Interleukin-6 and Mycoplasma hominis as markers of preterm birth and related brain damage: our experience.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether a high concentration of interleukin-6 (IL)-6 in the amniotic fluid is associated to a higher risk of preterm delivery, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) in preterm infants; we have further investigated whether the levels of IL-6 are related to the presence of vaginal infection by mycoplasms.

Methods: One hundred eight patients were screened by vaginal swab, sonography, amniocentesis, and dosage of IL-6 in the amniotic fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Results: High levels of IL-6 and vaginal mycoplasms are related to preterm birth and PROM.

[The implementation of NEMS and NAS systems to assess the nursing staffing levels in a polyvalent intensive care unit].

Unlabelled: NEMS and NAS scoring systems allow to calculate the number of nurses needed in an intensive care unit. Aim of the study is the assessment of nursing workload in a polyvalent intensive care unit, the evaluation of easiness of routine use of the systems and the assessment of the number of nurses needed.

Method: The NEMS and NAS scores of 752 patients admitted respectively from may 2004 and July 2006 and of 250 patients admitted from August 2006 to July 2007 were analysed and adjusted to the number of inpatients.

[Transthoracic cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation: comparison of three different waveforms].

Background: Transthoracic electrical cardioversion represents the most effective therapy in converting atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm. External cardioverter-defibrillators discharge a current with monophasic and most recently biphasic waveforms. Lately, many articles support the superiority of the biphasic waveform over the monophasic one.