Recent

Recent PF-03084014 datasheet X-ray crystal structures of the bacterial ribosome and new technologies have allowed a greater interrogation of in vitro ribosome assembly; however, substantially less is known about ribosome biogenesis in vivo. Ongoing investigations are focused on elucidating the cellular processes that facilitate biogenesis of the ribosomal subunits, and many extraribosomal factors, including modification enzymes, remodeling enzymes and GTPases, are being uncovered. Moreover, specific roles for ribosome

biogenesis factors in subunit maturation are now being elaborated. Ultimately, such studies will reveal a more complete understanding of processes at work in in vivo ribosome biogenesis.”
“Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of empiric find more transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for patients with massive bleeding from duodenal ulcers.\n\nMaterials and Methods: During January 2000 and December 2009, 59 patients with duodenal ulcer bleeding in whom TAE was attempted

after endoscopic therapy failed were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into empiric TAE (n = 36) and identifiable TAE (n = 23) groups according to angiographic findings with or without identification of the bleeding sites. The technical and clinical success rate, recurrent bleeding rate, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated.\n\nResults: The technical and clinical success rates of TAE were 100% and 83%. The recurrent bleeding rate, clinical success, duodenal stenosis, and 30-day mortality after TAE were not significantly different between the empiric and identifiable TAE groups.\n\nConclusions: A high rate of technical and clinical success was obtained with empiric TAE comparable to identifiable TAE in patients with massive bleeding from duodenal ulcers. There were no severe complications. Empiric TAE is

an effective and safe method when a bleeding Selleck ATR inhibitor site cannot determined by angiography.”
“In horses, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders occur frequently and cause a considerable demand for efficient medication. 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HT) have been reported to be involved in GI tract motility and thus, are potential targets for treating functional bowel disorders. Our studies extend current knowledge on the 5-HT7 receptor in equine duodenum, ileum and pelvic flexure by studying its expression throughout the intestine and its role in modulating contractility in vitro by immunofluorescence and organ bath experiments, respectively.\n\n5-HT7 immunoreactivity was demonstrated in both smooth muscle layers, particularly in the circular one, and within the myenteric plexus. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), identified by c-Kit labeling, show a staining pattern similar to that of 5-HT7 immunoreactivity.

From each calf, blood samples were collected before

and a

From each calf, blood samples were collected before

and approximately 24 hours after treatment. Serum IgG and total protein (TP) concentrations were quantified with standard methods, and the apparent efficiency of IgG absorption was calculated.

Results-At 24 hours after treatment, mean serum TP and IgG concentrations were significantly lower for calves fed pooled MC (TP, 4.77 g/dL; IgG, 750 g/L), compared with those for calves fed the LDCR (TP, 5.50 g/dL; IgG, 15.15 g/L). Calves fed the LDCR were 95% less likely to develop FPT (OR, 0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.08) than were calves fed pooled MC. However, JQEZ5 the mean IgG concentration in the pooled MC fed during the study (21.1 g/L) was substantially lower than that (64.3 g/L) determined for representative samples of pooled MC from other southwestern

US dairies during a national survey.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results indicated that, on this particular dairy, calves fed an LDCR were at less S3I-201 order risk of developing FPT than were calves fed pooled MC. The LDCR evaluated was a viable alternative for the prevention of FPT in calves.”
“in this study, in order to isolate inulinase overproducers from the marine yeast Pichia guilliermondii, its cells were treated by using UV light and LiCl. The mutant M-30 with enhanced inulinase production was obtained and was found to be stable after cultivation for 20 generations. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the medium compositions and cultivation conditions for inulinase production by the mutant M-30 in liquid fermentation. Inulin, yeast extract, NaCl, temperature, pH for maximum inulinase production by the mutant M-30

