Effects of therapeutic approach on the neonatal evolution of very low birth weight infants with patent ductus arteriosus.

Objective: To analyze the effects of treatment approach on the outcomes of newborns (birth weight [BW] < 1,000 g) with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), from the Brazilian Neonatal Research Network (BNRN) on: death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH III/IV), retinopathy of prematurity requiring surgical (ROPsur), necrotizing enterocolitis requiring surgery (NECsur), and death/BPD.

Methods: This was a multicentric, cohort study, retrospective data collection, including newborns (BW < 1000 g) with gestational age (GA) < 33 weeks and echocardiographic diagnosis of PDA, from 16 neonatal units of the BNRN from January 1, 2010 to Dec 31, 2011. Newborns who died or were transferred until the third day of life, and those with presence of congenital malformation or infection were excluded.

From sequence to enzyme mechanism using multi-label machine learning.

Background: In this work we predict enzyme function at the level of chemical mechanism, providing a finer granularity of annotation than traditional Enzyme Commission (EC) classes. Hence we can predict not only whether a putative enzyme in a newly sequenced organism has the potential to perform a certain reaction, but how the reaction is performed, using which cofactors and with susceptibility to which drugs or inhibitors, details with important consequences for drug and enzyme design. Work that predicts enzyme catalytic activity based on 3D protein structure features limits the prediction of mechanism to proteins already having either a solved structure or a close relative suitable for homology modelling.

Optogenetic-mediated release of histamine reveals distal and autoregulatory mechanisms for controlling arousal.

Histaminergic neurons in the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) are an important component of the ascending arousal system and may form part of a "flip-flop switch" hypothesized to regulate sleep and wakefulness. Anatomical studies have shown that the wake-active TMN and sleep-active ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) are reciprocally connected, suggesting that each region can inhibit its counterpart when active. In this study, we determined how histamine affects the two branches of this circuit.

Laryngeal cleft: evaluation and management.

Objectives: Review the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities for laryngeal and laryngotracheoesophageal clefts as they can be a major cause of respiratory and feeding morbidity in the infant and pediatric population.

Methods: Literature review of published reports.

Results: The presentation of laryngeal cleft usually involves respiratory symptoms, such as stridor, chronic cough, aspiration, and recurrent respiratory infections.

Memory T cell proliferative responses and IFN-γ productivity sustain long-lasting efficacy of a Cap-based PCV2 vaccine upon PCV2 natural infection and associated disease.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination represents an important measure to cope with PCV2 infection; however, data regarding the modulation of the immune cell compartment are still limited, especially under field conditions. This study is aimed at investigating the features of the cellular immune response in conventional piglets induced by vaccination using a capsid (Cap) protein-based PCV2 vaccine compared to unvaccinated animals when exposed to PCV2 natural infection. Immune reactivity was evaluated by quantifying peripheral cell subsets involved in the anti-viral response and characterizing the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secreting cell (SC) responsiveness both in vivo and upon in vitro whole PCV2 recall.

[Avoidable causes of infant deaths due to interventions of the Brazilian Unified Health System: a comparison of two birth cohorts].

Avoidable infant mortality was compared in the cohorts of live births in 2000/20001 and 2007/2008 in Londrina in the state of Paraná. Data on live births and infant deaths were matched in a single database and the underlying causes of death were classified according to the Brazilian List of Avoidable Causes of Mortality of the Brazilian Unified Health System. The proportional variations of death rates were calculated and the technique of correspondence analysis was used.

Are antineoplastic drug acute hypersensitive reactions a submerged or an emergent problem? Experience of the Medical Day Hospital of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori.

Background: Acute hypersensitivity reactions are adverse events potentially associated with antineoplastic drug infusions. Their occurrence can be particularly relevant in an outpatient environment where time of administration and subsequent observation is limited to a short period of time. In addition, concern about the onset of more severe hypersensitivity reactions can limit subsequent use of crucial drugs.

Impaired proplatelet formation in immune thrombocytopenia: a novel mechanism contributing to decreased platelet count.

The pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to the decreased platelet count in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are not entirely understood. Here, we investigated the key step of proplatelet formation (PPF) by studying the effect of ITP plasma in thrombopoiesis. Normal cord blood-derived mature megakaryocytes were cultured in the presence of recalcified plasma from ITP patients, and PPF was evaluated by microscopic analysis.

Enhanced spontaneous emission inside hyperbolic metamaterials.

Hyperbolic metamaterials can enhance spontaneous emission, but the radiation-matter coupling is not optimized if the light source is placed outside such media. We demonstrate a 3-fold improvement of the Purcell factor over its outer value and a significant enlargement in bandwidth by including the emitter within a Si/Ag periodic multilayer metamaterial. To extract the plasmonic modes of the structure into the far field we implement two types of 1D grating with triangular and rectangular profile, obtaining a 10-fold radiative enhancement at visible frequencies.

Whorled Urothelial Cell Carcinoma: A Neglected Variant.

Twelve cases of urothelial cell papillary carcinoma with a whorled pattern of growth are described. This variant is reported with clinicopathological correlations and immunohistochemical findings. All cases showed this peculiar and distinctive curlicue histological pattern, ranging from 50% to 100% of the neoplastic population.

Deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with H-coil on lower limb motor function in chronic stroke: a pilot study.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of high-frequency (20 Hz) brain stimulation on lower limb motor function in subjects with chronic (> 6 mo) subcortical stroke.

