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In this study, the prevalence of Ureaplasma parvum in the area of Prato (Italy) was investigated. Samples from 1197 consecutive patients were analyzed. Our results showed that the prevalence of U. parvum was 33.6%, with a higher percentage in females than in males (40.6% vs 9%). In addition, the prevalence of U. parvum was significantly lower in older patients.

In this study we describe the use of Xpert MTB/RIF to give a rapid answer in case of strong clinical suspicion of tuberculosis and/or positive microscopy slide, from sample or culture, for auramine-rhodamine stain.

In this study, the prevalence of carbapenemase in the area of Prato (Italy), from January 2011 to August 2013, is reported. Samples showing carbapenem resistance were tested for lactamase production with disc diffusion and molecular methods. Totally, 48 out of 1542 patients with K. pneumoniae showed carbapenem resistance (42 KPC 5 MBL and 1 OXA-48).

Introduction: The use of the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in the routine of microbiological diagnostics has revolutionized procedures and response times of bacteriology.The use of this technique aims to epidemiological investigations in a hospital environment and represents a further significant opportunity, quickly feasible and extremely economical. Methods: By means of the MALDI-TOF-MS Vitek2 (MS Vitek2) mass spectrometer, accompanied by the AgnosTec-SARAMIS (bioMérieux, France) software, were analyzed the spectra of 149 bacterial isolates (139 Staphylococcus aureus and 10 Staphylococcus epidermidis) obtained from cultures of 148 patients (141 inpatients and 7 outpatients). Clinical isolates were stored at a temperature of -20°C.The isolates were then thawed and immediately cultured on agar blood medium. The colonies were subjected to analysis by MS Vitek on the day after sowing. The spectra obtained were analyzed and compared using the software AgnosTec-SARAMIS, which allowed the construction of a dendrogram. Results and conclusions: The evaluation of the data collected suggests that mass spectrometry could be an useful tool in epidemiological surveys. Speed of analysis and low costs make the MS Vitek2 an usable tool by many microbiology laboratories.

Introduction: The MALDI-TOF has recently become part of the methods of microbiological investigation in many laboratories of bacteriology with advantages both practical and economical.The use of this technique for the rapid identification of the causative agents of sepsis is of strategic importance to the ability to provide the clinician with useful information for a prompt and rapid establishment of an empirical antimicrobial “targeted” therapy. Methods: It was tested a total of 343 positive blood culture bottles from 211 patients. The samples after collection were incubated in the BACTEC FX (Becton Dickinson, USA). From these bottles were taken a few milliliters of broth culture and transferred into a vacutainer tube containing gel. This was centrifuged, the supernatant was decanted, and finally recovered the bacterial suspension on the gel. With micro-organisms recovered in this way, after several washes with distilled water, was prepared a slide for microscopic examination with Gram stain, and a plate for mass spectrometry (MS-Vitek, bioMérieux, France).Then, the same samples were inoculated on solid agar media according to the protocol in use in our laboratory.The next day was checked the possible bacterial growth on solid media; we then proceeded to the identification of the colonies by Vitek MS and / or with the system Vitek2 (bioMérieux, France). Results: 258 (75.2%) positive vials show concordant results between direct identification and identification after growth on agar. For 83 (24.2%) positive bottles there has been full compliance with the microscopic examination but not with culture. In particular, two bottles (0.6%) have given complete discordance between the direct identification and that after growth. Conclusions: The protocol we use for the direct identification of organisms responsible for sepsis, directly on positive bottles, seems to be a quick and inexpensive procedure, which in less than 60 minutes can give valuable feedback to the clinician.

Clostridium difficile, a Gram positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacillus, is an important nosocomial enteric pathogen causing diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Prato Hospital. Stool samples were collected from 1197 patients hospitalized from January 2010 to December 2011. In all the samples the common antigen GDH was investigated and only in samples positive for the antigen the presence of the A and B toxins was investigated. Our results showed that 170/1197 samples (14%) were positive for the antigen, and of these 170 patients, 84 (49%) were found positive also for the toxins. In addition the percentage of samples positive for toxins was higher in 2010 (8.6%) than in 2011 (5.9%).

