Current Enzooticity of and in Central and Southern Italy.

and are major parasitic nematodes of dogs. Many environmental and phenological changes have recently modified their geographic patterns in many countries; thus, this study has updated the distribution of and in dog populations of selected regions of Central and Southern Italy. Also, collateral data on other endoparasites affecting the study population have been collected.

Synthetic Protein-to-DNA Input Exchange for Protease Activity Detection Using CRISPR-Cas12a.

We present a novel activity-based detection strategy for matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), a critical cancer protease biomarker, leveraging a mechanism responsive to the proteolytic activity of MMP2 and its integration with CRISPR-Cas12a-assisted signal amplification. We designed a chemical translator comprising two functional units─a peptide and a peptide nucleic acid (PNA), fused together. The peptide presents the substrate of MMP2, while the PNA serves as a nucleic acid output for subsequent processing.

Neonatal Marfan syndrome: a case report of a novel fibrillin 1 mutation, with genotype-phenotype correlation and brief review of the literature.

Background: Neonatal Marfan syndrome (nMFS) is a rare condition characterized by severe phenotype and poor prognosis. nMFS is caused by mutations in a specific region of the fibrillin 1 gene (FBN1). Prompt recognition of typical signs of neonatal presentation, such as characteristic facial anomalies with senile appearance, arthrogryposis, and campto-arachnodactyly, is fundamental for performing an early cardiological examination.

Occult Serious Bacterial Infections in Neonates and Infants Up to Three Months of Age with Bronchiolitis: Are Invasive Cultures Required?

(1) Background: The literature reports a low risk of serious bacterial infections (SBIs) in febrile infants presenting with bronchiolitis or respiratory syncytial virus infection, but current microbiological techniques have a higher accuracy. (2) Methods: We assessed the risk of SBIs in neonates and infants with bronchiolitis from 2021 to 2023. We also evaluated C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and leukocyte values.

Coagulation profiles and percentiles in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy undergoing therapeutic hypothermia: A step toward more accurate transfusion thresholds.

Background: In the literature, there are no studies about the transfusion threshold for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH). In order to facilitate accurate interpretation of coagulation results in these neonates, we aimed to generate specific reference intervals in this specific population.

Methods: This retrospective study included all HIE neonates admitted from 2014 to 2022 to undergo TH.

Are lung ultrasound features more severe in infants with bronchiolitis and coinfections?

Background: The lung ultrasound (LUS) score can be a useful tool to predict the need for respiratory support and the length of hospital stay in infants with bronchiolitis.

Objective: To compare lung ultrasound features in neonates and infants up to three months of age with bronchiolitis to determine whether LUS scores (range 0-36) differ in infants with coinfections or not.

Methods: Neonates and infants younger than three months admitted to neonatal units from October 2022 to March 2023, who underwent lung ultrasound evaluation on admission, were included in this retrospective study.

Early vasopressin infusion improves oxygenation in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a complex disease including a diaphragmatic defect, lung hypoplasia, and pulmonary hypertension. Despite its increasing use in neonates, the literature on the use of vasopressin in neonates is limited. The aim of this work is to analyze the changes in clinical and hemodynamic variables in a cohort of CDH infants treated with vasopressin.

Reference Intervals for Coagulation Parameters in Developmental Hemostasis from Infancy to Adolescence.

: The objective of this study was to establish the age and sex-dependent reference intervals for coagulation assays evaluated in healthy children, ranging from 0 days to 16 years old. : PT, aPTT, Fibrinogen (functional), Antithrombin activity, Protein C anticoagulant activity, Protein S free antigen, Thrombin time, D-Dimer, Von Willebrand Factor antigen, Lupus anticoagulant (screening), extrinsic and intrinsic pathway factors, and activated Protein C resistance were evaluated using STA-R Max. : A total of 1280 subjects (671 males and 609 females) were divided into five groups, according to their age: 0-15 days (n = 280, 174 M and 106 F), 15-30 days (n = 208, 101 M and 107 F), 1-6 months (n = 369, 178 M and 191 F), 6-12 months (n = 214, 110 M and 104 F), and 1-16 years (n = 209, 108 M and 101 F).

Neonatal acute liver failure due to enteroviruses: a 14 years single NICU experience.

Neonatal acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe condition with a mortality rate up to 70%. Human enterovirus (HEV) infections are associated with serious diseases in newborns, including myocarditis, meningoencephalitis and, more rarely, ALF with a fulminant course. Cases of neonatal-onset ALF were identified using the institutional clinical database.

Propofol and fentanyl sedation for laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity to avoid intubation.

Background: Despite the optimization of neonatal assistance, severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP, stage III-IV) remains a common condition among preterm infants. Laser photocoagulation usually requires general anesthesia and intubation, but extubation can be difficult and these infants often affected by chronic lung disease. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical charts of 13 neonates that were sedated with propofol in association with fentanyl for the laser treatment of ROP.

Kabuki syndrome: clinical and molecular diagnosis in the first year of life.

