Cortisol fetal fluids concentrations and newborn outcome in term pregnancy small-sized purebred dogs.

In order to provide further information about canine perinatology, and because of the scarceknowledge about fetal fluids composition in dogs, the present study was aimed to assess the cortisolconcentrations in fetal fluids collected from small-sized purebred newborn puppies born by electivecesarean section, at term of pregnancy (Meloni et al, 2014). Furthermore weassessed possible correlations of amniotic and allantoic cortisol concentrations and newborn outcomeat 24 hours of age and with the newborn gender. Fetal fluids cortisol concentrations were alsoevaluated for correlation with maternal parity, litter-size, neonatal gender, birth weight and Apgar score(Veronesi et al, 2009). The study, performed on 50 born alive, normal weighed puppies, without grossphysical malformation, showed that cortisol concentration was higher in allantoic than in amniotic fluid(p<0.01), even if a strong positive correlation between the two fluids cortisol concentration was found(p<0.0001; R=0.83). Interestingly, higher amniotic (p<0.05) cortisol concentrations were associated topuppies not surviving at 24 hours after birth. Therefore it could be suggested that this parameter maybe useful for the recognition, at birth, of puppies needing special surveillance in the first day of age. Inrelation to the other evaluated parameters, no correlations with amniotic or allantoic cortisolconcentrations were found. In conclusion, the present results showed that in small-sized purebredpuppies, born at term by elective caesarean section, the evaluation of amniotic cortisol concentrationseems useful for the detection of puppies that need special surveillance during the first 24 hours of age,and should be coupled to the newborn evaluation by Apgar score

Erratum to: Underreporting of congenital rubella in Italy, 2010–2014

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Hair dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations in newborn dogs

During the last intrauterine fetal stage of development and the neonatal period the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is a key system. Apart of cortisol, the adrenals produce dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the major steroid produced by the fetus itself, so that it could be considered as a marker of offspring HPA activity. Non invasive, long time-frame retrospective hormonal levels analysis were performed in the hair of humans and animals, but not in newborn puppies, and DHEA never investigated in puppies. This study was aimed to assess DHEA concentrations in the hair of newborn puppies, and to evaluate the influence of newborn age, gender, and breed size on DHEA concentrations. The study enrolled 116 spontaneously dead puppies, grouped on the base of mother bodyweight to small or medium-large breeds, and on the base of age at death. Hair samples were collected by shaving, and stored at room temperature until RIA analysis. The overall hair DHEA concentrations were 46.8±14.8 pg/mg. DHEA levels were 48.6±15.66 pg/mg in females vs 45.1±13.73 pg/mg in males, without significant differences. DHEA levels were 45.5±13.61 pg/mg in small size puppies and 47.8±15.61 pg/mg in medium-large size puppies, with no significant differences. DHEA concentrations in premature puppies (52.5±15.12 pg/mg) were significant higher (p<0.05) than in puppies dead between 1 and 30 days after birth (44.5±17.78 pg/mg), but similar to fresh term born-dead puppies (46.2±16.5 pg/mg).  This study demonstrated that DHEA is quantifiable in the hair of newborn dogs, and that DHEA levels are significantly influenced by the puppies age

Erratum to: Hospitalizations for pertussis in Italy, 1999–2009: analysis of the hospital discharge database

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Performance of Legiolert Test vs. ISO 11731 to Confirm Legionella pneumophila Contamination in Potable Water Samples

Detection and enumeration of Legionella in water samples is of great importance for risk assessment analysis. The plate culture method is the gold standard, but has received several well-known criticisms, which have induced researchers to develop alternative methods. The purpose of this study was to compare Legionella counts obtained by the analysis of potable water samples through the plate culture method and through the IDEXX liquid culture Legiolert method. Legionella plate culture, according to ISO 11731:1998, was performed using 1 L of water. Legiolert was performed using both the 10 mL and 100 mL Legiolert protocols. Overall, 123 potable water samples were analyzed. Thirty-seven (30%) of them, positive for L. pneumophila, serogroups 1 or 2–14 by plate culture, were used for comparison with the Legiolert results. The Legiolert 10 mL test detected 34 positive samples (27.6%) and the Legiolert 100 mL test detected 37 positive samples, 27.6% and 30% respectively, out of the total samples analyzed. No significant di_erence was found between either the Legiolert 10 mL and Legiolert 100 mL vs. the plate culture (p = 0.9 and p = 0.3, respectively) or between the Legiolert 10 mL and Legiolert 100 mL tests (p = 0.83). This study confirms the reliability of the IDEXX Legiolert test for Legionella pneumophila detection and enumeration, as already shown in similar studies. Like the plate culture method, the Legiolert assay is also suitable for obtaining isolates for typing purposes, relevant for epidemiological investigations

