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Well-developed collaterals are assumed as a marker of viability and ischemia in chronic total occlusions (CTO). We aim to correlate viability and ischemia with collateral presence and extent in CTO patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).Multicentre study of 150 CTO patients undergoing stress-CMR, including adenosine if normal systolic function, high-dose-dobutamine for patients with akinetic/2 hypokinetic segments and EF ≥35%, otherwise low-dose-dobutamine (LDD); all patients underwent late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Viability was defined as mean LGE transmurality ≤50% for adenosine, as functional improvement for dobutamine-stress-test, ischemia as ≥1.5 segments with perfusion defects outside the scar zone.Rentrop 3/CC 2 defined well-developed (WD, n = 74) vs poorly-developed collaterals (PD, n = 76). Viability was equally prevalent in WD vs PD: normo-functional myocardium with ≤50% LGE in 52% vs 58% segments, p = 0.76, functional improvement by LDD in 48% vs 52%, p = 0.12. Segments with none, 1-25%,26-50%,51-75% LGE showed viability by LDD in 90%,84%,81%,61% of cases, whilst in 12% if 76-100% LGE (p 0.01). There was no difference in WD vs PD for ischemia presence (74% vs 75%, p = 0.99) and extent (2.7 vs 2.8 segments, p = 0.77).In a large cohort of CTO patients, presence and extent of collaterals did not predict viability and ischemia by stress-CMR. Scar extent up to 75% LGE was still associated with viability, whereas ischemia was undetectable in 25% of patients, suggesting that the assessment of CTO patients with CMR would lead to a more comprehensive evaluation of viability and ischemia to guide revascularization.

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) myocarditis is common, but often underrecognized due to absence of symptoms at early stages. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is the imaging modality of choice for detection of SSc myocarditis. Current guidelines recommend CMR in case of alterations in first level cardiologic diagnostic tests. Immunosuppressive therapy is only indicated for patients with organ involvement, i.e. most frequently heart and lung, or with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Purpose To explore the impact of CMR in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway of SSc patients. Methods Of 286 SSc patients referred to our hospital, we retrospectively enrolled patients who received CMR during an observational period of 6 years (2016–2022). Exclusion criteria were previous immunosuppressive therapy and cardiopathy from other cause. Clinical data including Holter-ECG performed within 90 days from CMR were available. Results 39 patients (67 [58–72] years; females 87%) were identified. 15 patients were excluded due to previous immunosuppressive therapy (9), lack of information on therapy (3), cardiopathy from other causes (3). 24 patients were finally included in the study. 14 patients (58%) did not show myocardial inflammation at CMR (LVEF 65.5 [61–69]%, LVEDV 114.5 [92–141] ml, T2 ratio 1.6 [1.4–1.9]). 1 patient presented with mid-wall inferior late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) indicative of previous myocarditis. 1 patient received immunosuppressive therapy due to SSc lung involvement in follow-up. In this group premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) during 24-hours Holter-ECG were rare (29 [3–48]). When measured, high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTnI) was 2.4 [0.8–5] ng/L. 10 patients (42%) showed myocardial inflammation at CMR: LVEF 60 [56–65] %, LVEDV 137,5 [122–166] ml, T2 ratio 2.1 [1.7–2.3], T1 mapping 1022.5 [1010–1036] msec and T2 mapping 50.5 [50–52] msec. Myocardial LGE with non-ischemic pattern was seen in 6 patients. The number of PVCs at 24-hours Holter-ECG was collectively higher in these patients (354 [1–4245]). When measured, hsTnI was 8 [6–18] ng/L. With detection of myocardial inflammation at CMR all 10 patients eventually received immunosuppressive therapy (mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine in case of MMF intolerance). At follow-up CMR performed 4 [3–6] months later on therapy various parameter differences were observed: LVEF (+2 [−2; 4] %), T1 mapping (−23 [−27; −12] msec), T2 mapping (−2 [−4; −1] msec), T2 ratio (−0.5 [−0.6; −0,2]). Of 6 patients with LGE, 4 displayed LGE persistence at follow-up. Conclusions In our experience, CMR was the tool of choice for diagnosis and therapeutic management in SSc patients with suspected cardiac involvement. SSc myocarditis patients tended to display more arrhythmic burden at Holter-ECG and higher cardiac biomarkers. Our data suggest to intensify first level cardiological screening, in order to identify suitable candidates to CMR. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

The course-based research experience (CRE) with its documented educational benefits is increasingly being implemented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. This article reports on a study that was done over a period of 3 years to explicate the instructional processes involved in teaching an undergraduate CRE. One hundred and two instructors from the established and large multi-institutional SEA-PHAGES program were surveyed for their understanding of the aims and practices of CRE teaching. This was followed by large-scale feedback sessions with the cohort of instructors at the annual SEA Faculty Meeting and subsequently with a small focus group of expert CRE instructors. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, the survey data were analyzed for the aims of inquiry instruction and pedagogical practices used to achieve these goals. The results characterize CRE inquiry teaching as involving three instructional models: 1) being a scientist and generating data; 2) teaching procedural knowledge; and 3) fostering project ownership. Each of these models is explicated and visualized in terms of the specific pedagogical practices and their relationships. The models present a complex picture of the ways in which CRE instruction is conducted on a daily basis and can inform instructors and institutions new to CRE teaching.

