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Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease for which certain risk factors are well known: obesity and smoking (in particular). However, the factors associated with more severe conditions, and therefore potential aggravators of the disease, remain a matter of debate. Our study aims to determine the clinical factors associated with severe HS using several severity scores. Methods: The data were obtained via the ERHS questionnaire from patients exclusively recruited at Erasme Hospital in Brussels. The severity of HS was firstly estimated by the Hurley score, and secondly by a metascore, a system combining the iHS4, HS-PGA, SAHS, and DLQI. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: Six hundred and forty-seven patients were included in the Hurley analysis, and 456 patients in the metascore analysis. In multivariable analysis, men have a more severe metascore than women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.89, p = 0.022), smoking was associated with a more severe disease according to metascore, especially in mild cases (OR = 0.76, p = 0.043), and an elevated body mass index was associated with having Hurley stage III disease compared to Hurley I or II disease (OR = 1.09, p = 0.001). A significant association is also shown between blood pressure and Hurley stage (OR = 0.97, p = 0.025). Self-reports of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aggravating the disease is also a factor associated with greater severity according to the metascore (OR = 0.12, p = 0.008). Finally, several locations of HS lesions were associated with greater severity, in particular the armpits according to the metascore (OR = 0.29, p < 0.001), and the perianal area according to the Hurley score (OR = 0.15, p < 0.001). Conclusion: HS seems to be more severe in men; smoking seems to aggravate mild cases of HS, while increased body mass index plays a major role in the transition from Hurley II to Hurley III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages play a pivotal role as host cells for Leishmania parasites, displaying a notable functional adaptability ranging from the proinflammatory, leishmanicidal M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory, parasite-permissive M2 phenotype. While macrophages can potentially eradicate amastigotes through appropriate activation, Leishmania employs diverse strategies to thwart this activation and redirect macrophages toward an M2 phenotype, facilitating its survival and replication. Additionally, a competition for iron between the two entities exits, as iron is vital for both and is also implicated in macrophage defensive oxidative mechanisms and modulation of their phenotype. This review explores the intricate interplay between macrophages, Leishmania, and iron. We focus the attention on the potential of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) as a sort of immunotherapy to treat some leishmaniasis forms by reprogramming Leishmania-permissive M2 macrophages into antimicrobial M1 macrophages. Through the specific targeting of iron in macrophages, the use of IONPs emerges as a promising strategy to finely tune the parasite-host interaction, endowing macrophages with an augmented antimicrobial arsenal capable of efficiently eliminating these intrusive microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is an uncommon adenocarcinoma of apocrine gland-rich areas, presenting significant diagnostic challenges due to its nonspecific clinical appearance and frequent misidentification as benign, inflammatory skin conditions. Traditional diagnostic methods such as biopsy are invasive and uncomfortable, often required repeatedly due to high recurrence rates. Dermoscopy and non-invasive imaging techniques have been used but provide limited diagnostic accuracy due to their constraints in depth penetration and resolution. Recent advancements in imaging technologies, such as line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), show promise in enhancing diagnostic precision while minimizing invasive procedures. LC-OCT merges high-resolution imaging with deep penetration capabilities, capturing detailed horizontal and vertical skin images akin to histopathology. