Effects of cow reproductive status, parity and lactation stage on behaviour and heavy breathing indications of a commercial accelerometer during hot weather conditions.

Heat stress presents one of the most urgent challenges to modern dairy farming, having major detrimental impacts on cow welfare, health, and production. Understanding the effect of cow factors (reproductive status, parity, and lactation stage) on the physiological and behavioural response to hot weather conditions is essential for the accurate detection and practical application of heat mitigation strategies. To study this, collars with commercial accelerometer-based sensors were fitted on 48 lactation dairy cows to record behaviour and heavy breathing from late spring to late summer. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated from measurements of 8 barn sensors. We found that, above a THI of 84, cows in advanced pregnancy (>90 days) spent more time breathing heavily and less time eating and in low activity than other cows, while cows in early pregnancy (≤90 days) spent less time breathing heavily, more time eating and in low activity. Cows with 3+ lactations showed less time breathing heavily and in high activity and more time ruminating and in low activity than cows with fewer lactations. Although lactation stage interacted significantly with THI on time spent breathing heavily, ruminating, eating, and in low activity, there was no clear indication at which lactation stage cows were more sensitive to heat. These findings show that cow factors affect the cow's physiological and behavioural response to heat, which could be used to provide group-specific heat abatement strategies, thereby improving heat stress management.

Clinical validation of full HR-HPV genotyping HPV Selfy assay according to the international guidelines for HPV test requirements for cervical cancer screening on clinician-collected and self-collected samples.

BACKGROUND: According to international guidelines, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests represent a valid alternative to Pap Test for primary cervical cancer screening, provided that they guarantee balanced clinical sensitivity and specificity for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more (CIN2+) lesions. The study aimed to assess whether HPV Selfy (Ulisse BioMed - Trieste, Italy), a full-genotyping HPV DNA test that detects and differentiates 14 high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types, meets the criteria for primary cervical cancer screening described in the international guidelines, on clinician-collected as well as on self-collected samples. METHODS: For each participant woman, consecutively referring to Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (Trieste, Italy) and CRO-National Cancer Institute (Aviano, Italy) for the cervical cancer screening program, the following samples were tested: (a) a clinician-collected cervical specimen, analyzed with the reference test (Hybrid Capture®2 test, HC2) and HPV Selfy; and (b) a self-collected vaginal sample, analyzed with HPV Selfy. Enrolled women were also asked to fulfill a questionnaire about self-sampling acceptability. As required by guidelines, a non-inferiority test was conducted to compare the clinical performance of the test under evaluation with its reference test. RESULTS: HPV Selfy clinical sensitivity and specificity resulted non-inferior to those of HC2. By analysis of a total of 889 cervical liquid-based cytology samples from a screening population, of which 98 were from women with CIN2+, HPV Selfy showed relative sensitivity and specificity for CIN2+ of 0.98 and 1.00 respectively (non-inferiority score test: P = 0.01747 and P = 0.00414, respectively); the test reached adequate intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility. Moreover, we demonstrated that the performance of HPV Selfy on self-collected vaginal samples was non-inferior to the performance obtained on clinician-collected cervical specimen (0.92 relative sensitivity and 0.97 relative specificity). Finally, through HPV Selfy genotyping, we were able to describe HPV types prevalence in the study population. CONCLUSIONS: HPV Selfy fulfills all the requirements of the international Meijer's guidelines and has been clinically validated for primary cervical cancer screening purposes. Moreover, HPV Selfy has also been validated for self-sampling according to VALHUDES guidelines. Therefore, at date, HPV Selfy is the only full-genotyping test validated both for screening purposes and for self-sampling. Trial registration ASUGI Trieste n. 16008/2018; CRO Aviano n.17149/2018.

SARS-CoV-2 AY.4.2 variant circulating in Italy: Genomic preliminary insight.

The appearance of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 carrying mutations into the spike protein has recently raised concern with respect to tracking their transmission and mitigating the impact in the evolving pandemic across countries. AY.4.2, a recently detected Delta variant sublineage, is considered a new variant under investigation (VUI) as it carries specific genetic signatures present in the spike protein, called Y145H and A222V. Here, using genomic epidemiology, we provide the first preliminary insight regarding the circulation of this emerging VUI in Italy.

ACE2 expression is related to the interferon response in airway epithelial cells but is that functional for SARS-CoV-2 entry?

