Use of the PARO robot as a social mediator in a sample of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and typical development.

Background: Social robotics is a research field aimed at providing robots with skills related to social behavior and natural human interaction. Many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of these robots as socio-communicative mediators. Others have used them to create a new communication channel and promote social interaction in chil-dren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For children with ASD prolonged interpersonal interaction can sometimes generate extreme frustration. They may find it difficult to focus their attention and learn social skills. The robot may therefore become a reliable and more predictable technological intermediary for the child. Methods: Our study involved the use of the PARO seal robot as a social mediator in groups of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. We aimed to investigate whether the social robot could facilitate relationships with adults in children with neurodevelopmental disorders by comparing their interactions with those of typically developing children. Results: The results of our research partially confirm what has been reported in the existing literature, while introducing some innovations that could be addressed by future research. The results of the statistical analysis show a positive correlation in the 'interaction' dimension and the presence of the PARO seal in subjects diagnosed with autism without intellectual impairment. These data highlight the PARO robot's ability to facilitate communication and social. Conclusions: The results of the present study confirm that social robotics can be a valid tool to improve socio-communication skills in clinical samples of children with autism without intellectual impai-rment.

The role of neurogenesis in neurorepair after ischemic stroke.

Stroke consists of an abrupt reduction of cerebral blood flow resulting in hypoxia that triggers an excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. After the ischemic process, neural precursor cells present in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus proliferate and migrate towards the lesion, contributing to the brain repair. The neurogenesis is induced by signal transduction pathways, growth factors, attractive factors for neuroblasts, transcription factors, pro and anti-inflammatory mediators and specific neurotransmissions. However, this endogenous neurogenesis occurs slowly and does not allow a complete restoration of brain function. Despite that, understanding the mechanisms of neurogenesis could improve the therapeutic strategies for brain repair. This review presents the current knowledge about brain repair process after stroke and the perspectives regarding the development of promising therapies that aim to improve neurogenesis and its potential to form new neural networks.

Exploring variables associated with rehabilitation length of stay in brain injuries patients.

BACKGROUND: The impact of outcome measure as early variables on rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients remains poorly investigated. AIM: To investigate: 1) the association between LOS and motor and functional outcomes; 2) the predictive factors of LOS in TBI patients admitted to a rehabilitation center. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Inpatient TBI Rehabilitation Centre. POPULATIONS: 241 TBI patients (190 males and 51 females, mean age 43.61±19.4 years, initial Glasgow Coma Scale of 6.96±3.39). METHODS: We recorded demographic characteristics (age, sex, setting and LOS in the acute phase, rehabilitation LOS) and outcome measures (Glasgow Outcome Scale, Disability Rating Scale, Levels of Cognitive Functioning, Functional Independence Measure). RESULTS: Average rehabilitation LOS was 58.82±58 days; 191 (79%) subjects were discharged from the rehabilitation center within 90 days. Rehabilitation LOS was significantly correlated with acute-care LOS (P=0.001) and Glasgow Coma Scale, but not with patients' age (P=0.250) or sex (P= 0.348). Rehabilitation LOS was significantly correlated with functional and cognitive admission outcome scores but not with gains during rehabilitation. Rehabilitation LOS was significantly less in the group of patients that returned back home respect to others. Regression analysis also illustrated that longer acute-care LOS was independently associated with significantly increased rehabilitation LOS (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective study suggests that rehabilitation LOS in TBI patients is correlated with timing of and score at admission to the rehabilitation setting rather than with gains in functional outcome. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: This result may help to optimize inpatient service utilization, especially in term of LOS.

Synthesis of some 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones investigated as antimicrobial agents.

Synthesis of some 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones and assay of their antibacterial and antifungal activity are reported. Compounds 3a-e,g were prepared by reaction of substituted 2-chloromethyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones 2a-c with suitable amines. These compounds and the previously obtained analogues 5a-o and 6a,b have been tested for their antimicrobial activity. All tested compounds were devoid of antimicrobial activity.