were found to be 20.0g/l. 5.0 g/l. 20.0 g/l. 28 degrees C VS-6063 and 6.5, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, 127.7 U/ml of inulinase activity was reached in the liquid culture of the mutant M-30 whereas the predicted maximum inulinase activity of 129.8 U/ml was derived from RSM regression. Under the same conditions, its parent strain only produced 48.1 U/ml of inulinase activity. This is the highest inulinase activity produced by the yeast strains reported so far. We also found that inulin could be actively converted into monosaccharides by the crude inulinase. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet detector was used to quantitatively determine the amount of caffeoylquinic acid, arctium lappa glycoside, aurantiamarin and forsythin present in five solvent extracts (water, 30% ethanol, 50% ethanol, 70% ethanol and 95% ethanol) of Yinqiaosan (YQS). The calibration curves of the four components were linear (r(2)>0.998) over the concentration range of 0.9-151.5 mu g/mL. This method showed good repeatability with relative standard deviations of less than 2.9% and mean recoveries of 91.3-100.5%. We established the relative amounts of each of the four main ingredients in YQS for all five solvent extracts.

A study of the swelling ratio indicated that the hydrogels were r

A study of the swelling ratio indicated that the hydrogels were responsive to the temperature. The hydrogel formation method described here provides several advantages, such as mild reaction conditions, no initiator or catalyst, a tunable gelation rate, and thermal reversibility, and it has great potential for the preparation of biomaterials. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 974-980, 2011″
“An unstructured model of hyaluronic acid (HA) fermentation by Streptococcus zooepidemicus considering the effect of glucose was proposed and validated. Experiments were performed in

a glucose concentration range of 10-60 g l(-1) in a 21 bioreactor of batch mode. Three different models, namely, the Logistic equations for cell growth, the Logistic incorporated Leudeking-Piret-like equation for glucose consumption. and the Logistic incorporated Leudeking-Piret equation with AZD1480 purchase time delay, At, for HA productions were proposed. The kinetic parameters were estimated by fitting the experimental data to the models. Simulation was made using the estimated kinetics parameter values and was compared with the experimental data. For glucose inhibition, S. zooepidemicus tolerated up to 40 g l(-1) glucose. Beyond this concentration, cell growth was inhibited. The Han and Levenspiel model and the Teissier-type

model gave the best fit for all find more the systems studied with R(2) of 0.997 and 0.985, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Although carbon monoxide derived from heme oxygenase has been reported to exert diverse biological actions in mammals, macromolecules responsible for its direct reception and functional outcomes of the gas binding remain largely unknown. Based on our previous results in vivo suggesting carbon monoxide serves as an inhibitor of cystathionine beta-synthase that rate-limits transsulfuration pathway for generation of hydrogen sulfide, we have herein hypothesized that the gas might serve as a regulator of protein methylation through accelerating turnover of remethylation cycle residing at

the upstream of the enzyme. Metabolomic analysis in human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells in culture revealed that application of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules caused increases in methionine and S-adenosylmethionine and a decrease in cystathionine in the cells, suggesting see more the cystathionine synthase inhibition by carbon monoxide. Under these circumstances, the cells exhibited global protein arginine methylation: this event was also reproduced by the cell treatment with hemin, a heme oxygenase-1 inducer. The protein arginine methylation elicited by carbon monoxide was attenuated by knocking down cystathionine beta-synthase with its small interfering RNA or by blocking S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase with adenosine dialdehyde, suggesting remethylation cycling is necessary to trigger the methylation processing.

The success of immune therapy with the anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyt

The success of immune therapy with the anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 antibody ipilimumab in advanced melanoma has spurred interest in the development of vaccines and immune therapies for other solid tumors. Certainly, the concept of harnessing the power of the immune system for cancer treatment is an attractive concept to patients and clinicians alike. Herein we discuss recent advances in the development of novel therapeutic approaches to PAC, focusing in particular on recent developments in immune and vaccine therapy.”
“Background selleck compound and objective Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is a relatively new marker of inflammation