Objective: To review the clinical and molecular genetic characteristics of 16 patients presenting a suspected diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome (KS) in the first year of life, to evaluate the clinical handles leading to a prompt diagnosis of KS in newborns. Clinical diagnosis of KS can be challenging during the first year of life, as many diagnostic features become evident only in subsequent years.

Methods: All patients were clinically investigated by trained clinical geneticists.

Comparison of regional vs. systemic analgesia for post-thoracotomy care in infants.

Background: In infants, post-thoracotomy analgesia traditionally consists of systemic opiates, while regional techniques have gained more favor in recent years. We compare the two techniques for thoracotomy in infants.

Methods: All consecutive patients below 6 months of age who underwent thoracotomy for congenital pulmonary malformations in the study period were retrospectively divided according to the chosen postoperative analgesia: Group S systemic opiates, Group R continuous regional (epidural or extrapleural paravertebral) block.

Effect of bacterial mineralization of phytoplankton-derived phytodetritus on the release of arsenic, cobalt and manganese from muddy sediments in the Southern North Sea. A microcosm study.

Muddy sediments of the Belgian Continental Zone (BCZ) are contaminated by metals such as Co, As, Cd, Pb, and Ni. Previous studies have suggested that mineralization of phytodetritus accumulating each year on sediments might cause secondary contaminations of the overlying seawater (metal effluxes). The aim of the present research was to investigate these effluxes using a microcosm approach.

Links between bacterial communities in marine sediments and trace metal geochemistry as measured by in situ DET/DGT approaches.

Our current view about the relationship between metals and bacteria in marine sediments might be biased because most studies only use ex situ approaches to quantify metals. The aim of the present research was to compare ex situ and in situ methods of metal measurement (DET and DGT--diffusive equilibration or diffusive gradients in thin-films) and relate the results with two commonly used microbiological variables (bacterial biomass and bacterial diversity as revealed by DGGE). No previous studies have used such in situ approaches in microbial ecology.

Dendritic cells modification during sublingual immunotherapy in children with allergic symptoms to house dust mites.

Background: the importance of dendritic cells (DCs) in the initiation of the Th2-mediated inflammatory response to allergens is well known and more recently it has been proposed that DCs have a pivotal role in maintaining tolerance to allergens. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the success of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in allergic asthma is mediated by the induction of changes of DCs functions.

Methods: ten children with allergic asthma sensitive to house dust mite were studied before and after 12 months of SLIT.

Cobalamin C defect presenting as severe neonatal hyperammonemia.

Unlabelled: Cobalamin C (Cbl-C) defect is the most common inborn error of cobalamin metabolism which causes a block in the pathway responsible for the synthesis of its two metabolically active forms methyl- and adenosylcobalamin. Cbl-C defect causes the accumulation of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine and decreased methionine synthesis. The clinical presentation of patients with early-onset Cbl-C defect, characterized by a multisystem disease with severe neurological, ocular, hematological, renal, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and pulmonary manifestations, differs considerably from what observed in the "classical" form of methylmalonic aciduria caused by defect of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Electronic tongue based on an array of metallic potentiometric sensors.

An electronic tongue system based on the array of six metallic potentiometric sensors (metallic wires) was developed and utilized for discrimination of foodstuffs: several types of vinegar and fruit juices. Copper, tin, iron, aluminum, brass and stainless steel wires were included in the array and supplemented by pH glass electrode. The response of potentiometric metallic sensors towards various organic acids has been studied and possible sensitivity mechanisms were discussed.

CASTLE tumour of the thyroid. Value of multiplanar imaging acquisition.

Background And Objective: Thyroid carcinomas thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE) are rare. The aim of this paper is to address a valid diagnostic and therapeutic protocol for these tumours using three exemplary cases and the previously published literature.

Methods: The routine use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in all cases of unclear thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or in cases of multiple neck masses.

Treatment of primary inguinal hernias by "held in mesh repair": our experience related to 3,520 cases.

In the last 15 years, a rapid evolution occurred from the traditional hernioplasties toward prosthetic techniques, in Italy. Outpatient procedures under local anaesthesia are now most commonly performed. We report our experience with a personal modification of the sutureless mesh repair, called "held in mesh repair".

[Obstructing colon cancer--what's the surgical strategy?].

Introduction: The aim of the study was to define the therapeutic approach used for obstructing colon cancer.

Patients And Methods: In the period 1990-2002 in the Emergency Surgery Department of the University of Naples Federico II, 81 patients underwent colon surgery for obstructing colon cancer (25 M, 57 F, age range: 55-88 years, mean: 72). Were performed subtotal colectomies, left or right hemicolectomies, sigmoid colectomies, anterior resections, temporary or permanent enterostomies.

[Gastric non-Hodgkin lymphoma: guidelines for the therapeutic approach].

The aims of this study were to contribute to the drawing up of guidelines for the therapeutic approach to primary gastric lymphoma and to identify the most effective sequence of treatment in the different stages of the disease. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 34 patients with primary gastric lymphoma admitted from 1993 to 2001 to the 4th General Surgery Department of the "Federico II" University in Naples. All the patients underwent surgical therapy and neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.