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The global decline in insect biomass has far-reaching implications for terrestrial and freshwater food webs, impacting species reliant on insects as a crucial component of their diet. This issue extends to species traditionally considered agricultural pests, such as the common cockchafer Melolontha melolontha . In the race to combat cockchafers through collection, insecticide use, and other control methods, the repercussions of their numerical fluctuations on predators, including species of high conservation importance like bats, have been largely overlooked. Drawing on 31-years of monitoring data for a greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum population in the Aosta Valley (Western Italian Alps), we investigated whether annual fluctuations in bat counts are influenced by cockchafer availability and weather conditions. Despite an overall positive trend in bat abundance, we observed pronounced annual fluctuations, mostly driven by cockchafer availability rather than variations in temperature and precipitation. Furthermore, we found a significant association between cockchafer availability and the median date of birth and birth rate of bats. Births occurred approximately 5 days earlier in cockchafer flight years, with earlier births also linked to warmer spring temperatures and higher numbers of warm days in April. Moreover, the ratio pups/older bats was 0.56 in cockchafer flight years, compared to 0.47 in other years. Our results underscore the importance of considering predator-prey dynamics when examining the long-term population trends of species of conservation concern. We recommend implementing restrictions on the use of chemicals and other potentially harmful practices that may diminish prey abundance or quality, including that of species considered as agricultural pests. In designing conservation strategies, a delicate balance should be struck between the current interests of farmers and the overarching goal of preserving biodiversity against potential future threats., Competing Interests: Authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Nursing is pivotal to healthcare delivery but is often associated with high levels of organizational stress. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the associations between exposure to organizational stressors, measured using the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool, and psychosomatic complaints among nurses in a medium-sized city hospital in northeastern Italy., Methods: A total of 215 nurses participated in the study, completing self-report questionnaires assessing organizational stressors and the prevalence of psychosomatic complaints experienced over the preceding six months., Results: Significant associations were observed between various organizational stressors and psychosomatic complaints among nurses. Specifically, the Relationships factor emerged as a significant predictor of palpitations, irritability, anxiety, physical and mental tiredness, and headache. Additionally, Demands and Managers' support were identified as significant predictors of specific psychosomatic complaints., Conclusion: This study highlights the critical role of addressing organizational stressors, particularly those related to interpersonal relationships, in promoting nurse well-being and optimizing patient care delivery. Despite its strengths, including the use of a well-established measurement tool and a comprehensive assessment of psychosomatic complaints, limitations such as the cross-sectional design and self-report measures warrant consideration. By prioritizing supportive work environments and implementing targeted interventions, healthcare organizations can cultivate a culture of well-being among nurses, ultimately enhancing the quality and safety of healthcare delivery., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press.)

The shortage of human donor corneas for transplantation necessitates the exploration of tissue engineering approaches to develop corneal substitutes. However, these substitutes must possess the necessary strength, transparency, and ability to regulate cell behaviour before they can be used in patients. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of an oxygen plasma surface-modified poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) combined with silk fibroin (SF) nanofibrous scaffold for corneal stromal regeneration. To fabricate the electrospun scaffolds, PCL and SF blends were used on a rotating mandrel. The optimization of the blend aimed to replicate the structural and functional properties of the human cornea, focusing on nanofibre alignment, mechanical characteristics, and in vitro cytocompatibility with human corneal stromal keratocytes. Surface modification of the scaffold resulted in improved transparency and enhanced cell interaction. Based on the evaluation, a composite nanofibrous scaffold with a 1:1 blend of PCL and SF was selected for a more comprehensive analysis. The biological response of keratocytes to the scaffold was assessed through cellular adhesion, proliferation, cytoskeletal organization, gene expression, and immunocytochemical staining. The scaffold facilitated the adhesion of corneal stromal cells, supporting cell proliferation, maintaining normal cytoskeletal organization, and promoting increased expression of genes associated with healthy corneal stromal keratocytes. These findings highlight the potential of a surface-modified PCL/SF blend (1:1) as a promising scaffolding material for corneal stromal regeneration. The developed scaffold not only demonstrated favourable biological interactions with corneal stromal cells but also exhibited characteristics aligned with the requirements for successful corneal tissue engineering. Further research and refinement of these constructs could lead to significant advancements in addressing the shortage of corneas for transplantation, ultimately improving the treatment outcomes for patients in need., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Healthcare workers, particularly nurses and apprentice nurses, are at high risk of the development of hand eczema due to daily exposure to wet work. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of hand eczema in a group of first-, second-, and third-year apprentice nurses at the University Hospitals of Trieste (northeastern Italy) during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Two hundred forty-two Nursing School students were recruited. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire based on the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire, and all patients underwent a medical examination to evaluate their skin condition based on standard scores. Transepidermal water loss was also measured. The factors associated with hand eczema were investigated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses., Results: The prevalence of hand eczema was low in students both before and after the traineeship (17.9 and 21.5%, respectively), but clinical signs of mild skin damage, mainly skin dryness, were present in 52.3 and 47.2%, respectively. The factor associated with hand eczema was a personal history of atopic eczema (odd ratios 2.61, 95% confidence intervals 1.18-5.80), while exposure to irritants and glove use did not reach statistical significance., Conclusions: Our findings might be explained by the preventive measures adopted for skin protection among healthcare workers in Trieste since the apprenticeship.