Fleshy fruit are susceptible to develop chilling injury (CI) disorders when stored at low temperatures for extended periods during the postharvest. In peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) fruit, the woolly texture, expressed as a lack of juiciness, is the most important CI symptom. In the present work, we set up to study the metabolomic and proteomic differences of Spring Lady peach fruit, which, despite had been subjected to the same postharvest treatment (24 d at 0 °C followed by 5 d at 20 °C), display a contrasting woolliness phenotype. A drastic decrease in the content of sugars and sugar alcohols (sucrose, fructose, glucose, ribose, xylose, galactose, sorbitol and raffinose), as well as in all the amino acids detected (Ala, Asn, Gly, Glu, Ile, Ser, Thr, and Val), was found in woolly (WF) when compared to juicy fruit (JF). The quantitative proteomic analysis of JF and WF identified 227 differentially expressed proteins (DEP), from which 165 were increased and 62 decreased in WF with respect to JF. The identification of clusters of functionally associated proteins among the DEP revealed biochemical and physiological processes linked to the development of the woolly phenotype; such as sugar catabolism, amino acid usage, and proteome reconfiguration. On the other hand, a decrease of proteins involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification, lower ascorbate peroxidase activity, and higher ROS levels, were found in the mesocarp of WF when compared to JF. Overall, this work identifies the induction of carbon oxidation processes, proteome reconfiguration, and increased ROS generation, as relevant metabolic signatures of woolliness development in peach fruit. Besides, the experimental approach used here clearly shows that the woolly phenotype can be triggered in similar biochemical contexts. The relevance of oxidative stress, probably as a consequence of an imbalance between ROS production and elimination, is highlighted as a causal mechanism of woolliness development in peach fruit.

Fungal infections are still a major problem. Some limitations of current antifungals (toxicity, fungal resistance) require the search for new drugs. The interest in metal–sulfanilamide derivatives was stimulated by the successful introduction of a silver-sulfadiazine complex, yet in current use, to prevent microbial infections during burn treatment of both humans and animals. Sulfadimethoxine (HSDM) is used in medicine, most frequently veterinary, to treat many infections, such as respiratory, urinary, etc. In this work we report the synthesis, characterization by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra of the heteroleptic complexes [Ag3SDM(SCN)2]·H2O and [Ag2(SDM)2o-phenanthroline]·H2O, named as AgSDM-SCN and AgSDM-phen, respectively, and the biological properties (lipophilicity, antifungal, phyto, cyto and genotoxicity) of AgSDM-SCN, AgSDM-phen and the homoleptic one: AgSDM. 1H NMR spectra show that the sulfonamide moiety loses its acidic proton in both complexes, in agreement with the FTIR results. The three complexes showed a moderate antifungal activity, mainly against the yeasts Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans. None of the tested fungi was inhibited by the free ligand. Lipophilicity: log Koctanol/water values were 0.80, 0.84, 0.85, 0.94 and 0.43 for HSDM, NaSDM, AgSDM, AgSDM-SCN and AgSDM-phen respectively, similarly to another sulfa-metal complexes. No genotoxicity or cytotoxicity were observed for AgSDM and AgSDM-SCN in the Allium cepa test, different from AgSDM-phen. Given these results, the studied complexes could be good candidates for further pharmaceutical studies. Fil: Mosconi, Natalia Ester. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Monti, Laura Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Giulidori, Cecilia María del Luján. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Williams, Patricia Ana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; Argentina Fil: Raimondi, Marcela Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina Fil: Bellú, Sebastián Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Rizzotto, Marcela Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina

The bacteriophage population is vast, dynamic, old, and genetically diverse. The genomics of phages that infect bacterial hosts in the phylum Actinobacteria show them to not only be diverse but also pervasively mosaic, and replete with genes of unknown function. To further explore this broad group of bacteriophages, we describe here the isolation and genomic characterization of 116 phages that infect Microbacterium spp. Most of the phages are lytic, and can be grouped into twelve clusters according to their overall relatedness; seven of the phages are singletons with no close relatives. Genome sizes vary from 17.3 kbp to 97.7 kbp, and their G+C% content ranges from 51.4% to 71.4%, compared to ~67% for their Microbacterium hosts. The phages were isolated on five different Microbacterium species, but typically do not efficiently infect strains beyond the one on which they were isolated. These Microbacterium phages contain many novel features, including very large viral genes (13.5 kbp) and unusual fusions of structural proteins, including a fusion of VIP2 toxin and a MuF-like protein into a single gene. These phages and their genetic components such as integration systems, recombineering tools, and phage-mediated delivery systems, will be useful resources for advancing Microbacterium genetics.

Variations in the concentration of salivary alpha amylase (sAA) may indicate a change in the autonomic nervous system functionality. In osteopathic medicine it has long been stated that the osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can modulate the autonomic nervous system. Studies carried out on the compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4) have shown a positive effect in reducing the sympathetic tone. The goal of this pilot study is measuring the physiological response of the sAA levels after CV4 technique.90 subjects were randomly assigned to a sham, a control or a CV4 group. Randomization accounted for sex and score in the STAI-2 (form Y) questionnaire. Each subject completed the STAI-1 (form Y) questionnaire to evaluate the anxiety of the moment. sAA activity and saliva flow rate were measured. Saliva was collected before, immediately after and 30 min after treatment.Within group analysis revealed that sAA activity increased significantly immediately after the technique application only in the CV4 group (p = 0,05). Between groups analysis show a significant difference of the sAA activity in the CV4 group respect the control group (p 0,05), but no significant difference between CV4 and sham group (p 0,05). The effect in the CV4 group after the intervention is highly variable and appeared to be related to the level of stress measured with the STAI-Y1 questionnaire (p = 0,002).This study shows a positive effect of the CV4 procedure on sAA activity even if not significantly different from the sham procedure, probably due to the confounding effect of stress variability between groups.

