The pre-launch on-ground characterization of Ma_MISS spectrometer for ExoMars-Rosalind Franklin Rover mission. II. Radiometric calibration.

The Ma_MISS miniaturized spectrometer is integrated within the Drilling System of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover for Mars exploration. Here we focus on the on ground calibration campaign to obtain radiometric and linearity calibrations of the Ma_MISS instrument, while the first paper dealt with the spectral calibration [De Angelis et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 93, 123704 (2022)]. The experimental setup used to carry out radiometric calibration is described, as are the methods used for data processing and key parameter retrieval. In particular, the Spectrometer Transfer Function (Responsivity), Signal-to-Noise Ratio, and detector linearity are determined. In a third paper [De Sanctis et al., Planet. Sci. J. 3, 142 (2022)], validation of the Ma_MISS calibration results through spectral measurements performed on rock and synthetic targets during the radiometric calibration campaign is described.

Aripiprazole and ropinirole treatment for cocaine dependence: evidence from a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no specific pharmacological therapy with established efficacy for the treatment of cocaine dependence. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, tolerability and the effects of aripiprazole and ropinirole in patients with cocaine dependence. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial of 12-week duration was carried out on 28 consecutive patients with cocaine dependence presenting for treatment. The diagnostic assessment was performed using ICD-9-CM criteria and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The Clinical Global Impression Scale, a Visual Analogue Scale to assess craving and a self-report questionnaire on the use of cocaine were administered at baseline and then weekly throughout the study. Urinalyses were carried out three times per weeks to search for benzoylecgonine. RESULTS: Of the 28 study participants, 14 completed the protocol. Treatment discontinuation was unrelated with side effects. One patient required a dosage reduction of ropinirole because of sleepiness and one patient assigned to aripiprazole who reported moderate akathysia had the dosage reduced to 5 mg/day. Routine blood works did not show significant changes from baseline and the overall proportion of positive urinalyses for benzoylecgnonine did not differ significantly between treatments. Using linear mixed-effect models a significant decrease in craving was found in the overall sample (p<0.001). The mean number of cocaine administrations exhibited a faster decrease with aripiprazole compared with ropinirole (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study indicates that cocaine craving decreases with both aripiprazole and ropinirole treatment but aripiprazole is more efficacious in reducing cocaine use.

[Bacterial meningitis in adults: a retrospective multicentric study in Tuscany (Italy)]. / Le meningiti batteriche dell'adulto: studio retrospettivo multicentrico della Toscana.

The Infectious Diseases Unit of Lucca Hospital conducted a multicentric retrospective study to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features of adult patients affected by bacterial meningitis attending all the Infectious Diseases Units of Tuscany (Italy) from July 1999 to June 2004. A specific questionnaire was sent to all the units to collect information about each case of bacterial meningitis occurring in patients older than sixteen. Patients with meningitis by Mycobacterium tuberculosis were excluded from the analysis. Nine out of 12 Infectious Diseases Units of Tuscany took part in the study and 197 cases were identified. Most cases of meningitis occurred during 2002 with a slight reduction in cases in subsequent years. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis were the most frequently isolated pathogens with an increase in diagnosis from 1999 to 2004; in 23.8% of patients no pathogens were isolated, with a reduction in meningitis from unknown aetiology from 1999 to 2004. Most patients were treated with a combination of two antibiotics, and corticosteroid drugs were added to the therapy; in the group of patients treated with corticosteroid drugs invalidating complications occurred in 23% of cases and 5% of patients died. In all, 27 out of 197 subjects (13.7%) developed invalidating complications and 20 out of 197 patients (10.2%) died.

Current microbiological and clinical aspects of urinary tract infections.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate some risk factors which could affect the isolation rates of various uropathogens and their in vitro susceptibility to antibiotics in ambulatory and hospitalized patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in a microbiological laboratory at Pisa Hospital. Nine-hundred and seventy-two consecutive patients with documented urinary tract infection were enrolled from April 1996 to October 1999. Data on age, sex, current or previous bladder catheterization, some underlying diseases as diabetes mellitus, and previous antibiotic therapy were recorded. The distribution of bacteria isolates and their in vitro susceptibility to antibiotics was evaluated. RESULTS: Escherichia coli was responsible for 54.7% of urinary tract infections. Isolation of E. coli is decreasing in comparison to previous observations, especially in males and in patients with indwelling bladder catheters who instead show higher Pseudomonas spp. and Enterococcus spp. isolation rates than females and non-catheterized patients. Diabetes mellitus does not affect the isolation rate of uropathogens and their patterns of susceptibility. Multivariate analysis of multiresistant uropathogens showed a positive significant correlation with indewelling bladder catheter and age. An upward trend in the resistance of E. coli to cotrimoxazole, ampicillin and fluoroquinolones was observed from 1996 to 1999; more than 50% of Pseudomonas spp. strains were resistant to fluoroquinolones and gentamicin. CONCLUSIONS: The empirical antibiotic therapy of patients with urinary tract infection should be guided by an accurate anamnesis evaluating not only age and sex but also the presence of a bladder catheter at the moment of urine collection or a history of recent bladder catheterization and previous courses of antimicrobial drugs.

