Search

A molecular diagnostic technique (polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [PCR-ELISA]) for detection of Erwinia amylovora was developed. The protocol is based on the immunoenzymatic determination of PCR products. For in vitro amplification, we used previously published primers able to detect the cryptic plasmid pEA29, which is ubiquitous in E. amylovora. Amplicons were labeled with 11-digoxigenin (DIG)-dUTP during the amplification reaction, captured by hybridization to a biotinylated oligonucleotide in streptavidin-coated ELISA microplates, and then detected with anti-DIG-Fab′-peroxidase conjugated antibodies. The specificity of the assay was verified using E. amylovora strains from different host plants and geographical origins in addition to other plant-associated bacteria (either phytopathogenic or saprophytic) belonging to the genera Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Agrobacterium. In detection threshold experiments with pure cultures, as few as 30 and 3 CFU/reaction tube were detected when the ABTS (colorimetric) and ECL (chemiluminescent) detection assays, respectively, were used. PCR-ELISA coupled with chemiluminescent detection was able to detect as few as 4 × 102 CFU/g of artificially infested pear twigs. The assay was further shown to be suitable for detection of E. amylovora in naturally infected plant organs, and the results were compared to those obtained using standard PCR assays with electrophoretic separation of amplicons.

The PRIN 2009 Project SAPPHIRE has created the first national infrastructure for a shared access to a silicon photonic foundry. The goal has been accomplished developing dedicated design kits of silicon photonic building blocks together with software tools for high-level circuit design of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). Here, we present successful examples of silicon photonic PICs fabricated in multi project wafers in the framework of the SAPPHIRE platform, demonstrating the flexibility and the viability of the generic foundry model for silicon photonics.

This paper describes the first steps in gathering biological data to assess the conservation value of rivers in Serbia, using SERCON (System for Evaluating Rivers for Conservation). SERCON was developed in the UK to improve consistency in assessments of river ‘quality’ by using a scoring system to evaluate habitat features and species groups, catchment characteristics, and the potential impacts to which river systems may be subjected. This paper provides checklists for aquatic, semiaquatic and marginal plants, macroinvertebrates, fish and birds associated with rivers in Serbia, collated from a wide range of published and unpublished sources. These lists should be regarded as provisional because few wide-ranging biological surveys have been carried out specifically on Serbian rivers; further revisions are likely as more information becomes available in future. Ultimately, the work will benefit regulators and decision-makers with responsibility for river management under the new Water Law, and contribute to river protection and conservation in Serbia. [Acknowledgments. The hydromorphology dataset was prepared for the project ‘Biosensing Technologies and Global System for Long-Term Research and Integrated Management of Ecosystems’ (Biosensing tehnologije i globalni sistem za kontinuirana istraživanja i integrisano upravljanje ekosistema) III 043002 grant, while the biodiversity dataset was prepared the project Plant biodiversity of Serbia and the Balkans – assessment, sustainable use and protection (Biodiverzitet biljnog sveta Srbije i Balkanskog poluostrva – procena, održivo korišćenje i zaštita) 173030 Grant, supported by Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Serbia]

Aims Pudendal nerve stimulation has beneficial effects on numerous pelvic floor function impairments such as urinary and/or fecal incontinence, retention, and constipation. In preceding literature the implant technique required a fairly complex and invasive surgery, although recent advances with percutaneous placement of the lead through an introducer have made the procedure much less invasive. We performed staged procedure similar to that of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) to place tined lead near the pudendal nerve, using neurophysiological guidance that allowed accurate pudendal nerve stimulation through either perineal or posterior approach. We have named this approach chronic pudendal nerve stimulation (CPNS). Methods Fifteen neurogenic patients (eight male, seven female) with symptoms of urge incontinence due to neurogenic overactive bladder underwent CPNS. All patients had complete neurophysiological and urodynamic evaluation at baseline and follow-up and were asked to complete voiding and bowel diary for 7 days. Results During screening, average number of incontinent episodes per day decreased from 7 ± 3.3 to 2.6 ± 3.3 (P

A Shared Access Platform to Photonic Integrated Resources (SAPPHIRE) is presented, which aims to become the first national infrastructure enabling a shared access of different users to a generic silicon photonic foundry. The platform is based on the concept of high-level circuit design for photonic integrated circuits (PICs), where complex architectures can be designed without a specific knowledge of either electromagnetic (EM) or technological issues, but simply operating at the circuit level on a selected set of elementary functional elements, named building blocks (BBs). The main roles of the SAPPHIRE platform in the foundry-Users interactions are discussed, as well as the concept of photonic BBs and circuit simulation. Results on a proof-of-concept device are shown to demonstrate the validity of the high-level circuit design for PICs.

