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In order to acquire prevalence and genetic data on Cryptosporidium infections in captive lizards and snakes kept as pets, a survey was conducted on 150 individual reptiles from southern Italy. Fecal samples were preserved in 5% formalin and analyzed using a commercial immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts. IFA revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in nine of the 150 samples examined (6.0%), precisely in 6/125 snakes (4.8%) and in 3/25 lizards (12.0%); all fecal samples tested negative for the presence of Giardia cysts. Molecular characterization based on nested PCR amplification and sequencing of the SSU-rRNA gene, revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium serpentis in three samples from snakes (Boa constrictor constrictor, Elapheguttata guttata guttata and Python molurus).

This paper discusses the current status of the European research reactor (RR) fleet and identified opportunities for its utilization. The data for this analysis was collected through a specific questionnaire from which a database of the European RR fleet was created. The questionnaire was designed to assess the degree of exploitation of different RR applications and to identify gaps and opportunities for future utilization. The results indicate that the European RR fleet is older compared to the world average, with no new research reactors built in Europe since 1992. The majority of RRs reported low levels of exploitation across all applications, and a desire to expand utilization was expressed by 78% of respondents. Lack of manpower, finance, and customers were identified as the main obstacles preventing expansion, while the need for more nuclear engineers was identified as a clear opportunity to attract people to the field. The findings of this study emphasize the need for actions to be taken to combat future needs and to improve the utilization of the European RR fleet. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry professionals, and researchers working in the field of nuclear energy.

Studies the characterization of tachykinin receptors in the guinea-pig esophageal sphincter. Production of plasma protein extravasation; Presence of tachykinin NK-2 and NK-3 receptors; Contraction of smooth muscle region.

The time course of the effects of intravenous or intracoronary administration of peptide leukotrienes on metabolic parameters and on systemic and coronary hemodynamics was evaluated in 15 patients with normal coronary arteries. Peptide leukotriene C4 (2 nmol given as a bolus intravenous injection) induced an early fall (at 2 min) in mean arterial pressure (P<0.02) associated with a rise in heart rate (P<0.001) and in plasma levels of epinephrine (P<0.05) and norepinephrine (P<0.005), but without significant changes in coronary blood flow or coronary vascular resistance. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, norepinephrine, and epinephrine returned to baseline values 10 min after leukotriene C4 administration. In contrast, at 10 min post leukotriene C4, with coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption unchanged, an increase in coronary vascular resistance (P<0.05) and in myocardial oxygen extraction (P<0.01) was observed, which returned to baseline values at 20 min post leukotriene C4. Peptide leukotriene D4(3 nmol, given in the left coronary artery) induced an early (20 s) and transient fall in mean arterial pressure (P<0.001 ) paralleled by a rise in heart rate and plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, all of which returned to baseline at 10 min. Coronary vascular resistance increased at 10 and 15 min (P<0.02 and P<0.05, respectively) and myocardial oxygen extraction at 15 min (P<0.02). These results suggest that small doses of peptide leukotrienes induce both an early and transient fall in mean arterial pressure associated with secondary sympathoadrenergic activation, and a late increase in small coronary arteriolar resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors point out the striking significance of coloscopy in establishing a correct diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the colon. In particular, the most valuable endoscopic features are indicated which may permit distinguishing between idiopathic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease of the colon. Differentiation between these two diseases cannot always be achieved by means of available diagnostic procedures other than coloscopy. Moreover, the endoscopic findings enable an assessment to be made of the extent, stage, severity and course of either disease. The authors' experience encompass 2,478 coloscopic examinations: the observed cases of idiopathic ulcerative colitis are 182, those of Crohn's disease of the colon are 104. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used human cardiac tissue from the right atrial appendages of patients undergoing corrective heart surgery to study content and de novo synthesis of mediators in the human heart. Human heart tissue contained 1.7±0.1 μg/g wet weight of histamine (mean±S.E.M.) and spontaneously produced 6-keto-PGF (38.4 ng/g wet weight/min), PGF (1.9 ng/g wet weight/min), PGE (1.7 ng/g wet weight/min) and thromboxane B (T×B) (1.7 ng/g wet weight/min). Spontaneous release of PGD, leukotriene C and histamine was negligible. Rabbit anti-human IgE (1-10 μg/ml) dose-dependently induced the release of histmaine (5 to 15% of the total histamine content) and of PGD (5 to 100 ng/g of wet tissue). The effect of anti-IgE was dose-related and reached a maximum after 30-45 min of incubation. A significant linear correlation (r=0.90; p<0.001) was found between de novo synthesis of PGD and the secretion of histamine induced by anti-IgE challenge of human heart. These results support the concept that PGI is the main, but not the sole, product of arachidonic acid metabolism synthesized by human heart in vitro. Additionally, anti-IgE challenge of human heart in vitro induces the release of histamine and PGD. The local concentrations of these mediators appear high enough to play some role in the modulation of several cardiac functions in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Management of preterm labor by tocolysis remains an unmet medical need. Prostaglandins play a major role in regulation of uterine activity and in molecular mechanisms of human labor and parturition. There is some circumstantial evidence that prostaglandin F2α by action through the prostaglandin receptor subtype FP is effective in key events during labor uterine contraction, rupture of membranes and cervical dilation. This role of FP is briefly reviewed. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that an orally active and selective FP antagonist may arrest labor and delay parturition in animal models. Methods We examined the effects of a small molecule selective antagonist of the FP receptor (AS604872) in inhibition of spontaneous uterine contraction in pregnant rat near term. We tested AS604872 for its ability to delay preterm birth in a mouse model in which the anti-progestin agent RU486 triggered parturition. Results By oral or intravenous dosing AS604872 reduced markedly and dose-dependently the spontaneous uterine contractions in late-term pregnant rats at gestational days 19–21. In pregnant mice, AS604872 delayed the preterm birth caused by RU486 administration. The effect was dose-dependent with a significant increase in the mean delivery time of 16 and 33 hours at oral doses of 30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively, in the case of labor triggered at gestational day 14. In both models AS604872 appeared more effective than the β-agonist ritodrine. Conclusion The tocolytic activity displayed by a selective FP receptor antagonist supports a key role for the FP receptor in the pathophysiology of premature birth and demonstrates the therapeutic potential of an FP antagonist for the treatment of preterm labor cases in which uterine hyperactivity plays a dominant role.

