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APETALA2/ethylene response factors (AP2/ERFs) transcription factors (TFs) have greatly expanded in land plants compared to algae. In angiosperms, AP2/ERFs play important regulatory functions in plant defenses against pathogens and abiotic stress by controlling the expression of target genes. In the moss Physcomitrium patens , a high number of members of the ERF family are induced during pathogen infection, suggesting that they are important regulators in bryophyte immunity. In the current study, we analyzed a P. patens pathogen-inducible ERF family member designated as PpERF24. Orthologs of PpERF24 were only found in other mosses, while they were absent in the bryophytes Marchantia polymorpha and Anthoceros agrestis , the vascular plant Selaginella moellendorffii , and angiosperms. We show that PpERF24 belongs to a moss-specific clade with distinctive amino acids features in the AP2 domain that binds to the DNA. Interestingly, all P. patens members of the PpERF24 subclade are induced by fungal pathogens. The function of PpERF24 during plant immunity was assessed by an overexpression approach and transcriptomic analysis. Overexpressing lines showed increased defenses to infection by the fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides evidenced by reduced cellular damage and fungal biomass compared to wild-type plants. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that PpERF24 positively regulates the expression levels of defense genes involved in transcriptional regulation, phenylpropanoid and jasmonate pathways, oxidative burst and pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. These findings give novel insights into potential mechanism by which PpERF24 increases plant defenses against several pathogens by regulating important players in plant immunity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Reboledo, Agorio, Vignale, Alvarez and Ponce De León.)

In the recent years, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) has received increasing attention due to their significant toxic effects on human beings and wildlife by affecting their endocrine systems. As an important group of emerging pollutant, EDCs have been detected in various aquatic environments, including surface waters, groundwater, wastewater, runoff, and landfill leachates. Their removal from water resources has also been an emerging concern considering growing population as well as reducing access to fresh water resources. EDC removal from wastewaters is highly dependent on physicochemical properties of the given EDCs present in each wastewater types as well as various aquatic environments. Due to chemical, physical and physicochemical diversities in these parameters, variety of technologies consisting of physical, biological, electrochemical, and chemical processes have been developed for their removal. This review highlights that the effectiveness of EDC removal is highly dependent of selecting the appropriate technology; which decision is made upon a full wastewater chemical characterization. This review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective about all the current technologies used for EDCs removal from various aquatic matrices along with rising challenges such as the antimicrobial resistance gene transfer during EDC treatment., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as well as the development of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs), have become an increasing concern for public health and management. As bulk water travels from source to tap, it may accumulate contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as antibiotics and heavy metals. When these CECs and other selective pressures, such as disinfection, pipe material, temperature, pH, and nutrient availability interact with planktonic cells and, consequently, DWDS biofilms, AMR is promoted. The purpose of this review is to highlight the mechanisms by which AMR develops and is disseminated within DWDS biofilms. First, this review will lay a foundation by describing how DWDS biofilms form, as well as their basic intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms. Next, the selective pressures that further induce AMR in DWDS biofilms will be elaborated. Then, the pressures by which antibiotic and heavy metal CECs accumulate in DWDS biofilms, their individual resistance mechanisms, and co-selection are described and discussed. Finally, the known human health risks and current management strategies to mitigate AMR in DWDSs will be presented. Overall, this review provides critical connections between several biotic and abiotic factors that influence and induce AMR in DWDS biofilms. Implications are made regarding the importance of monitoring and managing the development, promotion, and dissemination of AMR in DWDS biofilms., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Key Message: Evolutionary conserved defense mechanisms present in extant bryophytes and angiosperms, as well as moss-specific defenses are part of the immune response of Physcomitrium patens. Bryophytes and tracheophytes are descendants of early land plants that evolved adaptation mechanisms to cope with different kinds of terrestrial stresses, including drought, variations in temperature and UV radiation, as well as defense mechanisms against microorganisms present in the air and soil. Although great advances have been made on pathogen perception and subsequent defense activation in angiosperms, limited information is available in bryophytes. In this study, a transcriptomic approach uncovered the molecular mechanisms underlying the defense response of the bryophyte Physcomitrium patens (previously Physcomitrella patens) against the important plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. A total of 3.072 differentially expressed genes were significantly affected during B. cinerea infection, including genes encoding proteins with known functions in angiosperm immunity and involved in pathogen perception, signaling, transcription, hormonal signaling, metabolic pathways such as shikimate and phenylpropanoid, and proteins with diverse role in defense against biotic stress. Similarly as in other plants, B. cinerea infection leads to downregulation of genes involved in photosynthesis and cell cycle progression. These results highlight the existence of evolutionary conserved defense responses to pathogens throughout the green plant lineage, suggesting that they were probably present in the common ancestors of land plants. Moreover, several genes acquired by horizontal transfer from prokaryotes and fungi, and a high number of P. patens-specific orphan genes were differentially expressed during B. cinerea infection, suggesting that they are important players in the moss immune response., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature.)

