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We present a census of the active black hole population at 1 < z < 2, by constructing the bivariate distribution function of black hole mass and Eddington ratio, employing a maximum likelihood fitting technique. The study of the active black hole mass function (BHMF) and the Eddington ratio distribution function (ERDF) allows us to clearly disentangle the active galactic nuclei (AGN) downsizing phenomenon, present in the AGN luminosity function, into its physical processes of black hole mass downsizing and accretion rate evolution. We are utilizing type-1 AGN samples from three optical surveys (VVDS, zCOSMOS and SDSS), that cover a wide range of 3 dex in luminosity over our redshift interval of interest. We investigate the cosmic evolution of the AGN population as a function of AGN luminosity, black hole mass and accretion rate. Compared to z = 0, we find a distinct change in the shape of the BHMF and the ERDF, consistent with downsizing in black hole mass. The active fraction or duty cycle of type-1 AGN at z ∼ 1.5 is almost flat as a function of black hole mass, while it shows a strong decrease with increasing mass at z = 0. We are witnessing a phase of intense black hole growth, which is largely driven by the onset of AGN activity in massive SMBHs (supermassive black holes) towards z = 2. We finally compare our results to numerical simulations and semi-empirical models and while we find reasonable agreement over certain parameter ranges, we highlight the need to refine these models in order to match our observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: sepiapterine reductase deficiency (SRD) is a rare levodopa (L-dopa)-responsive disorder treated with a combination therapy of controlled-release L-dopa and carbidopa. The currently available formulation of controlled-release carbidopa/L-dopa does not entirely meet the requirements for the long-term therapy in pediatric patients. In fact, administration of a manufactured tablet at a dose intended for adults necessitates its adjustment to the child's needs, as the splitting of the tablet into smaller portions or its dilution in water. It's essential to emphasize that tablets must not be crushed, as this can compromise the controlled-release mechanism and affect the efficacy of the medication. At the moment, commercial liquid formulations are not available. Given these limitations, in house drug preparation in hospitals and community pharmacies is a valid option to ensure the proper therapeutic management of these patients., Materials and Methods: we described sample preparation, physical and microbiological analyses, taste testing, and tolerability of a 1:10 ratio carbidopa/L-dopa flavored (mint, raspberry, cacao, berries) and unflavored oral formulation (no sweetening agents were added). We also reported long-term follow-up of two pediatric patients with SRD., Results: we documented the stability for 28 days at 25 °C of the liquid solution. All formulations were well-tolerated, and no adverse events were observed during or after assessing taste and tolerability. The long-term follow up of two patients was characterized by effective symptom control and optimal treatment adherence and compliance., Conclusions: in-house liquid drug formulations can be a valid option for pediatric patients with SRD. Given the significant impact of taste on medication adherence, the use of flavoring agents in the development of liquid formulations of L-dopa/carbidopa results a very useful strategy to obtain optimal adherence in the pediatric population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Many researchers who evaluated psychological distress during the transition to parenthood agree in identifying pregnancy as the most sensitive period for the onset of psychiatric symptomatology for both parents. Furthermore, research highlights a correlation between symptoms experienced by fathers in relation to those experienced by mothers., Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether dyadic functioning influences the level of psychiatric symptomatology in couples expecting their first child. Participants were 137 couples expecting their first child; they were recruited at the San Filippo Neri and the Santo Spirito hospitals in Rome (ASLROMA1). We used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to test the interdependence of both partners and the effect of dyadic relationships on psychiatric symptoms in the couple., Results: The overall test of distinguishability yielded a chi square value of 122.167 (23 df; p < .001). The actor-partner interdependence model showed significant paths between couple coping and psychiatric symptomatology. Specifically, we found that the quality of couple coping perceived by the mother negatively predicted maternal psychiatric symptomatology, and the quality of couple coping perceived by the father negatively predicted paternal psychiatric symptomatology. Furthermore, the quality of couple coping perceived by the father negatively predicted maternal psychiatric symptomatology., Conclusions: The results of this study confirm that dyadic adjustment is an important element for the development of effective interpersonal relationships. These data highlight the importance of promoting psycho-educational and clinical courses and programs for the development of social support with future parents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have no conflicts of interests to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lupus Anticoagulants (LA) pathology is a disease frequently associated with venous and/or arterial thrombosis. The authors describe a 6 year-old boy complaining cephalea and emesis, followed by lethargy, in whom antiphospholipids antibodies were detected. Brain magnetic resonance scans showed lesions of the cerebellum. The characteristics of LA disease are discussed.

According to the Ministry of Health, at the paediatric section of Central Hospital of Rovigo, a vaccination campaign against HBV was undertaken in the year 1985 with the main purpose to reduce the sickness-rate and the mortality by HBV. Two vaccination patterns have been applied and they show to be efficient. 46 risk-subjects divided into two groups were vaccinated: group A: newborn, sons of women HBc Ag positive; group B: children living together with carriers or subjects sick of hepatitis B. The group A subjects had undergone to passive immunoprophylaxis at birth and to a vaccination cycle. The group B subjects only vaccination. The research of antibody titres produced by the vaccination demonstrated in the majority of cases greater than 121 IU/L. Only about 25% of vaccinated subjects showed a feeble movement of transaminases. The children's parents have cooperated very well.

The serum activity of SGOT and SGPT is one of the more specific parameters of liver cell injury both in adults and in the pediatric age-group. The determination of serum transaminase activity could offer a routine and rapid laboratory test for establishing the presence of hepatic cellular damage following intrauterine or perinatal asphyxia. In fact, it appears that there is a correlation between hypoxia and the increase in serum activity of transaminases in full-term and premature asphyxiated newborns. However, this increase is reversible up to the 30th day of life. The behavior of transaminase enzymatic activity in premature asphyxiated newborns compared to full-term asphyxiated newborns suggests a higher resistance of membranes to hypoxic-ischemic injuries and a lower enzymatic pool of cellular metabolism in premature newborns. Therefore, knowledge of the behavior of SGOT and SGPT activity may have important implications in the diagnosis and early treatment of perinatal asphyxia.

An analysis of the available data concerning the events bringing to the completion of the adrenergic function in early life shows the existence of an early response making the detection of MOPEG-SO4 levels in the urine--the foetus and in the new-born. This response isn't the same in the adult and in the infant as in the latter the number of receptors is lower, the prevalent mediator is NA and the receptorial subtype is almost entirely beta. The effector system, on the contrary, is as fully developed in the infant as it's in the adult. Maybe it will be possible in the future to evaluate--through non-invasive methods such as the detection of MOPEG-SO4 levels in the urine--the degree of development of the central simpatoadrenergic system in order to exactly work out perinatal asphyxia and brains congenital injuries.

The paralysis of the diaphragm in the newborn is a rare pathological event. The "paradoxical movement" of the affected emidiaphragm can sometimes determine a important respiratory insufficiency. Medical treatment involves supplying oxygen, CPAP by means of a nasal cannula or mechanical ventilation with PEEP. Surgical plication of the affected emidiaphragm is recommended when a regular diaphragmatic function is not restored at 5-6 weeks of age and in the presence of serious respiratory insufficiency. Three cases are reported in this article which needed different therapeutical approaches.

In this report, we describe two patients with Potter's syndrome classical signs and take the opportunity to discuss about the etiopathogenetic hypothesis concerning various phenotypical expressions of that syndrome.