Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Candida parapsilosis bloodstream isolates: Health Care Associated Infections in a teaching Hospital in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is the most common healthcare associated invasive fungal infection. Over the last few decades, candidemia caused by Candida species other than Candida albicans, particularly the Candida parapsilosis complex, has emerged worldwide. The aims of this study were: to analyze the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of C. parapsilosis strains isolated from blood cultures and the environment in a hospital in southern Italy, to study the possible source of infection and to correlate the isolated strains. METHODS: From April to October 2022, cases of candidemia due to C. parapsilosis in patients admitted to a hospital in the Apulia region were investigated. However, 119 environmental samples from the intensive care unit were collected for identification of the likely environmental reservoir of infection. Routine antifungal (amphotericin B, anidulafungin, fluconazole) susceptibility was performed on all isolates. Whole genome sequencing was performed to study the genotypic correlation of the isolates. Biofilm biomass and metabolic activity were also quantified for all isolates. RESULTS: A total of 43 C. parapsilosis isolates were cultured from the bloodstream of each patient in different departments, and seven surface samples were positive for C. parapsilosis. Most of the isolated yeasts (41/50; 85 %) were resistant to fluconazole and were genetically related to each other, suggesting an ongoing clonal outbreak of this pathogen. The fluconazole-susceptible isolates produced significantly more biofilm than did the resistant isolates. Metabolic activity was also higher for fluconazole-susceptible than resistant isolates. CONCLUSION: Cross-transmission of the microorganisms is suggested by the phenotypic similarity and genetic correlation between clinical and environmental strains observed in our study.

State of the Art in Hygienic Quality of Food Ice Worldwide: A Ten-Year Review.

Ice consumption has widely increased over the last decade. Cases of ice contamination by various microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) have been documented in the literature. In this review, we summarize the findings of selected articles on the hygienic and sanitary quality of food ice from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2023. A total of 14 articles found via the PubMed search engine during the study period were reviewed. From the comparison between the ice produced on an industrial scale and the ice produced on a local scale in food businesses, the latter was found to be more contaminated by microorganisms. The most detected bacteria included Escherichia coli, coliforms, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus; three studies evaluated the presence of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus; two studies highlighted the presence of viruses (Rotavirus and Norovirus). Finally, two studies detected the presence of fungi (molds and yeasts). Almost all authors of the studies argued that ice contamination also depends on the hygienic-sanitary quality of the ice-making machines. The results show that the information currently available in the literature on the hygienic-sanitary quality of ice is incomplete and that future national and international scientific studies need to be carried out.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Studies of a Ribbon Coil for Trans Spinal Magnetic Stimulation (TSMS) in Rats.

We propose a non-invasive Trans Spinal Magnetic Stimulation (TSMS) coil allowing for focal stimulation. The device is based on a new figure-8 ribbon design, ensuring low R0, and low heating. The two coils were designed and studied using the finite element method (FEM) coupled with NEURON and tested for efficacy on rats. The numerical simulations confirmed the generation of the observed action potentials when the coil was driven with 2.8kA.Clinical Relevance- Chronic neuropathic back and leg pain is one of the main indications for spinal cord stimulation in the United States. Chronic low back pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek medical care, and in 2013 resulted in 87.6 billion dollars in healthcare costs in the USA. Patients would most likely prefer a low-risk, non-invasive procedure, such as TSMS, to surgery with a significant rate of complications.

Electric field bridging-effect in electrified microfibrils' scaffolds.

Introduction: The use of biocompatible scaffolds combined with the implantation of neural stem cells, is increasingly being investigated to promote the regeneration of damaged neural tissue, for instance, after a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). In particular, aligned Polylactic Acid (PLA) microfibrils' scaffolds are capable of supporting cells, promoting their survival and guiding their differentiation in neural lineage to repair the lesion. Despite its biocompatible nature, PLA is an electrically insulating material and thus it could be detrimental for increasingly common scaffolds' electric functionalization, aimed at accelerating the cellular processes. In this context, the European RISEUP project aims to combine high intense microseconds pulses and DC stimulation with neurogenesis, supported by a PLA microfibrils' scaffold. Methods: In this paper a numerical study on the effect of microfibrils' scaffolds on the E-field distribution, in planar interdigitated electrodes, is presented. Realistic microfibrils' 3D CAD models have been built to carry out a numerical dosimetry study, through Comsol Multiphysics software. Results: Under a voltage of 10 V, microfibrils redistribute the E-field values focalizing the field streamlines in the spaces between the fibers, allowing the field to pass and reach maximum values up to 100 kV/m and values comparable with the bare electrodes' device (without fibers). Discussion: Globally the median E-field inside the scaffolded electrodes is the 90% of the nominal field, allowing an adequate cells' exposure.

