Parenting infants at the times of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study on parental stress in the province of Modena (Northern Italy)

Background and aim of the work: The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent measures to prevent virus’s spread particularly affected families with young children, that represent a complex system characterized by a constant interaction between the infant’s and the parent’s well-being. The present study aims to investigate the parenting stress experienced by parents with 6-month-old healthy infants surveyed from September 2019 to April 2021 in the Modena province (Northern Italy). Research design and methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) questionnaire to assess stress levels in the parent-child system. Since the questionnaire is meant to be self-completed by the participant, the survey could continue to be conducted remotely during the pandemic lockdown months. Results: Most parents exhibited physiological stress scores, but parents who have been interviewed during the pandemic period had a higher prevalence of stress problems. Subjects in the COVID group also showed a drop in the defensive response and a lower prevalence of stress problems when parenting siblings. Conclusions: These findings underline the importance of early detection of isolation’s negative effects on households and strengthen the need for tailored familial support during stressful events, in order to pro-mote parent and children’s emotional well-being

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their effects during female puberty: A review of current evidence

Puberty is the process of physical changes between childhood and adulthood during which adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction. It is considered one of the main temporal windows of susceptibility for the influence of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs may act as single chemical agents or as chemical mixtures; they can be pubertal influencers, accelerating and anticipating the processing of maturation of secondary sexual characteristics. Moreover, recent studies have started to point out how exposure to EDCs during puberty may predispose to breast cancer later in life. In fact, the estrogen-mimicking endocrine disruptors (EEDs) may influence breast tissue development during puberty in two main ways: the first is the action on the proliferation of the breast stromal cells, the second concerns epigenetic mechanisms. The aim of this mini-review was to better highlight what is new and what is not completely known regarding the role of EDCs during puberty

Response of microchannel plates to single particles and to electromagnetic showers

We report on the response of microchannel plates (MCPs) to single relativistic particles and to electromagnetic showers. Particle detection by means of secondary emission of electrons at the MCP surface has long been proposed and is used extensively in ion time-of-flight mass spectrometers. What has not been investigated in depth is their use to detect the ionizing component of showers. The time resolution of MCPs exceeds anything that has been previously used in calorimeters and, if exploited effectively, could aid in the event reconstruction at high luminosity colliders. Several prototypes of photodetectors with the amplification stage based on MCPs were exposed to cosmic rays and to 491 MeV electrons at the INFN-LNF Beam-Test Facility. The time resolution and the efficiency of the MCPs are measured as a function of the particle multiplicity, and the results used to model the response to high-energy showers.Comment: Paper submitted to NIM

Refining sorafenib therapy: lessons from clinical practice

Understanding the best use of sorafenib is essential in order to maximize clinical benefit in hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on Phase III and noninterventional study data, as well as our extensive experience, we discuss dose modification in order to manage adverse events, disease response evaluation and how to maximize treatment benefit. Sorafenib should be initiated at the approved dose (400 mg twice daily) and reduced/interrupted as appropriate in order to manage adverse events. Dose modification should be considered before discontinuation. Appropriate tumor response assessment is critical. Focusing on radiologic response may result in premature sorafenib discontinuation; symptomatic progression should also be considered. If second-line therapies or trials are unavailable, continuing sorafenib beyond radiologic progression may provide a clinical benefit. Our recommendations enable the maximization of treatment duration, and hence clinical benefit, for patients

Protease-activated receptor 2 sensitizes the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 to induce hyperalgesia

Inflammatory proteases (mast cell tryptase and trypsins) cleave protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) on spinal afferent neurons and cause persistent inflammation and hyperalgesia by unknown mechanisms. We determined whether transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1), a cation channel activated by capsaicin, protons, and noxious heat, mediates PAR2-induced hyperalgesia. PAR2 was coexpressed with TRPV1 in small- to medium-diameter neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), as determined by immunofluorescence. PAR2 agonists increased intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) in these neurons in culture, and PAR2-responsive neurons also responded to the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin, confirming coexpression of PAR2 and TRPV1. PAR2 agonists potentiated capsaicin-induced increases in [Ca2+]i in TRPV1-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and DRG neurons and potentiated capsaicin-induced currents in DRG neurons. Inhibitors of phospholipase C and protein kinase C (PKC) suppressed PAR2-induced sensitization of TRPV1-mediated changes in [Ca2+]i and TRPV1 currents. Activation of PAR2 or PKC induced phosphorylation of TRPV1 in HEK cells, suggesting a direct regulation of the channel. Intraplantar injection of a PAR2 agonist caused persistent thermal hyperalgesia that was prevented by antagonism or deletion of TRPV1. Coinjection of nonhyperalgesic doses of PAR2 agonist and capsaicin induced hyperalgesia that was inhibited by deletion of TRPV1 or antagonism of PKC. PAR2 activation also potentiated capsaicin-induced release of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from superfused segments of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they mediate hyperalgesia. We have identified a novel mechanism by which proteases that activate PAR2 sensitize TRPV1 through PKC. Antagonism of PAR2, TRPV1, or PKC may abrogate protease-induced thermal hyperalgesia