A survey of developed fruit gene-specific datasets and the implementation of a novel cis-element analysis tool indicate specific transcription factors as novel regulatory actors under HT response and CI protection. Heat treatment (HT) prior to cold storage (CS) has been successfully applied to ameliorate fruit chilling injury (CI) disorders. Molecular studies have identified several HT-driven benefits and putative CI-protective molecules and mechanisms. However, bioinformatic tools and analyses able to integrate fruit-specific information are necessary to begin functional studies and breeding projects. In this work, a HT-responsive gene dataset (HTds) and four fruit expression datasets (FEds), containing gene-specific information from several species and postharvest conditions, were developed and characterized. FEds provided information about HT-responsive genes, not only validating their sensitivity to HT in different systems but also revealing most of them as CS-responsive. A special focus was given to peach heat treatment-sensitive transcriptional regulation by the development of a novel Perl motif analysis software (cisAnalyzer) and a curated plant cis-elements dataset (PASPds). cisAnalyzer is able to assess sequence motifs presence, localization, enrichment and discovery on biological sequences. Its implementation for the enrichment analysis of PASPds motifs on the promoters of HTds genes rendered particular cis-elements that indicate certain transcription factor (TF) families as responsible of fruit HT-sensitive transcription regulation. Phylogenetic and postharvest expression data of these TFs showed a functional diversity of TF families, with members able to fulfil roles under HT, CS and/or both treatments. All integrated datasets and cisAnalyzer tool were deposited in FruitGeneDB (https://www.cefobi-conicet.gov.ar/FruitGeneDB/search1.php), a new available database with a great potential for fruit gene functional studies, including the markers of HT and CS responses whose study will contribute to unravel HT-driven CI-protection and select tolerant cultivars.

The effects of COVID-19 seem to extend beyond the physical pain and is showing psychiatric implications as well. Moreover, psychopathological implications seem to last also after patients' discharge. Our goal is to investigate the psychological impact and psychopathological outcome of patients affected by COVID-19.We have engaged 34 patients with COVID-19 conditions [eight of them were healthcare workers patients (HCW)] hospitalized at "Policlinico Gemelli Foundation" of Rome, Italy. All patients were evaluated through the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R) first, during their hospitalization (baseline), and then, after 4 months from hospital discharge (follow-up), through phone interviews.At baseline, 82% of patients revealed from mild to severe psychological impact of COVID-19, according to the IES-R. At follow-up, the mean IES-R total score was significantly decreased (p0.001) even if almost half (46.6%) of our cohort still showed it. HCW patients showed a significantly higher score than other patients at IES-R scale, both at baseline (p=0.005) and at follow-up (p0.001). Moreover, at 4 months from discharge, they showed a significantly higher percentage of moderate and severe distress (p=0.015). In addition to this, at follow-up, our cohort of patients showed an increase of anxiety symptoms, even if not significant compared to baseline (46.7% vs. 35.3% respectively; p=1.000), and HCW patients suffered more sleep disorders (p=0.019) and anxiety symptoms (p=0.019) compared to other patients.We indicate the importance of assessing psychopathology of COVID-19 survivors, monitoring their changes over time, and providing psychological support to improve their psychological well-being.

The emergence of old and new antibiotic resistance created in the last decades revealed a substantial medical need for new classes of antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial activity of sulfa drugs is often enhanced by complexation with metal ions, which is in concordance with the well-known importance of metal ions in biological systems. Besides, sulfonamides and its derivatives constitute an important class of drugs, with several types of pharmacological agents possessing antibacterial, anti-carbonic anhydrase, diuretic, hypoglycemic, antithyroid, antiviral and anticancer activities, among others. The purpose of this work has been the obtainment, characterization and determination of biological properties (antibacterial, antifungal, mutagenicity and phytotoxicity) of a new Co(III)-sulfathiazole complex: Costz, besides of its interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The reaction between sodium sulfathiazole (Nastz) and cobalt(II) chloride in the presence of H2O2 leads to a brown solid, [CoIII(stz)2OH(H2O)3], (Costz). The structure of this compound has been examined by means of elemental analyses, FT-IR, 1H NMR, UV–Visible spectrometric methods and thermal studies. The Co(III) ion, which exhibits a distorted octahedral environment, could coordinate with the N thiazolic atom of sulfathiazolate. The complex quenched partially the native fluorescence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), suggesting a specific interaction with the protein. The Costz complex showed, in vitro, a moderate antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus. As antibacterial, Costz displayed, in vitro, enhanced activity respective to the ligand against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Costz did not show mutagenic properties with the Ames test. In the Allium cepa test the complex showed cytotoxic properties but not genotoxic ones. These results may be auspicious, however, further biological studies are needed to consider the complex Costz as a possible drug in the future. Fil: Pontoriero, Ana Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Mosconi, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Monti, Laura Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Bellú, Sebastián Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Williams, Patricia Ana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; Argentina Fil: Raimondi, Marcela. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina Fil: Lima, Beatriz Viviana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Feresin, Gabriela Egly. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Nerli, Bibiana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Rizzotto, Marcela Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina

