them belonging to the class Anthozoa. We present an overview of some of the most promising marine bioactive compounds from a therapeutic point of view isolated from cnidarians in the first decade of the 21st century. Anthozoan orders Alcyonacea and Gorgonacea exhibit by far the highest number of species yielding promising compounds. Antitumor activity has been the major area of interest in the screening of cnidarian compounds, the most promising ones being terpenoids (monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids). We also discuss the future of bioprospecting for new marine bioactive compounds produced by cnidarians
Human papilloma virus infection and vaccination: Pre-post intervention analysis on knowledge, attitudes and willingness to vaccinate among preadolescents attending secondary schools of palermo, sicily
In recent years, vaccination coverage rates against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Europe have shown a decreasing trend and remain below the required standard. The present study aims to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV infection and vaccination among a representative sample of preadolescents of Palermo, Italy. A survey was carried out throughout two questionnaires, before and after carrying out an educational intervention scheduled during school hours. A total of 1702 students attending first-grade secondary schools of the province of Palermo were enrolled (response rate 68.9%). Students attending third classes (adj OR = 1.18; CI 95% 1.03\u20131.36), being of higher socioeconomic status (adj OR = 1.35; CI 95% 1.05\u20131.73), who had previously received information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at home (adj OR = 1.62; CI 95% 1.27\u20132.07) or at school (adj OR = 2.15; CI 95% 1.70\u20132.71) and who had ever heard in the past about HPV (adj OR = 1.80; CI 95% 1.42\u20132.29) showed a significantly higher baseline level of knowledge regarding HPV. Willingness to receive HPV vaccination, in a 10-point Likert scale, significantly increased between the pre-(8.51; SD \ub1 1.79) and post-(9.01 SD \ub1 1.52) intervention questionnaires (p < 0.001). A total of 188 out of 272 (69.1%) preadolescents attending five out eighteen schools involved in the project, who had not previously received the HPV vaccine, were vaccinated. During past years, education campaigns on HPV were mainly dedicated to adult women, excluding teenagers and omitting young males. It should therefore be of primary importance that school-based education and vaccination programmes be standardized
Implementation of a guideline for physical therapy in the postoperative period of upper abdominal surgery reduces the incidence of atelectasis and length of hospital stay
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a physical therapy guideline for patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery (UAS) in reducing the incidence of atelectasis and length of hospital stay in the postoperative period. Materials and methods: A Ăąbefore and afterĂą study design with historical control was used. The ĂąbeforeĂą period included consecutive patients who underwent UAS before guideline implementation (intervention). The ĂąafterĂą period included consecutive patients after guideline implementation. Patients in the pre-intervention period were submitted to a program of physical therapy in which the treatment planning was based on the individual experience of each professional. On the other hand, patients who were included in the post-intervention period underwent a standardized program of physical therapy with a focus on the use of additional strategies (EPAP, incentive spirometry and early mobilization). Results: There was a significant increase in the use of incentive spirometry and positive expiratory airway pressure after guideline implementation. Moreover, it was observed that early ambulation occurred in all patients in the post-intervention period. No patient who adhered totally to the guideline in the post-intervention period developed atelectasis. Individuals in the post-intervention period presented a shorter length of hospital stay (9.2àñà4.1 days) compared to patients in the pre-intervention period (12.1àñà8.3 days) (pĂ <Ă 0.05). Conclusion: The implementation of a physical therapy guideline for patients undergoing UAS resulted in reduced incidence of atelectasis and reduction in length of hospital stay in the postoperative period. Resumo: Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficĂÂĄcia da implementaçĂÂŁo de uma diretriz de fisioterapia para doentes submetidos a cirurgia abdominal superior (UAS) na reduçĂÂŁo da incidĂÂȘncia de atelectasia e no tempo de internamento no pĂÂłs-operatĂÂłrio. Materiais e MĂ©todos: Foi usado um desenho de estudo de Ăąantes e depois com controlo histĂÂłrico. O perĂÂodo ĂąantesĂą incluiu