Congenital mirror movements in a new Italian family

Mirror movements (MMs) occur on the contralateral side of a limb being used intentionally. Because few families with congenital MMs and no other neurological signs have been reported, the underlying mechanisms of MMs are still not entirely clear. We report on the clinical, genetic, neurophysiological and neuroimaging findings of 10 of 26 living members of a novel four-generation family with congenital MMs. DCC and RAD51 were sequenced in affected members of the family. Five of the ten subjects with MMs underwent neurophysiological and neuroimaging evaluations. The neurophysiological evaluation consisted of electromyographic (EMG) mirror recordings, investigations of corticospinal excitability, and analysis of interhemispheric inhibition using transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. The neuroimaging evaluation included functional MRI during finger movements. Eight (all females) of the ten members examined presented MMs of varying degrees at the clinical assessment. Transmission of MMs appears to have occurred according to an autosomal-dominant fashion with variable expression. No mutation in DCC or RAD51 was identified. EMG mirror activity was higher in MM subjects than in healthy controls. Short-latency interhemispheric inhibition was reduced in MM subjects. Ipsilateral motor-evoked potentials were detectable in the most severe case. The neuroimaging evaluation did not disclose any significant abnormalities in MM subjects. The variability of the clinical features of this family, and the lack of known genetic abnormalities, suggests that MMs are heterogeneous disorders. The pathophysiological mechanisms of MMs include abnormalities of transcallosal inhibition and corticospinal decussatio

Influence of Extraction Solvent on the Biological Properties of Maritime Pine Bark (Pinus pinaster)

Maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica) is rich in polyphenols with known bioactive properties which are beneficial for human health. However, biological activities of bark extracts depend on the type of polyphenols extracted and the characteristics of these extractives depend on several factors such as the type of solvents used. The in uence of the extraction solvent on the composition and consequently on the properties of the extracts has been poorly described. Thus, in this study the in uence of the extraction solvent (water, ethanol and ethanol-water (50/50 v/v%)) on the antibacterial and anticancer properties of P. pinaster bark samples were evaluated. LC-DAD-MS profiling of the different extracts was also carried out to study their polyphenol composition. Results show that extraction solvent must be carefully chosen with respect to foreseeing use of bark extracts, since ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts displayed the greatest antibacterial activity whereas water extracts showed increased anticancer properties. © 2022. International Journal of Food Studies.All Rights Reserve

How To Make A Pie: Reproducible Research for Empirical Economics & Econometrics

Empirical economics and econometrics (EEE) research now relies primarily on the application of code to datasets. Handling the workflow linking datasets, programs, results and finally manuscript(s) is essential if one wish to reproduce results, which is now increasingly required by journals and institutions. We underline here the importance of “reproducible research” in EEE and suggest three simple principles to follow. We illustrate these principles with good habits and tools, with particular focus on their implementation in most popular software and languages in applied economics

How To Make A Pie: Reproducible Research for Empirical Economics & Econometrics

Empirical economics and econometrics (EEE) research now relies primarily on the application of code to datasets. Handling the workflow linking datasets, programs, results and finally manuscript(s) is essential if one wish to reproduce results, which is now increasingly required by journals and institutions. We underline here the importance of “reproducible research” in EEE and suggest three simple principles to follow. We illustrate these principles with good habits and tools, with particular focus on their implementation in most popular software and languages in applied economics

Elevation of cell-associated HIV-1 transcripts in CSF CD4+ T cells, despite effective antiretroviral therapy, is linked to brain injury

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can attain prolonged undetectable HIV-1 in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but brain injury remains prevalent in people living with HIV-1 infection (PLHIV). We investigated cell-associated (CA)-HIV-1 RNA transcripts in cells in CSF and blood, using the highly sensitive Double-R assay, together with proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H MRS) of major brain metabolites, in sixteen PLHIV. 14/16 CSF cell samples had quantifiable CA-HIV-1 RNA, at levels significantly higher than in their PBMCs (median 9,266 vs 185 copies /106 CD4+ T-cells; p<0.0001). In individual PLHIV, higher levels of HIV-1 transcripts in CSF cells were associated with greater brain injury in the frontal white matter (Std β=-0.73; p=0.007) and posterior cingulate (Std β=-0.61; p=0.03). 18-colour flow cytometry revealed that the CSF cells were 91% memory T-cells, equally CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, but fewer B cells (0.4 %), and monocytes (3.1%). CXCR3+CD49d+integrin β7-, CCR5+CD4+ T-cells were highly enriched in CSF, compared with PBMC (p <0.001). However, CA-HIV-1 RNA could not be detected in 10/16 preparations of highly purified monocytes from PBMC, and was extremely low in the other six. Our data show that elevated HIV-1 transcripts in CSF cells were associated with brain injury, despite suppressive ART. The cellular source is most likely memory CD4+ T cells from blood, rather than trafficking monocytes. Future research should focus on inhibitors of this transcription to reduce local production of potentially neurotoxic and inflammatory viral products

HIV-1 viral blips are associated with repeated and increasingly high levels of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA transcriptional activity