Background The diagnosis of ARVC is based on the structural assessment of the heart with 2D echocardiography (2DE) and cardiovascular MRI (CMR) to detect the presence of global and segmental right ventricular (RV) abnormalities. Little is known about the diagnostic value of 3D echocardiography (3DE) in ARVC. The aim of this study was to assess whether a combination of 2DE and 3DE could replace 2DE and CMR combination with similar diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected ARVC. Methods Thirty-nine subjects (59% males, 47±15 years, 41% with desmosomal mutations) with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of ARVC underwent evaluation of the RV with the use of CMR, 2DE, 3DE. 3DE and CMR were independently used to obtain RV volumes, ejection fraction and presence of segmental RV abnormalities. These studies were blindly classified as meeting none, minor, or major criteria for ARVC in accordance with the 2010 TFC. Kappa statistics were used to assess the concordance between 2DE-CMR and 2DE-3DE diagnostic approaches. Results Using the 2DE-CMR approach, patients were classified as follows: 5 not affected, 8 with possible, 9 with borderline and 17 with definite ARVC diagnosis. The evaluation of TFC criteria with the 2DE-3DE approach yielded a high degree of concordance with the standard of care (2DE-CMR approach, K=0.93 with 95% CI: 0.84–1.0). There was complete agreement between the 2DE-CMR and 2DE-3DE approaches for individuals with definite ARVC diagnosis (n=17) and in individuals not affected by ARVC (n=5). Two patients with possible and borderline ARVC diagnosis using the 2DE-CMR approach were confirmed as definite ARVC with 2DE-3DE approach. Contribution of 3D echo to ARVC Conclusions The use of 2D and 3D echocardiography allows bedside evaluation of patients with suspected ARVC, which is diagnostically comparable to that obtained using the traditional combination of 2DE-CMR. This information is particularly relevant for patients who cannot undergo CMR such as patients with ICD.

Aims: Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK (MASK) belongs to the Fondation Partenariale MACVIA-LR of Montpellier, France and aims to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the life cycle, whatever their gender or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease and to improve the digital transformation of health and care. The ultimate goal is to change the management strategy in chronic diseases. Methods: MASK implements ICT technologies for individualized and predictive medicine to develop novel care pathways by a multi-disciplinary group centred around the patients. Stakeholders: Include patients, health care professionals (pharmacists and physicians), authorities, patient's associations, private and public sectors. Results: MASK is deployed in 23 countries and 17 languages. 26,000 users have registered. EU grants (2018): MASK is participating in EU projects (POLLAR: impact of air POLLution in Asthma and Rhinitis, EIT Health, DigitalHealthEurope, Euriphi and Vigour). Lessons learnt: (i) Adherence to treatment is the major problem of allergic disease, (ii) Self-management strategies should be considerably expanded (behavioural), (iii) Change management is essential in allergic diseases, (iv) Education strategies should be reconsidered using a patient-centred approach and (v) Lessons learnt for allergic diseases can be expanded to chronic diseases. © 2019 The Author(s).

Peaches ripen and deteriorate rapidly at room temperature. Therefore, refrigeration is used to slow these processes and to extend fruit market life; however, many fruits develop chilling injury (CI) during storage at low temperature. Given that cell membranes are likely sites of the primary effects of chilling, the lipidome of six peach varieties with different susceptibility to CI was analyzed under different postharvest conditions. By using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS), 59 lipid species were detected, including diacyl- and triacylglycerides. The decreases in fruit firmness during postharvest ripening were accompanied by changes in the relative amount of several plastidic glycerolipid and triacylglyceride species, which may indicate their use as fuels prior to fruit senescence. In addition, levels of galactolipids were also modified in fruits stored at 0°C for short and long periods, reflecting the stabilization of plastidic membranes at low temperature. When comparing susceptible and resistant varieties, the relative abundance of certain species of the lipid classes phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and digalactosyldiacylglycerol correlated with the tolerance to CI, reflecting the importance of the plasma membrane in the development of CI symptoms and allowing the identification of possible lipid markers for chilling resistance. Finally, transcriptional analysis of genes involved in galactolipid metabolism revealed candidate genes responsible for the observed changes after cold exposure. When taken together, our results highlight the importance of plastids in the postharvest physiology of fruits and provide evidence that lipid composition and metabolism have a profound influence on the cold response. Fil: Bustamante, Claudia Anabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina Fil: Brotman, Yariv. Ben Gurion University of the Negev; Israel Fil: Monti, Laura Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina Fil: Gabilondo, Julieta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentina Fil: Budde, Claudio O.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentina Fil: Lara, Maria Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina Fil: Fernie, Alisdair R.. Institut Max Planck fur Molekulare Physiologie; Alemania Fil: Drincovich, Maria Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina

mHealth, such as apps running on consumer smart devices is becoming increasingly popular and has the potential to profoundly affect healthcare and health outcomes. However, it may be disruptive and results achieved are not always reaching the goals. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline using the best evidence-based approach to care pathways suited to real-life using mobile technology in allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. Patients largely use over-the-counter medications dispensed in pharmacies. Shared decision making centered around the patient and based on self-management should be the norm. Mobile Airways Sentinel networK (MASK), the Phase 3 ARIA initiative, is based on the freely available MASK app (the Allergy Diary, Android and iOS platforms). MASK is available in 16 languages and deployed in 23 countries. The present paper provides an overview of the methods used in MASK and the key results obtained to date. These include a novel phenotypic characterization of the patients, confirmation of the impact of allergic rhinitis on work productivity and treatment patterns in real life. Most patients appear to self-medicate, are often non-adherent and do not follow guidelines. Moreover, the Allergy Diary is able to distinguish between AR medications. The potential usefulness of MASK will be further explored by POLLAR (Impact of Air Pollution on Asthma and Rhinitis), a new Horizon 2020 project using the Allergy Diary. © 2018 The Author(s).

