The impact of lockdown on sleep patterns of children and adolescents with ADHD

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The current study examined the impact of home confinement (lockdown) due to the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep patterns of children and adolescents with ADHD.METHODS: Nine hundred ninety-two parents of children and adolescents with ADHD filled out an anonymous online survey through the ADHD family association website. The survey investigated the sleep patterns and disturbances (using a modified version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children) and screen exposure time before and during the lockdown.RESULTS: During the lockdown, 59.3% of children and 69.4% of adolescents with ADHD reported a change of bedtime with significant increase of ADHD patients that went to sleep at 11pm or later. Sleep duration, in contrast, resulted in two opposing processes with more children and adolescent sleeping either less than 6 hours/night or 10-11 hours/night. Among children and adolescents, respectively, 19.9% and 22% slept less than they did before lockdown, while 21.4% and 27.4% slept more hours. Bedtime delay and decreased sleep duration were associated with an increase in the screen time exposure. Moreover, ADHD patients reported an increase in sleep disturbances when compared to previous condition, including mainly difficulties falling asleep, anxiety at bedtime, night awakenings, nightmares and daytime sleepiness.CONCLUSIONS: The lockdown impacted on sleep-wake rhythms by strengthening the maladaptive sleep patterns reported in usual life conditions in ADHD children

Application of the seven-factor-model of personality to an Italian preschool sample

OBJECTIVE: Advances in dimensional assessment of children in healthy and clinical populations has renewed interest in the study of temperament. Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) has shown high reliability and internal consistency. Adult and adolescent versions have been translated into a number of languages and validated in cross-cultural studies worldwide. To date only one preschool-TCI-based study has been conducted in early infancy with teachers as observers. The present study is aimed to test an Italian Preschool version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (PsTCI). This is the first replication and the first validation study of TCI on preschoolers with parents as observers. METHODS: 395 preschool children, recruited from pediatric communities and day-care centres throughout Italy, participated in the study. Parents of each child enrolled in the study and completed a PsTCI about the child. Standard psychometric tests of reliability and validation were performed. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analyses demonstrated the presence of distinct domains for temperament and character. TCI dimensions had good internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha ranging values (|0.60|-|0.81|). Gender differences were found for Harm Avoidance (β=-0.186; p≤0.001) and Self-Directedness (β=-0.216; p≤0.01), and accounted for 5-35arm-38-702- of the observed variance. CONCLUSION: The present work suggests the psychological complexity of Cloninger's model and confirms its application in pre-school children from diverse environmental and cultural backgrounds. The results confirm that Cloninger's instrument for temperament and character evaluations can also be used with different observers and highlight the importance of considering cultural and demographic differences in the assessment of temperament and character in preschoolers

Cell-Free DNA Variant Sequencing Using CTC-Depleted Blood for Comprehensive Liquid Biopsy Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Keup and colleagues provide liquid biopsy preliminary results by sequencing variants in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) "all from one tube" format, in order to use the same blood sample under the same isolation conditions of both analytes to reach an unbiased comparability and consistency. We appreciated the attempt of the authors to improve technical procedures in liquid biopsy research area, but we wanted to raise several issues related to cfDNA detection, reporting our research experience. This is a feasibility study as the authors analyzed only one sample from a small case series at an advanced line of treatment. In the clinical practice to monitor the disease and predict the treatment response, the analysis should be done at multiple time points. We have previously demonstrated that the quantity and the integrity of the cfDNA are not useful to determine the evolution of early breast cancer (bc), maybe due to the fact that cfDNA is not strictly related to cancer but also to an inflammatory status. Given that a high content of cfDNA could reflect inflammatory processes, we decided to investigate the role of stimulator of interferon gene (STING), an important regulator of cancer cell growth and senescence, in bc tissue in relation to cfDNA. STING biomarker analyzed by immunohistochemistry on tumor tissue could reflect a circulating inflammatory status and needs to be further investigated, not only on CTCs but also on cfDNA. One of the major issues of cfDNA is to decide what to analyze on it, in terms of type of cells and genetic alterations. Considering that multiple tests could be done to study gene copy number alterations, mutations, and variant fusions, the proper molecular test should be chosen, on the basis of the clinical need, starting from the treatment choice to disease monitoring

Produção de biogás em escala real em unidade demonstrativa – Unidade Granja Colombari Biogas production full-scale demostration unit – Unit Colombari Farm

