269 research outputs found
Self-reported medication adherence and beliefs among elderly in multi-treatment: a cross-sectional study
No full textApplied Nursing Research
Available online 1 December 2015
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Self-reported medication adherence and beliefs among elderly in multi-treatment: a cross-sectional study ☆ ☆☆ ★ ★★ ☆☆☆
Giancarlo Cicolini, MSN, PhDa, b, , Dania Comparcini, RN, MSN, PhDa, c, , Maria Elena Flacco, MDa, Lorenzo Capasso, MD, PhDa, Carlo Masucci, RN, MSNd, , Valentina Simonetti, RN, MSN, PhDa, c, ,
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doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2015.11.011
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Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the association between adherence to treatment and beliefs about medications in multi-treated elderly patients.
Background
A large body of evidence documented the importance of adherence to therapy in predicting clinical outcomes, and the association between adherence and medication beliefs in patients of various ages and with different health conditions. However, so far only a few studies have specifically investigated the associations between medication beliefs and adherence among elderly in polypharmacy.
Methods
In this multicentre cross-sectional study we used the MMAS-8 and BMQ Scales to assess medication adherence and beliefs about medications, respectively.
Results
The final sample consisted of 567 patients. Patients reporting higher levels of necessity or concerns about their medicines showed higher adherence (OR: 1.61, and 2.02, respectively; both p<0.001). Accepting patients (high necessity and low concerns) were less likely (OR: 0.24; p<0.001) to report adherence than ambivalent ones (high necessity and concerns).
Conclusions
Medication adherence is related to high Necessity and Concern about treatment. In nursing practice it is important to understand the specific barriers to adherence and to engage patients in the implementation of strategies to improve adherence
Growth performance and meat quality of buffalo young bulls: 2: effect of dietary level of maize silage
No full textGrowth performance and meat quality of buffalo
young bulls: 2. Effect of dietary level of maize silage
Felicia Masucci1, Carmela Maria Assunta Barone1, Fabio
Napolitano2, Maria Luisa Varricchio1, Antonio Zullo1, Antonio Di
Francia1
1Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta, dell’Ambiente e
delle Produzioni Animali Università di Napoli Federico II, Italy
2Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Animali, Università
della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Aim of this study was to evaluate growth performance and meat
quality of buffalo bulls fed two diets with different maize silage
contents. Compositions (kg/head/d) of low (LS) and high silage
diets (HS) were the following: maize silage 3.0 vs 10.5; alfalfa hay 0 vs 2.0; barley 0.25 vs 0.75; wheat flour middlings 1.0 vs 1.0; wheat straw 3.0 vs 0; commercial concentrate for lactating buffalo cows 0 vs 2.5; commercial concentrate for young buffalo bulls 4.5 vs 0. The diets were approximately isoenergetic [0.92 vs 0.91 Milk FU/kg dry matter (DM)] and isonitrogenous (14.7 vs 14.7 CP% DM).
Fourteen young buffalo bulls (316±70 days of age and 436±67 kglive weight) were assigned into the two dietary groups. Average
daily gain (ADG) was calculated every 2 weeks, along with DM
intake (DMI), calculated on pen basis. On a subgroup of 4 individuals per groups, carcass traits were recorded at slaughter. Meat quality (hardness, cohesion, chewiness, WB shear force) and
meat colour (L*, a*, b*) were evaluated on 7-day aged muscles
(Longissimus dorsi, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus). DMI
and carcass traits were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. ADG and
meat quality parameters were analyzed by a linear mixed model
for repeated measures. No differences were observed for diet DMI (8.41 vs 8.64 kg DM/day for LS and HS diets, respectively; SE 0.44), as a consequence ADG did not differ between the groups (0.92 vs 0.89 kg/day; SE 0.04). All carcasses had the same carcass conformation (O) and fatness (4) scores. No differences were observed for carcass traits (carcass weight 250 vs 249 kg; SE 8.13; dressing percentages 52.1 vs 50.6%; SE 1.1) and any meat quality parameters.
