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Historical sheep farming in the Patagonian drylands has led to reduced grass cover, soil erosion, and shrub encroachment, compromising ecosystem function. Effective restoration requires managing shrub cover, bare soil, and patch connectivity through various strategies. This study evaluates rehabilitation interventions in a grass-steppe ecosystem, comparing grazed and ungrazed areas. Over three years, we tested the following: (a) mechanical shrub cutting with biomass redistribution, and (b) enhancing patch connectivity with Pinus spp. branch piles, alongside controls, in eighteen 5 m × 5 m plots invaded by Mulinum spinosum. Half of the plots were fenced to exclude grazing, resulting in six treatment combinations. We monitored soil properties, vegetation cover, and species composition. The treatments explained twice as much of the variation in community composition as the annual climatic variations (0.26 vs. 0.13). Livestock exclusion increased perennial grass cover more than the grazed plots did (2.14 vs. 1.42 times the initial measure). All treatments reduced the amount of bare soil except the grazed controls. Shrub cutting, especially with grazing, increased the lasting litter coverage by 5–10% and decreased the bare soil equivalently. Organic matter increased except in the non-intervened interpatches (0.95 times). The enclosures with cut shrubs trapped erodible particles, showing a 5% increase. Our study highlights that grazing destabilizes communities, while enclosures stabilize them, with interventions improving soil fertility and mitigating erosion.

Carlo Rostagno,1,2 Giulio Maria Mannarino,2 Alessandro Cartei,2 Gaia Rubbieri,2 Alice Ceccofiglio,2 Anna Maria Gori,1– 4 Roberto Civinini,3 Rossella Marcucci1– 4 1Dipartimento Medicina sperimentale e clinica, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; 2Medicina Interna e Post-Chirurgica, AOU Careggi, Firenze, Italy; 3Traumatologia e Ortopedia, AOU Careggi, Firenze, Italy; 4Malattie aterotrombotiche, AOU Careggi, Firenze, ItalyCorrespondence: Carlo Rostagno, Asssociate Professor of Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy, Email carlo.rostagno@unifi.itPurpose: Aim of the present study was to evaluate whether monitoring direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) levels may improve management of anticoagulated patients who need surgery for hip fracture.Patients and Methods: A total of 147 out of 2231 (7.7%) patients with hip fracture admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital were on DOACs (group A), whereas 206 patients matched for age, sex, and type of fracture not on anticoagulant or P2Y12 platelet inhibitors were considered as control group (group B). Patients on DOACs were divided into two subgroups: A1 in which intervention was scheduled in relation to the last drug intake according to current guidelines, and A2 included patients in whom time of surgery (TTS) was defined according to DOAC levels. Neuraxial anesthesia was considered with DOAC levels < 30 ng/mL, general anesthesia for levels in the range 30– 50 ng/mL.Results and conclusions: TTS was significantly lower in controls than in DOAC patients: surgery within 48 hours was performed in 80.6% of group B versus 51% in group A (p< 0.0001). In A2, 41 patients underwent surgery within 48 hours (56%) in comparison to 32 A1 patients (45.1%; p=0.03). TTS and length of hospitalization were on average 1 day lower in patients with assay of DOAC levels. Finally, 35/39 (89%) patients with DOAC levels < 50 ng/mL had surgery within 48 hours (26 under neuraxial anesthesia, without any neurological complication, and 13 in general anesthesia).Conclusion: DOAC assay in patients with hip fracture may be useful for correct definition of time to surgery, particularly in patients who are candidates for neuraxial anesthesia. Two-thirds of patients with DOAC levels < 50 ng/mL at 48 hours from last drug intake underwent uneventful neuraxial anesthesia, saving at least 24 hours in comparison to guidelines.Keywords: fragility fractures, oral anticoagulants, DOAC assay, safety

