Prevalence and biomolecular characterization of Campylobacter spp. isolated from retail meat.

We estimated the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in retail meat (n = 352 samples; 104 chicken, 106 pork, and 142 beef) collected in Campobasso, Italy, comparing two microbiological methods. All the isolates were characterized by biomolecular techniques for epidemiological purposes. Campylobacter isolation was performed by selective culture and membrane filtration methods. Phenotypic and genotypic methods for genus and species identification were evaluated together with antimicrobial resistance and plasmid profiling. Sixty-nine (86.2%) samples were positive by selective culture, 49 (61.2%) by membrane filtration, and 38 (47.5%) by both methods. Only 74 of 80 strains were confirmed as Campylobacter spp. by PCR, and two Campylobacter coli were identified as Campylobacter jejuni . Chicken meat was more frequently contaminated than other meats. Selective culture was more sensitive than membrane filtration (85 versus 66%), and specificity of the methods was 98 and 100%, respectively. Among Campylobacter isolates from chicken meat, 86.5% were multidrug resistant. Resistance to ciprofloxacin (51.3%) and enrofloxacin (52.7%) was lower than to nalidixic acid (71.6%). C. coli strains showed the highest cross-resistance for quinolones (82.6%) and fluoroquinolones (60.9%) as well as a high resistance to tetracycline. Plasmids were isolated from six C. coli and two C. jejuni isolates, but no association was detected between antimicrobial resistance and plasmid DNA carriage. Selective culture is considered as the optimal method for Campylobacter isolation, although it was unable to detect all contaminated samples. Membrane filtration provided more specific results but with low sensitivity. A combination of both techniques may offer better results

Prevalence of Salmonellae, Listeriae, and Yersiniae in the Slaughterhouse Environment and on Work Surfaces, Equipment, and Workers

In 1995 and 1996 a nine-month study was carried out in 11 pig abattoirs located in the Molise region (Italy) to evaluate the degree of contamination of- the slaughterhouse environment, work surfaces, equipment, and personnel by Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and Yersinia spp. A total of 219 samples were taken over three replications including slaughtering floor and wall, hooks, work-tables, chopping blocks, knives, cleavers, dehairing devices, hands of personnel, clothing, hand-wash basins, and cold room handles, floor, wall, and hooks. Overall, six abattoirs (54.5%) had one or more positive sites, while only 14 of the 219 sites (6.4%) tested were positive for any of considered microorganisms. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 1 of 9 cleavers (11.1 %), 1 of 16 worktables (6.25%), and 1 of 18 slaughtering floors (5.6%). Yersinia enterocolitica was found on 3 slaughtering floors (16.7%) and on 2 worktables (12.5%). Yersinia kristensenii was detected on 2 slaughtering floor swabs (11.1 %). Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 2 of 20 cold room floor swabs (13.3%) and from 1 of 14 hand-wash basins (7.1%). Other species of Listeria were detected on slaughtering wall and floor swabs and on chopping blocks. Our study indicates that slaughtering floors, cold room floors, and worktables are important sites in abattoirs that may possibly harbor pathogens like Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica , and Listeria monocytogenes , and that cleaning and sanitizing of the slaughterhouse environment and equipment need a greater emphasis

Nutritional surveillance in Tuscany: maternal perception of nutritional status of 8-9 y-old school-children