Intoduction. The sexually transmitted diseases include a large group of infections affecting both the sexes. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma urealyticum in the Prato area during the period September 2010 – July 2011. Methods.We analysed different kind of samples (urine, endocervical swabs, urethral swabs, seminal fluids) from hospitalized patients or referred to the Prato clinic subjects.The DNA was obtained using EZ1-DNA extraction kit and EZ1 instrument.The DNA was then amplified using the Seeplex STD6 kit (Seegene, Korea), identifying multiple pathogens simultaneously (T. vaginalis, M. hominis, M. genitalium, C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae e U. urealyticum). The revelation was performed by electrophoresis on microchip (instrument Multina, Shimadzu, Japan). Results. 1136 samples from Italian and foreign patients were examined: 876 were endocervical swabs (77%), 103 urethral swabs (9%), 103 seminal fluids (9%), and 54 urines (5%). The number of females was higher than males [894 (78.7%) vs 242 (21.3%)]; the mean age of females was 37.0±11.6 years, whereas that of males was 41.5 ±12.63 years.The prevalence of urogenital pathogens was: 15 positive samples for T. vaginalis (1.3%), 56 for M. hominis (4.9%), 13 for M. genitalium (1.1%), 28 for C. trachomatis (2.5%), 8 for N. gonorrhoeae (0.7%) and 87 for U. urealyticum (7.7%).Among all positive, 25 subjects were positive for more than one pathogen and in particular: one was positive for the presence of 4 pathogens, five presented 3 pathogens simultaneously and the remaining nineteen for 2 pathogens. Conclusions. This study provides data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the hospital of Prato.

Introduction. Klebsiella pneumoniae is often associated with nosocomial infections, especially in immature pediatric wards and intensive care, where the prolonged hospitalization and invasive procedures increase the risk.In this study we investigated the possibility of using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the rapid identification of bacteria and to be able to be used for epidemiological circulation of a particular strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae in a pediatric ward immature at Mercy hospital of Prato and Dolce. Materials and Methods. Twenty Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were isolated and analyzed The isolates were collected from clinical specimens (7 urine, 12 stool samples, 1 skin swab) from 15 patients (9 females and 6 males) of the Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Misericordia and Dolce during the period from May to November 2010. Samples were collected using eSwab containers for urine and swab the skin FecalSwab, for fecal samples, and processed on suitable culture media with theWasp system (Copan Italy Spa distributed by ada Ltd.). Of all isolates were performed identification and susceptibility testing with the automatic Vitek2 (bioMérieux) at the time of isolation, then frozen at -20 °C in Trypticase Soy Broth with 20% Glycerol (Becton Dickinson). Subsequently, the bacterial strains were thawed, subcultured on Columbia Blood Agar with 5% sheep (BioMerieux), typed by means of MALDI-TOF (Shimadzu Axima - Biomerieux) and performed an antibiogram by Kirby-Bauer method (Table 3) on Agar Mueller-Hinton (Liofilchem S.r.l.) and diskettes Bio-Rad. The spectra obtained by MALDI-TOF were analyzed and compared with software-AgnosTec SARAMIS, used in our laboratory, both for the identification of the strains for the construction of a dendrogram. Results.Twenty strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were studied.They were isolated from clinical specimens (7 urine, 12 stool samples, 1 skin swab) from 15 patients (9 females and 6 males) of the Department of Pediatrics. Of all isolates was performed to identify and sensitivity with automaticVitek2 (bioMérieux) samples from Italian patients and divided stranieri così: 570 endocervical swabs (71.2%), 98 urethral swabs (12.2%), 78 seminal fluids (9.8%), and 54 urine (6.8%).The number of female subjects was higher than those of males [629 (78.5%) vs 172 (21.5%)], the average age of females was 38.4 ± 12.2 years while that of males was 47.7 ± 13.3 years. The prevalence of urogenital pathogens was: 13 T.vaginalis positive (1.6%), 52 for M.hominis (6.5%), 64 for M.genitalium (8.8%), 18 for C.trachomatis (2.2%), 2 for N.gonorrheae (0.2%) and 79 for U.urealyticum (9.9%): of all the 18 positive subjects were positive for more than one pathogen, namely: 1 totaled 4 pathogens, pathogens 5 for 3 and 9 for 2 pathogens. Conclusions.This study provides data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the hospital in Prato.