Therefore, maize silage can be either used as the primary
source of roughage or in combination with other forages without
affecting growth performance and meat quality
Effect of hay allowance on growth of buffalo calves
No full textA study was conduced in order to evaluate the effects of dietary treatment (commercial starter concentrate vs commercial starter concentrate with free access to ryegrass hay) on faecal score, dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW) and in vivo digestibility in buffalo calves Twenty-four buffalo calves (4 male, 20 female; 12 calves per treatment) kept in individual calf cages were started on the experiment at 10 d of age and for 12 weeks. Faecal scoring was assessed twice weekly, and DMI was measured weekly. BW gain was recorded every two weeks.. At the end of the experimental period, on a subset of 10 calves (5 per treatment), nutrient in vivo digestibility was measured by using acid-insoluble ash as internal indigestibility marker. The growth curves showed a good fit to a linear -regression model (on average R2=0.89; a= 43.8; b=0.525). Calves that were provided with hay consumed less starter (524 vs 421 g/d; P<0.001) compared to those fed exclusively with starter; total DMI was higher (1313 vs 1443 g/d; P<0.001) in hay supplemented group. Despite of this, however, final BW, total BW gain, average daily gain of calves receiving hay were comparable to that observed in unsupplemented animals. No differences were observed for faecal consistency among the two treatments. Hay supplementation depressed the digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein (P<0.001), while it increased those of NDF and hemicellulose (P<0.001). We concluded that hay allowance during milk feeding period of buffalo calves allows to achieve the same growth performance as animal consuming commercial starter alone
La documentazione amministrativa. Certezze, semplificazione e informatizzazione nel d.P.R. 28 dicembre 2000, n. 445
No full textIl volume è un commento al testo unico sulla semplificazione della documentazione amministrativa, sotto forma di analisi sistematica delle disposizioni in materia di documentazione amministrativa, sia sul piano teorico sia su quello applicativo. Il contenuto del volume è ben descritto dal sottotitolo: "Certezze, semplificazione e informatizzazione nel d.P.R. n. 445/2000". "Certezze", in primo luogo, perchè tutto il complesso sistema di norme che disciplina la documentazione amministrativa ha come scopo ultimo quello di dare certezza ai membri dell'ordinamento circa stati, qualità personali e fatti. "Semplificazione, poi, perchè lo scopo del Testo Unico è appunto quello di semplificare gli adempimenti burocratici derivanti dall'applicazione delle disposizioni sulla documentazione amministrativa. "Informatizzazione", infine, perchè nel giro di pochissimi anni l'informatica ha prodotto cambiamenti radicali nel modo di operare delle amministraizoni, nelle norme in materia di certezze pubbliche e private, nel modo stesso di gestire le informazioni; e dunque anche tutto il settore della documentazione amministrativa, che da secoli si fonda proprio sulla gestione di informazioni (sia pure di tipo particolare), è stato e ancor più sarà rivoluzionato dall'uso delle nuove tecnologie
Proteasome inhibitors reconstitute the presentation of cytotoxic T-cell epitopes in Epstein-Barr virus-associated tumors
No full textEBV-infected cells and EBV-associated tumors may evade CTL recognition by defective antigen processing, resulting in poor presentation of CTL epitopes. Since the proteasome is the major source of MHC class I-presented peptides, we analyzed the effect of proteasome inhibitors on the expression of surface HLA class I and the generation of EBV-derived CTL epitopes presented by the HLA-A2 and HLA-A11 alleles. Treatment with covalent and reversible inhibitors of the proteasome partially reduced the total and allele-specific expression of surface HLA class I in EBV-carrying LCLs. HLA-A2 expression was also decreased by treatment with leupeptin and bestatin, while HLA-A11 expression was affected by treatment with phenanthroline. Despite their general inhibitory effect on HLA class I expression, all proteasome inhibitors tested enhanced the presentation of 2 subdominant HLA-A2 epitopes from EBV LMP1 and LMP2, while the presentation of the immunodominant HLA-A11-restricted epitope from EBNA4 was inhibited by MG132 and lactacystin and increased by ZL3VS. Treatment with ZL3VS restored the presentation of endogenously expressed EBNA4 in I HLA-A11-positive BL cell line. These findings suggest that specific inhibitors of the proteasome may be used to increase the antigenicity of virus-infected and malignant cells that are per se inefficient at generating particular CTL target epitopes. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc
Health Risk Assessment of PAHs from Estuarine Sediments in the South of Italy
No full textIncreased concerns about the toxicities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), ubiquitous and persistent compounds, as well as the associated ecotoxicology issue in estuarine sediments, have drawn attention worldwide in the last few years. The levels of PAHs in the Sele, Sarno, and Volturno Rivers sediments were evaluated. Moreover, the cancerogenic risk resulting from dermal and ingestion exposure to PAHs was estimated using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) assessment and the toxic equivalent concentration (TEQBaP). For Sele River, the results showed that the total PAH concentration ranged from 632.42 to 844.93 ng g−1 dw, with an average value of 738.68 ng g−1 dw. ∑PAHs were in the range of 5.2–678.6 ng g−1 dw and 434.8–872.1 ng g−1 dw for the Sarno and Volturno River sediments, respectively. The cancerogenic risk from the accidental ingestion of PAHs in estuarine sediments was low at all sampling sites. However, based on the ILCRdermal values obtained, the risk of cancer associated with exposure by dermal contact with the PAHs present in the sediments was moderate, with a mean ILCRdermal value of 2.77 × 10−6. This study revealed the pollution levels of PAHs across the South of Italy and provided a scientific basis for PAH pollution control and environmental protection
Organic farming: use of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) in Maremmana young bulls diets.
