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Communication is becoming more important than ever for health care and health care professionals, as the recent COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically highlighted. The fast evolution of the mass and social media and the continuous development of new health-related platforms and applications are imposing new challenges that involve also laboratory medicine and that need to be carefully considered. In fact, these novel, fast and effective strategies of communication are inherently prone to the risk of publishing misleading, incorrect or fake information which can spread uncontrollably and diffuse all over the world in a very short time. However, social media are undoubtedly a great opportunity to communicate, in a responsible and credible way, health-related data and scientific updates and discoveries. As for the therapeutic alliance, it is now required to establish an "information alliance" between different healthcare professionals which, based on a trustworthy relationship, will allow the correct diffusion of health-related information and will contribute to citizens' education.

La avena negra (Avena fatua L.) es una de las malezas más frecuentes de los cereales de invierno en Argentina. Su control se realiza mayoritariamente mediante la aplicación de herbicidas inhibidores de ACCasa y ALS. La eficacia de estos herbicidas se evalúa principalmente mediante el control visual y la supervivencia, sin considerar otros procesos demográficos tal como la fecundidad. Entre 2012 y 2015 se realizaron siete experimentos en la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. El objetivo fue estudiar el efecto de tres inhibidores de la ALS (pyroxsulam, iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron, imazamox) y dos inhibidores de la ACCasa (fenoxaprop y pinoxaden) sobre la supervivencia, crecimiento y fecundidad de individuos de avena negra. Además, se estudió el efecto del origen de la población (con o sin aplicación previa de herbicidas). Cada herbicida se aplicó en cinco dosis (0x, 0,25x, 0,5x, 1x, 1,5x), siendo x la dosis recomendada en marbete. Se evaluó la supervivencia a los 30 y 60 días después del tratamiento y la biomasa individual a los 30 días después del tratamiento y en madurez. La fecundidad se evaluó cosechando las semillas de las plantas sobrevivientes. A los 30 días de aplicados los herbicidas, a la dosis de uso recomendada, pinoxadén mostró menor supervivencia que los otros herbicidas. Iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron e imazamox a la dosis recomendada fueron más efectivos que pyroxsulam y fenoxaprop. A 60 días después del tratamiento no hubo diferencias entre pinoxaden, iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron e imazamox a la dosis recomendada y fueron más efectivos que fenoxaprop y pyroxsulam. Los individuos que sobrevivieron produjeron menor biomasa que los no tratados. En promedio los individuos con o sin aplicación de herbicidas produjeron 31 semillas por gramo de biomasa individual. Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) is one of the most frequent weeds of winter cereals in Argentina. Its control is carried out mainly with the application of ACCase and ALS inhibitor herbicides. The efficacy of these herbicides is evaluated by visual control and survival, without considering other demographic processes such as fecundity. Between 2012 and 2015, seven experiments were carried out at the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires. The objective was to study the effect of three ALS inhibitors (pyroxsulam, iodosulfuron + mesosufuron, imazamox) and two ACCase inhibitors (fenoxaprop and pinoxaden) on the survival, growth and fecundity of wild oat individuals. In addition, the effect of the origin of the population (with or without previous application of herbicides) was studied. Each herbicide was applied at five rates (0x, 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 1.5x), being x the recommended rate on the label. Survival at 30 and 60 days after treatment and individual biomass at 30 days after treatment and at maturity were evaluated. Fecundity was evaluated by harvesting the seeds of the surviving plants. Thirty days after the herbicides application, at the recommended rate, pinoxadén showed lower survival than the other herbicides. Iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron and imazamox at the recommended rate were more effective than pyroxsulam and fenoxaprop. At 60 days after treatment there were no differences between pinoxaden, iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron and imazamox at the recommended rate and were more effective than fenoxaprop and pyroxsulam. The survivors individuals produced less biomass than the untreated ones. On average, individuals with or without herbicide application produced 31 seeds per gram of individual biomass. Gerencia de Comunicación Institucional, DG SICyP, INTA Fil: Scursoni, Julio Alejandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Martin, Andrés Nelson. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Abbati, Paula. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Bastanchuri, María Mercedes. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Gueventter, Mateo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Di Iorio, Estefania. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Pulido, Agustín. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Sherriff, Tomás. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Quistre, Juan Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina

International audience; Despite their high functional role as abundant predators, the drivers of centipede assemblages remain poorly known in forests, especially in France. Using replicated depletion quadrats, we sampled five forests distributed over the Armorican Massif. A total of 5209 individuals belonging to 20 species was collected between 2015 and 2017. Assemblage composition was surprisingly constant across parcels, with only different dominant species in the oldest parcel (Berce, Pays-de-Loire) and in the forest of Cerisy (Normandy). The latter hosted two exclusive species, likely because of both biogeographic and abiotic conditions, Geophilus truncorum and Lithobius aeruginosus. Species richness was overall close among sites and parcels, and therefore little influenced by tree age or dominant species. Individual densities varied between site pair-matched parcels, probably because of differences in temporal forest continuity rather than differences in tree ages. In quadrats, the presence of numerous ants strongly affected the number of centipedes, with global densities divided by an average factor of 7. Also at small spatial scale, we did not find a strong vertical stratification of centipede species in terms of presence-absence, with only 2 species exclusive of soil and none for litter, but with important differences in the relative abundance of dominant species. This study suggests that centipedes are important components of the forest soil and litter fauna, should be more frequently studied in French forests and have a potential of bio-indicators of local conditions in these habitats, as well as of temporal forest continuity.

Artificial insemination is becoming more common in domestic dog breeding and in the ex-situ conservation programs for endangered wild canids. Sperm cells under aerobic conditions produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), mostly originated from normal metabolic activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between oxidative status in dogs and sperm quality assessed by Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA). Ten male dogs, 7 fertile and 3 ipofertile, aged 1 to 7 years old were included in this study. Each animal was submitted to clinical ex- amination and semen collection and evaluation. Oxidative status was evaluated by d-ROMs test and Oxy-Adsorbent test in blood samples and the ratio between ROMs and OXY (%) was calculated and used as index of plasma oxidative state (OSi).Comparison between fertile and infertile dogs performed by Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance (p < 0.05) showed significant differences between the two groups for the following kinetic parameters: VAP, VSL, BCF, STR, LIN, MOT%, PROG, RAPID, MEDIUM, SLOW, STATIC, OSi. Correlations between each kinetics parameter and OSi were evaluated separately in each group by Spearman test (high correlation: ρ = 0.6–0.9, p < 0.05): in in- fertile group a high positive correlationwere demonstrated between OSi and VCL, SLOW, STATIC. A significant negative correlation was present between OSi and MOT and RAPID. In fertile group a signifi- cantpositive and negative correlation were evaluated between OSi and SLOW and between OSi and PROG respectively. This study re- ports, for the first time, a direct correlation between oxidative stress and the main parameters of the fertility test in both fertile and infertile dogs. These results open new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic insights for canine male infertility.

To reconstruct a human hemicornea in vitro by means of limbal stem cells cultured onto human keratoplasty lenticules (HKLs) and to obtain a natural corneal graft for clinical applications.Limbal stem cells were seeded onto HKLs with or without the presence of feeder layers of lethally irradiated 3T3-J2 cells and compared with the current "gold standard" scaffold, i.e., the fibrin glue. The effects of the scaffold on the preservation of stemness and/or induction of differentiation pathways were investigated through analysis of a variety of markers, including p63 and DeltaNp63alpha for stemness, 14-3-3sigma for early differentiation, keratins 3, 14, 12, and 19 to determine cell phenotype, and alpha6, beta1, and beta4 integrins to evaluate interactions with the stroma. Integrity of the stroma was assessed through analysis of keratan sulfate, CD-34 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 (ALDH3A1) (for keratocytes), visual system homeobox 1 (VSX1), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) (for fibroblasts and myofibroblasts). The structural properties of the reconstructed "hemicornea" were investigated through scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate the preservation of the stemness potential, cells were trypsinized from each scaffold and clonogenic/proliferative characteristics analyzed.Limbal stem cells expanded onto HKLs gave rise to a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium morphologically similar to that of normal corneas. The resulting corneal epithelium was characterized by basal expression of p63 and DeltaNp63alpha, while expression of 14-3-3sigma, keratin 3, and keratin 12 was found in the upper cell layers. The basal cuboidal epithelial cells were anchored to the basement membrane and expressed keratin 14 and alpha6, beta1, and beta4 integrins. In the stroma of HKLs, keratocytes maintained the biosynthetic and phenotypic appearances typical of resting/quiescent cells and expressed keratan sulfate, CD-34, and ALDH3A1. Fibroblastic transformation was observed with the appearance of VSX1 and alpha-SMA. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that HKLs maintained their native conformation with collagen fibrils interconnected to the network and parallel to the corneal surface. HKLs did not alter the clonogenic/proliferative capacity of limbal stem cells. No differences were seen when HKL was compared to fibrin glue, one of the scaffolds currently used for limbal stem cell transplantation.Our findings demonstrate that HKL could be a suitable scaffold for corneal epithelial stem cells as they were shown to proliferate, express differentiation markers, and bind to the underlying stroma with no alterations in clonogenic potential. HKLs have some advantages over currently used scaffolds, such as the possibility to allow cell growth with no feeder layers, to be freeze dried, and to preserve the integrity and viability of stromal keratocytes. The development of a tissue-engineered "hemicornea" might offer new therapeutic perspectives to patients affected by total limbal stem cell deficiency with stromal scarring.