A discussion of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) for non–science majors (nonmajors) that summarizes the state of knowledge of best practices for nonmajors CUREs, identifies future research priorities, and recommends tools to align research questions with student outcomes., Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) for non–science majors (nonmajors) are potentially distinct from CUREs for developing scientists in their goals, learning objectives, and assessment strategies. While national calls to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education have led to an increase in research revealing the positive effects of CUREs for science majors, less work has specifically examined whether nonmajors are impacted in the same way. To address this gap in our understanding, a working group focused on nonmajors CUREs was convened to discuss the following questions: 1) What are our laboratory-learning goals for nonmajors? 2) What are our research priorities to determine best practices for nonmajors CUREs? 3) How can we collaborate to define and disseminate best practices for nonmajors in CUREs? We defined three broad student outcomes of prime importance to the nonmajors CURE: improvement of scientific literacy skills, proscience attitudes, and evidence-based decision making. We evaluated the state of knowledge of best practices for nonmajors, and identified research priorities for the future. The report that follows is a summary of the conclusions and future directions from our discussion.

New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a rare but challenging condition occurring in a previously healthy patient, often with no identifiable cause. We describe the electro-clinical features and outcomes in a group of patients with NORSE who all demonstrated a typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sign characterized by bilateral lesions of the claustrum. The group includes 31 patients (12 personal and 19 previously published cases; 17 females; mean age of 25 years). Fever preceded status epilepticus (SE) in 28 patients, by a mean of 6 days. SE was refractory/super-refractory in 74% of the patients, requiring third-line agents and a median of 15 days staying in an intensive care unit. Focal motor and tonic-clonic seizures were observed in 90%, complex partial seizures in 14%, and myoclonic seizures in 14% of the cases. All patients showed T2/FLAIR hyperintense foci in bilateral claustrum, appearing on average 10 days after SE onset. Other limbic (hippocampus, insular) alterations were present in 53% of patients. Within the personal cases,extensive search for known autoantibodies was inconclusive, though 7 of 11 patients had cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytic pleocytosis and 3 cases had oligoclonal bands. Two subjects died during the acute phase, one in the chronic phase (probable sudden unexplained death in epilepsy), and one developed a persistent vegetative state. Among survivors, 80% developed drug-resistant epilepsy. Febrile illness-related SE associated with bilateral claustrum hyperintensity on MRI represents a condition with defined clinical features and a presumed but unidentified autoimmune etiology. A better characterization of de novo SE is mandatory for the search of specific etiologies. © 2017 Meletti, Giovannini, d'Orsi, Toran, Monti, Guha, Kiryttopoulos, Pascarella, Martino, Alexopoulos, Spilioti and Slonkova.

Chilling and heat requirements for breaking dormancy and flowering were studied in 63 nectarine and118 peach genotypes (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) for seven years. We compared two methods for estima-tion of requirements and four models for calculation of chill accumulation: Chilling Hours (CH), ChillingUnits (CU), Positive Chilling Units (PCU) and Dynamic, while heat accumulations were estimated in grow-ing degree hours (GDH). Additionally, correlations between chilling requirements, heat requirements andflowering date were established. Our results suggest that the Luedeling model is better than the Alonsomodel to estimate chilling and heat requirements in our field conditions. Moreover, it is recommend-able to calculate the chill accumulation in accordance with the Chilling Hours or Positive Utah models.Additionally, since chilling requirements were positively correlated with flowering dates, they seem tobe important to regulate blooming in nectarine and peach genotypes. Fil: Maulión, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Valentini, Gabriel Hugo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Reg.buenos Aires Norte. Estacion Exptal.agrop.san Pedro; Argentina Fil: Kovalevski, Leandro. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Cs.economicas y Estadistica. Escuela de Estadistica; Argentina Fil: Prunello, Marcos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina Fil: Monti, Laura Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Daorden, María Elena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Reg.buenos Aires Norte. Estacion Exptal.agrop.san Pedro; Argentina Fil: Quaglino, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Cs.economicas y Estadistica. Escuela de Estadistica; Argentina Fil: Cervigni, Gerardo Domingo Lucio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina

Le fratture di clavicola sono state per anni trattate incruentemente con buoni risultati clinico-funzionali; l’avvento delle nuove placche anatomiche self-locking ha portato alcuni Autori a rivedere l’algoritmo terapeutico, preferendo il trattamento chirugico in pazienti selezionati. Abbiamo arruolato, in un periodo di tempo di 2 anni, 78 fratture di clavicola cosi divise: un gruppo di 38 pazienti e stato sottoposto a sintesi con placca conformata anatomica mentre 40 sono stati trattati conservativamente mediante bendaggio “a otto”. Tutti i pazienti sono stati valutati clinicamente e radiograficamente a 1–3–6–12 mesi dal trauma. Dai risultati ottenuti e emerso che il trattamento chirurgico e quello conservativo presentano risultati clinici e funzionali sovrapponibili a un anno dal trauma. La ripresa funzionale e la ripresa dell’attivita sportiva sono state piu precoci nel gruppo dei pazienti chirurgici. La grande soddisfazione dei pazienti per il rapido e poco doloroso recupero funzionale ci porta a preferire la sintesi rigida al tratamento conservativo.