Case series study of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease in Apulia region (southern Italy): The role of different molecular methods in identifying the infection source

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the inhalation or aspiration of water droplets contaminated with Legionella pneumophila and other Legionella species. These bacteria are commonly found in natural habitats and man-made water systems. Legionnaires' disease is a significant public health problem, especially in healthcare settings where patients may be exposed to contaminated environmental sources. Nosocomial outbreaks have been reported worldwide, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates, and increased healthcare costs. This study aimed to compare, the clonal relationship of clinical L. pneumophila strains from two different hospitals with L. pneumophila strains isolated from the water supply. METHODS: In the period from 2019 to 2021, clinical and environmental strains involved in three cases of legionellosis were compared by means of pulsed field gel electrophoresis and sequence based typing techniques. RESULTS: Our findings highlight the persistence of clonally distinct strains within each hospital examined. Furthermore, the L. pneumophila strains detected from hospital environmental sources were related to the clinical strains isolated, demonstrating the nosocomial origin of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it is important to implement more accurate surveillance systems both for epidemiological studies and to check the effectiveness of remediation procedures. (www.actabiomedica.it).

Wastewater-based Epidemiology and SARS-CoV-2: Variant Trends in the Apulia Region (Southern Italy) and Effect of Some Environmental Parameters.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater monitoring has been used to monitor the levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA entering the sewerage system. In Italy, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità coordinated the SARI project (Sorveglianza Ambientale Reflue in Italia) to detect SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. In this study, the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in raw wastewater against COVID-19 cases was evaluated together with the effect of temperature and precipitation on virus spread. We validated a predictive model, proposed by De Giglio et al., 2021, to establish the number of COVID-19 cases/100,000 inhabitants. A receiver operating characteristic curve model was applied to predict the number of COVID-19 cases and Poisson regression was applied to study the effect of temperature and rainfall on viral load. In Apulia, from October 2021 to December 2022, we analyzed 1041 samples, of which 985 (94.6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Median atmospheric temperature was inversely proportional to viral load in wastewater; no correlation was found with precipitation. The predictive model confirmed that at least 11 cases/100,000 inhabitants would occur in the 15 days following the detection of the virus in wastewater. Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 can be used to map the virus and its variants.

Astrocyte Responses Influence Local Effects of Whole-Brain Magnetic Stimulation in Parkinsonian Rats.

BACKGROUND: Excessive glutamatergic transmission in the striatum is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. Astrocytes maintain glutamate homeostasis, protecting from excitotoxicity through the glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST), whose alterations have been reported in PD. Noninvasive brain stimulation using intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) acts on striatal neurons and glia, inducing neuromodulatory effects and functional recovery in experimental parkinsonism. OBJECTIVE: Because PD is associated with altered astrocyte function, we hypothesized that acute iTBS, known to rescue striatal glutamatergic transmission, exerts regional- and cell-specific effects through modulation of glial functions. METHODS: 6-Hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats were exposed to acute iTBS, and the areas predicted to be more responsive by a biophysical, hyper-realistic computational model that faithfully reconstructs the experimental setting were analyzed. The effects of iTBS on glial cells and motor behavior were evaluated by molecular and morphological analyses, and CatWalk and Stepping test, respectively. RESULTS: As predicted by the model, the hippocampus, cerebellum, and striatum displayed a marked c-FOS activation after iTBS, with the striatum showing specific morphological and molecular changes in the astrocytes, decreased phospho-CREB levels, and recovery of GLAST. Striatal-dependent motor performances were also significantly improved. CONCLUSION: These data uncover an unknown iTBS effect on astrocytes, advancing the understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in TMS-mediated functional recovery. Data on numerical dosimetry, obtained with a degree of anatomical details never before considered and validated by the biological findings, provide a framework to predict the electric-field induced in different specific brain areas and associate it with functional and molecular changes. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