In plasma a real "antioxidant barrier” is identifiable, and to constitute it both inside (eg. carotenoids, ascorbate, vitamin E, etc.) and outside (eg. GSH, protein, bilirubin, uric acid, etc.) substances contribute. Each of these components blocks the potential damaging action of free radicals, whose reactivity is precisely linked to the particular "shortage" of these small particles negative. Any "insult" against this barrier allows free radicals to attack and damage cell structures, setting the stage for lesions typical of oxidative stress and all its dangerous consequences (premature aging, disease, etc.) [1]. The aim of the present study was to measure two components of the plasma oxidative barrier to evaluate the animal welfare status: the Biological Antioxidant Potential (BAP) and the anti oxidant power (OXY). The BAP is used as an index to determine the biological antioxidant capacity and is measured on the basis of the capacity of the plasma sample to reduce ferric ions to ferrous ions. The OXY-adsorbent test measures the ability of a plasma or serum sample to oppose a massive oxidative insult induced by a solution of hypochlorous acid. The present study was performed on wild boars (Sus scrofa) bred in the wild of two areas (C1and D1) of a 820 hectares wood belonging to Campania Region, included in the “Cilento e Vallo di Diano” National Park. The wood is made up of Quercus cerris and Castano sativa, mixed mesoxerofil conifer. Blood samples, from the jugular vein, were collected from 15 and 18 wild boars of the C1 and D1 areas respectively, during the routine sanitary control. On the serum, BAP test and OXY-adsorbent test were evaluated (DIACRON, Grosseto, Italy). The results are shown in Table 1. The data show no significative difference between wild boars of C1 and D1 area, both in BAP test and OXY-adsorbent test. These preliminary values are valid for the definition of the normal range in healthy and, therefore, used as parameters to evaluate the stress oxidative status and then animal welfare [2].

Animal welfare can be assessed by measurements of relevant stress markers. The adrenal cortex response does occur in diverse difficult situations and is useful in welfare assessment, in particular the production of cortisol acts in providing extra energy for forthcoming activity. Furthermore, a high level of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), due to an increased production of oxidant species and/or a decreased efficacy of antioxidant system, can lead to oxidative stress, an emerging health risk factor involved in the aging and in a lot of diseases. The reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) are used as an index to determine the level of oxidative stress (oxidant capacity) by measuring the amount of organic hydroperoxide (ROOH) converted into radicals that oxidize N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine [1, 2]. The present study was performed on wild boars (Sus scrofa) bred in the wild of two areas (C1and D1) of a 820 hectares wood belonging to Campania Region, included in the “Cilento e Vallo di Diano” National Park. The wood is made up of Quercus cerris and Castano sativa, mixed mesoxerofil conifer. Blood samples, from the jugular vein, were collected from 15 and 18 wild boars of the C1 and D1 areas respectively, during the routine sanitary control. On the serum, cortisol and ROMs (DIACRON, Grosseto, Italy) were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. Cortisol was higher in D1 than in C1 area, but there was not any significative difference; ROMs in D1 were significantly higher than C1 area, with P

