104 research outputs found
Distance Sampling and Thermal Immaging to assess a roe deer population in Northern Appennines: the pros and cons of a fashionable technique.
No full textThe recent development of Oistance Sampling techniques (OS) has provided a promising device to
yield good population estimates with samples of small size (40-80 independent detections) with reasonable
survey costs. On this subject, during the past Roe deer Meeting (Portugal) were presented
interesting results suggesting that OS coupled with thermal imaging (IR) could be a suitable and costeffective
monitoring methodology.
We present the results of a 3-year project devoted to compare density estimates from OS & IR with
more conventional Mark Recapture (MR) estimates of an Appennines roe deer population. We worked
in an open hunting estate, where a long-term study on roe deer ecology includes radio-monitoring
and densities assessment since 1995. We tested the possibility to survey roe deer using a portable
thermo-camera, equipped with a laser rangefinder and an electronic compass, which allows the operator
to record ani mais presence (group size and number of groups) also in completely dark night
and to measure their distance and angle with respect to the observer. We walked 35 transects (total
effort 20.5 km) in 3 nights, from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM, to survey an area of 523 ha. We made 2 survey
replicates each year (late winter/early spring) to compare the results with estimates of early spring
survey calculated by MR methods.
Night survey is thought to mitigate the problem of g(O) < 1 (which affect daylight ones when animals
f1y away reacting to the presence of an observer) because the use of an IR camera is supposed to
allow the detection of deer before being discovered. However, IR & OS survey design could be
biased because observers are forced to use paths and so transect positioning may not be random
with respect to ani mais distribution. We present an a posteriori evaluation of the survey design and
we compare the 2 survey methods in order to assess the presence of biases in IR & OS
Influence of chronic Naltrexone treatment on growth hormone and insulin secretion in obese subjects.
No full textLes relations entre le centre étrusque du Forcello et le domaine hallstattien occidental et latènien ancien/Der Forcello bei Bagnolo S. Vito. Etruskische Besiedlung am nördlich Poebene und ihre Beziehungen zu den spät Westhallstattkreis
No full textLdh is predictor of disease duration in the first onset of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
No full textThe licensure exam in nursing degree courses: A survey in the four Universities of the Lazio Region
No full textBackground: In recent years, the nursing licensure exam is at the centre of a national and international
wide debate. This debate regards the planning of the nursing licensure exam in many Universities and the
competences that this exam must certify to ensure quality, effectiveness, and ethics of nursing care from
newly-graduated nurses to general public.
The aim of this study was to describe the practical tests used for the licensure exam in the four Universities
of the Lazio Region. The researchers analyzed the type of practical tests used and the field of competences
assessed according to the degrees of performance defined by the Dublin Descriptors.
Methods: The data were collected through semi-structured interviews to Presidents, Directors and Lecturers
of nursing degree courses and through direct retrieval of the written texts of the licensure exam. Two researchers
analyzed the practical tests. A special lecture-grid divided into three different sections to interpret
the data was created. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of Epi-info 3.5.1/2008.
Results: Analysis of data showed that the most used tests were Discussion of theoretical and practical
aspects in context (33.6%), followed by the Test with open and/or closed questions (23,9%). Psychomotor
and relational skills tests were little used. The most valued field of competence was the cognitive one (85,5%)
that assessed, above all, the storage of the concept. The ability to interpret data and solve problems was
less valued.