Background. Allergic patients may develop reactions following COVID-19 vaccination more frequently than non-allergic individuals. The aim of our study was to assess the risk of reactions in high-risk allergic patients vaccinated for COVID-19 at the University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI) of Trieste (northeastern Italy). Methods. Patients were considered at high risk for allergic reactions in case of: prior anaphylactic reaction to any drug/vaccine; multiple drug allergy; intolerance to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate 80 (PS80) containing drugs; and mast cell disorders. High-risk allergic patients were immunized in hospital by a dedicated allergy team supported by resuscitation staff. Patients were interviewed over the phone one month after vaccination to complete a structured questionnaire investigating signs and symptoms developed after immunization. Results. From March 2021 to February 2022, 269 patients with a history of severe allergic reactions were assessed, of whom 208 (77.3%) eventually received COVID-19 vaccination, 50 (18.6%) refused to be immunized, 10 (3.7%) were deferred for medical reasons and one was declared exempted due to testing positive for PS80. Mild reactions (urticaria, angioedema, rhinitis, erythema) to COVID-19 vaccines were reported by 30.3% of patients, 8.7% within 4 h and 21.6% > 4 h after immunization. No anaphylactic events were observed. Although they were 80 times (3.8%) more prevalent than in COVID-19 vaccinees from the general population (0.047%), vaccine allergic reactions in high-risk patients were mainly mild and late, more likely affecting women (OR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.22−7.65). Conclusions. High-risk allergic patients with urticaria and angioedema may experience mild flare-ups of mast cell activation-like symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination, supporting antihistamine premedication before vaccination and to be continued for one week afterwards.

Background: Depressive disorders in adolescence are among the most challenging clinical syndromes to diagnostically identify and treat in psychotherapy. The Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual, Second Edition (PDM-2) proposes an integration between nomothetic knowledge and an idiographic understanding of adolescent patients suffering from depression to promote a person-centered approach. This single-case study was aimed at describing and discussing the clinical value of an accurate diagnostic assessment within the PDM-2 framework., Method: Albert, a 16-year-old adolescent with a DSM-5 diagnosis of major depressive disorder, was assessed using instruments from various perspectives: the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5; the Psychodynamic Chart-Adolescent of the PDM-2, and other clinician-report instruments; and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure for Adolescents and Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale Q-sort, coded by external observers., Results: Albert's assessment revealed impairments in various mental capacities, especially in regulating self-esteem. He presented a borderline personality organization at a high level and an emerging narcissistic personality syndrome., Conclusions: The case discussion showed the importance of providing clinically meaningful assessments to plan for effective treatments in youth populations. Especially, it is necessary to understand the adolescent's unique characteristics in terms of mental and personality functioning and consider the developmental trajectories and adaptation processes that characterize this specific developmental period.

