Isolation of extracellular vesicles from bitch's amnion-derived cells culture and their CD59 expression: Preliminary results.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small spherical particles surrounded by a membrane with an unusual lipid composition and a striking cholesterol/phospholipidic ratio. About 2000 lipid and 3500 protein species were identified in EVs secreted by different cell sources. EVs mediate cell to cell communication in proximity to or distant from the cell of origin. In particular, it was suggested that they represent modulators of multiple processes during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of EVs in canine amnion-derived cells (ASCs) culture and the expression of CD 59 on their surface. Amniotic membrane was collected in PBS with antibiotics added from 2 bitches during elective caesarean section. Cells culture was prepared and EVs were isolated. EVs were used to evaluate CD59 expression by flow cytofluorimetry. We found that the majority of EVs expressed CD59. Our results could increase the knowledge about the complex mechanisms that regulate the pregnancy in the bitch.

Clinical and diagnostic findings in COVID-19 patients: an original research from SG Moscati Hospital in Taranto Italy.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide medical challenge due to the scarcity of proper information and remedial resources. The ability to efficiently avoid a further SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will, therefore, depend on understanding several factors which include host immunity, virus behavior, prevention measures, and new therapies. This is a multi-phase observatory study conducted in the SG Moscati Hospital of Taranto in Italy that was converted into COVID-19 Special Care Unit for SARS-Co-V2 risk management. Patients were admitted to the 118 Emergency Pre-Hospital and Emergency Department based on two diagnostic criteria, the nasopharyngeal swab assessed by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) and CT-scan image characterized by ground glass opacity. Patients were divided into four groups, positive-positive (ER-PP), negative-positive (ER-NP), negative-negative (ER-NN) and a group admitted to the ICU (ER-IC). A further control group was added when the T and B lymphocyte subsets were analyzed. Data included gender, age, vital signs, arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), extensive laboratory results with microbiology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) which were analyzed and compared. Fundamental differences were reported among the groups. Males were significantly higher in PP, ICU, and NP groups, from 2 to 4-fold higher than females, while in the NN group, the number of females was mildly higher than males; the PP patients showed a marked alkalotic, hypoxic, hypocapnia ABG profile with hyperventilation at the time of admission; finally, the laboratory and microbiology results showed lymphopenia, fibrinogen, ESR, CRP, and eGFR were markedly anomalous. The total number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was dramatically reduced in COVID-19 patients with levels lower than the normal range delimited by 400/µL and 800/µL, respectively, and were negatively correlated with blood inflammatory responses.

Abatement of thermal noise due to internal damping in 2D oscillators with rapidly rotating test masses.

Mechanical oscillators can be sensitive to very small forces. Low frequency effects are up-converted to higher frequency by rotating the oscillator. We show that for 2-dimensional oscillators rotating at frequency much higher than the signal the thermal noise force due to internal losses and competing with it is abated as the square root of the rotation frequency. We also show that rotation at frequency much higher than the natural one is possible if the oscillator has 2 degrees of freedom, and describe how this property applies also to torsion balances. In addition, in the 2D oscillator the signal is up-converted above resonance without being attenuated as in the 1D case, thus relaxing requirements on the read out. This work indicates that proof masses weakly coupled in 2D and rapidly rotating can play a major role in very small force physics experiments.

Coherent multiwave heterodyne frequency measurement of a far-infared laser by means of a femtosecond laser comb.

We demonstrate the possibility of using a femtosecond laser to measure with high accuracy the frequency of a far-infrared (FIR) monochromatic source, such as an optically pumped molecular laser, by generating in a suitable mixer a signal in the radio-frequency region at the frequency difference between n steps of a femtosecond comb and the FIR source. All the couples of modes lying a distance of n steps from one another contribute coherently to the heterodyne signal. The technique has been tested up to 670 GHz.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in a Caucasian man in treatment for Graves' disease.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is the main secondary form of hypokalemic periodic paralysis and is mostly associated with Graves' disease. Initially diagnosed in Asian countries, TPP has been sporadically reported in different populations of the Western World. Increased Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity seems to be responsible for the marked hypokalemia observed during the transient paralysis attacks. We report on a 35-year-old Italian man without history of hypokalemic periodic paralysis and hyperthyroidism, in treatment for Graves' disease, who suffered episodes of flaccid paralysis even with normal thyroid hormone levels. An insulin-glucose provocation test confirmed our diagnosis. Oral and parenteral potassium reverse the symptoms. Monitoring of thyroid function is also important to prevent further attacks.