that has not been previously tested in pleural effusions. We aimed to assess whether PTX-3 is an accurate biomarker of parapneumonic effusions (PPE) and whether it discriminates complicated (CPPE)from non-complicated PPE. Methods The concentrations of pleural fluid PTX-3 were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a prospective cohort of 84 patients with pleural effusions, including 24 PPE, 40 malignant, and 20 miscellaneous exudative effusions. The area under the curve quantified the overall diagnostic accuracy of the test. A multivariate logistic regression analysis selected pleural fluid biochemistries predictive

of PPE. Results Median pleural fluid PTX-3 levels were higher in PPE than in both malignant effusions and other exudates (32.4ng/mL vs 6.7ng/mL, and 8.5ng/mL, respectively, Autophagy Compound Library P<0.001). selleck chemicals PTX-3>12ng/mL yielded 88% sensitivity, 73% specificity, likelihood ratio positive 3.3 and likelihood ratio negative 0.17 for diagnosing PPE, with an area under the curve of 0.855 (95% CI: 0.7690.941). In the multivariate analysis, pleural PTX-3 levels remained associated with increased diagnostic odds for PPE (odds ratio 17.7, 95% confidence interval: 3.785.1, P<0.001). There was

a non-significant trend towards higher pleural PTX-3 levels in CPPE as compared with non-complicated. Conclusions High concentrations of PTX-3 in pleural effusions are very sensitive to differentiate PPE from non-PPE. However, they do not seem to differentiate uncomplicated-complicated from CPPE differentiation.”
“A novel human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been formulated with virus-like particles of the L1 protein of HPV-16 and HPV-18, and the Adjuvant System 04 (AS04). AS04 is a combination of the toll-like receptor 4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and aluminum hydroxide. The AS04-adjuvanted HPV vaccine induces a high and sustained immune response against HPV, including high levels of neutralizing antibodies at the cervical mucosa in women aged 15-55 years.

Additionally, data suggest scarcity in management and evaluation

Additionally, data suggest scarcity in management and evaluation of malaria foci, detection and control of malaria epidemics as well as assignment of emergency sites across different regions of the https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-04929113.html country. Consequently, massive and substantial investments need to be made at the Ministry of Health to coordinate national malaria control programmes towards achieving determined goals and targets.”
“In this work, a model is presented, which is the basis of a quality control concept for the injection molding process. Contrary to statistical

methods, this model uses physical dependencies of two quality parameters on four influencing parameters. The influences of holding pressure, holding time, melt temperature, and mold temperature on part mass and dimensions are described based on the fundamental material behavior such as pvT-data or energy equation. Furthermore, the influence of viscosity changes is indirectly taken into account using the injection work. Assuming only small deviations of the influencing parameters around an optimized Staurosporine molecular weight operating point, the four parameters are treated as being independent from each other. With this assumption, a product ansatz was chosen

with different functions for each influencing factor. Applying basic algebra, the starting equation was transformed into a form that describes either the change in part mass or characteristic part dimensions as a function of the influencing factors. The final equation for the part mass contains six model parameters, whereas nine model parameters are necessary for the equation for the part length. To obtain those model parameters some systematic experiments are required. Once the parameters are known, the model is able to calculate the change of the target values when the influencing factors vary around the operating point. The Sulfobutylether-β-Cyclodextrin model was tested experimentally with focus on dimensions using

a plastic cover made of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) grade. For the investigated part geometry and material grade, the process behavior was described well by the model. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011″
“Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), an inherited disease, leads to cyst formation in the kidneys. In this condition, the kidneys are grossly enlarged with multiple cysts that result in kidney failure in a majority of individuals. This condition is also associated with cysts in other organs. Recent research has focused on defects in signaling mediated by the primary cilia as the causative factor in ADPKD. Primary cilia are also present in odontogenic epithelium. Dentigerous cyst also is a developmental cyst whose pathogenesis is controversial. Recent studies have shown that loss of Ptch and Shh signaling pathways are involved in the cystogenesis of dentigerous cyst. The Shh signaling pathway is active in the primary cilia.

