First report of Sarcocystis spp. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in Lagostomus maximus (Desmarest, 1917) (Rodentia, Chinchillidae) in Argentina

Sarcocystis is a genus of intracellular parasitic protozoa that infects various species of mammals, birds, and reptiles worldwide. At least 46 Sarcocystis species naturally infect rodents as intermediate hosts producing tissue cysts. This study aimed to provide the first report and molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis spp. in muscles from plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) in Argentina. Muscle samples of 53 plains viscachas from three provinces of Argentina were processed by homogenisation and optical microscopy to detect tissue cysts. Positive samples were analysed by PCR-sequencing, using the following markers: 18S rRNA, ITS1, and coxI. The 18S rRNA and coxI consensus sequences were aligned with other sequences from Sarcocystis spp., and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Of all animals processed, 13.2% (7/53) harboured Sarcocystis sp. cysts. 18S rRNA consensus sequences were obtained from four muscle samples and one individual cyst, and they showed 99.88–100% similarity, except for the cyst sequence, which showed 97.11% homology. Similarities of only 96–97% were recorded in the 18S rRNA fragment with other Sarcocystis spp. whose sequences are available in the GenBank. The five coxI fragment sequences obtained were 100% identical and showed an identity of 99.41–99.48% with S. canis. For ITS1 only short and low-quality sequences were obtained. In the phylogenetic trees, all the sequences from plains viscachas were positioned together in a branch separated from other Sarcocystis spp. These results could be related to new Sarcocystis spp. producing sarcocysts in plains viscachas. Besides, comprehensive cyst morphological analysis using TEM from the new Sarcocystis species will allow a description of the cyst wall ultrastructure. In this sense, further studies are needed to deepen these findings and elucidate other potential intermediate and possible definitive hosts.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresLaboratorio de Inmunoparasitologí

Imaging features and ultraearly hematoma growth in intracerebral hemorrhage associated with COVID-19

Purpose: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an uncommon but deadly event in patients with COVID-19 and its imaging features remain poorly characterized. We aimed to describe the clinical and imaging features of COVID-19-associated ICH. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, case-control analysis comparing ICH in COVID-19 patients (COV19\u2009+) versus controls without COVID-19 (COV19\u2009-). Clinical presentation, laboratory markers, and severity of COVID-19 disease were recorded. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) markers (intrahematoma hypodensity, heterogeneous density, blend sign, irregular shape fluid level), ICH location, and hematoma volume (ABC/2 method) were analyzed. The outcome of interest was ultraearly hematoma growth (uHG) (defined as NCCT baseline ICH volume/onset-to-imaging time), whose predictors were explored with multivariable linear regression. Results: A total of 33 COV19\u2009+\u2009patients and 321 COV19\u2009-\u2009controls with ICH were included. Demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors were similar in the two groups. Multifocal ICH and NCCT markers were significantly more common in the COV19\u2009+\u2009population. uHG was significantly higher among COV19\u2009+\u2009patients (median 6.2 mL/h vs 3.1 mL/h, p\u2009=\u20090.027), and this finding remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors (systolic blood pressure, antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy), in linear regression (B(SE)\u2009=\u20090.31 (0.11), p\u2009=\u20090.005). This association remained consistent also after the exclusion of patients under anticoagulant treatment (B(SE)\u2009=\u20090.29 (0.13), p\u2009=\u20090.026). Conclusions: ICH in COV19\u2009+\u2009patients has distinct NCCT imaging features and a higher speed of bleeding. This association is not mediated by antithrombotic therapy and deserves further research to characterize the underlying biological mechanisms

Insight from an Italian Delphi Consensus on EVAR feasibility outside the instruction for use: the SAFE EVAR Study

BACKGROUND: The SAfety and FEasibility of standard EVAR outside the instruction for use (SAFE-EVAR) Study was designed to define the attitude of Italian vascular surgeons towards the use of standard endovascular repair (EVAR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) outside the instruction for use (IFU) through a Delphi consensus endorsed by the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (Societa Italiana di Chirurgia Vascolare ed Endovascolare - SICVE). METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 26 statements was developed, validated by an 18 -member Advisory Board, and then sent to 600 Italian vascular surgeons. The Delphi process was structured in three subsequent rounds which took place between April and June 2023. In the first two rounds, respondents could indicate one of the following five degrees of agreement: 1) strongly agree; 2) partially agree; 3) neither agree nor disagree; 4) partially disagree; 5) strongly disagree; while in the third round only three different choices were proposed: 1) agree; 2) neither agree nor disagree; 3) disagree. We considered the consensus reached when >70% of respondents agreed on one of the options. After the conclusion of each round, a report describing the percentage distribution of the answers was sent to all the participants. RESULTS: Two -hundred -forty-four (40.6%) Italian Vascular Surgeons agreed to participate the first round of the Delphi Consensus; the second and the third rounds of the Delphi collected 230 responders (94.3% of the first -round responders). Four statements (15.4%) reached a consensus in the first rounds. Among the 22 remaining statements, one more consensus (3.8%) was achieved in the second round. Finally, seven more statements (26.9%) reached a consensus in the simplified last round. Globally, a consensus was reached for almost half of the proposed statements (46.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low consensus rate obtained in this Delphi seems to confirm the discrepancy between Guideline recommendations and daily clinical practice. The data collected could represent the source for a possible guidelines' revision and the proposal of specific Good Practice Points in all those aspects with only little evidence available