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

Setting: University hospital.

Optical coherence tomography and visual evoked potentials: which is more sensitive in multiple sclerosis?

Objective: To assess the sensitivity of optic coherence tomography (OCT) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to visual pathway abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: A total of 40 MS subjects, 28 with optic neuritis (ON) at least 3 months before (bilateral in 5), underwent assessment of visual acuity, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), OCT and VEPs, the latter quantified with a 0-4 conventional score.

Results: OCT and VEPs were abnormal in 36% and 56% respectively in all eyes (p=0.

Uptake of Eudragit Retard L (Eudragit RL) Nanoparticles by Human THP-1 Cell Line and Its Effects on Hematology and Erythrocyte Damage in Rats.

The aim of this study was to prepare Eudragit Retard L (Eudragit RL) nanoparticles (ENPs) and to determine their properties, their uptake by the human THP-1 cell line and their effect on the hematological parameters and erythrocyte damage in rats. ENPs showed an average size of 329.0 ± 18.

Venom immunotherapy in patients with clonal mast cell disorders: efficacy, safety, and practical considerations.

Background: A preferential association between systemic mastocytosis (SM) and hymenoptera allergy (HVA) has been observed. Patients with both diseases are at risk for more severe reactions, and venom immunotherapy (VIT) may represent a life-saving treatment, but the use of VIT in such patients raised concerns about its safety.

Objective: We evaluated a large population of patients with SM and HVA who received VIT.

Uniting cheminformatics and chemical theory to predict the intrinsic aqueous solubility of crystalline druglike molecules.

We present four models of solution free-energy prediction for druglike molecules utilizing cheminformatics descriptors and theoretically calculated thermodynamic values. We make predictions of solution free energy using physics-based theory alone and using machine learning/quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models. We also develop machine learning models where the theoretical energies and cheminformatics descriptors are used as combined input.

Reversible bilateral blepharoptosis following oxaliplatin infusion: a case report and literature review.

Oxaliplatin, a platinum analogue employed in the treatment of colorectal cancer and various other neoplasms, is characterized by a broad range of adverse events. Peripheral neuropathy is probably the most peculiar and clinically relevant toxicity associated with its use and can be distinguished into two types: acute and chronic neurotoxicity.We report a case of acute reversible bilateral palpebral ptosis and dyspnea without bronchospasm or laryngospasm which occurred at the end of the third administration of adjuvant oxaliplatin by infusion for stage III colon cancer in a 54-year-old woman.

Impact of particle size on interaction forces between ettringite and dispersing comb-polymers in various electrolyte solutions.

The inter-particle forces play a fundamental role for the flow properties of a particle suspension in response to shear stresses. In concrete applications, cement admixtures based on comb-polymers like polycarboxylate-ether-based superplasticizer (PCE) are used to control the rheological behavior of the fresh mixtures, as it is negatively impacted by certain early hydration products, like the mineral ettringite. In this work, dispersion forces due to PCE were measured directly at the surface of ettringite crystals in different electrolyte solutions by the means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) applying spherical and sharp silicon dioxide tips.

Further evidence about the crucial role of CSF biomarkers in diagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (protein tau, phosphorylated tau and amyloid Beta 1-42) are recognized as a supportive feature in diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their role in identifying atypical variants of AD is currently under investigation. We dosed these proteins in nine patients clinically and instrumentally affected by posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a rare disorder characterized by a progressive neurodegenerative process that involves primarily the posterior brain regions. We compared the obtained values with a large group of AD patients (N = 117), recruited in our neurological department.

Management of adrenal cancer: a 2013 update.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a devastating tumor for either patients or their families because of short life expectancy and severe impact on quality of life. Due to the rarity of ACC, with a reported annual incidence of 0.5-2 cases per million population, progress in the development of treatment options beyond surgery has been limited.

Biomonitoring toxicity of natural sediments using juvenile Hyalella curvispina (Amphipoda) as test species: evaluation of early effect endpoints.

The utility of early effect endpoints as biomarkers of ecotoxicity of natural sediments in water-sediment static system was investigated. The particular goal was to evaluate the ecotoxicity of the sediment samples from La Choza stream, located in upper basin of the Reconquista river, the second most polluted river of Argentina. Native juveniles Hyalella curvispina were used as test organisms evaluating survival, growth, oxidative stress parameters (SOD; CAT, TBARS) and the electron transport system (ETS) activity as early toxic effect.

Second messengers mediating the expression of neuroplasticity in a model of chronic pain in the rat.

Unlabelled: Hyperalgesic priming is a model of the transition from acute to chronic pain, in which previous activation of cell surface receptors or direct activation of protein kinase C epsilon markedly prolongs mechanical hyperalgesia induced by pronociceptive cytokines. We recently demonstrated a role of peripheral protein translation, alpha-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII) activation, and the ryanodine receptor in the induction of hyperalgesic priming. In the present study, we tested if they also mediate the prolonged phase of prostaglandin E2-induced hyperalgesia.

Evidence-based appraisal of the upfront treatment for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health problem, with around 1 million new cases and 500000 deaths every year worldwide. Over the last two decades, the use of novel therapies and more complex treatment strategies have contributed to progressively increase the median survival of patients with unresectable advanced CRC up to approximately 30 mo. The availability of additional therapeutic options, however, has created new challenges and generated more complicated treatment algorithms.