Introduction. Overweight and obesity in the developmental age has become a public health problem. For this reason, prevention projects must be developed in advance with the aim to involve not only children, but their parents as well. Our objective is to evaluate the accuracy of the mothers? perceptions of adolescent nutritional status. Methods. Cross-sectional study. We selected a statistical sample of 3,076 subjects (1,583 males, 1,493 females), 8-9 y-old school-children of 164 3rd-grade elementary school classes from throughout Tuscany, as well as their mothers. The mothers? information was gathered via self-administered questionnaires, while the children were given an eating behaviour survey under the supervision of qualified personnel. Mothers? education level (self-reported) height and weight were collected; children?s height and weight were measured. The former were asked how they perceived their children?s body image. Results. A correlation exists between the mothers? perceptions of the nutritional state of their children via the silhouettes and the BMI classes of the children, which is equal to 80% with a k-Cohen for agreement equal to 0.58 (SE = 0.02; P : 0.0001). However, no correlation exists between the mothers? responses to the question ?In your opinion, is your child ??? and the child?s actual BMI class (the exact percentage correlation is equal to 75%, with a k-Cohen for agreement equal to 0.43 SE = 0.014; P : 0.0001). Discussion. Mothers have an accurate perception of the nutritional status of their children, correctly choosing the silhouette that corresponds to the child?s BMI profile without variation by gender. We can assume that mothers in our sample have a good concept about healthy nutritional status

Nutritional Surveillance in Tuscany: eating habits at breakfast, mid-morning and afternoon snacks among 8-9 y-old children

Introduction.The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is rapidly increasing in many countries. For that it has been interesting to investigate the eating habits of 8-9 y-old Tuscany children by paying attention to their meals frequency per day and their food choices in total and in relation to children?s Body Mass Index (BMI) classes. In addition we considered some environment factors that could affect the children eating behaviours, such as mother?s BMI and their education level. Methods. A statistical sample of 3,076 (1,583 males, 1,493 females), 8-9 year-old school-children was collected; weight and height were measured using standardized personnel and instruments. BMI classes were calculated using Cole et al.?s cutoff for children and adolescents. In order to evaluate the consumption frequency of individual meals and various foods, a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used, which was completed by the children themselves at school. A self-administered questionnaire revealed the weight and height of parents and their educational levels. Three educational levels were established: high, medium and low. Results. The results showed that 92.3% of children ate breakfast from 4-7 times a week, the vast majority at home, while only 3% declared consuming breakfast never or almost never. The most preferred breakfast consisted of milk and biscuits for all children?s BMI classes. 95.9% of children reported having mid-morning snack at school; fruit juice and tea are the most frequently consumed liquid foods, and pizza, salami sandwiches and pre-packaged snacks are the most frequently consumed solid foods in all BMI classes. 93.6% ate afternoon snack for the most part at home, even if 12% of children reported consuming it elsewhere; fruit juice and tea with pizza, sandwiches and pre-packaged snacks are still the most highly consumed foods by all children?s BMI classes. The consumption frequency of breakfast (P inf. 0.001), mid-morning (P inf. 0.05) and afternoon snack (P inf. 0.05) of 8-9 y-old Tuscany children decrease with increase the children?s BMI classes. The same tendency may be noted for the consumption frequency of breakfast in relation to mother?s BMI (P inf. 0.05) and their education level (P inf. 0.05). This data strengthens the thesis that some home environments can affect the children?s eating behaviours. Conclusion. No substantial differences in food choices at the meals analyzed were determined among normal weight, over weight and obese children. Children of normal weight had a greater tendency to consume meals more regularly. Mother?s BMI and their education level can have influence on children?eating behaviours

Relapse of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination: a prospective cohort study

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare and life-threatening disease. Vaccination has been reported to be a trigger of onset and relapse of autoimmune diseases. We evaluated after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination 32 adult patients previously diagnosed with iTTP by means of weekly monitoring of complete blood count and ADAMTS13 testing. Thirty of 32 patients received at least one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, the remaining two received Moderna. A total of five patients, all vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, had a biochemical relapse at a median post-vaccination time of 15 days following the second or third vaccine dose, presenting without measurable ADAMTS13 activity and a median anti- ADAMTS13 autoantibody value of 34 U/mL. Four of five cases had concomitant clinical relapse and were treated with corticosteroids alone or daily sessions of plasma exchange and caplacizumab, while one patient was closely monitored with ADAMTS13 with no onset of anemia and thrombocytopenia. Although the benefits of vaccination exceed its potential risks, clinicians should be aware that iTTP relapse might follow COVID-19 vaccination. Therefore, laboratory and clinical monitoring of iTTP patients should be done in the first post-vaccination month, in order to promptly diagnose and treat any relapse

