Molecular detection of Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Babesia species in Ixodes ricinus sampled in northeastern, central, and insular areas of Italy.

The aim of the present study was to provide insight into the diversity of tick-borne pathogens circulating in Italy, carried/transmitted by Ixodes ricinus, one of the most abundant tick species in the country. A total of 447 specimens sampled in five areas of northeastern, central and insular Italy were analysed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing for the presence of rickettsiae, borreliae and babesiae. Several rickettsial species of the spotted fever group of zoonotic concern and other zoonotic pathogens were found, such as Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Babesia venatorum. These findings confirm a wide distribution of tick-borne bacterial and protozoan species in Italy, and highlight the sanitary importance of I. ricinus, often recorded as feeding on humans

Effect of container opening area on air distribution during precooling of horticultural produce

An existing research tool was used to investigate air distribution in horticultural produce containers during forced-air precooling. This tool consisted of an instrumented produce simulator that allowed indirect measurement of surrounding air velocity at different positions inside a package. Using this new research tool for different forced-air cooling conditions, the surrounding air velocity was inferred as a function of the simulator's location in reference to the air entrance. The air pathway during the cooling process was investigated for three total package-opening areas (0.67%, 2%, 6%) at airflow rates ranging from 0.125 to 3.9 L s(-1) kg(-1). The air approach velocity at each position inside a package rose as the opening area increased More vented area also enhanced the cooling efficiency. However increasing the airflow rate resulted in a greater air pressure drop. Opening areas more than 6% of the package surface should be tested to achieve the maximum necessary vented configuration that meets the structure constraints and generates air distribution and cooling efficiency not significantly different from fully open.4762033203

Trastuzumab deruxtecan in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer brain metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) has shown promising results in patients with breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of T-DXd in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive BCBM population. Patients and methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases as well as American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) websites for clinical trials (CTs) and observational studies evaluating T-DXd in patients with HER2-positive BCBM. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Random effects models were used for all statistical analyses, which were carried out using R software (version 4.2.2). Results: Ten studies were included, six CTs (n = 189) and four observational studies (n = 130), with a total of 319 patients. The median progression-free survival was 15 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 13.9-16.1 months]. The objective response rate (ORR) was 61% (95% CI 52% to 70%), and the intracranial (IC)-ORR was 61% (95% CI 54% to 69%). No significant differences in ORR and IC-ORR were observed between CTs and observational studies (P = 0.31 and 0.58, respectively). The clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 80% (95% CI 52% to 94%), and the IC-CBR was 70% (95% CI 54% to 82%). The ORR was 68% (95% CI 57% to 77%) in the subgroup of patients with stable BMs and 60% (95% CI 48%-72%) in patients with active BM, with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.35). Conclusions: Our systematic review and meta-analysis supports the IC activity of T-DXd in patients with stable BM and active BM. Trial registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the protocol number CRD42023422589.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cell walls of the dimorphic fungal pathogens Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis exhibit bilaminate structures and sloughing of extensive and intact layers

This work was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), grants E-26/202.974/2015 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), grants 229755/2013-5, Brazil. LMLB is a senior research fellow of CNPq and Faperj. NG acknowledged support from the Wellcome Trust (Trust (097377, 101873, 200208) and MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Case Based Reasoning View of School Dropout Screening

The cause for student dropout is often termed as the antecedent of failure, since it stands for a key event, which leads to dropout. Indeed, school dropout is well thought out as one of the major worries of our times. It is a multi-layered and complex phenomenon, with many triggers, namely academic striving and failure, poor attendance, retention, disengagement from school or even socio-economic motives. School dropout represents economic and social losses to the individual, family and community. However, it may be prevented if the educational actors hold pro-active strategies (e.g., taking into account similar past experiences). Indeed, this work will start with the development of a decision support system to assess school dropout, centered on a formal framework based on Logic Programming for Knowledge Representation, complemented with a Case-Based Reasoning approach to problem solving, which caters for the handling of incomplete, unknown, or even contradictory information, i.e., it improves the analysis enactment of the retrieving cases process