The neurophysiological mechanisms of hypnotic analgesia are still under debate. It is known that pain occurring in one part of the body (counterstimulation) decreases pain in the rest of the body by activating the diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNICs). The aim of this study was to explore the effects of hypnosis on both pain perception and heterotopic nociceptive stimulation. The A forms of both the Harward Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale were administered to 50 healthy students. Twenty subjects were selected and assigned to two groups: group A, consisting of 10 subjects with high hypnotic susceptibility; and group B, consisting of 10 subjects with low hypnotic susceptibility. The subjects were then randomly assigned first to either a control session or a session of hypnotic analgesia. The nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII) was recorded from the biceps femoris muscle in response to stimulation of the sural nerve. The subjective pain threshold, the RIII reflex threshold, and the mean area with suprathreshold stimulation were determined. Heterotopic nociceptive stimulation was investigated by the cold-pressor test (CPT). During and immediately after the CPT, the subjective pain threshold, pain tolerance, and mean RIII area were determined again. The same examinations were repeated during hypnosis. Hypnosis significantly reduced the subjective pain perception and the nociceptive flexion reflex. It also increased pain tolerance and reduced pain perception and the nociceptive reflex during the CPT. These effects were found only in highly susceptible subjects. However, the DNIC's activity was less evident during hypnosis than during the CPT effects without hypnosis. Both hypnosis and DNICs were able to modify the perception of pain. It seems likely that DNICs and hypnosis use the same descending inhibitory pathways for the control of pain. The susceptibility of the subject is a critical factor in hypnotically induced analgesia.

Sensation is a perception made by an individual related to a stimulus that occurs in the body.

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of a filter for demultiplexing in the wavelength division domain achieved with a H0 cavity on a III-V photonic crystal (PhC) membrane. This device is single mode, the total insertion losses are about 10.5 dB, the drop efficiency is close to 40%, and the channel isolation can exceed 20 dB at 500 GHz. A 28-Gb/s nonreturn to zero (NRZ) wavelength demultiplexing shows

Influence of sacral nerve modulation (SNM) on cerebral somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) was determined in patients with incontinence and constipation.Selection of patients with incontinence and constipation for SNM could be improved.The latency (ms) of SEP induced by pudendal nerve stimulation was compared before (T0) and at 1 month during peripheral nerve evaluation (PNE) of SNM at frequencies of 21 Hz (T1) and 40 Hz (T2). The results were correlated with clinical outcome at 6 months.In 16 of 23 incontinent patients with clinical "success" from SNM (Wexner incontinence score ≤7), there was a significant difference between P40 latency at T0 and T2 (38.81 vs. 37.49 ms, P = 0.049). In the 7 with "failure," there was no change between T0 and T2. In 12 of 19 constipated patients with "success" (Wexner constipation score ≤15), there was no difference between T0 and T2 P40 latency (39.28 vs. 38.25 ms, P = 0.374). In the 7 with "failure," there was a significant fall in P40 latency (41.20 vs. 39.30 ms, P = 0.047) but not to the normal range. The T0 P40 latency in incontinent patients having "success" was significantly higher than in the normal range (P = 0.044). In constipated patients it was significantly higher than in the normal range in both those with "success" (P = 0.001) and "failure" (P = 0.022).Measurement of P40 latency of SEP at baseline and at 1 month of SNM at a frequency of 40 Hz may help to predict the outcome of SNM and thus influence the decision for permanent implantation for patients with incontinence and constipation.

