Molecular Cytogenetics as a Tool for Primate Taxonomic identification: A Case Study in Captivity

caratteristiche peculiari essendo notturne e monogame. Hanno un\u2019ampia distribuzione geografica che si estende dallo stretto di Panama al nord dell\u2019Argentina; questo determina una notevole complessit\ue0 nella distribuzione e di conseguenza nell\u2019interpretazione sistematica e filogenetica. Lo studio del genere Aotus mediante l\u2019analisi di caratte ri morfologici e genetici ha prodotto una tassonomia controversa. Inizialmente era riconosciuta solo la specie Aotus trivirgatus, successivamente in base alla colorazione del pelo del collo, alla diversa suscettibilit\ue0 alla malaria e ai dati citogenetici sono state identificate fino a nove specie, oltre a due sibling species, per un totale di 11.1,2 Il numero diploide di cromosomi in Aotus varia da 46 a 56; nel cariotipo sono presenti molti polimorfismi dovuti all\u2019ibridazione che si verifica in specie simpatiche; in alcune specie \ue8 presente una traslocazione Y-autosoma. Le undici specie sono state suddivise in due gruppi monofiletici: il gruppo grey-black neck distribuito a nord e il gruppo red neck distribuito a sud del Rio delle Amazzoni. Le specie del gruppo red neck sono omogenee da un punto di v ista del cariotipo con un numero diplolide 2n=49 (maschio)/50 (femmina) e una traslocazione Y- autosoma. Le specie del gruppo grey-black neck presentano numero diploide di cromosomi variabile, con il pi\uf9 basso 2n=46 in A. vociferans e il pi\uf9 alto 2n=56 in A. lemurinus. Solo due specie (Aotus nancymae e Aotus lemurinus) sono state analizzate mediante la citogenetica molecolare (painting cromosomico). Quest\u2019analisi ha permesso di dimostrare che le specie del genere Aotus posseggono un cariotipo piuttosto derivato se confrontato con quello ipotetico ancestrale delle Platyrrhinae, da cui si \ue8 originato attraverso fusioni, fissioni, traslocazioni ed inversioni.3-5 L\u2019identificazione tassonomica di taxa di Aotus mediante l\u2019analisi cromosomica rappresenta, in cattivit\ue0, il prerequisito per programmi di breeding in quanto la ricostruzione del cariotipo bandeggiato \ue8 l\u2019unico approccio per identificare la maggior parte delle specie del genere Aotus. Mediante le tecniche citogenetiche vengono identificati individui compatibili da un punto di vista cromosomico che possono essere incrociati tra loro al fine di evitare ibridazioni interspecie6 e favorire la conservazione delle diverse specie. L\u2019obiettivo del presente lavoro riguarda l\u2019identificazione mediante bandeggio cromosomico di individui di una colonia di Aotus, al fine di avviare un programma di conservazione delle specie mediante breeding. Il gruppo di scimmie, originario della Bolivia, \ue8 presente in Giappone dal 1977 presso The Primate Research Institute di Tokyo; tra gli individui della colonia si \ue8 inavvertitamente verificata la produzione di ibridi prima che fossero riconosciute le diverse specie del genere. Si riportano dati preliminari sull\u2019identificazione di individui idonei da incrociare, in particolare il cariotipo bandeggiato di un maschio di A.l griseimbra (2n=54) (Figura 1). Inoltre si sono revisionati dati citogenetici presenti in letteratura su Aotus al fine di sottolineare l\u2019importanza della citogenetica classica e molecolare negli studi filogenetici e in quelli riguardanti la conservazione delle speci

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on admissions to general hospital psychiatric wards in Italy: Reduced psychiatric hospitalizations and increased suicidality

Aims: The present investigation aimed at evaluating differences in psychiatric hospitalizations in Italy during and after the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. Methods: We obtained and analyzed anonymized data on psychiatric admissions (n = 4550) from 12 general hospital psychiatric wards (GHPWs) in different Italian regions (catchment area = 3.71 millions of inhabitants). Using a mixed-effects Poisson regression model, we compared admission characteristics across three periods: (a) March 1\u2013June 30, 2018 and 2019; (b) March 1\u2013April 30, 2020 (i.e., lockdown); and (c) May 1\u2013June 30, 2020 (i.e., post-lockdown). Results: During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a 41% reduction (IRR = 0.59; p 65 years) was observed in the lockdown (40%; IRR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.44\u20130.82) and post-lockdown (28%; IRR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54\u20130.96) periods. Long-stay admissions (>14 days) increased (63%; IRR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.32\u20132.02) during the lockdown and decreased by 39% thereafter (IRR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.49\u20130.75). A significant 35% increase in patients reporting suicidal ideation was observed in the post-lockdown period, compared to the rate observed in the 2018 and 2019 control period (IRR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.01\u20131.79). Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with changes in the number of psychiatric admissions, particularly for older patients and long-stay hospitalizations. Increased admission of patients reporting suicidal ideation in the post-lockdown period merits special attention. Further studies are required to gain insight into the observed phenomena

