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Bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis are endemic in many areas worldwide. This work aims to study cytokines production and gene expression profiles of bovine macrophages infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis subsp. avium (MAP) strains to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers. Bovine bone marrow stem cells were differentiated into macrophages and subsequently infected in vitro with different spoligotypes of M. bovis and MAP field strains (as single infections and coinfections), using different multiplicity of infection. Supernatant and cell pellets were collected 24 h, 48 h, and one week post-infection. Preliminarily, gene expression on cell pellets of IL-1β, IL-2, INFγ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and TNFα was assessed by qRT-PCR one week p.i. Subsequently, IL-1β and IL-6 were measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR to investigated their production retrospectively 24 h and 48 h p.i. A variability in macrophages response related to the concentration of mycobacteria, the coinfection with MAP, and M. bovis spoligotypes was identified. An early and constant IL-6 increase was observed in the M. bovis infection. A lower increase in IL-1β was also detected at the highest concentration of the two M. bovis spoligotypes one week post-infection. IL-6 and IL-1 β production was reduced and differently expressed in the MAP infection. IL-6 appeared to be the earliest cytokines produced by bovine macrophages infected with M. bovis.

In this study, we investigate the role of microwave cooking in reducing mycotoxin contamination in plant-based food matrices, with a focus on veggie burgers (purchased and home-made) and their ingredients (soybean, potatoes, zucchini, carrots). Two different conditions were studied (Max–Min) that were 800 W for 60 s and 800 W for 90 s, respectively. The degradation patterns of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), trichothecenes (T2, HT2, ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA) were studied. The extraction procedures were conducted with the QuEChERS extraction, and the analyses were conducted with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that degradation under microwave cooking varies considerably across different food matrices and cooking conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the degradation of mycotoxins during microwave cooking and underscores the need for more research in this area to ensure food safety.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors tocilizumab and sarilumab have recently been approved for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They also affect mood, even though their effect on the post-COVID-19 syndrome-related psychopathology still has to be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate their effect on psychopathology in a sample of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. We included 246 patients (34% female, 66% male) aged 18–75 years who had been hospitalized for COVID. Patients were split into those who received anti-IL-6 receptor agents (Anti-IL-6-R, N = 88) and those who did not (Ctrl, N = 158). The former group was further split into those receiving tocilizumab (TOC, N = 67) and those receiving sarilumab (SAR, N = 21). Groups were compared based on clinical characteristics before and during COVID-19 as well as on physical and psychiatric symptoms after COVID-19. Ctrl had less psychiatric and physical symptoms during hospitalization and more post-COVID-19 diarrhea, headache, cough, and dyspnea upon exertion than those receiving IL-6-receptor inhibitors. Ctrl also showed greater difficulties in emotion regulation. These differences were driven by TOC vs. Ctrl, whereas differences between SAR and Ctrl or TOC did not reach significance. IL-6 receptor inhibitors are related to a lower post-COVID-19 illness burden and seem to be effective in emotion regulation. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Recently, the African swine fever (ASF) epizootic has been reported in domestic pigs and wild boars in several European Union Member States (EU MS) and epidemiological evidence has accumulated which indicates that wild boar play a key role in maintaining and spreading the disease. Thanks to the experience gained when managing ASF outbreaks in Sardinia (Italy) and Eastern Europe, Directive 2002/60 CE was issued. This directive represented an important step forward in controlling the disease, particularly the risk of spreading the virus to wild animals. Since 2021, according to Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which is also called “Animal Health Law—AHL”, when the MS competent authority suspects or confirms ASF (a cat. A listed disease) in wild animals, it is mandatory to conduct surveillance in the wild boar population and implement the necessary control measures. Within AHL, Regulations (EU) 2020/687 and 2023/594 established special ASF control measures in kept and wild porcine animals, and their products and by-products, focusing on and underlying old and new responsibilities that vets (both public and private ones) have to accomplish under the new regulations. The new change in the legal framework deals with specific measures to be applied in the wild and represents a great challenge for MS veterinary services. Some of these measures have been well established in the last two decades, particularly those related to application in the farming system, while other measures are still new to veterinary health management and require a holistic approach in terms of intensity, considering all geographical, ecological, productive, cultural and social features of the involved EU MS. In this contribution, the authors intend to focus on specific measures which have been issued in order to limit or stop the spread of ASF in a wild, “boundless” ecosystem. These measures expand the field of competence of the official veterinary service to wild areas in addition to farm activity.