Papillomaviruses are relatively ubiquitous and have been described as causative agents for epithelial lesions in a wide variety of animals as well as in humans. Approximately 30 HPV types have been isolated from anogenital epithelium (cervix, vagina, vulva, rectum and penis). HPVs induce a variety of proliferative lesions, but only the “high-risk” types are associated with anogenital cancers. “Low-risk” viral types include HPV-6 and HPV-11; “high-risk” types include HPV-16, 18, 31 and 56. HPVs “high-risk” types are more strongly associated with high-grade lesions (HSIL) than they are with low-grade lesions (LSIL). The traditional process for cervical cancer screening programs (PAP test) is vulnerable to air drying artifacts and has limits to sensitivity, since as many as 90 percent of collectet cells can be discarted with collection device. The present study was undertaken to assess the screening performance of HPV-DNA typing in a sample of 142 women drawn from a routine screening for the prevention of cervical cancer. The results indicate that HPV-DNA screening and typing, used together with PAP test, can improve the detection of patients with cervical disease and can serve as a quality assurance indicator in cervical cancer screening programs.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the tocolytic effect of AS604872, an orally active, potent, and selective prostanoid prostaglandin F2alpha receptor (FP) antagonist. STUDY DESIGN: Compound AS604872 was characterized and tested for its ability to block uterine contraction and delay preterm parturition in rodent models. RESULTS: AS604872 inhibited spontaneous uterine contractions in pregnant rat near term. In pregnant mouse, AS604872 delayed parturition induced by either the antiprogesterone RU-486 or the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. Pups from treated mothers were delivered alive. The efficacy of AS604872 was superior to the beta-mimetic drug ritodrine. Combination of AS604872 and ritodrine showed an additive inhibitory effect on spontaneous uterine contractions in rat. CONCLUSION: A selective antagonist of the FP receptor suppresses uterine contractility and delays labor. Our findings identify a new potential modality for the pharmacological management of preterm labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reptiles have increased in popularity worldwide; snakes and lizards are frequently used as pets. As a consequence of their popularity, the interest of the scientific community in these animals has increased. In order to acquire epidemiological data on the parasitic infections affecting reptiles in Italy a survey was carried out in 125 snakes and 25 lizards bred in the Campania region of southern Italy. Individual fecal samples were collected and FLOTAC was used for copromicroscopic diagnosis. Eimeriidae, oxyurids, strongylids, other gastro-intestinal nematodes and pulmonary nematodes were the most representative parasites found. Eggs of pseudoparasites (mites, oxyurids and trichurids affecting rodents) were also found. The use of FLOTAC for diagnosis of parasitic infections in reptiles has demonstrated to be a rapid and sensitive test to improve diagnosis and acquire new information on the parasitological fauna of reptiles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

