Prion expression is activated by Adenovirus 5 infection and affects the adenoviral cycle in human cells

The prion protein is a cell surface glycoprotein whose physiological role remains elusive, while its implication in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) has been demonstrated. Multiple interactions between the prion protein and viruses have been described: viruses can act as co-factors in TSEs and life cycles of different viruses have been found to be controlled by prion modulation. We present data showing that human Adenovirus 5 induces prion expression. Inactivated Adenovirus did not alter prion transcription, while variants encoding for early products did, suggesting that the prion is stimulated by an early adenoviral function. Down-regulation of the prion through RNA interference showed that the prion controls adenovirus replication and expression. These data suggest that the prion protein could play a role in the defense strategy mounted by the host during viral infection, in a cell autonomous manner. These results have implications for the study of the prion protein and of associated TSEs

Main phases of wood formation in chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Central Italy: comparison of seasons 2008 and 2009

We present wood formation in chestnut (Castanea sativa) during the growing seasons 2008 and 2009, compare its dynamics in the two years and discuss possible effects on wood quality. To this purpose, microcores containing wood, cambium and phloem were collected at weekly intervals from 10 chestnut trees growing at the Cimini mountains near Viterbo, Central Italy. In 2008, the onset of wood formation started before the first sampling on 17 April 2008. Onset of lignifi cation of the fi rst formed vessels was observed around 23 April (day of the year DOY 113.8 ± 5.3) and the fi rst latewood vessels were observed around 5 June 2008 (DOY 156.5 ± 7.7). Latewood formation continued until 29 September 2008 (DOY 273.9 ± 10.5) when the terminal cells of the newly formed xylem ring were fully lignifi ed. In 2009, the main phases of wood formation generally occurred earlier than in 2008. The expansion of earlywood vessels was observed around 10 April (DOY 99.7 ± 6.1), the onset of lignifi cation around 22 April (DOY 111.9 ± 7.4) and the first latewood vessels around 28 May 2009 (DOY 147.9 ± 4.7). Lignifi cation of the last formed cells was completed by 26 September 2009 (DOY 273.9 ± 10.5). The average duration of tree-ring formation was 161 days in 2008 and 169 days in 2009, the average ring widths were 3296 ± 1514 μm in 2008 and 3166 ± 1073 μm in 2009, and latewood percentages comprised 76% and 74% of the 2008 and 2009 tree-rings, respectively. The small differences in timing of wood formation phases in the two study years are probably due to small variations in climatic conditions between the two years and they did not seem to have a major impact on ring widths and latewood percentages, which are two important parameters affecting wood quality in ring porous wood species

Glavne faze razvoja drva pitomog kestena (Castanea sativa) u središnjoj Italiji – usporedba sezone 2008 i 2009