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the energy values and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids of corn, corn protein meal (CPM), corn germ (CG), and dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in broiler diets. In the first experiment, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) values were determined using the total excreta collection method. A total of 240 14-day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments, including four different feed ingredients and a reference diet, each with eight replicates of six birds. In the second experiment, to determine the coefficient values of amino acids, 240 birds aged 14 to 28 days were randomly assigned to five treatments, including four different feed ingredients and a nitrogen-free diet, each with eight replicates of six birds. At 28 days of age, birds were slaughtered, and the digesta were collected to determine the standardized ileal digestibility coefficients and, subsequently, the digestibility of amino acids. The AMEn for corn, CPM, CG, and DDGS is 3178, 2171, 2473, and 3398 kcal/kg, respectively. The metabolizability coefficient of the AMEn percentages are 68.03% for corn, 46.62% for CPM, 44.15% for CG, and 73.39% for DDGS. The average digestibility of essential amino acids in corn, CPM, CG, and DDGS is 92.55, 52.63, 73.07, and 81.51%, respectively. For non-essential amino acids, the average digestibility in corn, CPM, CG, and DDGS is 90.59, 54.36, 70.20, and 79.47%, respectively, with an overall average of 85.21%.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is a potential source of bioactive phenolic compounds such as ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin. This work explores the efficiency of natural deep eutectic solvents combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for their extraction. Five NaDESs were evaluated by employing UAE (25 °C, for 50 min) to determine their total phenolic content (Folin–Ciocalteu assay) and ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin contents (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD)). The NaDES composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol (Gly) (1:2, molar ratio) was the most efficient in the UAE when compared with the rest of the NaDESs and water extracts. Therefore, ChCl:Gly was further evaluated using PLE at different temperatures (40, 80, 120 and 160 °C). The PLE-NaDES extract obtained at 80 °C for 20 min at 1500 psi exhibited the highest contents of ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin compared to the rest of the temperatures and PLE-water extracts obtained under the same extraction conditions. Combining UAE or PLE with a NaDES emerges as a sustainable alternative for extracting ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin from pomegranate peel.

Key Clinical Message Neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, and progressive mental confusion should not be overlooked as onset symptoms of multiple cerebral ischemic lesions due to cardiac embolization. Comprehensive clinical evaluation due to progressive anemia led to the diagnosis of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction as cause of embolizing nonbacterial mitral endocarditis.

Background: Music Therapy (MT) is a non-pharmacological, art-based intervention that employs music experiences within a therapeutic alliance to attend to clients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, and social requirements. This is the first study aiming at investigating the impact of MT on the psychological facets of children suffering from cancer. Methods: The study, combining the AQR and m-YPAS assessment tools, evaluated behavioral, sound–musical, and interactive parameters in pediatric oncology patients undergoing MT sessions during hospitalization. Fifty patients admitted to the Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Unit at Policlinico S. Orsola Hospital in Bologna, Italy, were enrolled, irrespective of their treatment regimen. Data collection occurred on the first day of the MT session between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with observations conducted by independent observers. In addition to traditional statistical analysis, network analysis was used to explore the combined interactions of all parameters, effectively discerning the distinctive roles played by each one during therapy sessions and their influence on all others. Results: Network analysis highlighted distinct patterns of interactions among parameters during the various sessions, emphasizing the role of positive emotions and a calm setting, the child’s ability to take the initiative in sessions, their sense of agency, and the parent’s role in guiding them. Significant differences were recorded at each time point between all variables considered. Conclusions: The results of this innovative study may pave the way for future multicenter studies aimed at further exploring the role of MT in children undergoing both curative and palliative treatments for cancer.

The main motivation for this research was to improve the properties of geopolymers by reinforcement using synthetic and natural fibers, and to gain new knowledge regarding how the nature and/or the quantity of reinforcement fibers influences the properties of the final geopolymers. The main objective was to investigate the effects of different types of reinforcement fibers on the properties of the geopolymers. These reinforcement fibers were mainly environmentally friendly materials that can be used as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement. The authors used fly ash and river sand as the raw materials for the matrix, and added carbon fibers (CF), flax fibers (FF), or a hybrid of both (CFM) as reinforcements. The samples were prepared by mixing, casting, and curing, and then subjected to various tests. The main research methods used were compressive strength (CS), flexural strength (FS), water absorption (WA), abrasion resistance (Böhme’s disk method), microstructure analysis (SEM), chemical composition (XRF), and crystal structure analysis (XRD). The results showed that the addition of fibers partially improved the mechanical properties of the geopolymers, as well as reducing microcracks. The CF-reinforced geopolymers exhibited the highest compressive strength, while the FF-reinforced geopolymers showed the lowest water absorption. The authors, based on previous research, also discussed the factors that influence fiber-matrix adhesion, and the optimal fiber content for geopolymers.

