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Several protein biomarkers have been shown to be useful for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in animals and people. Multiplex assays for measurement of a panel of renal biomarkers in canine samples have recently become available. This study compared the use of two such assays, versus previously validated ELISAs, to measure five biomarkers in canine samples during ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) AKI. Blood and urine was collected from six male anaesthetised greyhounds that underwent 1-h of renal ischaemia (severe hypotension induced by acute haemorrhage) and 2-h of reperfusion (intravenous fluid resuscitation). Histology confirmed presence of acute tubular injury at 2 h of reperfusion. Concentrations of clusterin, cystatin C, kidney-injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) at baseline and following IR, measured by two different multiplex assays and previously-validated single analyte immunoassays, were compared. Only NGAL was significantly elevated following IR with all assays investigated. Whether concentrations of the other four biomarkers were significantly increased following IR depended on the assay used. Concentrations of cystatin C and KIM-1 measured with the multiplex assays were of a vast magnitude lower than those measured with the corresponding single analyte ELISAs. We conclude that further validation is required before these assays can reliably be used to measure AKI biomarkers in canine samples.

Novel urinary biomarkers are increasingly utilized for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in dogs. Magnetic-bead based immunoassays for the simultaneous measurement of multiple biomarkers represent a potentially efficient and cost effective tool for investigators; however there is limited data to support their reliable use in dogs. Analytical validation of a commercial multiplex assay for the measurement of five AKI biomarkers: clusterin, cystatin C, kidney-injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in canine urine was performed. The effect of pre-analytical factors including potential interfering substances and sample storage methods were investigated. Urine from 110 healthy dogs was used to determine reference intervals for each biomarker measured, according to American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines. Additionally, urine from 21 dogs with pyuria was used to evaluate the impact of pyuria on biomarker concentration. The assay performed with acceptable accuracy and precision for the measurement of NGAL only. Clinically relevant urine concentrations of bilirubin, haemoglobin, and synthetic colloid solutions led to interference (mean percentage difference > +/− 15% compared to control) with measurement of all or some of the biomarkers. All biomarkers were stable in urine stored at 20–22 °C for 2 h, 4 °C for 12 h, or -20 °C for 6 months. Reference intervals could not be established for KIM-1 due to unacceptable measurement imprecision (intra- and inter assay coefficient of variation 45% and 20% respectively). Urine NGAL concentration was significantly elevated in pyuria (P

Interest is growing in measurement of novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Multiplex assays may provide a rapid and cost-effective way of measurement; however, sparse information is published regarding their use in dogs. We aimed to validate a commercial magnetic bead–based assay for 5 biomarkers: clusterin (Clus), cystatin C (CysC), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL). Intra- and inter-assay imprecision, linearity under dilution (LUD), spike recovery (S-R), and hemoglobin interference were evaluated using serum from healthy and diseased dogs. Additionally, the effect of sample type (serum vs. plasma) was investigated. All values for Clus and MCP-1 were outside the assay’s measurable range. Intra- and inter-assay precision were acceptable for NGAL (CVs 8.8% and 13.2%, respectively). Regression analysis of LUD and S-R indicated good linearity for CysC and NGAL. Hemolysis did not affect measurement of any biomarker. Measured concentrations of CysC ( p = 0.018) and NGAL ( p = 0.015) were significantly lower in sodium citrate plasma compared to serum. We conclude that this magnetic bead–based assay is precise and accurate for NGAL measurement in canine serum. Inappropriate standards for MCP-1 and Clus, and poor accuracy for KIM-1 measurement, suggest that this assay cannot reliably quantify those biomarkers in canine blood. Measurements of CysC in canine blood using this assay must be interpreted with caution given inter-assay imprecision.

An expeditious emergency survey. Fort San José in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia)The recent methods of survey and modeling based on digital images or laser scanner technologies, today widely tested, are an exceptional support for the rapidity of acquisition, especially in emergency situations where it is necessary to quickly acquire a documentation in order not to stay long in a place. The Fort San Jose, designed by Juan de Herrera between 1714 and 1725 and completed by Antonio de Arévalo after almost 50 years, completes the defense of navigable access to the bay of Cartagena de Indias between the island of Bocachica and Isla Bomba. Placed on an artificial island in front of the fort of S. Ferdinando it has undergone frequent flooding in recent years due to a sinking process. Studies relating to emergency expeditious surveys are limited and episodic, detailed in most cases in the archaeological field where urgent excavations must be carried out and phenomena and situations that can be lost must be recorded rapidly. The Italian Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities in 2013 prepared card systems to document the damage following natural disasters. In the case of study, modern surveying methods are used, integrating the use of laser scanner technologies for accessible areas and aerial photogrammetry for those facing the sea. The objective is to draw up an architectural survey that documents the state of consistency of the fortress that has never been detected to date and in this way initiate a monitoring of the ongoing processes. At the same time, it constitutes an indispensable cognitive support for possible activities and intervention strategies that aim to put an end to instability.