Case Report: First Report of Fatal Legionella pneumophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae Coinfection in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

A very rare case of pulmonary Klebsiella pneumoniae-Legionella pneumophila coinfection in a double kidney transplanted man affected by the chronic renal disease is described. Cases of Legionnaires’ disease with an incubation period of 14 days have rarely been documented. Despite the long period of hospitalization, typing of clinical and environmental L. pneumophila strains demonstrated that the patient’s home water distribution system was the source of infection, highlighting that Legionella house contamination can be a hidden risk, especially for immune-compromised people

Association of amniotic uric acid, glucose, lactate and creatinine concentrations and lactate/creatinine ratio with newborn survival in small-sized dogs – preliminary results

In order to define the normal composition of canine amniotic fluid and to detect differences between surviving and non-surviving newborn puppies, the present study determined the uric acid, glucose, lactate and creatinine concentrations and the lactate to creatinine ratio in amniotic fluids collected during elective Caesarean section from small-sized purebred bitches. The possible relationship between newborn survival and the studied parameters, as well as the effects of maternal parity, fetal gender and Apgar score were assessed. The study enrolled 27 small-sized purebred bitches submitted to elective Caesarean section at term. After opening the fetal membranes, amniotic fluid samples were collected aseptically from the amniotic sac of each fetus. The data obtained from 74 amniotic fluid samples collected from 27 bitches showed that amniotic glucose concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in non-surviving than in surviving puppies. Within the normal, surviving puppies, amniotic glucose concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in male than in female newborns, and the lactate/creatinine ratio was significantly higher in multiparous than in primiparous bitches (P < 0.05). These preliminary results demonstrate the relevance of amniotic glucose, but not of uric acid, lactate, creatinine and the lactate to creatinine ratio for detecting puppies at risk of death immediately after birth

Evaluation of outcomes in SPA-treated osteoarthrosic patients

INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthrosis is the most prevalent joints disorder and it is also the most frequent cause of physical disability in the elderly. When surgery is not indicated, symptomatic drugs are generally used. These treatments are frequently associated to balneotherapy. In fact, balneotherapy or spa therapy has been widely used in classical medicine as a cure for such diseases. The aim and significance of this study is to evaluate the impact of thermalism in subjects suffering from osteoarthrosis. METHODS: We randomly selected 220 osteoarthrosic subjects (STs = spa treatment subjects), aged from 40 to 90, that usually undergone mud pack therapy and balneotherapy at least once a year. They were enrolled in thermal establishments in the Euganean Basin. We also recruited, as control group, 172 osteoarthrosic subjects (NCs = normal care subjects) that never underwent any spa therapy. A questionnaire, comprehensive of a disability score, was administered by physicians to each subject. RESULTS: STs reported to suffer from osteoarthrosis for more years than NCs. Furthermore STs significantly suffered more than NCs from pain in several joints, and they also showed a more elevated average number of painful joints. In spite of that, STs used less drugs than NCs, and showed a higher degree of disability due to osteoarthrosis (p inf. 0.001). CONCLUSION: The regular use of mudpack and balneotherapy seem to improve the wellness, and the spa treatment seems to help the achievement of this goal. In this regard it might be important to encourage new investigations in order to assess in which measure thermal therapy contribute to the wellness improvemen

Measles in Italy, July 2009 to September 2010.

Outbreaks of measles continue to occur in Italy, as in other European countries. We present here details of cases reported through the Italian enhanced measles surveillance system from July 2009 to September 2010. In total, 2,151 cases were reported, 42% (n=895) of which were laboratory confirmed. The median age of cases was 18 years and 1,709 of 1,856 cases (92%) were unvaccinated. Many cases with complications were reported (n=305), including three with encephalitis. A total of 652 of 1,822 cases (36%) were hospitalised. Molecular characterisation revealed circulation of a limited number of measles virus genotypes (D4, D8 and B3), which is consistent with the current epidemiology of the disease in Italy. A national measles elimination plan was approved in 2003 with the aim of interrupting endemic measles transmission by 2007. Since elimination was not achieved, the target date was recently moved to 2015. The emphasis of the new elimination plan, approved in March 2011, is on strengthening surveillance, implementing evidence based-interventions to increase measles-mumps-rubella vaccine uptake in children, adolescents and young adults, and implementing communication activities related to the vaccine. The strategies proposed by the plan should be implemented fully and appropriately by all regions in order to meet the elimination goal by 2015