MEN 11066 is a new non-steroidal compound which potently inhibits human placenta (Ki=0.5 nM) and rat ovarian (Ki=0.2 nM) aromatase in vitro. In vivo, a single oral dose of 0.3 mg kg−1 significantly decreased uterus weight in immature rats after stimulation of uterus growth by androstenedione. MEN 11066 reduced in a dose-dependent manner plasma estradiol levels in adult female rats treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). After 2 weeks of repeated daily treatment in adult rats, a significant decrease in uterine weight was observed together with a 65% decrease in plasma estradiol, whereas plasma levels of testosterone, progesterone, aldosterone, corticosterone, cholesterol, LH and FSH were not affected. The lack of any effect by MEN 11066 on adrenal steroids was confirmed by the unchanged plasma corticosterone and aldosterone levels in immature rats and also in adult rats when the repeated treatment with MEN 11066 (15 days) was followed by the administration of a synthetic ACTH analogue. No change in 11β-hydroxylase or 21-hydroxylase activities was produced in vitro by the addition of 10 μM MEN 11066. Fifteen-day treatment with MEN 11066 did not produce changes in several rat hepatic enzymatic activities involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics. These results demonstrated that MEN 11066 is a potent inhibitor of aromatase which does not interfere with the cytochrome P450 involved in the synthesis of other steroids or in the metabolism of xenobiotics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Type 1 diabetes in Sardinia is very common in children, and we hypothesized that Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adult (LADA) might constitute a significant proportion of diabetes in adult Sardinian subjects. Since Type 2 diabetes is a familial disorder, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the prevalence of GAD65 and IA-2 autoantibodies (Ab) in Type 2 diabetes multiplex families of Sardinian ancestry enrolled in the Study Group for the Genetics of Diabetes in Sardinia. Methods: A total of 684 individuals were ascertained from 252 Sardinian Type 2 diabetes multiplex families with 2.4 affected siblings per family comprising 190 families with two affected, 37 with three, 15 with four, 7 with five, and 3 with six, in addition to 80 unaffected siblings. Controls were household contacts representing 204 healthy spouses of affected siblings. Diagnosis was at 35–69 years of age and insulin was not given in the first 4 years after diagnosis. GAD65Ab and IA-2Ab were determined in standard radioligand binding assays. Results: Among affected siblings GAD65Ab were positive in 8.8% of insulin-treated (n=137; P=0.0006), in 2.5% of non-insulin-treated (n=467), and in 1.2% of non-diabetic siblings (n=80) compared with 0.5% of controls (n=204). IA-2Ab was positive in 6.6% insulin-treated (P=0.04), 2.1% non-insulin-treated, and 2.5% non-diabetic siblings compared with 1.5% of controls. Conclusion: A high frequency of GAD65Ab and IA-2Ab as markers of Type 1 diabetes was found among Type 2 diabetes siblings from Sardinian multiplex families despite excluding those who had been treated with insulin during the first 4 years of disease. Our data support the hypothesis that LADA may be common in Sardinian Type 2 diabetes and stress the importance of investigating markers of Type 1 diabetes in studies of Type 2 diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alterations of serotonin type 4 receptor levels are linked to mood disorders and cognitive deficits in several conditions. However, few studies have investigated 5-HT4R alterations in movement disorders. We wondered whether striatal 5-HT4R expression is altered in experimental parkinsonism. We used a brain bank tissue from a rat and a macaque model of Parkinson's disease (PD). We then investigated its in vivo PET imaging regulation in a cohort of macaques. Dopaminergic depletion increases striatal 5-HT4R in the two models, further augmented after dyskinesia-inducing L-Dopa. Pending confirmation in PD patients, the 5-HT4R might offer a therapeutic target for dampening PD's symptoms.

