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Nowadays, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-patient therapies are mainly based on corticosteroid, thiopurine, and immunomodulator treatments. Patients with active disease, that do not respond to corticosteroid and/or thiopurine treatment, can switch to the usage of the chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab (IFX). However, to date, no treatment appeared to be conclusive in lowering the incidence of IBD relapses. With the aim to increase the effectiveness of IFX treatment, we combined it with an adjuvant purple corn supplementation enriched in anthocyanins. IBD-patients were enrolled before they underwent to the IFX-infusion, and they were allocated in 2 different study arms. Patients in the intervention-arm followed a dietary supplementation with purple corn water-soluble extract, whereas control patients had a daily consumption of red fruit tea. 16S rDNA gene-sequencing and high-resolution mass-spectrometry metabo-lipidomics analyses were conducted on stool and sera samples, respectively. As a result, the experimental intervention mainly affected the serum metabolome of IBD-patients by decreasing the concentration of specific lipids. Focusing on IBD patient annotated taxa, a significant decrease in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium relative abundances was found. As far as it concerns the ulcerative colitis patient subset, the experimental intervention led to a decrease in Alistipes and Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003 genus abundances and a concomitant Parabacteroides increase. On the contrary, after treatment, Crohn’s disease patients did not exhibit metataxonomics differences at the genus level. At the end of the treatment that led to a reshaped microbiota community, the gathered data paves the way for the usage of a specifically designed probiotic supplementation as a valuable strategy for IBD-patients under IFX infusion.

Background: The emphasis of mental health services has changed to become more recovery focussed and is increasingly looking towards new roles such as peer support as a part of service provision (NHSE, 2019). However, services for people with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties have lagged behind with people with lived experience mainly involved in research and consultation to services rather than delivering interventions. Methods: This article is based on four workshops held as part of a patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) consultation on a research study being developed to promote access to recovery colleges for people with learning disabilities. The workshops included three peer supporters with learning disabilities. In the article we describe our groups experiences and views on mental health, recovery and peer support. Findings: Our group discussed our views on mental health, what recovery means and the impact of peer support on us. We also discussed the skills people need to do peer support and the support they need from others to do these roles well. Conclusions: We thought that peer support for people with learning disabilities can challenge stigma and help people with difficult experiences such as low self esteem and loneliness. Staff supporting people with learning disabilities may benefit from more training to implement peer support. More research on the kinds of peer support that are on offer for people with learning disabilities is needed.

Este artigo é parte integrante da dissertação de mestrado do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino de Ciências e Matemática. A educação é a espinha dorsal de qualquer sociedade, moldando não apenas o conhecimento, mas também os valores e as perspectivas dos cidadãos. Visando ampliar os efeitos dessa compreensão, propomos este artigo com o objetivo de analisar o currículo prescrito da educação paraguaia, sua formação e suas concepções. Para isso, a fundamentação teórica tem ancoragem nos estudos de Sacristán e Goodson, teorias importantes para realização da leitura e análise completa da Ley n° 1.264 (Ley General de Educación) e da leitura de materiais complementares à lei, sendo estes: Programa de Alimentación Escolar del Paraguay (PAEP) e Priorización Curricular 2022. Realizamos a caracterização e a descrição geral sobre o sistema educacional e uma análise curricular do referencial do 4º ano com o intuito de identificar as metodologias, as abordagens e as formas do currículo prescrito é representado no referencial curricular. Essa análise nos possibilitou observar que a educação paraguaia tem sua organização escolar estabelecida na educação básica em distribuição de três ciclos e ensino médio com formação técnica e científica inclusas (chamado de bacharel). O referencial curricular de matemática do 4º ano, pertencente ao 2º ciclo do ensino, apresenta uma abordagem de forma a priorizar dinâmicas e desenvolvimento de situações e/ou ações que envolvam o cotidiano, possibilitando o incentivo aos estudantes por meio de abordagens que os façam ter compreensões da sua realidade através dos conteúdos.

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a predominant cause of infections in individuals with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices. Biofilm formation complicates these infections, commonly requiring both surgical and antibiotic treatments. This study explored the biofilm matrix composition and antimicrobial susceptibility of planktonic and biofilm-growing S. aureus isolates from individuals with SCS-related infections. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) examined genotypes, virulome, resistome, and the pan-genome structure. The study also analyzed biofilm matrix composition, early surface adhesion, hemolytic activity, and antibiotic-susceptibility testing. WGS revealed genetic diversity among isolates. One isolate, though oxacillin susceptible, contained the mecA gene. The median number of virulence factor genes per isolate was 58. All isolates harbored the biofilm-related icaA/D genes. When assessing phenotypic characteristics, all strains demonstrated the ability to form biofilms in vitro. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile indicated that oxacillin, rifampin, and teicoplanin showed the highest efficacy against S. aureus biofilm. Conversely, high biofilm tolerance was observed for vancomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin. These findings suggest that S. aureus isolates are highly virulent and produce robust biofilms. In cases of suspected biofilm infections caused by S. aureus, vancomycin should not be the primary choice due to its low activity against biofilm. Instead, oxacillin, rifampin, and teicoplanin appear to be more effective options to manage SCS infections.IMPORTANCESCS devices are increasingly used to manage chronic pain, but infections associated with these devices, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, present significant clinical challenges. These infections are often complicated by biofilm formation, which protects bacteria from immune responses and antibiotic treatments, making them difficult to eradicate. Understanding the genetic diversity, virulence, and biofilm characteristics of S. aureus isolates from SCS infections is critical to improving treatment strategies. Our study highlights the need to reconsider commonly used antibiotics like vancomycin, which shows reduced activity against biofilm-growing cells. Identifying more effective alternatives, such as oxacillin, rifampin, and teicoplanin, provides valuable insight for clinicians when managing biofilm-related S. aureus infections in patients with SCS implants. This research contributes to the growing evidence that biofilm formation is crucial in treating device-related infections, emphasizing the importance of tailoring antimicrobial strategies to the biofilm phenotype.

