Characterization of anomalous diffusion classical statistics powered by deep learning (CONDOR)

Diffusion processes are important in several physical, chemical, biological and human phenomena. Examples include molecular encounters in reactions, cellular signalling, the foraging of animals, the spread of diseases, as well as trends in financial markets and climate records. Deviations from Brownian diffusion, known as anomalous diffusion, can often be observed in these processes, when the growth of the mean square displacement in time is not linear. An ever-increasing number of methods has thus appeared to characterize anomalous diffusion trajectories based on classical statistics or machine learning approaches. Yet, characterization of anomalous diffusion remains challenging to date as testified by the launch of the Anomalous Diffusion (AnDi) Challenge in March 2020 to assess and compare new and pre-existing methods on three different aspects of the problem: the inference of the anomalous diffusion exponent, the classification of the diffusion model, and the segmentation of trajectories. Here, we introduce a novel method (CONDOR) which combines feature engineering based on classical statistics with supervised deep learning to efficiently identify the underlying anomalous diffusion model with high accuracy and infer its exponent with a small mean absolute error in single 1D, 2D and 3D trajectories corrupted by localization noise. Finally, we extend our method to the segmentation of trajectories where the diffusion model and/or its anomalous exponent vary in time

Preliminary Assessment of Radiolysis for the Cooling Water System in the Rotating Target of {SORGENTINA}-{RF}

The SORGENTINA-RF project aims at developing a 14 MeV fusion neutron source featuring an emission rate in the order of 5-7 x 10(13) s(-1). The plant relies on a metallic water-cooled rotating target and a deuterium (50%) and tritium (50%) ion beam. Beyond the main focus of medical radioisotope production, the source may represent a multi-purpose neutron facility by implementing a series of neutron-based techniques. Among the different engineering and technological issues to be addressed, the production of incondensable gases and corrosion product into the rotating target deserves a dedicated investigation. In this study, a preliminary analysis is carried out, considering the general layout of the target and the present choice of the target material

Effects of Sulforaphane on SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and NF‑κB dependent expression of genes involved in the COVID‑19 'cytokine storm'

Since its spread at the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents one of the major health problems. Despite the approval, testing, and worldwide distribution of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines, the development of specific antiviral agents targeting the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle with high efficiency, and/or interfering with the associated 'cytokine storm', is highly required. A recent study, conducted by the authors' group indicated that sulforaphane (SFN) inhibits the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 genes induced by the treatment of IB3-1 bronchial cells with a recombinant spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, the ability of SFN to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes encoding proteins of the COVID-19 'cytokine storm' was evaluated. SARS-CoV-2 replication was assessed in bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 replication and expression of pro-inflammatory genes was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative droplet digital PCR. The effects on the expression levels of NF-& kappa;B were assessed by western blotting. Molecular dynamics simulations of NF-kB/SFN interactions were conducted with Gromacs 2021.1 software under the Martini 2 CG force field. Computational studies indicated that i) SFN was stably bound with the NF-& kappa;B monomer; ii) a ternary NF-kB/SFN/DNA complex was formed; iii) the SFN interacted with both the protein and the nucleic acid molecules modifying the binding mode of the latter, and impairing the full interaction between the NF-& kappa;B protein and the DNA molecule. This finally stabilized the inactive complex. Molecular studies demonstrated that SFN i) inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected Calu-3 cells, decreasing the production of the N-protein coding RNA sequences, ii) decreased NF-& kappa;B content in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells and inhibited the expression of NF-kB-dependent IL-1 & beta; and IL-8 gene expression. The data obtained in the present study demonstrated inhibitory effects of SFN on the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle and on the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory genes, sustaining the possible use of SFN in the management of patients with COVID-19

PCR detection of segmented filamentous bacteria in the terminal ileum of patients with ulcerative colitis

Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) have been detected in a wide range of different animal. Recently, the presence of SFB-like bacteria was shown in biopsies of the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve of both patients with ulcerative colitis and control subjects. The aim of this study was to verify whether PCR methods could be used for the detection of SFB in biopsy of patients with ulcerative colitis and its relationships with the disease stage

The Prevalence, Characteristics and Risk Factors of Persistent Symptoms in Non-Hospitalized and Hospitalized Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Followed-Up for up to 12 Months: A Prospective, Cohort Study in Rome, Italy

Previous studies assessing the prevalence of COVID-19 sequelae in children have included either a small number of children or a short follow-up period, or have only focused on hospitalized children. We investigated the prevalence of persistent symptoms amongst children and assessed the risk factors, including the impact of variants. A prospective cohort study included children (≤18 years old) with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The participants were assessed via telephone and face-to-face visits at 1–5, 6–9 and 12 or more months post-SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis using the ISARIC COVID-19 follow-up survey. Of the 679 children enrolled, 51% were female; 488 were infected during the wild virus wave, and 29 were infected with the Alpha, 42 with the Delta and 120 with the Omicron variants. Fatigue (19%), headache (12%), insomnia (7.5%), muscle pain (6.9%) and confusion with concentration issues (6.8%) were the most common persistent symptoms. Families reported an overall improvement over time, with 0.7% of parents interviewed at 12 months or more of the follow-up period reporting a poor recovery. Patients that had not recovered by 6–9 months had a lower probability of recovering during the next follow-up period. Children infected with a variant or the wild virus had an overall similar rate of persistent symptoms (although the pattern of reported symptoms differed significantly) and recovery rates. Conclusions: Recovery rates after SARS-CoV-2 infection improved as time passed from the initial infection, ranging from 4% of children having poor recovery at 1–5 months’ follow-up to 1.3% at 6–9 months and 0.7% at 12 months. The patterns of persistence changed according to the variants involved at the time of infection. This study reinforces that a subgroup of children develop long-lasting persistent symptoms and highlights the need for further studies investigating the reasons behind the development of PCC

SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and replication is impaired in Cystic Fibrosis airways due to ACE2 downregulation

Patients with cystic fibrosis are not reporting particularly sever outcomes upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, the authors demonstrate decreased ACE2 levels is cystic fibrosis airway epithelia associated with impaired viral entry and replication

Copertura vaccinale antinfluenzale e assenteismo per malattia negli Operatori Sanitari di un Policlinico Universitario Italiano