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of LC-OCT in detecting EMPD and its recurrence in 17 clinically suspicious anogenital regions, belonging to six patients. Data were collected prospectively at the patient's bedside by an LC-OCT expert with poor training for EMPD, and, then, reviewed retrospectively by an independent LC-OCT expert with adequate training for EMPD and no concerns about time. The prospective examination yielded 64.7% accuracy (11 true results out of 17 total cases), 71.4% sensitivity (10 true positives out of 14 actual positives), and 33.3% specificity (1 true negative out of 3 actual negatives). The retrospective analysis achieved 94.1% accuracy (16 true results out of 17 total cases), 100% sensitivity (14 true positives out of 14 actual positives), and 66.7% specificity (2 true positives out of 3 actual positives), with the only false positive case being a difficult-to-diagnose concomitant presentation of a lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Despite the need for specialized training, our results suggest that LC-OCT represents a valuable tool for accurately identifying EMPD and improving its management by reducing unnecessary biopsies. Further studies are needed to standardize its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial population in the pig's gastrointestinal tract can be influenced by incorporating fibrous by-products into the diets. This study investigated the impact of including two types of dried olive cake (OC) in pigs' diets on fecal bacterial composition. The correlation between fecal microbiota and growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut fermentation pattern and slurry gas emissions was also evaluated. Thirty male Pietrain x (Landrace x Large white) pigs (47.9 ± 4.21 kg) were assigned to three groups: a control group (C), a group fed a diet with 20% partially defatted OC (20PDOC), and a group fed a diet with 20% cyclone OC (20COC) for 21 days. Fecal samples collected before and after providing the experimental diets were analyzed for the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Pigs were weighed, and feed intake was recorded throughout the study. Potential ammonia and methane emissions from slurry were measured. No significant differences in alpha diversity indexes were found. The taxonomic analysis revealed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidota phyla were dominant at the phylum level across all groups. Differential abundance analysis using ALDEx showed significant differences among groups for various bacteria at the phylum, genus, and species levels at the end of the experiment. Pigs from 20PDOC and 20COC groups exhibited increased abundances of healthpromoting bacteria, such as Plactomycetota at the phylum level and Allisonella and an unidentified genus from the Eggerthellaceae family at the genus level. These changes influenced short-chain fatty acids' (SCFA) concentration in slurries, leading to greater acetic, butyric, caproic and heptanoic acids in OC-fed groups, especially 20COC pigs. A volatility analysis revealed significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) between Uncultured_Bacteroidales and Unculured_ Selenomonadaceae and energy digestibility. Monoglobus and Desulfovibrio showed a positive significant (p < 0.05) correlation with total SCFA, indicating a high impact on gut fermentation. However, growth performance parameters and potential gas emission displayed no significant correlations with a specific bacterial genus. In conclusion, our results suggest that OC inclusion into pig diets could positively modulate and contribute to the gut microbiota's favorable composition and functionality. Also, nutrient digestibility and gut fermentation patterns can be associated with specific microbial populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated food-contact surfaces can transfer pathogenic organisms within domestic settings, potentially leading to foodborne illness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an ozonated water handheld spray bottle to eliminate bacteria on food-contact surfaces. Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, Pseudomonas spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were used to inoculate polypropylene cutting boards and stainless steel knives. A 2-ppm ozonated water spray was applied to the inoculated surfaces and allowed to act for 30 or 60 s. Ozonated water was able to significantly reduce (P < 0.05) generic E. coli on cutting boards (0.7 ± 0.1 log10 CFU/cm²). In addition, L. innocua was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) on polypropylene (0.9 ± 0.2 log10 CFU/cm²) and stainless steel (1.1 ± 0.1 log10 CFU/cm²). There were no significant reductions of Pseudomonas (0.5 ± 0.3 log10 CFU/cm²) or S. aureus (0.2 ± 0.1 log10 CFU/cm²). Significant reductions were only observed after 60-s treatments, and there was no significant effect of surface type on the reductions. Overall, low concentration-ozonated water is moderately effective at reducing nonpathogenic bacteria loosely attached to simulated clean food-contact surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a new dermoscopic criterion for diagnosing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) called "negative maple-leaf-like areas" (NMLLAs). NMLLAs are round, nonpigmented structures with a whitish background and well-defined borders. They are associated with superficial BCC and correspond to non-pigmented tumor nests at the dermal-epidermal junction level. The article also introduces a new technology called line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), which combines the advantages of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and conventional OCT. LC-OCT allows for a precise correlation of dermoscopic criteria with skin images. The article presents a case study that demonstrates the correlation between NMLLAs seen in dermoscopy and hemispheric BCC lobules observed with LC-OCT. The use of LC-OCT may help clinicians identify NMLLAs, which can be difficult to recognize. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is most often preceded by a lesion called actinic keratosis (AK) and is largely due to ultra-violet radiation exposure. Usually, these cancers appear in areas that have been 'damaged' by the sun, otherwise known as 'cancerization fields', where sub-clinical (invisible to the naked eye), precursor (AK) and cancerous (SCC) lesions coexist. For clinicians, differentiating between the three is not always easy. To facilitate these diagnoses, we dispose now of non-invasive skin imaging techniques that are comparable to a virtual biopsy. The very recent introduction of artificial intelligence could enable us to broaden the application of these technologies when applied to cancerization fields, predicting the risk of malignant transformation of precancerous lesions, guiding treatments and better understanding the mechanisms behind. Squamous cell carcinoma and its precursor lesion actinic keratosis are often found together in areas of skin chronically exposed to sun, otherwise called cancerisation fields. The clinical assessment of cancerisation fields and the correct diagnosis of lesions within these fields is usually challenging for dermatologists. The recent adoption of skin cancer diagnostic imaging techniques, particularly LC-OCT, helps clinicians in guiding treatment decisions of cancerization fields in a non-invasive way. The combination of artificial intelligence and non-invasive skin imaging opens up many possibilities as AI can perform tasks impossible for humans in a reasonable amount of time. In this text we review past examples of the application of AI to dermatological images for actinic keratosis/squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis, and we discuss about the prospects of the application of AI for the characterization and management of cancerization fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ozonated water to reduce Salmonella and aerobic plate counts (APCs) on raw chicken wing sections. Samples were inoculated with a cocktail of five poultry-borne Salmonella strains (mean 6.3 ± 0.3 log10 CFU/ml rinsate). The chicken wing sections (51.3 ± 12.4 g) were treated with ozonated water at three concentrations (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 ppm) and three exposure times (15, 30, and 45 s) by either immersion or direct application (directly from a hose). Tap water was used as control, and the experiments were performed in triplicate with three wings per treatment. Salmonella reductions with ozonated water ranged from 0.3 ± 0.1 to 0.7 ± 0.1 log™ CFU/ml rinsate. APC reductions with ozonated water ranged from 0.3 ± 0.1 to 1.8 ± 0.7 log10 CFU/ml rinsate. Reductions were numerically higher, although not significantly, with ozonated water than with tap water. Ozone concentration had a significant effect (P = 0.003) on Salmonella reductions in immersion treatment. Although Salmonella reductions on chicken wing sections were considered marginal, future work should focus on evaluating longer exposure times and ozone concentrations on the microbiological quality of raw chicken parts, possibly as part of a multihurdle antimicrobial approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild lagomorphs including rabbits and hares can act as natural carriers or reservoirs of bacterial and parasitic zoonotic diseases. However, little is known on the epidemiology and potential public health significance of intestinal eukaryotes in wild leporids. We examined faecal samples from European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, n = 438) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis, n = 111) collected in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia in southern Spain during 2012–2021. We searched for the presence of DNA from the main intestinal protist and microsporidial pathogens of veterinary and public health concerns using molecular methods (PCR followed by Sanger and next‐generation sequencing). Giardia duodenalis was the most prevalent species found (27.8%, 153/550; 95% CI: 24.1–31.8), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (1.3%, 7/550; 95% CI: 0.5–2.6), Blastocystis sp. (1.1%, 6/550; 95% CI: 0.4–2.4) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (0.2%, 1/550; 95% CI: 0.0–10.1). All samples tested negative for Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Sequence analyses revealed the presence of sub‐assemblage BIV (n = 1) within G. duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium cuniculus (n = 6) and Cryptosporidium andersoni (n = 1) within Cryptosporidium. The presence of ruminant‐adapted C. andersoni is indicative of a potential cross‐species transmission event, although a spurious infection (mechanical carriage) cannot be ruled out. Samples assigned to C. cuniculus belonged to the gp60 subtype families Va (n = 3) and Vb (n = 2). The six Blastocystis‐positive samples were identified as ST2 (n = 3) and ST1 + ST2 (n = 3). Our molecular results suggest that wild rabbits and hares were primarily infected by leporid‐adapted species of eukaryotic pathogens. However, the occasional findings of zoonotic G. duodenalis sub‐assemblage BIV, Blastocystis sp. ST1 and ST2, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis could be of public health relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) is a new in vivo emerging technique that provides cellular resolution, allows deep imaging (400 μm) and produces real‐time images in both the horizontal and vertical plane and in three dimensions. No previous description of different subtypes of melanocytic lesions and their correlation with histopathology and reflectance confocal microscopy has been reported. Aim: To describe the features of melanocytic lesions by LC‐OCT and their correlation with histopathology and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) findings. Methods: Selected melanocytic benign lesions and melanomas were imaged in vivo with RCM and LC‐OCT at the Fundación Hospital Clinic (Barcelona, Spain). A minimum area of 4 × 4 mm (block image) at four depths (stratum granulosum, suprabasal, layer dermoepidermal junction and upper dermis) were acquired with RCM and a minimum of three cubes with LC‐OCT. Horizontal, vertical sections and three‐dimensional (3D) cubes of LC‐OCT were matched with RCM (Vivablock two‐dimensional composite mosaic) and histopathology, with ~5 μm lateral resolution accuracy (the same cell nuclei were measured in X, Y and Z) and evaluated by three observers experienced in using RCM and histopathology. Results: In total, 12 melanocytic tumours (2 in situ melanomas, 2 invasive melanomas, 4 atypical naevi, 2 intradermal naevi, 1 compound naevus and 1 junctional naevus) were included. High correlation with 5 μm accuracy between RCM and LC‐OCT was observed for each tumour. The 3D images of melanocytic lesions were obtained with cellular resolution and correlated with both RCM and histopathology, allowing an understanding of the architecture and precise correlation at the cellular level with RCM. Similarities between LC‐OCT and RCM for the described diagnostic features and architecture (nests of melanocytic cells, ringed and meshwork pattern, and cellular details of tumour cells as dendritic and pagetoid cells) were confirmed. The main advantage of diagnosis by RCM fixed probe was the ability to produce larger scans of the lesion using mosaicing compared with an LC‐OCT handheld probe. Conclusion: LC‐OCT allows the architectural and cellular description of different types of melanocytic lesions. LC‐OCT showed high correlation with histopathology (vertical sections) and RCM (horizontal sections) in melanocytic lesions. Diagnostic criteria for RCM were similar to those for LC‐OCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter (OM) accumulation is common in chill tanks used to decontaminate raw poultry parts during processing. OM negatively affects the antimicrobial activity of chlorine-based compounds, but its effect on the antimicrobial effectiveness of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) on poultry meat has not been described. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of OM on the efficacy of PAA solutions in simulated postchill tanks to reduce Salmonella artificially inoculated onto chicken parts. Chicken thighs were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of poultry-borne Salmonella enterica serovars at ca. 6 log CFU/mL. Then, the thighs were immersed for 30 or 45 s in PAA solutions (500 or 1,000 ppm) with chicken slurry to simulate OM accumulation (0, 15, or 30 g/L). The thighs were rinsed with neutralizing buffered peptone water (100 mL), and rinsates were plated onto xylose lysine desoxycholate agar. Experiments were performed in triplicate (three thighs per treatment per replicate). Chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, and pH were measured as the water quality parameters of the PAA solutions before and after use. Chemical oxygen demand ranged from 2,905 mg/L in unused 500-ppm solutions without added OM to 6,290 mg/L in used 1,000-ppm solutions with 30 g/L OM. Initial total nitrogen was 42.5 ± 2.0 and 60.9 ± 8.3 mg/L for 15 and 30 g/L OM, which increased by 27 ± 17 mg/L after use. The pH of solutions ranged from 3.16 ± 0.14 to 3.42 ± 0.09 for the 1,000-ppm solutions and from 3.59 ± 0.06 to 3.96 ± 0.06 for the 500-ppm solutions. Mean Salmonella reductions were 0.9 ± 0.1 log CFU/mL of rinsate for the 500-ppm PAA treatment and 1.1 ± 0.1 log CFU/mL of rinsate