Enucleation is the process of retrieving the ocular globe from a cadaveric donor leaving the rest of the globe undisturbed. Excision refers to the retrieval of ocular tissues, especially cornea, by cutting it separate from the ocular globe. Evisceration is the process of removing the internal organs referred here as retina. The ocular globe consists of the cornea, the sclera, the vitreous body, the lens, the iris, the retina, the choroid, muscles etc (Suppl. Figure 1). When a patient is suffering from corneal damage, the cornea needs to be removed and a healthy one must be transplanted by keratoplastic surgeries. Genetic disorders or defects in retinal function can compromise vision. Human ocular globes can be used for various surgical procedures such as eye banking, transplantation of human cornea or sclera and research on ocular tissues. However, there is little information available on human corneal and retinal excision, probably due to the limited accessibility to human tissues. Most of the studies describing similar procedures are performed on animal models. Research scientists rely on the availability of properly dissected and well-conserved ocular tissues in order to extend the knowledge on human eye development, homeostasis and function. As we receive high amount of ocular globes out of which approximately 40% (Table 1) of them are used for research purposes, we are able to perform huge amount of experiments on these tissues, defining techniques to excise and preserve them regularly. The cornea is an avascular tissue which enables the transmission of light onto the retina and for this purpose should always maintain a good degree of transparency. Within the cornea, the limbus region, which is a reservoir of the stem cells, helps the reconstruction of epithelial cells and restricts the overgrowth of the conjunctiva maintaining corneal transparency and clarity. The size and thickness of the cornea are critical for clear vision, as changes in either of them could lead to distracted, unclear vision. The cornea comprises of 5 layers; a) epithelium, b) Bowman's layer, c) stroma, d) Descemet's membrane and e) endothelium. All layers should function properly to ensure clear vision(4,5,6). The choroid is the intermediate tunic between the sclera and retina, bounded on the interior by the Bruch's membrane and is responsible for blood flow in the eye. The choroid also helps to regulate the temperature and supplies nourishment to the outer layers of the retina(5,6). The retina is a layer of nervous tissue that covers the back of the ocular globe (Suppl. Figure 1) and consists of two parts: a photoreceptive part and a non-receptive part. The retina helps to receive the light from the cornea and lens and converts it into the chemical energy eventually transmitted to the brain with help of the optic nerve(5,6). The aim of this paper is to provide a protocol for the dissection of corneal and retinal tissues from human ocular globes. Avoiding cross-contamination with adjacent tissues and preserving RNA integrity is of fundamental importance as such tissues are indispensable for research purposes aimed at (i) characterizing the transcriptome of the ocular tissues, (ii) isolating stem cells for regenerative medicine projects, and (iii) evaluating histological differences between tissues from normal/affected subjects. In this paper we describe the technique we currently use to remove the cornea, the choroid and retinal tissues from an ocular globe. Here we provide a detailed protocol for the dissection of the human ocular globe and the excision of corneal and retinal tissues. The accompanying video will help researchers to learn an appropriate technique for the retrieval of precious human tissues which are difficult to find regularly.

Objectives: This study, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Naples SUN, aims to: 1) promote the use of a structured family psychoeducational intervention in patients with bipolar I disorder and their families in Italian mental health centres; 2) assess its implementation in routine care; c) evaluate its effects on psychopathological status and social functioning of patients and their relatives. Methods: This study included the following phases: 1) random selection of 11 Italian mental health centres; 2) development of informative materials and of assessment instruments; 3) training of 2 mental health workers per centre; 4) selection of 8 families of patients with bipolar I disorder for each centre and administration of family psychoeducational intervention. The difficulties and benefits encountered by professionals in implementing the intervention were registered on the Family Intervention Schedule (FIS), a 46-item self-report instrument collecting information on: 1) number of families to whom the intervention was proposed; 2) clinical and organisational difficulties experienced by the staff in the provision of the intervention; 3) advantages reported by the staff. Results: The intervention has been proposed to 79 patients and their relatives. Six of them did not accept it, further 9 families left the study after receiving the informative packages. Mental health workers reported several advantages in the conduction of the intervention, in particular, improvement of their professional skills and job satisfaction, which tend to increase over time. The most frequent difficulties in implementing the intervention are the integration of family work with other responsibilities and the allowance of time to perform the intervention. These difficulties are already high at the end of the training course and tend to be stable over time. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that family psychoeducational interventions are feasible in routine settings of Italian mental health centres for the treatment of bipolar I disorder. However, in order to facilitate the dissemination of this intervention on a large scale, organisational changes are needed.

Lipophilic compounds contained in tomato can prevent cardiovascular diseases by modulating the atherogenic processes in vascular endothelium mediated by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). We investigated the effects of lycopene on the metabolism of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its much less biologically active acyl analog, acyl-PAF, known to prevent LDL oxidation. Lycopene, or lycopene in association with alpha-tocopherol, or whole tomato lipophilic extracts (containing more than 80% lycopene) were used in experiments in which endothelial cells (ECs) are known to synthesize PAF following H2O2-induced oxidative stress. The results indicated that in each case H2O2-stimulated PAF biosynthesis in ECs, which is catalyzed by acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (AT), appeared strongly inhibited. However, acyl-PAF biosynthesis, which also occurs through the PAF-dependent transacetylase (TA), was significantly increased by lycopene only when it was in association with a-tocopherol or with the minor compounds present in the whole lipophilic tomato extract. These findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol or lipophilic compounds present in tomato juice potentiate the effects of lycopene on the modulation of PAF and acyl-PAF biosynthesis in ECs during oxidative stress.