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Technological innovations in agricultural tractors have revolutionised farming, increased labour productivity and reduced operator's hazards. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relation between agricultural tractors’ technological innovations and farm size, as well as users’ attitude on environmental impact of agricultural tractors according to their age and years of activity in the farm. Results, concerning Italy, highlight that high technological innovations of tractors are associated to larger farms, which are managed professionally by more efficient and sophisticated agricultural machineries. Empirical evidence also shows that the older the tractor adopters are and the longer they have been working in agriculture, the higher is their commitment to environment protection and safe working conditions. These results could be important for critical strategic management implications to spur technological innovation in agricultural tractors that better satisfy farmer's needs and to support the fruitful adoption of innovations for an efficient and safe modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to assess oral valganciclovir V-GCV (GCV pro-drug), 15 mg/kg bid for 6 weeks to 13 neonates with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). We monitored plasma levels of GCV within 30 days of therapy: Ctrough, and C2h (before and the 2 hours after administration), we performed viral assessment in plasma and urine and tolerability at baseline, and every fortnight. Pharmacokinetics showed GCV stable and effective plasma concentrations: mean Ctrough = 0.51 ± 0.3 and C2h : 3.81 ± 1.37 μg/ml. No significant variability was seen neither intra-patient nor inter-patients. One newborn discontinued therapy because of thrombocytopenia, another finished with a neutrophils count of 1,000/μl. At the end of therapy 6 out of 12 and 8 out of 12 newborns were negative for CMV in urine and plasma. The 4 newborns positive for CMV DNA showed a 90% reduction of pre-therapy values. Clinically, the 4 patients reporting hepatic disease and the 3 with thrombocytopenia recovered after 6 weeks of therapy. Eight newborns suffered from SNHL; at the 6-month follow-up no patients had worsened, 2 had improved, and no deterioration was reported in 3 newborns with chorioretinitis scarring. The paucity of adverse events, and the effectiveness and stability of drug plasma concentrations are the important findings of our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Sepsis is a common and severe complication in premature neonates, particularly those with very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1500 g). Whether lactoferrin, a mammalian milk glycoprotein involved in innate immune host defenses, can reduce the incidence of sepsis is unknown. In animal models, the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) enhances the activity of lactoferrin but has not been studied in human infants.Objective: To establish whether bovine lactoferrin (BLF), alone or in combination with LGG, reduces the incidence of late-onset sepsis in VLBW neonates.Design, Setting, and Patients: Prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted in 11 Italian tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Patients were 472 VLBW infants enrolled from October 1, 2007, through July 31, 2008, and assessed until discharge for development of sepsis.Intervention: Infants were randomly assigned to receive orally administered BLF (100 mg/d) alone (n = 153), BLF plus LGG (6 x 10(9) colony-forming units/d) (n = 151), or placebo (n = 168) from birth until day 30 of life (day 45 for neonates <1000 g at birth).Main Outcome Measure: First episode of late-onset sepsis, ie, sepsis occurring more than 72 hours after birth with isolation of any pathogen from blood or from peritoneal or cerebrospinal fluid.Results: Demographic, clinical, and management characteristics of the 3 groups were similar, including type of feeding and intake of maternal milk. Incidence of late-onset sepsis was significantly lower in the BLF and BLF plus LGG groups (9/153 [5.9%] and 7/151 [4.6%], respectively) than in the control group receiving placebo (29/168 [17.3%]) (risk ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.70; P = .002 for BLF vs control and risk ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.60; P < .001 for BLF plus LGG vs control). The decrease occurred for both bacterial and fungal sepsis. No adverse effects or intolerances to treatment occurred.Conclusion: Compared with placebo, BLF supplementation alone or in combination with LGG reduced the incidence of a first episode of late-onset sepsis in VLBW neonates.Trial Registration: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN53107700. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the temporal structure of body core temperature in twin newborns. Performance of a continuous recording of body temperature; Analysis of data by the single cosinor method and spectral analysis; Demonstration of a significant circadian periodicity of body temperature.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is a panniculitis that develops in fatty areas during the first weeks of life after foetal distress or perinatal complications. Prognosis is generally good with complete regression, but it can be complicated by metabolic abnormalities like hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, thrombocytopenia, and also potentially life-threatening hypercalcemia. We report a case of severe hypercalcemia complicating SCFN in a newborn who was treated with hyperhydration, furosemide, prednisone, and pamidronate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]