Fil: Lauxmann, Martin Alexander. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosinteticos y Bioquimicos (i); Argentina

Reconfiguration of the metabolome is a key component involved in the acclimation to cold in plants; however, few studies have been devoted to the analysis of the overall metabolite changes after cold storage of fruits prior to consumption. Here, metabolite profiling of six peach varieties with differential susceptibility to develop mealiness, a chilling-injury (CI) symptom, was performed. According to metabolic content at harvest; after cold treatment; and after ripening, either following cold treatment or not; peach fruits clustered in distinct groups, depending on harvest-time, cold treatment, and ripening state. Both common and distinct metabolic responses among the six varieties were found; common changes including dramatic galactinol and raffinose rise; GABA, Asp, and Phe increase; and 2-oxo-glutarate and succinate decrease. Raffinose content after long cold treatment quantitatively correlated to the degree of mealiness resistance of the different peach varieties; and thus, raffinose emerges as a candidate biomarker of this CI disorder. Xylose increase after cold treatment was found only in the susceptible genotypes, indicating a particular cell wall reconfiguration of these varieties while being cold-stored. Overall, results indicate that peach fruit differential metabolic rearrangements due to cold treatment, rather than differential metabolic priming before cold, are better related with CI resistance. The plasticity of peach fruit metabolism renders it possible to induce a diverse metabolite array after cold, which is successful, in some genotypes, to avoid CI. Fil: Bustamante, Claudia Anabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina Fil: Monti, Laura Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina Fil: Gabilondo, Julieta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentina Fil: Scossa, Federico. Institut Max Planck fur Molekulare Physiologie; Alemania Fil: Valentini, Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentina Fil: Budde, Claudio O.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Pedro; Argentina Fil: Lara, Maria Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina Fil: Fernie, Alisdair R.. Institut Max Planck fur Molekulare Physiologie; Alemania Fil: Drincovich, Maria Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentina

The reaction between phthalylsulfathiazole (H(2)PST), in alkaline aqueous solution, and cobalt(II) nitrate led to a pink solid, [Co(PST)(H(2)O)(4)] (1), which was characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analysis; FT-IR, Raman and diffuse reflectance spectra. Spectroscopic data reveal that the ligand would be doubly deprotonated and that the Co(II) ion environment is a distorted octahedral one. (1) showed antibacterial activity similar to the ligand.

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Peach (Prunus persica) fruits from different varieties display differential organoleptic and nutritional properties, characteristics related to their chemical composition. Here, chemical biodiversity of peach fruits from fifteen varieties, at harvest and after post-harvest ripening, was explored by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Metabolic profiling revealed that metabolites involved in organoleptic properties (sugars, organic and amino acids), stress tolerance (raffinose, galactinol, maltitol), and with nutritional properties (amino, caffeoylquinic and dehydroascorbic acids) displayed variety-dependent levels. Peach varieties clustered into four groups: two groups of early-harvest varieties with higher amino acid levels; two groups of mid- and late-harvest varieties with higher maltose levels. Further separation was mostly dependent on organic acids/raffinose levels. Variety-dependent and independent metabolic changes associated with ripening were detected; which contribute to chemical diversity or can be used as ripening markers, respectively. The great variety-dependent diversity in the content of metabolites that define fruit quality reinforces metabolomics usage as a tool to assist fruit quality improvement in peach. Fil: Monti, Laura Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Bustamante, Claudia Anabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Osorio, Sonia. Institut Max Planck Fur Molekulare Physiologie; Alemania Fil: Gabilondo, Julieta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Borsani, Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Lauxmann, Martin Alexander. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Maulión, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Valentini, Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Budde, Claudio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Fernie, Alisdair. Institut Max Planck Fur Molekulare Physiologie; Alemania Fil: Lara, Maria Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina Fil: Drincovich, Maria Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (i); Argentina