Background: In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pancreatic &beta, cell breakdown can result from a proinflammatory imbalance created by a sustained level of cytokines. In this study, we investigated the role of specific cytokines, such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF), tumor necrosis factor &alpha, (TNF-&alpha, ), and platelet-activating factor (PAF), together with methylglyoxal (MGO) and glycated albumin (GA) in pregnant women affected by GDM. Methods: We enrolled 30 women whose inflammation and metabolic markers were measured at recruitment and after 12 weeks of strict dietetic therapy. We compared these data to the data obtained from 53 randomly selected healthy nonpregnant subjects without diabetes, hyperglycemia, or any condition that can affect glycemic metabolism. Results: In pregnant women affected by GDM, PAF levels increased from 26.3 (17.4&ndash, 47.5) ng/mL to 40.1 (30.5&ndash, 80.5) ng/mL (p &lt, 0.001). Their TNF-&alpha, levels increased from 3.0 (2.8&ndash, 3.5) pg/mL to 3.4 (3.1&ndash, 5.8) pg/mL (p &lt, 0.001). The levels of methylglyoxal were significantly higher in the women with GDM (p &lt, 0.001), both at diagnosis and after 12 weeks (0.64 (0.46&ndash, 0.90) &mu, g/mL, 0.71 (0.47&ndash, 0.93) &mu, g/mL, respectively) compared to general population (0.25 (0.19&ndash, 0.28) &mu, g/mL). Levels of glycated albumin were significantly higher in women with GDM (p &lt, 0.001) only after 12 weeks from diagnosis (1.51 (0.88&ndash, 2.03) nmol/mL) compared to general population (0.95 (0.63&ndash, 1.4) nmol/mL). Conclusion: These findings support the involvement of new inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in the mechanisms related to GDM complications and prompt deeper exploration into the vicious cycle connecting inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic results.

El presente estudio está centrado en uno de los simbolos arquitectónicos más importantes de la Ciudad de Cartagena de Indias y es resultado de un proyecto de investigación 1 internacional perfeccionado en la Universidad Colombiana de la Pontificia Bolivariana sobre el Patrimonio Arquitectónico del Caribe colombiano. El casco histórico de Cartagena de Indias, declarada patrimonio de la Humanidad por lo UNESCO 2 (1984), es la suma de varios elementos distintivos que le dan la identidad a la Ciudad amurallada, como La Torre del Reloj y la Puerta principal de la muralla, sobre la que está asentada. El objetivo de esta investigación es indagar el artefacto a través de un estudio integrado donde se cruzan el levantamiento arquitectónico de la realidad existente y un estudio sobre todos sus elementos desaparecidos, o sea el análisis del conjunto de trazas superpuestas a lo largo de su historia para reinterpretarlas y quizás completar el conocimiento sobre esta arquitectura.

This paper aims at understanding the social behavior of people with dementia through the use of technology, specifically by analyzing localization data of patients of an Alzheimer’s assisted care home in Italy. The analysis will allow to promote social relations by enhancing the facility’s spaces and activities, with the ultimate objective of improving residents’ quality of life. To assess social wellness and evaluate the effectiveness of the village areas and activities, this work introduces measures of sociability for both residents and places. Our data analysis is based on classical statistical methods and innovative machine learning techniques. First, we analyze the correlation between relational indicators and factors such as the outdoor temperature and the patients’ movements inside the facility. Then, we use statistical and accessibility analyses to determine the spaces residents appreciate the most and those in need of enhancements. We observe that patients’ sociability is strongly related to the considered factors. From our analysis, outdoor areas result less frequented and need spatial redesign to promote accessibility and attendance among patients. The data awareness obtained from our analysis will also be of great help to caregivers, doctors, and psychologists to enhance assisted care home social activities, adjust patient-specific treatments, and deepen the comprehension of the disease.

Hepcidins are an evolutionarily conserved class of liver-expressed peptide, from which the twenty-five amino acid hormone, hepcidin-25 (herein hepcidin), has gained significant notoriety as the master regulator of iron homeostasis in mammals. Hepcidin maintains iron homeostasis by controlling the dietary absorption of iron and the mechanisms of recycling cellular iron stores. With the physiological significance of this hormone well established, it has emerged as an informative biomarker. In a comparison of the genome, transcriptome and peptidome of Canis lupis familiaris, we reveal the size of the hepcidin peptide in the canine, previous reports of which were contradictory to the evolutionary conservation predicted by genome annotation. Here, measurement of the peptide by mass spectrometry, following isolation from greyhound blood serum, revealed an amino acid sequence and peptide mass, differing from all accounts to date, yet demonstrating perfect sequence identity to that of the greater Canidae lineage of the Carnivora. Importantly, in the greyhound, the measured hepcidin peptide showed a similar temporal pattern to total serum iron, consistent with our understanding of hepcidin regulating iron homeostasis, in agreement with human diagnostics, and providing added translational evidence of the measured peptide being the iron regulatory hormone of the Canidae.