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Intangible Culturale Heritage of Humanity: The Song of the Sybil in Majorca

reservedLa tesi è incentrata sul Canto della Sibilla, un dramma liturgico del periodo medievale proclamato nel 2010 Patrimonio immateriale dell'umanità. Il primo capitolo si concentra sul canto da un punto di vista storico e artistico: è trattata la sua nascita , il suo sviluppo fino ai giorni nostri e la sua messa in scena, focalizzandosi sulla figura delle Sibilla come nuova profetessa del cristianesimo (principalmente la Eritrea). Nel secondo capitolo invece, il topic è l'Unesco, dunque: di che organizzazione si tratta, il procedimento e i requisiti per entrare a farne parte e le motivazioni che hanno portato all'inserimento del canto nella lista dei beni immateriali. Infine, nel terzo capitolo è proposto un itinerario turistico alla scoperta di Maiorca e dei suoi beni Unesco: il Canto della Sibilla e la catena montuosa della Sierra de Tramontana

Telerilevamento multispettrale ed implementazione GIS per una applicazione in campo agronomico

La tesi si occupa dell’uso e della elaborazione di dati telerilevati multispettrali nell’ambito dell’agricoltura di precisione, all’interno di un progetto dall’approccio multidisciplinare. L’elaborato descrive le differenti attività che sono state condotte nel corso della sperimentazione di tesi: è stata analizzata la direttiva INSPIRE per la gestione di metadati di differente tipologia, sono state condotte campagne di rilievo sul campo ed elaborazioni di georeferenziazione, sono state acquisite ed analizzate immagini satellitari multispettrali, elaborati indici vegetazionali multitemporali e gestiti diversi dati multidisciplinari in ambiente GIS. Particolare attenzione è stata dedicata al calcolo e all’analisi di diversi indici vegetazionali, per un grande numero di immagini satellitari acquisite in un arco temporale di tre anni da due diverse piattaforme: Sentinel-2 e Landsat 8. L’obiettivo è riuscire a meglio caratterizzare e comprendere lo stato delle colture negli appezzamenti analizzati, al fine di valutare anche il potenziale utilizzo integrato di dati provenienti da differenti sensori

First report of Sarcocystis spp. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in Lagostomus maximus (Desmarest, 1917) (Rodentia, Chinchillidae) in Argentina

Sarcocystis is a genus of intracellular parasitic protozoa that infects various species of mammals, birds, and reptiles worldwide. At least 46 Sarcocystis species naturally infect rodents as intermediate hosts producing tissue cysts. This study aimed to provide the first report and molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis spp. in muscles from plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) in Argentina. Muscle samples of 53 plains viscachas from three provinces of Argentina were processed by homogenisation and optical microscopy to detect tissue cysts. Positive samples were analysed by PCR-sequencing, using the following markers: 18S rRNA, ITS1, and coxI. The 18S rRNA and coxI consensus sequences were aligned with other sequences from Sarcocystis spp., and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Of all animals processed, 13.2% (7/53) harboured Sarcocystis sp. cysts. 18S rRNA consensus sequences were obtained from four muscle samples and one individual cyst, and they showed 99.88–100% similarity, except for the cyst sequence, which showed 97.11% homology. Similarities of only 96–97% were recorded in the 18S rRNA fragment with other Sarcocystis spp. whose sequences are available in the GenBank. The five coxI fragment sequences obtained were 100% identical and showed an identity of 99.41–99.48% with S. canis. For ITS1 only short and low-quality sequences were obtained. In the phylogenetic trees, all the sequences from plains viscachas were positioned together in a branch separated from other Sarcocystis spp. These results could be related to new Sarcocystis spp. producing sarcocysts in plains viscachas. Besides, comprehensive cyst morphological analysis using TEM from the new Sarcocystis species will allow a description of the cyst wall ultrastructure. In this sense, further studies are needed to deepen these findings and elucidate other potential intermediate and possible definitive hosts

Application of active thermography for the study of losses in components produced by laser powder Bed fusion

The quality of the components produced is guaranteed by two types of methods, destructive and non-destructive (NDT). In the first case, a product that corresponds to a specific production lot is taken and it is broken to evaluate its properties. Instead, in the case of non-destructive testing, the piece is not sacrificed but the mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties of the piece in question are obtained through special techniques. These NDT techniques are very interesting in the case of pieces produced using Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology. The reason lies in the fact that production volumes are low, and the costs of raw materials and electricity are currently high, therefore production waste is reduced. This work focuses on the use of the active thermography technique as a tool for characterizing the electrical and magnetic properties of a component produced using the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technique in FeSi2.9% ferromagnetic material. The results of this investigation are very interesting, as they allowed the authors to characterize the losses of this material both from a qualitative and quantitative point of view. The choice of this material lies in the fact that it is also widely used in the literature as a material for the construction of AM electric motors. This kind of characterization, exploiting the active thermography technique, is a novelty for this kind of material produced using the LPBF technique