Design: We used the Osteoarthritis Policy (OAPol) Model, a valida

Design: We used the Osteoarthritis Policy (OAPol) Model, a validated state-transition simulation model of knee OA, to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) as prophylaxis for the disease. We assessed four cohorts at varying risk for developing OA: (1) no risk factors, (2) obese, (3) history of knee injury, and (4) high-risk (obese with history of knee injury). The

base case DMOAD was initiated at age 50 with 40% efficacy in the first year, 5% failure per subsequent year, 0.22% major toxicity, and annual cost of $1,000. Outcomes included costs, quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE), and incremental signaling pathway cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Key parameters were varied in sensitivity analyses.

Results: this website For the high-risk cohort, base case prophylaxis increased quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) by 0.04 and lifetime costs by $4,600, and produced an ICER of $118,000 per QALY gained. ICERs >$150,000/QALY were observed when comparing the base case DMOAD to the standard of care in the knee injury only cohort; for the obese only and no risk factors cohorts, the base case DMOAD was less cost-effective than the standard of care. Regimens priced at $3,000 per year and higher

demonstrated ICERs above cost-effectiveness thresholds consistent with current US standards.

Conclusions: The cost-effectiveness of DMOADs for OA prevention for persons at high risk for incident OA may be comparable to other accepted preventive therapies. (C) 2014 Osteoarthritis

Research MLN4924 supplier Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“This work investigates for the first time the occurrence of drugs of abuse and metabolites in surface waters from the Tagus River on its way through the province of Toledo (downstream Madrid metropolitan area) and in drinking waters in two nearby cities. Some of the studied drugs are used for therapeutic purposes but they can also be consumed as illicit drugs. The results of this preliminary study have revealed the presence of 12 out of 22 drugs of abuse analyzed in fluvial water at concentrations ranging from 1.14 to 40.9 ng/L The largest concentrations corresponded to the anxiolytics diazepam and lorazepam, the cocaine metabolite benzoilecgonine, the amphetamine-like compound ephedrine, and the methadone metabolite EDDP. All these substances, except for lorazepam, were detected in all the sampling points. Traces of methadone and ephedrine were detected in some samples of tap water. Despite the low concentrations of these pollutants, effects on wildlife or human health cannot be disregarded, especially on vulnerable population. Thus, the treatment of these substances using a heterogeneous photo-Fenton process has been evaluated, rendering a remarkable effectiveness for their degradation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

05) Nine strains, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella

05). Nine strains, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Enterobacter cloacae, were isolated from sputum cultures of nine patients. The isolated strains were eradicated by moxifloxacin. The mean area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 hours [AUC(0-24 h) (AUC(0-24 h, ss))], maximum plasma concentration (C(max)), and trough plasma level (C(trough)) of moxifloxacin at steady state was 52.0 mu g h/ml, 4.5, and 0.9 mu g/ml, respectively. Mean AUC(0-24 h, ss)/mimimum inhibitory concentration

(MIC), and C(max)/MIC ratios for patients in whom MICs of moxifloxacin were determined for pathogenic bacteria were 723 and 62, respectively. The median AUC(0-24 h, ss)/MIC and C(max)/MIC ratios (based on Monte Carlo simulation employing MICs for 257 strains of

S. pneumoniae collected during a respiratory infection survey by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy high throughput screening assay in 2007) were 209.56 and 17.88, respectively. Thus, when the target for the AUC/MIC ratio was set at >= 30 and that for the Cmax/MIC ratio at >= 5, the achievement rate for these two parameters was 97.36% and 96.71%, respectively. Two patients (11%) experienced three adverse effects [one nausea, another increased LY2835219 chemical structure aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)], but the events were not serious. Based on these results, moxifloxacin”
“Blood-filled cysts of larger size attached to the heart valves represent a very rare finding in adults. We report here a case of a blood-filled cyst attached to the papillary muscle, demonstrating the importance of multimodal preoperative diagnostic imaging combining both echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.”
“Although previous systematic reviews considered the relationship between socioeconomic Compound Library status and obesity, almost 200 peer-reviewed articles have been published since the last review on that topic, and this paper focuses specifically on education, which has different implications. The authors systematically review the peer-reviewed

literature from around the world considering the association between educational attainment and obesity. Databases from public health and medicine, education, psychology, economics, and other social sciences were searched, and articles published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish were included. This paper includes 289 articles that report on 410 populations in 91 countries. The relationship between educational attainment and obesity was modified by both gender and the country’s economic development level: an inverse association was more common in studies of higher-income countries and a positive association was more common in lower-income countries, with stronger social patterning among women.