Background: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is a syndrome recognizing several causes, and in some cases the treatment with Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) may be successful, especially when karyotype of the previous miscarriage showed no embryo chromosomal abnormalities. In order to evaluate the effects of G-CSF treatment on the decidual and trophoblast expression of G-CSF and its receptor, VEGF and its receptor and Foxp3, specific marker of putative Tregs we conducted an immunohistochemical study. Methods: This study was conducted on three groups of patients for a total of 38 women: in 8 cases decidual and trophoblast tissue were obtained from 8 women with unexplained RPL treated with G-CSF that miscarried despite treatment, in 15 cases the tissue were obtained from 15 women with unexplained RPL no treated, 15 cases of women who underwent voluntary pregnancy termination were used as controls. Tissue collected from these patients were used for immunohistochemistry studies testing the expression of G-CSF, G-CSFR, VEGF, VEGFR-1 and Foxp3. Results: G-CSF treatment increased the concentration of cells expressing Foxp3, specific marker for Tregs, in the decidua, whereas in no treated RPL a reduction of these cells was found when compared to controls. Furthermore, G-CSF treatment increased the expression of G-CSF and VEGF in the trophoblast. Conclusions: Our study showed that G-CSF treatment increased the number of decidual Treg cells in RPL patients as well as the expression of G-CSF and VEGF in villus trophoblast. These finding may explain the effectiveness of this treatment in RPL, probably regulating the maternal immune response through Tregs recruitment in the decidua, as well as stimulating trophoblast growth.

Background: High molecular weight (MW) synthetic colloids interfere with refractometry. The effect of low MW synthetic colloids on refractometry is unknown. Objectives: To investigate the effect of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES) and 4% succinylated gelatin (GELO) on the refractometric measurement of total plasma protein (TPP) and colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in canine plasma. Methods: Heparinized plasma from 10 dogs was diluted with 0.9% saline (NaCl), HES, and GELO in ratios of plasma:fluid, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, and 5:5. The biuret TPP (TPPb), refractometric TPP (TPPr), and COP assays were performed for all dilutions. Agreement (bias, 95% limits of agreement (LOA)) was tested between the TPPb (NaCl) and the TPPr of the NaCl, HES, and GELO plasma dilutions, and between the TPPb (NaCl) and the TPPb of the HES and GELO plasma dilutions. Results: A small bias (0.06 g/dL, 95% LOA −0.51 to 0.39 g/dL) existed between TPPb (NaCl) and TPPr (NaCl). A large bias was found between TPPb (NaCl) and TPPr (HES) (1.38 g/dL, 95% LOA 0.30 to 3.10 g/dL), and TPPr (GELO) (1.18 g/dL, 95% LOA 0.53 to 2.88 g/dL). A small bias was found between TPPb (NaCl) and TPPb (HES) (0.08 g/dL, 95% LOA −2.04 to 2.20 g/dL), and a large bias was found between TPPb (NaCl) and TPPb (GELO) (1.00 g/dL, 95% LOA −0.59 to 2.60 g/dL). Increasing overestimation of TPPb (NaCl) by TPPr (HES and GELO) and TPPb (GELO) occurred with increasing colloid volumes. Conclusions: HES and GELO interfered with TPPr, and GELO also interfered with TPPb, in vitro. These variables should be interpreted with caution for dogs that have received these synthetic colloids.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is characterised by the presence of systemic inflammation accompanied by oxidative stress. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a negative acute phase reactant produced by the liver. A paraoxon-based method has been validated to measure PON-1 activity in feline serum. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of PON-1 activity as a biomarker to discriminate FIP from other diseases with similar clinical signs. Of 159 cats enrolled, 71 were healthy, 34 had FIP and 54 had another disease but presented with clinical signs that could be consistent with FIP. PON-1 activity was lower (P

The aim of this work is to design a robotic bioprinting platform able to fabricate a three-dimensional structure onto irregular surfaces. With respect to the limitations of current in vitro bioprinting approach, widely used in scaffold-based tissue engineering – handling difficulty, risk of contamination, shape not matching with the defect site – this robotic bioprinter can offer an innovative solution allowing in situ bioprinting, a direct dispensing of biological materials onto and into the damaged site. The robotic platform was developed starting from the 5 degrees-of-freedom open source MOVEO robot from BCN3D. The hardware and the software of the original project were re-engineered to control the robot using LinuxCNC, a path planning algorithm was developed in Matlab®, and the end-effector was equipped with a pneumatic extruder. The algorithm automatically projects any generic printing pattern on the surface on which the scaffold will be 3D bioprinted. For each point, the algorithm calculates the joint angles to keep the end effector always perpendicular to the surface. A g-code file is then exported to Linux CNC adding parameters to control the air pressure and the printing speed. The robotic platform was tested to evaluate its performances. Resolution (~200 ​μm) and repeatability were estimated and preliminary in situ bioprinting tests were performed onto different irregular surfaces, including a physiologically relevant bone model.

