170,031 research outputs found
Quality of life, depression and cytokine patterns in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with antiviral therapy
No full textPurpose: To evaluate the effect of chronic hepatitis C and antiviral therapy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression symptoms and cytokine patterns. Methods: Twenty HCV+ patients treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin were enrolled in this cohort study and invited to complete SF-12 and BDI questionnaires prior to (T0) and at the end of the treatment (T1). HCV-RNA, serum levels of ALT, AST, haemoglobin, ferritin and IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 were evaluated at T0 and T1. The questionnaire results were correlated to biochemical and cytokine parameters. Results: Two patients (1%) dropped out and 18 HCV patients composed the final sample (11 males (61.1%); mean age 42.5±11.9 yr; mean disease duration 9.7±6.9 yr). Between T0 and T1 ALT (p=0.02), AST (p=0.052) HCV-RNA (P=0.0002) and haemoglobin levels decreased (p=0.0003), whereas ferritin level increased (P=0.003). Also, at T1 all cytokine levels were augmented. Regarding depression status, at T0 10 patients (55.5%) scored above to the BDI questionnaire (suggesting clinically significant depression), whereas at T1 14 patients scored 10 or above (77.7%). At T1 the mean BDI score increased, but this difference was not significant. Regarding HRQoL, the majority of patients had T0 summary scores ≤ 50. At T1 HRQoL changed and scores decreased in 66.7% of the patients. A correlation was observed between the T0 level of ferritin and the amount of change in BDI and SF-12 mental score between T0 and T1 (Spearman rho = -0.56 and +0.61, respectively) and IL-4 level at T0 and the change in BDI and SF-12 mental scores (Spearman rho = -0.49 and +0.45, respectively). Conclusion: BDI, SF-12, IL-4 and ferritin are good tools to predict the appearance of depressive symptoms and worsening of the quality of life in the HCV+ population
Short term effects of bioenergy by-products on soil C and N mineralization and biochemical properties
No full textBioenergy by-products largely vary in their composition and properties and they can impact soil fertility in different and unpredictable ways. We studied the effects of the application rate of bioenergy residues with contrasting properties on C and N mineralization, element availability and biochemical properties. Results underlined that the process from which the by-products originated had a great effect in determining the agronomical properties of the residues. In particular, sorghum whole stillage from bioethanol production increased biological fertility, but caused N immobilization, manure whole stillage from bioethanol production greatly increased P availability, while manure anaerobic digestate supplied significant amounts of N. A direct relationship was found between rate of application of byproducts and N and P availability. Our study indicated that the reliability of the agronomical utilization
of bioenergy by-products requires a thorough evaluation of their impact on soil fertilit
Infant Directed Speech and Frontal LobesElectronic letter 19 ottobre 2007.
No full textSaito et al.1 showed, by means of a two channel NIRS, a differential response of the neonatal brain to maternal Infant Directed Speech (IDS), in comparison to Adult Directed Speech (ADS). Although this is a fascinating research, we would obviously agree with statements such as “IDS functions as a positive stimulation for the emotional development of infants” but at the same time consider rather premature on the scarce data available, and even more so about the suggested functional lateralization for IDS (emotional) processing in the neonatal brain. A multichannel NIRS system, such as the Optical Topography, is needed to detect the distribution of cortical activation. Improved spatial resolution is required in mapping cerebral regions involved in complex functions such as emotional expression
“Clinical implications of the “Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales”: the assessment of depression in elderly”
No full textCOVID-19 in a patient with SISTEMIC sclerosis: The role of ruxolitinib
No full textWe describe the case of a 78-year-old Italian woman with COVID-19 affected by Systemic Sclerosis with pulmonary fibrosis treated with Ruxolitinib (Ruxolitinib was provided free of charge by Novartis International AG). We chose Ruxolitinib, as a second-line treatment, after administering a standard therapy with hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir, due to a rapid deterioration in the patient’s lung function. Ruxolitinib is a janus kinase inibithor with selectivity for subtypes JAK1 and JAK2. A rapid improvement in the patient’s respiratory function, objectified with an increase in PO2/FiO2 value, has been observed in the 10 days after the introduction of Ruxolitinib. Surprisingly we noticed a reduction in pulmonary fibrosis by comparing the chest- CT made before and after the COVID-19 diagnosis. JAK/STAT signalling is involved both in pathogenesis of the second part of COVID-19 and in the modulation of fibrosis in patients with SSc. The use of ruxolitinib should be a new therapeutic option in patients with COVID-19 and lung fibrosis
Clinical implications of the “affective neurosciencepersonality scales”: The assessment of depressionin the elderly
No full textInfant directed speech and frontal lobe
No full textSaito et al.1 showed, by means of a two channel NIRS, a differential response of the neonatal brain to maternal Infant Directed Speech (IDS), in comparison to Adult Directed Speech (ADS). Their study is very interesting. They hypothesize that a newborn is able to distinguish between different emotional communications in the first days of life. These results reignite the discussion on early predisposition for newborns’ recognition of their mothers, and on how early relational skills in newborns correlate with fetal learning abilities in the intrauterine environment
INFLUENZA DI UN REGOLARE ALLENAMENTO FISICO SULLA FUNZIONE RESPIRATORIA IN GIOVANI CALCIATORI
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