No full textDevelopment of feeding strategies based on the available feed resources is one of the research efforts for organic livestock production. This problem is particularly relevant in marginal beef production areas of central and southern Italy, where traditionally local breeds are used and diets are based on home grown cereal with scarce or no use of expensive organic protein source. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of home grown chickpea (Cicer arietinum) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Maremmana young bulls, organically farmed. The study was conduced in an extensive farm located in Viterbo province, in central Italy. Twelve Maremmana bulls (232 kg average live weight, 9 months of age) were allotted into two homogenous groups. The control group was fed the same diets used by the farmer prior to and during the experiment, based on barley meal, maize meal and alfalfa hay; four diets were used throughout the study. The experimental group was fed diets in which barley meal was substituted by chickpea meal. The dietary content of chickpea ranged from 23 to 11% (as fed basis). The average hay/concentrate ratio of diets was 60/40. The nutritive characteristics of the diets were, on average, 0.82 vs 0.83 Meat FU/kg DM and 11.0 vs 12.7 CP %DM, for control and experimental diets, respectively. Diets were not designed to be isocaloric or isonitrogenous, but to assess the effect of dietary inclusion of a protein source on performance of Maremmana bulls. Animals were weighted at the age of 9 months and thereafter every two weeks until to the fixed slaughter weight of 630 kg. Carcasses were scored for carcass conformation and fat score, according to SEUROP grading system. Average growth curves were calculated by the regression of weights against time. The growth curves showed a good fit to a linear -regression model (control group R2=0.94, b=0.009455; experimental group R2=0.93, b=0.0112018). Chickpea-fed bulls showed higher live weight from the age of 410 days onward. This finding is consistent with the high average daily gain (945 vs 1120 g day−1 for the control and experimental groups, respectively) and the younger slaughter age (675 vs 630 d) observed for chickpea-fed group. No differences were observed for carcass weight and dressing percentage (cold carcass weight/slaughter weight). Carcasses from bulls fed chickpea were graded as R (100%) in the SEUROP scale with a fat score of 3 (50%) and 4 (50%). Control carcasses were graded as R (40%) and O (60%) in the SEUROP scale with a fat score of 3 (50%) and 2 (50%). The higher fattening score of chickpea fed bulls suggests that some attention should be paid to the energy intake in last phase of finishing in order to prevent excessive fat deposition. Although, the chickpea cost was higher than that of barley, the estimated dietary costs were lower for chickpea-fed bulls, which reached slaughter weight 45 days before the control group. Overall, the use of home grown chickpea in organic diets for young bulls could be an advantageous choice for animal performance, feeding cost, crop rotation and sustainability
Aberrant right subclavian artery: incidence and correlation with other markers of Down syndrome in second-trimester fetuses.
No full textOBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) and
other strong markers of Down syndrome and their correlation in a large population
of second-trimester Down syndrome fetuses assessed in a tertiary referral center.
METHODS: Presence or absence of ARSA and other major ultrasound markers of Down
syndrome was assessed in a population of 106 second-trimester Down syndrome
fetuses referred to our unit for expert assessment and/or termination of
pregnancy after karyotyping performed for positive first- or second-trimester
screening or advanced maternal age or on maternal request. All cases in which the
diagnosis of Down syndrome followed the ultrasound detection of major anomalies
or soft markers were excluded from the study, as were all cases with a
gestational age less than 14 + 0 weeks. We searched for the ARSA on the three
vessels and trachea view using color or power Doppler. All fetuses underwent a
thorough anatomic assessment and fetal echocardiography. The other Down syndrome
markers assessed were: absent or hypoplastic nasal bone (NB-), defined as length
5 mm). In addition,
the presence of major cardiac and extracardiac defects was recorded. A
correlation analysis was then performed in order to investigate possible
associations between markers and/or major anomalies. Postmortem or postnatal
diagnostic confirmation was available in all cases.
RESULTS: The mean (SD) gestational age at ultrasound assessment was 20.4 (4.1)
weeks. The incidence of the various variables in the population of Down syndrome
fetuses was: ARSA, 25%; NB-, 43%; nuchal fold ≥ 5 mm, 16%; pyelectasis, 17%;
major heart defects, 41%; atrioventricular septal defect, 25%; and extracardiac
anomaly, 24%. The presence of ARSA did not correlate with any of the other
variables. The only positive correlations (P < 0.05) were between NB- and
pyelectasis, and between cardiac and extracardiac defects.
CONCLUSIONS: This represents the largest Down syndrome population assessed for
ARSA. In this series, the incidence of ARSA was 25%, lower than previously
reported in much smaller series. Its presence did not correlate with the presence
of any other marker or major anomaly, including heart defects
Potenzialità del cece nell’allevamento dei vitelloni Maremmani: scelta varietale e performance degli animali.
No full textChemical and nutritional characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cultivars and the effects of inclusion of chickpea in diets for Maremmana bulls were studied. Twenty-four cultivars were analysed; starch content widely varied whereas crude protein percentages were more constant and regular. In the feeding study, twelve Maremmana bulls, organically farmed, were allotted into two homogenous groups: the control one was fed the same diets used by the farmer, whereas the experimental group was fed diets in which barley meal was substituted by chickpea meal. Chickpea-fed bulls showed higher live weight from the age of 410 days onward, higher average daily gain and younger slaughter age. Carcasses from experimental group were better conformed compared to those of control group. Meat quality did not substantially differ between the groups. The estimated costs were comparable for chickpea-based and barley-based diets
Valutazione dell’esposizione professionale a basse dosi di benzene in agenti di polizia municipale
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