In this communication, we wish to remember the important historical role played by Marcel Proust's father, the now mostly forgotten Achille-Adrien Proust (1834-1903).
His career, scientific interests ...and, above all, his brilliant intuitions and suggestions in the fight against cholera in the 19th century are recalled.
His role in the promotion of a globally effective vision of public hygiene and health is stressed as a bright example for modern physicians fighting contemporary epidemics.
•Leishmania tarentolae is able to infect and persist inside dog primary macrophage cells.•Field-isolated strains of L. tarentolae could be more virulent than the laboratory ones.•A L. tarentolae ...field-isolated strain (RI-325) showed high an infection rate at 72 hr.
Leishmania tarentolae is a non-pathogenic species first isolated from geckoes in the Mediterranean basin. The finding that dogs test positive against both Leishmania infantum and L. tarentolae raises questions regarding the ability of the latter species to persist and adapt to new hosts. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the capability of L. tarentolae to colonize, survive and persist in canine primary monocyte-derived mononuclear cells. Monocytes were isolated from dog whole blood samples and placed in 24-well plates for differentiation into macrophages and for incubation with L. tarentolae field-isolated strains (RI-325 and SF-178) and laboratory (LEM-124) strain; the parasite burden was assessed at different time points post-infection. The L. infantum laboratory strain (MON-1) was used as control. Infection parameters were evaluated by microscopy, counting the number of amastigotes/200 infected cells, and by duplex real-time PCR from supernatants and detached cells. Similar to L. infantum, L. tarentolae strains developed into round-shaped amastigote-like forms, with higher infection rates detected at 4 h followed by an overall decrease until 48 h. RI-325 presented also a higher infection rate at 72 h. Data showed that L. tarentolae strains infect and persist inside in vitro primary canine mononuclear cells, opening new perspectives for further laboratory studies.
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Resumo
Este ensaio se propõe a refletir sobre os princípios da filosofia do Bem-Viver, colocando-a em diálogo com ideias e proposições que visam a construção de alternativas para a superação da atual ...crise civilizatória, marcada pela degradação ambiental e social, naturalizadas, em que tudo se tolera em nome do tão sonhado e prometido desenvolvimento. O Bem-Viver se orienta a partir de valores que preconizam a cooperação, a solidariedade, a pluralidade e a democracia, e neste sentido se coloca como alternativa à crise ora mencionada. No intuito de avançar nesta reflexão, buscamos colocar o Bem-Viver em diálogo com ideias e conceitos que possam contribuir com o seu fortalecimento e construção práxica.Palavras-chave: Bem-Viver. Motricidades. Ecologia de Saberes.
Unity in bio-diversity: dialogues with the good-living
Abstract
This essay proposes to reflect on the principles of the philosophy of Good-Living, putting it in dialogue with ideas and propositions that aim at building alternatives to overcome the current civilizing crisis, marked by naturalized environmental and social devastation, where everything is tolerated in the name of the long-dreamed and promised development. Good-Living is based on values that advocate cooperation, solidarity, plurality and democracy, and in this sense it is placed as an alternative to the crisis just mentioned. In order to advance this reflection, we seek to place Good-Living in dialogue with ideas and concepts that can contribute to its strengthening and praxic construction.Keywords: Good-Living. Motricities. Ecology of Knowledges.
La unidad en la bio-diversidad: diálogos con el buen-vivir
Resumen
Este ensayo propone reflexionar sobre los principios de la filosofía del Buen-Vivir, poniéndolo en diálogo con ideas y propuestas que apuntan a construir alternativas para superar la actual crisis civilizadora, marcada por la devastación ambiental y social naturalizada, donde todo se tolera en nombre del desarrollo prometido y soñado durante mucho tiempo. El Buen-Vivir se guía por valores que abogan por la cooperación, la solidaridad, la pluralidad y la democracia, y en este sentido es una alternativa a la crisis que acabamos de mencionar. Para avanzar en esta reflexión, buscamos poner en diálogo el Buen-Vivir con ideas y conceptos que puedan contribuir a su fortalecimiento y construcción práxica.Palabras clave: Buen-Vivir. Motricidades. Ecología de Saberes.
Deaths due to dog attacks are a worldwide issue. Fatal dog attacks may occur in various environments, including the dog owner's property. A lot of difficulties emerge when the attack involves a pack ...of dogs, of different species and sizes. In this case, it becomes much more difficult for forensic investigators to evaluate the event, especially regarding the identification of the dog or dogs that caused the death as well as the identification of the owner and the reconstruction of the dynamics for forensic purposes. In this paper, we analyze a specific case of an attack by a herd of Maremma sheepdogs. A crime scene investigation has been carried out. In the first phase of this case, the victim interacted with dogs that had non-aggressive attitudes. Then, after an escape attempt, she was assaulted by about 20 Maremma dogs of different sizes, leading to multiple injuries all over her body. The greatest difficulty was precisely that of reconstructing the dynamics due to the numerous injuries and dogs involved in the attack. The dynamics were divided into several stages following the analysis of the injuries found on the victim. This case study highlights how the forensic multidisciplinary approach has made it possible to precisely reconstruct the event. The analysis of the dogs' state of malnutrition and their suddenly aggressive attitude towards the victim revealed profiles of responsibility of the owner attributable to improper management and training of the animals to defend their property.
