Pesticides as risk factors for head and neck cancer: A review

Humans may be exposed to pesticides such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, during occupational and non‐occupational activities. Pesticides could be related to cancer development mainly because of their effects on the endocrine and immune systems and their cumulative effect. The present review evaluated in current literature evidence of an association between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of head and neck cancer (HNC). A literature search for cohort studies was conducted in the PubMed, Web of science, and Cochrane databases. Methodological quality of each study was rated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklist. One thousand one hundred and thirty‐two studies were identified. Thirty‐two were included. Most of the studies found addressed occupational exposure to pesticides and were conducted in Europe and North America. Eleven high‐quality studies were found. Most of them found no association between exposure to pesticides and increased risk of HNC. Two studies found some evidence of a positive association between pesticide (malathion and atrazine) exposure and thyroid cancer. The literature review does not support a clear evidence for association between pesticides exposure and HNC. Only limited evidence points to a positive association between exposure to some pesticides and thyroid cancer. Further standardized studies based on appropriate designs are required to clarify the effect of pesticides on the genesis of HNC, considering dose, length of exposure, and type of pesticide.     

Transepidermal Water Loss in Newborns Within the First 24 Hours of Life: Baseline Values and Comparison with Adults

The measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is important for evaluating the integrity of the barrier function of the stratum corneum. Normal TEWL values in healthy adults and in children ages 2 and older are well known, but few studies have been performed in infants and neonates. TEWL in healthy neonates younger than 24 hours old was assessed and compared with that of an adult study population. We also studied possible correlations between this parameter, gestational age, and mode of delivery. A prospective study was conducted in healthy newborns. The areas tested were the volar forearm and the popliteal fossa. Ninety‐nine healthy newborns were enrolled and 33 healthy adults were analyzed as controls. Statistically significant differences were noted between newborns and adults in TEWL (p < 0.01). Newborns had a much higher mean TEWL than adults. Differences in the morphology and physiology between newborn and mature skin can explain the higher TEWL in newborns. Higher TEWL could also be due to the sudden functional adaptation of the skin immediately after delivery, when the newborn transits from a liquid to the dry, gaseous extrauterine environment. Functional evaluation of the neonatal skin barrier is important mainly because maintaining skin integrity facilitates cutaneous adaptation.     

Non-infectious inflammatory genital lesions

The genitalia may be the site of non-infectious inflammatory lesions that are generally manifested as balanoposthitis and vulvovaginitis. In men, these forms constitute 50% of all balanoposthitis forms, and in women, vulvovaginitis frequency is even higher. They consist of genital locations of general skin diseases, such as psoriasis, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus, and other clinical entities with their own physiognomy, such as Zoon’s balanitis-vulvitis. Diagnosis of genital non-infectious inflammatory lesions is usually made on clinical criteria. A biopsy is only necessary for the identification of clinical conditions that may simulate inflammatory form but are actually premalignant processes.     

GMAC: A Matlab toolbox for spectral Granger causality analysis of fMRI data

Investigation of causal interactions within brain networks using Granger causality analysis (GCA) is a key challenge in studying neural activity on the basis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The article describes an open-source software toolbox GMAC (Granger multivariate autoregressive connectivity) implementing multivariate spectral GCA. Available features are: fMRI data importing/exporting, network nodes definition, time series preprocessing, multivariate autoregressive modeling, spectral Granger causality indexes estimation, statistical significance assessment using surrogate data, network analysis and visualization of connectivity results. All functions have been integrated into a user-friendly graphical interface developed in the Matlab environment, easily accessible to both technical and clinical users.     

(In)accuracy of blood pressure measurement in 14 Italian hospitals

OBJECTIVES:: The diagnosis and control of hypertension depend on accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP). The literature on the accuracy of BP recording by health professionals is, however, limited, and no study directly interviewed patients in the hospital setting. This multicenter cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the compliance to current recommendations on BP measurement by health professionals directly from patients and to investigate potential predictors of higher quality in BP recording. METHODS:: A trained nurse interviewed a random sample of adult patients hospitalized for an ordinary admission (except in the emergency room) lasting more than one night, without mental disorder, who had their BP routinely measured by the hospital personnel less than 3?h before. The questionnaire contained 15 items on the main procedures that are common to current guidelines. RESULTS:: Fourteen public hospitals from seven regions of Italy participated, and 1334 questionnaires were collected. Nine of the recommended practices were followed in the majority (>70%) of BP recordings, whereas some others were infrequent or rare: in 98.6, 82.2 and 81.1% of the participants, respectively, the arm circumference was never recorded, BP was measured only once, and BP was never recorded in both arms. Overall, 10 or more recommended procedures were followed during 33.4% recordings. At multivariate analysis, physicians were less likely than nurses to provide a more accurate BP measurement. CONCLUSIONS:: The operator's compliance to some recommendations in BP measurement is unacceptably low. This survey provides detailed indications for medical directors on the procedures and settings to prioritize in educational programs, which are definitely needed.     

Citrate anticoagulation: Are blood donors donating bone?

An estimated 2.4 million volunteer apheresis blood donation procedures were performed in the United States in 2010, and increases in the proportion of transfused blood products derived from apheresis blood collections have been consistently reported. Anticoagulation is required during apheresis and is achieved with citrate. Donor exposure to citrate causes an acute physiological response to maintain serum mineral homeostasis. Some data are available on the sequelae of this acute response in the days and weeks following exposure, raising questions about bone mineral density in regular apheresis donors. New research is emerging that addresses the potential long‐term health outcomes of repeated citrate exposure. This article reviews the acute physiological response to citrate anticoagulation in volunteer blood donors, presents contrasting perspectives on the potential effects of citrate exposure on bone density, and identifies key knowledge gaps in our understanding of long‐term health outcomes in apheresis donors. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:459–463, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

First report of a naturally patent infection with Dirofilaria immitis in an otter (Lutra lutra)

Parasitology Research - Dirofilaria immitis causes a severe and life-threatening cardio-pulmonary disease in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas; also, zoonotic infections have been reported....     

Visible Light Curable Restorative Composites for Dental Applications Based on Epoxy Monomer

A cationic photo-curable cycloaliphatic epoxy resin has been investigated as reactive monomer in blue light crosslinking process. We have demonstrated that camphorquinone is able to abstract labile hydrogen from the epoxy monomer, giving rise to the formation of carbon-centered radicals that are oxidized by the onium salt; a complete epoxy group conversion was reached after 50 s of irradiation. The presence of water up to 1 wt% was tolerated without any important detrimental effect on the kinetics of light-curing. The presence of the inorganic filler up to 65 wt% did not significantly influence the curing process.