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Abstract Purpose Here we describe a patient admitted for a stroke that was unexpectedly correlated with subclinical infective endocarditis attributable to a rarely opportunistic pathogen, Abiotrophia defectiva. Case report A 75-year-old man presented with a stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested vegetation on all aortic valve cusps, despite the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Surprisingly, three sets of blood cultures collected without fever were positive for A. defectiva. Although the patient did not exhibit classic signs of infection during hospitalization, the severity of the valve condition necessitated replacement with a bioprosthesis. Conclusions This clinical case underscores the importance of investigating the infective origin of endocarditis, even in the absence of clinical or laboratory evidence. Physicians should maintain a high level of suspicion, especially in patients with highly suggestive anamnestic characteristics.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing OC enriched in polyphenols (EOC) to mid-lactating Holstein cows on milk quality, metabolic response, and rumen fermentation and microbiota. Twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows (10 cows/group) were enrolled for 30 d in two homogeneous groups according to milk yield, days in milking, parity, and body condition score. The control group (CTR) received no supplemented concentrate, whereas the EOC group received concentrate with a 7% inclusion of EOC. Milk and blood samples were collected at 0 d and 30 d of treatment, while rumen fluid samples were collected after 30 d of treatment. Overall, the dietary supplementation of EOC did not affect milk yield and its quality, rumen pH, and rumen VFA. However, milk of EOC cows had lower C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0 content, and greater C18:0, C18:1 cis-9, and C18:2 n6 content, compared with CTR cows. Regarding the rumen microbiota composition, EOC diet increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidales_RF16_group, Absconditabacteriales_(SR1), and Fibrobacteracea in the rumen. On cow’s metabolism, EOC cows showed lower blood haptoglobin and greater ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cholesterol, and Zn levels compared with CTR cows. The supplementation of EOC led to a milder low-grade inflammatory response of cows and a positive modulation of cholesterol synthesis (probably at both intestinal and hepatic level). Supplementing EOC modulated rumen microbiota and improved the lipid profile of milk. Thereby, OC may be considered a valid feed to be included in the dairy cow’s diet leading to a positive effects on dairy cattle metabolism (less low-grade inflammatory response and oxidative stress) and at the same time giving an added value to the milk with a better profile of the fatty acids.

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Arsenic sulfide mineralization in Matra mine (southern Alpine Corsica) is hosted by two tectonic units belonging to the Schistes Lustrés Complex. Country rocks include a Jurassic ophiolitic sequence and related sedimentary covers, which were metamorphosed. Geological mapping and thin section analysis were used to understand lithostratigraphy and the tectononic-metamorphic history. The polyphase deformation history includes four phases of ductile deformation during the Late Cretaceous–Early Oligocene Alpine orogeny, with associated high-pressure–low-temperature metamorphism culminating in eclogite facies. The post-Alpine phase includes an N–S extensional fault system that controls the movement of ore fluids.

Abstract Background Multimorbidity (MM) is generally defined as the presence of 2 or more chronic diseases in the same patient and seems to be frequently associated with frailty and poor quality of life. However, the complex interplay between MM and functional status in hospitalized older patients has not been fully elucidated so far. Here, we implemented a 2-step approach, combining cluster analysis and association rule mining to explore how patterns of MM and disease associations change as a function of disability. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 3366 hospitalized older patients discharged from acute care units of Ancona and Cosenza sites of Italian National Institute on Aging (INRCA-IRCCS) between 2011 and 2017. Cluster analysis and association rule mining (ARM) were used to explore patterns of MM and disease associations in the whole population and after stratifying by dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) at discharge. Sensitivity analyses in men and women were conducted to test for robustness of study findings. Results Out of 3366 included patients, 78% were multimorbid. According to functional status, 22.2% of patients had no disability in ADL (functionally independent group), 22.7% had 1 ADL dependency (mildly dependent group), and 57.4% 2 or more ADL impaired (moderately-severely dependent group). Two main MM clusters were identified in the whole general population and in single ADL groups. ARM revealed interesting within-cluster disease associations, characterized by high lift and confidence. Specifically, in the functionally independent group, the most significant ones involved atrial fibrillation (AF)-anemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (lift = 2.32), followed by coronary artery disease (CAD)-AF and heart failure (HF) (lift = 2.29); in patients with moderate-severe ADL disability, the most significant ARM involved CAD-HF and AF (lift = 1.97), thyroid dysfunction and AF (lift = 1.75), cerebrovascular disease (CVD)-CAD and AF (lift = 1.55), and hypertension-anemia and CKD (lift = 1.43). Conclusions Hospitalized older patients have high rates of MM and functional impairment. Combining cluster analysis to ARM may assist physicians in discovering unexpected disease associations in patients with different ADL status. This could be relevant in the view of individuating personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, according to the modern principles of precision medicine.

Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder frequently observed in the pediatric population, and, due to advancements in genetic techniques, an increasing number of genes have been associated with this disorder. In genetic conditions, chorea may be the primary feature of the disorder, or be part of a more complex phenotype characterized by epileptic encephalopathy or a multisystemic syndrome. Moreover, it can appear as a persistent disorder (chronic chorea) or have an episodic course (paroxysmal chorea). Managing chorea in childhood presents challenges due to its varied clinical presentation, often involving a spectrum of hyperkinetic movement disorders alongside neuropsychiatric and multisystemic manifestations. Furthermore, during infancy and early childhood, transient motor phenomena resembling chorea occurring due to the rapid nervous system development during this period can complicate the diagnosis. This review aims to provide an overview of the main genetic causes of pediatric chorea that may manifest during infancy and early childhood, focusing on peculiarities that can aid in differential diagnosis among different phenotypes and discussing possible treatment options.

Pistachios, a delicacy food product produced mostly in Sicily, generate significant amounts of skins during processing. This by-product has been incorporated in growing/finishing rabbit diet formulations. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6% pistachio skin inclusion in rabbit grower/finisher diets on the meat characteristics. One hundred and fifty healthy Martini rabbits (male and female) were weaned at 30 d of age and body weight (IBW) of 0.82±0.05 kg. The animals were assigned to one of the two treatment groups to be homogeneous for weight and sex. Diets were as follows: (1) a treatment diet (TRMT) with a 6% incorporation of pistachio skin meal, and (2) a control diet (CTRL) without the integration of pistachio skin meal. During the experimental period (from 30 to 63 d of age), rabbits were weighed individually on day 30, day 42 and day 63 of the trial. Weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were calculated. The loin and hind leg were carefully deboned and the Biceps femoris (BF) and Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were minced and homogenised. The treatment group fed a diet with 6% pistachio skins showed no adverse effects on the growth performance or carcass characteristics and did not trigger any physiological or clinical changes or show deleterious effects on the rabbits. Overall, while the total fat quantity did not register as significant in any of the muscles from either diet, significance was recorded with regard to the quality of the fatty acids profile between the two diets and between both muscles. The analysis of the BF and LL muscles of the TRMT group showed a significant increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (3.2, and 3.0%, P=0.008 and 0.041, respectively) and in the polyunsaturated fatty acids groups (4.8 and 3.8%, P=0.032 and 0.023, respectively), and a decrease in the saturated fatty acids group (–7.2 and –6.1%, P=0.014 and 0.020, respectively) compared with the CTRL group. In particular, both linoleic and α linolenic fatty acids registered a significant increase in the BF muscle, while only the linoleic acid registered a significant increase in the LL muscle of TRMT compared with the CTRL group (P

ABSTRACT: The study aimed to assess the effects of different dietary Silybum marianum (SM, milk thistle) powder levels on growth performance, productivity, immunity, small intestine, haemato-biochemical parameters, meat quality, and egg and carcass characteristics of laying quails. The experimental subjects consisted of one hundred and eight 43-day-old quails divided into 3 treatments (0, 0.75, and 1.50% SM) with 4 replicates each. The egg characteristics and growth performance of the quails were evaluated. Quails were euthanized for evaluation of carcasses, microbiota, and sensory characteristics of meat. Blood samples were analyzed for haematology and biochemical profile. SM at 0.75% and 1.50% significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed intake, enhanced egg characteristics (number, weight, width, length, volume, weight of egg yolk, and eggshell thickness), jejunum and ileum length, spleen weight, lactobacillus population, sensory characteristics of meat, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, erythrocytic indices, concentration of albumin, globulin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). SM at 0.75% and 1.50% decreased (P < 0.05) carcass weight (abdominal fat, heart, neck, and pancreas), feed conversion ratio (FCR) based on eggs produced, percentages of heterophils and lymphocytes, concentration of lactate dehydrogenase, population of coliforms clostridia, and Escherichia coli. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatine kinase were not significantly (P > 0.05) altered by 0.75% and 1.50% SM. SM at both levels (0.75% and 1.50%) may improve growth, egg characteristics, immune response, intestinal morphology and microbiota, meat quality and erythropoiesis, and also lead to decreased cholesterol in laying quails. Economics can be improved, too. The authors recommend adding 1.0% of SM to quail diet.

Patients with mental illnesses adhere to organized cancer screening programs less frequently than the general population. This systematic review aims to examine the literature to identify studies that evaluate interventions designed to increase cancer screening adherence in people with mental disorders. The review protocol was registered (CRD42024510431) and Pubmed and Scopus were searched up to January 2024. Breast, colorectal, or cervical cancer screening were considered. We adhered to the PROSPERO guidelines. Study quality was assessed. Overall, six articles were included: two RCT studies, two before–after studies, and two cohort studies. Four interventions were conducted in the USA, one in Canada, and one in Japan. Two studies evaluated all three cancer screening programs, two studies evaluated breast cancer screenings, and two studies evaluated colorectal cancer screenings. The proposed interventions included patient navigation, case management, and support from staff members along with educational modules, decision counselling sessions, and enhanced primary care. The most consistent improvements in screening adherence were observed in breast and colorectal cancer screenings compared to usual care, particularly through interventions like patient navigation (colorectal cancer: 47.1% vs. 11.8%, p < 0.001) and case management. Further evaluations of interventions and their costs are still needed.