The thermodynamics of block copolymer/salt mixtures were quantified through the application of Leibler's random phase approximation to disordered small-Angle X-ray scattering profiles. The experimental system is comprised of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) mixed with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (LiTFSI), SEO/LiTFSI. The Flory-Huggins interaction parameter determined from scattering experiments, χSC, was found to be a function of block copolymer composition, chain length, and temperature for both salt-free and salty systems. In the absence of salt, χ0,SC is a linear function of (NfEO)-1 in the presence of salt, a linear approximation is used to describe the effect of salt on χeff,SC for a given copolymer composition and chain length. The theory of Sanchez was used to determine χeff from χeff,SC to predict the boundary between order and disorder as a function of chain length, block copolymer composition, salt concentration, and temperature. At fixed temperature (100 °C), Ncrit, the chain length of SEO at the order-disorder transition in SEO/LiTFSI mixtures, was predicted as a function of the volume fraction of the salt-containing poly(ethylene oxide)-rich microphase, fEO,salt, and salt concentration. At fEO,salt > 0.27, the addition of salt stabilizes the ordered phase; at fEO,salt < 0.27, the addition of salt stabilizes the disordered phase. We propose a simple theoretical model to predict the block copolymer composition at which phase behavior is independent of salt concentration (fEO,salt = 0.27). We refer to this composition as the "isotaksis point". ©

The viability of next generation lithium and beyond-lithium battery technologies hinges on the development of electrolytes with improved performance. Comparing electrolytes is not straightforward as multiple electrochemical parameters affect the performance of an electrolyte. Additional complications arise due to the formation of concentration gradients in response to dc potentials. We propose a modified version of Ohm's law to analyze current through binary electrolytes driven by a small dc potential. We show that the proportionality constant in Ohm's law is given by the product of the ionic conductivity, κ, and the ratio of currents in the presence (iss) and absence (iΩ) of concentration gradients, ρ+. The importance of ρ+ was recognized by Evans et al. [Polymer 28, 2324 (1987)]. The product κρ+ is used to rank order a collection of electrolytes. Ideally, both κ and ρ+ should be maximized, but we observe a trade-off between these two parameters, resulting in an upper bound. This trade-off is analogous to the famous Robeson upper bound for permeability and selectivity in gas separation membranes. Designing polymer electrolytes that overcome this trade-off is an ambitious but worthwhile goal.

We demonstrate that lithium metal is sparingly soluble in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). 7Li NMR shows that when a PEO sample is placed in contact with lithium metal at elevated temperatures, a lithium species dissolves and diffuses into the bulk polymer. A lithium/PEO/lithium electrochemical cell, containing no lithium salts, shows increasing conductivity over time when annealed at 120 °C. Chronoamperometry shows that the annealed cell obeys Ohm's law, implying that conduction occurs without the development of concentration gradients. To explain the results, it is proposed that atomic lithium dissolves into PEO, where it exists as a lithium cation and free electron. The dissolution of lithium also affects the phase behavior of block copolymer electrolytes. These observations explain the strong adhesion between lithium metal and PEO and have important implications for lithium metal battery systems that contain PEO-based electrolytes.

The order-to-disorder transition temperature (TODT) in a series of mixtures of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt is identified by the disappearance of a quadrupolar 7Li NMR triplet peak splitting above a critical temperature, where a singlet is observed. The macroscopic alignment of ordered domains required to produce a quadrupolar splitting occurs due to exposure to the NMR magnetic field. Alignment is confirmed using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The TODT determined by NMR is consistent with that determined using SAXS.