for 1,000-ppm PAA treatment. Exposure time did not have a significant effect on the logarithmic reductions. There was no significant effect of OM concentration (P > 0.05) on the reductions, indicating that the antimicrobial efficacy was not affected and that PAA solutions may continue to be reused as long as the PAA concentration is actively monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemerin is an extracellular protein with chemotactic activities and its expression is increased in various diseases such as metabolic syndrome and inflammatory conditions. Its role in lung pathology has not yet been extensively studied but both known pro- and anti-inflammatory properties have been observed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the involvement of the chemerin/ChemR23 system in the physiopathology of COVID-19 with a particular focus on its prognostic value. Methods: Blood samples from confirmed COVID-19 patients were collected at day 1, 5 and 14 from admission to Erasme Hospital (Brussels - Belgium). Chemerin concentrations and inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed in the plasma. Blood cells subtypes and their expression of ChemR23 were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of chemerin and ChemR23 was evaluated on lung tissue from autopsied COVID-19 patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: 21 healthy controls (HC) and 88 COVID-19 patients, including 40 in intensive care unit (ICU) were included. Plasma chemerin concentration were significantly higher in ICU patients than in HC at all time-points analyzed (p<0.0001). Moreover, they were higher in deceased patients compared to survivors (p<0.05). Logistic univariate regression and multivariate analysis demonstrated that chemerin level at day 14 of admission was an independent risk factor for death. Accordingly, chemerin levels correlated with inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor α. Finally, IHC analysis revealed a strong expression of ChemR23 on smooth muscle cells and chemerin on myofibroblasts in advanced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Discussion: Increased plasma chemerin levels are a marker of severity and may predict death of COVID-19 patients. However, multicentric studies are needed, before chemerin can be considered as a biomarker of severity and death used in daily clinical practice. Further studies are also necessary to identify the precise mechanisms of the chemerin/ChemR23 system in ARDS secondary to viral pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken wings are among the most popular poultry products for home and foodservice consumption. Poultry products must be handled and cooked safely to decrease the risk of foodborne salmonellosis for consumers. This study aims to validate the use of domestic appliances (convection and air fryer ovens) for the thermal inactivation of Salmonella on chicken wings. Wings (n = 3, 46.5 ± 4.3 g) were inoculated with a five‐strain cocktail of Salmonella (ca. 8 log10 CFU/wing) and cooked in a convection oven (179.4°C) or an air fryer (176, 190, or 204°C) for 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 22, or 25 min. Thermocouples recorded temperature profiles of wings and appliances. Salmonella counts were determined on XLD agar for rinsates (100 ml/sample), and rinsates were enriched to recover bacteria below the limit of quantification. The recommended internal cooking temperature (73.8°C) was achieved after a range of 7.5 to 8.5 min in both appliances. Salmonella counts were reduced by 6.5 log10 CFU/wing when this temperature was achieved. Cumulative lethality (F‐value) calculations predicted a 9‐log reduction after 7.0 to 8.1 min of cooking. However, sample enrichments tested positive for Salmonella for all cooking times below 22 min. Ultimately, cooking at the temperature–time combinations recommended by manufacturers and online recipes helped achieve complete microbial elimination in both appliances. This study contributes to the validation of home cooking methods to ensure consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 is characterized by uncontrolled hyper-inflammation in severe cases. As the IL-22/IL-22R1 axis was reported to be involved in inflammation during viral infections, we characterized the expression of IL-22 receptor1, IL-22 and IL-22 binding protein in COVID-19 patients. Blood samples were collected from 19 non-severe and 14 severe patients on the day they presented (D0), at D14, and six months later, and from 6 non-infected controls. The IL-22R1 expression was characterized by flow cytometry. Results were related to HLA-DR expression of myeloid cells, to plasma concentrations of different cytokines and chemokines and NK cells and T lymphocytes functions characterized by their IFN-γ, IL-22, IL-17A, granzyme B and perforin content. The numbers of IL-22R1+ classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes and the proportions of