Background: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has been proposed as a possible cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: The CoSMo study evaluated the association between CCSVI and MS. Methods: The primary end-point of this multicentric, case-control study was to compare the prevalence of CCSVI between patients with MS, patients with other neurodegenerative diseases (ONDs) and healthy controls (HCs). Color-coded duplex sonography was performed by a sonologist and the images were sent to one of three central sonologists for a second reading. Agreement between local and central sonologists or, in case of disagreement, the predominant judgment among the three central readers, was required for a diagnosis of CCSVI. All readings, data collection and analysis were blinded. Results: The study involved 35 MS centers across Italy and included 1874 subjects aged 18–55. 1767 (94%) were evaluable: 1165 MS patients, 226 patients with ONDs and 376 HCs. CCSVI prevalence was 3.26%, 3.10% and 2.13% for the MS, OND and HC groups, respectively. No significant difference in CCSVI prevalence was found amongst the three cohorts (MS versus HC, OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 0.72–3.36, p = 0.30; OND versus HC, OR = 1.47, 95%CI = 0.53–4.11, p = 0.46; MS versus OND, OR = 1.05, 95%CI = 0.47–2.39, p = 0.99). High negative and low positive agreement was found between the local and centralized readers. Conclusions: CCSVI is not associated with MS.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leucoencephalopathy (HIVL) is an uncommon and rapidly progressive form of AIDS dementia complex (ADC) that has remained poorly understood. Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ADC, is predominantly localised in macrophages in the HIV infected brain, although in vitro studies indicate that neurones can express this cytokine. Objective: To examine the clinical/neuroradiological features of HIVL and the expression of TNFα in HIVL. Methods: Six patients who presented with rapidly progressive dementia within four to 12 weeks of the primary manifestation of their HIV infection were evaluated. Clinical history, treatment regimens, and imaging studies were reviewed, and brain samples from three of the patients were studied by means of immunohistochemistry. Results: Imaging studies showed diffuse bilateral deep white matter changes in all six patients. Clinical and imaging abnormalities improved in five of the six patients within weeks after initiation of antiretroviral treatment. Brain biopsies of two showed pronounced microglia/macrophage activation, but only scant viral protein (gp41) expression. Staining for TNFα was found in microglia/macrophages, and surprisingly, in neurones also. Postmortem analysis of a third patient also showed TNFα expression in neurones of the frontal cortex and basal ganglia. Conclusion: This study provides the first demonstration of staining for TNFα in the neurones of the HIV infected brain, and suggests that the process underlying this rapidly progressive form of ADC may reflect indirect mechanisms mediated by host factors, particularly TNFα.

This review deals with the differences between Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans in their mitotic and polytene chromosomes. The description of the mitotic karyotypes of D. melanogaster and D. simulans is mainly based on the methods that allow to differentiate their euchromatin from their heterochromatin: banding patterns, distribution of satellite DNAs and location of the rDNA. The polytene chromosomes karyotypes are known for many years to differ by a major paracentric inversion on chromosome 3 and minor few differences. The main difference take place in their chromosomal polymorphism: D. melanogaster is highly polymorphic while D. simulans has long been known to be a monomorphic species. In fact, despite worldwide studies of natural populations for both species, only 14 unique inversions have been described for D. simulans while more than 500 inversions are already known for D. melanogaster.

limiti degli attuali sistemi urbanistici per la gestione delle trasformazioni architettoniche e funzionali del territorio di Ravenna

We describe a 16-year-old female affected by septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) with digital anomalies as additional feature. This rare developmental anomaly of midline brain structures can result from different pathogenetical events, including mutations of the homeo box gene HESX1, recently suggested as the etiological cause at least in a subset of patients. The absence of mutational involvement of this gene in our patient led us to consider, in alternative terms of pathogenesis, the maternal multidrug abuse occurring during pregnancy. Our report, in accord with previous experimental evidences, points out that illicit drug use might have played a causative role in brain development anomalies, thus our patient could represent an additional case of birth defects caused by a prenatal toxic exposure. The neurologic abnormalities and the clinical history of the patient are extensively reviewed. The need to include the SOD phenotype amongst the possible teratogenic effects of multidrug abuse is evidenced.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the ability of bedside lung ultrasound todiagnose and quantify pleural effusion in pediatricpatients submitted to liver transplantation, in compari-son with supine chest radiograph.Patients and methods30 pediatric patients (mean age: 36 months, mean PIM211%) with end stage liver failure submitted to livertransplantation from living/dead donor (split). All thepatients during the first three postoperative days weresubmitted to supine chest radiograph and bedside lungultrasound, during mechanical ventilation or NIV.Three measurements were made in first, second, andthird postoperative day: chest x-ray was performed witha portable set; bedside lung ultrasound detected thepleural effusion at the PLAPS (posterolateral alveolar orpleural syndromes) point. The depth of the pleural effu-sion was evaluated according with the quad sign: thespace outlined between the pleural line and the pulmon-ary line (indicating the visceral pleura).Atelectasis, lung consolidation and pleural effusion arecommon in pediatric patients submitted to liver transplan-tation during the first postoperative days: chest radiographshowed to lack sensitivity in detecting pleural effusion andin differentiating atelectasis from pleural effusion, which iseasy instead with lung ultrasound.Ultrasound can detect the echogenicity of the effusionand help to assess the nature of it, measuring also itseffective volume.Statistically lung ultrasound has better sensitivity (80%)and specificity (90%), compared to chest radiograph,respectively 70% and 70%.ConclusionLung ultrasound is more sensitive and even more speci-fic in comparison to chest radiograph to detect andmeasure pleural effusion in children submitted to livertransplantation.

Acute severe exacerbations of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) represent a medical emergency in children and adults. Intravenous steroids remain the first line therapy for this condition, although the steroid refractoriness is common. Second-line therapy, based on the infliximab or thiopurines should be started if no response to corticosteroids is noted. The use of infliximab in children with acute severe UC, nevertheless, does not avoid the colectomy in all cases.We present a case of severe acute UC in a paediatric patient successfully treated with thalidomide following the failed treatment with infliximab and a review of the literature.This is the first case of a patient presenting with acute severe UC who was treated with thalidomide, with favorable evolution. In our case the use of this drug was able to avoid the colectomy that represent the conventional but very invasive recommended therapeutic option of this condition. Therefore, thalidomide may be considered as rescue therapy in selected and carefully monitored cases of acute severe CU.

