Larch wood waste: a functional fiber for late gestating and lactating sows

In the first part of the study, the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of larch fiber waste from five Italian woodworking companies (n=3 each) were evaluated to verify possible differences in their composition. Setting up a cascade extraction process, the consecutive hexane, methanol and water extracts were analysed by UPLC-PDA, to quantify the presence of target flavonoids (taxifolin, TXF; dihydrokaempferol, DHK), and terpenoids (larixol, LX; larixyl acetate, LXA). The antioxidant activity (expressed as EC50) was determined by the ABTS assay. In the hexane extract, LX and LXA were quantified up to 15.7 % and 14.50 % w/w dry extract respectively, while in the methanol extract, TXF and DHK were present up to 23.20 % and 24.00 % w/w dry extract, respectively. The methanol and water extract had particularly rewarding EC50 of 0.002 and 0.012 mg/mL, respectively. In the second part of the study, a preliminary evaluation of larch fiber supplementation in sows during late gestation and lactation was considered

A 10-Year Follow-Up of an Approach to Restore a Case of Extreme Erosive Tooth Wear

Background: In recent years, thanks to the improvement of adhesive techniques, patients affected by tooth wear, related to erosion and/or parafunctional habits, can undergo restoration by adding only what has been lost of their dentition (additive approach). However, since not all clinicians are convinced that dental rehabilitation should be proposed in the early stages of exposed dentin, several treatments are often postponed. It is important to emphasize that, in the early stages, the clinical approach should remain conservative, focusing on dietary counseling, the modification of harmful habits, fluoride application, and risk factor management. Only when these preventive and non-invasive strategies prove insufficient, and the condition continues to progress, should invasive restorative treatments be considered. Unfortunately, epidemiological studies are reporting an increase in the number of young patients affected by erosive tooth wear, and not intercepting these cases earlier could lead to a severe degradation of the affected dentition. In addition, parafunctional habits are also becoming more frequent among patients. The combination of erosion and attrition can be very destructive, and may progress rapidly once dentin is exposed and the risk factors remain unaddressed. The aim of this report was to present a conservative full-mouth rehabilitation approach for severe erosive lesions and to provide a 10-year follow-up assessing the biological, functional, and esthetic outcomes. Methods: In this article, the postponed restorative treatment of a patient, suffering from severe tooth wear, is illustrated. The patient had sought dental treatment in the past; however, due to the already very compromised dentition, a conventional but very aggressive treatment was proposed and refused. Four years later, when the patient finally accepted an alternative conservative therapy, the tooth degradation was very severe, especially at the level of the maxillary anterior teeth. The combination of three different approaches, Speed-Up Therapy, BOPT (Biologically-Oriented Preparation Technique), and the 3 Step Technique, however, improved the capacity to successfully complete the difficult therapeutic task. Results: The biological goals (maintenance of the pulp vitality of all of the teeth and the minimal removal of healthy tooth structure) were accomplished, relying only on adhesive techniques. Conclusions: The overall treatment was very comfortable for the patient and less complicated for the clinician. At 10-year follow-up, biological, functional, and esthetic success was still confirmed

Escrever-se como baratas: autobiografias/autozoografias em Adília Lopes e Eliane Brum

By analyzing the poem “Autobiografia sumária”, published in 1987 by Portuguese poet Adília Lopes, in A pão e água de colônia and “Autobiografia de uma barata”, included in Meus desacontecimentos: A história da minha vida com as palavras (2014), by Brazilian writer and journalist Eliane Brum, the article investigates the implications of the cockroach figure in both autobiographical texts. Following the ideas of “zoo-ontology”, by Adriana Cavarero, and “bio- egalitarianism”, by Rosi Braidotti, the article aims to show how the presence of the radical alterity of the insect challenges the distance between bios and zoé. Starting from the theoretical positions of Braidotti, Cavarero, and Julia Kristeva on the cultural meanings linked to insects, to the space of abjection, the feminine and the maternal, and investigating the metamorphosis of subjectivities operated by the two authors when disorganizing the form of the autobiography, the article proposes to reinterpret these excerpts as modes of writing that open passages between forms of living – human and more-than-human – enabling a rapprochement between the two, and moving towards an “autozoographical” writing