In vitro interferon (IFN)α treatment of primary human upper airway basal cells has been shown to drive ACE2 expression, the receptor of SARS-CoV-2. The protease furin is also involved in mediating SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections, although its association with early IFN response has not been evaluated yet. In order to assess the in vivo relationship between ACE2 and furin expression and the IFN response in nasopharyngeal cells, we first examined ACE2 and furin levels and their correlation with the well-known marker of IFNs' activation, ISG15, in children (n = 59) and adults (n = 48), during respiratory diseases not caused by SARS-CoV-2. A strong positive correlation was found between ACE2 expression, but not of furin, and ISG15 in all patients analyzed. In addition, type I and III IFN stimulation experiments were performed to examine the IFN-mediated activation of ACE2 isoforms (full-length and truncated) and furin in epithelial cell lines. Following all the IFNs treatments, only the truncated ACE2 levels, were upregulated significantly in the A549 and Calu3 cells, in particular by type I IFNs. If confirmed in vivo following IFNs' activation, the induction of the truncated ACE2 isoform only would not enhance the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the respiratory tract.

Influenza B virus infection complicated by life-threatening pericarditis: a unique case-report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Acute pericarditis may occur frequently after viral infections. To our knowledge, influenza B virus infection complicated by pericarditis without myocardial involvement has never been reported. We report the first case of life-threatening pericarditis caused by influenza B virus infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-years-old woman with trisomy 21 and ostium primum atrial septal defect was transferred from Cardiology to our Internal Medicine Department for severe pericardial effusion unresponsive to ibuprofen and colchicine. Based on the recent patient history of flu-like syndrome, and presence of pleuro-pericardial effusion, a viral etiology was suspected. Laboratory evaluation and molecular assay of tracheal aspirate identified influenza B virus. Therefore, the ongoing metilprednisolone and colchicine therapy was implemented with oseltamivir with progressive patient improvement and no evidence of pericardial effusion recurrence during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Especially in autumn and winter periods, clinicians should include Influenza B virus infection on differential diagnosis of pericarditis with large pericardial effusion.

Genotype I hepatitis A virus introduction in Italy: Bayesian phylogenetic analysis to date different epidemics.

Despite a significant decrease in acute hepatitis A in the last 2 decades in Italy, outbreaks were observed occurring mostly in southern Italy. In this study, Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was used to analyze the origin of these epidemics. With this aim, 5 different data sets of hepatitis A virus sequences were built to perform genotyping by the neighbor-joining method to estimate the evolutionary rates by using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approach and to investigate the demographic history by independent Markov chain Monte Carlo runs enforcing both a strict and relaxed clock. The estimated mean value of the evolutionary rate, representing Ia and Ib strains, was 1.21 × 10-3 and 2.0 × 10-3 substitutions/site/year, respectively. The Bayesian maximum clade credibility tree of hepatitis A virus (HAV) Ia and Ib strains showed that Italian sequences mostly formed separate clusters. The root of the time for the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) for HAV Ia and Ib strains dated back to 1981 and to 1988, respectively, showing in both cases different epidemic entrances. Phylodynamic analysis showed that genotype Ia increased in 1997, when the Apulia epidemic started, then suffered a bottleneck, probably consequent to vaccination and to the herd immunity, followed by a new increase in virus population in the years 2013-2014 consequent to the epidemic caused by the ingestion of mixed frozen berries. A similar trend without an evident bottleneck was observed also in the case of genotype Ib. In conclusion, the Bayesian phylogenetic analysis represents a good tool to measure the effectiveness of the public health plans used for HAV control.

Nutrient Losses during Winter and Summer Storage of Separated and Unseparated Digested Cattle Slurry.

Management factors affect nutrient loss during animal manure slurry storage in different ways. We conducted a pilot-scale study to evaluate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses from unseparated and digested dairy slurry during winter and summer storage. In addition to season, treatments included mechanical separation of digestate into liquid and solid fractions and bimonthly mixing. Chemical analyses were performed every 2 wk for the mixed materials and at the start and end of storage for unmixed materials. The parameters examined allowed us to estimate C and N losses and examine the factors that determine these losses as well as emission patterns. Gas measurements were done every 2 wk to determine the main forms in which gaseous losses occurred. To evaluate the effect of separation, measured losses and emissions of separated liquid and solid fractions were mathematically combined using the mass separation efficiency of the mechanical separator. Nutrient losses were mainly affected by climatic conditions. Losses of C (up to 23%) from unseparated, unmixed digestate and of N (38% from combined separated fractions and from unseparated digestate) were much greater in summer than in winter, when C and N losses were <7%. Mixing tended to significantly increase N losses ( < 0.1) only in winter. Mechanical separation resulted in lower GHG emissions from combined separated fractions than from unseparated digestate. Results indicate that to maximize the fertilizer value of digested slurry, dairy farmers must carefully choose management practices, especially in summer. For separated digestates, practices should focus on storage of the liquid fraction, the major contributor of C and N losses (up to 64 and 90% of total losses, respectively) in summer. Moreover, management practices should limit NH, the main form of N losses (up to 99.5%).