A study of flex miniaturized coils for focal nerve magnetic stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral magnetic stimulation (PMS) is emerging as a complement to standard electrical stimulation (ES) of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). PMS may stimulate sensory and motor nerve fibers without the discomfort associated with the ES used for standard nerve conduction studies. The PMS coils are the same ones used in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and lack focality and selectiveness in the stimulation. PURPOSE: This study presents a novel coil for PMS, developed using Flexible technologies, and characterized by reduced dimensions for a precise and controlled targeting of peripheral nerves. METHODS: We performed hybrid electromagnetic (EM) and electrophysiological simulations to study the EM exposure induced by a novel miniaturized coil (or mcoil) in and around the radial nerve of the neuro-functionalized virtual human body model Yoon-Sun, and to estimate the current threshold to induce magnetic stimulation (MS) of the radial nerve. Eleven healthy subjects were studied with the mcoil, which consisted of two 15 mm diameter coils in a figure-of-eight configuration, each with a hundred turns of a 25 µm copper-clad four-layer foil. Sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) were measured in each subject using two electrodes and compared with those obtained from standard ES. The SNAPs conduction velocities were estimated as a performance metric. RESULTS: The induced electric field was estimated numerically to peak at a maximum intensity of 39 V/m underneath the mcoil fed by 70 A currents. In such conditions, the electrophysiological simulations suggested that the mcoil elicits SNAPs originating at 7 mm from the center of the mcoil. Furthermore, the numerically estimated latencies and waveforms agreed with those obtained during the PMS experiments on healthy subjects, confirming the ability of the mcoil to stimulate the radial nerve sensory fibers. CONCLUSION: Hybrid EM-electrophysiological simulations assisted the development of a miniaturized coil with a small diameter and a high number of turns using flexible electronics. The numerical dosimetric analysis predicted the threshold current amplitudes required for a suprathreshold peripheral nerve sensory stimulation, which was experimentally confirmed. The developed and now validated computational pipeline will be used to improve the performances (e.g., focality and minimal currents) of new generations of mcoil designs.

Changes in hydration of liposome membranes exposed to nanosecond electric pulses detected by wide-field Coherent anti-Stokes Raman microspectroscopy.

Electropulsation has become a powerful technological platform for electromanipulation of cells and tissues for various medical and biotechnological applications, but the molecular changes that underlay the very first initiation step of this process have not been experimentally observed. Here, we endowed a wide-field Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering platform with an ad-hoc electromagnetic exposure device and we demonstrated, using artificial lipid vesicles (i.e. liposomes), that electropulsation is initiated by the increase of interstitial water content in liposome membranes. A pulse-dependent accumulation of the interstitial water molecules is observed in the membranes and a plausible mechanism supported by a computational electrochemical model is presented and discussed.

The Geological Characteristics of the Vadose Zone Influence the Impact of Treated Wastewater on the Groundwater Quality (SCA.Re.S. Project 2019-2020).

This study evaluated whether some chemical and microbial contaminants in treated sewage effluents from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) reached the groundwater when they drained through a fractured karst vadose zone (WWTP-K) and a porous vadose zone (WWTP-P). Forty-five samples of sewage water (SW), treated water (TW), and monitoring well (MW), collected from WWTP-P (24) and WWTP-K (21), were analyzed for a range of microbiological and chemical properties. The E. coli and Salmonella counts were below the limits outlined in the Legislative Decree 152/06 in effluents from both types of WWTP. Enteric viruses were found in 37.5% and 12.5% of the SW and TW from WWTP-P, respectively. The percentages of Pepper mild mottle virus isolated were higher in TW (62.5% in WWTP-P, 85.7% in WWTP-K) than in SW and MW. The residual concentrations of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) of each drug category were higher in the MW downstream of WWTP-K than of WWTP-P. Our results showed that the porous vadose zone was more effective at reducing the contaminant loads than the fractured karst one, especially the CEC, in the effluent. The legislation should include other parameters to minimize the risks from treated effluent that is discharged to soil.

Tendency in Pulmonary Aspergillosis Investigation during the COVID-19 Era: What Is Changing?