Inventory of geosites as an instrument for the management and preservation of the geological memory: example of vulnerable geosites of the Taubaté Basin (São Paulo state, Brazil)

Localizada no segmento central do Rifte Continental do Sudeste do Brasil, na porção leste do Estado de São Paulo, a Bacia de Taubaté ocupa uma área de aproximadamente 2400 km2. A região representa um local-chave no entendimento da história geológica associada ao pós-Gondwana, apresentando elevada geodiversidade que tem sido afetada tanto por atividades antrópicas quanto pela ação de processos naturais. Por este motivo, como forma de promover a geoconservação de afloramentos representativos no contexto de evolução do rifte, foi realizado o inventário do patrimônio geológico na região. Os resultados deste inventário devem ser considerados nas políticas públicas de gestão territorial, possibilitando o prosseguimento de estudos futuros nestes locais, de forma a conservar a memória geocientífica deste importante segmento do sudeste do Brasil.The Taubaté Basin occupies an area of approximately 2400 km2 in the eastern portion of the state of São Paulo, in the central part of the so-called "Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil". The region represents a key location in the understanding of the geological history related to post-Gondwana and has high geodiversity that has been affected both by anthropic activities and the result of natural processes. For this reason, as a way to promote the geoconservation of the outcrops that are representative of the rift evolution, an inventory of the region's geological heritage was carried out. Three geological frameworks were defined to encompass the context of rift evolution: (i) basin opening; (ii) Neogenic deposition and deformation; and (iii) Quaternary deformation and landform evolution. The 38 potential geosites were initially selected through bibliographical survey, consultation with researchers and fieldwork. Subsequent field work revealed that many of the points described in the literature had either been destroyed or were extremely degraded. This way, the final list of the inventory was reduced to as few as 18 geosites. The qualitative evaluation of the inventory shows that anthropic actions, such as infrastructure work and mining activities, are the main cause of loss of local geodiversity. For this reason, the results of this inventory should be considered in public policies of territorial management, so as to allow the continuation of future studies in these places, in order to preserve the geoscientific memory of this important segment of southeastern Brazil.Os autores agradecem: à PróReitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade de São Paulo, por meio do Programa de Incentivo à Pesquisa, que permitiu a criação do Núcleo de Apoio à Pesquisa em Patrimônio Geológico e Geoturismo (GeoHereditas); à Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), pela concessão da bolsa de doutorado (Processo 88881.135227/2016-01

Autoimmune congenital heart block and primary Sjogren's syndrome:characterisation and outcomes of 49 cases

Objective. To characterise autoimmune congenital heart block (CHB) associated with a maternal diagnosis of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) confirmed either before, concomitant or after the first pregnancy complicated with CHB. Methods. The following inclusion criteria were applied: (i) Mothers with positive Ro/La autoantibodies detected previously or at the time of diagnosis of the first case of CHB; (ii) diagnosis of CHB confirmed by fetal echocardiography; (iii) AV block diagnosed in uterus, at birth or within the neonatal period (0-27 days after birth) (8); (iv) absence of anatomical cardiac abnormalities which might be causal of AV block; and (v) maternal fulfillment of the 2002 SS criteria before, during or after having a pregnancy complicated with CHB. Results. We identified 49 cases of autoimmune CHB in children born from 44 mothers who had a mean age at the time of pregnancy of 30.3 years (range 18 to 41). At the time of diagnosis of autoimmune CHB, all mothers had positive anti-Ro antibodies and 28/ 44 (64%) were positive for anti-La antibodies. Only 10 (22%) mothers with affected pregnancies had a diagnosis of primary SS at the time of diagnosis of the first pregnancy complicated by CHB (a mean of 4 years before, ranging from 1 to 10 years). In 6 (14%) mothers, primary SS was diagnosed during pregnancy or less than 12 months after the delivery/termination. In the remaining 28 ( 64%) mothers, pSS was confirmed 1-5 years after CHB diagnosis (n=19, 68%), 6-10 years after (n= 2, 7%), or more than 10 years after the first case of CHB was diagnosed (n=7, 25%). CHB was diagnosed in uterus in all cases but two. AV block was initially incomplete in 11 fetuses and complete in 36 (no available data in 2 cases). Among the 35 (71%) surviving children with CHB, 5 (14%) developed other features of neonatal lupus. After the index pregnancy, 12 women had 20 subsequent pregnancies: five were complicated by a CHB ( recurrence rate of CHB of 25%). The 4 women who had recurrent CHB were double-positive for anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies, and all had a confirmed pSS before having the first index case of CHB. Conclusion. In pSS, autoimmune CHB could be one of the first "indirect" signs of the disease in women of childbearing-age, in whom the diagnosis is confirmed several years later. Some maternal characteristics could be related with recurrent CHB, such as having an already-confirmed diagnosis of pSS and carrying the two Ro/La autoantibodies