Effects of feed delivery frequency in different environmental conditions on time budget of lactating dairy cows.

This study aimed to examine the influence of feed delivery frequency and environmental conditions on daily time budget of lactating dairy cows. The study was carried out in two commercial dairy farms with Holstein herds. Fifty lactating dairy cows milked in automatic milking units (AMS farm) and 96 primiparous lactating dairy cows milked in a conventional milking parlour (conventional farm) were exposed to different frequencies of feed delivery replicated in different periods of the year (warm and mild) that were characterized by different temperature-humidity indices (THI). On each farm, feeding treatments consisted of two different feed delivery frequencies (1× and 2× on the AMS farm; 2× and 3× on the conventional farm). All behaviours of the cows were monitored for the last 8 d of each treatment period using continuous video recording. The two data sets from different farm systems were considered separately for analysis. On both farms, environmental conditions expressed as THI affected time budgets and the pattern of the behavioural indices throughout the day. The variation in the frequency of feed delivery seems to affect the cow's time budget only in a limited way. Standing time of cows on the conventional farm and the time spent by cows in the milking waiting area on the AMS farm both increased in response to increased feeding frequency. Although feed delivery frequency showed limited influence on cow's time budget, the effect on standing time could be carefully considered, especially on farms equipped with AMS where the type of cow traffic system (e.g., milking first) might amplify the negative consequences of more frequent feed delivery. Further investigations are required to evaluate the effect of THI and feed delivery frequency on other aspects of behavioural activity.

The PNPLA3 rs738409 C > G polymorphism is associated with the risk of progression to cirrhosis in NAFLD patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 C > G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been associated with steatosis and fibrosis in previous NAFLD populations in which cirrhotic patients were very poorly represented. Since not all NAFLD with fibrosis evolve to cirrhosis, we investigated the specific risk of cirrhosis conferred in NAFLD patients by carrying this SNP. METHODS: Three groups were studied: patients with NASH-cirrhosis; patients with biopsy-proven non-cirrhotic NAFLD; healthy subjects undergoing medicine check-ups. Epidemiological, anthropometric, and clinical data were collected, and the SNP was analyzed by pyrosequencing. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients with NASH-cirrhosis, 60 with non-cirrhotic NAFLD, and 125 healthy controls were included. Frequency of the PNPLA3 minor (G) allele was increased in patients with NASH-cirrhosis compared with non-cirrhotic NAFLD and controls (allele frequency: 0.598 versus 0.367 versus 0.2, respectively, p < 0.001), and different between the latter two groups (p < 0.001). Three-quarters (74%) of NASH cirrhotics carried at least one G allele, and almost half of them (46%) were GG homozygous. By multivariate analysis in the NAFLD population, each copy of the G allele was associated with an almost doubling of the risk of cirrhosis [OR 1.8 (1.02-3.2)], while being GG homozygous with a tripled risk compared with being CC homozygous [3.01 (1.03-10.8)]. CONCLUSIONS: In NAFLD patients, carriage of the PNPLA3G allele, and particularly of the GG genotype, is significantly associated with the risk of cirrhotic evolution. If confirmed in larger series, these results would suggest that most of NASH cases require the contribution of an altered PNPLA3 function to progress until cirrhosis.

Effect of a Biological Additive on Nitrogen Losses from Pig Slurry during Storage.

Additives applied to animal manure slurries can affect the chemical composition and the biological processes of slurries during storage, with possible improvement of their management and reduction of environmental problems. Some new formulations are marketed claiming a nitrogen (N) removal effect due to denitrification, with the consequence of a reduced N content in the manure after storage. This study evaluated the effects of one of these commercial additives (BACTYcomplex) on slurry characteristics and N losses at a commercial piggery. The additive was applied to four different sectors of the piggery, each with an independent under-floor slurry pit; four other sectors served as controls without treatment. Pits were emptied every 4 wk, and the manure was analyzed for total and ammonia-N and total and volatile solids. Slurry samples from the last month of the on-farm assessment were removed and stored thermostatically in vessels external to the piggery. A subsample of slurry that was treated with the additive at the piggery was treated with an additional dose of additive at the beginning of long-term storage. The additive did not change the composition of the slurry during in-house storage (4 wk duration). During the 155 d of external thermostatic storage, the total solids content of treated slurry was reduced by 18% compared with control slurry, but the N content and composition of treated slurry was unaffected. The additive had a positive effect in accelerating the stabilization of the slurry but did not modify N losses.