NAVIGATOR is an Italian regional project boosting precision medicine in oncology with the aim of making it more predictive, preventive, and personalised by advancing translational research based on quantitative imaging and integrative omics analyses. The project's goal is to develop an open imaging biobank for the collection and preservation of a large amount of standardised imaging multimodal datasets, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography data, together with the corresponding patient-related and omics-related relevant information extracted from regional healthcare services using an adapted privacy-preserving model. The project is based on an open-source imaging biobank and an open-science oriented virtual research environment (VRE). Available integrative omics and multi-imaging data of three use cases (prostate cancer, rectal cancer, and gastric cancer) will be collected. All data confined in NAVIGATOR (i.e., standard and novel imaging biomarkers, non-imaging data, health agency data) will be used to create a digital patient model, to support the reliable prediction of the disease phenotype and risk stratification. The VRE that relies on a well-established infrastructure, called D4Science.org, will further provide a multiset infrastructure for processing the integrative omics data, extracting specific radiomic signatures, and for identification and testing of novel imaging biomarkers through big data analytics and artificial intelligence., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to European Society of Radiology.)

Making decisions based on the actions of others is critical to daily interpersonal interactions. We investigated the representations of other's actions at single neural level in posterior medial prefrontal cortex (pmPFC) in two monkeys during the observation of actions of another agent, in a social interaction task. Each monkey separately interacted with a human partner. The monkey and the human alternated turns as actor and observer. The actor was required to reach one of two visual targets, avoiding the previously chosen target, while the observer monitored that action. pmPFC neurons decoupled in most cases self from others during both the execution and the observation of explicit actions. pmPFC neurons showed selective directional tuning specific for the agent who was executing the task. Moreover, we assessed the relationship of the response coding between the periods immediately before and after the action, by using a cross-modal decoding analysis. We found neural network stability from the action anticipation period to the observation of other's actions, suggesting a strong relationship between the anticipation and the execution of an action. When the monkey was the actor, the population coding appeared dynamic, possibly reflecting a goal-action transformation unique to the monkey's own action execution., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The maladaptive response of the central nervous system (CNS) following nerve injury is primarily linked to the activation of glial cells (reactive gliosis) that produce an inflammatory reaction and a wide cellular morpho-structural and functional/metabolic remodeling. Glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP), a major protein constituent of astrocyte intermediate filaments (IFs), is the hallmark of the reactive astrocytes, has pleiotropic functions and is significantly upregulated in the spinal cord after nerve injury. Here, we investigated the specific role of GFAP in glial reaction and maladaptive spinal cord plasticity following sciatic nerve spared nerve injury (SNI) in GFAP KO and wild-type (WT) animals. We evaluated the neuropathic behavior (thermal hyperalgesia, allodynia) and the expression of glial (vimentin, Iba1) and glutamate/GABA system markers (GLAST, GLT1, EAAC1, vGLUT, vGAT, GAD) in lumbar spinal cord sections of KO/WT animals. SNI induced neuropathic behavior in both GFAP KO and WT mice, paralleled by intense microglial reaction (Iba1 expression more pronounced in KO mice), reactive astrocytosis (vimentin increase) and expression remodeling of glial/neuronal glutamate/GABA transporters. In conclusion, it is conceivable that the lack of GFAP could be detrimental to the CNS as it lacks a critical sensor for neuroinflammation and morpho-functional-metabolic rewiring after nerve injury. Understanding the maladaptive morpho-functional changes of glial cells could represent the first step for a new glial-based targeted approach for mechanisms of disease in the CNS.

Social neurophysiology has increasingly addressed how several aspects of self and other are distinctly represented in the brain. In social interactions, the self-other distinction is fundamental for discriminating one's own actions, intentions, and outcomes from those that originate in the external world. In this paper, we review neurophysiological experiments using nonhuman primates that shed light on the importance of the self-other distinction, focusing mainly on the frontal cortex. We start by examining how the findings are impacted by the experimental paradigms that are used, such as the type of social partner or whether a passive or active interaction is required. Next, we describe the 2 sociocognitive systems: mirror and mentalizing. Finally, we discuss how the self-other distinction can occur in different domains to process different aspects of social information: the observation and prediction of others' actions and the monitoring of others' rewards., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Appropriate gaze interaction is essential for primate social life. Prior studies have suggested the involvement of the amygdala in processing eye cues but its role in gaze behavior during live social exchanges remains unknown. We recorded the activity of neurons in the amygdala of two monkeys as they engaged in spontaneous visual interactions. We showed that monkeys adjust their oculomotor behavior and actively seek to interact with each other through mutual gaze. During fixations on the eye region, some amygdala neurons responded with short latency and more strongly to mutual than non-reciprocal gaze (averted gaze). Other neurons responded with long latency and were more strongly modulated by active, self-terminated mutual gaze fixations than by passively terminated ones. These results suggest that the amygdala not only participates to the evaluation of eye contact, but also plays a role in the timing of fixations which is crucial for adaptive social interactions through gaze., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)