[Current epidemiological and clinical aspects of tuberculosis: A study in the Hospital of Pisa]. / Attuali aspetti epidemiologici e clinici della tubercolosi: indagine nell'Ospedale di Pisa.

OBJECTIVES: To describe epidemiological and clinical features of tuberculosis (tbc) cases identified recently in the Pisa area (Tuscany, Italy). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all cases of tbc notified to the Public Health Service in Pisa during January 1996-December 1998. The diagnosis of tbc was made following the criteria of the Public Health Ministry. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients affected by tbc were identified. Diagnosis was microbiologically proven (positive culture for M. tuberculosis) in 42 patients. Sixty-nine patients had pulmonary tbc, 14 extrapulmonary and 5 mixed tbc. Mean age was 56.4 years (range 16-87 years). Nineteen patients were extra European Community citizens. The incidence of tbc (N./100,000) was 8.4 in 1996, 10 in 1997 and 3.2 in 1998. In 5.7% of the cases tbc was associated with advanced HIV infection. The chest X-ray showed pleural effusion in 12 patients and cavitation in 26 patients. Fever was not present in 36.4% of the patients at the moment of diagnosis. 12% of the isolated strains of M. tuberculosis were in vitro multidrug-resistant. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented showed an important rate of tbc in Pisa, similar to the incidence of tbc reported by other studies carried out on a national scale. We have yet to understand if the decreased rate observed in 1998 represents a new trend. The isolation rate of multidrug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis in Pisa seems higher than the rates reported in other geographical areas. Therefore monitoring of M. tuberculosis susceptibility to antimicrobial agents is necessary.

Enterococcal glycopeptide resistance at an Italian teaching hospital.

Two thousand one hundred and thirteen strains of enterococci isolated at Pisa General Hospital in 1998 were analysed retrospectively to determine their glycopeptide resistance. Of all the microorganisms isolated in this period, 14.7% were enterococci (1405 Enterococcus faecalis, 19 Enterococcus faecium, six Enterococcus avium and 683 Enterococcus spp.). Two hundred and thirty (10.8%) of these enterococci were resistant or demonstrated reduced susceptibility to vancomycin and/or teicoplanin. The highest rate of resistance was found in outpatient enterococcal strains isolated from the urogenital tract. The frequency of enterococcal glycopeptide resistance at Pisa Hospital is higher than that reported from other areas of Italy.

Urinary tract infection in diabetic patients.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the epidemiological, microbiological and clinical features of diabetic patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) to those of nondiabetic ones. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 490 consecutive patients with proven UTI. The patients were studied on the basis of a specific questionnaire and hospital records. RESULTS: Of 490 enrolled patients, 89 (18.1%) had diabetes mellitus. The mean age of diabetics and nondiabetics was respectively 64.9 +/- 13.2 (SD) and 54.4 +/- 23.3 years. Most diabetics had asymptomatic bacteriuria and had undergone bladder catheterization more frequently than the nondiabetics. The most frequent causative agents of UTI in diabetics and nondiabetics were: E. coli (respectively, 56.1 vs. 56.8%), Proteus sp. (7.9% vs. 7.2%), Pseudomonas sp. (6.7 vs. 8.2%), Enterococcus sp. (6.7 vs. 7.2%). More than 50% of the isolated Pseudomonas sp. strains in both groups were resistant to gentamicin, piperacillin and norfloxacin. Both diabetics (52.8%) and nondiabetics (42.2%) had recurrent UTI during the follow-up period; the difference in the incidences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in epidemiological, clinical and microbiological evaluated features of diabetics and nondiabetics were pointed out, except for the higher frequency of bladder catheterization of diabetics than nondiabetics. However, the eradication of UTI seemed to be more difficult in diabetics than in nondiabetics.

[The laryngeal mask in pediatric anesthesia]. / La maschera laringea in anestesia pediatrica.

We carried out a perspective study in order to assess the ease of insertion, the type and the incidence of perioperative complications connected with the use of the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA). We examined 300 consecutive patients, M/F 261/39, average age 4.2 yrs. (range 0.1-16), ASA I-II, who underwent surgical operations of short or average length not involving the pleural, the oropharyngeal or the peritoneum cavity. The choice about anesthesia was left to the discretion of the anesthesiologist. In 27 cases the position of the LM was controlled through a flexible fiberoptics. In 269 patients (89.6%) the LMA was correctly positioned during the first attempt. In 27 patients (9%), 2 or more attempts were necessary, and in 4 patients (1.4%) it was not possible to set the LMA. No differences of statistical significance were noticed between the different size of LMA, with regards to the facility of insertion. The control through fiberoptics showed a correct position, from an anatomical point of view, in 11 patients (41%), whereas in 13 patients (48%) some signs of partial obstruction were noticed (epiglottis interposing between the opening of LMA and larynx) and in 3 patients (11%) vocal cords are not visible. The following complications took place: laryngeal spasm on induction (2.3%), cough or movements on positioning (2.3%), hypoxia (4.3%), obstruction (1%), laryngeal spasm on awakening (1.7%), trauma (5%) and vomiting (0.3%). No connections were found between the size of LMA and total complications. Nevertheless, cough or movement during positioning and laryngeal spasm on awakening were significantly more frequent with LMA n. 3. In our experience, the LMA proved to be effectual and safe in the control of the airway during elective operations in pediatric surgery.