IL-22R1+ plasmacytoid DC (pDC), myeloid DC1 and DC2 (mDC1, mDC2) were higher in patients than controls at D0. The proportions of IL-22R1+ classical and intermediate monocytes, and pDC and mDC2 remained high for six months. High proportions of IL-22R1+ non-classical monocytes and mDC2 displayed HLA-DRhigh expression and were thus activated. Multivariate analysis for all IL-22R1+ myeloid cells discriminated the severity of the disease (AUC=0.9023). However, correlation analysis between IL-22R1+ cell subsets and plasma chemokine concentrations suggested pro-inflammatory effects of some subsets and protective effects of others. The numbers of IL-22R1+ classical monocytes and pDC were positively correlated with pro-inflammatory chemokines MCP-1 and IP-10 in severe infections, whereas IL-22R1+ intermediate monocytes were negatively correlated with IL-6, IFN-α and CRP in non-severe infections. Moreover, in the absence of in vitro stimulation, NK and CD4+ T cells produced IFN-γ and IL-22, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells produced IL-17A. CD4+ T lymphocytes also expressed IL-22R1, the density of its expression defining two different functional subsets. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by an abnormal expression of IL22R1 on blood myeloid cells and CD4+ T lymphocytes. Our results suggest that the involvement of the IL-22R1/IL-22 axis could be protective at the beginning of SARS-CoV-2 infection but could shift to a detrimental response over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal three‐dimensional (3D) topography/quantification has not been completely characterized yet. The recently developed line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) provides real‐time, high‐resolution, in‐vivo 3D imaging of the skin. This pilot study aimed at quantifying epidermal metrics (epidermal thicknesses, dermal‐epidermal junction [DEJ] undulation and keratinocyte number/shape/size) using 3D LC‐OCT. For each study participant (8 female, skin‐type‐II, younger/older volunteers), seven body sites were imaged with LC‐OCT. Epidermal metrics were calculated by segmentations and measurements assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) when appropriate. Thicknesses of epidermis/SC, DEJ undulation and keratinocyte nuclei volume varied across body sites. Evidence of keratinocyte maturation was observed in vivo: keratinocyte nuclei being small/spherical near the DEJ and flatter/elliptical near the skin surface. Skin microanatomy can be quantified by combining LC‐OCT and AI. This technology could be highly relevant to understand aging processes and conditions linked to epidermal disorders. Future clinical/research applications are to be expected in this scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry remains one of the top food commodities responsible for foodborne illness in the United States, despite poultry industry efforts since the inception of hazard analysis and critical control point to reduce the burden of foodborne illness implicating poultry products. The appropriate use of antimicrobial compounds during processing of raw poultry can help minimize this risk. Currently, peroxyacetic acid (PAA) is the most popular antimicrobial in the poultry industry, displacing chlorine compounds and others. The aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of PAA to that of other antimicrobials for the decontamination of raw poultry carcasses and parts. Twenty-six articles were found that compared PAA with over 20 different antimicrobials, applied as spray or immersion treatments for different exposure times and at different concentrations. The most common comparisons were to chlorine compounds (17 articles), to lactic acid compounds (five articles), and to cetylpyridinium chloride (six articles). Studies measured effectiveness by reductions in native flora or inoculated bacteria, usually Salmonella or Campylobacter. PAA was found to be more effective than chlorine under most conditions studied. Effectiveness of PAA was higher than or comparable to that of lactic acid compounds and cetylpyridinium chloride depending on product and treatment conditions. Overall, the results of primary literature studies support the popularity of PAA as an effective intervention against pathogenic bacteria during poultry processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry meat represents an important part of the U.S. economy and diet. However, it remains one of the food categories responsible for the most outbreak-associated foodborne illness cases. Therefore, the food safety and public health communities continue to examine appropriate antimicrobial interventions to reduce product contamination and the risk of foodborne disease. Ozone treatment has become an attractive microbial decontamination option for food products including poultry because of its antimicrobial properties and minimal effects on quality. The objective of this review is to summarize