As the majority of Italians are not circumcised, the knowledge of the various aspects of male circumcision (MC) is lacking. The waves of immigrants from Muslim countries presented various problems concerning ritual MC, among them the fact that an ambiguous legislation enabled fraudulent use of National Health Services (NHS) funding, as ritual MCs were falsely labelled as being “therapeutic” in order to have them performed for free under the NHS. To better understand MC in Italy, during the last three years, different graduation theses supervised by the author permitted the gathering of: (a) epidemiological data to update the first epidemiological survey on the topic, (b) the attitudes of 173 Italian urologists toward MC, that were assessed by means of a questionnaire during a national medical congress. A previous thesis allowed (c) the production of the questionnaire administered to these professionals and, finally, (d) interviews were carried out. They were performed in the 15 health facilities supposed to carry out ritual MC, in order to build a map of these facilities in Italy and to better understand the underlying motivations and implications. Data confirm the fact that MC in Italy exists as a delicate, underground, and multifaceted problem. It appears that, “behind the scenes,” not only unnecessary interventions are performed but also that legal violations are common.

We studied the feasibility, safety and efficacy of daily intravesical instillation of 1 mg of the endogenous peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ in a selected group of patients who perform clean intermittent self-catheterization for neurogenic detrusor overactivity incontinence.A total of 18 patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity incontinence and on clean intermittent self-catheterization were prospectively randomized to receive 1 mg nociceptin/orphanin FQ in 10 cc saline (9) or placebo (saline) solution (9) at the first morning catheterization for 10 days. All patients completed a voiding diary using a frequency/volume chart according to International Continence Society guidelines, and reported daily incontinence frequency. Mean changes in incontinence episode frequency and voiding diary mean bladder capacity from baseline throughout treatment were the primary outcome variables. Urodynamic parameters (cystomanometric bladder capacity, maximum bladder pressure) were also recorded at baseline and during the study.The 2 groups were well balanced and all patients completed the study. The urodynamic parameters recorded during the study showed an increase in cystomanometric bladder capacity and a decrease in maximum bladder pressure compared to baseline only in patients assigned to the nociceptin/orphanin FQ group. Mean daily urine leakage episodes during nociceptin/orphanin FQ treatment were 0.94 vs a pretreatment baseline of 2.18 (p0.05), while no significant changes were reported in the placebo group (2.06 vs 2.43 baseline). The total mean voiding diary bladder capacity increased from 171 +/- 70 to 294 +/- 107 ml in patients receiving nociceptin/orphanin FQ, while voiding diary mean bladder capacity remained unchanged in patients receiving placebo (from 182 +/- 55 to 178 +/- 23 ml). No significant problems related to feasibility of the procedure as well as significant side effects were reported by patients.This study showed that intravesical nociceptin/orphanin FQ but not placebo inhibited the micturition reflex in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity incontinence, and demonstrated the clinical efficacy of nociceptin/orphanin FQ during 10 days of treatment. These findings support the use of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptor agonists as an innovative therapeutic approach for controlling detrusor overactivity incontinence.

Interstitial cystitis (IC), a syndrome characterized by motor and sensory dysfunction of the lower urinary tract, represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge even to highly skilled physicians. We investigated the technical feasibility and the clinical efficacy of a prolonged intravesical instillation of RTX by in situ drug delivery system in patients with IC.5 female patients (mean age 48.7 years) received a prolonged infusion of a saline solution containing 10nM of resiniferatoxin at the flow rate 25microl/h by the MiniMed 407C Infusion Pump (MiniMed Sylmar, CA, USA), connected to sovrapubic 5Fr mono Pigtail catheter, for 10 days. All patients reported frequency, nocturia and urgency, and symptoms of pelvic pain for at least six months. They showed the absence of urinary tract infection within the last three months, the absence of functional disorders of lower urinary tract and no other vesical or urethral pathology. The pre-treatment (PT) frequency/volume (FV) chart and a pain score (VAS score) were recorded. Patients were evaluated after 30 days from the end of infusion (primary end point, PEP) and after three months (secondary end point, SEP).At PEP frequency reduced from 11.3+/-1.39 to 7.4+/-1.51 (p0.01) and nocturia from 3.6+/-0.54 to 1.2+/-0.44 (p0.01). A highly significant reduction of pain score was observed at PEP: it decreased to 2.4+/-0.54 from 6.7+/-0.83 (p0.01). The pain score remained significantly lower at SEP (3.2+/-0.44 p0.05). Nocturia was also statistically reduced at SEP (1.9+/-0.74) as well as frequency (8.7+/-1.76). No side effects were reported during the infusion as well as after the removal of the catheter.The present study demonstrates that the prolonged intravesical instillation of a drug by in situ drug delivery system is a feasible procedure and seems to support the efficacy of RTX in the treatment of IC patients. However further studies are necessary and mandatory to confirm our results and to define the exact action mechanism of prolonged infusion of RTX, the dosage and the treatment schedule.

