Detection of anti-HEV antibodies but no molecular positivity in dogs in the Campania region, southern Italy.

Paslahepevirus balayani genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3 and 4) have zoonotic potential and can be transmitted to humans and animals through the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked meat. Although it has been demonstrated that dogs are susceptible to the infection and produce specific antibodies, the epidemiological role of this species is not yet well defined. This study aimed to evaluate the circulation of HEV at the serological and molecular level in the dog population of the Campania region, southern Italy. A total of 231 dogs were sampled, divided according to several variables (sex, age, origin, lifestyle, location, size, and breed), and tested for the presence of HEV antibodies using a commercial multi-species ELISA. A total of 197 blood samples and 170 stool samples were tested with two specific PCRs in order to detect viral RNA. A total of 19 out samples of 231 were seropositive, obtaining an exposure (8.2%) similar to that observed in other European countries. The univariate and multivariate analysis revealed a wide exposure to stray dogs and animals from the province of Salerno. All samples tested with molecular methods were negative. Defining the role of domestic carnivores continues to be a "one health" challenge, although it appears that they do not eliminate the virus and therefore do not pose a danger to humans. In the absence of other evidence, it is advisable to continue to carry out surveillance also for domestic animals, which, due to ethological characteristics or their position in the food chain, could be predisposed to being exposed to HEV.

Modifications of lung microbiota structure in traumatic brain injury ventilated patients according to time and enteral feeding formulas: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Specialized diets enriched with immune nutrients could be an important supplement in patients (pts) with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI). Omega-3 and arginine may interact with immune response and microbiota. No data are available about the role of the specialized diets in modulating the lung microbiota, and little is known about the influence of lung microbiota structure in development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in TBI pts. The aims of this study are to evaluate the impact of specific nutrients on the lung microbiota and the variation of lung microbiota in TBI pts developing VAP. METHODS: A cohort of 31 TBI pts requiring mechanical ventilation in ICU was randomized for treatment with specialized (16pts) or standard nutrition (15pts). Alpha and beta diversity of lung microbiota were analyzed from bronco Alveolar Lavage (BAL) samples collected at admission and 7 days post-ICU admission in both groups. A further analysis was carried out on the same samples retrospectively grouped in VAP or no VAP pts. RESULTS: None developed VAP in the first week. Thereafter, ten out of thirty-one pts developed VAP. The BAL microbiota on VAP group showed significant differences in beta diversity and Staphylococcus and Acinetobacter Genera were high. The specialized nutrition had influence on beta diversity that reached statistical significance only in Bray-Curtis distance. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that TBI patients who developed VAP during ICU stay have different structures of BAL microbiota either at admission and at 7 days post-ICU admission, while no correlation has been observed between different enteral formulas and microbiota composition in terms of richness and evenness. These findings suggest that targeting the lung microbiota may be a promising approach for preventing infections in critically ill patients.

A systematic review of the costs of diagnosis for multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant TB in different settings.

BACKGROUND: We performed an analysis of the cost and relative merits of different strategies for the diagnosis of multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant TB (MDR/XDR-TB) in different settings.METHODS: We systematically reviewed the published evidence on cost/cost-effectiveness of rapid MDR/pre-XDR-TB and other methods for XDR-TB testing up to September 2022. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Collected data were analysed using Stata v17 software. Cost data were reported in USD ($) and summarised by mean, standard deviation, and range. Country income level was defined according to the World Bank country classification. Three simplified scenarios were also used to explore testing implications, based on low, intermediate and high TB incidence.RESULTS: Of 157 records, 25 studies were included with 24 reporting the cost of Xpert/RIF and two that evaluated the implementation of the MTBDRplus test. The total rapid test cost ranged from $12.41-$218, including $1.13-$74.60 for reagents/consumables and $0.40-$14.34 for equipment.CONCLUSION: The cost of MDR/XDR-TB diagnostics is lower in low resource settings. However, the cost-effective implementation of MDR/XDR-TB diagnostic algorithms requires careful consideration of local resources to avoid missed identification and the use of inappropriate regimen.

Lactic Acid Fermentation of Pomegranate Juice as a Tool to Improve Antioxidant Activity.

An increasing consumer demand for pomegranate has been globally observed, mainly thanks to the scientific evidence related to its functional and health-promoting features. Pomegranate fruits from twenty accessions identified in Southeastern Italy were characterized according to morphological and chemical features. Juices extracted from pomegranate fruits were fermented with selected Lactobacillus plantarum PU1 and the antioxidant activity investigated. Whey was added to juices to promote the microbial growth. Fermentation led to the increase of the radical scavenging activity (up to 40%) and significant inhibition of the linoleic acid peroxidation. The three fermented juices showing the highest antioxidant activity, and the corresponding unfermented controls, were further characterized. In detail, the cytotoxicity and the protective role toward artificially induced oxidative stress were determined on murine fibroblasts Balb 3T3 through the determination of the viability and the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging activity (RSA). RSA reached values of ca. 70% in fermented juices, being ca. 40% higher than the unfermented and control samples. Phenols compounds of the pomegranate juices obtained from accessions "Bitonto Piscina," "Sanrà nero," and "Wonderful (reference cultivar) were analyzed through ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, showing that a marked increase (up to 60%) of the ellagitannins derivatives occurred during fermentation. Sensory analysis showed suitability of the fermented juices to be used as beverage and food ingredient.