Mass Spectrometry is an old technique that has recently been introduced in the clinical microbiology laboratory as Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). MALDI is a soft ionization technique used in mass spectrometry that allows the analysis of biomolecules and large organic molecules which tend to be fragile and fragment when ionized.To obtain ions biological specimens are mixed with a matrix which specifically absorbs the ionization source (a laser beam). The high energy impact is followed by the formation of ions which are extract through an elastic field, focussed and detected as mass/charge (m/z) spectrum.The differences between ions are seen with TOF, a revelation system that relates the time of flight of a ion to the charge/mass value: ion with a higher m/z have are slower (a bigger time of flight) than ions with lower m/z. MALDI-TOF MS, in clinical microbiology laboratory, is used to identify bacteria and fungi directly from samples. The identification of microorganisms can be performed directly from body fluids (e.g. urine, blood culture, after centrifugation and recovery of microorganisms) or from colonies (after cultivation). The rapidity of identification is of great importance in blood cultures. Positive cultures with one microorganism are processed in a different way than those with more than one microorganism. In positive monomicrobial cultures, after separation of microbs from blood cells,we can perform an immediate identification with MALDI-TOF MS that we can communicate to the clinician, and that gives indication to perform the correct antibiogram. Major problems are present when more than one microorganism are in the culture: in this case we have to use the method of subcultivation and then the identification with mass-spectrometry can be performed. MALDI-TOF MS is a rapid, reliable and low cost technique, that can identify a growing number of microorganisms. This technique can significantly reduce the time to give an identification, that is of great importance, particularly in blood culture, where the success of therapy is strictly linked to its early beginning.

Increasing the circularity of flat glass does not only mean to collect glass cullet from internal and pre- consumer processes. It also means to use glass cullet from the post- consumer applications, such as residential or commercial buildings. The flat glass industry is currently in a transformation phase to reduce its CO2 emissions. To produce Low Carbon Glass with reduced carbon emissions generated during the production of float glass, a holistic approach is applied. Among these, one of the pillars is the increased use of cullet. Cullet comes from different sources: internal cullet, pre- and post- consumer cullet. In order to be able to use cullet in float glass production, it must be of high quality. Since there are a large number of architectural glass products and glass types, it is essential to collect and sort in the most adequate way

The field of research is in South America, where the cultural logic of colonialism still persists and manifests in the form of colonial heritage. The research deals with the physical dimension of the metropolis. Considering the challenges of climate change and growing socio-economic inequalities, we verify the methodology of Metropolitan Cartography as a tool that allows us to represent the values of contested territories and see how dynamic metropolitan transformations on the space-time map can be combined with the interstitial worlds of local communities: otros saberes. Through mapping projects, the task of metropolitan architecture in southern latitude cities is to construct a new form of metropolitan urban life and strengthen a feeling of adequacy between places and inhabitants. The research issue relates to the way in which indigenous populations can tune other values brought by globalisation to the practices of their remote past, their values.

La concentración de la población y los procesos de metropolización provocados por el crecimiento urbano incontrolado y no planificado han generado una enorme demanda de infraestructuras y servicios, además de tener un impacto en el medioambiente que puede provocar desequilibrios en el desarrollo social. Para promover el crecimiento sostenible, es necesario planificar una distribución justa de los servicios a lo largo de todo el desarrollo de la ciudad y un sistema de infraestructuras eficiente. Nuestra respuesta es un proyecto de competencia, que cree en la función social y ecológica (en el sentido etimológico) de la ciudad capaz de restaurar condiciones ambientales seguras; en la que se centran las acciones del proyecto: medioambiente, salud y calidad de vida; y que da lugar a una producción sostenible. Intervenciones físicas, por lo tanto, son la innovación bio-sostenible de las cadenas de suministro de productos agrícolas locales, y el proyecto de una fuerte imagen cívica del espacio común y público. Esto significa incluir la crisis actual de la ciudad metropolitana en un proceso de cambio, partiendo de una investigación sobre las posibilidades de una invención: establecer nuevas relaciones entre las partes de la ciudad a través de un proyecto de movilidad para transformar los tiempos de la misma; identificar los lugares adecuados para la producción de una economía circular moderna y limpia; identificar los lugares de regeneración urbana para redescubrir y renovar la identidad de la ciudad metropolitana. Tema: desarrollo económico basado en la inteligencia local y la cohesión social; en particular, sobre la base de la economía circular: un modelo integrado, relacionado con los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible, que vincula la regeneración urbana a la reactivación de un sistema económico local, la innovación de los productos agrícolas y la formación ad hoc que compromete a la comunidad local a trabajar sobre el producto real e incluyéndolo realmente en el territorio regenerado. Con esto se revierte y vuelve a ser un "bien común" (el sentido más profundo del espacio público está vinculado al concepto de "espacio cultivado conjuntamente"). El estudio de caso presentado en apoyo de esta hipótesis de investigación es el proyecto de la centralidad metropolitana de Bajos de Haina en Santo Domingo. En Bajos de Haina, la refinería de caña de azúcar más importante, el "Ingenio de Río Haina", no está siendo utilizada y la están desmantelando. El proyecto de investigación parte de las estructuras del antiguo ingenio, que ahora pertenece a la memoria del lugar, creando un nuevo polo de atracción para contribuir al renacimiento de la zona. La estrategia de intervención consiste en construir un sistema que tenga en cuenta la red de infraestructuras, los espacios verdes y el agua.