the current scientific literature on the application of ozone in chicken carcasses and parts. Fourteen primary research studies met the inclusion criteria. Ozone treatment achieved microbial population reductions of 0.2 to 0.94 log CFU/mL of rinsate, 0.08 to 1.28 log CFU/cm2 , and 0.0 to 5.3 log CFU/g for specific target microbial populations. Among the factors that influenced treatment efficacy were ozone concentration, exposure time, and the microbial population of interest. Studies indicate that ozone treatment can be optimized to extend the shelf life of poultry products without a significant effect on physicochemical and sensory qualities, which makes it a potential suitable hurdle to improve food safety. Further research is required to better understand the effect of ozone on poultryborne pathogens like Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. and to validate its application and scale-up in industrial settings. This review identifies important knowledge gaps that may guide future studies about this novel decontamination technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objetive: the purpose of this study is to analyze and interpret how a group of nurses working at a Primary Health Care Center perceives cultural diversity. This involves describing their relationship with migrants, taking into account the attitude they have and the strategies they employ when attending these patients. Methodology: qualitative design through semi-structured interviews developed in a Primary Health Care Center in Murcia (Spain). Analysis was carried out through coding, saturation and triangulation of the interviews, with the support of the data analysis software MaxQda®. Results: this group of nurses associate cultural diversity with economic migrants, and label them in different ways. Their attitude in this respect strives to give equal health care to every patient. However, the language and cultural barrier they face on a daily basis makes them disagree on the clinical practice, so they suggest strategies to overcome this issue. Final thoughts: the presence of patients from diverse cultures in health care and the importance of providing culturally consistent care are obvious facts. Language and cultural barriers, as well as social prejudices and stereotypes, represent a barrier to establish a therapeutic relationship and practice Health Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dear Editor, We read with great interest the publication of Giamarellos-Bourboulis et al.1 that discussed the anti-COVID-19 measurements for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The table recapitulates the main characteristics of the patients who developed COVID-19 disease in comparaison to the patients who did not develop COVID-19 disease. Interestingly, the majority of these COVID-19 patients were not treated with systemic therapy for HS and no specific risk factors were identified. [Extracted from the article]

Some authors have proposed that the mechanisms underlying adolescent-to-parent abuse seem to be different from other forms of juvenile delinquency. Given that this aggression is exerted within the family setting, our study was aimed to explore if there was a differ-ential family profile for those adolescents who commit a parent abuse offense compared to those who commit other types of offenses. Judicial files of 1,046 young offenders from the Juvenile Justice Service of Jaén (Spain) were examined. The final sample (654 young offenders) was divided into 2 groups: those who had committed offenses against a parent (parent abuse group) and those who had committed other types of offenses (other offenses group). Results showed that families with parent abuse have differential characteristics, especially regarding the family size, type of household, parenting styles, and the patterns of interactions between the family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a decision framework on the practice of engineering management regarding protection of product and process innovation through patents. It studies the influence that the innovation effort of a company and degree of codification of the innovations has on the propensity to patent. Additionally, we analyze how the sector that the company is engaged in and the type of innovation affect these relationships. The conclusions indicate that both the innovation effort of a company and the degree of codification of the innovations have a positive influence on this propensity, and that this influence is greater in some sectors of activity and also is greater for product and radical innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested whether Drosophila larvae can associate odours with a mechanosensory disturbance as a punishment, using substrate vibration conveyed by a loudspeaker (buzz: ). One odour (A) was presented with the buzz, while another odour (B) was presented without the buzz (A/B training). Then, animals were