Cardiac involvement, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, can be a severe complication of monkeypox virus (mpox) infection and could be related to other co-infections with cardiac involvement. Tecovirimat is an antiviral specifically designed to inhibit smallpox infection diffusion and approved by the FDA for other Orthopoxvirus infections; its efficacy in mpox-infected patients is not well established.We present the case of a cardiac complication during mpox infection in a previously undiagnosed Lyme disease in a 42-year-old man living with HIV.Two days after the typical maculopapular rash, the patient reported a rise in body temperature up to 39 °C, chest pain without irradiation, and shortness of breath. We found an increase in troponin level, a slight reduction in ejection fraction, and grade 2 AV block (Mobitz 1 and 2) with frequent sinus pauses (the longest of 10.1 s). Given the suspicion of myopericarditis with cardiac conduction system involvement, the patient was admitted to the Intermediate Care Unit for continuous monitoring and further evaluation. Treatment included Ibuprofen 600 mg every 12 hours (bid) and colchicine 1 mg once daily for anti-inflammatory purposes. Concomitantly, treatment with tecovirimat was started at 600 mg bid for a total of 14 days. Cardiac MRI with gadolinium showed mild interstitial edema and pericardial enhancement. However, despite the clinical and laboratory resolution of the acute phase, bradycardia with episodes of AV block persisted at follow-up, suggesting the possibility of an additional etiology. Thus, the patient was investigated for Lyme disease because high-degree AV block is the most common presentation of Lyme carditis. Serological results evidenced a previous Borrelia burgdorferi senso latu. We decided to start treatment with doxycycline 100 mg every 12h, even pending the uncertainty of the role of a previous Lyme disease in determining the cardiac rhythm disturbances. At the evaluation on day 44, the patient was systemically well, and after cardiologist consultation, pace-maker implantation was not deemed indicated.This case underscores the importance of considering alternative causes of carditis when the clinical picture remains unclear or persists after the acute phase.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) recently caused recurrent outbreaks in Europe and Italy, and the occurrence of neuroinvasive disease (WNND) was observed in less than 1% of cases, mainly older patients with several comorbidities. Due to the high mortality and post-infectious sequelae, the prognosis of this illness was frequently poor. Methods: In this case-series we reported the clinical outcomes of 7 patients hospitalized for WNND in the summer 2023 in our center of Infectious Disease in Vercelli, Italy. Results: Patients were generally older and affected by several comorbidities; at hospital admission fever and postural instability were most common symptoms; mortality rate observed was 42.8%; presence of neurological sequelae was detected in 28.6%. Diagnostic PCR for WNV was performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 42.8% and urine sample in 57.1%. Treatment is supportive or with corticosteroids. Conclusion: WNND is a severe illness that may affect a vulnerable population especially in the summer period and requires a prompt diagnosis and knowledge of clinical characteristics and risk factors. Environmental intervention are required in the control of spread of mosquito vectors.

ABSTRACTSediment discharge events in the lower basin of the Chubut River (Patagonia, Argentina) associated with rainfall events generate serious problems for drinking water purification of more than 250,000 inhabitants and the support of livestock farming activity of about 42,000 ha in the region. Identifying the areas of potential sediment contribution to the Chubut River and the conditions necessary for erosion and sediment transfer is of vital importance to mitigate the negative impact of sediment discharge into the river and to establish water management plans.We conducted a detailed geomorphological study in a 110 km2 tributary watershed of the Chubut River (Sagmata pilot Basin), and identify potential sediment production zones. We based our analyzes on concomitant studies that indicate that the sediment remobilization is linked to the location of the drainage networks, especially in regions associated with badlands and erosional scarps formed on Paleogene continental deposits.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the supplementation of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins on the performance and plasma concentrations of vitamins in modern hybrids pigs. A total of 144 commercial hybrid castrated male, 43.531 ± 1.099kg, were used in a randomized block design with six treatments, eight replicates and three animals per pen. The experimental treatments were different vitamin supplementation levels - 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of the recommended by Rostagno et al. (2011) for male pigs in growth I (40 to 50kg), growth II (50 to 70kg), and finishing I (70 to 90kg) phases. For growth phases I and II, a linear effect (P

This study assessed the effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on 8- to 20-day-old broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 180 Cobb500™ male chicks were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups, each comprising 10 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. Treatments included a control diet (CON), CON with LPS administration, and CON + LPS supplemented with 10 mg of HT/kg of feed. LPS was administered intraperitoneally on days 14, 16, 18, and 20. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. On day 20, ten birds per treatment were slaughtered for analysis. Bursa, spleen, and liver were collected, and their respective relative weight was determined. The jejunum was destined for morphological analyses of villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and their ratio (VH:CD), and for mRNA expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and interleukins 10 (IL-10), 1 beta (IL-1β), and 8 (IL-8). HT improved BW, BWG, and FCR, and reduced crypt depth (CD) while increasing the VH:CD ratio in the jejunum. Moreover, HT downregulated mRNA expression of CAT, GPx, IL-10, and IL-1β. In conclusion, HT enhances broiler growth performance, mitigates jejunal mucosa damage from LPS, and modulates antioxidant and immune responses.