We identified the wood of the sticks of eight bows in the historical collection of musical instruments in the Galleria dell’ Accademia in Florence. Wood identification was carried out non-invasively (i.e., without sampling wood from the original objects), because the removal of samples from fine musical instruments will affect their aesthetic integrity and/or functional quality. Identification attempts using reflected light microscopy of wood surfaces, gave only partial results due to the poor quality of the surfaces and the particular geometry of the sticks that does not have any transverse surface. Application of Synchrotron light X-ray microtomography (µCT) in phase-contrast mode to the whole sticks allowed us to obtain stacks of transverse-sectional images that, processed as virtual volumes, revealed several anatomical features. With µCT it was possible to identify three bows as Brosimum guianense (Moraceae), one bow as Caesalpinia echinata (Caesalpiniaceae), and four bows as Manilkara sp. (Sapotaceae).

The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) is the peripheral receptor for cannabinoids, involved in the homeostatic control of several physiological functions. Male mitotic germ cells express a high level of CB2, whose activation promotes their differentiation in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, controlling the correct progression of spermatogenesis. However, it remains elusive if CB2 activation in spermatogonia could affect reproductive success in terms of fertility and healthy pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we explored the effects of male CB2 activation on sperm number and quality and its influence on next generation health. We show that exposure of male mice to JWH-133, a selective CB2 agonist, decreased sperm count, impaired placental development and reduced offspring growth. These defects were associated with altered DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation levels at imprinted genes in sperm and conserved in placenta. Our findings reveal that paternal selective activation of CB2 alters the sperm epigenome and compromises offspring growth. This study demonstrates, for the first time, a new role of CB2 signaling in male gametes in causing epigenetic alterations that can be transmitted to the next generation by sperm, highlighting potential risks induced by recreational cannabinoid exposure.

Aneurysms and dissections affecting thoracic aorta are associated with smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction. NO/cGMP signaling pathway in smooth muscle cells has been shown to be affected in sporadic thoracic aortic aneurysms. We analyzed the mRNA levels of PDE5, a cGMP-hydrolyzing enzyme highly expressed in aortic SMCs, that regulates arterious vascular tone by lowering cGMP levels. We found that aortic tissue obtained from Marfan, tricuspid and bicuspid thoracic aneurysms expressed lower levels of PDE5 mRNA compared to control aortas. In particular, we found that affected aortas showed lower levels of all the PDE5A isoforms, compared to control aortas. Transfection of vascular SMCs (VSMCs) with NOTCH3 activated domain (NICD3) induced the expression of PDE5A1 and A3 protein isoforms, but not that of the corresponding mRNAs. VSMC stimulation with GSNO, a nitric oxide analogue or with 8-br-cGMP, but not with 8-br-cAMP, up-regulated PDE5 and NOTCH-3 protein levels, indicating a negative feedback loop to protect the arterial wall from excessive relaxation. Finally, we found that PDE5 is expressed early during human aorta development, suggesting that if loss of function mutations of PDE5 occur, they might potentially affect aortic wall development.

The object of this study is a group of architectural perspectives painted on the domes and walls of noble palaces in Apulia, in particular that the baronial palace in Botrugno, the Broquier palace in Trani, and the Manes palace in Bisceglie. The perspectives belong to the “Quadratura” genre that developed in Italy and Europe in the Baroque period, but the architectural solutions represented are specific of the Apulian regional context, of Neapolitan derivation, rather than linked to the noble models of the Emilian and Roman master experiences. These architectural perspectives can be considered belonging to that “immaterial cultural heritage,” as defined by the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 2003, if we consider the cultural significance of these painting representations—as previously mentioned—for their relationship with the 16th-17th century painting season of “Quadratura,” for the massive production of treatises on perspective, as well as for the Baroque experiences and for the tradition in the use of “Festa” ephemeral architectures.

Background Synthetic colloid solutions, administered by rapid infusion to volume‐depleted dogs, might be present in high concentrations in subsequent urine samples. The potential for these solutions to affect the performance of ELISA measurements due to sample matrix effects when studying kidney injury biomarkers requires investigation. Objective We aimed to investigate two different synthetic colloid solutions, 4% succinylated bovine gelatin (GEL) and 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES), for potential interferences with a commercially available canine neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) ELISA. Methods Assay interference was assessed by measuring the linearity of NGAL concentrations measured using a canine NGAL ELISA after serial dilution of a canine pooled urine sample with an assay diluent, GEL, or HES. Results NGAL recovery from urine specimens containing up to 75% HES and up to 62.5% GEL was within acceptable limits (80%‐120%). NGAL recovery from the urine specimen containing 75% GEL was poor (76%). Linear regression analysis demonstrated excellent linearity under dilution when a canine urine sample was diluted with the assay diluent, GEL, or HES. Conclusions The presence of large amounts (>62.5%) of GEL in canine urine samples could cause negative interference in the performance of the NGAL ELISA investigated.