Has VZV epidemiology changed in Italy? Results of a seroprevalence study

The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how varicella prevalence has changed in Italy. In particular a seroprevalence study was performed, comparing it to similar surveys conducted in pre-immunization era. During 2013–2014, sera obtained from blood samples taken for diagnostic purposes or routine investigations were collected in collaboration with at least one laboratory/center for each region, following the approval of the Ethics Committee. Data were stratified by sex and age. All samples were processed in a national reference laboratory by an immunoassay with high sensitivity and specificity. Statutory notifications, national hospital discharge database and mortality data related to VZV infection were analyzed as well. A total of 3707 sera were collected and tested. In the studied period both incidence and hospitalization rates decreased and about 5 deaths per year have been registered. The seroprevalence decreased in the first year of life in subjects passively protected by their mother, followed by an increase in the following age classes. The overall antibody prevalence was 84%. The comparison with surveys conducted with the same methodology in 1996–1997 and 2003–2004 showed significant differences in age groups 1–19 y. The study confirms that in Italy VZV infection typically occurs in children. The impact of varicella on Italian population is changing. The comparison between studies performed in different periods shows a significant increase of seropositivity in age class 1–4 years, expression of vaccine interventions already adopted in some regions

The Polarised Valence Quark Distribution from semi-inclusive DIS

The semi-inclusive difference asymmetry A^{h^{+}-h^{-}} for hadrons of opposite charge has been measured by the COMPASS experiment at CERN. The data were collected in the years 2002-2004 using a 160 GeV polarised muon beam scattered off a large polarised ^6LiD target and cover the range 0.006 < x < 0.7 and 1 < Q^2 < 100 (GeV/c)^2. In leading order QCD (LO) the asymmetry A_d^{h^{+}-h^{-}} measures the valence quark polarisation and provides an evaluation of the first moment of Delta u_v + Delta d_v which is found to be equal to 0.40 +- 0.07 (stat.) +- 0.05 (syst.) over the measured range of x at Q^2 = 10 (GeV/c)^2. When combined with the first moment of g_1^d previously measured on the same data, this result favours a non-symmetric polarisation of light quarks Delta u-bar = - Delta d-bar at a confidence level of two standard deviations, in contrast to the often assumed symmetric scenario Delta u-bar = Delta d-bar = Delta s-bar = Delta s.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, COMPASS, revised: details added, author list update

ERG Deregulation Induces PIM1 Over-Expression and Aneuploidy in Prostate Epithelial Cells

The ERG gene belongs to the ETS family of transcription factors and has been found to be involved in atypical chromosomal rearrangements in several cancers. To gain insight into the oncogenic activity of ERG, we compared the gene expression profile of NIH-3T3 cells stably expressing the coding regions of the three main ERG oncogenic fusions: TMPRSS2/ERG (tERG), EWS/ERG and FUS/ERG. We found that all three ERG fusions significantly up-regulate PIM1 expression in the NIH-3T3 cell line. PIM1 is a serine/threonine kinase frequently over-expressed in cancers of haematological and epithelial origin. We show here that tERG expression induces PIM1 in the non-malignant prostate cell line RWPE-1, strengthening the relation between tERG and PIM1 up-regulation in the initial stages of prostate carcinogenesis. Silencing of tERG reversed PIM1 induction. A significant association between ERG and PIM1 expression in clinical prostate carcinoma specimens was found, suggesting that such a mechanism may be relevant in vivo. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that tERG directly binds to PIM1 promoter in the RWPE-1 prostate cell line, suggesting that tERG could be a direct regulator of PIM1 expression. The up-regulation of PIM1 induced by tERG over-expression significantly modified Cyclin B1 levels and increased the percentage of aneuploid cells in the RWPE-1 cell line after taxane-based treatment. Here we provide the first evidence for an ERG-mediated PIM1 up-regulation in prostate cells in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a direct effect of ERG transcriptional activity in the alteration of genetic stability