91 research outputs found
CIRCULATING S100B PROTEIN IS INCREASED IN INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDED FETUSES
No full textTo determine whether S100beta, an acidic calcium-binding protein previously demonstrated as a reliable indicator of a brain lesion, could be helpful in the detection of brain distress in intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) fetuses, we studied, by a case-control study, the correlation between S100B protein and the degree of fetoplacental blood flow impairment. Maternal and umbilical blood samples and placental tissue specimens were collected at delivery from IUGR pregnancies with normal (n = 10) or abnormal (n = 10) umbilical artery Doppler findings and from 40 uncomplicated pregnancies. S100beta protein levels were measured by means of a specific RIA, and flow velocimetry waveforms were recorded from uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries. Overall mean S100beta proteins in umbilical plasma levels were higher (p < 0.05) in IUGR patients (121.8 +/- 70.4 fmol/mL) than in control patients (54.7 +/- 21.9 fmol/mL). IUGR fetuses with redistribution of blood flow showed the higher concentration of the protein (163.7 +/- 55.2 fmol/mL). Fetal S100beta concentrations correlated with middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (r = -0.536, p < 0.03) and with umbilical artery pulsatility index to middle cerebral artery pulsatility index ratio (r = 0.469, p < 0.03). No difference in the localization or intensity of S100beta staining in the placental tissues or cord between uncomplicated and IUGR pregnancies was found. This study provides evidence that circulating S100beta protein is increased in IUGR fetuses and correlates with cerebral hemodynamics, suggesting that it may represent an index of cerebral cell damage in the perinatal period
Moderno e contemporaneo baltico. Le città di Vilnius e Kaunas in Lituania
No full textI paesi baltici non sono, in realtà, così lontani. Se evidenti sono le continuità con l’Europa scandinava a loro prossima, hanno inaspettate affinità con il sud, mediterraneo e classico.
Le due principali città della Lituania, Kaunas e Vilnius, nel ‘900 sono state riconfigurate da architetti lituani che hanno studiato anche all’estero e che hanno poi declinato nel loro paesaggio la lezione del moderno, realizzando città che appartengono appieno alla cultura e all’estetica contemporanea ed europea. Questa capacità di assorbire e rielaborare la lezione della modernità ha consentito loro di mantenere una identità aperta e riconoscibile e di veder crescere generazioni di progettisti e urbanisti che hanno saputo rinnovare il linguaggio e l’immagine delle città, senza tagliare le proprie radici. Di Kaunas è interessante capire la conformazione moderna prima della seconda guerra mondiale, mentre di Vilnius si propone una lettura del suo sviluppo dal secondo dopoguerra ai giorni nostri
EURADWASTE ’13 – 8th EC Conference on the Management of Radioactive Waste Community Policy and research on Disposal. Relazione della Conferenza
No full textNell’Ottobre 2013 si è tenuta a Vilnius, capitale della Lituania, l’8th Conferenza sulla gestione dei rifiuti radioattivi dal titolo “EURADWASTE ‘13”.
La Conferenza è stata organizzata dalla Commissione Europea congiuntamente alla presidenza EU 2013 lituana e segue la precedente conferenza EURADWASTE ’08 tenutasi in Lussemburgo.
Il presente Rapporto Tecnico è una descrizione dei vari lavori presentati nel corso dei quattro giorni di conferenza ad uso dei colleghi ENEA coinvolti nella ricerca sullo smaltimento dei rifiuti radioattivi attraverso il sistema di conferimento al sito geologico
Regression of fetal cerebral abnormalities by primary cytomegalovirus infection following hyperimmunoglobulin therapy
No full textObjective To assess the effects of maternal and intra-amniotic hyperimmunoglobulin (HIG) infusions among cytomegalovirus (CMV) infected fetuses with ultrasound abnormalities following a primary CMV infection. Patients and Methods The subjects were fetuses with CMV-associated cerebral and other ultrasound abnormalities. Three mothers were treated with HIG infusions during pregnancy and two were untreated. Fetal ventricle size, organ echodensity and placental thickness were measured by ultrasound before and after HIG infusions. The children were evaluated between 3 and 7 years of age. Results The ventriculomegaly of all three fetuses of HIG-treated mothers regressed and the ascites, hepatic echodensities, periventricular echodensities, and intestinal echodensities disappeared. Their sensorial, mental and motor development was normal at 4, 4.7, and 7 years of age. In contrast, both infants born of untreated mothers had signs and symptoms of severe CMV cerebropathy. Conclusion The outcomes of the infants born to HIG-treated mothers support the efficacy of HIG as a treatment for CMV-infected fetuses with ultrasound cerebral abnormalities. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Measurement of urinary S100B protein concentrations for the early identification of brain damage in asphyxiated full-term infants.