Conclusions: The study showed the high discrepancy in the types of tests used in the four Universities of the
Lazio Region. Universities found it difficult to assess psychomotor and relational skills of the students. Most
of the cognitive tests utilized omitted the evaluation of mastery of complex competences. Therefore, there is
the necessity of a new planning of the nursing licensure exam to overcome these critical issue
The effectiveness of rituximab in clinical and laboratory improvement of ttp: report of three cases
No full textDefective ADAMTS13 synthesis as a possible consequence of NASH in an obese patient with recurrent thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
No full textObjectives Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and devastating hematologic disorder frequently associated with multiple organ failure and sometimes death. This syndrome is mainly associated with severe deficiency of ADAMTS13, a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin (TSP)-1 repeats, cleaving high molecular weight von Willebrand Factor (ULVWF) multimers. Decreased plasma ADAMTS13 activity results in the accumulation of ULVWF multimers with consequent platelet activation. Recently, obesity has been considered as a potential independent risk factor for TTP, but the reason of this association is still unknown. Methods and results We describe an unusual case of fatal recurrent TTP in a morbid obese female with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and severe ADAMTS13 activity deficiency due neither to an inhibitory autoantibody nor to a gene mutation. Conclusions Visceral obesity is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NASH: we hypothesized that these conditions can influence ADAMTS13 antigen and activity. In fact, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the main producers of ADAMTS13, and a decrease in ADAMTS13 activity has been reported in liver disease
Influence of chronic naltrexone treatment on growth hormone secretion in normal subjects.
No full textItalian version of Nursing Students’ Perception of Instructor Caring (I-NSPIC): assessment of reliability and validity
No full textAbstract Background Clinical experience is an essential component of nursing education since it provides students with the opportunity to construct and develop clinical competencies. Instructor caring is a pivotal facilitator at the forefront of clinical education, playing a key and complex educating role in clinical sectors. For these reasons the aims of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Italian version of NSPIC (I-NSPIC). Methods A validation multicentre study was conducted in three different Italian universities. A total of 333 nursing students were enrolled in the 2014/2015 academic year. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblique rotation was performed to test the construct validity of I-NSPIC. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and test retest via Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) analyses were done to assess the internal consistency and stability of the scale. A Spearman’s correlation with another scale (CLES-T) was used to examine the concurrent validities. Results Four factors (control versus flexibility, supportive learning climate, confidence through caring, appreciation of life meaning and respectful sharing) were identified in EFA. The Cronbach’s alpha value showed that I-NSPIC was a reliable instrument (α = 0.94) and the ICC coefficient was satisfactory. Conclusion The I-NSPIC is a valid instrument for assessing the perception of instructor caring in Italian nursing students. It may also prove helpful in promoting the caring ability of nursing students and in increasing the caring interactions in the relationship between instructor and nursing students. The knowledge emerged from this study provide important insight in developing effective training strategies in the clinical training of undergraduate nursing students
GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR ISOFORMS AND FRACTURE RISK IN ADULT-ONSET GROWTH HORMONE - DEFICIENT PATIENTS.
No full textIntroduction: Growth hormone deficiency is considered the most important factor determining skeletal fragility in hypopituitary patients. Osteoblasts and chondrocytes express growth hormone (GH) receptor. Two GH receptor isoforms (GHRi) have been identified: they differ for the presence/absence of a protein fragment encoded by exon 3 of GHR gene. Consequently, three genotypes were identified: carriers of both the full-length proteins (flfl-GHR), carriers of one full-length protein and one deleted protein (fld3-GHR) and carriers of both deleted proteins (d3d3-GHR). This polymorphism confers a higher sensitivity to endogenous GH and to recombinant human GH (rhGH); its effect on bone metabolism and skeletal fragility is unknown. The aim of this article was to investigate the role of GHRi in predicting skeletal fragility in adult-onset GHD (AO-GHD) patients.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the association between the d3-GHR isoform and the prevalence of morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs) in AO-GHD. Ninety-three AO-GHD were enrolled. Forty-nine patients carried flfl-GHRi (52·7%), and 44 patients (47·3%) carried at least one allele of the d3-GHR isoform. Thirty-two VFs were documented. Fifty-seven patients underwent rhGH replacement therapy.
Results: Median age was significantly higher in fractured patients as compared to nonfractured ones; d3-carrier patients showed a lower VF risk as compared to flfl-GHRi (OR: 0·37, 95% IC: 0·24-0·55, P < 0·0001). This finding was also confirmed in AO-GHD undergoing rhGH replacement therapy.
Conclusion: This study suggests that d3-GHR may protect AO-GHD particularly when treated with rhGH from the risk of VFs
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