New Insights into Geometric Morphometry Applied to Fish Scales for Species Identification.

The possibility of quick and cheap recognition of a fish species from a single dermal scale would be interesting in a wide range of contexts. The methods of geometric morphometry appear to be quite promising, although wide studies comparing different approaches are lacking. We aimed to apply two methods of geometric morphometry, landmark-based and outline-based, on a dataset of scales from five different teleost species: , , , , and .

Virulence Profiles and Antimicrobial Resistance of Streptococcus agalactiae Infective and Colonizing Strains from Argentina.

Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a colonizing agent in pregnant women, the main cause of invasive neonatal infections, and the reason of serious diseases in non-pregnant adults. Several virulence determinants are involved in the pathogenesis. These include capsular polysaccharide, surface-localized proteins, and toxins.

Real-life Evidence of Lower Lung Virulence in COVID-19 Inpatients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Compared to Wild-Type and Delta SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia.

In vitro and animal models described lower replication capacity and virulence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineage in lower respiratory airways compared to wild type and other variants of concern (oVOCs). Among adult subjects admitted to our hospital (Turin, Italy) due to wild type, oVOCs, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia (n = 100 for each lineage), the cases of Omicron pneumonia showed lower degree of lung parenchyma involvement (aβ -1.471, p = 0.

Impaired Modulation of Motor and Functional Performance in Patients after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Observational Study.

Submaximal levels of effort are required for the performance of the most common daily tasks. Inaccuracy in modulating motor outputs during submaximal tasks has been reported as indicator of safety during daily activities in subjects with lower limb musculoskeletal disorders. The study is aimed at investigating performance modulation ability during motor and functional tasks in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Neuromuscular activation of quadriceps bellies during tasks performed in the same biomechanical condition in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Objective: To investigate neuromuscular activation of quadriceps bellies during different tasks in patients before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: Twenty-six patients scheduled for TKA and 16 control subjects performed three isometric tasks: knee extension (KE), hip flexion (HF), hip flexion with contralateral hip extension (HFE). Surface electromyography signals of rectus femoris, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis were collected the day before (T0), at one (T1) and three (T2) days after surgery, whereas control subjects underwent a single evaluation.

Erratum: Porous-Coated Metaphyseal Sleeves in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: Midterm Results.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730377.].

Porous-Coated Metaphyseal Sleeves in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: Midterm Results.

 The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy in terms of clinical results and radiographic findings of using metaphyseal sleeves in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and to check if the use of sleeves without stems did not impair such results.  In this retrospective study, 141 patients (143 knees) operated in the period 2008 to 2015 met the above-mentioned criteria and were invited to a medical examination including X-rays. A total of 121 knees were available for the study (44 in the group without stems and 77 in the group with stems).

Does walking the day of total hip arthroplasty speed up functional independence? A non-randomized controlled study.

Background: Few data address modalities for speeding up functional independence in subjects included in a fast-track approach after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The study aim was to assess short-term effects of mobilization and walking the day of THA (WDS) on independence, pain, function and quality of life.

Methods: Seventy-one patients were allocated in a study (SG:  = 36) or control (CG:  = 35) groups according to time of surgery and recovery from anesthesia.

Double-trabecular metal cup technique for the management of Paprosky type III defects without pelvic discontinuity.

Introduction:: Modular reconstruction systems based on trabecular metal (TM) prosthetic components have been increasingly used in the last decade for the management of severe acetabular bone defects. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of double-cup technique for the management of Paprosky type III defects without pelvic discontinuity.

Methods:: A retrospective review was performed for all patients undergoing acetabular reconstruction with 2 TM cups at a tertiary referral centre between 2010 and 2015.

Molecular characterization of invasive Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis. Multicenter study: Argentina 2011-2012.

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) has virulence factors similar to those of Streptococcus pyogenes. Therefore, it causes pharyngitis and severe infections indistinguishable from those caused by the classic pathogen.

Characterisation of worldwide Helicobacter pylori strains reveals genetic conservation and essentiality of serine protease HtrA.

HtrA proteases and chaperones exhibit important roles in periplasmic protein quality control and stress responses. The genetic inactivation of htrA has been described for many bacterial pathogens. However, in some cases such as the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori, HtrA is secreted where it cleaves the tumour-suppressor E-cadherin interfering with gastric disease development, but the generation of htrA mutants is still lacking.

The difficult primary total knee arthroplasty: a review.

Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a reliable procedure with reproducible long-term results. Nevertheless, there are conditions related to the type of patient or local conditions of the knee that can make it a difficult procedure. The most common scenarios that make it difficult are discussed in this review.

Maximum Constrained Directivity of Oversteered End-Fire Sensor Arrays.

For linear arrays with fixed steering and an inter-element spacing smaller than one half of the wavelength, end-fire steering of a data-independent beamformer offers better directivity than broadside steering. The introduction of a lower bound on the white noise gain ensures the necessary robustness against random array errors and sensor mismatches. However, the optimum broadside performance can be obtained using a simple processing architecture, whereas the optimum end-fire performance requires a more complicated system (because complex weight coefficients are needed).