Aβ deposition is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Besides the full-length amyloid forming peptides (Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42), biochemical analyses of brain deposits have identified a variety of N- and C-terminally truncated Aβ variants in sporadic and familial AD patients. However, their relevance for AD pathogenesis remains largely understudied. We demonstrate that Aβ4-42 exhibits a high tendency to form β-sheet structures leading to fast self-aggregation and formation of oligomeric assemblies. Atomic force microscopy and electrophysiological studies reveal that Aβ4-42 forms highly stable ion channels in lipid membranes. These channels that are blocked by monoclonal antibodies specifically recognizing the N-terminus of Aβ4-42. An Aβ variant with a double truncation at phenylalanine-4 and leucine 34, (Aβ4-34), exhibits unstable channel formation capability. Taken together the results presented herein highlight the potential benefit of C-terminal proteolytic cleavage and further support an important pathogenic role for N-truncated Aβ species in AD pathophysiology.

Carlo Rostagno,1 Alessandro Cartei,2 Gaia Rubbieri,2 Alice Ceccofiglio,2 Roberto Civinini,3 Massimo Curcio,2 Gianluca Polidori,2 Alberto Boccaccini4 1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 2Department of Internal and Post-Surgery Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy; 3Department of Orthopaedics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 4Department of Anaesthesia, AOU Careggi, Florence, ItalyCorrespondence: Carlo Rostagno, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy, Tel +390557948545, Email carlo.rostagno@unifi.itBackground: In elderly patients with hip fracture, the prevalence of severe aortic stenosis (valve area < 1 cm2) is close to 5%. Few studies have evaluated the prognostic role of aortic stenosis in hip fracture surgery and none has considered the effects of the postoperative setting (intensive care unit vs general ward) on clinical outcome.Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors affecting mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing surgery for hip fracture. We also evaluated whether postoperative monitoring in the intensive care unit may affect the prognosis in comparison to return to the general ward after surgery.Patients and Methods: All 2274 patients referred for hip fracture to our tertiary teaching hospital between January 1 2015 and December 31 2019 were screened for the presence of severe aortic stenosis, defined by an aortic valve area < 1.0 cm2.Results: The study included 66 patients (27 males, 39 females) with a mean±SD age of 85± 7 years. The average time between trauma and surgery was 2.6± 3 days. The mean aortic valve area was 0.74± 0.15 cm2. Seven patients died during hospitalization (10.4%). Diabetes, having two or more comorbidities, a low degree of autonomy, heart failure, history of coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, postoperative delirium and pulmonary hypertension were associated with poorer outcome. In logistic multivariate analysis, the number of diseases and values of pulmonary artery pressure were the only independent factors related to mortality. In hospital mortality (12 and 9%, respectively) and complication rates were not statistically different between patients referred to the intensive care unit for postoperative monitoring and patients returned to the general ward after surgery.Conclusion: In patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, severe aortic stenosis is associated with high hospital mortality, and two or more comorbidities and pulmonary hypertension are associated with a worse prognosis. The postoperative setting (intensive care unit or general ward) does not affect outcome.Keywords: aortic stenosis, prognosis, hip fracture, elderly

The sunflower Helianthus annuus L. represents the 4th largest oilseed cultivated area worldwide. Its balanced amino acid content and low content of antinutrient factors give sunflower protein a good nutritional value. However, it is underexploited as a supplement to human nutrition due to the high content of phenolic compounds that reduce the sensory quality of the product. Thus, this study aimed at obtaining a high protein and low phenolic compound sunflower flour for use in the food industry by designing separation processes with high intensity ultrasound technology. First, sunflower meal, a residue of cold-press oil extraction processing, was defatted using supercritical CO2 technology. Subsequently, sunflower meal was subjected to different conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds. The effects of solvent composition (water: ethanol) and pH (4 to 12) were investigated using different acoustic energies and continuous and pulsed process approaches. The employed process strategies reduced the oil content of sunflower meal by up to 90% and reduced 83% of the phenolic content. Furthermore, the protein content of sunflower flour was increased up to approximately 72% with respect to sunflower meal. The acoustic cavitation-based processes using the optimized solvent composition were efficient in breaking down the cellular structure of the plant matrix and facilitated the separation of proteins and phenolic compounds, while preserving the functional groups of the product. Therefore, a new ingredient with high protein content and potential application for human food was obtained from the residue of sunflower oil processing using green technologies.