This work presents the design and validation of an instrument for dual-slope broadband diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. This instrument affords calibration-free, continuous-wave measurements of broadband absorbance of optically diffusive media, which may be translated into absolute absorption spectra by adding frequency-domain measurements of scattering at two wavelengths. An experiment on a strongly scattering liquid phantom (milk, water, dyes) confirms the instrument's ability to correctly identify spectral features and measure absolute absorption. This is done by sequentially adding three dyes, each featuring a distinct spectral absorption, to the milk/water phantom. After each dye addition, the absorption spectrum is measured, and it is found to reproduce the spectral features of the added dye. Additionally, the absorption spectrum is compared to the absorption values measured with a commercial frequency-domain instrument at two wavelengths. The measured absorption of the milk/water phantom quantitatively agrees with the known water absorption spectrum ( R 2 = 0.98), and the measured absorption of the milk/water/dyes phantom quantitatively agrees with the absorption measured with the frequency-domain instrument in six of eight cases. Additionally, the measured absorption spectrum correctly recovers the concentration of one dye, black India ink, for which we could accurately determine the extinction spectrum (i.e., the specific absorption per unit concentration). The instrumental methods presented in this work can find applications in quantitative spectroscopy of optically diffusive media, and particularly in near-infrared spectroscopy of biological tissue., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic pathogen that causes grey mold in many plant species, including crops and model plants of angiosperms. B. cinerea also infects and colonizes the bryophyte Physcomitrium patens (previously Physcomitrella patens ), which perceives the pathogen and activates defense mechanisms. However, these defenses are not sufficient to stop fungal invasion, leading finally to plant decay. To gain more insights into B. cinerea infection and virulence strategies displayed during moss colonization, we performed genome wide transcriptional profiling of B. cinerea during different infection stages. We show that, in total, 1015 B. cinerea genes were differentially expressed in moss tissues. Expression patterns of upregulated genes and gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that infection of P. patens tissues by B. cinerea depends on reactive oxygen species generation and detoxification, transporter activities, plant cell wall degradation and modification, toxin production and probable plant defense evasion by effector proteins. Moreover, a comparison with available RNAseq data during angiosperm infection, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Solanum lycopersicum and Lactuca sativa , suggests that B. cinerea has virulence and infection functions used in all hosts, while others are more specific to P. patens or angiosperms.

Purpose: the aim of this study was to present the results of a conservative treatment for adhesive capsulitis based on an original protocol of combined pharmacological and rehabilitation treatment., Methods: fifty-two patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis were enrolled in the present study. The treatment protocol included the use of hyaluronic acid and anaesthetic periarticular and intra-articular injections followed by a specific program of capsule and muscle stretching., Results: the results of this treatment showed complete recovery of range of motion (ROM) in 50 of the 52 cases. The mean pre-treatment ROM values were: 85° for forward elevation, 75° for abduction, 25° for external rotation, and 15° for internal rotation. The post-treatment mean ROM values showed marked improvements: 175° for forward elevation, 175° for abduction, 87.5° for external rotation and 75° for internal rotation., Conclusions: conservative treatment of adhesive capsulitis based on a combined pharmacological and rehabilitation approach was found to be effective in resolving pain and stiffness in 96% of the patients., Level of Evidence: level IV, therapeutic case series.

A lethal case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a 42-year-old woman with a history of bipolar psychiatric disorder under treatment with haloperidol is reported. The patient, hospitalized many times in the past for psychiatric treatment, was then admitted for treatment of a relapse of the disease during a exceedingly hot period. The patient complained of hallucinations and stomach ache. It was necessary to increase the dose of haloperidol to 2 mg, 3 times a day, and to give a single dose of perphenazine enanthate 100 mg. All tests proved normal except for CPK 274 U/l and urea 14 mg/dl. On hospital day 2, went into coma with high temperature, diaphoresis, polyuria, leucocytosis (WBC count 15,440 U/mm3), urea 7 mg/dl, LDH 425 U/l, Na 114 mEq/l, K 2.5 mEq/l. The rapid improvement following hypertonic saline treatment encouraged a diagnosis of water intoxication. On hospital day 7, continuing with the haloperidol treatment, the patient developed a high temperature and deterioration torpor. On hospital day 9, the patient went back into coma with temperature over 40 degrees C (104 degrees F), with fine myoclonia most visible on the face, and muscular rigidity. The CPK, rose from 5,169 to 28,060 U/l in less than 24 hours; the serum myoglobin rose to 41,000 ug/l. On day hospital 11 developed renal, cardiac and respiratory insufficiency. The picture deteriorated and dantrolene was no longer of use in controlling the fever. Then with a fever of over 42 degrees (108 degrees F) and the CPK at 50,000 the patient died. The autopsy demonstrated widespread rhabdomyolysis, a picture of widespread aspecific shock in all organs and picture of myoglobin-induced tabular necrosis of the kidney.