Aspergillosis is a disease caused by Aspergillus, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is the most common invasive fungal infection leading to death in severely immuno-compromised patients. The literature reports Aspergillus co-infections in patients with COVID-19 (CAPA). Diagnosing CAPA clinically is complex since the symptoms are non-specific, and performing a bronchoscopy is difficult. Generally, the microbiological diagnosis of aspergillosis is based on cultural methods and on searching for the circulating antigens galactomannan and 1,3-ß-D-glucan in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (bGM) or serum (sGM). In this study, to verify whether the COVID-19 period has stimulated clinicians to pay greater attention to IPA in patients with respiratory tract infections, we evaluated the number of requests for GM-Ag research and the number of positive tests found during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods. Our data show a significant upward trend in GM-Ag requests and positivity from the pre-COVID to COVID period, which is attributable in particular to the increase in IPA risk factors as a complication of COVID-19. In the COVID period, parallel to the increase in requests, the number of positive tests for GM-Ag also increased, going from 2.5% in the first period of 2020 to 12.3% in the first period of 2021.

Irrigation of Olives with Reclaimed Wastewaters and Deficit Strategies Affect Pathogenic Bacteria Contamination of Water and Soil.

This study aimed to evaluate pathogenic bacterial contamination of the water-soil-plant system in potted olive trees irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. Desalinated water (DW) obtained by treating municipal wastewater (SW) and reclaimed water (RW) obtained by mixing SW with the brine (BR) produced by DESERT technology (tertiary treatment by ultrafiltration, active carbon and reverse osmosis) were used. Two different irrigation regimes were compared: full irrigation (FI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI). During two irrigation seasons the concentrations of Escherichia coli, enterococci, spores of sulfite-reducing Clostridia (SRC) and Salmonella spp. were monitored in water, soil and fruit samples. Microbial concentrations in DW were always below the threshold for reuse in agriculture, while RW showed the highest level of contamination for all observed parameters. RDI management appeared to increase the soil content of SRC spores with respect to FI. Sporadically low SRC spore contamination was recorded in some fruits only in 2018, regardless of the irrigation source, probably because of accidental contamination during sampling or post-harvest handling. This study encourages the creation of a better regulatory framework reference, with specific guidelines for the use of RW as part of integrated environmental systems for the management of sustainable agriculture.

Microbiological and chemical characteristics of beaches along the Taranto Gulf (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy).

Coastal habitats provide important ecosystem services, such as the maintenance of ecological sustainability, water quality regulation, nutrient recycling, and sandy beaches which are important areas for recreation and tourism. The quality of seawater is generally measured by determining the concentrations of Escherichia coli and intestinal Enterococci, which might be affected by the persistent populations of these bacteria in sand. Sand might thus be a significant source of pathogen exposure to beachgoers. The quality of coastal recreational waters can also be affected by eutrophication, water discoloration, and harmful algal blooms, which pose additional human health risks. Here, we conducted a monitoring of the beaches quality along the Taranto Gulf by determining the concentrations of fecal indicator organisms, as well as other parameters that are not traditionally measured (physicochemical parameters, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and harmful microalgae), in shallow seawater and sand sampled from three beaches. The concentrations of bacteria were determined using both standard microbiological methods and the IDEXX system. Our results demonstrate the utility of measuring a greater number of parameters in addition to those conventionally measured, as well as the importance of assessing the health risks posed by the sand matrix. Additional work is needed to develop rapid analytical techniques that could be used to monitor the microbiological parameters of solid matrices.

No-Touch Automated Disinfection System Based on Hydrogen Peroxide and Ethyl Alcohol Aerosols for Use in Healthcare Environments.

Healthcare-related infections are sustained by various bacteria and fungi. In recent years, various technologies have emerged for the sanitation of healthcare-related environments. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a no-touch disinfection system that aerosolizes 5% hydrogen peroxide and 10% ethyl alcohol. After selecting an environment, the Total Bacterial Count and the Total Fungal Count in the air and on a surface of the room were determined to evaluate the effectiveness of the aerosolization system. In addition, sterile stainless-steel plates inoculated with S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Aspergillus spp. isolated from hospitalized patients and reference strains were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. For each organism, three plates were used: A (cleaned), B (not cleaned), and C (control). The A plates were treated with non-ionic surfactant and the aerosolization system, the B plates were subjected to the aerosolization system, and the plates C were positioned outside the room that was sanitized. Following sanitization, air and surface sampling was conducted, after which, swabs were processed for bacterial and fungal enumeration. The results showed that the air sanitization system had good efficacy for both bacteria and fungi in the air and on stainless-steel plates, particularly for the A plates.

