Planetary science. Puzzling Neptune Trojans.
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Evolution, Planetary↗
Biomedical subjects
Francesco Marzari
Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Marzari.
A new device for administration of continuous positive airway pressure in preterm infants: comparison with a standard nasal CPAP continuous positive airway pressure system.
OBJECTIVE: We compared the effectiveness of a new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device (neonatal helmet CPAP) with a conventional nasal CPAP system in preterm neonates needing continuous distending pressure. DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized, physiological, cross-over study in a tertiary referral, neonatal intensive care unit in a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty very low birth weight infants with a postnatal age greater than 24 h who were receiving nasal CPAP for apnea and/or mild respiratory distress were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: CPAP delivered by neonatal helmet CPAP and nasal CPAP in random order for two subsequent 90-min periods. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Were continuously measured the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) score, oxygen requirements, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, transcutaneous PO(2) (tcPO(2)) and PCO(2) (tcPCO(2)), blood pressure, and desaturations. NIPS scores were significantly lower when the infants were on the neonatal helmet CPAP than when they were on nasal CPAP (0.26+/-0.07 vs. 0.63+/-0.12). The other studied parameters did not differ between the two CPAP modes. The number of desaturations was reduced during the neonatal helmet CPAP treatment (18 vs. 32), although this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this short-term physiological study the neonatal helmet CPAP appears to be as good as the golden standard for managing preterm infants needing continuous distending pressure, with enhanced tolerability. Further evaluation in a randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm these findings.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure↗
Mission to Mars using integrated propulsion concepts: considerations, opportunities, and strategies.
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility of a mission to Mars using the Integrated Propulsion Systems (IPS) which means to couple Nuclear-MPD-ISPU propulsion systems. In particular both mission analysis and propulsion aspects are analyzed together with technological aspects. Identifying possible mission scenarios will lead to the study of possible strategies for Mars Exploration and also of methods for reducing cost. As regard to IPS, the coupling between Nuclear Propulsion (Rubbia's engine) and Superconductive MPD propulsion is considered for the Earth-Mars trajectories: major emphasis is given to the advantages of such a system. The In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) concerns on-Mars operations; In Situ Propellant Utilization (ISPU) is foreseen particularly for LOX-CH4 engines for Mars Ascent Vehicles and this possibility is analyzed from a technological point of view. Tether Systems are also considered during interplanetary trajectories and as space elevators on Mars orbit. Finally strategic considerations associated to this mission are considered also.
Atmosphere↗
Relationship between neonatal leukemoid reaction and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in low-birth-weight infants: a cross-sectional study.
Leukemoid reaction in low-birth-weight (LBW) infants is a rare, recently documented phenomenon, implicated in the sequence of multiorgan inflammatory diseases of preterm infants. The aim of the present paper is to establish whether a neonatal leukemoid reaction is related to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) development in LBW infants. The design was a case-controlled, retrospective study of all premature infants (born </=31 weeks' gestation) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a period of 3 years, from January 1998 to December 2000. The infants who developed BPD formed the study group, while the remainder without pulmonary sequelae, matched for gestational age formed the control group. Leukemoid reaction was considered a white blood cell (WBC) count >40,000/mm 3. The relation between BPD occurrence and WBC counts was studied by Bayesian analysis, dividing WBC counts in 5 progressive bands of 10,000 WBC/mm 3, starting from <10,000 to >40,000/mm 3. Five of 50 BPD infants studied demonstrated WBC counts >40,000/mm 3, with an incidence of 10%, while no control preterm infants presented neonatal leukemoid reaction; the estimated number difference is statistically significant ( p <0.001). There was no other significant association demonstrated between maternal or neonatal variables and leukemoid reaction, including chorioamnionitis, sepsis, and the use of antenatal steroids. Our findings provide further data for the identification of prematures exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines in utero; the injury responsible for BPD in a subset of prematures may begin with a transient leukemoid reaction.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