Genomic analysis of a large set of phages infecting the common host Mycobacterium smegmatis mc 2 155 shows that they span considerable genetic diversity. There are more than 20 distinct types that lack nucleotide similarity with each other, and there is considerable diversity within most of the groups. Three newly isolated temperate mycobacteriophages, Bongo, PegLeg, and Rey, constitute a new group (cluster M), with the closely related phages Bongo and PegLeg forming subcluster M1 and the more distantly related Rey forming subcluster M2. The cluster M mycobacteriophages have siphoviral morphologies with unusually long tails, are homoimmune, and have larger than average genomes (80.2 to 83.7 kbp). They exhibit a variety of features not previously described in other mycobacteriophages, including noncanonical genome architectures and several unusual sets of conserved repeated sequences suggesting novel regulatory systems for both transcription and translation. In addition to containing transfer-messenger RNA and RtcB-like RNA ligase genes, their genomes encode 21 to 24 tRNA genes encompassing complete or nearly complete sets of isotypes. We predict that these tRNAs are used in late lytic growth, likely compensating for the degradation or inadequacy of host tRNAs. They may represent a complete set of tRNAs necessary for late lytic growth, especially when taken together with the apparent lack of codons in the same late genes that correspond to tRNAs that the genomes of the phages do not obviously encode. IMPORTANCE The bacteriophage population is vast, dynamic, and old and plays a central role in bacterial pathogenicity. We know surprisingly little about the genetic diversity of the phage population, although metagenomic and phage genome sequencing indicates that it is great. Probing the depth of genetic diversity of phages of a common host, Mycobacterium smegmatis , provides a higher resolution of the phage population and how it has evolved. Three new phages constituting a new cluster M further expand the diversity of the mycobacteriophages and introduce novel features. As such, they provide insights into phage genome architecture, virion structure, and gene regulation at the transcriptional and translational levels.

Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate hexahydrate) is an antiviral agent used to treat cytomegalovirus disease in immunocompromised patients. One common side effect is acute ionized hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia following intravenous administration. Foscarnet-induced ionized hypomagnesemia might contribute to ionized hypocalcemia by impairing excretion of preformed parathyroid hormone (PTH) or by producing target organ resistance. Prevention of ionized hypomagnesemia following foscarnet administration could blunt the development of ionized hypocalcemia. To determine whether intravenous magnesium ameliorates the decline in ionized calcium and/or magnesium following foscarnet infusions, MgSO 4 at doses of 1, 2, and 3 g was administered in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial to 12 patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus disease. Overall, increasing doses of MgSO 4 reduced or eliminated foscarnet-induced acute ionized hypomagnesemia. Supplementation, however, had no discernible effect on foscarnet-induced ionized hypocalcemia despite significant increases in serum PTH levels. No dose-related, clinically significant adverse events were found, suggesting that intravenous supplementation with up to 3 g of MgSO 4 was safe in this chronically ill population. Since parenteral MgSO 4 did not alter foscarnet-induced ionized hypocalcemia or symptoms associated with foscarnet, routine intravenous supplementation for patients with normal serum magnesium levels is not recommended during treatment with foscarnet.

The conceptual design of the European Facility for Industrial Transmutation, EFIT has been carried out in the framework of the EUROTRANS European Integrated Project for the study of a European Transmutation Demonstrator, ETD, a modular sub-critical system for high level waste burning. The present configuration considered for evaluation is a 400 MWth lead cooled sub-critical reactor, loaded with Uranium-Free MA-based (about 50%) oxide fuel, with at least –3000 pcm of reactivity, any time, and a target variation for k-effective of about 300 pcm/cycle (1 year). The fuel composition and geometry have been optimised in order to reduce the radial peak factor, enhancing the burning efficiency with respect to a short-life core (3-5 years). The Beginning Of Life (BOL), Beginning Of Cycle (BOC) and End Of Cycle (EOC) configurations were studied with the Monte Carlo MCNP-5 code for criticality calculations, in order to complement the reference calculations performed with the ERANOS deterministic code.

Sexual dysfunction affect a large part of patient suffering from multiple sclerosis, but some aspect of i clinical presentation and aetiology are not clearly defined yet. In an unselected sample of 108 patient with definite multiple sclerosis we investigated the relationship between symptoms of sexual dysfunctioning and sphincteric dysfunction, patient' and disease characteristics, disability and neurological impairment psychological and cognitive functioning. Sexual dysfunction directly correlated with presence of physical disorders (r=0.37, P=0.0004) low educational level (r=0.32, P

A spectrum of Encapsulated Nuclear Heat Source (ENHS) reactors have been conceptually designed over the last few years [1-10]; they span a power range from less than 100 MWth to over 200 MWth and consider a number of coolants and fuel types. Common features of all these designs include very long life cores – approaching or exceeding 20 effective full power years; nearly zero burnup reactivity swing; natural circulation; superb safety; autonomous load following capability; no on-site refueling; simplicity of operation and maintenance. These features make the ENHS and the like reactors of particular interest for developing countries because of the following reasons: they can provide (a) energy to communities not connected to a central electricity grid even in countries having limited technological infrastructure; (b) energy security with minimum risk of proliferation. Following a brief description of the reference ENHS reactor design (Sec. 2) we’ll elaborate on the unique features of these reactors and discuss how these features could make these reactors of particular interest for developing countries (Sec. 3). A partial summary of different ENHS design options developed so far is provided in Section 4; it considers only Pb-Bi cooled uniform fuel core designs.