The order-to-disorder transition temperature (T ODT ) in a series of mixtures of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt is identified by the disappearance of a quadrupolar 7 Li NMR triplet peak splitting above a critical temperature, where a singlet is observed. The macroscopic alignment of ordered domains required to produce a quadrupolar splitting occurs due to exposure to the NMR magnetic field. Alignment is confirmed using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The T ODT determined by NMR is consistent with that determined using SAXS.

Crystallization in an ordered lamellar diblock copolymer/salt mixture, polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) mixed with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (SEO/LiTFSI), has been studied using a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and depolarized light scattering (DPLS). Such materials have applications as electrolyte membranes in solid-state lithium batteries. The grain structure of the electrolyte was controlled by manipulating thermal history. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) crystallization was confined within the microphase-separated morphology and did not affect the grain structure in the case of shallow quenches. Deep quenches resulted in unconfined crystallization, where crystal formation does not affect the microphase-separated morphology but does alter the grain structure. The difference between the two modes of crystallization can only be detected by DPLS. This knowledge is particularly relevant for nanostructured electrolytes wherein ion transport is a strong function of grain structure.

Abstract Background Severe clinical pictures and sequelae of COVID‐19 disease are immune mediated and characterized by a ‘cytokine storm’. Skeletal muscle has emerged as a potent regulator of immune system function. The aim of the present study is to define the prevalence of sarcopenia among COVID‐19 survivors and the negative impact of sarcopenia on the post‐acute COVID‐19 syndrome and its related risk factors. Methods A total of 541 subjects recovered from COVID‐19 disease were enrolled in the Gemelli Against COVID‐19 Post‐Acute Care between April 2020 and February 2021. They underwent a multidisciplinary clinical evaluation and muscle strength and physical performance assessment. Results Mean age was 53.1 years (SD 15.2, range from 18 to 86 years), and 274 (51%) were women. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 19.5%, and it was higher in patients with a longer hospital stay and lower in patients who were more physically active and had higher levels of serum albumin. Patients with sarcopenia had a higher number of persistent symptoms than non‐sarcopenic patients (3.8 ± 2.9 vs. 3.2 ± 2.8, respectively; P = 0.06), in particular fatigue, dyspnoea, and joint pain. Conclusions Sarcopenia identified according to the EWGSOP2 criteria is high in patients recovered from COVID‐19 acute illness, particularly in those who had experienced the worst clinical picture reporting the persistence of fatigue and dyspnoea. Our data suggest that sarcopenia, through the persistence of inflammation, could be the biological substrate of long COVID‐19 syndrome. Physical activity, especially if associated with adequate nutrition, seems to be an important protective factor.

Using Italian data published by the Farm Accountancy Data Network, this study investigates whether certain variables such as labour, assets, crops, cost, and financial subsides allocated through the Common Agricultural Policy are able to act on the management and on the productive specialisation of Italian farms, and focuses on assessing the main relationships that exist between these variables and the items correlated to them in 8 main types of farming for the period 2004–2019. The results have revealed that while the type of farming practiced has had an influence on farm management, the impact of financial subsides allocated through the CAP has differed. This research fills a gap in the literature by investigating the main relationships that exist between farm specialisation and farm management through the PLSSEM. that enables the identification of which variables have the greatest influence on the management of Italian farms.

The importance of milkability as a trait is growing because of the need to efficiently use labor and machinery; therefore, it is crucial to update the statistical model for the trait to improve the accuracy of the estimated breeding values, and thus provide a more accurate tool for decision-making at the farm level. In the Italian Holstein Friesian cattle population, milkability is recorded twice a year by the milk recording system as a binary trait (slow, coded as 2, or not slow, coded as 1). Data consisted of 7,862,371 records from 2,945,249 cows collected between 2004 and 2021. A single-trait threshold animal model with repeated measures was used, with parity, days in milk class, calving season, and regression of production (fat + protein grams) within days in milk class as fixed effects and herd-year-season of recording, permanent environment, and animal as random effects. The results for heritability and repeatability were 0.275 and 0.5, estimated with the Gibbs sampler THRGIBBS1F90. Genomic validation, carried out using genotyped proven bulls born before 2009 as the training set, gave a result of 0.386 for reliability. The genetic correlations of this trait confirmed that both extremes of the estimated breeding value must be treated cautiously, because correlations with important traits such as mastitis resistance, body condition score, and teat length are unfavorable.