Bacterial species detected in some bottled mineral waters sold in Italy.

A total of 51 samples from 32 different kinds of mineral water were examined to investigate their microbial facies in view of a possible relationship with ionic composition. No difference was found between mineral and oligomineral waters. The genera most represented were Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium and Alcaligenes; only rarely could members of these genera be assigned precisely to a defined species, because many strains showed intermediate patterns. The authors suggest widening the microbiological examination of mineral waters and improving ecological and taxonomic knowledge of the autochthonous species in all processing phases in order to evaluate not only their compliance with the law, but also the variations imposed on microflora by different conditions related to container materials, time and temperature of storage.

Search for acid-fast bacilli in bottled mineral waters.

Samples of bottled mineral water sold in Italy in accordance with the law on microbiological standards were examined for the presence of acid-fast bacilli. Eighty-four samples were tested, 11 with added carbon dioxide and 73 without. Acid-fast bacilli were found in 1 of the former samples and in 8 of the latter, a total of 10.7%. The mycobacterial count was always very low (2-3 cfu/litre) except for one sample which showed large numbers of Mycobacterium sphagni. This finding was not confirmed in two following samplings of the same water. The other acid-fast bacilli isolated were: M. gordonae (four strains), M. flavescens (one strain), M. phlei (one strain) and Nocardia sp. (two strains) in two samples of different water. These bacilli are not thought to be a normal component of the waters but are the result of incidental contamination. The risk of infection from drinking such waters can be regarded as irrelevant in hospitalized or immunologically compromised subjects who fact a greater risk when using tap water for drinking or washing.

[Epidemiological remarks on the "S. Arizonae" strains isolated from various animals in tuscany during 1969-1978 (author's transl)]. / Osservazioni epidemiologiche su isolamenti di "Salmonella arizonae" da animali vari in Toscana nel periodo 1969-1978.

After a review of the taxonomic history of the genus Arizona culminated in the insertion of these bacteria in the Kauffmann-White schema, the most significant references concerning their pathogenicity and occurrence are related. In this paper, the outbreaks and sporadic cases by S. arizonae which occurred in Tuscan area during 1969-1978 are reported; between several animal species, turkeys were found frequently infect and the same serotype (S. arizonae 18:Z4,Z32:-) was identified. The epidemiological connections with the infection of turkeys and of other animals, humans inclusive, are discussed.

[Serological recognition of agglutinins against O and H antigens of various Salmonellae in "normal" adult subjects]. / Ricognizione sierologica di agglutinine verso antigeni "O" e "H" di varie salmonelle in soggetti adulti "normali".

The distribution of Salmonella agglutinins among 390 normal sera from people living in the district of Pisa is described, and the relation of these findings with the Salmonella serotypes occurring in the same area is discussed. Clusters of agglutinins for several O and H antigens were found at or above a titre of 1:20, in many samples. In order to explain the significance of such antibodies and their origin an identical survey was carried out on some sera from patients with chronic liver disease, using the same antigens suspensions. The results from healthy persons compared with the increased antibody titres detected in liver patients support the hypothesis that the anti-Salmonella agglutinins may be originate by various antigenic stimuli which may be specific or most frequently non-specific, since it is well established the cross-reactivity between both the somatic and flagellar antigens of Salmonella and those of other organisms.

[Research methods of R factors (author's transl)]. / Metodi di ricerca dei fattori R.

After having outlined the routine methods for the study of drug resistance plasmids used at highly specialized centres such as the London Enteric Reference Laboratory, the AA. examine the most practical methods of a pure and simple way of discovering R factors in enterobacteria. A brief reference is made to some of the in vivo transfer techniques before reducing the various possibilities of in vitro survey to essentials. The experimental conditions realized by some AA. for mating in liquid media which represent the most commonly used method for the study of R factors in enterobacteria are pointed out as an example. Finally, a brief reference is made to other technique such as the mating possibilities on membrane filter in solid media and "facilitated mating" in the cellophane device according to Chabbert.