Trabecular Metal Augments for the Management of Paprosky Type III Defects Without Pelvic Discontinuity.

Fifty-five hips undergoing acetabular reconstruction with trabecular metal (TM)-coated cup and TM augments were reviewed at an average follow up of 53.7 months (36-91). Bony defects were Paprosky type IIIA in 42 and type IIIB without pelvic discontinuity in 13 hips.

Broadband performance of superdirective delay-and-sum beamformers steered to end-fire.

Linear arrays steered to end-fire provide superdirective robust performance if a constraint is imposed on the white-noise gain. Filter-and-sum beamformers achieve the maximum constrained directivity by tuning their complex weights over the frequency. Delay-and-sum beamformers have simpler structures, but their weights are fixed and optimized at a given frequency.

Congenital fetal and neonatal visceral chylous effusions: neonatal chylothorax and chylous ascites revisited. A multicenter retrospective study.

This retrospective study was carried out at eight Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) Centers worldwide on 33 newborns presenting at birth with pleural, pericardial, or abdominal chylous effusions. Diagnosis of chylous effusion is based on findings of fluid with a milk-like appearance, a concentration of triglycerides in pleural effusion >1.1 mmol/l, and a total cell count >1,000 cells/ml with a predominance of >80% lymphocytes.

[Impact of methicillin resistance on mortality and surveillance of vancomycin susceptibility in bacteremias caused by Staphylococcus aureus].

Staphylococcus aureus is a major nosocomial pathogen that causes severe morbidity and mortality in many hospitals worldwide. Besides, the incidence of S. aureus bacteremia has significantly increased over the past decades.

Morphologic, genetic, and biochemical characterization of Helicobacter magdeburgensis, a novel species isolated from the intestine of laboratory mice.

Background: The presence of enterohepatic Helicobacter species (EHS) is commonly noted in mouse colonies. These infections often remain unrecognized but can cause severe health complications or more subtle host immune perturbations and therefore can confound the results of animal experiments. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a putative novel EHS that has previously been detected by PCR screening of specific-pathogen-free mice.

[Molecular characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes from invasive disease and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome episodes].

Streptococcus pyogenes causes a variety of common human diseases, including pharyngitis, scarlet fever and impetigo. Nevertheless, the past decades have witnessed a worldwide resurgence in invasive disease and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). The objective of the present study is to evaluate the genetic diversity, virulence gene distribution (spe, sme and ssa genes) and susceptibility pattern of 10 S.

Type II sialidosis: review of the clinical spectrum and identification of a new splicing defect with chitotriosidase assessment in two patients.

Sialidosis is a lysosomal storage disease caused by the deficiency of alpha-N-acetyl neuraminidase-1 (NEU1). Sialidosis is classified into two main clinical variants: Type I, the milder form of the disease, and Type II, which can in turn be subdivided into three forms: congenital, infantile and juvenile. We report herein the clinical, biochemical and molecular characterisation of two patients with Type II sialidosis exhibiting the congenital (P1) and infantile forms (P2).

Successful treatment of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis in children with interleukin-1beta receptor antagonist (anakinra): an unrecognized autoinflammatory disease?

Recurrent pericarditis occurs in association with various medical conditions, but in most cases the condition appears to be idiopathic. Although high-dose steroid treatment is often effective, it may have serious side effects. Herein we describe 3 children with recurrent pericarditis who were treated at our hospital, during flares, with the interleukin-1beta receptor antagonist anakinra, with immediate response.

The magnitude of early response to methotrexate therapy predicts long-term outcome of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the magnitude of clinical response in the first 6 months of methotrexate (MTX) therapy and long-term outcome in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: The clinical charts of 125 JIA patients who were started with MTX and then followed for at least 5 years were reviewed. Based on the level of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Pediatric response at 6 months, patients were divided in four mutually exclusive groups: (1) non-responders, (2) responders at 30%, (3) responders at 50%, and (4) responders at 70%.

Neutrophils from patients with TNFRSF1A mutations display resistance to tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis: pathogenetic and clinical implications.

Objective: To explore tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis in neutrophils from patients with TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) and to correlate the results with the different kinds of TNFRSF1A mutations.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-five patients with clinically suspected inherited autoinflammatory syndrome were screened for mutations of the TNFRSF1A gene. Neutrophils were isolated from heparinized blood by dextran sedimentation and incubated with and without cycloheximide (CHX) and TNFalpha.

[Targets and prevention of complications in nursing of subarachnoid hemorrhage].

A qualified nursing care is mandatory in patients after SAH. Clinical and instrumental monitoring are basilar to assure the rapid control of dangerous ICP or CPP changes and of epileptic crisis. Prophylaxis of infections is greatly minimized when coherent treatments are applied to any invasive devices, patient body, patient bed and UTI area.