Reliability of Self-Monitoring of Intraocular Pressure With iCare Home2 Rebound Tonometry

Précis: Using iCare Home2 (iCare, Finland) rebound tonometry, self-measurement of intraocular pressure has demonstrated good reliability and ease of use. Purpose: To investigate the reliability and repeatability of self-measured intraocular pressure (IOP) with rebound tonometry using iCare Home2. Patients and Methods: One hundred four patients out of 110 consecutive patients were recruited for this observational cross-sectional study. One randomly selected eye from each patient underwent 6 consecutive IOP measurements with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), iCare IC200, and iCare Home2. Every eye was tested twice with each device, in random order, by an ophthalmologist for GAT and IC200, and by the patient itself for Home2. In addition, central corneal thickness (CCT) has been collected. The reliability of Home2 has been tested by calculating limits of agreement (LoA) between self-measured and physician-measured IOP, using the Bland-Altman analysis. The repeatability of each device has been tested by calculating the limits of repeatability (LoR) with the same method. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between differences in IOP measurements and CCT. Results: The mean difference between GAT and iCare Home2 was −0.28 ± 1.57 mmHg (P = 0.070), 95%-LoA: (−3.36 to 2.79 mmHg). The mean difference between IC200 and iCare Home2 was 0.92 ± 1.48 mmHg (P < 0.0001), 95%-LoA (−1.98 to 3.82 mmHg). The mean difference between the first and second measurements with GAT, iCare IC200, and iCare Home2 measurements was 0.21 ± 0.98 mmHg (P = 0.03), −0.02 ± 1.11 mmHg (P = 0.88) and −0.23 ± 1.04 mmHg (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Self-measured IOP with rebound tonometry showed good reliability and repeatability when compared with physician-measured IOP with both standard GAT and rebound tonometry

Clinical needs and pathology’s answers in neuroendocrine neoplasms of the lung

Lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) make up a variegated ensemble of malignancies encompassing typical carcinoid (TC) and atypical carcinoid (AC). These are low to intermediate grade neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), which are full-fledged high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) showing similar clinical outcomes. Through a peer interaction between oncologist and pathologist, we herein constructed a practical approach based on questioning and answering regarding 8 practical issues aimed to provide shared solutions for clinical decision-making. These issues were itemized as sequential steps guided by clinical reasoning and concerned differential diagnosis, combined subtypes, primary and metastatic tumors, small diagnostic material, predictive biomarkers, tumor staging and, lastly, standardizing terminology. This study takes advantage of the close interaction between oncologists and pathologists as a tool to better delineate the decision-making on lung NENs

Mapping the Impact of ETI-mediated CFTR Reactivation On Development: a zebrafish model study

CFTR therapy with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) has transformed the life of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), also enhancing women's fertility. While adverse effects regarding ETI during pregnancy have not been reported, the evidence remains limited. However, it has been demonstrated that ETI can cross the placenta, therefore reaching the foetus due to placental transfer processes. The hyperactivation of CFTR through ETI administration during pregnancy could have an impact on foetus development, potentially leading to significant undesired effects. Indeed, all the functional studies conducted so far have focused on analysing the effects of CFTR loss of function/mutation, while the hyperactivation of CFTR has never been considered. In this study, we compared the effects of CFTR loss-of-function and its overexpression on zebrafish development. This model is particularly suitable for developmental studies and offers the unique opportunity to be “humanized” by injecting human genes. We compared cftr loss-of-function zebrafish embryos, which showed bilateral asymmetry of internal organs, increased basal inflammation levels, and delayed innate inflammatory response, with CFTR overexpressed embryos (whether in the human wild-type form or the F508del mutant form), which showed significant defects along the anteriorposterior body axis. This phenotype is reminiscent of defects in the WNT-beta signalling regulation, a pathway crucial for early developmental differentiation, such as mesoderm specification. Indeed, CFTR protein directly interacts with Dishevelled, a WNT-positive regulator, preventing it from lysosomal degradation. Importantly, this pathway can be pharmacologically modulated, opening the possibility that the undesired effects of ETI-mediated CFTR hyperactivation during development can be mitigated or avoided. In addition, since ETI has been shown to accumulate in various foetal tissues, including the developing brain, we are testing possible off-targets effects of ETI using molecular and behavioural assays during zebrafish development. To improve the translational potential of our findings and validate the results obtained in zebrafish, we will overexpress wild-type and F508del CFTRs in human iPS and we will treat them with ETI. This project aims to shed light on CFTR role during the first stages of life and could be essential to ensure that pregnant women with CF can safely undergo therapy with ETI