Evaluation of performances of VERSANT HCV RNA 1.0 assay (kPCR) and Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV test v2.0 at low level viremia.

We assess the concordance between low level HCV values obtained using the VERSANT HCV RNA 1.0 Assay (kPCR) and COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV Quantitative Test v2.0. The correlation between the values obtained by the two RT-PCR assays for samples with quantifiable HCV RNA levels revealed that viral load measured by kPCR significantly correlated with that of the CAP/CTM (R=0.644, P<0.0001). The results show a good concordance (n=126/144, 87%); discordant results were mainly observed in the assessment of values below the lower limit of detection of the assays. These variations may have an impact on clinical decisions for patients on HCV triple therapy or interferon- free regimens. It is therefore recommended to monitor individual patients with the same test throughout treatment.

Informed consent as an ethical requirement in clinical trials: an old, but still unresolved issue. An observational study to evaluate patient's informed consent comprehension.

We explored the comprehension of the informed consent in 77 cancer patients previously enrolled in randomised phase II or phase III clinical trials, between March and July 2011, at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milano. We asked participants to complete an ad hoc questionnaire and analysed their answers. Sixty-two per cent of the patients understood the purpose and nature of the trial they were participating in; 44% understood the study procedures and 40% correctly listed at least one of the major risks or complications related to their participation in the trial. We identified three factors associated with comprehension of the informed consent: age, education and type of tumour/investigator team. We suggest several possible improvements of how to obtain informed consent that will increase patient awareness, as well as the validity and effectiveness of the clinical trials.

Exploring the Interplay between COVID-19 and Gut Health: The Potential Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Immune Support.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global health, leading to extensive research focused on developing strategies to enhance outbreak response and mitigate the disease's severity. In the aftermath of the pandemic, attention has shifted towards understanding and addressing long-term health implications, particularly in individuals experiencing persistent symptoms, known as long COVID. Research into potential interventions to alleviate long COVID symptoms has intensified, with a focus on strategies to support immune function and mitigate inflammation. One area of interest is the gut microbiota, which plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses and maintaining overall health. Prebiotics and probiotics, known for their ability to modulate the gut microbiota, have emerged as potential therapeutic agents in bolstering immune function and reducing inflammation. This review delves into the intricate relationship between long COVID, the gut microbiota, and immune function, with a specific focus on the role of prebiotics and probiotics. We examine the immune response to long COVID, emphasizing the importance of inflammation and immune regulation in the persistence of symptoms. The potential of probiotics in modulating immune responses, including their mechanisms in combating viral infections such as COVID-19, is discussed in detail. Clinical evidence supporting the use of probiotics in managing long COVID symptoms is summarized, highlighting their role as adjunctive therapy in addressing various aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its aftermath.

Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes Simplex-1/2 reactivations in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidences of Herpes Simplex-1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) reactivations in critically ill COVID-19 patients. To determine the association between viral reactivation and in-hospital mortality, Intensive Care Unit Bloodstream infection (ICU-BSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN: Observational retrospective cohort study. SETTING: COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. PATIENTS: From November 2020 to May 2021, one hundred and twenty patients with COVID-19 severe pneumonia were enrolled and tested for HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and EBV at the admission in ICU and weekly until discharge or death. The presence of VAP and ICU-BSI was evaluated according to clinical judgement and specific diagnostic criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled. Multiple reactivations occurred in 75/120 (63%) patients, single reactivation in 27/120 patients (23%). The most reactivated Herpesvirus was EBV, found in 78/120 (65%) patients. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that viral reactivation is a strong independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (OR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.02-5.89), ICU-BSI (OR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.06-5.29) and VAP (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.20-5.82). CONCLUSIONS: Human Herpesviruses reactivations in critically ill patients with COVID-19 severe Pneumonia are associated with mortality and with a higher risk to develop both VAP and ICU-BSI.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction with melting analysis of positive blood culture specimens in bloodstream infections: diagnostic value and turnaround time.

A Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with melting analysis was devised to target bacterial and fungal genes together with the most prevalent antimicrobial resistance genes in 250 positive blood culture broths. This method allowed the blood culture cultivated pathogens to be classified into clinically relevant groups such as Enterobacteriaceae, oxidase-positive bacilli, oxidase-positive coccobacilli, S. aureus and yeast. Enterococci and streptococci could be distinguished from CoNS only by the Gram stain. Gram-positive bacilli were discriminated from Gram-positive cocci by Gram stain. Furthermore, the most important antimicrobial resistant genes such as mecA, vanA, bla TEM , bla SHV and bla CTX-M could be identified. All results were obtained with a turnaround time of three hours from the moment of blood culture positivity compared to 24-72 hours for phenotypic methods. In conclusion, the proposed approach can allow the clinician to implement proper early management of sepsis patients.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 in Chronic Hepatitis C: A Potential Non-Invasive Biomarker of Liver Status upon Viral Eradication.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), previously recognized as a marker of liver damage and a potential drug target in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has unclear implications in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between FGF-21 levels and liver health in patients with HCV undergoing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. Forty-five patients were assessed for liver stiffness, blood chemistry, and other relevant metrics before and after achieving sustained viral response (SVR), defined as the absence of detectable HCV-RNA after 24 weeks of treatment. Post-treatment, all patients showed a decrease in liver stiffness and improved liver enzyme levels (AST and ALT), alongside an increase in FGF-21 levels. Interestingly, the increase in FGF-21 correlated negatively with liver stiffness but showed no correlation with hepatic steatosis. The observed elevation in FGF-21 levels at SVR following DAA therapy for chronic HCV infection can be attributed to the restoration of hepatic function, including its synthetic capabilities. Specifically, the mitigation of liver fibrosis post-HCV eradication is expected to lead to improvements in liver function, such as enhanced albumin and FGF-21 production. This improvement in synthetic function likely drives the increase in FGF-21 levels, rather than changes in liver fat content. We suggest a potential role of FGF-21 as a marker of fibrosis and hepatic cytotoxicity and as a drug target beyond NAFLD, to be confirmed by additional studies.

Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Omicron Variants Inhibition Comparison after BNT162b2 mRNA Booster Doses with a New PETIA sVNT Assay.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is strategic, and neutralizing antibodies represent the gold standard. The neutralizing response to Beta and Omicron VOCs was evaluated versus the gold standard by a new commercial automated assay. METHODS: Serum samples from 100 healthcare workers from the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Biomedico and the Pescara Hospital were collected. IgG levels were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay (Abbott Laboratories, Wiesbaden, Germany) and serum neutralization assay as the gold standard. Moreover, a new commercial immunoassay, the PETIA test Nab (SGM, Rome, Italy), was used for neutralization evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed with R software, version 3.6.0. RESULTS: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers decayed during the first ninety days after the vaccine second dose. The following booster dose significantly (p < 0.001) increased IgG levels. A correlation between IgG expression and neutralizing activity modulation was found with a significant increase after the second and the third booster dose (p < 0.05. Compared to the Beta variant of the virus, the Omicron VOC was associated with a significantly larger quantity of IgG antibodies needed to achieve the same degree of neutralization. The best Nab test cutoff for high neutralization titer (≥1:80) was set for both Beta and Omicron variants. CONCLUSION: This study correlates vaccine-induced IgG expression and neutralizing activity using a new PETIA assay, suggesting its usefulness for SARS-CoV2 infection management.

Development of a New Wearable 3D Sensor Node and Innovative Open Classification System for Dairy Cows' Behavior.

Monitoring dairy cattle behavior can improve the detection of health and welfare issues for early interventions. Often commercial sensors do not provide researchers with sufficient raw and open data; therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an open and customizable system to classify cattle behaviors. A 3D accelerometer device and host-board (i.e., sensor node) were embedded in a case and fixed on a dairy cow collar. It was developed to work in two modes: (1) acquisition mode, where a mobile application supported the raw data collection during observations; and (2) operating mode, where data was processed and sent to a gateway and on the cloud. Accelerations were sampled at 25 Hz and behaviors were classified in 10-min windows. Several algorithms were trained with the 108 h of behavioral data acquired from 32 cows on 3 farms, and after evaluating their computational/memory complexity and accuracy, the Decision Tree algorithm was selected. This model detected standing, lying, eating, and ruminating with an average accuracy of 85.12%. The open nature of this system enables for the addition of other functions (e.g., real-time localization of cows) and the integration with other information sources, e.g., microenvironment and air quality sensors, thereby enhancing data processing potential.