ABSTRACT: Metabolism and digestibility trials were performed on broiler chickens to determine 1) nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) using total excreta collection and 2) standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) using the ileal digesta collection from high-protein dried distillers’ grains (HP-DDG) and corn bran with solubles (CBS). The results of the metabolism trial indicated that AMEn values for HP-DDG and CBS were 3,334 kcal/kg and 2,083 kcal/kg on dry matter (DM) basis, respectively. Concerning the HP-DDG, the digestibility trial resulted in the following SIAAD values and digestible concentrations, respectively: 80.33% and 1.09 for Lys, 85.95% and 1.44 for Met + Cys, 75.58% and 1.24 for Thr, 89.58% and 1.66 for Arg, 84.91% and 1.08 for His, 86.37% and 1.35 for Ile, 90.64% and 4.56 for Leu, 85.76% and 1.80 for Val, and 88.67% and 1.90 for Phe. Concerning the CBS, the following SIAAD values and digestible concentrations were measured, respectively: 79.29% and 0.44 for Lys, 89.57% and 0.31 for Met + Cys, 78.89% and 0.40 for Thr, 92.28% and 0.66 for Arg, 87.48% and 0.36 for His, 93.40% and 0.35 for Ile, 92.27% and 1.01 for Leu, 90.97% and 0.51 for Val, and 88.81% and 0.45 for Phe. The digestibility average of CBS is 88.45% for essential amino acids and 85.21% for nonessential amino acids, whereas the digestibility average of HP-DDG is 85.83% for essential amino acids and 83.83% for nonessential amino acids.

El artículo analiza, desde la perspectiva de la semiodata y la semiótica de las mediatizaciones, la circulación de sentido en torno a un acontecimiento de suma relevancia política para Argentina: los alegatos en una de las causas de corrupción contra la actual vicepresidenta Cristina Fernández de Kirchner –causa comúnmente conocida como “Vialidad” u “Obra Pública”–. Con el fin de describir dicho flujo de sentido, analizamos los intercambios producidos en la plataforma mediática Twitter. ¿Qué flujos y contraflujos podemos observar en Twitter? ¿Cuáles fueron los hashtags preponderantes? ¿Qué papel cumplen, en estos casos, las cuentas falsas? El estudio se realizó a partir de la recolección de los tweets producidos en Argentina desde el 27 de julio al 23 de agosto de 2022, período en el que se desarrollaron las audiencias acusatorias. Dicha recolección se llevó a cabo a partir de ciertas palabras clave y hashtags preseleccionados, tarea que se efectuó mediante un pequeño script utilizando el lenguaje de programación Python en conjunto con la librería de software libre denominada Tweepy, que permite conectarse a Twitter y escuchar en tiempo real los tweets publicados. Los resultados a los que arribamos nos llevaron a la utilización de un modelo que pudiera identificar cuentas falsas y nos permitiera conocer el impacto que las mismas tuvieron en la discusión pública.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on performance, fat, and blood parameters of broilers. In total, 960 male chicks were distributed into four treatments groups with 12 replicates with 20 birds per pen, with varying HT levels (0, 5, 10, and 50 mg/kg of feed) added to the basal diet from 1 to 42 days old. Feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. Enzymes related to liver injury were evaluated in blood. Fatty acid profile and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were determined in the breast meat. Dietary supplementation of HT did not improve broilers’ performance (p > 0.05). Birds fed 50 mg HT/kg had lower AST, ALT, and GGT concentrations (p ≤ 0.05), whereas broilers fed 5, 10, and 50 mg HT/kg, had lower TBIL concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Breast meat of broilers fed 50 mg HT/kg had lower lipid content, saturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acids, MDA concentrations (p ≤ 0.05), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.0001). In summary, supplementation of 5, 10, and 50 mg HT/kg does not improve the performance of broilers, but the dose of 50 mg HT/kg helps the liver against inflammation and improves fat parameters.

Abstract This study aimed to describe and compare, at a national level, the measures implemented in the pediatric onco-hematology units and the number of infections among patients and healthcare staff during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. A multicenter, descriptive, online survey was conducted between15th March and 15th April 2020 (T1) and between 1 and 31st January 2021 (T2). All the Italian Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Association (AIEOP) centers were invited to participate in the study. Data of the pre-pandemic, first, and second phase were compared. Thirty-six of the 48 AIEOP centers completed the survey (75%). Several organizational, screening, and swab measures were implemented by AIEOP centers to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients and visitors. During the pandemic, there was a significant reduction in the number of onco-hematology inpatient beds (p

