Nuove strategie analitiche per la prevenzione degli incidenti stradali alcol correlati nei conducenti di autobus

Road accidents and accidents at work are among the most important causes of death or disability in Western Countries. In Europe alcohol has been linked to 25% of road deaths, killing about 10.000 people a year. In Italy, according to data collected by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, more than 30% of fatal or serious traffic accidents are caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Although the correlation between acute alcohol intoxication and driving disability is well known since ‘70s, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies on the correlation between chronic alcohol abuse and risk of work accidents under the influence of alcohol. The main objectives of the study were: • to implement novel analytical strategies to be applied in the specific field of workplace safety assessment; • to study the prevalence of chronic alcohol abuse in a population of bus drivers; The experimental work was a part of a 5 years longitudinal study involving the bus drivers of the Verona Public Transportation Company (ATV). In the frame of workplace safety assessment, these subjects underwent once/year medical examination and blood sampling for the determination of CDT and γGT. The determination of γGT was performed by using an immunometric method (Beckman Coulter), while CDT analysis was carried out by a validated HPLC method. In addition a CZE-UV method for CDT determination in finger prick Dried Blood Spot was developed (fpDBS). CDT value was expressed as a percentage ratio of the sum of CDT correlated glycoforms (asialo and disialo-tf) on the total transferrin. The CDT cut-off value to distinguish between “normal subjects” and “alcohol abusers” was fixed at 1,90%. The normal γGT values are within 50 U/L for males and 38 U/L for females. In the year 2014-2016, 1827 subjects were examined: 501 in 2014, 629 in 2015 and 697 in 2016. 1314 (71%) out of them underwent the blood collection by venipuncture, the remaining part underwent the blood collection by fpDBS. Every year, about 2% of the subjects showed CDT values above the cut-off (1.90%) suggesting a condition of chronic alcohol abuse. In addition, about 15% of the subjects showed γGT values above the cut-off (females: 38 U/L; males: 50 U/L). The γGT data looked more difficult to be interpreted in comparison to CDT data since γGT increases also for pathological conditions different from alcohol abuse

THE ISOLATION OF PURE HYPOTAURINE FROM THE URINE OF RATS FED CYSTINE

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Chromatographic Evidence on the Occurrence of Thiotaurine in the Urine of Rats Fed with Cystine

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Experiments with D-cysteine in the rat.

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Copia and Gypsy retrotransposons activity in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Retrotransposons are heterogeneous sequences, widespread in eukaryotic genomes, which refer to the so-called mobile DNA. They resemble retroviruses, both in their structure and for their ability to transpose within the host genome, of which they make up a considerable portion. <it>Copia</it>- and <it>Gypsy</it>-like retrotransposons are the two main classes of retroelements shown to be ubiquitous in plant genomes. Ideally, the retrotransposons life cycle results in the synthesis of a messenger RNA and then self-encoded proteins to process retrotransposon mRNA in double stranded extra-chromosomal cDNA copies which may integrate in new chromosomal locations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The RT-PCR and IRAP protocol were applied to detect the presence of <it>Copia </it>and <it>Gypsy </it>retrotransposon transcripts and of new events of integration in unstressed plants of a sunflower (<it>Helianthus annuus </it>L.) selfed line. Results show that in sunflower retrotransposons transcription occurs in all analyzed organs (embryos, leaves, roots, and flowers). In one out of sixty-four individuals analyzed, retrotransposons transcription resulted in the integration of a new element into the genome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that the retrotransposon life cycle is firmly controlled at a post transcriptional level. A possible silencing mechanism is discussed.</p

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) for the treatment of glomerulopathies

