Hospital Discharge: Results From an Italian Multicenter Prospective Study Using Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score

PURPOSE:To analyze the predictive validity and reliability of the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) Index in a large group of patients. METHODS: Prospective multicenter observational study was conducted in six Italian hospitals. Data were collected in three phases. FINDINGS: Seven hundred eleven patients were recruited. The mean length of hospitalization for low-risk patients was significantly shorter than those in the medium and high-risk groups. Patients with a BRASS Index lower than 10, unlike those with a higher BRASS Index, were mainly discharged home. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the BRASS Index is useful to identify patients at risk for prolonged hospitalization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of a validated BRASS instrument can be useful to screen the patients, improving individual discharge planning

Chromosome fragility in dairy cows exposed to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs

In this study, we compared cross-bred dairy cows in the Susa Valley (Piedmont, northern Italy), reared either near a high-temperature steel production plant (Farms A and B) or in an industry-free area (control). Exposed cows (n 5 36) were selected based on mean bulk milk toxic equivalent values of polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dioxin-like (DL) polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorodi-benzofurans (PCDFs) equal to 18.56 pg/g fat and 8.56 pg/g of fat in dairy cows from Farms A and B, respectively, exceeding both those permitted by the legislation in force (6 pg/g fat PCDDs and DL-PCDFs/PCBs), and those measured in dairy cows (n 5 19) of the farm used as control (1.75 pg/g of fat PCDDs and DL-PCDFs/PCBs). Two types of peripheral blood cell cultures were per-formed: without (normal cultures for the chromosom

Development of two multiplex PCRs for microsatellite analysis in Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra)

The study of the genetic diversity gives important information about structure, subdivision in subunits and evolution of populations. Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra, Linneus 1758) are mountain ungulates belonging to the subfamily Caprinae. They are presently distributed over most of the medium to high altitude mountains in the Southern Europe. Ten distinct geographical populations have been recognised as subspecies (Masini and Lovari, 1988); one of this subspecies, R. r. rupicapra, includes also the chamois living on the Italian Alps

Baryogenesis from a right-handed neutrino condensate

We show that the baryon asymmetry of the Universe can be generated by a strongly coupled right handed neutrino condensate which also drives inflation. The resulting model has only a small number of parameters, which completely determine not only the baryon asymmetry of the Universe and the mass of the right handed neutrino but also the inflationary phase. This feature allows us to make predictions that will be tested by current and planned experiments. As compared to the usual approach our dynamical framework is both economical and predictive.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. Typos corrected and several points clarified. Results unchanged. New references adde

Chromosome analyses in dairy cows exposed to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs using the SCE test

Peripheral blood cultures were performed to study the sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in samples from 15 cows (Valdostana x Piedmontese crossbreds) showing average milk values of dioxins+furans+PCBs higher (18.56 pg/g of fat as WHO-TEQ) than those permitted (6.0 pg/g of dioxins+furans+PCBs as WHO-TEQ) and the results were compared with samples from 16 Valdostana dairy cows (1.75 pg/g of fat as WHO-TEQ) used as control. Significant (P<0.01) higher mean number of SCE/cell (7.10±2.8) were found in cows showing higher levels of dioxins and PCB compared to those achieved in the controls (SCE/cell=5.24±2.51)

The Effectiveness of NIV and CPAP Training on the Job in COVID-19 Acute Care Wards: A Nurses’ Self-Assessment of Skills

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in COVID-19 patients outside of intensive care unit (ICU) settings was a feasible support during the pandemic outbreak. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an “on the job” NIV training program provided to 66 nurses working in 3 COVID-19 wards in an Italian university hospital. Methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal before–after study was designed. The NIV Team education program, provided by expert ICU nurses, included: 3 h sessions of training on the job during work-shifts about the management of helmet-continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) Venturi systems, and NIV with oronasal and full-face masks. An eleven-item “brief skills self-report tool” was administered before and after the program to explore the perception of NIV education program attendees about their level of skills. Results: In total, 59 nurses responded to the questionnaire. There was an improvement in the skill levels of the management of Helmet-CPAP (median before training 2, inter-quartile range (IQR) 0–6; median after training 8, IQR 3–9; p &lt; 0.0001), and mask-NIV (median before training 2, IQR 0–6; median after training 8, IQR 3–9; p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusions: Training on the job performed by expert ICU nurses can be a valuable and fast means to implement new Helmet-CPAP and mask-NIV skills outside of ICUs