Abstract Background The molecular heterogeneity of Alzheimer’s amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits extends well beyond the classic Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 dichotomy, substantially expanded by multiple post-translational modifications that increase the proteome diversity. Numerous truncated fragments consistently populate the brain Aβ peptidome, and their homeostatic regulation and potential contribution to disease pathogenesis are largely unknown. Aβ4-x peptides have been reported as major components of plaque cores and the limited studies available indicate their relative abundance in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the topographic distribution of Aβ4-x species in well-characterized AD cases using custom-generated monoclonal antibody 18H6—specific for Aβ4-x species and blind for full-length Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42—in conjunction with thioflavin-S and antibodies recognizing Aβx-40 and Aβx-42 proteoforms. Circular dichroism, thioflavin-T binding, and electron microscopy evaluated the biophysical and aggregation/oligomerization properties of full-length and truncated synthetic homologues, whereas stereotaxic intracerebral injections of monomeric and oligomeric radiolabeled homologues in wild-type mice were used to evaluate their brain clearance characteristics. Results All types of amyloid deposits contained the probed Aβ epitopes, albeit expressed in different proportions. Aβ4-x species showed preferential localization within thioflavin-S-positive cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cored plaques, strongly suggesting poor clearance characteristics and consistent with the reduced solubility and enhanced oligomerization of their synthetic homologues. In vivo clearance studies demonstrated a fast brain efflux of N-terminally truncated and full-length monomeric forms whereas their oligomeric counterparts—particularly of Aβ4-40 and Aβ4-42—consistently exhibited enhanced brain retention. Conclusions The persistence of aggregation-prone Aβ4-x proteoforms likely contributes to the process of amyloid formation, self-perpetuating the amyloidogenic loop and exacerbating amyloid-mediated pathogenic pathways.

Este artículo parte de una investigación que indaga cómo enuncian los diarios argentinos Clarín y La Nación en sus cuentas oficiales en Facebook, qué tipo de vínculos proponen allí a sus lectores/usuarios/seguidores, y cómo se ha ido transformando ello a lo largo del tiempo. Desde mediados del siglo XX hasta los primeros años 90, la prensa de información general vivió una etapa de considerable estabilidad que se vio interrumpida por el desarrollo de la Web. Tras el desembarco obligado de sus versiones online, hemos sido testigos, casi ininterrumpidamente, de las transiciones que estos medios han debido afrontar para adaptarse y contener a un público lector que, en la actualidad, concentra su atención en una diversidad de plataformas mediáticas. Situados en ese marco, se aborda aquí, específicamente, el período comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2016 y el 31 de diciembre de 2017, en lo que atañe tanto a cantidad, tipo y frecuencia de los posteos según franja horaria, como a las configuraciones del texto del post en su relación con el título del enlace a la nota —frecuentemente publicada en el sitio web del medio—. Todos los hallazgos presentados son producto de un estudio que combina el análisis sociosemiótico con el empleo de herramientas y métodos computacionales que permiten la recopilación, el procesamiento y la visualización de una cantidad masiva de datos y metadatos provenientes de la plataforma en cuestión.

ABSTRACT The objective was to determine the standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) in soybean meal (SBM), corn + SBM, wheat + SBM and a protein free diet (PFD) associated with phytase. A total of 672 Cobb 500 (493±10g) male chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with twelve treatments (PFD, PFD + SBM, PFD + corn + SBM and PFD + wheat + SBM, supplemented with 0, 500 and 1000 FTU), eight replicates and seven birds per cage from 14 to 23 days. Phytase supplementation at 500 FTU increased the SIAAD of methionine in SBM (P0.05) for the SIAAD of methionine, arginine and histidine in wheat + SBM as the phytase supplementation. However, the SIAAD of lysine, threonine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, valine, cystine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, serine and tyrosine differed (P

Objective A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental levels of Mn provided by organic and inorganic trace mineral supplements on growth, tissue mineralization, mineral balance, and antioxidant status of growing broiler chicks. Methods A total of 500 male chicks (8-d-old) were used in 10-day feeding trial, with 10 treatments and 10 replicates of 5 chicks per treatment. A 2×5 factorial design was used where supplemental Mn levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg Mn/kg diet) were provided as MnSO4·H2O or MnPro. When Mn was supplied as MnPro, supplements of zinc, copper, iron, and selenium were supplied as organic minerals, whereas in MnSO4·H2O supplemented diets, inorganic salts were used as sources of other trace minerals. Performance data were fitted to a linear-broken line regression model to estimate the optimal supplemental Mn levels. Results Manganese supplementation improved body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with chicks fed diets not supplemented with Mn. Manganese in liver, breast muscle, and tibia were greatest at 50, 75, and 100 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet, respectively. Higher activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (total-SOD) were found in both liver and breast muscle of chicks fed diets supplemented with inorganic minerals. In chicks fed MnSO4·H2O, ADG, FCR, Mn balance, and concentration in liver were optimized at 59.8, 74.3, 20.6, and 43.1 mg supplemental Mn/kg diet, respectively. In MnPro fed chicks, ADG, FCR, Mn balance, and concentration in liver and breast were optimized at 20.6, 38.0, 16.6, 33.5, and 62.3 mg supplemental Mn/kg, respectively. Conclusion Lower levels of organic Mn were required by growing chicks for performance optimization compared to inorganic Mn. Based on the FCR, the ideal supplemental levels of organic and inorganic Mn in chick feeds were 38.0 and 74.3 mg Mn/kg diet, respectively.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different exogenous protease and carbohydrase in broiler diets on the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) of soybean meals (SBM) in two Brazilian regions (Minas Gerais-MG and Rio Grande do Sul-RS). The total excreta collection of 528 14-d-old chicks was used to determine AMEn in a completely randomized design in a 2 (SBM MG and RS) x 5 (enzyme A, B, C, D and basal diet) + 1 (reference diet, RD) factorial arrangement, totaling 11 treatments, 8 repetitions, and 6 birds per experimental unit. Two experimental treatments (T1 and T6) without enzyme supplementation formulated with SBM MG and RS were used as negative control (NC). The RD without the inclusion of SBM MG and RS was used to correct the nitrogen balance. To determine the SIAAD, ileal content was collected from of broilers and the same experimental design and treatments of the previous trial were used except for the RD, which was replaced with a nitrogen-free diet (NFD) to quantify the excretion of endogenous amino acids. Soybean meal from MG showed the highest levels (p