This paper, in the 50th anniversary of the author's death, examines the overall impact and influence of medicine, in particular of infectious diseases, on the literary production of Italian writer ...and novelist Dino Buzzati (1906-1972).
Analysis of literary sources and historical study.
Buzzati's literary world is great fun for the reader, being both intriguing and anxiety forming at the same time. One finishes reading his books only to discover the one truth which overturns everything that seemed to be true. In particular, in his short stories, which stem mostly from episodes taken from everyday life, the plot suddenly comes to life. The atmosphere becomes surreal, and in a moment the incredible happens. Behind the apparent lightness of the fairytale narrative there lies hidden the important issues addressed by the author. He uses the hospital as a metaphor for a categorised life, in which we are at risk of no longer being masters of ourselves, in which we suffer a continuous steady drip that makes us head downwards day after day, floor after floor. We will come back up, but not today, tomorrow perhaps, or at the latest, the day after tomorrow. Corte on the second floor hopes, and screams to give strength to his hope, that he will soon return to the top, towards the seventh floor.
Introduction. Hypofibrinogenemia and its correlation with hemorrhagic risk is usually detected by serum fibrinogen level with Clauss test. Recently the role FIBTEM test of rotational ...thromboelastometry (ROTEM) has been evaluated for prevention and management of acute bleeding in intesive care and surgical settings. We applied it for monitoring fibrinogen deficiency for the first time in children affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with Peg-asparaginase (PEG-Asp). Antithrombin levels (AT) were measured as parameter for thrombotic risk. This drug impairs protein synthesis and causes severe coagulative deficiencies, with both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. Guidelines for the management of coagulation abnormalities being missing, we tried to identify parameters for management and prevention.
Methods. Eightytwo children (age 1-17 years, mean 6 year) affected by ALL treated with AIEOP BFM ALL 2009 protocol at our Institution were studied. Platelet count and coagulation tests (protrombin time PT/INR, activated partial tromboplastin time aPTT, AT, serum fibrinogen level (SF) at Clauss test and fibrinogen function at MCF) were performed before and after each PEG-Asp administration. We previously found linear correlation with SF levels only for MCF > 9 mm. We then tried to identify clinically significant deficiency of SF. Severe hypofibrinogenemia was considered when Clauss test showed SF levels < 1g/L. MCF limit for severe fuctional hypofibrinogenemia was considered <= 5mm according to our experience in congenital and acquired hypofibrinogemia (cardiac surgery, liver transplant and intensive care settings). Severe AT deficiency was considered at <50%.
Results. Severe hypofibrinogenemia was found in 240 Clauss test (24.3%), but only in 44 (4.5%) of MCF at FIBTEM. Only 28% of SF at Clauss test < 1 g/L had an MCF value <= 4mm. Thirty-five percent of children presented MCF <=4mm with a prolonged alteration in 5.3% of them, mostly observed during Induction phase, when steroid therapy was concomitant. Prolonged administration of Peg-Asp (10 doses in 20 weeks) did not cause a prologed hypofribrinogenemia. Fibrinogen concentrates was supplemented only at MCF >= 2mm or at 3-4 mm in association with INR > 2.8. Fresh frozen plasma administration was avoided. No significant bleeding was observed. Severe AT deficiency was found in 287 measurements (23%) and in 57% of patients. AT deficiency was more frequent according to the number of PEG-Asp doses, in particular the percentage of affected patients increased in the different phases of chemotherapy (Table 1), being observed in all patients receiving prologed PEG-Asp therapy. AT was suggested at level of < 50%, but it was performed only in 54% of cases. Three thrombotic events were registered (3.6%) all in presence of AT levels <50%.
Conclusions. The frequency of fibrinogen functional deficiency as detected by MCF level at FIBTEM was inferior than hypofibrinogenemia at Clauss test. The MCF level chosen in our study to identify a parameter for hemorrhagic risk was helpful to select patients for coagulant therapy with fibrinogen concentrates. AT deficiency was more frequent than fibrinogen deficiency and was related to the numer of PEG-Asp doses. These tests can help in the management of patients with coagulative disturbancies in order to prevent seriuos adverse events.
Table 1Frequency of MCF and AT deficiencies according to number of PEG-Asp dosesN° of doses12410MCF <=4mm25%42%43%40%AT < 50%19%65%86%100%N° of patients6759710
No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
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