Life-threatening complications of streptococcal sepsis: a PICU contemporary series.

BACKGROUND: Life-threatening streptococcal sepsis nowadays represents an uncommon event in previously healthy infants and children. Critically ill patients suffering from severe streptococcal sepsis complications may present with pre-antibiotic era clinical pictures and require a timely clinical approach to achieve restitutio ad integrum. RESULTS: We report a series of four patient groups affected by an uncommon life-threatening streptococcal sepsis, each of them exhibiting some distinct features. Streptococcus Agalactiae sepsis was associated with cerebral thrombotic/ischaemic lesions, whereas severe cardiogenic shock was prominent in the Streptococcus Viridans group; Streptococcus Faecalis and ß-hemolytic group A Streptococcus patients mostly reported lung complications. CONCLUSIONS: Previous antibiotic treatments should not delay aggressive treatment in the intensive care setting. Early diagnostic suspicion, as well as appropriate and aggressive treatment provided within an intensive care setting are crucial for the clinical outcome.

"Minimum pruning", "minimal pruning" and "physiological pruning" as new techniques in grey mould agronomic eco-compatible (natural) control. Researches and considerations.

The aim of this work was to find agronomic eco-compatible ("natural") control solutions against grey mould of grapevine too. Our researches about "minimum pruning", "minimal pruning" and "physiological pruning" started in 1980, and in 1983 with specific relation to grey mould on vines of Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon and Chardonnay previously set in vegetative and productive growth balance. These researches were conducted to verify the affordability of innovative winter pruning techniques like "minimum pruning", "minimal pruning" and the so called 'physiological pruning", in the natural agronomic eco-compatible grey mould control. As a result we found that the new techniques contribute to limit the incidence of grey mould; especially "physiological pruning" followed by "minimal pruning" and 'minimum pruning". The best results were observed on Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon.

D.M.R. ("Double Reasoned Maturing"): innovative technique of agronomic ecologic control of grey mould on grapevine. trials and various considerations.

A study was carried out in order to identify agronomic ecologic solutions in the indirect grey mould control on grapevine. These specific trials started since 1990 and, after years of validation, now they are applied by the entrepreneur to the business practice in the different pedological and climatic area and on different cultivars and forms of growing. The technique of "Doppia Maturazione Ragionata" (D.M.R.) ("Doubles Reasoned Maturing") consists of far "completing" the maturing of the grape for wilting on the plant through the reasoned cut of the heads to fruit e/o of shoots. The application of D.M.R., besides determining valid and important technical and qualitative (organoleptic, economic and social quality) improvements on the product, is particularly effective in the indirect grey mould control on grapevine. Such technique, in fact, allows us to vintage the grape during the business demands and not when imposed by Botrytis cinerea; it has been possible, in some cases, to vintage in December and over, without problems of B. cinerea. The trials have shown the technical, economic, social sustainability of D.M.R. application. This paper reports all trials that have brought, by now from years, to apply in the practice DMR (Double Reasoned Maturing).

Determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations using a potentiometric sensor immobilized in a graphite matrix.

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely Pt|Hg|Hg(2)(DCF)(2)|graphite, where DCF stands for diclofenac ion, are described. This electrode responds to diclofenac with sensitivity of (58.1+/-0.8)mV/decade over the range 5.0 x 10(-5) to 1.0 x 10(-2)mol l(-1) at pH 6.5-9.0 and a detection limit of 3.2 x 10(-5)mol l(-1). The electrode is easily constructed at a relatively low cost with fast response time (within 10-30s) and can be used for a period of 5 months without any considerable divergence in potentials. The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for diclofenac in the presence of several substances, especially concerning carboxylate and inorganic anions. It was used to determine diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations by means of the standard additions method. The analytical results obtained by using this electrode are in good agreement with those given by the United States Pharmacopeia procedures.

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of methyldopa in pharmaceutical formulations.

A flow-injection spectrophotometric procedure is proposed for methyldopa determination in pharmaceutical preparations. The determination is based on formation of a yellow product (measured at 410nm) after complexation of methyldopa with molybdate. Under optimal conditions, Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration range of 50-200mgl(-1) methyldopa. Typical correlation between absorbance and analyte concentration was 0.9999. Usual excipients used as additives in pharmaceuticals do not interfere with the proposed method. The analytical frequency was 210h(-1) and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was

p-Aminobenzoate ion determination in pharmaceutical formulations by using a potentiometric sensor immobilized in a graphite matrix.

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely, Pt|Hg|Hg(2)(PABzt)(2)| graphite, where PABzt stands for p-aminobenzoate ion, are described. This electrode responds to PABzt with sensivity of (58.1+/-1.0) mV per decade over the range 1.0x10(-4) to 1.0x10(-1)moll(-1) at pH 6.5-8.0 and a detection limit of 3.2x10(-5)moll(-1). The electrode shows easy construction, fast response time (within 10-30s), low-cost, and excellent response stability (lifetime greater than 6 months, in continuous use). The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for p-aminobenzoate in the presence of several substances, especially, concerning carboxylate and inorganic anions. It was used to determine p-aminobenzoate in pharmaceutical formulations by means of the standard additions method. The results obtained by using this electrode compared very favorably with those given by an HPLC procedure.