A 13-year-old female Domestic Shorthair cat was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Milan for an interscapular mass suspected to be a mesenchymal malignant tumor. A preoperative CBC performed with Sysmex XT-2000iV showed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and eosinophilia. The Sysmex WBC/DIFF scattergram showed an additional, well-separated cluster of events between the neutrophil, eosinophil, and lymphocyte clusters. Blood smear evaluation revealed the presence of a significant number of basophils; thus, it was hypothesized that the additional cluster could represent the basophilic population. A second CBC, 24 days later, showed the same pattern on the WBC/DIFF scattergram in the absence of leukocytosis and neutrophilia. After surgical excision of the mass, a definitive diagnosis of feline injection site sarcoma was made. To the author's knowledge, there are no previous reports about the identification of feline basophils in the WBC/DIFF scattergram of Sysmex XT-2000iV.

International audience; Background:In the frame of elimination strategies of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), active case detection has been recommended as complementary approach to the existing passive case detection programs. We trialed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based active detection strategy targeting asymptomatic individuals, named proactive case detection (PACD), with the aim of assessing its feasibility, the extra yield of Pf infections, and the at-risk population for Pf carriage status.Methods:A pilot of PACD was conducted in 3 villages in Chey Saen district (Preah Vihear province, Cambodia), from December 2015 to March 2016. Voluntary screening and treatment, following health promotion sensitization, was used as mobilization strategy.Results:A total of 2802 persons were tested, representing 54% of the population. PACD (n = 30) and the respective reactive case detection (RACD) (n = 3) identified 33 Pf carriers, approximately twice as many as the Pf infections (n = 17) diagnosed in passive case detection and respective RACD, by health centers and village malaria workers using PCR, in the same villages/period. Final positivity rate was 1.07% (30/2802). People spending nighttime in forests and plantations were found to be at increased risk for Pf infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.4 [95% CI, 1.6-7.2], P = .002 and OR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.1-4.9], P = .03, respectively).Conclusions:We demonstrated the usefulness of the PACD component in identifying Pf asymptomatic carriers. Social mobilization and promotion led to good attendance of specific risk groups, identified to be, in the Cambodian context, individuals spending nighttime in forest and plantations.

International audience

Background The ΔWBC (the ratio between DIFF and BASO counts of the Sysmex XT‐2000iV), hereafter defined as ΔTNC (total nucleated cells), is high in effusions due to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), as cells are entrapped in fibrin clots formed in the BASO reagent. Similar clots form in the Rivalta's test, a method with high diagnostic accuracy for FIP. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy for FIP and the optimal cutoff of ΔTNC. Methods After a retrospective search of our database, DIFF and BASO counts, and the ΔTNC from cats with and without FIP were compared to each other. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+, LR−) were calculated. A ROC curve was designed to determine the cutoff for best sensitivity and specificity. Results Effusions from 20 FIP and 31 non‐FIP cats were analyzed. The ΔTNC was higher (P 2.5 had 100% specificity. Conclusions The ΔTNC has a high diagnostic accuracy for FIP‐related effusions by providing an estimate of precipitable proteins, as the Rivalta's test, in addition to the cell count. As fibrin clots result in false lower BASO counts, the ΔTNC is preferable to the WBC count generated by the BASO channel alone in suspected FIP effusions.

Quantification of proteinuria is a fundamental step in staging dogs with chronic kidney disease and in monitoring the course of disease or the efficacy of anti-proteinuric treatments. Analytical precision and accuracy of the proteinuria assessment could be affected by several factors such as biological variability, different operators and quality control materials. The aim of this study was to assess whether inter-laboratory variability could affect the urinary protein to creatinine (UPC) ratio and whether this variability may affect patient classification according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) sub-staging system. The same urine samples were analysed in three different laboratories using different instruments and different reagent brands. The results of the three laboratories were highly correlated to each other although urinary protein (UP), urinary creatinine (UC) and the UPC ratio of one laboratory were found to be significantly higher than those of the other two. No significant differences between the other two laboratories were recorded. The concordance in classifying dogs according to the IRIS guidelines was good if all three proteinuria categories were analysed separately or if borderline proteinuric (BP) dogs were included in the proteinuric group, and very good if BP dogs were merged into the non-proteinuric group. The inter-laboratory variability in UPC ratio measurement was not so great as to impede the identification of proteinuric dogs, but may influence the estimation of the magnitude of proteinuria.