Horses diagnosed with the nodular form of extraocular lymphoma se

Horses diagnosed with the nodular form of extraocular lymphoma seem selleck inhibitor to have the best prognosis with complete excision.”
“Emerging evidence has implied that subchondral bone plays an important role during osteoarthritis (OA) pathology. This study was undertaken to investigate whether abnormalities of the condylar subchondral bone lead

to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) OA. We used an osteoblast-specific mutant TGF-1 transgenic mouse, the CED mouse, in which high levels of active TGF-1 occur in bone marrow, leading to abnormal bone remodeling. Subchondral bone changes in the mandibular condyles were investigated by micro-CT, and alterations in TMJ condyles were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Abnormalities in the condylar subchondral bone, characterized as fluctuant bone mineral density and microstructure and increased but uncoupled activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, were apparent in the 1- and 4-month CED mouse groups, while obvious cartilage degradation, in the form of cell-free regions and proteoglycan loss, was observed in the 4-month CED group. In addition, increased numbers of apoptotic chondrocytes and MMP9- and VEGF-positive chondrocytes were observed in the condylar cartilage in the 4-month CED group, but not

in the 1-month CED group, compared see more with their respective age-matched controls. This study demonstrated that progressive degradation of mandibular condylar cartilage could be induced by the abnormal remodeling of the underlying subchondral bone during TMJOA progression.”
“Severity of airway narrowing is relevant to management decision-making processes in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis. Airway

lumen is frequently assessed subjectively based on still images obtained during airway examinations or objectively using image analysis software applied to radiological or bronchoscopic images. The purpose of this study was to determine whether strictures classified as mild, moderate or severe degrees of airway narrowing based on subjective PF-03084014 purchase assessments by a group of experienced bronchoscopists using still images, matched the classifications derived from morphometric bronchoscopy measurements and whether the results of subjective assessments correlated with the level of bronchoscopic experience.

Thirty-five bronchoscopic doublet still images of benign causes of laryngotracheal stenosis containing normal and abnormal airway cross-sectional areas were objectively analysed using morphometric bronchoscopy and classified as mild (< 50%), moderate (50-70%) or severe (> 70%). These images were then subjectively assessed by 42 experienced bronchoscopists participating in an interventional bronchoscopy course. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the accuracy of the participants’ classifications. Correlation coefficients were used to study the relationship between participants’ subjective assessments and bronchoscopy experience.

Recent findings

Selective lobar blockade while allowin

Recent findings

Selective lobar blockade while allowing surgical exposure also improves oxygenation in patients who cannot tolerate complete lung collapse due to limited reserve or previous lung surgery.

Summary

Selective GSK126 mw lobar blockade is an alternative

technique to achieve lobar collapse in patients who have had a previous lobectomy or pneumonectomy and require thoracic surgery. This selective blockade can be accomplished by using a bronchial blocker or a double-lumen endotracheal tube. In patients with previous bronchial resection, recognition of tracheobronchial anatomy with the fiberoptic bronchoscope is mandatory to increase the successful placement and function of lung isolation devices. The advantages of a selective blockade are to avoid total lung collapse and only block the lobe(s) in which surgery takes place and to improve intraoperative oxygenation.”
“Objectives: To investigate the incidence of early-onset neonatal sepsis and identify the main pathogens over a 5-year period in Kuwait.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from all infants with any clinical or laboratory feature suggestive of sepsis, at the main maternity hospital in Kuwait. Cases of early-onset neonatal infection were defined as culture of a single potentially pathogenic organism from blood or cerebrospinal fluid from infants younger Blebbistatin concentration than 7 days of age, in association with clinical or laboratory findings

consistent with infection.