The antimicrobial and antileukemic effect of a purified fraction of flavonoids from the leaves of Camellia sinensis was evaluated. An extraction yield of 9.77 mg.g-1 total flavonoids was recovered through a pressurized liquid extraction associated with solid-phase extraction. This fraction was tested against pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Enterococcus), considering the minimum inhibitory concentration. In addition, the human monocyte cell line THP-1, derived from a patient with acute monocytic leukemia, was used for the antitumor assay. The results show that the flavonoid-rich fraction obtained by coupling a Pressurized Liquids Extraction in-line with a Solid Phase Extraction (PLE-SPE) has a high antimicrobial effect and resulted in cell cycle blockage G0 / G1, increased DNA fragmentation, and altered leukemic cell morphology. These results suggest that a flavonoid-rich fraction obtained from Camellia sinensis can be applied as potential adjuvants in chemotherapy treatment to mitigate the side effects caused by chemotherapy or even as a supplement to cancer therapy.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el síndrome eutiroideo enfermo (SEE) es la principal anomalía endocrinológica en enfermos críticos. La presencia y gravedad del SEE se asocia a peor evolución clínica. OBJETIVO: conocer la prevalencia del SEE en niños críticamente enfermos y su correlación con la gravedad y resultado clínico de la enfermedad. MATERIALYMÉTODO: estudio prospectivo, observacional y analítico en niños críticamente enfermos internados en terapia intensiva entre mayo de 2019 y mayo de 2020. Se definió al SEE como la alteración tiroidea en enfermos críticos sin patología hipotálamo-hipófiso-tiroidea preexistente. Las variables analizadas fueron: edad, sexo, duración de internación, decesos, requerimiento de ventilación mecánica e inotrópicos, diagnóstico al ingreso, PIM3. Para variables cualitativas se utilizó test de Chi cuadrado, para variables cuantitativas, test de Wilcoxon. RESULTADOS: de 47 pacientes estudiados, 28 (60%) presentaron SEE. No hubo diferencias respecto a sexo (p>0,999), decesos (p>0,999) ni uso de inotrópicos (p=0,1564). Hubo asociación significativa entre SEE y más días de internación (p= 0.0390) y mayor requerimiento de ventilación mecánica invasiva (p= 0.0261) y entre valores bajos de hormonas tiroideas y mayor coeficiente y probabilidad de mortalidad del PIM3 (p

Abstract Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time from trauma to surgery and on in-hospital clinical outcomes (blood losses, need for transfusion, mortality) in patients with hip fracture. Moreover we evaluated the adherence to current guidelines regarding the time from last drug intake and surgery. In this observational retrospective study clinical records of patients admitted for hip fracture from January 2016 to January 2019 were reviewed. 74 patients were in treatment with DOACs at hospital admission. Demographic data, comorbidities and functional status before trauma were retrieved. As control group we evaluated 206 patients not on anticoagulants matched for age, gender, type of fracture and ASA score. Time to surgery was significantly longer in patients treated with DOACs (3.6 + 2.7 vs. 2.15 ± 1.07 days, p