Latent tuberculous infection among foreign-born individuals applying to shelters in the metropolitan area of Milan.

SETTING: Screening for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) of groups at high risk of active tuberculosis (TB) is a key component of the End TB Strategy. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a retrospective descriptive analysis of LTBI rates among foreign-born individuals applying to shelters in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy. DESIGN: All foreign-born individuals registering for accommodation centres in the city of Milan from November 2009 to April 2017 were screened for active TB and LTBI. Individuals aged <36 years with a tuberculin skin test (TST) induration of >10 mm were offered confirmatory testing with QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT). RESULTS: Of the 2666 TST-positive migrants aged <36 years who underwent LTBI confirmation testing, 1322 (49.6%) tested negative, 1339 (50.2%) were positive and five (0.2%) had indeterminate results. In the multivariate analysis, TB incidence in the country of origin and age were significantly associated with QFT-GIT positivity. Although estimated TB incidence in Eritrea, Morocco and Romania was 100/100 000 person-years (py), the probability of being QFT-GIT-positive in individuals from these countries were not statistically significantly different from individuals from countries with TB incidence > 250/100 000 person-years. CONCLUSION: Our data showed a high proportion of LTBI among individuals coming from intermediate TB burden countries.

Validation of the Italian version of the Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist-Postoperative Version.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist-Postoperative version (I-NCCPC-PV). METHODS: The original NCCPC-PV version was translated into Italian following the guidelines for "the translation, adaptation, and validation of instruments or scales for cross-cultural healthcare research". We tested the Italian NCCPC-PV version (I-NCCPC-PV) in 40 children (3-18 years of age) with severe to profound Intellectual Disability and no verbal communication. Each child's behavior was observed by a parent or caregiver and by an external observer in a quiet situation and a painful one. They independently assessed the child's level of pain using the translated Italian version of the NCCPCPV (I-NCCPC-PV). RESULTS: The results from 80 assessments showed that children's behavioral signs differed significantly between painful and calm situations (p < 0.001). The inter-rater reliability was poor in a quiet condition (ICC 0.62) and fair in a painful situation (ICC 0.77). The inter-rater agreement was good in both calm and painful conditions (72.50% and 77.50% respectively). CONCLUSION: The Italian version of the NCCPC-PV (I-NCCPC-PV) can be used for pain assessment in children with Intellectual Disability who lack verbal communication.

Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a position paper from a Nordic expert group.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal progressive lung disease occurring in adults. In the last decade, the results of a number of clinical trials based on the updated disease classification have been published. The registration of pirfenidone and nintedanib, the first two pharmacological treatment options approved for IPF, marks a new chapter in the management of patients with this disease. Other nonpharmacological treatments such as lung transplantation, rehabilitation and palliation have also been shown to be beneficial for these patients. In this review, past and present management is discussed based on a comprehensive literature search. A treatment algorithm is presented based on available evidence and our overall clinical experience. In addition, unmet needs with regard to treatment are highlighted and discussed. We describe the development of various treatment options for IPF from the first consensus to recent guidelines based on evidence from large-scale, multinational, randomized clinical trials, which have led to registration of the first drugs for IPF.

Regression in cutaneous melanoma: a comprehensive review from diagnosis to prognosis.

Histological regression in primary cutaneous melanoma occurs in 10-35% of cases. Although a large body of literature exists to suggest that histological regression serves very little purpose in predicting biologic behaviour with melanoma, recognizing the presence of regression at clinical and histological ground may still retain some value in grading melanoma aggressiveness. In the current review, a comprehensive overview of the main aspects of regression will be provided. Histologically, many classifications have been reported so far, but all of them only agreed on the presence of an infiltrate of lymphocytes admixed with pigment-laden macrophages underlying an atrophic epidermis with flattened rete ridges. Upon dermoscopy, regression is also named Blue White Scar-like areas and could be variably admixed with granularity or peppering. Almost fully regressed lesions represent a main diagnostic issue in dermoscopy, and thus, confocal microscopy can be of help to identify whether the tumour is melanocytic or not. The clinical utility of regression as a prognostic factor has been challenged recently. Nowadays, evidences showed that it is less likely associated to SLN metastases.

Changes in Lipid Composition During Manganese-Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells.

Lipid composition of membranes is fundamental to modulate signaling pathways relying on lipid metabolites and/or membrane proteins, thus resulting in the regulation of important cell processes such as apoptosis. In this case, membrane remodeling is an early event important for the activation of signaling leading to cell death and removal of apoptotic cells. In the present study, we analyzed phospholipid, cholesterol and fatty acid content during apoptosis induced by manganese in PC12 cells. Lipid analysis of whole cells and detergent-resistant membranes was carried out by HPLC/GC. Results showed that apoptosis is associated with changes in lipid composition detectable in whole cell extracts, namely cholesterol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine decreases. Noteworthy, phosphatidylserine level reduction was detectable before to the detection of apoptosis, in correlation with our previous study carried out by radioactive labelling. By contrast, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine changes were not detected in detergent resistant membranes, which instead showed an altered composition in phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in apoptotic cells.