Absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in stray cats.

SARS-CoV-2 positive or seropositive owned cats have been reported worldwide. The detection of seropositive stray cats in the proximity of farms of infected minks, coupled with the demonstration of cat-to-cat transmission in experimental settings, raise the question whether stray cats may have an epidemiological role in the COVID-19 pandemic and may act as sentinel for the circulation of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in free roaming cats belonging to colonies located in an area highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and to correlate the results with the positivity rate in people sharing the same area. Interdigital, cutaneous, oropharyngeal, nasal and rectal swabs, as well as blood samples, were collected from 99 cats living in colonies and admitted to our hospital for neutering. This caseload corresponds to the 24.2% of the feline population living in the 25 sampled colonies and to the 5.6% of all the free-roaming registered cats. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in swabs was assessed using real time RT-PCR. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits and confirmed by serum virus neutralization. In people, the SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate ranged from 3.0% to 5.1% (mean rate: 4.1%) and the seropositive rate from 12.1% to 16.3% (mean rate: 14.2%). Most of the colonies were in urban areas and resident cats had frequent contacts with external cats or people. A COVID-19 positive caretaker was found, whereas all the cats were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and seronegative. Although the negative results cannot exclude previous infections followed by decrease of antibodies, this study suggests that colony cats do not have an important epidemiological role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics. Further studies on larger caseloads are warranted, also in the light of the emerging new viral variants, on a One Health perspective.

Correction: Energy expenditure in caving.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170853.].

Energy expenditure in caving.

The aim of this study was to determine the energy expenditure of a group of cavers of both genders and different ages and experience during a 10 hour subterranean exploration, using portable metabolimeters. The impact of caving activity on body composition and hydration were also assessed through bioelectrical impedance, and nutritional habits of cavers surveyed. During cave activity, measured total energy expenditure (TEE) was in the range 225-287 kcal/h for women-men (MET = 4.1), respectively; subjects had an energy intake from food in the range 1000-1200 kcal, thus inadequate to restore lost calories. Bayesian statistical analysis estimated the effect of predictive variables on TEE, revealing that experienced subjects had a 5% lower TEE than the less skilled ones and that women required a comparatively larger energy expenditure than men to perform the same task. BIVA (bioelectrical impedance vector analysis) showed that subjects were within the range of normal hydration before and after cave activity, but bioelectrical changes indicated a reduction of extracellular water in men, which might result in hypo-osmolal dehydration in the case of prolonged underground exercise. All these facts should be considered when planning cave explorations, preparing training programs for subjects practising caving, and optimizing a diet for cavers. Further, information gathered through this study could be of value to reduce accidents in caves related to increase in fatigue.

Cardiovascular effects, body composition, quality of life and pain after a Zumba fitness program in Italian overweight women.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper was to investigate the cardiovascular effects, body composition, quality of life and pain after a 12-week Zumba fitness program in a group of overweight women through an observational study, community physical activity program involving twenty-seven overweight women (38.9±9.7 years). METHODS: Cardiometabolic profile, body composition, quality of life and pain were assessed after a 12-week Zumba fitness program. RESULTS: Significant improvements in body weight and BMI (71.5 vs. 74.2 kg, 28.02 vs. 29.1 kg/m²), in circumferences (arm: 27.9 vs. 30.3, waist: 80.1 vs. 83.9, hip: 102 vs. 107.4 cm), in fat and muscular mass (25.2 vs. 26.9, 34.4 vs. 27.2 kg), in intracellular (19 vs. 17.5 kg), and in extracellular water (14.9 vs. 16.8 kg) were recorded. A decrease in blood pressure was observed (118.3/69.4 vs. 125/75.5 mmHg). Cardiovascular response to the maximal exercise test showed a decrease in heart rate and in systolic blood pressure with an increase of work (118.9 vs. 116.7 watt). SF-36 showed variations in physical functioning (99.4 vs. 92.8) and in the limitation on the emotional role (88.9 vs. 66.6). With regards the Brief Pain Inventory-SF, a decrease in pain severity and pain interference score was seen (0.5 vs. 1.6, 0.06 vs. 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that Zumba fitness can be an effective way to obtain beneficial health effects and that it can also be recommended for overweight women.

Effects of a Nordic Walking program on motor and non-motor symptoms, functional performance and body composition in patients with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have clearly shown that physical exercise can reduce the progression of motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, little is known about the effects of a Nordic Walking (NW) program in PD patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a NW program on motor and non-motor symptoms, functional performances and body composition in PD patients. METHODS: Twenty PD patients (16M, 4F, 67.3±7.8 years) were enrolled and randomly assigned to NW group (NWg, n = 10) and Control group (Cg, n = 10). The training consisted in 2 sessions per week for 12 weeks. Training effects were assessed by functional and instrumental tests and motor and non-motor symptoms were assessed by UPDRS-III, Hoehn and Yahr scale, PD Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Starkstein Apathy Scale, and Non-Motor Symptoms Scale. RESULTS: Significant changes in resting HR, in walked distance (p <  0.05), and in lower limbs muscles strength (p <  0.005) were observed in NWg. Both balance abilities and safety with mobility were increased (p <  0.005). Significant variations in some circumferences and body composition were registered. Finally, a significant improvement in motor and non-motor symptoms was detected: UPDRS-III, HY scale, PFS-16, BDI-II, SAS, NMSS. CONCLUSIONS: A tailored exercise program including NW proved to be an effective way to improve daily activities and both motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients.

