102,276 research outputs found
Molecular characterization of Influenza strains circulated in patients admitted to ICU during the 2017-18 season in Italy
No full textBackground: The 2017/18 influenza season has been characterized by the uncommon early high rate circulation of influenza B virus. In fact, based on epidemiological surveillance data of ECDC the majority of influenza viruses detected were type B (63%), representing a high level of circulation of influenza B viruses compared to recent seasons [1]. Material and Methods: A total of 764 influenza laboratory-confirmed cases in ICUs patients have reported in Italy during the last influenza season and 172 (22.5%) of them occurred in Lombardy region. The typing of Influenza positive samples (A and B strains) and sequencing of HA gene were performed as previously described [2,3]. Results: Eighty-three out of 172 (48.3%) cases were typed as A/H1N1pdm09, 71 (41.3%) as influenza B, 1 (0.6%) as influenza A/H3N2 and from 10 (20.2%) no typing results were obtained. HA sequencing was performed for 58/83 (69.9%) influenza A and 33/71 (46.5%) influenza B strains. Forty-two (72.4%) Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 strains were characterized by the T120A change as observed. Overall, mutations (G/N/A) at codon 222 were observed in 5/58 (8.6%) influenza A/H1N1pdm09 strains. All influenza B strains belonged to the B/Phuket/3073/2013 clade and were characterized by L172Q and M251V changes. Conclusions: Un upsurge of influenza B cases in patients admitted to ICU with a severe respiratory infections has been observed during the last influenza season. No molecular signatures associated with increased severity were observed among Influenza B strains. On the contrary, Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 virus strains harbored, also in samples of URTI, the more aggressive 222G/N mutations. References: [1] https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/weekly-influenzaupdate-week-20-may-2018 (last access 05 June 2018) [2] Piralla A, Lunghi G, Ruggiero L, Girello A, Bianchini S, Rovida F, Caimmi S, Marseglia GL, Principi N, Baldanti F, Esposito S. Molecular epidemiology of influenza B virus among hospitalized pediatric patients in Northern Italy during the 2015-16 season. PLoS One. 2017 Oct 19;12(10):e0185893. [3] Piralla A, Rovida F, Girello A, Premoli M, Mojoli F, Belliato M, Braschi A, Iotti G, Pariani E, Bubba L, Zanetti AR, Baldanti F. Frequency of respiratory virus infections and next-generation analysis of influenza A/H1N1pdm09 dynamics in the lower respiratory tract of patients admitted to the ICU. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 7;12(6):e0178926
Structural investigation of the c(2x52)R45° surface alloy formed by Ti deposition on Cu(001), Surface Science 601 (2007) 528-535
No full textThe alloying process of Ti deposited on Cu(0 0 1) was studied by means of XPS, LEIS, XPD and LEED intensity analysis. With the sample held at 570 K, a linear decrease of the Cu LEIS signal as a function of the amount of Ti deposited is observed in the early stages of deposition until a constant value is reached. At the onset of the plateau a c(√2 × 5√2)R45° LEED pattern starts to be visible. XPD and LEED intensity measurements were performed for the c(√2 × 5√2)R45° phase prepared depositing ca. 1.5 monolayer of Ti. The angle-scanned XPD curves measured for the phase c(√2 × 5√2)R45° reveal that Ti atoms substitute Cu atoms in the fcc lattice of the substrate. The polar XPD curves show that at least the first four layers of the substrate are involved in the alloying process. We found that the (3 1 0) plane of the Cu4Ti alloy (D1a type-structure) fits, without significant contraction or expansion of the lattice parameters, the c(√2 × 5√2)R45° structure. The intensity versus energy curves of the diffracted beams were calculated on the basis of this structural model using the tensor LEED method. The results of the LEED intensity analysis provide a further evidence of the formation of a slab of Cu4Ti(3 1 0) layers. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Lung ultrasound in blunt chest trauma: A clinical review
No full textIntroduction: Bedside lung sonography is recognized as a reliable diagnostic modality in trauma settings due to its ability to detect alterations both in lung parenchyma and in pleural cavities. In severe blunt chest trauma, lung ultrasound can identify promptly life-threatening conditions which may need direct intervention, whereas in minor trauma, lung ultrasound contributes to detection of acute pathologies which are often initially radio-occult and helps in the selection of those patients that might need further investigation. Topic Description: We did a literature search on databases EMBASE, PubMed, SCOPUS and Google Scholar using the terms ‘trauma’, ‘lung contusion’, ‘pneumothorax’, ‘hemothorax’ and ‘lung ultrasound’. The latest articles were reviewed and this article was written using the most current and validated information. Discussion: Lung ultrasound is quite accurate in diagnosing pneumothorax by using a combination of four sonographic signs; absence of lung sliding, B-lines, lung pulse and presence of lung point. It provides a rapid diagnosis in hemodynamically unstable patients. Lung contusions and hemothorax can be diagnosed and assessed with lung ultrasound. Ultrasound is also very useful for evaluating rib and sternal fractures and for imaging the pericardium for effusion and tamponade. Conclusion: Bedside lung ultrasound can lead to rapid and accurate diagnosis of major life-threatening pathologies in blunt chest trauma patients
- …