Background: Proteinuria quantification with the urinary protein-to-creatinine (UPC) ratio is part of the diagnostic process in feline patients suspected of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In affected cats, monitoring and substaging of the UPC according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines is also necessary for appropriate patient management. No information is available about the possible effects of analytical variability on urinary proteins (UPs) and the UPC ratio in cats. Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether imprecision and method-dependent differences due to the two dye-binding methods, pyrogallol red-molybdate (PRM) and Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB), could affect IRIS substaging. Methods: Urine samples were collected from proteinuric and nonproteinuric cats. Intra-assay and inter-assay repeatability were assessed with both the PRM and CBB methods. Urinary supernatants (n = 120) were tested using both methods. Agreement between the methods and concordance with sample classification according to IRIS guidelines were determined. Results: On average, the PRM method yielded a higher CV (UP 8.4 ± 5.2%; UPC 9.5 ± 4.8%) than the CBB method (UP 5.6 ± 2.6%; UPC 7.2 ± 2.6%), but similar rates of misclassification were found in samples with UPC ratios close to the IRIS cut-off. Although the two methods were correlated, the CBB method tended to yield UPs and UPC ratios that were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than that of the PRM method. The Passing-Bablok test also found constant and proportional errors between the PRM and CBB methods. Concordance in substaging samples according to IRIS was good (k coefficient = 0.62). Conclusions: The two methods were precise, but the higher UPC ratios obtained with the CBB methods might affect the interpretation using the IRIS guidelines and clinical decisions.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Objectives Disaster medicine research generally lacks control groups. This study aims to describe categories of diagnoses encountered by the Belgian First Aid and Support Team after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and extract earthquake-related changes from comparison with comparable baseline data. The hypothesis is that besides earthquake-related trauma, medical problems emerge soon, questioning an appropriate composition of Foreign Medical Teams and Interagency Emergency Health Kits. Methods Using a descriptive cohort study design, diagnoses of patients presenting to the Belgian field hospital were prospectively registered during 4 weeks after the earthquake and compared with those recorded similarly by Médecins Sans Frontières in the same area and time span in previous and later years. Results Of 7000 triaged postearthquake patients, 3500 were admitted, of whom 2795 were included and analysed. In the fortnight after the earthquake, 90% suffered from injury. In the following fortnight, medical diseases emerged, particularly respiratory (23%) and digestive (14%). More than 53% developed infections within 3 weeks after the event. Médecins Sans Frontières registered 6407 patients in 2009; 6033 in 2011; and 7300 in 2012. A comparison indicates that postearthquake patients suffered significantly less from violence, but more from wounds, respiratory, digestive and ophthalmological diseases. Conclusion This is the first comparison of postearthquake diagnoses with baseline data. Within 2 weeks after the acute phase of an earthquake, respiratory, digestive and ophthalmological problems will emerge to the prejudice of trauma. This fact should be anticipated when composing Foreign Medical Teams and Interagency Emergency Health Kits to be sent to the disaster site.

Background Pro-active case detection (Pro-ACD), in the form of voluntary screening and treatment (VSAT) following community mobilisation about ‘asymptomatic malaria’, is currently being evaluated as a tool for Plasmodium falciparum elimination in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. Methods A qualitative study was conducted to explore community understanding, perceptions, expectations and acceptability of the Pro-ACD intervention in order to identify aspects that could be improved in future Pro-ACD activities. This was ancillary to a three-round VSAT campaign, carried out in three villages between December 2015 and March 2016. Qualitative data collection began shortly after the end of the three rounds of screening. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Nine focus group discussions with participants (n = 46) and non-participants (n = 40) in the Pro-ACD screening were conducted, in addition to in-depth interviews with key village figures (n = 9). Results Health promotion messages were well delivered and received, but it was difficult for many villagers to understand the messages around ‘asymptomatic malaria’. Overall, villagers and village leaders had a positive opinion about the VSAT intervention. Acceptability was high, as a direct consequence of favourable perceptions towards the screening activity: the Pro-ACD intervention was seen by the local population as an effective, inexpensive, reliable and readily available tool to protect individuals and the community from the insurgence of malaria. Physical absence and lack of time (both linked to work-related activities) were the main reasons for non-participation. Conclusions Although VSAT was generally well perceived and accepted, the ‘time factor’ related to the need to satisfy essential daily subsistence requirements played a significant role in determining participation in the screening. More well-adapted and meaningful Pro-ACD approaches could be implemented by improving the timing of the testing activites, and strengthening community participation and engagement to increase acceptability.

The following contribute presents an experience of the photo-modeling of stone decorative systems, conducted as part of a restoration site in progress, with the purpose of documenting the conditions of the site as it was before the intervention of restorers. Within the Ospedale dello Spirito Santo, built on the basis of Gian Giacomo degli Acaya’s design, the annexed church has been repeatedly whitened with limewash for hygienic reasons, so the seventeenth decorative system, attributed to Zimbalo, has been covered. The survey performed with newer techniques of Structure from Motion gives back an orthographic scale representation of decorative system and supplements the traditional photographic documentation with an always available tridimensional model. The new tools available offer new perspective to the classical photogrammetry, furthermore the semi-automatic processes and the low costs open new sceneries that are now object of a renewed interest.

International audience; Reactive case detection around falciparum malaria cases in Cambodia presents a low output. We improved it by including individuals occupationally coexposed with index case patients and using polymerase chain reaction-based diagnosis. The positivity rate increased from 0.16% to 3.9%.