We present wood formation in chestnut (Castanea sativa) during the growing seasons 2008 and 2009, compare its dynamics in the two years and discuss possible effects on wood quality. To this purpose, microcores containing wood, cambium and phloem were collected at weekly intervals from 10 chestnut trees growing at the Cimini mountains near Viterbo, Central Italy. In 2008, the onset of wood formation started before the first sampling on 17 April 2008. Onset of lignification of the first formed vessels was observed around 23 April (day of the year DOY 113.8 ± 5.3) and the first latewood vessels were observed around 5 June 2008 (DOY 156.5 ± 7.7). Latewood formation continued until 29 September 2008 (DOY 273.9 ± 10.5) when the terminal cells of the newly formed xylem ring were fully lignified. In 2009, the main phases of wood formation generally occurred earlier than in 2008. The expansion of earlywood vessels was observed around 10 April (DOY 99.7 ± 6.1), the onset of lignification around 22 April (DOY 111.9 ± 7.4) and the first latewood vessels around 28 May 2009 (DOY 147.9 ± 4.7). Lignification of the last formed cells was completed by 26 September 2009 (DOY 273.9 ± 10.5). The average duration of tree-ring formation was 161 days in 2008 and 169 days in 2009, the average ring widths were 3296 ± 1514 μm in 2008 and 3166 ± 1073 μm in 2009, and latewood percentages comprised 76% and 74% of the 2008 and 2009 tree-rings, respectively. The small differences in timing of wood formation phases in the two study years are probably due to small variations in climatic conditions between the two years and they did not seem to have a major impact on ring widths and latewood percentages, which are two important parameters affecting wood quality in ring porous wood species.Rad obrađuje stvaranje drva pitomog kestena (Castanea sativa) tijekom vegetacije u 2008. i 2009. godini. Uspoređuje se dinamika stvaranja drva u te dvije godine i raspravlja o mogućem utjecaju na njegovu kvalitetu. Za tu su svrhu s deset stabala pitomog kestena u planinama Cimini, pokraj mjesta Viterbo u središnjoj Italiji, u tjednim intervalima skupljeni mikroizvrtci koji su sadržavali drvo, kambij i floem. Početak stvaranja drva u 2008. godini dogodio se prije uzimanja prvih uzoraka 17. travnja 2008. Početak lignifikacije prvooblikovanih traheja primijećen je oko 23. travnja (dan u godini DOY 113,8 ± 5,3), a prve traheje kasnog drva primijećene su oko 5. lipnja (DOY 156,5 ± 7,7). Stvaranje kasnog drva nastavljeno je do 29. rujna 2008. (DOY 273,9 ± 10,5), kad su završne stanice novostvorenoga goda drva bile potpuno lignificirane. U 2009. godini glavne su se faze stvaranja drva uglavnom pojavile ranije nego u 2008. godini. Širenje traheja ranog drva primijećeno je oko 10. travnja (DOY 99,7 ± 6,1), početak lignifikacije oko 22. travnja (DOY 111,9 ± 7,4), a prve traheje kasnog drva oko 28. svibnja 2009. (DOY 147,9 ± 4,7). Lignifi kacija zadnjih proizvedenih stanica završena je do 26. rujna 2009. (DOY 273,9 ± 10,5). Prosječno trajanje stvaranja goda drva u 2008. godini iznosilo je 161 dan, a u 2009. godini 169 dana. Prosječne širine godova bile su 3296 ± 1514 μm u 2008. godini i 3166 ± 1073 μm u 2009. godini, a postotni udjel kasnog drva iznosio je 76 i 74% godova u 2008., odnosno u 2009. godini. Male razlike u vremenu početka pojedine faza stvaranja drva u dvjema promatranim godinama vjerojatno su posljedica malih varijacija klimatskih uvjeta između te dvije godine i čini se da nemaju velik utjecaj na širinu godova ni na postotak kasnog drva, a to su dva važna čimbenika koji utječu na kvalitetu drva prstenasto poroznih vrsta

Diabetic ketoacidosis at the onset of disease during a national awareness campaign: a 2-year observational study in children aged 0-18 years

After a previous survey on the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset of type 1 diabetes in children in 2013-2014 in Italy, we aimed to verify a possible decline in the incidence of DKA at onset during a national prevention campaign

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

A systems-level analysis highlights microglial activation as a modifying factor in common forms of human epilepsy

The common human epilepsies are associated with distinct patterns of reduced cortical thickness, detectable on neuroimaging, with important clinical consequences. To explore underlying mechanisms, we layered MRI-based cortical structural maps from a large-scale epilepsy neuroimaging study onto highly spatially-resolved human brain gene expression data, identifying >2,500 genes overexpressed in regions of reduced cortical thickness, compared to relatively-protected regions. The resulting set of differentially-expressed genes shows enrichment for microglial markers, and in particular, activated microglial states. Parallel analyses of cell-specific eQTLs show enrichment in human genetic signatures of epilepsy severity, but not epilepsy causation. Post mortem brain tissue from humans with epilepsy shows excess activated microglia. In an experimental model, depletion of activated microglia prevents cortical thinning, but not the development of chronic seizures. These convergent data strongly implicate activated microglia in cortical thinning, representing a new dimension for concern and disease modification in the epilepsies, potentially distinct from seizure control