Maternal mid-pregnancy long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid profile is associated with DHA-containing supplement use and neonatal anthropometric measures at birth: results from two Italian multicenter cohorts in SRI 72nd Annual Meeting: Scientific Program & Abstracts

Background Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) represent essential regulators of feto-placental development. We aimed to evaluate associations between maternal mid-pregnancy LC-PUFAs, DHA-containing supplement use and delivery outcomes. Methods A secondary analysis of two Italian multicenter cohorts was performed including healthy Caucasian non-obese women with a singleton spontaneous pregnancy. Two groups were based on the oral supplementation from the first trimester onwards with a multiple micronutrient supplement containing DHA 200 mg. A fasting venous blood sampling for LC-PUFA determination was performed between 24 and 34 gestational weeks. Pregnancy outcomes were collected at delivery. Multi-adjusted generalized linear models were performed to assess the associations between supplementation-based group, LC-PUFA concentrations, and pregnancy outcomes. Results 285 pregnant women were included, divided into the DHA-supplemented (n=167) and non-supplemented (n=113) groups. The DHA-supplemented group showed an increase in EPA and DHA concentrations, and a decrease in the ARA/EPA ratio compared to the non-supplemented group. No associations were detected between LC-PUFA profile and gestational age at delivery. Conversely, birth weight was positively associated with DHA and total LC-PUFA n-3 concentrations, and negatively associated with the LC-PUFA n-6/n-3 ratio, with an estimated reduced birth weight by 192.8 grams among women with DHA levels below the fifth percentile. Neonatal Pulsatily Index (PI) was negatively associated with LC-PUFA n-6 concentrations. Conclusions These results overall highlight significant associations between DHA-containing multivitamin supplementation and LC-PUFA n-3 and n-6 status, which is further associated with increased birth weight and reduced neonatal PI. Our results suggest the use of both maternal n-3 and n-6 series as clinical biomarkers of DHA supplementation and predictor of intrauterine growth and neonatal adiposity

The negotiation of pronominal address on talk pages of the German, French, and Italian Wikipedia

The adequate use of social deixis is highly dependent on the situation and context and has therefore always been at the center of linguistic pragmatics. So far, principles of pronominal address have mainly been modelled with a focus on oral, co-present interaction. The use of pronominal address in computer-mediated communication (CMC) with its translocal and partially anonymous contexts is still a research gap. - This paper asks, from a contrastive perspective, how the appropriate use of address pronouns is negotiated on talk pages of the German, French, and Italian Wikipedia. The talk pages of Wikipedia share features of CMC genres such as a dialogic structure and an informal writing style with non-standard language. There are two types of Wikipedia talk pages, whose data are considered in this study based on the multilingual corpora by the Leibniz Institute for the German Language: article talk pages, where authors negotiate online encyclopedic content, and user talk pages, where the contributions of individual authors are discussed. These two types of talk pages will be analysed for the study. - - Based on corpus data, it can be shown that the unidirectionality of this transition from the formal form (in German: Sie, in French: vous, in Italian: Lei) to the informal form (in German: du, in French: tu, in Italian: tu) in CMC is not always given. In both analysed Wikipedia subcorpora, i.e., the Wikipedia article talk pages on the one hand and the article talk pages on the other hand, a greater deal of discussions about addressing styles takes place on the user talk pages, with the informal you variant being discussed more frequently than the formal you variant. Aspects of pronominal address among speakers of German, French and Italian are characterized by instability and uncertainty – especially in CMC. Moreover, it can be shown that Wikipedia authors discuss, among others, the reasoning behind their preference for a certain form as well as the notion of “distance” in which informal variants show familiarity which is not perceived as desirable by all users