Type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) has been proposed to promote in vitro meiotic entry of postnatal male germ cells and to maintain the temporal progression of spermatogenesis in vivo. However, no information is presently available on the role played by CB2R in male and female fetal gonads. Here we show that in vitro pharmacological stimulation with JWH133, a CB2R agonist, induced activation of the meiotic program in both male and female fetal gonads. Upon stimulation, gonocytes initiated the meiotic program but became arrested at early stages of prophase I, while oocytes showed an increased rate of meiotic entry and progression toward more advanced stage of meiosis. Acceleration of meiosis in oocytes was accompanied by a strong increase in the percentage of γ-H2AX-positive pachytene and diplotene cells, paralleled by an increase of TUNEL-positive cells, suggesting that DNA double-strand breaks were not correctly repaired during meiosis, leading to oocyte apoptosis. Interestingly, in vivo pharmacological stimulation of CB2R in fetal germ cells through JWH133 administration to pregnant females caused a significant reduction of primordial and primary follicles in the ovaries of newborns with a consequent depletion of ovarian reserve and reduced fertility in adult life, while no alterations of spermatogenesis in the testis of the offspring were detected. Altogether our findings highlight a pro-meiotic role of CB2R in male and female germ cells and suggest that the use of cannabis in pregnant female might represent a risk for fertility and reproductive lifespan in female offspring.

Nella relazione si ricavano le curve di possibilità pluviometrica, relative ad archi temporali di 1,3,6,12,24 ore, tramite i dati raccolti presso la stazione meteorologica situata nella località Laste (TN).

A striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) calf stranded alive because of a Salter-Harris fracture type 1 of a caudal vertebra and remained in a provisional rehabilitation facility for 3 days where the fracture stabilization was attempted, but he died the day after bandaging. Serum and urine samples were collected during hospitalization (days 1, 2 and 3 serum and day 2 urine). Serum analysis showed increased urea, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and serum amyloid A values, while creatinine was below the lower limit. Urine analysis showed urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of 5.3 with glomerular proteinuria. Postmortem analyses demonstrated a severe rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuric nephrosis, suggestive of capture myopathy syndrome. We report, for the first time, the clinico-pathological changes during this condition in a striped dolphin.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by the growth of endometrial epithelial and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. In addition to Sampson's theory of retrograde menstruation, endometriosis pathogenesis is facilitated by a privileged inflammatory microenvironment, with T regulatory FoxP3+ expressing T cells (Tregs) being a significant factor. PreImplantation Factor (PIF) is a peptide essential for pregnancy recognition and development. An immune modulatory function of the synthetic PIF analog (sPIF) has been successfully confirmed in multiple animal models. We report that PIF is expressed in the epithelial ectopic cells in close proximity to FoxP3+ stromal cells. We provide evidence that PIF interacts with FoxP3+ cells and modulates cell viability, dependent on cell source and presence of inflammatory mediators. Our finding represent a novel PIF-based mechanism in endometriosis that has potential for novel therapeutics.

It has been stated that the conservation and use of\ud historic woodwind instruments is problematic\ud because they are in very different states of\ud preservation, and they are made from a wide variety\ud of materials. Furthermore, their method of playing\ud incurs rapid changes of temperature and relative\ud humidity, the results of which can be catastrophic.\ud This unpredictable behaviour makes clear\ud guidelines for using early woodwinds impossible to\ud establish (Barclay 1997). This level of uncertainty\ud in the development of damages has led to the\ud widespread assumption that woodwind instruments\ud in public collections should not generally be played\ud under any circumstance. On the other hand\ud instruments in private collections have been\ud extensively used by musicians without evident\ud damages being noted, and many of the damages\ud that are found on historical instruments are not\ud apparently related to playing. The paper presents\ud research in progress which at this stage has\ud concentrated on clarinets.

Highlights • Holy Birman cats (HB) seem to be predisposed to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). • In this study, indicators of innate and specific immunity were assessed in HB cats. • CD4/CD8, IFN-γ, IL12/IL4 were higher and IL-4 was lower in HB than in other breeds. • The rate of shedders, but not of seropositivity, was lower in HB than in other cats. • Th1 immunity seems to be stronger in HB. This may reduce the rate of shedders., The aim of this study was to assess whether Holy Birman cats (HB) have a peculiar immune profile and a higher rate of infection by feline coronaviruses (FCoV). Leucocyte and lymphocyte subsets, antibody titers, α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), globulin fractions, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ in blood and fecal FCoV excretion were determined in HB (n = 75) and in cats from other breeds (n = 94). Significantly higher CD4/CD8 ratio, IFN-γ concentration and IL12/IL4 ratio and significantly lower IL-4 concentration and proportion of shedders were found in HB than in other breeds. No other differences were found. In conclusion, this study did not provide evidence of peculiar immune profiles in HB, except for a prevalent Th1 profile, that may explain why in our caseload the rate of shedders was lower in HB than in other breeds.