offered the choice between A and B. After reciprocal training (A/B), a second experimental group was tested in the same way. We found that larvae show conditioned escape from the previously punished odour. We further report an increase of associative performance scores with the number of punishments, and an increase according to the number of training cycles. Within the range tested (between 50 and 200 Hz), however, the pitch of the buzz does not apparently impact associative success. Last, but not least, we characterized odour-buzz memories with regard to the conditions under which they are behaviourally expressed - or not. In accordance with what has previously been found for associative learning between odours and bad taste (such as high concentration salt or quinine), we report that conditioned escape after odour-buzz learning is disabled if escape is not warranted, i.e. if no punishment to escape from is present during testing. Together with the already established paradigms for the association of odour and bad taste, the present assay offers the prospect of analysing how a relatively simple brain orchestrates memory and behaviour with regard to different kinds of 'bad' events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to address the issue of endpoints in paediatric oncology. Oncologists use this term to refer to an outcome they are trying to measure with a clinical trial, which may become accordingly the object of scientific articles. The outcome measured may concern both efficacy and safety, although from different perspectives. Methods: Based on both literature and experience developed in clinical trials, the different types of endpoints have been critically analysed in their power to provide the highest information of therapeutic interest (efficacy and safety) with the least risk and discomfort for the individual. Primary, secondary and surrogate endpoints have been distinguished. The most relevant differences have been discussed in comparison with adult oncology settings of endpoints. Results: The rarity of cancer in childhood and adolescence and the objective difficulty of enrolling statistically conceivable numbers of individuals have determined the utmost positive development of large scale, multinational clinical trials. The most interesting consequence is that the impact of multiplicity interferences, which is usually present in virtually all clinical trials developed for adults with cancer, is not a common event in paediatric oncology. Nevertheless, many of the questions concerning the different impact on outcome and survival of clinical trials developed in adult oncology remain unanswered due to the objective limitations still existing in terms of cure compared with paediatric oncology. The powerful consistency of cure rate, as the most relevant endpoint of clinical trials developed in paediatric oncology, addresses additional considerations to support the relevant differences existing between adult and paediatric oncology: both the development of clinical trials with different aims (confirmatory versus primary response) and the limited impact of multiplicity limitations may determine different implications regarding the meaning of endpoints in paediatric and adult oncology. Conclusion: The aim of cancer treatment is to improve survival (SUR) and quality of life (QoL), but some restraints on the conduct of clinical trials may make these goals unattainable. Clinical trial endpoints represent a measure method aimed to grant answers to questions addressed by the clinical trial itself. The effect of the new regulation is expected to stimulate high-quality research and provide robust information on paediatric drugs to increase the availability of such drugs to children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March, 2009, the report of patients with influenza by a virus with a genetic combination that had never been identified, was seen to be on the increase in Mexico. H1N1 Influenza A virus of swine origin, was a new epidemic. Three months after the epidemiologic alert declared by the Mexican government, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 6,225 confirmed cases in 73 countries. This event prompted the WHO to declare a pandemia on June 11th. We did a retrospective study of the clinical files of 36 children with a confirmed result of H1N1 influenza A from March to November 2009 at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER). The age of the patients ranged from 9 months to 14 years.16.7% of them had history of exposure to H1N1 influenza A; 33% had been vaccined against seasonal influenza for 2008 to 2009. Patients presented with cough (100%), fever (83%), respiratory distress (83%), rhinorrhea (69.5%). Relevant laboratory findings were: leukopenia (44%), lymphocytopenia (88%), monocytosis (55), elevated lactic dehydrogenase (91%); and creatininephosphokinase (56%). Three patients died. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]