Nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices on CLABSI prevention in the Intensive Care Unit: An observational study.

Background: Management of central venous catheters (CVC) is a frequent procedure in intensive care units (ICUs) and the risk of bloodstream infections (CLABSI) is found to be high. The literature provides healthcare professionals with guidelines to prevent the risk of CLABSI infections. The aim of this study was to observe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ICU nurses on the prevention of CLABSI.

[Socio-cultural dynamics in health care: communication as a step in the curing process].

A "pilot" training course entitled "Communication as a step in cure " was organized by the University Hospital of Bari and other organs with the aim of improving and increasing knowledge of the techniques , instruments and information involved in good communication and was articulated in several meetings. At the end of the course, participants were asked to assess the results obtained: some critical points were identified and suggestions were made to improve the level of communication between health professional and patients.

Pathogenetic mechanisms of hematological abnormalities of patients with MYH9 mutations.

Mutations of MYH9, the gene for non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC-IIA), cause a complex clinical phenotype characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and granulocyte inclusion bodies, often associated with deafness, cataracts and/or glomerulonephritis. The pathogenetic mechanisms of these defects are either completely unknown or controversial. In particular, it is a matter of debate whether haploinsufficiency or a dominant-negative effect of mutant allele is responsible for hematological abnormalities.

Expression, activation, and subcellular localization of the Rap1 GTPase in cord blood-derived human megakaryocytes.

The expression of the small GTPase Rap1 in human megakaryocytes (MKs) differentiated from cord blood (CB)-derived progenitors was investigated. High levels of Rap1 were detected in the majority of mature megakaryocytes independently of days of culture, while a very low percentage of immature megakaryocytes was found to express a small amount of the protein. Rap1 was predominantly detected on internal alpha-granule but not on the plasma membrane.