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Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal and aromatic herb native to eastern North America and now is also cultivated in Northern Italy, which shows terminal heads of bright scarlet-red flowers, subtended by a whorl of red-tinged leafy bracts. Starting from 2018, M. didyma flowering tops have been included in the Belfrit List of botanicals. However, to date studies on the crude extract of this plant are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and anatomical features of the flowering tops and the phytochemical profile of their ethanolic and hydroglyceric extracts (EE and HGE, respectively). HGE was the richest in total phenols (105.75 ± 5.91 vs. 64.22 ± 3.45 mg/100 mL) and especially in flavonoids (71.60 ± 5.09 vs. 47.70 ± 1.27 mg/100 mL), as confirmed also by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Fifty-three polyphenols were identified and quantified. Even if they showed a common polyphenolic profile, EE and HGE showed quantitative differences. Flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins were the most expressed metabolites in HGE, whereas flavonols were the most expressed metabolites in EE. These features confer to HGE the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties, detected by several in vitro and in vivo assays, highlighting a promising use of this plant extract for skincare applications.

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm is currently highly demanded in multiple scenarios and in particular plays an important role in solving medical-related challenges. RF and microwave technologies, coupled with wireless energy transfer, are interesting candidates because of their inherent contactless spectrometric capabilities and for the wireless transmission of sensing data. This article reviews some recent achievements in the field of wearable sensors, highlighting the benefits that these solutions introduce in operative contexts, such as indoor localization and microwave sensing. Wireless power transfer is an essential requirement to be fulfilled to allow these sensors to be not only wearable but also compact and lightweight while avoiding bulky batteries. Flexible materials and 3D printing polymers, as well as daily garments, are widely exploited within the presented solutions, allowing comfort and wearability without renouncing the robustness and reliability of the built-in wearable sensor.

Z. tritici first appeared in Italy later than in northern-central European countries. QoIs fungicides currently play a role in STB control, used in combination with Demethylation Inhibitors (DMIs) or Succinate dehydrogenase Inhibitors (SDHIs). In this study, we set up a fast, sensitive, and accurate ddPCR protocol in order to investigate the presence and frequency of G143A substitution, causing a reduction in strobilurins' efficacy in Z. tritici . The best PCR conditions for the clear separation of positive and negative droplets were identified. The lowest wild-type and resistant alleles frequencies were accurately determined on samples consisting of mixed DNAs from monoconidial cultures of Z. tritici and were expressed as fractional abundance. The protocol was tested by determining the copy number and frequency of alleles on gDNA purified in three Italian Z. tritici field populations representative of different fungicide management strategies. For the first time, the determination of allele concentration and the frequency of a mutation involved in Z. tritici fungicide resistance was carried out by employing digital PCR. This new approach provides a diagnostic tool that is rapid and able to detect very low G143A substitution percentages, which is very useful for fungicide resistance detection at early stages, thus, informing field management strategies for contrasting STB disease.

Glial cells respond to neuronal activation and release neuroactive molecules (termed "gliotransmitters") that can affect synaptic activity and modulate plasticity. In this study, we used molecular genetic tools, ultra-structural microscopy, and electrophysiology to assess the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on cortical gliotransmission in vivo. We find that glial cells recycle BDNF that was previously secreted by neurons as pro-neurotrophin following long-term potentiation (LTP)-inducing electrical stimulation. Upon BDNF glial recycling, we observed tight, temporal, highly localized TrkB phosphorylation on adjacent neurons, a process required to sustain LTP. Engagement of BDNF recycling by astrocytes represents a novel mechanism by which cortical synapses can expand BDNF action and provide synaptic changes that are relevant for the acquisition of new memories. Accordingly, mice deficient in BDNF glial recycling fail to recognize familiar from novel objects, indicating a physiological requirement for this process in memory consolidation., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a major component of the mesolimbic system, is involved in the mediation of reinforcing and addictive properties of many dependence-producing drugs. Glutamatergic synapses within the NAc can express plasticity, including a form of endocannabinoid (eCB)-long-term depression (LTD). Recent evidences demonstrate cross talk between eCB signaling pathways and those of other receptor systems, including serotonin (5-HT); the extensive colocalization of CB1 and 5-HT receptors within the NAc suggests the potential for interplay between them. In the present study, we found that 20-min low-frequency (4 Hz) stimulation (LFS-4Hz) of glutamatergic afferences in rat brain slices induces a novel form of eCB-LTD in the NAc core, which requires 5-HT2 and CB1 receptor activation and L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel opening. Moreover, we found that exogenous 5-HT application (5 μM, 20 min) induces an analogous LTD (5-HT-LTD) at the same synapses, requiring the activation of the same receptors and the opening of the same Ca(2+) channels; LFS-4Hz-LTD and 5-HT-LTD were mutually occlusive. Present results suggest that LFS-4Hz induces the release of 5-HT, which acts at 5-HT2 postsynaptic receptors, increasing Ca(2+) influx through L-type voltage-gated channels and 2-arachidonoylglycerol production and release; the eCB travels retrogradely and binds to presynaptic CB1 receptors, causing a long-lasting decrease of glutamate release, resulting in LTD. These observations might be helpful to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying drug addiction, major depression, and other psychiatric disorders characterized by dysfunction of 5-HT neurotransmission in the NAc.

Between February 1993 and December 1994, 875 adults underwent tuberculin screening by the Public Health Service of Parma. The adults were randomly assigned to a multipuncture test, Tine or Mono, and contemporarily, as a reference test, received the intradermal Mantoux (IM) in the opposite arm. The tests were then read 72 hours later by two different trained nurses. The error quota due to IM was estimated by repeating both the tests done initially in patients with discordant results. The Mono test revealed a sensitivity of 95%, which was the same as that observed for the Mantoux test. As an 'operative index' of the screening, the number of false positives subsequently tested for every 10 correctly identified was used. The authors retain that the results obtained indicate the validity of the Mono test for screening in the adult population with a prevalence of tuberculous infection above 10%.