Systematic numerical assessment of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields of transcranial magnetic stimulation.

PURPOSE: This study aims to perform a classification and rigorous numerical evaluation of the risks of occupational exposure in the health environment related to the administration of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment. The study investigates the numerically estimated induced electric field that occurs in the human tissues of an operator caused by exposure to the variable magnetic field produced by TMS during treatments. This could be a useful starting point for future risk assessment studies and safety indications in this context. METHODS: We performed a review of the actual positions assumed by clinicians during TMS treatments. Three different TMS coils (two circular and one figure-of-eight) were modeled and characterized numerically. Different orientations and positions of each coil with respect to the body of the operator were investigated to evaluate the induced electric (-E) field in the body tissues. The collected data were processed to allow comparison with the safety standards for occupational exposure, as suggested by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 2010 guidelines. RESULTS: Under the investigated conditions, exposure to TMS shows some criticalities for the operator performing the treatment. Depending on the model of the TMS coil and its relative position with respect to the operator's body, the numerically estimated E-field could exceed the limits suggested by the ICNIRP 2010 guidelines. We established that the worst-case scenario for the three coils occurs when they are placed in correspondence of the abdomen, with the handle oriented parallel to the body (II orientation). Working at a maximum TMS stimulator output (MSO), the induced E-field is up to 7.32 V/m (circular coil) and up to 1.34 V/m (figure-of-eight coil). The induced E-field can be modulated by the TMS percentage of MSO (%MSO) and by the distance between the source and the operator. At %MSO equal to or below 80%, the figure-of-eight coil was compliant with the ICNIRP limit (1.13 V/m). Conversely, the circular coil causes an induced E-field above the limits, even when powered at a %MSO of 30%. Thus, in the investigated worst-case conditions, an operator working with a circular coil should keep a distance from its edge to be compliant with the guidelines limit, which depends on the selected %MSO: 38 cm at 100%, 32 cm at 80%, 26.8 cm at 50%, and 19.8 cm at 30%. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the induced E-field reached in the operator's hand as the operator typically holds the coil by hand. In fact in the hand, we estimated an induced E-field up to 10 times higher than the limits. CONCLUSIONS: Our numerical results indicate that coil positions, orientations, and distances with respect to the operator's body can determine the levels of induced E-field that exceed the ICNIRP limits. The induced E-field is also modulated by the choice of %MSO, which is related to the TMS application. Even under the best exposure conditions, attention should be paid to the exposure of the hand. These findings highlight the need for future risk assessment studies to provide more safety information for the correct and safe use of TMS devices.

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Applied to Legionella Contamination on Long-Distance Public Transport.

The quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) framework is used for assessing health risk coming from pathogens in the environment. In this paper, we used QMRA to evaluate the infection risk of L. pneumophila attributable to sink usage in a toilet cabin on Italian long-distance public transportation (LDT). LDT has water distribution systems with risk points for Legionella proliferation, as well as premise plumbing for drinking water, but they are not considered for risk assessment. Monitoring data revealed that approximately 55% of water samples (217/398) were positive for L. pneumophila, and the most frequently isolated was L. pneumophila sg1 (64%, 139/217); therefore, such data were fitted to the best probability distribution function to be used as a stochastic variable in the QMRA model. Then, a sink-specific aerosolization ratio was applied to calculate the inhaled dose, also considering inhalation rate and exposure time, which were used as stochastic parameters based on literature data. At L. pneumophila sg1 concentration ≤100 CFU/L, health risk was approximately 1 infection per 1 million exposures, with an increase of up to 5 infections per 10,000 exposures when the concentrations were ≥10,000 CFU/L. Our QMRA results showed a low Legionella infection risk from faucets on LDT; however, it deserves consideration since LDT can be used by people highly susceptible for the development of a severe form of the disease, owing to their immunological status or other predisposing factors. Further investigations could also evaluate Legionella-laden aerosols from toilet flushing.

An Artefactual Cluster of Mycobacterium abscessus Pneumonia among Cancer Patients Arising from Contamination.