3-Dimensional (3D) printing technology has greatly facilitated the recent advancements in science and engineering that benefit many aspects of scientific investigation, with examples including disease diagnostics, dentistry, aerospace, and fundamental research. For analytical chemistry, many advancements can be directly linked to achievements associated with 3D printing of optics, flow systems, mechanical/structural components, and parts related to detection/measurement, which before the advent of 3D printing were limited by complicated, cumbersome, expensive, and material-limited production. More importantly, the totality of these advances has made the possibility of 3D printing the majority of an analytical system an achievable reality. In this review, we highlight the recent achievements and advancements reported in literature that will facilitate the development of the next-generation analytical instrumentation through the use of 3D printing technology. A great deal of attention is given to those in the context of bioanalytical platforms and novel biosensing strategies. Limited by space, we will explicitly focus the discussion on the following areas: improvement/utilization of new printing materials, methods towards higher resolution, fabrication and production of optical components, novel microfluidic flow systems, and printed structural components for instrumentation.

Conflict of interest: No Introduction and Objectives: MASLD is the most common chronic liver disease (CLD) with a worldwide prevalence of 25%. It is defined as >5% steatosis without any other known liver disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in MASLD. Due to its association with atherosclerosis and its coexistence with traditional CV risk factors (i.e. obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension). ABI is a simple and non-invasive tool used to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD), an ABI of ≤0.9 is diagnostic of PAD and has shown to be an independent risk factor for CV disease and CV mortality. Currently, borderline ABI (0.91-0.99) is recommended to be considered as a CV risk factor. Aim: To describe the frequency of MASLD and altered ABI in patients with traditional CV risk factors. Patients / Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was performed, we included adult patients with CV risk factors (18 to 70 years old). The sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, drug usage, smoking and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, waist, hip and neck circumference) were collected. ABI measurement was performed in all patients with a 8 mHz vascular doppler to classify patients as: Normal ABI (1.0-1.4), Altered ABI (≤0.9 or >1.4) and borderline ABI (0.91-0.99). Transient elastography (Fibroscan) was performed to determine steatosis and fibrosis stage. We excluded pregnant women, previously known CV disease, CLD or PAD. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis were performed using SPSS version 24 software. Results and Discussion: Sixty-eight patients with CV risk factors were included (48 female [70.6%] with a mean age of 47.38 years). Comorbidities were detected as follows: obesity in 52 patients (76.5%); dyslipidemia in 49 patients (72%); diabetes mellitus in 46 patients (67.6%); arterial hypertension in 35 patients (51.5%). Fifty-three patients had normal ABI (77.9%); altered ABI was found in 15 patients (22.1%). Sixty-one patients were found to have steatosis (89.7%), out of which 14 patients had fibrosis (22.9%). Comparison of both groups (altered vs. normal ABI) are presented in Table 1. Conclusions: Patients with traditional CV risk factors showed a high rate of MASLD and similar altered ABI compared to previously described populations.

IntroductionStreptococcus pneumoniae is a prevalent and virulent global pathogen, with colonization being considered a precondition for pneumococcal disease. Understanding colonization is critical for gaining insights into transmission dynamics and developing effective interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization and serotype distribution in the Sicilian population.MethodsObservational study randomly selecting samples belonging to Sicilian individuals whose nasopharyngeal swabs were collected between February 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Pneumococcal colonization was determined using PCR for the pneumococcal autolysin (LytA) gene, and positive samples were serotyped.ResultsThe study sample consisted of 1,196 individuals, with 17.4% testing positive for the LytA gene. Pneumococcal colonization rates fell from birth to 24 years, with a peak in 0-4-year-olds (aOR=6.9; p

Properly managing aquatic organisms is crucial, including protecting endemic species and controlling invasive species. From a circular economy perspective, the sustainable use of aquatic species as a source of bioactive molecules is an area that is increasingly being explored. This includes the use of non-edible portions of seafood, which could pose considerable risks to the environment due to current methods of disposal. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the exploitation of these resources does not result in the transfer of pollutants to the final product. This study analyzed two types of non-edible parts from the crayfish Procambarus clarkii: the abdominal portion of the exoskeleton (AbE) and the whole exoskeleton (WE), including the cephalothorax. These portions could potentially be utilized in the context of eradication activities regulated by local authorities. A screening analysis of four classes of pollutants, including pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalic acid esters (PAEs), and trace elements (TEs), was performed. The only analytes detected were TEs, and significant differences in the contamination profile were found between AbE and WE. Nevertheless, the levels recorded were comparable to or lower than those reported in the literature and below the maximum levels allowed in the current European legislation for food, suggesting that their potential use is legally permitted. In terms of scalability, the utilization of the entire non-edible P. clarkii portion would represent a sustainable solution for the reuse of waste products.