No full textBACKGROUND: Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. To date there are no reliable methods to detect which infants will develop brain damage after asphyxia insult. We investigated whether measurements of urine levels of S100B in asphyxiated full-term newborns may be a useful tool for early detection of postasphyxia brain damage. METHODS: A prospective study of 38 infants with perinatal asphyxia and 96 control subjects, recruited at 3 tertiary departments of neonatology between April 1, 1999, and July 31, 2001. Routine laboratory variables, neurologic patterns, and urine concentrations of S100B protein were determined at 4 predetermined time points (first urination and 12, 24, and 72 hours after birth). The concentrations of S100B protein in urine were measured using an immunoluminometric assay. The results were correlated with the presence or absence of neurologic abnormalities at age 12 months. RESULTS: S100B protein levels were significantly higher in samples collected at all monitoring times from new-borns with abnormal neurologic findings on follow-up (first urination, 1.92 +/- 0.33 micro g/L; 12 hours, 2.78 +/- 1.71 micro g/L; 24 hours, 4.75 +/- 4.08 micro g/L; 72 hours, 5.93 +/- 1.63 micro g/L) than in samples from those without (first urination, 0.24 +/- 0.06 micro g/L; 12 hours, 0.13 +/- 0.06 micro g/L; 24 hours, 0.21 +/- 0.07 micro g/L; 72 hours, 0.12 +/- 0.04 micro g/L) or from healthy infants (first urination, 0.11 +/- 0.01 micro g/L; 12 hours, 0.12 +/- 0.03 micro g/L; 24 hours, 0.12 +/- 0.02 micro g/L; 72 hours, 0.12 +/- 0.02 micro g/L) (P<.001 for all). An S100B concentration cutoff of 0.28 micro g/L at first urination had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 87.3% for predicting the development of abnormal neurologic findings on follow-up. The sensitivity and specificity of measurements obtained between 12 and 72 hours were up to 100% and 98.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal S100B protein measurements in urine soon after birth are a useful tool to identify which asphyxiated infants are at risk of long-term neurologic sequelae
Prenatal diagnosis of ductus venosus agenesis and its association with cytogenetic/congenital anomalies
No full textUrinary S100B protein measurements: A tool for the early identification of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in asphyxiated full-term infants.
No full textSUMMARY: OBJECTIVE Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the major causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity. To date, there are no reliable methods to detect which infants will develop brain damage after asphyxia insult.DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective study conducted in three tertiary departments of neonatology from December 1999 to July 2002.PARTICIPANTS A total of 44 infants with perinatal asphyxia and 68 control infants.INTERVENTION Routine laboratory variables, neurologic patterns, ultrasound imaging, and urine concentrations of S100B protein were determined at nine time points.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The concentrations of S100B protein in urine were measured using an immunoluminometric assay at first urination and 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 48, and 72 hrs after birth. The results were correlated with the presence or absence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Routine laboratory parameters and neurologic patterns were assessed at the same time as urine sampling.RESULTS S100B protein levels were significantly higher in samples collected at all monitoring time points from newborns with perinatal asphyxia with or without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy than in samples from normal infants (all p <.001). When asphyxiated infants were subdivided according to the presence of mild or absence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (group A) and of moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (group B), S100B levels were significantly higher at all the predetermined monitoring time points in group B infants than group A or control infants (all p <.001). An S100B concentration cutoff of 0.41 microg/L at first urination had a sensitivity of 91.3% and a specificity of 94.6% for predicting the development of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The sensitivity and specificity of measurements obtained from 4 to 72 hrs after birth were up to 100% and 98.8%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal S100B protein measurements in urine soon after birth are a useful tool to identify which asphyxiated infants are at risk of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and its possible neurologic sequelae
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