I pazienti con glomerulopatie con sindrome nefrosica hanno poche opzioni di trattamento efficace. Riportiamo la nostra esperienza sull'utilizzo della fotochemioterapia extracorporea ( ECP) in 9 pazienti in cui non era stata osservata una risposta efficace/duratura alla convenzionale terapia farmacologica. L’ECP è una promettente terapia immunomodulante, che è stata utilizzata con successo nel trattamento di altre condizioni immunomediate come il rigetto nel trapianto e il GvHD. METODI: In questo studio abbiamo arruolato 9 pazienti, 5 maschi e 4 femmine, età media 32.7±8.9 anni, affetti da sindrome nefrosica e non responsivi/resistenti alle comuni terapie. Il follow-up medio è stato di 41.3±21.7 mesi. Tutti i pazienti sono stati sottoposti a cicli di fotochemioterapia extracorporea secondo il seguente schema: 1ciclo (2 sedute in 2 giorni consecutivi) ogni 15 giorni per tre mesi, seguito da 1ciclo al mese per tre mesi. Il follow up è stato effetuatio ogni 3 mesi durante il primo anno e poi ogni 12 mesi. Durante il follow up sono stati monitorati pressione arteriosa, funzione renale, marcatori diretti ed indiretti di attività della malattia e indici di flogosi. RISULTATI: attraverso l'analisi dei parametri ematochimici indici di attività di malattia, e monitorando l'eventuale progressione della malattia renale, è stato possibile dimostrare che l' ECP può rappresentare per casi selezionati di pazienti una valida ulteriore opzione terapeutica. Secondo i risultati preliminari tale trattamento risulta inoltre caratterizzato da un eccellente profilo di sicurezza . CONCLUSIONI: I risultati osservati suggeriscono che l’ECP è un trattamento efficace per i pazienti con glomenulonefriti con sindrome nefrosica, soprattutto in coloro che presentano ancora una buona funzionalità renale. Valutazioni cliniche aggiuntive dovranno aiuteranno a definire meglio la popolazione di pazienti in cui ECP sia più efficace e raccomandabile.Patients with glomerulopathies associated with nephrotic syndrome have few effective treatment options. Here we report on the use of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) in 9 patients in whom glomerulopathy failed to respond to pharmacologic therapy. ECP is a promising immunomodulatory therapy associated with few side effects, that has been successfully used in the treatment of other immune-mediated conditions such as solid organ transplant rejection and graft-versus-host disease. METHODS: In this study, we enrolled 9 patients, 5 males and 4 females, mean age 32.7±8.9 years, suffering from nephrotic syndrome. The mean follow-up was 41.3±21.7 months. All patients were subjected to cycles of extracorporeal photochemotherapy according to the following scheme: 1 cycle (2 sessions on 2 consecutive days) every 15 days for three months, followed by 1 cycle per month for three months. The follow-up was performed every 3 months during the first year and then every 12 months. during follow-up were monitored blood pressure, renal function, indirect markers of disease activity and phlogosis indexes. RESULTS: through the analysis of blood chemistry parameters markers of disease activity, and by monitoring eventual progression of chronic kidney disease, it has been possible to show that the ECP may represent for selected cases of patients a viable additional option. This treatment also would be, according to preliminary results, characterized by an excellent safety profile. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ECP is a feasible treatment for patients with glomerulopathies associated with nephrotic syndrome who have adequate baseline renal function. Additional clinical evaluation will have to be performed to better define the patient population in which ECP is most effective

Spleen e escravidão: a melancolia senhorial em Dom Casmurro e Brás Cubas

This article proposes a reflection on the meanings of melancholy in the novels of Machado de Assis. Keywords: Machado de Assis. Melancholy. Slavery.Este artigo propõe uma reflexão sobre os significados da melancolia nos romances de Machado de Assis. Palavras-chave: Machado de Assis. Melancolia. Escravidão

Blunt Trauma Associated With Bilateral Diaphragmatic Rupture. A Case Report

Background: A bilateral diaphragmatic rupture is a rare event that occurs in cases of blunt thoracic-abdominal trauma.Case Presentation: We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient with pelvic fracture and second-stage bilateral rupture of the diaphragm due to a car accident. After a chest and abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan, the patient underwent emergency suturing of the left hemidiaphragm. On postoperative day (POD) 4, a CT scan performed due to the sudden onset of dyspnea revealed rupture of the right hemidiaphragm, which was not detected on the preoperative CT scan. On POD 9, the right hemidiaphragm was repaired with mesh during a right thoracotomy. The patient recovered 14 days after surgery. However, the postoperative course was complicated by an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection that significantly delayed her discharge from the hospital.Conclusions: Difficulties in preoperative diagnosis and treatment, together with the lack of data in the literature, make this type of trauma a challenge for all acute care and general surgeons