A cadeia produtiva de suínos tem se destacado no cenário agroindustrial brasileiro, fato decorrente dos avanços na escala de produção e dos investimentos tecnológicos do setor. A quantidade total de dejetos produzidos pelo suíno em determinada fase de seu desenvolvimento é um dado fundamental para o planejamento das instalações e equipamentos a serem utilizados para o transporte e distribuição do mesmo na lavoura. Este trabalho buscou viabilizar a utilização de biodigestores em escala real evidenciando o potencial deste na redução de carga orgânica e a produção equivalente em biogás, bem como a sua qualidade para obtenção de energia elétrica.AbstractThe pork supply chain has emerged in Brazilian agribusiness scenario, a fact due to advances in productions scale and technological investments in the sector. Thetotal amount of waste produced by the pig at a certain stage of its evelopment is a key to the planning of facilities and equipment to be used for the transportations and distribution in the same Field. This study sought to enable the use of full-scale digesters showing the potential of the reduction of organic load and the equivalent in biogas production and its quality obtains electricity

Processo de biodigestão anaeróbia em uma granja de suínosThe anaerobic digestion process on a pig farm

A biomassa é a abrangência de matéria vegetal e orgânica contida na disposição de resíduos oriundos das atividades agropecuárias, domésticas e municipais. Contudo, a disponibilidade e o aproveitamento da biomassa têm potencial para a solução dos problemas ambientais gerados pelos combustíveis fósseis. Nesse sentido, a suinocultura é considerada uma atividade de grande potencial poluidor que, por meio da tecnologia de biodigestão anaeróbia, permite o gerenciamento dos dejetos. Para avaliar se o tipo de tratamento empregado é eficiente, a caracterização da biomassa residual torna-se um procedimento muito importante. Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar a eficiência do processo de biodigestão anaeróbia no tratamento da biomassa residual em uma granja de suínos. Foram realizadas análises físicoquímicas dos parâmetros de pH, alcalinidade, sólidos totais, DBO e DQO do efluente da granja no período de Outubro de 2010 a Maio de 2011. As variáveis analisadas permitiram verificar que os biodigestores têm operado com faixa média satisfatória de pH variando de 7,36 a 7,66, e obteve uma eficiência de remoção global de 67,38% e 52,61% para DBO e DQO, respectivamente. Assim, os resultados sugerem que foi eficiente a depuração da biomassa pelo processo de biodigestão anaeróbia, sendo condizente com sistemas de tratamentos semelhantes, porém, para garantir maior eficiência deste processo, torna-se importante o monitoramento do manejo da biomassa e manutenção dos biodigestores.Abstract Biomass is the scope of plant and organic matter contained in the disposal of waste arising from agricultural, domestic and municipal activities. However, the availability and use of biomass have the potential to solve the environmental problems caused by fossil fuels. In this sense, the swine is considered an activity of great pollution potential, which through anaerobic digestion technology allows management of waste. And evaluating the type of treatment used is efficient characterization of residual biomass has become a very important procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the process of anaerobic digestion in the treatment of residual biomass in a swine herd. Physico-chemical analysis of the parameters of pH, alkalinity, total solids, DBO and DQO of the effluent from the farm in the period October 2010 to May 2011 were performed. Variables analyzed allowed us to verify that the digesters are operated with satisfactory average range pH ranging from 7.36 to 7.66, and obtained an overall removal efficiency 67.38% and 52.61% for DBO and DQO, respectively. Thus, the results suggest that was efficient purification of the biomass by anaerobic digestion process and is consistent with similar systems treatments, however, to ensure higher efficiency of this procedure, it is important to monitor the management and maintenance of biomass digesters

OPERAÇÃO DE GRUPO GERADOR A BIOGÁS NA GERAÇÃO DE ENERGIA ELÉTRICA

A biomassa residual proveniente da agroindústria pode ser tratada por biodigestores, que apresenta como produto energético, o biogás. Uma das formas de aproveitamento do biogás é na alimentação de motores a combustão interna, para a geração de energia elétrica. A proposição deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de um grupo gerador a biogás, quanto a operação e geração de energia elétrica. Para a análise dos parâmetros elétricos e operacionais, foram utilizados dois analisadores de energia. O resultado obtido do balanço energético, no período de seis meses de análise, foi o excedente 72 MWh, que pelo contrato de compra e venda é comercializada com a concessionária de energia elétrica