Although no mass mortality has been recorded so far, the precise demographic effect of white-nose syndrome (WNS) on European bats still remains to be ascertained. Following the first isolation of P. destructans in Italy, further surveys were performed to assess the distribution of the fungus in NW Italy and its effects on bats. Data were collected from March 2019 to April 2020 at sites used for hibernation (six sites) and/or for reproduction (four sites) in Piedmont and Aosta Valley. A total of 138 bats, belonging to 10 species, were examined to identify clinical features possibly related to the fungal presence. Culture from swabs and the molecular identification of isolates confirmed the presence of P. destructans in bats from five sites, including two maternal roosts. Dermal fungal infiltration, the criterion to assess the presence of WNS, was observed in biopsies of bats belonging to Myotis blythii , M. daubentonii , M. emarginatus and M. myotis . This is the first report of the disease in Italy. The results suggest a greater susceptibility to the infection of the genus Myotis and particularly of M. emarginatus , possibly due to the long length of its hibernation period. Other fungal dermatophytes were also observed.

We show that the protein encoded by the glutamine synthetase translational inhibitor (gstI) gene reduces the NH4+ assimilation capacity of Rhizobium leguminosarum. In this organism, gstI expression is regulated by the ntr system, including the PII protein, as a function of the nitrogen (N) status of the cells. The GstI protein, when expressed from an inducible promoter, inhibits glutamine synthetase II (glnII) expression under all N conditions tested. The induction of gstI affects the growth of a glutamine synthetase I (glnA-) strain and a single amino acid substitution (W48D) results in the complete loss of GstI function. During symbiosis, gstI is expressed in young differentiating symbiosomes (SBs) but not in differentiated N2-fixing SBs. In young SBs, the PII protein modulates the transcription of NtrC-regulated genes such as gstI and glnII. The evidence presented herein strengthens the idea that the endocytosis of bacteria inside the cytoplasm of the host cells is a key step in the regulation of NH4+ metabolism.

A Tn5-induced mutant strain (CTNUX5) of Rhizobium etli unable to grow with ammonium as the sole nitrogen source was isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis showed that Tn5 is inserted into an argC-homologous gene. Unlike its wild-type parent (strain CE3), the mutant strain CTNUX5 had an absolute dependency on arginine to grow. The argC gene was cloned from the wild-type strain CE3, and the resulting plasmid, pAR207, after transformation was shown to relieve the arginine auxotrophy of strain CTNUX5. Unlike strain CE3 or CTNUX5-pAR207, strain CTNUX5 showed undetectable levels of N-acetyl-gamma-glutamylphosphate reductase activity. Unless arginine was added to the growth medium, strain CTNUX5 was unable to produce flavonoid-inducible lipo-chitin oligosaccharides (nodulation factors) and to induce nodules or nodulelike structures on the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris.

By means of a detailed ultrastructural analysis of nodules induced by Rhizobium etli on the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, we observe that the development of host-invaded cells is not synchronous. An accumulation of mitochondria was found in freshly invaded host cells, containing only a few symbiosomes (SBs) that are released from highly branched intracellular ramification of the infection threads. Moreover, besides the fusion between the SB membrane with host secretory vesicles, we observe also a great number of fusions between the outer leaflets of adjoining SB membranes, thus resulting in structures that resemble the tight junction network (zona occludens with a five-layered structure) of epithelian cells. This process was found to be induced strongly and earlier both in the invaded host cells of ineffective nodules (elicited by Fix- mutant strains of R. etli) and in the older (senescence) invaded cells of effective nodules, whereas bacteroid division is seldom if ever observed. Our observations strongly suggest that multiple-occupancy SBs also arise by fusion of single-occupancy SBs and the physiological consequence of this process is discussed.