Abstract Background The impaired transplacental passage of IgG from mothers living with HIV to their infants could be one of the causes of the high vulnerability to infections of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants, but controversial results have been obtained in different settings. The aim of this study was to assess in 6-week old HEU and HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU) Malawian infants the total IgG levels, the subclasses profile and the concentrations of global anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (anti-PCP) IgG and IgG2. Methods Dried blood spots were collected from 80 infants (40 HEU, 40 HUU) and antibodies concentrations determined by nephelometric method (total IgG and subclasses), or using ELISA (anti-PCP total IgG and IgG2). Results are expressed as median levels with IQR, while the proportions of each subclass out of the total IgG are used to describe the subclasses profile. Results At 6 weeks HEU infants had higher median levels of total IgG and IgG1 and a significantly lower level of IgG2 [0.376 (0.344–0.523) g/l vs 0.485 (0.374–0.781) g/l, p = 0.037] compared to the HUU counterparts. The IgG subclasses distribution confirmed the underrepresentation of IgG2 (IgG2 represented 5.82% of total IgG in HEU and 8.87% in HUU). The anti-PCP IgG and IgG2 levels were significantly lower in HEU infants [8.9 (5.4–15.1) mg/l vs 16.2 (9.61–25.8) mg/l in HUU, p

The aim of this systematic review was to examine the available scientific literature on ultrasound‐detected fetal liver changes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to explore the potential of these markers to inform clinical management and improve outcomes. A total of four articles investigating fetal liver changes in GDM pregnancies were selected. The studies varied in methodology, gestational age studied, and diagnostic criteria for GDM. Fetal liver indices, such as fetal liver length and fetal liver volume, emerged as potential markers for identifying GDM and predicting adverse outcomes. Studies suggest an association between fetal liver changes and GDM, with implications for both maternal glycemic control and fetal metabolic adaptation. Variability in study methodology highlights the need for standardized approaches to assess fetal hepatic indices and their correlation with GDM outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The term "super responder" identifies a group of patients who exhibit a rapid and optimal response to biological treatment compared to the overall treated population. The primary objective of our study is to characterize this subgroup of patients to enable the early identification of those who will respond most effectively to the proposed treatment while also evaluating clinical efficacy. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 232 patients treated with guselkumab in monotherapy for at least 20 weeks between November 2018 and November 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those who achieved complete clear skin (PASI = 0) during the first 20 weeks of treatment were defined as super responders (SRe) and non-super responders (nSRe) were the remaining patients. PASI was assessed at weeks 0, 4, and subsequently every eight weeks. Predictors of the SRe status were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The univariate analyses showed that patients with psoriatic arthritis at the baseline, bio-naïve patients, or those who had not received an interleukin (IL) 17 inhibitor as their last therapy before guselkumab administration were more likely to be super responders to the proposed treatment. Multivariate logistic analysis models suggested that the combination of psoriatic arthritis at the baseline and the bio-naïve condition was the strongest predictive model for the SRe status. At week 204, the main difference between the two groups concerned the achievement of PASI100, maintained by 86.8 of SRe compared to 62.8% of nSRe. Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of guselkumab are confirmed in our real-life experience. Identifying the SRe status will undoubtedly play a role in clinical practice and the therapeutic decision-making algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance is a widespread global health problem. The presence of resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes has been demonstrated not only in humans but also in animals, including pets. Stray cats share the urban environment with people and pets. This may facilitate transmission of resistant bacteria and resistance genes between stray animals, people and domestic animals. Several studies have investigated the role of stray cats as a fecal carrier of ESBL-producing bacteria. However, there are many genes and resistance mechanisms that can be detected in commensal E. coli, which, because of its genetic plasticity, is considered an indicator for monitoring antibiotic resistance. In this study, rectal swabs were collected from stray cats from colonies and shelters in the city of Monza (Monza Brianza, Italy) to isolate commensal E. coli. Phenotypic tests, such as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the double disc test (DDST), and molecular analyses to detect antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were used to study the resistance of these isolates. The results obtained confirm that stray cats can carry ESBL-producing E. coli (6.7%) and genes conferring resistance to other important antibiotic classes such as tetracyclines and sulfonamides.

