Search results for "Icon"
showing 10 items of 3539 documents
Intrinsic challenges in ancient microbiome reconstruction using 16S rRNA gene amplification
2015
AbstractTo date, characterization of ancient oral (dental calculus) and gut (coprolite) microbiota has been primarily accomplished through a metataxonomic approach involving targeted amplification of one or more variable regions in the 16S rRNA gene. Specifically, the V3 region (E. coli 341–534) of this gene has been suggested as an excellent candidate for ancient DNA amplification and microbial community reconstruction. However, in practice this metataxonomic approach often produces highly skewed taxonomic frequency data. In this study, we use non-targeted (shotgun metagenomics) sequencing methods to better understand skewed microbial profiles observed in four ancient dental calculus speci…
Silicone-Silver Penile Prosthesis: Description, Operative Approach and Results
1980
A silicone penile prosthesis in which silver wires are embedded to allow for voluntary bending of the penis for urination and resting position and for straightening for intercourse is described. The implantation is done via a hemicircular incision on the dorsum of the penis in the sulcus coronarius. Buck's fascia is identified and opened, and the corpora are dilated up to 30F. After the exact length is determined with a special sizer the prosthesis is slipped into each corpus cavernosum. The advantage of this approach is the optimal insertion of the prosthesis distal to the sulcus coronarius, thereby preventing kinking of the glans during intercourse. Our experiences with the implantation i…
Transcriptomic profile of epileptic children treated with ketogenic therapies.
2022
Background: Ketogenic dietary therapies (KDT) are used as a treatment in childhood epilepsy. However, their mechanism has not yet been established. The main objective of this study was to determine the changes in the transcriptomic profile induced by KDT in children with epilepsy in order to shed light on its possible mechanisms. Methods: Eight children with refractory epilepsy were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained before and after the children were treated with KDT for a minimum of 6 months. RNA was extracted and mRNA and miRNA profiling were performed and analyzed. Results: Our intervention with KDT significantly reduced the seizure number in seven o…
N-Valproyl-L-Phenylalanine as new potential antiepileptic drug: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro studies on stability, toxicity and anticonvu…
2013
Valproic acid (VPA) is considered first-line drug in treatment of generalized idiopathic seizures such as absence, generalized tonic-clonic and myoclonic seizures. Among major antiepileptic drugs, VPA is also considered effective in childhood epilepsies and infantile spasms. Due to its broad activity, VPA acts as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder and it is useful in migraine prophylaxis. Despite its long-standing usage, severe reactions to VPA, such as liver toxicity and teratogenicity, are reported. To circumvent side effects due to structural characteristics of VPA, we synthesized in good yield a new VPA-aminoacid conjugate, the N-valproyl-L-Phenylalanine, and characterized by FT-IR, …
Dose-Related Concentrations of Neuroactive/Psychoactive Drugs Expected in Blood of Children and Adolescents
2020
PURPOSE Therapeutic drug monitoring is highly recommended for children and adolescents treated with neurotropic/psychotropic drugs. For interpretation of therapeutic drug monitoring results, drug concentrations (C/D) expected in a "normal" population are helpful to identify pharmacokinetic abnormalities or nonadherence. Using dose-related concentration (DRC) factors obtained from pharmacokinetic data, C/D ranges expected under steady state can be easily calculated by multiplication of DRC by the daily dose. DRC factors, however, are defined only for adults so far. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to estimate DRC factors for children and adolescents and compare them with those of adul…
Epidemiology and diagnostic and therapeutic management of febrile seizures in the Italian pediatric emergency departments: A prospective observationa…
2015
AIM: Febrile seizures (FS) involve 2-5% of the paediatric population, among which Complex FS (CFS) account for one third of accesses for FS in Emergency Departments (EDs). The aim of our study was to define the epidemiology, the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic approach to FS and CFSs in the Italian EDs. METHODS: A multicenter prospective observational study was performed between April 2014 and March 2015. Patients between 1 and 60 months of age, randomly accessing to ED for ongoing FS or reported FS at home were included. Demographic features and diagnostic-therapeutic follow-up were recorded. FS were categorized in simple (<10min), prolonged (10-30min) and status epilepticus (>3…
Disseminated fusariosis in immunocompromised patients
2011
Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of developing serious disseminated infections by opportunistic fungi (Aspergillus, Candida, and Fusarium spp), which frequently present as cutaneous lesions, sometimes as a first sign. Prolonged and deep neutropenia, immunodepressive treatments (systemic steroids and chemotherapy) and severe T-cell immunodeficiency are the most important risk factors. We report 2 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who developed multiple tender erythematous skin lesions on their legs and arms during chemotherapy treatment. Skin biopsies for histology and culture studies established the diagnosis of Fusarium infection. They received treatment with systemic …
Anticonvulsant and antidepressant activity of the selected terpene GABA derivatives in experimental tests in mice
2006
The present study was designed to investigate the central nervous system activity of terpene GABA (and piracetam) derivatives designated as BF-1, BF-2, BF-3, BF-4, BF-5, BF-6. We assessed their anticonvulsant activity in the two main mouse models of seizures (MES-test, PTZ-test), an antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test (FST), as well as an influence on spontaneous locomotor activity. Our study demonstrated the strong anticonvulsant activity of (1S,3R,7R)-(-)-3,8,8-trimethyl-4-aza-bicyclo[5.1.0]acetate-5-one hydrochloride (compound BF-2) in the PTZ-test. Activity of BF-2 was equipotent to ethosuximide (380 mg/kg, po) in the PTZ-test, when used at a dose of 100 mg/kg, po. No neu…
Spatial calibration of structured illumination fluorescence microscopy using capillary tissue phantoms.
2008
Quantitative assessment of microvascular structure is relevant to the investigations of ischemic injury, reparative angiogenesis and tumor revascularization. In light microscopy applications, thick tissue specimens are necessary to characterize microvascular networks; however, thick tissue leads to image distortions due to out-of-focus light. Structured illumination confocal microscopy is an optical sectioning technique that improves contrast and resolution by using a grid pattern to identify the plane-of-focus within the specimen. Because structured illumination can be applied to wide-field (nonscanning) microscopes, the microcirculation can be studied by sequential intravital and confocal…
Double Drug Delivery Using Capped Mesoporous Silica Microparticles for the Effective Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
2019
[EN] Silica mesoporous microparticles loaded with both rhodamine B fluorophore (S1) or hydrocortisone (S2), and capped with an olsalazine derivative, are prepared and fully characterized. Suspensions of Si and S2 in water at an acidic and a neutral pH show negligible dye/drug release, yet a notable delivery took place when the reducing agent sodium dithionite is added because of hydrolysis of an azo bond in the capping ensemble. Additionally, olsalazine fragmentation induced 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) release. In vitro digestion models show that S1 and S2 solids are suitable systems to specifically release a pharmaceutical agent in the colon. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats show …