The Mycobacteriumabscessus complex (MABC) is a group of rapidly growing, nontuberculous mycobacteria that are ubiquitous in soil, urban water pipes, swimming pools, and drinking water. Members of the MABC are considered opportunistic pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the origins of MABC detected in broncho-lavage (BL) samples from asymptomatic cancer patients. We turned our attention to washing and disinfection procedures for bronchoscopes; we also assessed water and disinfectant samples. Of 10 BL and 34 environmental samples tested, four BL samples (40%) and seven environmental samples (20.6%) tested positive for MABC. We hypothesized that contamination could arise from the prewashing machine and/or the water used because no patient had clinical or radiological signs consistent with MABC respiratory tract infection. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating cleaning and disinfection procedures for endoscope channels to reduce the potential spread of microorganisms and artefactual results arising from contamination.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields: A Novel Attractive Therapeutic Opportunity for Neuroprotection After Acute Cerebral Ischemia.

OBJECTIVES: Acute cerebral ischemia is characterized by several pathological processes evolving during time, which contribute to the final tissue damage. Secondary processes, such as prolonged inflammatory response, impaired mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress, are responsible for the progression of brain injury to the peri-infarct area, called "penumbra." Adenosine has been shown to play a crucial role in regulating the inflammatory cascade following brain ischemia. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) act as modulators of adenosine receptors, increasing the functionality of the endogenous adenosine. In particular, PEMF exposure induces a significant upregulation of A2A and A3 adenosine receptors in different neuronal cell types. Several lines of evidence suggest that PEMF exposure might play a neuroprotective role after ischemic damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review summarizes the current knowledge on the mechanism of action of PEMFs and their biological effects on neuronal damage both in preclinical and clinical studies. RESULTS: PEMFs counteract hypoxia-induced apoptosis and ROS production in neuronal-like cells and exert a strong anti-inflammatory effect on microglial cells. Data from stroke animal models showed that PEMFs exposure is able to reduce the size of the infarct area and decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. In clinical studies, PEMFs stimulation proved to be safe and well tolerated. Preliminary results on acute ischemic stroke patients showed a dose-dependent reduction in the lesion size. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data demonstrate the efficacy of PEMFs against several mechanisms underlying ischemic damage and suggest that PEMFs might represent a novel noninvasive adjunctive treatment for acute ischemic stroke, providing neuroprotection and reducing functional deficits following ischemia.

Electric-driven membrane poration: A rationale for water role in the kinetics of pore formation.

Electroporation is a well-established technique used to stimulate cells, enhancing membrane permeability by inducing reversible membrane pores. In the absence of experimental observation of the dynamics of pore creation, molecular dynamics studies provide the molecular-level evidence that the electric field promotes pore formation. Although single steps in the pore formation process are well assessed, a kinetic model representing the mathematical description of the electroporation process, is lacking. In the present work we studied the basis of the pore formation process, providing a rationale for the definition of a first-order kinetic scheme. Here, authors propose a three-state kinetic model for the process based on the assessed mechanism of water defects intruding at the water/lipid interface, when applying electric field intensities at the edge of the linear regime. The methodology proposed is based on the use of two robust biophysical quantities analyzed for the water molecules intruding at the water/lipid interface: (i) number of hydrogen bonds; (ii) number of contacts. The final model, sustained by a robust statistical sampling, provides kinetic constants for the transitions from the intact bilayer state to the hydrophobic pore state.

SARS-CoV-2 and Public Transport in Italy.

Although direct contact is considered the main mode of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, environmental factors play an important role. In this study, we evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on bus and train surfaces. From the buses, we took samples from the following areas: handrails used to enter or exit the bus, stop request buttons and handles next to the seats. From the trains, the sampled surfaces were handrails used to enter or exit the train, door open/close buttons, handles next to the seats, tables and toilet handles. SARS-CoV-2 was detected on 10.7% of the tested surfaces overall, 19.3% of bus surfaces and 2% of train surfaces (p < 0.0001). On the buses, the most contaminated surfaces were the handles near the seats (12.8%), followed by door open/close buttons (12.5%) and handrails (10.5%). Of the five analyzed transport companies, bus companies were the most contaminated, in particular, companies C (40%) and B (23.3%). A greater number of positive samples were found among those taken at 10:00 a.m. and 10:55 a.m. (45% and 40%, respectively). The presence of the virus on many bus surfaces highlights how the sanitation systems on public transport currently in use are not sufficient to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2.