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A French survey found that the use of clonidine has increased in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Neonates in NICUs often experience painful episodes, and while opioids and benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed, they can have side effects. Clonidine, an alpha-2 agonist, is being used more frequently to prevent and treat iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome in older children. The survey collected responses from 71 participants, with 60% of prescribers reporting an increase in clonidine prescriptions. The main reasons for not using clonidine were institutional sedation practices and a lack of evidence regarding its efficacy and safety in neonates. Prescribers mainly used clonidine for full-term infants and those over 32 weeks of gestational age, primarily for treating iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome. The study highlights the need for further research on the safety and efficacy of clonidine in neonates. [Extracted from the article]

Primary objective: Beneficial effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on cognition and behaviour were observed in a child with probable Herpes Simplex Encephalitis. Based on these positive findings, it was examined in the present case study whether a child who had been diagnosed to suffer from tuberculous meningitis would benefit from TENS. Furthermore, as aggression and overactive behaviour were also prominent clinical symptoms, the effects of methylphenidate were investigated. Methods and Procedures: Neuropsychological tests were used to assess attention/concentration and visuospatial and visuoconstructive memory. Behaviour, including the level of activity during 24 hours, was assessed by one observation scale and actigraphy. Experimental interventions: TENS and methylphenidate. Main outcomes and results: TENS particularly improved overall affective behaviour. Methylphenidate appeared to have the opposite effect on cognition and hardly any effect on patient's behaviour. Conclusions: TENS might improve the patient's behavioural functioning. Pros and cons for treatment effects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ATLAS Collaboration has started a vast program of upgrades in the context of high-luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) foreseen in 2024. The current readout electronics of every sub-detector, including the Tile Calorimeter, must be upgraded to comply with the extreme HL-LHC operating conditions. The ASIC described in this document, named Front-end ATlAs tiLe Integrated Circuit (FATALIC), has been developed to fulfill these requirements. FATALIC is based on a 130 nm CMOS technology and performs the complete signal processing (amplification, shaping and digitization) over a large dynamic range. A dedicated channel for low current is also designed to perform the detector calibration with a radioactive cesium source. The design and performances of FATALIC are described including test beam data analysis. • Complete signal processing inside a single chip over ∼ 10 4 dynamic range. • Reading current directly without current–voltage conversion. • Performances evaluated in test bench, test beam and in simulation for high pile-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global decline of shark populations, largely driven by overfishing to supply the shark fin trade, poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Southeast Asia, and particularly Singapore, is a key hub for the transit and trade of shark fins that contribute to the exploitation of these apex predators. Through the use of DNA barcoding techniques, this study aimed to determine what species of shark are involved in the Singapore shark fin trade. Fins were collected from markets, dried goods shops and traditional Chinese medicine halls throughout Singapore. In total, DNA was extracted from 684 fins collected in January 2024 and PCR amplification targeted a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene for species identification. Results revealed fins from 24 species across 16 genera, with 19 species listed on CITES Appendices II, and 16 listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List (critically endangered = 2, endangered = 4, vulnerable = 10). The top five most frequently identified species were Carcharhinus falciformis , Galeorhinus galeus , Rhizoprionodon oligolinx, Sphyrna lewini and Rhizoprionodon acutus . Of these, four are listed on CITES Appendix II and four are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List., Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Climate targets will provide the Netherlands with more and higher industrial wind turbines that produce various 'side effects', including noise pollution and annoyance. Especially low-frequency noise and infrasonic vibrations can be detected more than 10 km away. In neighbouring residential areas, long-term exposure, especially at night, leads to sleep disturbances, with secondary symptoms, that may be associated with, for example, delay in cognitive development of children. More research is needed.

A 21-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of recent anosmia and liquorrhoea. He also complained of moderate headache and concentration problems in the past few years. On CT scan and MRI scans a big subfrontal process was seen, partially solid and partially cystic. Neurosurgical and histological findings proved that the lesion was an osteoma of the anterior skull base, concomitant with an intradurally extending mucocele.

In a randomized trial, 227 patients undergoing hemodialysis who were seronegative for all markers of hepatitis B virus were immunized at monthly intervals with three doses of either 3 micrograms or 27 micrograms of heat-inactivated hepatitis B HB-vaccine (CLB). Five months after the first injection, 77% of the patients in the 3-micrograms group and 94% in the 27-micrograms group manifested antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). At month 12 the proportions of subjects with anti-HBs in the 3-micrograms and 27-micrograms groups had dropped to 68% and 87%, respectively. At all times, the differences in the anti-HBs conversion rate between the two treatment groups were significant. These results show that the impaired immune reactivity to hepatitis B vaccines of patients undergoing hemodialysis can be overcome by increasing the dose of the vaccine.

The effect of simultaneous administration of hepatitis B immune globulin on the antibody response to a low dose of heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine was investigated in 175 health care workers. Subjects were divided into four groups: Groups I and II received 3 monthly injections of a reduced dose (0.6 microgram) of a heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine (the usual dose being 3 micrograms) along with 500 IU of hepatitis B immune globulin simultaneously with the first injection of vaccine; Groups III and IV received the vaccine only. In addition, Groups I and III received a final booster injection with 0.6 microgram of the vaccine 8 months after the initial injection. Anti-HBs passively acquired from hepatitis B immune globulin did not interfere with the development of an active antibody response to the vaccine: the anti-HBs conversion rates were similar in persons treated with the combined regimen (89%) as in those who received the vaccine only (91%). At 3 and 5 months after the first injection, however, anti-HBs titers in the recipients of vaccine alone were slightly but statistically significantly higher than those of persons who received both hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine; but at 8 months, this difference was no longer statistically significant. After a booster inoculation at 8 months, the geometric mean titer of anti-HBs increased 7- to 8-fold in antibody-positive vaccinees, regardless of whether hepatitis B immune globulin had been given earlier. Moreover, 6 of 13 nonresponders to the initial three vaccine injections developed anti-HBs after the booster inoculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)