The authors describe a case of ectopic tracheal bronchus (TB) in a 42 years old female. This TB presented bronchiectasis determining various episodes of inflammation in the pulmonary district depending on it. The result of those episodes was atelectasis and fibrotic alterations of the superior right lobe. The mean diagnostic procedure was bronchography. Surgical treatment was performed (superior right lobectomy) with a good result controlled in a 5 year follow-up.

The paper describes the clinical, X-ray and functional aspects of lung involvement in a case of CREST syndrome, a variant of systemic sclerosis. The characteristic signs of the disease were associated in this patient with lung involvement in the form of widespread interstitial fibrosis complicated by the presence of alveolar cysts in the lower lobes. The state of severe chronic respiratory insufficiency was the most unfavourable factor in the prognosis for this patient, in particular in the light of the disappointing response to corticosteroid therapy.

The relevance of cytologic procedures in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions is evaluated. Pleural fluid sample obtained from 48 patients with malignant disease (39 metastatic tumors, 9 mesotheliomas), were studied to search for cancer cells. The results were: 32 (66.6%) patients had a cytologic diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions; 16 malignant specimens were not confirm by pleural fluid cytologic analysis. In our experience the cytologic diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions are more frequent in metastatic disease, especially in lung cancer.

A young AIDS patient was admitted to the Intensive Therapy ward of our hospital with ARDS. The case raised the question of how medical and nursing personnel should face the problem of "suitable treatment for a terminally ill patient". Therapy was based on invasive methods such as mechanical ventilation and the insertion of catheters to monitor vital parameters. The evolution of ARDS in MOFS revealed the difficulty of sustaining vital parameters and avoiding pluriorganic damage.

Thirty-six patients, 24 normocapnic (mean age +/- SD: 60 +/- 10) and 12 hypercapnic (mean age +/- SD: 64 +/- 9) were compared with a control group (10 volunteers, mean age +/- SD: 46 +/- 8) for the following patterns of respiratory drive and respiratory timing: (1) mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti); (2) mouth occlusion pressure 100 ms after the onset of inspiration (P 0.1) and minute ventilation (Ve); (3) inspiratory duty cycle Ti/Tt). The data suggest COPD "respiratory patterns" which may be characterized by the following features: (1) increased mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti); (2) increased P 0.1 (in absolute values), P 0.1/Ve and P 0.1/Vt/Ti; (3) reduction in inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Tt). Changes are more evident in inspiratory duty cycle among hypercapnic pts. When respiratory obstruction becomes worse and hypercapnia appears, the Ti/Tt decrease could be explained by a reduction in diaphragm muscle work, that can prevent the failure of diaphragmatic contractility.

The following indexes were measured in 10 normal volunteers and 25 symptomatic asthmatic patients: --tidal volume (VT), breathing frequency (f), minute ventilation (Ve); --forced expiratory volume in 1 s. (FEV1), vital capacity (VC), residual volume (RV) and partial pressure of 02-C02 in arterial blood (Pa02-C02); --mean inspiratory flow (VT/Ti); --inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Tt). Our data suggest a "ventilatory pattern" of the asthmatic patients may be characterized by the following features: --increasing of tidal volume (VT) and minute ventilation (Ve); --increasing of the mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti); --reduction of inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Tt). This suggest that the breathing pattern may help to differentiate symptomatic asthmatic patients form patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have similar degrees of pulmonary hyperinflation, but breathe with faster rates and slightly elevated tidal volumes.

Data emerging from forced, basal and postbronchodilator expirograms in asymptomatic allergic rhinitis patients have been compared with those from a group of normal controls. Basal averages and average percentage variations after the bronchodilator show that MEF 75, FEF 25-75 and, to a lesser extent, FEV1 are able to differentiate atopic rhinitis patients from the normal. Comparison between percentages in patients arbitrarily considered bronchodilator positive in the two groups reveals significant differences in MEF 75 and FEF 25-75 but not in FVC and FEV1. Atopic rhinitis patients feature increased basal bronchial tone largely maintained by latent bronchospasm. Measurement of forced, basal and postbronchodilator flows can supply useful indications for the study of allergic rhinitis patients.

One of the most important problems, of very difficult solution, in organizing an A/E department is to co-ordinate the emergency in the field. This peculiar task is carried on by an operative central station, the core of an A/E Dept. The organizer in Arezzo try to find out the efficiency and a cost benefit ratio of this central station and try to jump over an historical hindrance to operate by mutual consent with voluntary service. This seems to be possible with the technological development of telephone system and broadcast system. Staff, technical qualifications, connections, reception, modulation, sorting out of different calls are discussed in conjunction with problems of health education concerning the operative central station that coordinates A/E Dept in Arezzo.

While organizing the Catchment area of A/E Department in Arezzo, a recording of intervention time of prehospital care system (primary transport) was made by land. The analysis recorded that one third of the field on the Catchment area of the A/E Dept was in a red dangerous zone reachable in 15 minutes and more. Such analysis confirmed the importance of local operation bonds all for a correct redistribution of ambulances in the Catchment area and a rational choice of vans and staff suitable for an advanced life support only where and when really necessary.