Morphological and morphometric study of the hominin dental casts from Grotta-Riparo di Uluzzo C (Apulia, southern Italy).

OBJECTIVES: Grotta-Riparo di Uluzzo C (Apulia, southern Italy) is a pivotal site for investigating the evolution of the Middle Paleolithic and the earliest phases of the Upper Paleolithic in southern Italy, as the extensive stratigraphic record of this site includes a thick Mousterian sequence followed by the Uluzzian. Here, we investigate the taxonomic affinity of seven unpublished deciduous human teeth retrieved from the site of Uluzzo C in 1960. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The teeth are represented by seven plaster dental casts, which are housed at the Museo Civico di Paleontologia e Paletnologia in Maglie (Lecce, Apulia). The location of the original specimens remains unknown, rendering these casts the only human remains evidence yielded by Uluzzo C to date. Based on occlusal-view photographs and digital models of the casts, we examined the external morphology and morphometry of the teeth, comparing them to Homo sapiens and H. neanderthalensis samples. Through geometric morphometric methods and statistical analyses, we analyzed the crown outline of the deciduous molars. RESULTS: The teeth show morphological and morphometric features that are variably found in H. neanderthalensis, H. sapiens, or both. Specifically, crown outline analysis shows that all molars fall within H. neanderthalensis variability, except for Uluzzo 853 (lower right deciduous first molar), which falls within H. sapiens variability. DISCUSSION: This study provides the first taxonomic assessment of the hominin teeth from Uluzzo C. The results contribute additional insights into the Paleolithic peopling of southern Italy during a crucial period marked by the persistence of post-Tyrrhenian Neanderthal techno-complexes and the arrival of H. sapiens.

Consideraciones sobre la organización de los servicios hospitalarios ante una epidemia de Influenza A (H1N1): experiencia en Cienfuegos 2009 / Some considerations on hospital services organization to face Influenza A (H1N1) epidemic

Introducción: La organización de los servicios hospitalarios para el enfrentamiento de una epidemia de Influenza A (H1N1), afección de transmisión respiratoria constituye un reto y el éxito logrado dependerá, en gran medida, de los cambios organizativos desplegados desde la etapa de planificación y constituyen parte indispensable de la estrategia de trabajo. Objetivo: Describir las principales experiencias organizativas que fueron desarrolladas en el Hospital General Universitario Dr Gustavo Aldereguía Lima de Cienfuegos, durante la etapa de pandemia de influenza A (H1N1) el año 2009. Método: Estudio prospectivo. Investigación en sistemas y servicios de salud, donde se hizo una amplia revisión bibliográfica, que se combina con técnicas de grupo (para la definición progresiva de la estrategia organizativa) y se enmarcan las experiencias contenidas en la carpeta de decisiones, creada al efecto. Resultados: Se reconocen los diferentes cambios realizados, modificación a los flujos habituales y conceptos en la atención médica, incluida la extensión y expansión de los servicios y sus camas de dotación. Se consideró oportuno la reducción de la actividad quirúrgica electiva, el trabajar por brigadas, la materialización de consultas diferenciadas en los servicios de urgencia, la definición de un área para atención a pacientes graves, el manejo diferenciado de las pacientes embarazadas, puérperas y neonatos, la capacitación continuada y el aseguramiento médico a la protección del personal, el aislamiento de los casos, la alimentación y esterilización. Conclusiones: La reorganización de la asistencia médica, los recursos humanos, la capacitaron continuada, el apoyo logístico, la optimización de los recursos, dirección y el trabajo colectivo son puntos claves en la organización para el enfrentamiento exitoso ante una epidemia(AU)

Introduction: The organization of the hospital services to face an epidemic of Influenza A (H1N1), a condition of respiratory transmission, constitutes a challenge and the success will depend, to a great extend, of the organizational changes implemented from the stage of planning, as they are an indispensable part of the strategy work. Objective: To describe the main organizational experiences that were developed in the Cienfuegoss Provincial Hospital Dr Gustavo Aldereguía Lima, during the year 2009 to face the A (H1N1) pandemic influenza. Method: A prospective study. Investigation in systems and services of the health system, where a wide bibliographical revision was made, combined with groups techniques (for the progressive definition of the organizational strategy) and the experiences contained in the portfolio of decisions created for that purpose. Results: Different changes have been recognized, such as the modification of the habitual flows and concepts in the medical attention, included the extension and expansion of the services and the beds assignation.It was considered logic the reduction of the elective surgical activity, working in teams, the materialization of differentiated consultations in emergency services, the definition of an area for care to severe patients, as well as a priority in the management of the pregnant and postpartum women and newborns. We kept too the continuous training of the medical personnel and their protection, the isolation of cases, the feeding and sterilization. Conclusions: The reorganization of the medical care, the continuous qualification of the professional staff, the adequate infraestructure, the optimization of the resources, management and team work are key points in the organization for a successful confrontation of an epidemic(AU)

Formas clínicas graves de la influenza AH1N1: lo que hemos aprendido de la atención a estos enfermos en Cienfuegos / Critical Clinical forms of influenza AH1N1: what we have learned from assisting the ill in Cienfuegos