The Metropolitan Architecture Project aims to create an artistic metropolitan landscape, which captivates visitors. It focuses on the relationship between the form’s image and the surrounding context, emphasising the structural image in architectural design. The project draws inspiration from the City of Muses Project, incorporating a symbolic mediator as a propeller, which represents the connection with the contemporary society’s cultural symbols and bridges the gap between the past, present and future. The methods employed in the Metropolitan Architecture Project involve integrating artistic elements into the metropolitan landscape. This includes incorporating the symbolic mediator and designing the structural image to interact harmoniously with the surrounding environment. The project has successfully introduced a new type of built form characterised by a relational figure and a vibrant and sensual image. By embracing this approach, the architectural design actively engages with the environment and enhances the overall architectural experience. The Metropolitan Architecture Project demonstrates the significance of incorporating an artistic dimension in creating a metropolitan landscape. The project achieves a captivating and interactive architectural design by considering the dynamic relationship between the form, context and structure. This understanding of architecture contributes to a deeper comprehension of the society which constructs it, resulting in a rich and engaging architectural experience.

Amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) represent a useful and noncontroversial source for liver-based regenerative medicine, as they can differentiate into hepatocytes upon transplantation into the liver. However, the possibility that AECs can differentiate into other liver cell types, such as hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs), has never been assessed. In order to test this hypothesis, rat- and human-derived AECs (rAECs and hAECs, respectively) were subjected to endothelial cell tube formation assay in vitro . Moreover, to evaluate differentiation in vivo , the retrorsine (RS) model of liver repopulation was used. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (including RS) are known to target both hepatocytes and endothelial cells, inducing cell enlargement and inhibition of cell cycle progression. rAECs and hAECs were able to form capillary-like structures when cultured under proangiogenic conditions. For in vivo experiments, rAECs were obtained from dipeptidyl peptidase type IV (DPP-IV, CD26) donors and were transplanted into the liver of recipient CD26 negative animals pretreated with RS. rAEC-derived cells were engrafted in between hepatocytes and resembled HSECs as assessed by morphological analysis and the pattern of expression of CD26. Donor-derived CD26 + cells coexpressed HSEC markers RECA-1 and SE-1, while they lacked expression of typical hepatocyte markers (i.e., cytochrome P450, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α). As such, these results provide the first evidence that AECs can respond to proangiogenic signals in vitro and differentiate into HSECs in vivo . Furthermore, they support the conclusion that AECs possesses great plasticity and represents a promising tool in the field of regenerative medicine both in the liver and in other organs.

The city of today copes with an on-going syntactic transformation. Our research question horizon, then, is the metropolitan extension: its management, its architectural dimension and landscapes. From a metabolic point of view, the growth needs a discontinuity in its structure that regulates the logic disposal of no longer sustainable elements. For this reason we believe that even the architecture and the urban discipline need a strong discontinuity regarding the disciplinary experiences of recent past years. The aim of the paper is to present a possible vision for socio- economic development of the territories, through a physical approach, and a high quality architectural and urban operations carried out within a new metropolitan system, according to the metro-matrix strategy that we have experimented in various fast growing cities projects.