The understanding of the changes induced in the knee’s kinematics by a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury is still rather incomplete. This computational study aimed to analyze how the internal loads are redistributed among the remaining ligaments when the PCL is lesioned at different degrees and to understand if there is a possibility to compensate for a PCL lesion by changing the hamstring’s contraction in the second half of the swing phase. A musculoskeletal model of the knee joint was used for simulating a progressive PCL injury by gradually reducing the ligament stiffness. Then, in the model with a PCL residual stiffness at 15%, further dynamic simulations of walking were performed by progressively reducing the hamstring’s force. In each condition, the ligaments tension, contact force and knee kinematics were analyzed. In the simulated PCL-injured knee, the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) became the main passive stabilizer of the tibial posterior translation, with synergistic recruitment of the Lateral Collateral Ligament. This resulted in an enhancement of the tibial–femoral contact force with respect to the intact knee. The reduction in the hamstring’s force limited the tibial posterior sliding and, consequently, the tension of the ligaments compensating for PCL injury decreased, as did the tibiofemoral contact force. This study does not pretend to represent any specific population, since our musculoskeletal model represents a single subject. However, the implemented model could allow the non-invasive estimation of load redistribution in cases of PCL injury. Understanding the changes in the knee joint biomechanics could help clinicians to restore patients’ joint stability and prevent joint degeneration.

Abstract Background Prompt diagnosis of bone marrow lesion (BML) is difficult but critical for correct treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard, although expensive and time consuming. Simple and reliable clinical test for BML detection is lacking. Aim of the study is to describe a new manual clinical test called Percussion Test (PT) and to statistically determine its diagnostic accuracy in BML, compared to MRI imaging. Methods After evaluation of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 218 consecutive patients with unilateral knee pain and age comprised between 18 and 80 years old were enrolled in our observational prospective study. Informed consent was obtained for each patient. After medical history collection, PT was performed by a single operator as described. MRI was performed in the affected knee to detect the presence of BML. Coherence in PT and MRI assessment was evaluated in each quadrant of the knee via contingency tables, as sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. Results No correlation with a positive PT was demonstrated for the covariables gender (p = 0.156), age (p = 0.272) and BMI (p = 0.639). PT showed a sensitivity ranging from 60.6 (40.6–80.6) to 79.5 (63.0–96.0) and a specificity ranging from 85.7 (80.0–91.5) to 96.0 (93.1–98.9) depending on knee quadrant. Diagnostic accuracy ranged from 81.6 (75.9–86.6) to 89.4 (84.6–93.2), and p-value was

We present experimental results on the phase behavior of block copolymer/salt mixtures over a wide range of copolymer compositions, molecular weights, and salt concentrations. The experimental system comprises polystyrene- block-poly(ethylene oxide) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt. It is well established that LiTFSI interacts favorably with poly(ethylene oxide) relative to polystyrene. The relationship between chain length and copolymer composition at fixed temperature is U-shaped, as seen in experiments on conventional block copolymers and as anticipated from the standard self-consistent field theory (SCFT) of block copolymer melts. The phase behavior can be explained in terms of an effective Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between the polystyrene monomers and poly(ethylene oxide) monomers complexed with the salt, χeff, which increases linearly with salt concentration. The phase behavior of salt-containing block copolymers, plotted on a segregation strength versus copolymer composition plot, is similar to that of conventional (uncharged) block copolymer melts, when the parameter χeff replaces χ in segregation strength.