Application of NGS technique for characterization of bresaola microbiota during the production process

openLa Bresaola della Valtellina è il risultato del metodo di lavorazione sancito dal Disciplinare di produzione. Il prodotto finito risente dell’influenza degli ambienti di lavorazione che possono esercitare una selezione sul microbiota tipico, che può variare a seconda delle caratteristiche delle materie prime, delle condizioni ambientali ed ecologiche, della lavorazione e della stagionatura. Oggetto del presente lavoro di tesi è lo studio del microbiota superficiale di 48 campioni, provenienti da bresaole di 3 diversi stabilimenti, rappresentativi del metodo di lavorazione. L’identificazione accurata di tale microbiota viene effettuata tramite la tecnologia molecolare di Next Generation Sequencing S5 di Ion Torrent, sequenziando specifiche regioni di DNA contenute all’interno del gene 16S. Il tutto viene svolto a partire dall’estrazione del DNA totale dei campioni; a seguire vengono realizzati manualmente i passaggi di preparazione degli ampliconi, di preparazione e determinazione della concentrazione della libreria; infine sfruttando il sistema automatizzato Ion Chef di Ion Torrent viene realizzata un’amplificazione clonale e il caricamento dei chip da inserire nello strumento successivo. L’ultimo passaggio prevede il sequenziamento delle librerie caricate sui chip, per mezzo dello strumento Ion S5. I dati ottenuti vengono rielaborati con il software Excel e vengono realizzate le visualizzazioni grafiche relative alle abbondanze relative percentuali per ogni campione. Sono stati valutati, inoltre, gli indici di Alpha e Beta-diversity al fine di comprendere quale fosse la diversità all’interno dei singoli campioni e tra i campioni stessi. I risultati ottenuti hanno messo in luce come, anche partendo da materie prime differenti e con un microbiota caratteristico molto variegato, il processo produttivo sia in grado di portare ad una omogenizzazione della diversità microbica.Bresaola della Valtellina is the result of the processing method enshrined in the Production Regulations. The finished product is affected by the influence of the processing environments, which can exert a selection on the typical microbiota, which can vary depending on the characteristics of raw materials, environmental and ecological conditions, processing and aging. The subject of this thesis work is the study of the surface microbiota of 48 samples, from 3 different factories, representative of the processing method. Accurate identification of this microbiota is carried out by Ion Torrent's Next Generation Sequencing S5 molecular technology, sequencing specific DNA regions contained within the 16S gene. This is done starting with the extraction of total DNA from the samples; followed by manual steps of amplicon preparation, preparation and determination of library concentration; and finally by taking advantage of Ion Torrent's automated Ion Chef system, clonal amplification and loading of chips for insertion into the next instrument is performed. The last step involves sequencing, of the libraries loaded onto the chips, by means of the Ion S5 instrument. The data obtained are reprocessed using Excel software, and graphical displays of relative percent abundances for each sample are made. Alpha and Beta-diversity indices were also evaluated in order to understand what the diversity was within and among individual samples. The results obtained highlighted how, even starting from different raw materials and with a highly varied characteristic microbiota, the production process is able to bring about a homogenization of microbial diversity

Changes in Sleep Patterns and Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Background. The COVID-19 lockdown determined important changes in the sleep of a large percentage of the world population. We assessed the modifications of reported sleep patterns and disturbances in Italian children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), compared to control children, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Methods. Parents of 100 ASD, 236 ADHD patients, and 340 healthy children filled out an anonymous online survey and a modified version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), advertised via social media, to evaluate sleep patterns and disturbances of their children before and during the lockdown. Results. Before the lockdown, bedtime and risetime were not different between the three groups. During the lockdown, ADHD children tended to have a later bedtime and risetime than ASD and controls, while ASD children tended to maintain similar bedtime and risetime. Overall, during the lockdown, a reduced sleep duration significantly differentiated clinical groups from controls. Anxiety at bedtime, difficulties in falling asleep, and daytime sleepiness increased in all groups during the lockdown. Hypnic jerks, rhythmic movement disorders, night awakenings, restless sleep, sleepwalking, and daytime sleepiness increased in ASD and ADHD patients, in particular. Conclusions. This is the first study comparing sleep habits and disorders in ASD and ADHD during the lockdown showing specific differences consistent with the core characteristics of two neurodevelopmental disorders