Three-year retrospective analysis of the incidence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women living in the Greater Romagna Area (northeastern Italy).

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in a population of pregnant women living in the Romagna area of the Emilia-Romagna region. From 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014, 36 876 pregnant women were tested to evaluate the IgG- and IgM-specific anti-T. gondii response. The average incidence was 0.192%, underlining the need for an appropriate and active screening for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

Short communication: effects of systemic treatment with penethamate hydriodide on udder health and milk yields in dry primiparous Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

The effects of penethamate hydriodide (Mamyzin, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany) on udder health and milk yields were evaluated in primiparous Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). An intramuscular administration of 10 million international units was performed in 20 buffaloes at 7 d precalving (treatment group; TG), and 20 animals were enrolled as the control group (CG). Evening milk samplings were performed at 10, 30, and 60 d in milk (DIM). Somatic cell count (SCC) values were evaluated on composite milk samples, whereas bacteriological culture and California Mastitis Test were performed on quarter milk. Daily milk yields were recorded after all milkings. After 60 DIM, composite milk samples from each animal were collected for monthly SCC and bacteriological culture until drying off. Statistically significant differences were found between the prevalence of mastitic quarters in the 2 groups at 10 and 30 DIM, and between the incidence of mastitic animals during the examined period (TG: 4/20, 20% vs. CG: 10/20, 50%). Even though lower and higher values of SCC and milk yields were found in TG during each sampling, statistically significant differences were only found at 30 (SCC) and 60 DIM (milk yields). In our study, the antibiotic administration precalving showed good bactericidal activity against the most common udder-specific pathogens that cause mastitis in primiparous Mediterranean buffaloes, and greater efficacy was observed at 10 and 30 DIM compared with 60 DIM. Given the significant decrease in SCC and increase in yields achieved, use of this antibiotic could be economically beneficial in buffalo breeding.

Shared resource laboratories: impact of new design criteria to consolidate flow cytometry diagnostic service.

INTRODUCTION: The Shared Resource Laboratory (SRL) model recently described for research activities would also appear to be highly suitable for diagnostic services. Using modern SRL design criteria and benchmarks, the aim of our study was to verify whether the consolidation of a diagnostic cytofluorimetric activity could improve the overall service. METHODS: Outcome indicators such as impact on analytical quality, clinical satisfaction, team work involvement, and economic performance were evaluated in the planning and setting up of a new central laboratory. Comparison with preconsolidation status allowed us to investigate possible indicators of improvement. RESULTS: A total of 30 140 cytofluorimetric analyses performed before and after consolidation at the Central Laboratory in Pievesestina in north-central Italy were evaluated. The overall score of the clinical satisfaction questionnaire (range, between 1 and 5) increased from 4.3 to 4.9. Full-time equivalent (FTE) operators were reduced from 9 to 4.5 and cytofluorimeters from 6 to 2; economic indicator analyses showed a 17.75% reduction in unitary test costs. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of new benchmarks and design criteria increased the quality of cytofluorimetric analysis, thus improving specialized diagnostic services and promoting the shared resource clinical laboratory.

The effects of child temperament, maternal characteristics, and family circumstances on the maladjustment of school-age children.

Eighty-nine mothers with children between the ages of 8 and 11 years reported perceptions of their child's adjustment and temperament, and described concurrent family circumstances such as socioeconomic status, level of parental distress, major life events experienced, maternal hassles, and their own psychiatric symptoms. A conceptual model hypothesizing the direct and indirect effects of family circumstances, maternal characteristics, and child temperament on the maladjustment of school-age children was tested using causal modeling with residual analysis. Fifty-six percent of child externalizing behavior was directly explained by the negative reactivity and nonpersistence of the child's temperament, and maternal hassles. A total of 33% of the variance of internalizing behavior was explained by the direct effects of negative reactivity of the child's temperament and maternal hassles. For both externalizing and internalizing behavior, a total of 54% of the variance in maternal hassles was explained by three variables: maternal psychiatric symptoms contributed 34%, major life events added 15%, and the intensity of the mother's temperament added an additional 5%. These three variables have a direct effect on maternal hassles and together had an indirect effect of .24 on child externalizing behavior through maternal hassles. Likewise, they have a direct effect on maternal hassles and together had an indirect effect of .31 on child internalizing behavior through maternal hassles.

Private insurance coverage for the treatment of mental illness versus general medical care: a policy of inequity.

Private insurance coverage has historically been and continues to be discriminatory toward patients requiring treatment for mental illness and substance abuse disorders in comparison with those in need of general medical care. Factors contributing to this disparity include stigma, relatively low overt consumer demand for psychiatric care, lack of knowledge about psychiatric illness and treatment on the part of insurers, a historical reliance on public sector psychiatry, and the assumption that more liberal psychiatric benefits result in unnecessary and excessive use. Strategies aimed at eliminating discriminatory insurance practices against those in need of mental health care must be implemented. Recommended approaches include further research on the cost effectiveness of mental health care, public education regarding the nature of mental illness and its treatment, patient/family advocacy, and the marketing of services by mental health professionals.

The assessment and management of panic disorder.

Panic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent of the general population in the United States, and individuals with this disorder are seen frequently in primary care settings. Recognition of panic disorder is complicated by the fact that patients tend to focus exclusively on the physical symptoms of the illness. Left untreated, patients with panic disorder suffer considerable impairment in functioning and are at increased risk for substance abuse, depression and suicide. This article provides clinicians with the information necessary to recognize and manage this illness. A detailed description of the disorder, including onset, course, complications, differential diagnosis and management, is presented in this article.

The impact of a staff support group on the work environment of a specialty unit.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a staff support group led by a psychiatric liaison nurse on the work environment of a specialty unit. Before and at the completion of a series of 12 group meetings, participants completed two forms (real and ideal) of the Work Environment Scale (WES) that elicited their perceptions of the unit's work environment and their preferences for an ideal work environment. Initial findings were used to guide the content and process of the group intervention. Subjects real and ideal scores, as well as real-ideal discrepancies before and after intervention were compared using t tests. Statistically significant changes were found on the dimensions of clarity and control. Clinical observations showed a decrease in staff conflict and improvement in interpersonal communication.

The use of touch with the hospitalized psychiatric patient.

A descriptive study was designed to identify and describe the ways in which registered nurses use nonprocedural touch in the inpatient psychiatric setting. Natural setting observation and nurse interviews were used to examine the decision-making process and intentions of nurses who used touch. Twenty-five incidents of nonprocedural touch initiated by 13 registered nurses with 17 psychiatric patients were recorded over 27.5 hours of observations. Touch was primarily used by nurses in a discriminating manner and for specific reasons, and was correlated with numerous factors such as the patient's age and gender, and the nurse's feelings, beliefs, intuition, and personal style.