Depression and Microbiome—Study on the Relation and Contiguity between Dogs and Humans

Behavioral studies demonstrate that not only humans, but all other animals including dogs, can suffer from depression. A quantitative molecular evaluation of fatty acids in human and animal platelets has already evidenced similarities between people suffering from depression and German Shepherds, suggesting that domestication has led dogs to be similar to humans. In order to verify whether humans and dogs suffering from similar pathologies also share similar microorganisms at the intestinal level, in this study the gut-microbiota composition of 12 German Shepherds was compared to that of 15 dogs belonging to mixed breeds which do not suffer from depression. Moreover, the relation between the microbiota of the German Shepherd\u2019s group and that of patients with depression has been investigated. The results indicate that the German Shepherd\u2019s gut-microbiota has a different composition compared to other dog breeds and is characterized by microbial groups identified in humans with depression, highlighting the existence of a \u201ccore\u201d microbiota associated with depression

O PROCESSO DE ENSINO E APRENDIZAGEM DA MATEMÁTICA ESCOLAR NA EDUCAÇÃO ESPECIAL: ABORDAGENS E PERSPECTIVAS

O presente artigo tem por finalidade apresentar um relato de experiência sobre a realização do projeto de extensão direcionado a alunos com necessidades específicas da rede pública do município de Sombrio (SC). Foram envolvidos alunos das séries finais do Ensino Fundamental de duas escolas, uma estadual e outra municipal, com metodologias alternativas de ensino, utilizando materiais manipulativos e softwares, procurando atender as dificuldades de aprendizagem da Matemática escolar. O projeto em questão teve como objetivo apresentar possibilidades metodológicas para o ensino da Matemática escolar a alunos com necessidades específicas, bem como propiciar às acadêmicas do Curso Superior de Licenciatura em Matemática uma formação baseada na constante busca por novas metodologias de ensino, no sentido de desafiá-las a rever constantemente suas práticas pedagógicas, dentro de uma postura reflexiva diante das mais diversas realidades em que possam se deparar.  Na realização desta experiência, apontamos como pontos positivos a experiência para as acadêmicas bolsistas, a participação dos alunos, seu interesse e a disponibilidade das escolas envolvidas. Destacamos, ainda, que os alunos envolvidos apresentavam dificuldades de aprendizagem na Matemática escolar, mas com a utilização de materiais manipulativos estes superavam suas dificuldades e conseguiam participar na sala de aula apresentando atenção e concentração nas atividades

Non-invasive treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy in menopause with CO2 laser

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) may affect up to 90% of menopausal women, including vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), burning, pain, bleeding, irritation, dyspareunia, anorgasmia, and urinary symptoms. Vaginal symptoms from lack of estrogens can have a significant impact on the sexual health and quality of life (QoL) in as many as 50% of postmenopausal women. Several therapeutic alternatives, both hormonal and non- hormonal, have been proposed. Microablative CO2 laser is one of the three non-surgical energy-based therapies, with Erbium:YAG laser and temperature-controlled radiofrequency (RF). Microablative CO2 laser induces morphological changes in vaginal tissues and results of several clinical trials suggest that this type of laser improves symptoms of GSM. Moreover, this treatment seems to be safe. Given the increasingly widespread use of laser CO2 as a non-hormonal alternative treatment for GSM, the authors reviewed the current published literature evaluating this therapy, to compare efficacy and safety of different protocols

Molecular Typing of Mycobacterium bovis Strains Isolated in Italy from 2000 to 2006 and Evaluation of Variable-Number Tandem Repeats for Geographically Optimized Genotyping▿

Spoligotyping and exact tandem repeat (ETR) analysis of Mycobacterium bovis and M. caprae isolated strains has been routinely carried out in Italy since 2000 to obtain a database of genetic profiles and support traditional epidemiological investigations. In this study, we characterized 1,503 M. bovis and 57 M. caprae isolates obtained from 2000 to 2006 in 747 cattle herds mainly located in northern Italy. We identified 81 spoligotypes and 113 ETR profiles, while the combination of spoligotyping/ETR analysis differentiated 228 genotypes, with genotypic diversity indices of 0.70 (spoligotyping), 0.94 (ETR-A to -E typing), and 0.97 (spoligotyping/ETR-A to -E typing), respectively. Despite the high degree of resolution obtained, the spoligotyping/ETR methods were not discriminative enough in the case of genotypes characterized by the combination of SB0120, the predominant spoligotype in Italy, with the most common ETR profiles. To obtain a more informative subset of typing loci, 24 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable-number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) markers were evaluated by analyzing a panel of 100 epidemiologically unrelated SB0120 isolates. The panel was differentiated into 89 profiles with an overall genotypic diversity of 0.987 that could be also achieved by using a minimal group of 13 loci: ETR-A, -B, and -E; MIRU 26 and 40; and VNTR 2163a, 2163b, 3155, 1612, 4052, 1895, 3232, and 3336. The allelic diversity index and the stability of single loci was evaluated to provide the most discriminative genotyping method for locally prevalent strains

[Evaluating health care of the immigrant population in Italy through indicators of a national monitoring system]

Objectivesto evaluate maternal and child healthcare, avoidable hospitalisation, access to emergency services among immigrants in Italy.Designcross sectional study of some health and health care indicators among Italian and foreign population residing in Italy in 2016-2017.Setting and participantsindicators based on the national monitoring system coordinated by the Italian National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP) of Rome, calculated on perinatal care (CedAP), hospital discharge (SDO), emergency services (EMUR) archives for the years 2016-2017, by of the following regions: Piedmont, Trento, Bolzano, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Basilicata, Sicily.Main outcome measuresnumber and timeliness of pregnancy visits, number of ultrasounds, invasive prenatal investigations; perinatal mortality rates, birth weight, Apgar score at 5 minutes, need for neonatal resuscitation; standardized rates of avoidable hospitalisation and access to emergency services by triage code.Resultsmore often than Italians, immigrant women have during pregnancy: less than 5 gynaecological examination (16.3% vs 8.5%), first examination after the 12th week of gestational age (12.5% vs 3.8%), less than 2 ultrasounds (3.8% vs 1.0%). Higher perinatal mortality rates among immigrants compared to Italians (3.6 vs 2.3 x1,000). Higher standardized rates (x1,000) among immigrants compared to Italians of avoidable hospitalisation (men: 2.1 vs 1.4; women: 0.9 vs 0.7) and of white triage codes in emergency (men: 62.0 vs 32.7; women: 52.9 vs 31.4).Conclusionsstudy findings show differences in access and outcomes of healthcare between Italians and immigrants. National monitoring system of indicators, coordinated by INMP, represents a useful tool for healthcare intervention policies aimed to health equity