Parent perspectives on childhood vaccination: How to deal with vaccine hesitancy and refusal?

Background

The aims of the study are to evaluate attitudes about childhood vaccines and vaccine refusal or delay among parents and to assess the role played by the variables mapped as potential determinants to suggest strategies that could improve childhood vaccination rates.

Prexasertib,a checkpoint kinase inhibitor: from preclinical data to clinical development

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology - Checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (CHK1 and CHK2) are important multifunctional proteins of the kinase family. Their main function is to regulate DNA replication and...     

The influence of hydration state on thermoregulation during a 161-km ultramarathon

It is advised that individuals should avoid losing >2% of their body mass during exercise in order to prevent hyperthermia. This study sought to assess whether a loss of >2% body mass leads to elevations in core temperature during an ultramarathon. Thirty runners agreed to take part in the study. Body mass and core temperature were measured at the start, at three locations during the race and the finish. Core temperature was not correlated with percent body mass change (p = 0.19) or finish time (p = 0.11). Percent body mass change was directly associated with finish time (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), such that the fastest runners lost the most mass (~3.5–4.0%). It appears that a loss of >3% body mass does not contribute to rises in core temperature. An emphasis on fluid replacement for body mass losses of this magnitude during prolonged exercise is not justified as a preventative measure for heat-related illnesses.     

Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance and restoration of carbapenem susceptibility in KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: A case series

ObjectivesSince the introduction of the β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), rapid evolution of resistance has been reported in different KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. In this multicenter retrospective study, we describe the emergence of CZA resistance and evaluate the mutations that might be responsible for the restoration of carbapenem susceptibility.MethodsDuring a study period of 18 months, KPC-producing K. pneumoniae isolates of five hospitalized patients were collected with phenotypic development of CZA resistance.ResultsIn vitro restoration of carbapenem susceptibility during treatment was observed in 3 isolates. Whole genome sequencing of these isolates showed a D179Y mutation in the KPC gene of 2 variants and a KPC-2 with a Δ242-GT-243 deletion (KPC-14). Two KPC-3 variants showed CZA resistance with sustained carbapenemase activity without genomic adaptations in the KPC gene.ConclusionsThis study confirms the emergence of CZA resistance in KPC K. pneumoniae. The role of carbapenems in treating patients with these variants is unclear and combination therapies warrant further investigation.     

The independency of the Bereitschaftspotential from previous stimulus‐locked P3 in visuomotor response tasks

The Bereitschaftspotential (BP) and the P3 are well‐known ERPs usually observed during self‐paced and externally triggered tasks. Recently, the BP was also detected in externally triggered tasks before stimulus onset. However, doubts have been raised about the authenticity of the BP in these tasks due to possible overlaps with the previous trial P3 (hereinafter s‐1 P3). Here, we aim to test the authenticity of the BP in externally triggered tasks by comparing ERPs obtained during two visuomotor response tasks with different interstimulus intervals (ISIs) allowing (short‐ISI; 1,000–2,000 ms) or not (long‐ISI; 2,000–4,000 ms) P3‐BP overlaps. In line with previous research, we hypothesize that BP and the s‐1 P3 contribute independently to the scalp‐detected activities during these tasks. ERPs were recorded from 14 healthy participants during the short‐ISI and long‐ISI visuomotor response tasks. Amplitudes and latencies of pre‐ (BP and pN) and poststimulus ERP components (P1, pN1, pP1, N1, pP2, dpP2, N2, P3) were compared between conditions. No effect of ISI was found on the amplitude of any pre‐ and poststimulus components. In contrast, longer ISI is associated with earlier onsets of the BP and pN components. In visuomotor response tasks, the BP is independent from the P3 elicited by the previous trial (s‐1 P3), even using relatively short ISI. Since the different ISIs did not affect the amplitude of the BP and the P3 components, we conclude that also a short ISI can be adopted safely and conveniently to keep a reasonable duration of the overall experiment.     

Ethmoido-orbital tumors: our experience

No data in the literature report the specific invasion of the orbit from ethmoidal tumors, although such a pattern of involvement of the orbit frequently occurs because of the thin lamina papyracea separating the two structures. From January 1986 to January 2003, 38 patients with untreated primary ethmoidal malignancies were observed at the Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the University "La Sapienza" in Rome. Personal data were obtained from review of the personal clinical file of each. Orbital invasion was present in 24 patients with ethmoidal malignancy. Three stages of orbital invasion were identified. The average overall survival, with the Kaplan-Meyer method, was 61.4% after 1 year and 51.1% at 5 and 10 years. Intracranial involvement is the main element for short-term negative prognosis. Orbital exenteration is fundamental if grade III orbital invasion occurs because it ensures an improvement of the disease-free survival.     

Contact stomatitis due to palladium in dental alloys: a clinical report

A patient was treated with a maxillary gold-palladium alloy fixed partial denture (FPD). Shortly after placement, the patient contracted severe contact mucositis. Patch-testing revealed a positive reaction to palladium chloride (PdCl 2 , 1% petrolatum) but not to any other component of the prosthesis. After removal of the FPD and placement of a provisional acrylic resin restoration, all signs and symptoms disappeared. A definitive metal-ceramic (titanium-porcelain) prosthesis was placed, and no signs of lesions appeared. This clinical report demonstrates that titanium may be a satisfactory alternative for patients who require prostheses and are sensitive to other metals.