Actualmente se cuenta con una información cada vez más abundante sobre la afectación de la epidemia de influenza A H1N1, en diversas regiones del mundo. Mucha de ella, se refiere a datos estadísticos y a recomendaciones para su enfrentamiento. En relación con la clínica de los enfermos, se ha notificado reiteradamente, en la literatura internacional, la existencia de grupos de riesgo de complicaciones, así como la presentación de cuadros clínicos graves, con manifestaciones clínicas no habituales en otras epidemias ocasionadas por los virus de la influenza. En ese sentido, una aproximación a caracterizar varias formas clínico-radiológicas de presentación de esta entidad, así como los grupos de riesgo de complicaciones graves, puede ayudar en el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento oportuno, que, sin dudas, junto al mantenimiento de las importantes medidas preventivas, constituyen el mejor abordaje de la asistencia a los enfermos, en la fase de la epidemia(AU)

We currently possess a growing information level on the effects of the influenza AH1N1epidemics in a range of countries in the world. Much of that information refers to statistical data and recommendations for dealing with it. Concerning the clinics of the infected, the existence of groups presenting risks of complications has been repeatedly noted in the international literature, as well as critical clinical findings, with unusual manifestations in other epidemics caused by influenza viruses. To that effect, an approach to characterize various clinical-radiological forms of that entity, as well as serious complication risk groups, may help in the early diagnose and appropriate treatment, which, undoubtedly, along with keeping preventive measures, constitute the best form of assisting the ill in the epidemic phase(AU)

Tiagabine antinociception in rodents depends on GABA(B) receptor activation: parallel antinociception testing and medial thalamus GABA microdialysis.

The effects of a new antiepileptic drug, tiagabine, (R)-N-[4,4-di-(3-methylthien-2-yl)but-3-enyl] nipecotic acid hydrochloride, were studied in mice and rats in antinociceptive tests, using three kinds of noxious stimuli: mechanical (paw pressure), chemical (abdominal constriction) and thermal (hot plate). In vivo microdialysis was performed in parallel in awake, freely moving rats in order to evaluate possible alterations in extracellular gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in a pain-modulating region, the medial thalamus. Systemic administration of tiagabine, 30 mg kg(-1) i.p., increased nearly twofold the extracellular GABA levels in rats and increased significantly the rat paw pressure nociceptive threshold in a time-correlated manner. Dose-related significant tiagabine-induced antinociception was also observed at the doses of 1 and 3 mg kg(-1) i.p. in the mouse hot plate and abdominal constriction tests. The tiagabine antinociception was completely antagonised by pretreatment with the selective GABA(B) receptor antagonist, CGP 35348, (3-aminopropyl-diethoxy-methyl-phosphinic acid) (2.5 microg/mouse or 25 microg/rat i.c.v.), but not by naloxone (1 mg kg(-1) s.c.), both administered 15 min before tiagabine. Thus, it is suggested that tiagabine causes antinociception due to raised endogenous GABA levels which in turn activate GABA(B) receptors.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of benzalkonium and naphazoline or tetrahydrozoline in nasal and ophthalmic solutions.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of benzalkonium chloride homologues and naphazoline nitrate or tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride in ophthalmic and nasal solutions. The technique involves a one-step dilution (1:5) for sample preparation and direct injection onto a 5 mm RP C-8 column. The mobile phase is acetonitrile-diluted acetic acid (80:20, v/v) with 6 mM tetramethylammonium bromide. Detection is carried out at 260 nm with a diode array. The method is rapid, specific, reproducible and is especially useful for quality control procedures.

Effect of a mixture of 15 commonly used pesticides on DNA levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in rat liver.

The level of 8-OH-2-deoxyguanosine in rat liver DNA was measured as an index of oxidative damage after treating rats for 10 days at a dose ranging from 0.75 to 10 mg/kg with a mixture of 15 pesticides (dithiocarbamate, benomyl, thiabendazole, diphenylamine, chlorthalonil, procimidone, methidathion, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, fenarimol, parathion-methyl, chlorpropham, parathion, vinclozolin, chlorfenvinphos, pirimiphos-ethyl) commonly found in foods of central Italy. At the doses of 0.75 and 1 mg/kg DNA levels of 8-OH-2-deoxyguanosine were significantly increased relative to controls, whereas at higher doses (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) the levels returned to control values. The administration of the pesticide mixture dose dependently reduced benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase, N-demethylase activities, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase and thiol transferase activities in the liver. The results show that the pesticide mixture induced free radical DNA damage at low doses. However, at higher doses it produced a depression of cellular metabolism, inhibiting a further expression of oxidative damage.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of N-methylformamide and N-methyl-N-(hydroxymethyl)-formamide in human urine.

A reliable high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method which allows the determination in human urine of two important metabolites of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), namely N-methylformamide (MMF) and N-methyl-N-(hydroxymethyl)formamide (DMFOH), is reported. A single-step rapid purification of urine was performed on a C18 solid-phase extraction column and the eluate was injected directly on to the HPLC column. HPLC was carried out isocratically on Aminex Ion Exclusion HPX-87H column using 7.5.10(-4) M sulphuric acid as the mobile phase with ultraviolet detection at 196 nm. The method is specific, accurate, precise and sufficiently sensitive to be applied to the biological monitoring of MMF and DMFOH in workers exposed to DMF.