INTRODUZIONELa vaccinazione antinfluenzale annuale degli Operatori Sanitari (OS) \ue8 raccomandata per prevenire l\u2019influenza ed evitarne la trasmissione ai pazienti fragili. Nel periodo influenzale epidemico, l\u2019assenza dal lavoro per malattia degli OS, inoltre, pu\uf2 generare inefficienze organizzative su qualit\ue0 e continuit\ue0 delle cure prestate ai pazienti. Nel nostro Policlinico Universitario, la copertura vaccinale antinfluenzale tra gli OS nella stagione 2016-17 \ue8 risultata intorno al 9%. Per tale motivo, durante la stagione 2017-18 sono state adottate diverse strategie per aumentare la copertura. Obiettivo del presente studio \ue8 quello di valutare l\u2019efficacia di queste strategie integrate e analizzare, inoltre, l\u2019impatto della vaccinazione sull\u2019assenteismo per malattia degli OS nel periodo epidemico.MATERIALI E METODIDurante la stagione influenzale 2017-18, in circa met\ue0 delle Unit\ue0 Operative della Fondazione Policlinico Universitario \u201cA. Gemelli\u201d IRCCS (FPG) sono stati attuati interventi formativi \u201cpeer\u201d (academic detailing) e sessioni di vaccinazione on-site per aumentare conoscenze, attitudini e tasso di copertura vaccinale antinfluenzale tra gli OS.Al termine della stagione 2017-18, \ue8 stato realizzato uno studio trasversale al fine di analizzare la copertura vaccinale antinfluenzale tra gli OS della FPG. Dati socio-demografici e occupazionali (et\ue0, genere, vaccinazione antinfluenzale nella precedente stagione 2016-17, professione e Unit\ue0 Operativa di afferenza) sono stati forniti dal Servizio di Medicina Preventiva e dalla Direzione Risorse Umane; quest\u2019ultima ha fornito anche il numero di giornate di malattia usufruite dagli OS nel corso del periodo epidemico (42\ub0 settimana 2017 \u2013 17\ub0 settimana 2018).RISULTATILo studio ha incluso 4111 OS della FPG. Il tasso di vaccinazione antinfluenzale \ue8 aumentato dall\u20198.7% del 2016-17 al 13% del 2017-18 (+48.5%, p<0.0001). L\u2019analisi multivariata ha evidenziato che, al termine della stagione 2017-18, la copertura era pi\uf9 elevata tra gli OS coinvolti nell\u2019intervento formativo e vaccinale on-site (OR 2.7; 95% CI 2.2-3.4), medici, pi\uf9 anziani e precedentemente vaccinati. Il genere, invece, non sembrerebbe influenzare la copertura vaccinale. La media delle giornate di malattia usufruite nel periodo epidemico dagli OS vaccinati \ue8 risultata significativamente pi\uf9 bassa rispetto a quella degli OS non vaccinati nella campagna 2017-18 (rispettivamente 1.3\ub14.6 e 3.2\ub110.3; p<0.001). Questi risultati hanno carattere preliminare.CONCLUSIONIL\u2019intervento formativo \u201cpeer\u201d e la vaccinazione on-site si sono dimostrati efficaci nell\u2019aumentare la copertura vaccinale antinfluenzale tra gli OS della FPG. Variabili socio-demografiche e occupazionali possono influenzare significativamente l\u2019attitudine degli OS alla vaccinazione. La vaccinazione antinfluenzale, infine, sembrerebbe ridurre in maniera significativa l\u2019assenteismo per malattia degli OS nel periodo epidemico

Post-COVID Condition in Adults and Children Living in the Same Household in Italy: A Prospective Cohort Study Using the ISARIC Global Follow-Up Protocol

Background: Emerging evidence shows that both adults and children may develop post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). The aim of this study is to characterise and compare long-term post-SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes in adults and children in a defined region in Italy. Methods: A prospective cohort study including children (≤18 years old) with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and their household members. Participants were assessed via telephone and face-to-face visits up to 12 months post-SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis of household index case, using the ISARIC COVID-19 follow-up survey. Results: Of 507 participants from 201 households, 56.4% (286/507) were children, 43.6% (221/507) adults. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 87% (249/286) in children, and 78% (172/221) in adults. The mean age of PCR positive children was 10.4 (SD = 4.5) and of PCR positive adults was 44.5 years (SD = 9.5), similar to the PCR negative control groups [children 10.5 years (SD = 3.24), adults 42.3 years (SD = 9.06)]. Median follow-up post-SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 77 days (IQR 47-169). A significantly higher proportion of adults compared to children reported at least one persistent symptom (67%, 68/101 vs. 32%, 57/179, p < 0.001) at the first follow up. Adults had more frequently coexistence of several symptom categories at both follow-up time-points. Female gender was identified as a risk factor for PASC in adults (p 0.02 at 1-3 months and p 0.01 at 6-9 months follow up), but not in children. We found no significant correlation between adults and children symptoms. In the paediatric group, there was a significant difference in persisting symptoms between those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to controls at 1-3 months follow up, but not at 6-9 months. Conversely, positive adults had a higher frequency of persisting symptoms at both follow-up assessments. Conclusion: Our data highlights that children can experience persistent multisystemic symptoms months after diagnosis of mild acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, although less frequently and less severely than co-habitant adults. There was no correlation between symptoms experienced by adults and children living in the same household. Our data highlights an urgent need for studies to characterise PASC in whole populations and the wider impact on familie