doentes consecutivos que foram submetidos a UAS antes da implementaçĂÂŁo da diretriz (intervençĂÂŁo). O perĂÂodo ĂądepoisĂą incluiu doentes consecutivos apĂÂłs a implementaçĂÂŁo da diretriz. Os doentes no perĂÂodo prĂ©-intervençĂÂŁo foram submetidos a um programa de fisioterapia onde o planeamento do tratamento foi baseado na experiĂÂȘncia individual de cada profissional. Por outro lado, os doentes que foram incluĂÂdos no perĂÂodo pĂÂłs-intervençĂÂŁo foram submetidos a um programa padronizado de fisioterapia com um foco no uso de estratĂ©gias adicionais (EPAP, espirometria de incentivo e mobilizaçĂÂŁo precoce). Resultados: Ocorreu um aumento significativo do uso de espirometria de incentivo e pressĂÂŁo expiratĂÂłria positiva nas vias aĂ©reas apĂÂłs a implementaçĂÂŁo das diretrizes. AlĂ©m disso, observou-se que ocorreu o levantamento precoce em todos os doentes durante o perĂÂodo pĂÂłs-intervençĂÂŁo. Nenhum doente que aderiu totalmente Ă diretriz no perĂÂodo pĂÂłs-intervençĂÂŁo desenvolveu atelectasia. Os indivĂÂduos no perĂÂodo pĂÂłs-intervençĂÂŁo apresentaram um menor tempo de internamento hospitalar (9.2àñà4.1 dias) em comparaçĂÂŁo com os doentes no perĂÂodo prĂ©-intervençĂÂŁo (12.1àñà8.3 dias) (pĂ <Ă 0.05). ConclusĂÂŁo: A implementaçĂÂŁo de uma diretriz de fisioterapia para doentes submetidos a UAS resultou na reduçĂÂŁo da incidĂÂȘncia de atelectasia e na reduçĂÂŁo do tempo de internamento no pĂÂłs-operatĂÂłrio. Keywords: Physical therapy modalities, Early ambulation, Guideline, Pulmonary atelectasis, Hospitalization, Postoperative care, Palavras-chave: Modalidades de fisioterapia, DeambulaçĂÂŁo precoce, OrientaçĂÂŁo, Atelectasia pulmonar, Internamento, Cuidados pĂÂłs-operatĂÂłrio
Genetic structure in the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Disentangling past vicariance events from contemporary patterns of gene flow
The Mediterranean Sea is a two-basin system, with the boundary zone restricted to the
Strait of Sicily and the narrow Strait of Messina. Two main population groups are
recognized in the Mediterranean endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica, corresponding to
the Western and the Eastern basins. To address the nature of the East\u2013West cleavage in
P. oceanica, the main aims of this study were: (i) to define the genetic structure within the
potential contact zone (i.e. the Strait of Sicily) and clarify the extent of gene flow between
the two population groups, and (ii) to investigate the role of present water circulation
patterns vs. past evolutionary events on the observed genetic pattern. To achieve these
goals, we utilized SSR markers and we simulated, with respect to current regime, the
possible present-day dispersal pattern of Posidonia floating fruits using 28-day
numerical Lagrangian trajectories. The results obtained confirm the presence of the
two main population groups, without any indices of reproductive isolation, with
the break zone located at the level of the Southern tip of Calabria. The populations in the
Strait of Sicily showed higher affinity with Western than with Eastern populations. This
pattern of genetic structure probably reflects historical avenues of recolonization from
relict glacial areas and past vicariance events, but seems to persist as a result of the low
connectivity among populations via marine currents, as suggested by our dispersal
simulation analysis
Cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma induce pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis through STAT1-mediated Bim protein activation.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by local inflammation (insulitis) in the pancreatic islets causing ÎČ-cell loss. The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis is regulated by the balance and interaction between Bcl-2 members. Here we clarify the molecular mechanism of ÎČ-cell death triggered by the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-Îł. The combination of TNF-α + IFN-Îł induced DP5, p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), and Bim expression in human islets and rodent ÎČ-cells. DP5 and PUMA inactivation by RNA interference partially protected against TNF-α + IFN-Îł-induced ÎČ-cell apoptosis. DP5 knock-out mice had increased ÎČ-cell area, and isolated islets from these mice were resistant to cytokine exposure. Bim expression was transcriptionally regulated by STAT1, and its activation triggered cleavage of caspases. Silencing of Bim protected rodent and human ÎČ-cells to a large extent against TNF-α + IFN-Îł, indicating a major role of this BH3-only activator protein in the mechanism of apoptosis. Our data support a highly regulated and context-dependent modulation of specific Bcl-2 members controlling the mitochondrial pathway of ÎČ-cell apoptosis during insulitis.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe