West Nile virus transmission. results from the integrated surveillance system in Italy, 2008 to 2015

IIn Italy a national Plan for the surveillance of imported and autochthonous human vector-borne diseases (chikungunya, dengue, Zika virus disease and West Nile virus (WNV) disease) that integrates human and veterinary (animals and vectors) surveillance, is issued and revised annually according with the observed epidemiological changes. Here we describe results of the WNV integrated veterinary and human surveillance systems in Italy from 2008 to 2015. A real time data exchange protocol is in place between the surveillance systems to rapidly identify occurrence of human and animal cases and to define and update the map of affected areas i.e. provinces during the vector activity period from June to October. WNV continues to cause severe illnesses in Italy during every transmission season, albeit cases are sporadic and the epidemiology varies by virus lineage and geographic area. The integration of surveillance activities and a multidisciplinary approach made it possible and have been fundamental in supporting implementation of and/or strengthening preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of transmission of WNV trough blood, tissues and organ donation and to implementing further measures for vector control

A Multicenter Retrospective Survey regarding Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management in Italian Children with Type 1 Diabetes

We conducted a retrospective survey in pediatric centers belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. The following data were collected for all new-onset diabetes patients aged 0-18 years: DKA (pH < 7.30), severe DKA (pH < 7.1), DKA in preschool children, DKA treatment according to ISPAD protocol, type of rehydrating solution used, bicarbonates use, and amount of insulin infused. Records (n = 2453) of children with newly diagnosed diabetes were collected from 68/77 centers (87%), 39 of which are tertiary referral centers, the majority of whom (n = 1536, 89.4%) were diagnosed in the tertiary referral centers. DKA was observed in 38.5% and severe DKA in 10.3%. Considering preschool children, DKA was observed in 72%, and severe DKA in 16.7%. Cerebral edema following DKA treatment was observed in 5 (0.5%). DKA treatment according to ISPAD guidelines was adopted in 68% of the centers. In the first 2 hours, rehydration was started with normal saline in all centers, but with different amount. Bicarbonate was quite never been used. Insulin was infused starting from third hour at the rate of 0.05-0.1 U/kg/h in 72% of centers. Despite prevention campaign, DKA is still observed in Italian children at onset, with significant variability in DKA treatment, underlying the need to share guidelines among centers

Determination of 10B in lymphoma human cells after boron carrier treatment: comparison of 10BPA and immunonanoparticles.

Current cancer treatments lead to insufficient distribution of therapeutic agents in tumor cells due to their lack of selectivity often causing adverse effects in the normal cell uptake of the drug. The challenge is to design therapeutic drugs able to maximize the treatment of malignant cancers while minimizing their adverse effects. In this study, 10B incorporation in the B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell line MEC-1 was investigated. The cells were treated with L-p-10borophenylalanine (10BPA) and 10boron immuno-nanoparticles (BNPs) loaded with 10BPA with or without the anti- CD20 monoclonal antibody for different contact times. The uptake of 10B by the cells was determined by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acid mineralization. To obtain accurate and consistent data, the analytical procedure was optimized using factorial experimental design. It was observed that BNP loaded with 10BPA and anti-CD20 represents the best carrier system for 10B in B cells for long time (> 10 h) whereas 10BPA seems to be the top drug for short time (< 4 h) procedures

Biological aspects of NOE2 and PhoNeS experiments

The aim of our study is to validate a BNCT based on a novel neutron source, the Elekta Precise 25MV medical linear accelerator (e-LINAC), to which is applied the PhoNeS photo-neutron converter. Results of experiments on 10 Boron uptake and BPA boron carrier toxicity carried out using two different models: lung with adenocarcinoma and human tumour cells cultured in vitro, are discusse

Studio per documentare l’esperienza dell’inserimento degli infermieri case manager in reparti per acuti e post acuti: il punto di vista degli operatori, dei pazienti ed i risultati clinico-organizzativi

Dal 2000 nel Policlinico S. Orsola di Bologna sono stati introdotti gli Infermieri Case Manager (ICM). Obiettivo. L’obiettivo di questo studio è valutare l’associazione dell’ICM ad alcuni esiti clinici e alla soddisfazione di operatori sanitari e pazienti. Materiali e metodi. Sono stati valutati la degenza media, il numero di dimissioni pianificate e di cadute l’anno precedente e successivo l’introduzione dell’ICM, in 14 reparti. La soddisfazione di infermieri e medici dei cambiamenti positivi apportati dal case manager è stata valutata in 13 reparti con un questionario, e la soddisfazione dei pazienti in 8 reparti con la Newcastle satisfaction with nursing scale. Risultati. Non sono state osservate differenze nella degenza media, solo piccole differenze nel numero di dimissioni pianificate (+8.2%) ed una diminuzione (-24%) del numero di cadute. I risultati del questionario sulla percezione dei cambiamenti indicano un’elevata soddisfazione di tutti gli operatori (in particolare degli infermieri coordinatori) con un accordo >2.8 su una scala da 1 a 4, per gli esiti sull’organizzazione e sul paziente. Non è stato percepito nessun cambiamento positivo sullo stress e sul carico di lavoro. Conclusioni. Non è semplice scegliere indicatori per dimostrare cambiamenti organizzativi. Sono stati dimostrati cambiamenti positivi solo sulla percezione degli operatori e sulle cadute. Occorrono altri studi per confermare alcuni esiti positivi osservati