Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in epileptic dogs.

Objectives: Studies in humans have demonstrated the role of Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, in epileptic seizures. This study aimed to investigate the serological correlation between T. gondii and N.

High Prevalence of Hymenolepis (Rodentolepis) nana in Amateur Breeding Facilities of Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) and Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) from Italy.

Purpose: Hymenolepis (Rodentolepis) nana is an enteric tapeworm globally widespread in wild and captive rodents. The survey was carried out in three chinchilla breeding facilities and in one sugar glider breeding facility in Central and Southern Italy.

Methods: One hundred and four chinchilla fecal pools and 40 sugar glider fecal pools were collected from cages housing breeding pairs or females with their offspring.

Role of expectations in clinical outcomes after deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment that significantly improves the motor symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); however, patients may experience post-operative psychological distress and social maladjustments. This phenomenon has been shown to be related to patients' pre-operative cognitive representations, such as expectations. In this systematic review, we discuss the findings on the role of the expectations of patients with PD regarding the clinical outcomes of DBS to identify areas of intervention to improve pre-operative patient education and promote successful post-operative psychosocial adjustment.

Parasitological Survey in European Brown Hare () Breeding Facilities in Southern Italy.

Parasites are considered important regulating factors of hosts' population dynamics, not only in free-ranging wildlife, but also in captive bred animals. To date, only few studies have been carried out to assess the parasitic communities of the European brown hare in Southern Italy, and only one focused on animals in captivity. The aim of the present survey was to assess the composition of the endoparasite community in game hares bred for restocking purposes.

Retrospective Longitudinal Survey on Canine Vector-Borne Pathogens: Trends and Challenges of 10 Years of Activities of a Veterinary Blood Bank.

Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBPs) represent a challenge for veterinary transfusion medicine, since some can be transmitted by blood transfusion and are of zoonotic concern. Epidemiological data on CVBPs, obtained during 10 years of pre-donor screening (2012−2021) by a veterinary blood bank in central Italy, were used to conduct a retrospective epidemiological longitudinal survey. The results were obtained using the Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) conducted on sera in order to assess IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocythophilum, Babesia canis, and Rickettsia conorii; the modified Knott’s test and an ELISA kit were used to detect Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens.

Spectral Optical Readout of Rectangular-Miniature Hollow Glass Tubing for Refractive Index Sensing.

For answering the growing demand of innovative micro-fluidic devices able to measure the refractive index of samples in extremely low volumes, this paper presents an overview of the performances of a micro-opto-fluidic sensing platform that employs rectangular, miniature hollow glass tubings. The operating principle is described by showing the analytical model of the tubing, obtained as superposition of different optical cavities, and the optical readout method based on spectral reflectivity detection. We have analyzed, in particular, the theoretical and experimental optical features of rectangular tubings with asymmetrical geometry, thus with channel depth larger than the thickness of the glass walls, though all of them in the range of a few tens of micrometers.

Flow-through micro-capillary refractive index sensor based on T/R spectral shift monitoring.

We present a flow-through refractive index sensor for measuring the concentration of glucose solutions based on the application of rectangular glass micro-capillaries, with channel depth of 50 µm and 30 µm. A custom designed and 3D printed polymeric shell protects the tiny capillaries, ensuring an easier handling and interconnection with the macro-fluidic path. By illuminating the capillary with broadband radiation centered at λ~1.

Low-Coherence Reflectometry for Refractive Index Measurements of Cells in Micro-Capillaries.

The refractive index of cells provides insights into their composition, organization and function. Moreover, a good knowledge of the cell refractive index would allow an improvement of optical cytometric and diagnostic systems. Although interferometric techniques undoubtedly represent a good solution for quantifying optical path variation, obtaining the refractive index of a population of cells non-invasively remains challenging because of the variability in the geometrical thickness of the sample.

Clinical and immunologic responses in melanoma patients vaccinated with MAGE-A3-genetically modified lymphocytes.

Cancer vaccines have recently been shown to induce some clinical benefits. The relationship between clinical activity and anti-vaccine T cell responses is somewhat controversial. Indeed, in many trials it has been documented that the induction of vaccine-specific T cells exceeds the clinical responses observed.

Limited induction of tumor cross-reactive T cells without a measurable clinical benefit in early melanoma patients vaccinated with human leukocyte antigen class I-modified peptides.

Purpose: The progressive immune dysfunctions that occur in patients with advanced melanoma make them unlikely to efficiently respond to cancer vaccines. A multicenter randomized phase II trial was conducted to test whether immunization with modified HLA class I tumor peptides in the context of adjuvant therapy results in better immunologic responses and improved clinical outcomes in patients with early melanoma (stages IIB/C-III).

Experimental Design: Forty-three patients were enrolled to undergo vaccination (n = 22) or observation (n = 21).

Arterial hypertension and microalbuminuria in IDDM: the Italian Microalbuminuria Study.

Arterial hypertension and poor glycaemic control are central to the development of microalbuminuria in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Recent consensus has established sensitive criteria for their detection and treatment, although the proportion of patients who may benefit is unclear. Between 1988 and 1990, we measured urinary albumin to creatinine concentration ratio (A/C) in 3,636 adult out-patients with IDDM of more than 3 years duration, serum creatinine under 133 mumol/l and who were not undergoing antihypertensive treatment.

Effect of i.v. indoprofen on cancer pain and serum prolactin and growth hormone levels--a controlled pharmacologic study vs i. m. morphine and placebo.

Single doses of indoprofen (400 mg, i.v.), morphine hydrochloride (10 mg, i.

Dose-response study with indoprofen i.v. as an analgesic in postoperative pain.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group study was carried out in 100 patients with postoperative pain. The analgesic activity of indoprofen given in a single dose as an i.v.

Radioisotopic labelling of endoalveolar surface-active phospholipidic fractions from rabbit pulmonary lavage.

A simple method of detecting endoalveolar tensioactive system fractions employing intravenously injected 131I-triolein has been devised. The tracer has been administered to 7 adult rabbit groups then sacrificed at different time intervals after the injection. Endoalveolar tensioactive system lipidic fractions collected by pulmonary lavage have been separated with thin-layer chromatography and their radioactivity evaluated by scanning plates.

[Physiopathology and clinical aspects of the alveolar surface active system (pulmonary surfactant)].

Existing knowledge of the pulmonary alveolar surfactant system is summarised in monographic form. Particular attention is directed to its physiopathology, synthesis mechanisms, and pathology in man, as well as to the methods used into its clinical investigation. Stress is laid on the importance of the system in the direct or indirect determination of many cardiac and pneumocardiac diseases.

Structure-activity relationship of some steroidal compounds in ocular inflammation.

The structure-activity relationship of some topically applied 21-desoxy-substituted steroids as anti-inflammatory agents was investigated; the anti-inflammatory activity remained unaltered or increased on introducing a methyl group in position 6alpha and a hydroxyl group in position 11beta, even after eliminating the hydroxyl group in position 21. The activity of the molecule was further increased by the introduction of a hydroxyl group in position 17alpha and a fluorine atom in position 9alpha.