ABSTRACT Apparent calcium (Ca) retention and digestibility coefficients are affected by limestone particle size in the diet of laying hens. This study aimed to determine the apparent retention and digestibility coefficients of Ca in limestone of different particle sizes in laying hens. The study comprised 288 Lohmann Brown laying hens (50 weeks of age; 1,964 ± 98 g) distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement [three Ca concentrations (10, 20, and 30 g kg–1) × two limestone particle sizes (480 and 1,978 µm)] with eight repetitions per treatment and six birds per experimental unit. The experiment included five days for adaptation and five days for total excreta collection. All birds were slaughtered at the end of the ten days to collect the ileal contents. The total or ileal Ca content was plotted against the Ca of diets concentration using linear regression analysis. The regression line slope represented the apparent retention (CaR) and digestibility coefficients of Ca (CaD) in limestone. There was interaction between Ca concentration in the diet and limestone granulometry on CaD (p = 0.001) and CaR (p < 0.001). The CaD and CaR of fine- and coarse-grained limestone increased linearly with increasing Ca concentrations in the diet. The apparent digestibility coefficients estimated for laying hens fed with fine-grained and coarse-grained limestone were 0.72 and 0.35, respectively. The apparent retention coefficients estimated for laying hens fed fine-grained and coarse-grained limestone were 0.96 and 0.47, respectively.

In this work, a method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA) was developed to comprehensively analyze phenolic compounds in peels of lime (Citrus × latifolia), lemon (Citrus limon), and rangpur lime (Citrus × limonia). The reverse-phase separation was achieved with a C18 fused-core column packed with the smallest particles commercially available (1.3 um). The method was successfully coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), allowing the detection of 24 phenolic compounds and five limonoids in several other citrus peels species: key lime, orange and sweet orange, tangerine, and tangerine ponkan, proving the suitability for comprehensive analysis in citrus peel matrices. Additionally, the developed method was validated according to the Food and drug administration (FDA) and National Institute of Metrology Quality and Technology (INMETRO) criteria, demonstrating specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision according to these guidelines. System suitability parameters such as resolution, tailoring, plate count were also verified.

Abstract Background Selenium (Se) has been recognized as an essential micronutrient for nearly all forms of life. In recent decades, broiler responses to dietary Se supplemental levels and sources have received considerable attention. On environmental grounds, organic trace mineral utilization in practical broiler feeds has been defended due to its higher bioavailability. In such feeds, trace minerals are provided simultaneously in the same supplement as inorganic salts or organic chelates, a fact commonly ignored in assays conducted to validate organic trace mineral sources. The current assay aimed to investigate growth and biochemical responses, as well as Se retention of growing chicks fed diets supplemented with organic and inorganic Se levels and where the trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese, and iron) were provided as organic chelates or inorganic salts according to Se source assessed. In so doing, a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement was used to investigate the effects of sodium selenite (SS) and selenium-yeast (SY) supplemented in feeds to provide the levels of 0, 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, and 0.32 mg Se/kg. Results Chicks fed selenium-yeast diets had body weight (BW), and average daily gain (ADG) maximized at 0.133 and 0.130 mg Se/kg, respectively. Both Se sources linearly increased (P

In this study, a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) has been used to optimize the recovery of bioactive compounds from jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) by-products through microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Thus, the Box-Behnken (BBD) experimental design was followed by a response surface methodology (RSM) that would allow investigating the influence of the four independent variables (temperature, solvent composition, pH, and sample-solvent ratio) that have been considered. The results revealed that temperature and solvent composition (%MeOH) were the most significant factors regarding the yields of anthocyanins obtained from the studied plant matrix. The established optimized conditions and 10-min-extraction time resulted in yields of 9.70 ± 0.28 mg g−1 of total anthocyanins. The method exhibited good repeatability and intermediate precision, with RSD variations lower than 5% for both parameters. The developed process was also able to extract and identify anthocyanins in commercial samples (jabuticaba pulp and jam). The results obtained from the optimized MAE method suggest that this technique is not only efficient for the recovery of anthocyanins from jabuticaba by-products, but it is also beneficial for a circular economy approach.

Summary: Two experiments were carried out to determine the apparent metabolizable energy, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), and the standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (corn-DDGS), without or with the singular supplementation of protease and phytase in broiler diets. One hundred sixty-eight male Cobb 500 broilers (experiment 1) were nutrient-properly fed to 13 D of age. At 14 D of age, broilers were fed one of four experimental diets (reference diet, reference diet + corn-DDGS, reference diet + corn-DDGS with 200 mg/kg of protease, or that with 100 mg/kg of phytase for 10 D). There was an effect (P 0.05) of the supplementation with protease and phytase on AMEn values. In experiment 2, one hundred sixty-eight male Cobb 500 broiler chickens were nutrient-adequately fed from 1 to 24 D of age. On D 24, broilers were allocated to 4 treatments (nitrogen-free diet [NFD], NFD + corn-DDGS, NFD with corn-DDGS with 200 mg/kg of protease, or that with 100 mg/kg of phytase for 5 D) in a completely randomized design. The SIAAD of all amino acids was increased (P