Chronic stimulation of the sacral nerves has now become one of the most accepted stimulation therapies for functional lower urinary tract symptoms refractory to conservative treatment. Despite the existence of a large amount of literature on sacral neuromodulation (SNM) showing a fairly high percent of significant improvement in clinical outcome there are few experimental studies of SNM stimulus parameters and/or neurophysiological monitoring. We evaluated the specific action of SNM on the primary sensory cortical area. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) of the pudendal and posterior tibial nerves were evaluated in patients implanted with a monolateral permanent quadripolar electrode.A total of 24 patients underwent stage 1 monolateral sacral nerve implantation. Three SEP patterns were evaluated; namely before implantation, 1 month after stage 1 with stimulation set at 21 Hz and again with a pulse rate of 40 Hz.In all patients SNM produced a significant decrease in pudendal SEP latency of the first positive deflection between baseline SNM stimulation at different pulse rates at the ipsilateral and contralateral implant sites. This finding was evidence of the effect of S3 SNM on the cortical sensory area and the specificity of pudendal SEPs in measuring how SNM modulates the afferent pathway from the spinal nerve to the cortical sensory area.Our study confirms previous observations that SNM acts by the afferent pathway at the cortical site level and it sheds light on so-called idiopathic lower urinary tract symptoms. A modification of SEPs induced by SNM seems to be a prognostic factor of clinical outcomes. The action of SNM on the afferent pathway from the sacral area to the somatosensory cortex is specific and neurophysiological evaluation via pudendal SEPs provides evidence to this effect.

In this paper we describe a patient with mor-sensory loss in the right forearm and hand, which persisted more than 2 years after work-related crush trauma of the left hand. Radiographic and electromyographic investigations, somatosensory evoked potentials, CT scans of the encephalus as well as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Roarschach test have been performed. On the basis of these investigations, we think this represents a case of conversion disorder with somatic features. Included is a brief overview of other psychological illness with physical findings involving the upper limb.

Some aspects of the contractile properties of skeletal muscle in patients with progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), mitochondrial myopathy and focal cytochrome c-oxidase deficiency were investigated by studying the twitch response (TR) of the tibialis anterior muscle both at rest and after maximum isometric contraction. The results of needle electromyography were normal in four of the six examined patients, and myopathic in the remaining two. A slowing in muscle relaxation was the most frequently observed abnormality; significantly prolonged muscle contraction times and reduced twitch torque potentiation values after isometric contraction were also detected. TR abnormalities in PEO patients may be due either to a dysfunction of the contractile machinery depending upon impaired muscle energy supply or to altered muscle fiber characterized by the predominance of type I slow fiber. In addition to conventional electromyographic investigations, TR study may be a useful diagnostic tool in PEO patients.

(1) Background: It is recommended that an athlete, in order to ensure correct nutrition and performance, should consume between 1.2 and 2.0 g/kg/day of protein, while the daily recommended protein intake for a non-athlete is 0.8and 0.9 mg/kg/day. It is unclear if athletes living in Mediterranean countries are able to meet protein requirements without supplementation, since Mediterranean diet de-emphasizes meat and meat products. (2) Methods: 166 athletes (125 males) enrolled between 2017 and 2019 were required to keep a dietary journal for three consecutive days (2 workdays and 1 weekend day). Athletes had to be &gt, 18 years old, train in a particular sport activity more than 3 h a week and compete at least at an amateur level. Journal data were collected and then translated into macro-nutrient content (grams of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids) by a nutritionist. (3) Results: The protein intake reported by this specific population vary slightly from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), Dietitians of Canada (DC), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) joint statement recommendation level. Average protein levels without protein supplementation fell within the protein guidelines. Counterintuitively, the intake among those who supplemented their diet with protein was higher compared with those who did not, even when excluding the contribution of supplements. Although the majority of subjects participating in the study were able to meet protein intake recommended for athletes without protein supplementation, 27% of athletes were below the guideline range. (4) Conclusions: these data suggest that athletes&rsquo, nutrition should be more often evaluated by a nutritionist and that they will benefit from increasing their nutritional knowledge in order to make better food choices, resorting to protein supplementation only when effectively needed.