Omnipotent role of archaeal elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α) in translational elongation and termination, and quality control of protein synthesis

The molecular mechanisms of translation termination and mRNA surveillance in archaea remain unclear. In eukaryotes, eRF3 and HBS1, which are homologous to the tRNA carrier GTPase EF1α, respectively bind eRF1 and Pelota to decipher stop codons or to facilitate mRNA surveillance. However, genome-wide searches of archaea have failed to detect any orthologs to both GTPases. Here, we report the crystal structure of aRF1 from an archaeon, Aeropyrum pernix, and present strong evidence that the authentic archaeal EF1α acts as a carrier GTPase for aRF1 and for aPelota. The binding interface residues between aRF1 and aEF1α predicted from aRF1·aEF1α·GTP ternary structure model were confirmed by in vivo functional assays. The aRF1/eRF1 structural domain with GGQ motif, which corresponds to the CCA arm of tRNA, contacts with all three structural domains of aEF1α showing striking tRNA mimicry of aRF1/eRF1 and its GTPase-mediated catalysis for stop codon decoding. The multiple binding capacity of archaeal EF1α explains the absence of GTPase orthologs for eRF3 and HBS1 in archaea species and suggests that universal molecular mechanisms underlie translational elongation and termination, and mRNA surveillance pathways

Quality of residential facilities in Italy: satisfaction and quality of life of residents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Background: Recovery and human rights promotion for people with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSDs) is fundamental to provide good care in Residential Facilities (RFs). However, there is a concern about rehabilitation ethos in RFs. This study aimed to investigate the care quality of Italian RFs, the quality of life (QoL) and care experience of residents with SSD. Methods: Fourty-eight RFs were assessed using a quality assessment tool (QuIRC-SA) and 161 residents with SSD were enrolled. Seventeen RFs provided high intensity rehabilitation (SRP1), 15 medium intensity (SRP2), and 16 medium-low level support (SRP3). Staff-rated tools measured psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial functioning; user-rated tools assessed QoL and satisfaction with services. RFs comparisons were made using ANOVA and Chi-squared. Results: Over two-thirds patients (41.5 y.o., SD 9.7) were male. Seventy-six were recruited from SRP1 services, 48 from SRP2, and 27 from SRP3. The lowest QuIRC-SA scoring was Recovery Based Practice (45.8%), and the highest was promotion of Human Rights (58.4%). SRP2 had the lowest QuIRC-SA ratings and SRP3 the highest. Residents had similar psychopathology (p = 0.140) and functioning (p = 0.537). SRP3 residents were more employed (18.9%) than SRP1 (7.9%) or SRP2 (2.2%) ones, and had less severe negative symptoms (p = 0.016) and better QoL (p = 0.020) than SRP2 residents. There were no differences in the RF therapeutic milieu and their satisfaction with care. Conclusions: Residents of the lowest supported RFs in Italy had less severe negative symptoms, better QoL and more employment than others. The lowest ratings for Recovery Based Practice across all RFs suggest more work is needed to improve recovery

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on admissions to general hospital psychiatric wards in Italy: Reduced psychiatric hospitalizations and increased suicidality

Aims: The present investigation aimed at evaluating differences in psychiatric hospitalizations in Italy during and after the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. Methods: We obtained and analyzed anonymized data on psychiatric admissions (n = 4550) from 12 general hospital psychiatric wards (GHPWs) in different Italian regions (catchment area = 3.71 millions of inhabitants). Using a mixed-effects Poisson regression model, we compared admission characteristics across three periods: (a) March 1–June 30, 2018 and 2019; (b) March 1–April 30, 2020 (i.e., lockdown); and (c) May 1–June 30, 2020 (i.e., post-lockdown). Results: During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a 41% reduction (IRR = 0.59; p < 0.001, CI: 0.45–0.79) in psychiatric admissions in the enrolled GHPWs with respect to the 2018 and 2019 control period. Conversely, admission rates in the post-lockdown period were similar to those observed in the control period. Notably, a consistent and significant reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations of older patients (aged >65 years) was observed in the lockdown (40%; IRR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.44–0.82) and post-lockdown (28%; IRR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54–0.96) periods. Long-stay admissions (>14 days) increased (63%; IRR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.32–2.02) during the lockdown and decreased by 39% thereafter (IRR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.49–0.75). A significant 35% increase in patients reporting suicidal ideation was observed in the post-lockdown period, compared to the rate observed in the 2018 and 2019 control period (IRR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.01–1.79). Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with changes in the number of psychiatric admissions, particularly for older patients and long-stay hospitalizations. Increased admission of patients reporting suicidal ideation in the post-lockdown period merits special attention. Further studies are required to gain insight into the observed phenomena