Determination of furosemide in pharmaceutical formulations by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

In this report an analytical method to determine furosemide by using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is presented. This study shows that this technique can give quantitative results using spot test analysis, particularly in the case of pharmaceuticals containing furosemide. The color spot test could be obtained by reaction between furosemide with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde, in acid medium. This reaction produced a stable complex on filter paper after heating to 80 degrees C for 5min. All reflectance measurements were carried out at 585nm and the linear range was from 7.56x10(-3) to 6.05x10(-2)moll(-1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The limit of detection was estimated to be 2.49x10(-3)moll(-1) (R.S.D.=1.7%) and the effect of common excipients on the reflectance measurements was evaluated. The method was applied to determine furosemide in commercial brands of pharmaceuticals. The results obtained by the proposed method were favorably compared with those of the official method, showing for the first time ever that quantitative spot test analysis by diffuse reflectance could be successfully used to determine furosemide in tablets.

Total, technical, economic and social evaluation of a plan for defense of the vineyard according to the methodology of the "GREAT CHAIN".

In another work, proposed in this congress, we have presented the basic methodology of the "GREAT CHAIN" in which a plan of fight to vine diseases is evaluated in the globality using 54 variables, to which a weight (in %) in a scale of priority at technical, economic, social and ethical level has been given. This basic methodology has been favourably accepted at the XIII GESCO Congress (Groupe International Systèmes De Conduite de la Vigne)--February 2003 in Montevideo (Uruguay), and at the congress on "Paysages de Vignes et de Vins" in Fonteyraud (Val de Loire) (Carbonneau, Cargnello, 2003). In this work the results of researches on the total, technical, economic, social and ethical evaluation of a conventional phytopathologic defence plan led in a vineyard of the Latium according to the method of the "GREAT CHAIN" are exposed. These researches have shown that the model of conventional phytopathologic struggle, applied in the Latium, against pests of vine positively answers for how much concerns the plants protection: the answer is good at enterprise level, but negative for all that is defence and safeguard for man and environment, in the widest sense of the term. The researches have gone on the phytopathologic defence of biological and eco-compatible vineyards with very encouraging results.

Chromotropic acid-formaldehyde reaction in strongly acidic media. The role of dissolved oxygen and replacement of concentrated sulphuric acid.

The procedure for formaldehyde analysis recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the Chromotropic acid spectrophotometric method, which is the one that uses concentrated sulphuric acid. In the present study the oxidation step associated with the aforementioned method for formaldehyde determination was investigated. Experimental evidence has been obtained indicating that when concentrated H(2)SO(4) (18 mol l(-1)) is used (as in the NIOSH procedure) that acid is the oxidizing agent. On the other hand, oxidation through dissolved oxygen takes place when concentrated H(2)SO(4) is replaced by concentrated hydrochloric (12 mol l(-1)) and phosphoric (14.7 mol l(-1)) acids as well as by diluted H(2)SO(4) (9.4 mol l(-1)). Based on investigations concerning the oxidation step, a modified procedure was devised, in which the use of the potentially hazardous and corrosive concentrated H(2)SO(4) was eliminated and advantageously replaced by a less harmful mixture of HCl and H(2)O(2).

Ionic medium effects on equilibrium constants Part I. Proton, copper(II), cadmium(II), lead(II) and acetate activity coefficients in aqueous solution.

The molar single ion activity coefficients associated with hydrogen, copper(II), cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions were determined at 25 degrees C and ionic strengths between 0.100 and 3.00 M (NaClO4), whereas for acetate the ionic strengths were fixed between 0.300 and 2.00 M, held with the same inert electrolyte. The investigation was carried out potentiometrically by using proton-sensitive glass, copper, cadmium and lead ion-selective electrodes and a second-class Hg|Hg2(CH3COO)2 electrode. It was found that the activity coefficients of these ions (y(i)) can be assessed through the following empirical equations: log y(H) = -0.542I(0.5) + 0.451I; log y(Cu) = -1.249I(0.5) + 0.912I; log y(Cd) = -0.829I(0.5) + 0.448I(1.5); log y(Pb) = -0.404I(0.5) + 0.117I(2); and log y(Ac) = 0.0370I

Ionic medium effects on equilibrium constants Part II. Binary systems comprising some bivalent cations and monocarboxylates in aqueous solution.

Simple equations were derived relating stoichiometric protonation constants of several monocarboxylates and formation constants associated with 1:1 complexes involving some bivalent cations and selected monocarboxylates, in aqueous sodium perchlorate media, at 25 degrees C, as a function of ionic strength (I), allowing the interconversion of parameters from one ionic strength to another, up to I=3.00 M. In addition, thermodynamic formation constants as well as activity coefficients of the species involved in the equilibria were estimated. The results show that the proposed calculation procedure is very consistent with critically selected experimental data.