Objective:Some HIV+ patients, virally suppressed on ART, show occasional 'blips' of detectable HIV-1 plasma RNA. We used a new highly sensitive assay of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA to measure transcriptional activity in PBMCs and production of infectious virus from the viral reservoir, in patients with and without 'blips'.Design/methods:RNA and DNA extracted from cells in 6 ml of peripheral blood, from suppressed patients with one to two 'blip' episodes over the past 2 years of ART (n = 55), or no 'blips' (n = 52), were assayed for HIV-1 RNA transcripts and proviral DNA targeting the highly conserved 'R' region of the LTR. Follow-up samples were also collected. Purified CD4+T cells were cultured with anti-CD3/CD28/CD2 T-cell activator to amplify transcription and measure replication competent virus.Results:HIV-1 RNA transcripts ranged from 1.3 to 5415 copies/106white blood cells. 'Blip' patients had significantly higher levels vs. without blips (median 192 vs. 49; P = 0.0007), which correlated with: higher levels of inducible transcripts after activation in vitro, sustained higher HIV-1 transcription levels in follow-up samples along with increasing HIV-1 DNA in some, and production of replication-competent HIV-1.Conclusion:Viral 'blips' are significant reflecting higher transcriptional activity from the reservoir and contribute to the reservoir over time. This sensitive assay can be used in monitoring the size and activity of the HIV-1 reservoir and will be useful in HIV-1 cure strategies

CO-FREE Alternative Test Products for Copper Reduction in Agriculture

The project CO-FREE (2012-2016) aimed to develop strategies to replace/reduce copper use in organic, integrated and conventional farming. CO-FREE alternative test products (CTPs) were tested and integrated together with decision support systems, disease-tolerant varieties, and innovative breeding goals (ideotypes) into improved management strategies. CO-FREE focused on apple/apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), grape/downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), and tomato and potato/late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Starting point of the project were ten CTPs with direct or indirect modes of action including Trichoderma atroviride SC1 and protein extract SCNB, Lysobacter spp., yeast-based derivatives, Cladosporium cladosporioides H39, the oligosaccharidic complex COS-OGA, Aneurinibacillus migulanus and Xenorhabdus bovienii, sage (Salvia officinalis) extract, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract, PLEX- and seaweed plant extracts. As the project progressed, further promising CTPs were included by the partners. Field trials were performed in different European countries in 2012-2015 following EPPO standards. In the first years, stand-alone applications of CTPs were tested. In the following years these were integrated into complete strategies. Effects on main and further diseases, on yield and on non-target organisms were assessed. Here, field trial results with CTPs are summarized

L’accompagnement-citoyen en soutien à la participation sociale des aînés ayant un traumatisme craniocérébral

Hautement valorisée par les aînés, la participation sociale a des effets bénéfiques sur leur santé biopsychosociale. Tous n’ont pas cependant les mêmes opportunités pour s’investir dans ce type d’activités; particulièrement ceux ayant un traumatisme craniocérébral (TCC) qui sont plus susceptibles d’être limités dans leurs capacités à participer à la vie de la communauté. Les initiatives les plus courantes pour aider ces personnes consistent en une assistance humaine visant àpallierleurs limitations et ne misent pas, en priorité, sur la promotion de leurs compétences. Afin d’optimiser l’aide reçue, un accompagnementcitoyen personnalisé à l’intégration communautaire (APIC) a été développé, implanté et évalué. Cet article documente l’impact de l’APIC sur la participation sociale d’aînés ayant un TCC. Une analyse de contenu thématique a été réalisée sur les données issues d’entrevues semi-dirigées auprès des participants et des journaux de bord des accompagnateurs. Les résultats montrent trois grandes retombées de l’APIC : une meilleure assurance et un plus grand sentiment d’autonomie, un goût retrouvé de s’investir dans des activités de loisirs signifiantes, et une plus grande ouverture vers de nouvelles possibilités de relations.Abstract : Highly valued by seniors, community integration has beneficial effects on their biopsychosocial health. However, not all of them have the same opportunities to engage in social participation activities, particularly those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are more likely to be limited in their abilities to participate in the life of the community. The most common initiatives to help these people consist of human assistance to overcome their limitations and which do not focus on skills promotion. In order to optimize the available services and resources, personalized citizen assistance for community integration (APIC) has been developed, implemented, and evaluated. This article documents the impact of APIC on the community integration of seniors with TBI. A thematic content analysis was conducted on data from semi-structured interviews with participants and from attendant logbooks. The results show three major spin-offs from APIC: better insurance and a greater sense of autonomy, a renewed taste for investing in meaningful leisure activities, and greater openness to new relationship opportunities

Molecular and Evolutionary Bases of Within-Patient Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity in Escherichia coli Extraintestinal Infections

Although polymicrobial infections, caused by combinations of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, are being recognised with increasing frequency, little is known about the occurrence of within-species diversity in bacterial infections and the molecular and evolutionary bases of this diversity. We used multiple approaches to study the genomic and phenotypic diversity among 226 Escherichia coli isolates from deep and closed visceral infections occurring in 19 patients. We observed genomic variability among isolates from the same site within 11 patients. This diversity was of two types, as patients were infected either by several distinct E. coli clones (4 patients) or by members of a single clone that exhibit micro-heterogeneity (11 patients); both types of diversity were present in 4 patients. A surprisingly wide continuum of antibiotic resistance, outer membrane permeability, growth rate, stress resistance, red dry and rough morphotype characteristics and virulence properties were present within the isolates of single clones in 8 of the 11 patients showing genomic micro-heterogeneity. Many of the observed phenotypic differences within clones affected the trade-off between self-preservation and nutritional competence (SPANC). We showed in 3 patients that this phenotypic variability was associated with distinct levels of RpoS in co-existing isolates. Genome mutational analysis and global proteomic comparisons in isolates from a patient revealed a star-like relationship of changes amongst clonally diverging isolates. A mathematical model demonstrated that multiple genotypes with distinct RpoS levels can co-exist as a result of the SPANC trade-off. In the cases involving infection by a single clone, we present several lines of evidence to suggest diversification during the infectious process rather than an infection by multiple isolates exhibiting a micro-heterogeneity. Our results suggest that bacteria are subject to trade-offs during an infectious process and that the observed diversity resembled results obtained in experimental evolution studies. Whatever the mechanisms leading to diversity, our results have strong medical implications in terms of the need for more extensive isolate testing before deciding on antibiotic therapies