A mutant strain (CTNUX4) of Rhizobium etli carrying Tn5 unable to grow with ammonium as the sole nitrogen source was isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis showed that Tn5 is inserted into a trpB (tryptophan synthase)-homologous gene. When tested on the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, strain CTNUX4 was able to induce only small, slightly pink, ineffective (Fix-) nodules. However, under free-living conditions, strain CTNUX4 was unable to produce flavonoid-inducible lipo-chitin oligosaccharides (Nod factors) unless tryptophan was added to the growth medium. These data and histological observations indicate that the lack of tryptophan biosynthesis affects the symbiotic behavior of R. etli.

A mutant strain (CTNUX23) of Rhizobium etli carrying Tn5 unable to grow with sulfate as the sole sulfur source was isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis showed that Tn5 is inserted into a metZ (O-succinylhomoserine sulfhydrylase)-homologous gene. The CTNUX23 mutant strain had a growth dependency for methionine, although cystathionine or homocysteine, but not homoserine or O-succinylhomoserine, allowed growth of the mutant. RNase protection assays showed that the metZ-like gene had a basal level of expression in methionine- or cysteine-grown cells, which was induced when sulfate or thiosulfate was used. The metZ gene was cloned from the parent wild-type strain, CE3, and the resulting plasmid pAR204 relieved, after transformation, the methionine auxotrophy of both strains CTNUX23 of R. etli and PAO503(metZ) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Unlike strain CE3 or CTNUX23 (pAR204), strain CTNUX23 showed undetectable levels of O-succinylhomoserine sulfhydrylase activity. Strain CTNUX23 was unable to produce flavonoid-inducible lipo-chitin oligosaccharides (Nod factors) or to induce nodules or nodulelike structures on the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, unless methionine was added to the growth medium. These data and our previous results support the notion that cysteine or glutathione, but not methionine, is supplied by the root cells to bacteria growing inside the plant.

During development of root nodules, Rhizobium bacteria differentiate inside the invaded plant cells into N2-fixing bacteroids. Terminally differentiated bacteroids are unable to grow using the ammonia (NH3) produced therein by the nitrogenase complex. Therefore, the nitrogen assimilation activities of bacteroids, including the ammonium (NH4+) uptake activity, are expected to be repressed during symbiosis. By sequence homology the R. etli amtB (ammonium transport) gene was cloned and sequenced. As previously shown for its counterpart in other organisms, the R. etli amtB gene product mediates the transport of NH4+. The amtB gene is cotranscribed with the glnK gene (coding for a PII-like protein) from a nitrogen-regulated sigma 54-dependent promoter, which requires the transcriptional activator NtrC. Expression of the glnKamtB operon was found to be activated under nitrogen-limiting, free-living conditions, but down-regulated just when bacteria are released from the infection threads and before transcription of the nitrogenase genes. Our data suggest that the uncoupling between N2-fixation and NH3 assimilation observed in symbiosomes is generated by a transcriptional regulatory mechanism(s) beginning with the inactivation of NtrC in younger bacteroids.

The DNA-binding activity of the NtrC protein can be demonstrated in gel retardation assays with concentrated protein extracts of Rhizobium etli. Using extracts from either the wild type or a ntrC mutant strain and an antiserum raised against the NtrC protein, we demonstrate specific binding of NtrC to the upstream regulatory region of the glnII gene, where two putative NtrC-binding sites are present. KNO3-grown bacteria contain less NtrC protein and more NtrC-binding activity than NH4Cl-grown bacteria, thus showing that with this protocol it is possible to detect changes in NtrC-binding activity. The advantages of this assay system in comparison with that using pure proteins is discussed.

A Tn5 insertion mutant, strain CFN2012, of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli devoid of glutamine synthetase II (GSII) activity was analysed. It was shown to contain Tn5 within an 11-kb BamHI DNA fragment, which was isolated (pSM261) from the wild-type strain and, when introduced into strain CFN2012, was shown to complement the absence of GSII activity. The DNA sequence of the corresponding region from the wild-type allele revealed the presence of an ntrC regulatory gene, and restriction analysis indicated that the mutant allele carried the Tn5 insertion within it. Further analysis of strain CFN2012 indicated that this mutant has reduced levels of the PII regulatory protein and that, in contrast to ntrC mutants of other Rhizobiaceae, it grows on nitrate as the sole nitrogen source.