This study was designed to determine if the activity of paraoxonase (PON1), an antioxidant enzyme that works as a negative acute phase reactant, is a better predictor for the clinical recovery of leishmaniotic dogs receiving standard treatments compared with inflammatory markers such as C reactive protein (CRP) and electrophoretic fractions. For this purpose we tested 20 healthy dogs (controls) and 39 leishmaniotic dogs classified as sick (group A, n=23) or severely sick (group B, n=16) and tested at admission and after 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days. At admission, CRP and electrophoresis were altered in both groups, while PON1 activity was abnormal only in group B. There were no differences related to the outcome (mortality, complications or time of recovery). PON1 activity normalized in about 2 weeks in dogs that had abnormal values at admission and a final positive outcome; CRP normalized in 4-6 weeks and electrophoretic fractions were still altered after 6 weeks. The results show that, at admission, inflammatory markers did not predict the outcome of leishmaniasis. PON1 activity decreased only in some dogs with systemic inflammation but not in those with mild leishmaniasis: when decreased, PON1 normalized earlier than other markers in dogs that responded to treatment. This finding most likely depends on the rapid decrease in oxidative phenomena. PON1 activity should therefore be tested on admission: if low values are recorded, severe inflammation may be suspected and PON1 measurement may be repeated during treatment to early identify responsive dogs.

“There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”, said the title of Richard Feynman’s 1959 seminal conference at the California Institute of Technology. Fifty years on, nanotechnologies have led computer scientists to pay close attention to the links between physical reality and information processing. Not all the physical requirements of optimal computation are captured by traditional models—one still largely missing is reversibility. The dynamic laws of physics are reversible at microphysical level, distinct initial states of a system leading to distinct final states. On the other hand, as von Neumann already conjectured, irreversible information processing is expensive: to erase a single bit of information costs ~3 × 10−21 joules at room temperature. Information entropy is a thermodynamic cost, to be paid in non-computational energy dissipation. This paper addresses the problem drawing on Edward Fredkin’s Finite Nature hypothesis: the ultimate nature of the universe is discrete and finite, satisfying the axioms of classical, atomistic mereology. The chosen model is a cellular automaton (CA) with reversible dynamics, capable of retaining memory of the information present at the beginning of the universe. Such a CA can implement the Boolean logical operations and the other building bricks of computation: it can develop and host all-purpose computers. The model is a candidate for the realization of computational systems, capable of exploiting the resources of the physical world in an efficient way, for they can host logical circuits with negligible internal energy dissipation.

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major cause of male infertility. The sperm plasma membrane is vulnerable to oxidative stress being rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Equine spermatozoa appear relatively more resistant to membrane peroxidation than sperm of other domestic animals; however, cryopreservation increases susceptibility to lipid peroxidation [1]. The effects of oxidative stress are particularly important during sperm storage, and damage is further increased when sperm are separated from the seminal plasma, which contains much of the antioxidant capacity...

The serum concentration of high density lipoproteins (HDLs) is affected by oxidative phenomena that characterize inflammation. The aims of this study were to assess the concentration of HDLs in dogs with leishmaniasis, and to investigate the correlation between HDL, C-reactive protein (CRP), globulin fractions, and activity of the antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase (PON1). The serum concentration of HDLs was also measured during treatment to assess whether it may be a good marker to monitor response to therapy. HDLs were measured in serum from 10 leishmaniotic dogs (7 classified as sick and 3 as severely sick according to the staging system of the Canine Leishmaniasis Working Group), at admission and during the follow up (3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the beginning of treatment with antimonials and allopurinol). Concentrations of total cholesterol, PON1, CRP and globulin fractions were also measured. At admission, the concentration of HDLs did not differ between sick and severely sick dogs. The correlation between HDL, PON1, CRP, and globulin fractions was assessed on the whole set of data. There was a negative correlation (P < .05, r = -0.42) between total cholesterol and c-globulins, and positive correlations between HDL and PON1 (P = .002; r = 0.55), and HDLs and A/G ratio (P = .019, r = 0.44). There was a negative correlation between HDLs and CRP (r = -0.37, P =,058). HDLs increased in sequential samples collected during the follow up after 14 and 28 days (P = .033 and P = .024). These results support an influence of c-globulins on lipid metabolism as reported in people, and suggest that inflammation is associated with a decreased HDLs concentration, likely due to the oxidative phenomena that decrease PON1 activity. Moreover, these results suggest that HDLs may be useful to assess decreased oxidation/inflammation after successful treatments. In conclusion, HDLs may serve as an additional inflammation and oxidation marker, including dogs with leishmaniasis.

[EN] The term “dry stone architecture” refers to special building solutions that not only do not use any binding materials but also indicates special and very common buildings with specific technological/constructional and geometrical characteristics. These structures were built due to particular socio-economic and geological/farming conditions.These structures belong in the great category of minor architectures, also defined as spontaneous, popular, vernacular, indigenous and rural in order to distinguish them from major architecture; in other words an architecture without architects (Rudofsky 1964, [ES] El término de arquitectura de “piedra seca” no solo se refiere a las soluciones constructivas privadas de material aglutinante, sino también a artefactos particulares y comunes al mismo tiempo, con rasgos tecnológico-constructivos y geométrico-formales específicos derivados de condiciones económico-sociales y geológico-agrícolas particulares. Estos artefactos entran dentro de la gran categoría de las arquitecturas menores, también conocidas como espontáneas, populares, vernáculas, indígenas o rurales para distinguirlas de la arquitectura mayor, es decir, la arquitectura sin arquitectos (Rudofsky 1964).