[Drug resistance of Shigella strains isolated in Central Italy during 1969-1976 (author's transl)]. / Antibiotico-resistenza di stipiti di Shigella isolati nel periodo 1969-1976 nell'Italia Centrale.

Only ninety-three strains of Shigella, eightyseven of which have been identified as S. sonnei and six as S. flexneri were collected during 1969-1976 at the Pathogen Enterobacteria Centre of Pisa in Central Italy, as evidence of an epidemiological situation marked by a rare occurrence of syndromes related to these organisms. The collected strains were tested with disks of nine antibacterial drugs in common use: the survey detected sensitivity of all the strains to cephaloridine, ampicillin, carbenicillin, kanamycin and gentamicin, whereas a fair percentage of resistance appeared to streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole. Both within multiresistant strains and those characterized by single resistances (forty-three of them in all), were present strains capable of transferring different drug resistance patterns to E. coli K-12, as evidence of being under extrachromosomial genetic control.

["S. wien" and "S. bredeney" plasmidic resistance to disinfectant agents and antibiotics (author's transl)]. / Resistenza plasmidica a disinfettanti ed antibiotici in S. wien e S. bredeney.

Several antiseptic and disinfectant compounds have been investigated for their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against antibiotic multiresistant strains of S. wien and S. bredeney as well as S. typhi and S. typhimurium strains characterized by wide spectrum of antibiotic sensitivity. The MICs of AgNO3, merthiolate, NaN3, phenol, Zephiran and Desogen were not substantially different for the former and the latter strains; on the contrary, the HgCl2 minimal inhibitory concentration was significantly higher against S. wien and S. bredeney than against the other strains. The mercury resistance appeared plasmid controlled and transferable to E. coli K-12, always associated with antibiotic resistance. The findings, which confirm the results of other AA., seem unrestrictive of the use of HgCl2, because its not probable selective role in the hospital environment.

[Control of the technic for recovery of E coli K12 after acquisition of R factors. Tests with various culture substrates under different mating conditions]. / Controllo di tecniche per il recupero di "E. coli" K12 dopo acquisizione di fattori "R". Saggi con vari substrati colturali in condizioni differenti di "mating".

A survey was carried out in order to ascertain the reliable conditions for the recovery of E. coli K12 after acquisition of extrachromosomial resistance from polyresistant strains of Salmonella bredeney, responsible for a hospital outbreak of gastroenteritis. In particular in this study the length of mating, the amounts of partners in the cross-cultures, the availability of different media for selection of recipient E. coli, were controlled. It was possible to conclude that the incubation of cross-cultures during 18 hours at 37 degrees C was suitable for a greater transfer, whereas the amount of donor and recipient cells in the starting cultures was of little importance. Attempts to use synthetic media for the selective recovery of E. coli which had been made drug-resistant were not successful; instead some of lactosate media which are classically employed for the diagnosis of enterobacteria (Endo agar, Mac Conkey agar, Desoxycholate Lactose agar, Brilliant Green Bile agar, Eosin Methylene Blue agar, Violet Red Bile agar, Wurtz agar) gave satisfactory results. Among these media the two last were the best because they provided good differentiation between the prevalent Salmonella colonies and the few lactose-fermenting colonies, even in the crowded growth areas of the plates.

[Polyresistant "Salmonella bredeney" in a general surgical ward (author's transl)]. / "Salmonella bredeney" poliresistente in una divisione di chirurgia generale.

A series of cases of postoperative gastroenteritis by Salmonella bredeney in a general surgical ward has been described. The particular serotype of Salmonella in question, the widerange of drug-resistance of the strains, the epidemiological stages of the outbreak and the kind of the ward interested have been considered of uncommon occurrence.