Results: The overall incidence of early-onset neonatal infection was 2.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-3.2) episodes per 1000 live-births. The case-fatality was 13.1% (95% CI 8.6-18.9%). Group B Streptococcus (GBS) accounted for 17.6% of infections among infants younger than 7 days (incidence 0.48 per 1000 live-births), but 38.1% of infections in the first 2 days of life. Neither the incidence of early-onset infection by GBS nor by Escherichia coli changed significantly over the study period.

Conclusions: Although the incidence of GBS infections was relatively AR-13324 low, GBS accounted for most early-onset infections. Intrapartum antibiotic

prophylaxis against GBS should be strengthened. There was no evidence to suggest that early-onset infection due to non-GBS organisms such E. coli has increased in the last 5 years. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to examine the evidence for and the clinical use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for the management of one-lung ventilation during thoracic surgery. CPAP and PEEP use are important as we are increasingly challenged with patients with less respiratory reserve and greater comorbidity leading to the need for greater clinical management and more interventions during one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery to prevent perioperative complications.

Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and multivariate logistic

Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and multivariate logistic regression assessed the ability of clinical and biochemical assessments to predict HIE. Results: Sixty neonates MK-0518 concentration met the HIE criteria: 39 were moderate-severe HIE. Univariate analyses identified clinical neonatal markers (Apgar scores and neonatal resuscitation level) to be better HIE predictors than biochemical markers (umbilical artery pH, base excess and lactate values). Multivariable models using two to four predictors had areas under ROC curves up to 0.98, sensitivities up to 93% and specificities

up to 99%. For moderate-severe HIE, the most effective predictor was neonatal resuscitation level and arterial lactate (ROC 0.98, sensitivity

85%, specificity 99%). Conclusion: The combination of umbilical arterial lactate and neonatal resuscitation level provides a rapid and accurate method of predicting moderate-severe HIE that can identify neonates at birth that may benefit from tertiary care and neuroprotective therapies.”
“The utilisation of NMR fingerprinting is proposed as a rapid, available Bindarit and reliable method to determine the contamination of herbal products. The presence of nimesulide has been reported recently as the contaminant of P.C. 28 Plus, a product based on herbal drugs marketed by the Italian company Cosval. The presence of the substance, as well as its relevant concentration (5%), was first reported by HPLC/MS analysis by other authors. The use of an NMR fingerprint confirmed the previous contamination with nimesulide in P.C. 28 Plus. The same contaminant was also found in P.C. 28 Pink. Furthermore, an analysis of Alergix Plus, another see more product of the same factory, evidenced the presence of bromhexin.”
“Background: As the vitamin K content of human milk is low and the newborn infant’s stores of vitamin K are small, vitamin K deficiency with hemorrhage in the newborn is a worldwide problem. Proteins Induced by Vitamin

K Absence (PIVKA-II) are the inactive under-gamma-carboxylated forms of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors and they could be useful in predicting subclinical vitamin K deficiency (VKD). Objectives: To demonstrate that PIVKA-II are earlier markers of subclinical VKD than Prothrombin time (PT) in exclusively breast-fed newborns. Methods: A prospective, controlled, randomized study, including 53 term newborns receiving vitamin K prophylaxis (0.5 mg i.m.) at birth, was performed. At 30 days newborns were divided into three groups (G) receiving respectively: 25 mu g/die of vitamin K (G I), 12 mu g/die (G II) or placebo (G III). PIVKA-II and PT were measured on 30th and 90th days of life. Results: G III and GII showed a significant increase in PIVKA-II from 30 to 90 days of life respectively from 2.6 to 4.7 (p = 0.001) and from 2.3 to 3.5 (p < 0.001). No significant changes were found in GI.