Boosting Phonological Fluency Following Leftward Prismatic Adaptation: A New Neuromodulation Protocol for Neurological Deficits?

Prism adaptation (PA) has been recently shown to modulate a brain frontal-parieto-temporal network, with an increase of excitation of this network in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the side of prismatic deviation. This effect raises the hypothesis that left prismatic adaptation, modulating the excitability of frontal areas of the left hemisphere could modulate subjects’ performance on linguistic tasks that map on those areas. To test this hypothesis, sixty-one healthy subjects participated in experiments in which leftward, rightward or no-PA were applied before the execution of a phonological fluency task, i.e. a task with the strict left hemispheric lateralization and mapping onto frontal areas. Leftward-PA significantly increased the number of words produced compared with the pre-PA (p = .0017), R-PA (p=.00013) and no-PA (p=.0005) sessions. In contrast, rightward-PA did not significantly modulate phonological fluency compared with the pre-PA (p = .92) and no-PA (p = .99) sessions. The effect of leftward PA on phonological fluency correlated with the magnitude of spatial aftereffect, i.e. the spatial bias towards the side of space opposite to prismatic deviation following prisms removal (r = .51; p = .04). The present findings document for the first time modulation of a language ability following prismatic adaptation. The results could have a huge clinical impact on neurological populations, opening new strategies of intervention for language and executive dysfunctions

Improvement of phonemic fluency following leftward prism adaptation

Anatomo functional studies of prism adaptation (PA) have been shown to modulate a brain frontal-parieto-temporal network, increasing activation of this network in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the side of prism deviation. This effect raises the hypothesis that left prism adaptation, modulating frontal areas of the left hemisphere, could modify subjects' performance on linguistic tasks that map on those areas. To test this hypothesis, 51 healthy subjects participated in experiments in which leftward or rightward prism adaptation were applied before the execution of a phonemic fluency task, i.e., a task with strict left hemispheric lateralization onto frontal areas. Results showed that leftward PA significantly increased the number of words produced whereas rightward PA did not significantly modulate phonemic fluency. The present findings document modulation of a language ability following prism adaptation. The results could have a huge clinical impact in neurological populations, opening new strategies of intervention for language and executive dysfunctions

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) of Bacteria Isolated from Dogs with Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Infection: The Need for a Rational Use of Antibiotics in Companion Animal Health

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) represents a major viral threat to dogs. Considering the potential effects of pets on antimicrobial resistance, information on the CPV and associated bacterial co-infections is limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial susceptibility and multidrug-resistance profiles of bacterial species from tissue samples of dogs with canine parvovirus infection. A set of PCR assays and sequence analyses was used for the detection and the molecular characterization of the CPV strains and other enteric viruses. Bacterial isolation, the determination of antimicrobial susceptibility via the disk diffusion method, and the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration were performed. The detection of β-lactamase genes and toxin genes for specific bacteria was also carried out. CPV infection was confirmed in 23 dogs. Forty-three bacterial strains were isolated and all showed phenotypic resistance. Seventeen multidrug-resistant bacteria and bacteria with high resistance to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and metronidazole were detected. Almost 50% of the isolated Enterobacteriaceae were positive for at least one β-lactamase gene, with the majority carrying more genes as well. The evidence for multi-resistant bacteria with the potential for intra- or cross-species transmission should be further considered in a One Health approach

Molecular Characterization and Evolutionary Analyses of <i>Carnivore Protoparvovirus 1</i> <i>NS1</i> Gene

Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 is the etiological agent of a severe disease of terrestrial carnivores. This unique specie encompasses canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV). Studies widely analyzed the main capsid protein (VP2), but limited information is available on the nonstructural genes (NS1/NS2). This paper analyzed the NS1 gene sequence of FPLV and CPV strains collected in Italy in 2009&#8211;2017, along with worldwide related sequences. Differently from VP2, only one NS1 amino-acid residue (248) clearly and constantly distinguished FPLV from CPV-2, while five possible convergent amino-acid changes were observed that may affect the functional domains of the NS1. Some synonymous mutation in NS1 were non-synonymous in NS2 and vice versa. No evidence for recombination between the two lineages was found, and the predominance of negative selection pressure on NS1 proteins was observed, with low and no overlap between the two lineages in negatively and positively selected codons, respectively. More sites were under selection in the CPV-2 lineage. NS1 phylogenetic analysis showed divergent evolution between FPLV and CPV, and strains were clustered mostly by country and year of detection. We highlight the importance of obtaining the NS1/NS2 coding sequence in molecular epidemiology investigations

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Two Gammaherpesviruses from Pantesco Breed Donkeys during an Outbreak of Mild Respiratory Disease

Equid and asinine gammaherpesviruses (GHVs; genus Percavirus) are members of the Herpesviridae family. Though GHVs have been reported in horse populations, less studies are available on gammaherpesviral infections in donkeys. This study reports the co-infection with two GHVs in Pantesco breed donkeys, an endangered Italian donkey breed. Samples (n = 124) were collected on a breeding farm in Southern Italy from 40 donkeys, some of which were healthy or presented erosive tongue lesions and/or mild respiratory signs. Samples were analysed by using a set of nested PCRs targeting the DNA polymerase, glycoprotein B, and DNA-packaging protein genes, and sequence and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Twenty-nine donkeys (72.5%) tested positive, and the presence of Equid gammaherpesvirus 7 and asinine herpesvirus 5 was evidenced. In 11 animals, we found evidence for co-infection with viruses from the two species. Virions with herpesvirus-like morphology were observed by electron microscopic examination, and viruses were successfully isolated in RK-13-KY cell monolayers. The histological evaluation of tongue lesions revealed moderate lympho-granulocytic infiltrates and rare eosinophilic inclusions. The detection of GHVs in this endangered asinine breed suggests the need long-life monitoring within conservation programs and reinforces the need for further investigations of GHV’s pathogenetic role in asinine species

Study on the Canine Adenovirus Type 1 (CAdV-1) Infection in Domestic Dogs in Southern Italy

Canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1) is the causative agent of a systemic and potentially fatal viral disease of domestic and wild canids. In Italy, CAdV-1 infection has also been occasionally described in dogs, but information on the epidemiology and its genomic features is still limited. A study was conducted on 291 dogs suspected of infectious gastrointestinal disease. Samples collected from dogs in southern Italy between 2017 and 2020 were analyzed. Virological and histopathological assays were carried out. The presence of CAdVs and other canine viral enteropathogens was investigated, and sequence and phylogenetic analyses were performed. CAdV-1 was detected in six (2.1%) dead stray dogs alone or in mixed infections with other viruses. Gross lesions and histopathological findings referred to CAdV infection were observed, also involving the central nervous system tissues. All inoculated samples were successfully isolated. Sequence analysis evidenced divergences with the circulating strains previously described in Italy and a closer relation with older CAdV-1 strains collected from other countries, suggesting a genetic heterogeneity of CAdV-1 in Italy. The evidence of the circulation of CAdV-1 and its genomic features allows us to have more in-depth knowledge of the epidemiology and evolution of the CAdV-1 genomic variants

Molecular Screening and Characterization of Canine Coronavirus Types I and II Strains from Domestic Dogs in Southern Italy, 2019–2021

Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is a common agent of gastroenteritis in dogs, although some variants have been found associated with systemic and often fatal diseases. Distinct genotypes (CCoV-I and CCoV-II) and subgenotypes (CCoV-IIa and CCoV-IIb) are worldwide distributed. In Italy, CCoV infections have been occasionally evaluated, but information about the molecular epidemiology and the genomic features of currently circulating strains is limited. This study reports the detection and molecular characterization of CCoV strains from samples collected from 284 dogs in Italy between 2019 and 2021. CCoV RNA was detected in 39 (13.7%) dogs, as a single viral agent (5 animals, 12.8%) or with other viral pathogens (canine parvovirus types 2a/2b/2c; canine adenovirus type 1; norovirus GIV.2) (34 animals, 87.2%). A total of 48 CCoV strains were detected either alone (CCoV-I: 51.3%, CCoV-IIa: 20.5%) or in copresence (CCoV-I and CCoV-IIa, 23.1%); surprisingly, CCoV-IIb was not identified in this study. Five clusters of CCoV-I were detected, and their spike gene sequences showed the highest nucleotide identities with CCoV-I strains collected from Greece in 2008/2009 and from China in 2021. CCoV-IIa spike gene sequences (three variants) had the highest nucleotide identities with CCoV-IIa strains collected in Greece in 2008/2009 and in Italy in 2009/2011. Given the high CCoV diversity and the variable pathogenicity potential, we underline the need of further surveillance studies to increase our understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of these viruses

Incident Colorectal Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is increased in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and surveillance needs to be tailored according to individual risk. The open issues include the role of the characteristics of IBD and CRC in determining the long-term outcome. These issues were assessed in our multicenter study, including a cohort of 56 IBD patients with incident CRC. The clinical and histopathological features of IBD patients and of CRC were recorded. Incident CRC in IBD occurred at a young age (&le;40 years) in 25% of patients (median age 55.5 (22&ndash;76)). Mucinous signet-ring carcinoma was detected in 6 out of the 56 (10.7%) patients, including 4 with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 2 with Crohn&rsquo;s disease (CD). CRC was more frequently diagnosed by colonoscopy in UC (85.4% vs. 50%; p = 0.01) and by imaging in Crohn&rsquo;s Disease CD (5.8% vs. 31.8%; p = 0.02). At onset, CRC-related symptoms occurred in 29 (51.9%) IBD patients. The time interval from the diagnosis of IBD to CRC was shorter in UC and CD patients with &gt;40 years (p = 0.002; p = 0.01). CRC-related death occurred in 10 (29.4%) UC and in 6 (27.2%) CD patients (p = 0.89), with a short time interval from CRC to death (UC vs. CD: 6.5 (1&ndash;68) vs. 14.5 (8&ndash;40); p = 0.85; IBD: 12 months (1&ndash;68)). CRC occurring at a young age, a short time interval from the diagnosis of IBD to CRC-related death in the elderly, CRC-symptoms often mimicking IBD relapse and the observed high mortality rate may support the need of closer surveillance intervals in subgroups of patients

Application of the Intermediate-Stage Subclassification to Patients with Untreated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES:The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate stage (BCLC B) includes a heterogeneous population of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, in order to facilitate treatment decisions, a panel of experts proposed to subclassify BCLC B patients. In this study, we aimed to assess the prognostic capability of the BCLC B stage reclassification in a large cohort of patients with untreated HCC managed by the Italian Liver Cancer Group.METHODS:We assessed the prognosis of 269 untreated HCC patients observed in the period 1987-2012 who were reclassified according to the proposed subclassification of the BCLC B stage from stage B1 to stage B4. We evaluated and compared the survival of the various substages.RESULTS:Median survival progressively decreased from stage B1 (n=65, 24.2%: 25 months) through stages B2 (n=105, 39.0%: 16 months) and B3 (n=22, 8.2%: 9 months), to stage B4 (n=77, 28.6%: 5 months; P<0.0001). Moreover, we observed a significantly different survival between contiguous stages (B1 vs. B2, P=0.0002; B2 vs. B3, P<0.0001; B3 vs. B4, P=0.0219). In multivariate analysis, the BCLC B subclassification (P<0.0001), MELD score (P=0.0013), and platelet count (P=0.0252) were independent predictors of survival.CONCLUSIONS:The subclassification of the intermediate-stage HCC predicts the prognosis of patients with untreated HCC. The prognostic figures identified in this study may be used as a benchmark to assess the efficacy of therapeutic intervention in the various BCLC B substages, whereas it remains to be established whether incorporation of the MELD score might improve the prognosis of treated patients