Gain of hTERC: a genetic marker of malignancy in oral potentially malignant lesions.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral cancer, and major efforts is being made to identify molecular markers capable to differentiate oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs) with indolent course from lesions with aggressive behavior. We undertook a study to evaluate if gain of the human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) gene in OPMLs could indicate lesions at high risk of developing OSCC. The study was performed on 30 OPMLs with long-term follow-up using a dual-color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for hTERC status. Progression to malignancy was observed in 9 of 10 cases harboring hTERC gain and in 1 of 20 cases retaining a normal copy number of hTERC (P < .0001). Combining morphological grading and FISH analysis, all the cases with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or carcinoma in situ harboring hTERC amplification progressed to OSCC, whereas none of the low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions without hTERC gain progressed. Intermediate situations occurred. The data suggest that precise morphological evaluation together with FISH assessment for hTERC gain might pave the way to stratify OPMLs into high-risk and low-risk categories and could be helpful in selecting the most appropriate treatment.

Prediction of optimal warfarin maintenance dose using advanced artificial neural networks.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, pharmacogenetic algorithms were developed for estimating the appropriate dose of vitamin K antagonists. AIM: To evaluate the performance of new generation artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the warfarin maintenance dose. METHODS: Demographic, clinical and genetic data (CYP2C9 and VKORC1 polymorphisms) from 377 patients treated with warfarin were used. The final prediction model was based on 23 variables selected by TWIST® system within a bipartite division of the data set (training and testing) protocol. RESULTS: The ANN algorithm reached high accuracy, with an average absolute error of 5.7 mg of the warfarin maintenance dose. In the subset of patients requiring ≤21 mg and 21-49 mg (45 and 51% of the cohort, respectively) the absolute error was 3.86 mg and 5.45 with a high percentage of subjects being correctly identified (71 and 73%, respectively). CONCLUSION: ANN appears to be a promising tool for vitamin K antagonist maintenance dose prediction.

Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis in Italy: commensal or emerging human pathogen?

BACKGROUND: Specific bacterial infections or alterations of the gut microbiota likely trigger immuno-pathological phenomena associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is a candidate etiological agent of Crohn's disease. Definitive causal connection between Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection and Crohn's disease has not been demonstrated. AIMS: To determine the circulation of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease patients and water supplies in an Italian region where this bacterium is endemic in cattle farms. METHODS: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis screening was performed on biopsies from human patients, and from water samples, using two different PCR procedures. RESULTS: In hospitals where multiple specimens were obtained from different sites in the intestine, the prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection was 82.1% and 40% respectively in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients; in another hospital, where single specimens were obtained from patients, the bacterium was not detected. Control subjects also harboured Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, but at a lower prevalence. Tap water samples collected in the study area contained Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis DNA. DISCUSSION: The results of screenings for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in humans are deeply influenced by both the number and location of the collected biopsies. There is a wide circulation of the organism in the study area, considering the prevalence in humans and its presence in drinking water.

Evolution of ectopic lymphoid neogenesis and in situ autoantibody production in autoimmune nonobese diabetic mice: cellular and molecular characterization of tertiary lymphoid structures in pancreatic islets.

A pivotal role for tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in promoting Ag-specific humoral responses during chronic inflammation is emerging in several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and autoimmune thyroiditis. However, there is limited evidence on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying TLS formation and their contribution to autoimmunity in the pancreas during autoimmune insulitis. In this study, we performed a detailed and comprehensive assessment of the evolution of TLSs during autoimmune insulitis in 126 female NOD mice from 4 to 38 wk of age. We demonstrated that during progression from peri- to intrainsulitis in early diabetic mice, T and B cell infiltration follows a highly regulated process with the formation of lymphoid aggregates characterized by T/B cell segregation, follicular dendritic cell networks, and differentiation of germinal center B cells. This process is preceded by local upregulation of lymphotoxins alpha/beta and lymphoid chemokines CXCL13 and CCL19, and is associated with infiltration of B220(+)/IgD(+)/CD23(+)/CD21(-) follicular B cells expressing CXCR5. Despite a similar incidence of insulitis, late diabetic mice displayed a significantly reduced incidence of fully organized TLSs and reduced levels of lymphotoxins/lymphoid chemokines. Upon development, TLSs were fully functional in supporting in situ autoreactive B cell differentiation, as demonstrated by the expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, the enzyme required for Ig affinity maturation and class switching, and the presence of CD138(+) plasma cells displaying anti-insulin reactivity. Overall, our work provides direct evidence that TLSs are of critical relevance in promoting autoimmunity and chronic inflammation during autoimmune insulitis and diabetes in NOD mice.

Characterization of immunoglobulin variable regions of two human pathogenic monoclonal cryocrystalglobulins.

Cold-precipitating monoclonal immunoglobulins can rarely aggregate in form of crystals (cryocrystalglobulins) and cause serious clinical manifestations. The structural basis underlying this phenomenon remains to be defined. This study was undertaken to provide the first characterization of the heavy (VH) and light chain (VL) variable regions of two human pathogenic cryocrystalglobulins. The immunoglobulins used different heavy and light chain constant regions and germline gene fragments, underwent high degrees of somatic hypermutation, and showed distributions of replacement and silent nucleotide changes suggestive of antigenic selection. Primary sequences analyses and computer-generated modeling identified a positive charge and the introduction of unusual hydrophobic residues in exposed areas of VH and VL. In particular, a rare replacement of a polar residue with proline is shared at the beginning of the VH complementarity-determining region 2, and this residue might be involved in intermolecular contacts.