Impact of cataract surgery on patients receiving intravitreal therapy for retinal vein occlusion

Background: To assess clinical outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes treated with intravitreal injections for cystoid macular oedema (CMO) secondary to retinal vein occlusions (RVOs). Methods: Eyes receiving intravitreal injections for CMO secondary to RVOs that underwent cataract extraction were identified from the Fight Retinal Blindness! Registry and matched 1:1 by 9 parameters with phakic controls also receiving intravitreal injections for the same condition. VA change at 12 months, central subfield thickness (CST) and injection frequency before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. The effect of baseline features on the final VA including age, CST, treatment frequency among others was tested. Results: We included 193 eyes that had cataract extraction (exposed) matched with 193 phakic eyes that did not have surgery (matched). VA (95%CI) changed by +9.9 (7, 12.8) letters in exposed eyes versus −2.4 (−4.1, −0.7) letters in matched eyes (p < 0.01). The mean [SD] VA at 12 months was similar in exposed and matched eyes [60.7 (23.0) vs. 61.1 (24.3) letters, respectively, p = 0.81]. The mean [SD] CST was similar between groups before and at surgery, but it was greater in exposed compared with matched eyes [353 (152) vs. 322 (123) μm, respectively, p = 0.03] 12 months after surgery. Exposed eyes received more injections [median (range)] than matched eyes during the 12 months after surgery [5 (3, 7) vs. 4 (1, 6), injections, p < 0.01]. Conclusions: Cataract extraction delivered good visual outcomes in patients treated for CMO secondary to RVOs. More injections were required on average in the 12 months after surgery in eyes undergoing surgery compared to matched controls

Phase 2 Randomised Study of Bulevirtide as Monotherapy or Combined With Peg‐IFNα‐2a as Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis Delta

Background and Aim: Bulevirtide (BLV) leads to beneficial virologic and biochemical responses when given alone to treat hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection, which causes the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis. We evaluated 48 weeks of BLV monotherapy, BLV + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and BLV + pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Peg-IFNα-2a), with 24-week follow-up. Methods: Ninety patients were enrolled into six arms of 15 each (A–F); 60 patients were included in the main randomisation (arms A–D), and 30 patients (arms E–F) were randomised to the extension phase: (A) Peg-IFNα-2a 180 μg once weekly (QW); (B) BLV 2 mg once daily (QD) + Peg-IFNα-2a 180 μg QW; (C) BLV 5 mg QD + Peg-IFNα-2a 180 μg QW; (D) BLV 2 mg QD; (E) BLV 10 mg QD + Peg-IFNα-2a 180 μg QW and (F) BLV 10 mg (5 mg twice daily) + TDF QD. The primary endpoint was undetectable HDV RNA at week (W)72. Results: At W72, 53%, 27%, 7%, 7% and 33% of patients achieved undetectable HDV RNA in arms B, C, D, E and F, respectively, versus 0% in arm A. More arm B versus A patients had a > 1 log10 IU/mL decline in or loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at W72 (p = 0.017), including four patients with loss of HBsAg. Bile acid elevations were dose-dependent and reversible following the completion of BLV treatment. Conclusions: BLV combined with Peg-IFNα-2a was well tolerated and resulted in high rates of HDV RNA undetectability off-treatment. Trial Registration: NCT02888106