Altered martial indices before orthopedic surgery are associated with higher rates of complications and greatly affect the patient&rsquo, s functional ability. Oral supplements can optimize the preoperative martial status, with clinical efficacy and the patient&rsquo, s tolerability being highly dependent on the pharmaceutical formula. Patients undergoing elective hip/knee arthroplasty were randomized to be supplemented with a 30-day oral therapy of sucrosomial ferric pyrophosphate plus L-ascorbic acid. The tolerability was 2.7% among treated patients. Adjustments for confounding factors, such as iron absorption influencers, showed a relevant response limited to older patients (&ge, 65 years old), whose uncharacterized Hb loss was averted upon treatment with iron formula. Older patients with no support lost &minus, 2.8 &plusmn, 5.1%, while the intervention group gained +0.7 &plusmn, 4.6% of circulating hemoglobin from baseline (p = 0.019). Gastrointestinal diseases, medications, and possible dietary factors could affect the efficacy of iron supplements. Future opportunities may consider to couple ferric pyrophosphate with other nutrients, to pay attention in avoiding absorption disruptors, or to implement interventions to obtain an earlier martial status optimization at the population level.

Il contributo consiste nella traduzione del saggio già pubblicato nel volume italiano Balduzzi L., Pironi T. (a cura di) (2017), L'osservazione al nido. Una lente a più dimensioni per educare lo sguardo, Milano Franco Angeli. Il contributo si inserisce nel dibattito sul valore e sulle funzioni del tirocinio formativo dalla prospettiva dei futuri docenti ed educatori, investigando i vissuti e le rappresentazioni che tale esperienza ha rappresentato nel corso del percorso di formazione universitaria per educatori nei servizi per l’infanzia. Esso rende conto degli esiti di uno studio esplorativo sul tema del tirocinio degli studenti del corso di studio in Educatore nei servizi per l’infanzia, prendendo in esame caratteristiche strutturali, pregi e limiti di questa esperienza. A partire da questi dati empirici nel saggio si sviluppano anche riflessioni critiche e proposte di sviluppo. L’indagine si è svolta nella seconda parte dell’a.a. 2014/2015 e ha previsto l’impiego di un questionario composto da domande a risposta aperta inerenti l’esperienza di tirocinio una volta conclusa dagli studenti. Non ci si è focalizzati solo su punti di forza e di criticità circa l’organizzazione del tirocinio, ma anche sulle rappresentazioni dello stesso da parte dei tirocinanti, il legame con le discipline presenti nel curricolo di studi, le consapevolezze acquisite dagli studenti attraverso l’interconnessione tra teoria e pratica e infine i loro suggerimenti in proposito.

Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that many food molecules could interact with drug transporters and metabolizing enzymes through different mechanisms, which are predictive of what would be observed clinically. Given the recent incorporation of dietary modifications or supplements in traditional medicine, an increase in potential food-drug interactions has also appeared. The objective of this article is to review data regarding the influence of food on drug efficacy. Data from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases was reviewed for publications on pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic mechanisms. The following online resources were used to integrate functional and bioinformatic results: FooDB, Phenol-Explorer, Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, DrugBank, UniProt, and IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology. A wide range of food compounds were shown to interact with proteins involved in drug pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles, starting from drug oral bioavailability to enteric/hepatic transport and metabolism, blood transport, and systemic transport/metabolism. Knowledge of any food components that may interfere with drug efficacy is essential, and would provide a link for obtaining a holistic view for cancer, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, or neurological therapies. However, preclinical interaction may be irrelevant to clinical interaction, and health professionals should be aware of the limitations if they intend to optimize the therapeutic effects of drugs.