ty and can be applied in the future to the environmental and social management of marine protected areas. The quantitative determination of urinary Cystatin C (cyst-C) associated with the qualitative analysis of its polymorphisms is an excellent method for early identification of newborns predisposed to renal function impairment. PETIA, PENIA and EIA are the immunometric methods used for the quantitative determination of cyst-C in human biologic fluid but they have limitations and do not allow qualitative analysis. The present study is a validation of Immunoblot SDS-PAGE for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of urinary cyst-C. Urine was collected from neonates in the nursey at S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital. Urinary cyst-C was investigated by the immunoblot SDS-PAGE and by reading of optical density. The qualitative analysis showed two different molecular forms a reactivity at about 70 KDa in all samples and a reactivity at 13 KDa in a limited number of samples. This analysis allows the correlation of the polymorphisms of cyst-C with specific alterations of renal function in newborns. The quanay offer potential diagnostic information not available with immunometric method. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic variants are considered to have a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study examines an association of FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI with RA, as well as with bone mineral density (RA with normal bone mineral density, RA-NBMD; RA with associated osteopenia, RA-OSTP; and RA with associated osteoporosis, RA-OP) and inflammatory markers. VDR genetic variants were tested in 248 subjects using the PCR-RFLP method. Significant differences were observed in the distribution of FokI genotypes between RA patients (p<0.001), or subgroups (RA-NBMD, RA-OSTP, RA-OP) (p=0.035, p=0.02, p<0.001, respectively) and controls. Prevalence of FokI f allele was significantly higher in RA group (p<0.001) and subgroups (p=0.003, p=0.021, p<0.001, respectively) compared to controls. An increased susceptibility to RA-OSTP was revealed in BsmI/ApaI Ba (AC) haplotype carriers (p=0.012). A significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate values were obtained in FokI FF compared to Ff+ff carriers (54.57±23.73 vs. 22.83±12.42; p<0.001) within the RA-NBMD subgroup. The results of the study indicate an association of RA with FokI genetic variant and increased susceptibility to RA in f allele carriers, as well as to RA-OSTP in BsmI/ApaI Ba (AC) haplotype carriers.The results of the study indicate an association of RA with FokI genetic variant and increased susceptibility to RA in f allele carriers, as well as to RA-OSTP in BsmI/ApaI Ba (AC) haplotype carriers.Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments in cases of severe and treatment resistant major depression. 60-80% of patients respond to ECT, but the procedure is demanding and robust prediction of ECT responses would be of great clinical value. Predictions based on neuroimaging data have recently come into focus, but still face methodological and practical limitations that are hampering the translation into clinical practice. In this retrospective study, we investigated the feasibility of ECT response prediction using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data that was collected during ECT routine examinations. We applied machine learning techniques to predict individual treatment outcomes in a cohort of N = 71 ECT patients, N = 39 of which responded to the treatment. SMRI-based classification of ECT responders and non-responders reached an accuracy of 69% (sensitivity 67%; specificity 72%). Classification on additionally investigated clinical variables had no predictive power. Since dichotomisation of patients into ECT responders and non-responders is debatable due to many patients only showing a partial response, we additionally performed a post-hoc regression-based prediction analysis on continuous symptom improvements. This analysis yielded a significant relationship between true and predicted treatment outcomes and might be a promising alternative to dichotomization of patients. Based on our results, we argue that the prediction of individual ECT responses based on routine sMRI holds promise to overcome important limitations that are currently hampering the translation of such treatment biomarkers into everyday clinical practice. Finally, we discuss how the results of such predictive data analysis could best support the clinician's decision on whether a patient should be treated with ECT. To assess the procedural and clinical outcomes associated with the introduction of minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) into standard care at 2 tertiary Australian neonatal intensive care units. A prospective audit was designed before the introduction of MIST in 2018, with data collected over a period of 18months. Procedural data were completed by the clinical team performing MIST, including clinical observations, medication use, and adverse events. The audit team collected demographic data and subsequent clinical outcomes from medical records. There were 135 MIST procedures recorded in 122 infants. For the included infants, the median gestation was 30 weeks (IQR, 27 to 32 weeks) and birth weight was 1439g (IQR, 982-1958 g). During the MIST procedure, desaturation to a peripheral oxygen saturation of <80% was common, occurring in 75.2% of procedures. Other adverse events included need for positive pressure ventilation (10.6%) and bradycardia <100 beats per minute (13.3%). AZD9291 in vitro The use of atropine premedication was associated with a significantly lower incidence of bradycardia 8.6% vs 52.9% (P<.01). Senior clinicians demonstrated higher rates of procedural success. The majority of infants (63.9%) treated with MIST did not require subsequent intubation and mechanical ventilation. MIST can be successfully introduced in neonatal units with limited experience of this technique. The use of atropine premedication decreases the incidence of bradycardia during the procedure. Success rates can be optimized by limiting MIST to clinicians with greater competence in endotracheal intubation.MIST can be successfully introduced in neonatal units with limited experience of this technique. The use of atropine premedication decreases the incidence of bradycardia during the procedure. Success rates can be optimized by limiting MIST to clinicians with greater competence in endotracheal intubation.