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In the present study, we describe the anatomical varieties of 2 arteries: the right subclavian artery (RSA) and the popliteal artery (PA). The aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is an anatomical anomaly that has a low incidence and occurs when it originates in the aortic arch, distal to the left subclavian artery. The PA begins in the ring of the adductor magnus, continuing to the femoral artery and ends at the level of the inferior border of the popliteus muscle, bifurcating into its two terminal branches: the anterior tibial artery and the tibioperoneal trunk. This division presents a great anatomical variety. The national literature on serial dissections of these vessels in fetuses is scarce. From the Fetal Anatomy Area of the Normal Anatomy Department, FCM-UNC, we aimed to determine the incidence of the anatomical varieties of these 2 arteries.Dissection was performed in fetal cadaveric material, less than 500 grams of weight, between 15 and 24 weeks, provided by the Hospital Misericordia, Córdoba. The sample for the ARSA study was 140 fetuses, 62 male and 78 female. The PA sample was 30 fetuses, 16 female, 14 male. Microdissection instruments, binocular loupes, and macro lens were used. Details of the normal anatomy and the varieties of these arteries were recorded.The results were 2 cases of retro-esophageal ARSA (1.4%); while PA presented 41 cases of type I (68%), bifurcation at the level of the inferior border of the popliteus muscle; and 19 type II cases (32%), bifurcation at the level of the superior border of the popliteus muscle; not finding any type III cases (one of its terminal branches was hypoplastic/plastic).The incidence of ARSA is within the ranges of the literature. Type 1 and type 2 PA presented, respectively, lower and higher incidence than other studies. This study contributes to the formation of a local database (Córdoba, Argentina), and could be useful for health professionals to improve diagnoses and avoid therapeutic accidents. Future research with a larger sample size is planned.Presentamos en este trabajo las variedades anatómicas de 2 arterias: la arteria subclavia derecha (ASD) y la arteria poplítea (AP). La arteria subclavia derecha aberrante (ASDA) es una anomalía anatómica que tiene una baja incidencia y ocurre cuando se origina en el arco aórtico, distal a la arteria subclavia izquierda. La AP comienza en el anillo del aductor mayor continuando a la arteria femoral y finaliza a nivel del borde inferior del músculo poplíteo, bifurcándose en sus dos ramas terminales; la arteria tibial anterior y tronco tibioperoneo. Esta división presenta una gran variedad anatómica. Es escasa la bibliografía nacional sobre disecciones en serie de estos vasos en fetos. Desde el Área de Anatomía Fetal de la Cátedra de Anatomía Normal, FCM-UNC, se propuso determinar la incidencia de las variedades anatómicas de estas 2 arterias.Se realizaron los estudios en material cadavérico fetal, menor de 500 gramos, entre 15 y 24 semanas cedidos por el Hospital Misericordia, Córdoba. La muestra de estudio de la ASDA fue de 140 fetos, 62 masculinos y 78 femeninos. La muestra de AP fue de 30 fetos, 16 femeninos, 14 masculinos. Se utilizó instrumental de microdisección, lupas binoculares, y lente macro. Se registraron los detalles de la anatomía normal y de las variedades de dichas arterias. Los resultados fueron 2 casos de ASDA (1,4%), retro-esofágicas. La AP presento 41 casos (68%) tipo I, bifurcación a nivel del borde inferior del músculo poplíteo; 19 casos (32%) tipo II, bifurcación a nivel del borde superior del músculo poplíteo; tipo III no se encontró ningún caso (una de sus ramas terminales es hipoplásica/aplásica).La incidencia de la ASDA se encuentra dentro de los rangos de la bibliografía. La AP tipo 1 y tipo 2 presentó respectivamente menor y mayor incidencia a otros estudios. Este estudio contribuye a la formación de una base de datos, autóctona de Córdoba, Argentina e ilustra a los profesionales de la salud para mejorar los diagnósticos y evitar accidentes terapéuticos. Se programa aumentar el tamaño de la muestra de material en esta línea de investigación.