Activity of selected essential oils on spoiling fungi cultured from Marzolino cheese

Microscopic fungi can be present on a variety of foodstuff, including cheese. They can be responsible for fungal spoilage, causing sensory changes making food unacceptable for human consumption, and posing severe health concerns. Furthermore, some of these organisms are able to resist antimicrobial preservatives provided for by law. Antifungal activity of 15 chemically defined EOs, alone and in mixture, were checked by a microdilution test against isolates of Penicillium funiculosum and Mucor racemosus cultured from rinds of Marzolino, a typical Italian fresh pecorino cheese. Origanum vulgare yielded the lowest MIC values, followed by Salvia sclarea, Ocimum basilicum and Cymbopogon citratus, while Citrus paradisi and Citrus limon were not active. All mixtures showed antifungal activity at lower concentration with respect to MIC values of each EO component, when not in combination. This study is the first to describe the setting up of EOs mixtures to limit spoiling moulds

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

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

Regulation of the Adaptive Response of Cardiac Cells to Ischemia: Role of Nanovesicles

Ischemic heart disease represents 1 in 4 of total global deaths worldwide. Myocardial intercellular cross-talk regulate simultaneously the tissue homeostasis between neighboring cardiac cells in response to acute or chronic ischemic insult. Different studies have suggested that the heterocellular communication of adult myocardium is mainly based on the release of several free soluble biofactors into the extracellular milieu and on the spreading of different ions through selective channels. In light of these findings, the past few decades have witnessed incessant research aimed at protecting the adult myocardium against ischemic injury, but the development of effective cardioprotection is still a desirable achievement. Nowadays, the rapidly evolving nanoscience is offering the opportunity to tailor new reliable therapeutic targets at ultrastructural level in order to prevent or attenuate the progressive myocardial trimodal response (cell death, matrix degradation and reactive cell hypertrophy) against ischemic injury occurring in infarcted heart. All cardiac cell types release nanovesicles termed “exosomes” (size 40-100 nm), which contain different cargo under normoxic and hypoxic microenvironment. In particular, we and other investigators have demostrated that cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac progenitor cells/stem cells interact with ischemic cardiomyocytes through the release of exosomes. Our review provides current insights into the role of nanovesicles in the modulation of injury and repair responses under ischemic microenvironment

Exosomes released from sulforaphane-treated fibroblasts protect the cardiomyocytes from angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy

Introduction: The communication between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes underlies the pathological cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin-II (AngII), which contributes to heart failure. Fibroblast-derived exosomes (F-Exo) have been implicated in mediating AngII-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. However, how release of anti-hypertrophic F-Exo is induced, remains an unanswered issue. Sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate extracted from cruciferous vegetables, attenuates AngII-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. We tested the effects of SFN on the release of anti-hypertrophic F-Exo in vitro. Methods: Murine embryo fibroblasts were treated with non-toxic dose of SFN (3 μM/7 days). Intact F-Exo were isolated from cell culture media by differential centrifugation. F-Exo were quantified by Western blot using CD63. Hypertrophy of HL-1 cardiomyocytes was induced by AngII (100 nM/12 h). Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Cell surface area, an indicator of cell hypertrophy, was measured after 3 or 24 h incubation with 30 μg exosomes isolated from SFN-treated (SFN-F-Exo) or untreated (F-Exo, control) fibroblasts. Uptake by HL-1 of DiA-labeled exosomes was measured under rest or AngII. Exosomal content of Maspin, a protease inhibitor with function of inhibitor of histone deacetylase 1, was assessed by Western blot. Results: Treatment with F-Exo significantly increased HL-1 viability by 53% under stress compared to control. Stressed HL-1 treated for 24 h with SFN-F-Exo displayed cell surface area similar to resting cells, but not those treated with F-Exo. Stressed HL-1 exhibited a ~3-fold increase in SFN-F-Exo uptake rather than F-Exo. SFN-F-Exo are enriched in Maspin. Summary/conclusion: SFN increases the uptake of F-Exo which display the ability to prevent AngII-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. Higher content of Maspin in SFN-F-Exo suggests that modulation of exosomal uptake and hypertrophy in stressed cardiomyocytes may be epigenetically driven

Epigenetic regulation of myocardial homeostasis, self-regeneration and senescence

The adult myocardium has limited capacity to preserve, renew or rejuvenate itself. The local microenvironment may induce epigenetic changes affecting the survival, proliferation, function and senescence of cardiac cells at rest and following the exposure to different stressors. The cellular response to microenvironment is characterized by the release of ions, oxygen free radicals, auto/paracrine factors and RNAs that drive the magnitude of gene reprogramming through the interaction with specific promoters. The epigenetic alterations may act at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level and change cardiac physiological traits. The abnormal DNA methylation underlies the progressive decay of contractile function and the angiogenic ability; while, the histone acetylation promotes the survival, function and proliferation of cardiac cells in the presence of ischemic microenvironment. At least, the expression and secretion of microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs may regulate the threshold to stress tolerance of adult cardiac cells and induce the matrix turnover as well. Natural or synthetic active compounds effectively modulate the epigenetic state of cardiac cells. Plant foods contain many active compounds with epigenetic properties and might assume a clinical significance as natural cardiac regenerators or rejuvenators. Our review describes novel epigenetic mechanisms that underpin myocardial remodeling, repair/ regeneration or senescence in order to support the development of most effective and reproducible rescue therapy of adult heart

PERIOPERATIVE PLASMA LEVELS OF CD63-POSITIVE EXOSOMES IN OLDER PATIENTS UNDERGOING FIRST-TIME CABG OR VALVE REPLACEMENT SURGERY: A PRELIMINARY COMPARISON TO CARDIAC TROPONIN I AND CREATINE KINASE-MB

Purpose. Blood biomarkers of myocardial viability that guide management in cardiac surgical patients are still lacking. To compare the perioperative levels of circulating CD63-positive exosomes (EXOs), smallest secreted nanovesicles with cardioprotective properties, and the biomarkers of myocardial injury in elderly patients undergoing different type of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods. Blood samples were collected from 16 male older patients (65±9 years; NYHA II-III), undergoing valve replacement (VR; nonischemic; n=7) or first-time coronary-artery by-pass graft (CABG; ischemic; n=9) with CPB to measure plasma levels of EXOs 1) before initiation of CPB (T0), 2) at 3h after CPB (T1) and 3) at 3 days after the end of the operation (T2). Similarly, we measured the serum levels of cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) and Creatine Kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), biomarkers of myocardial injury. Plasma EXOs were isolated by serial ultracentrifugations and were quantified by Western blot. Results. At similar perioperative management, the exosomal profile is significantly different in VR and CABG patients. At T0, the levels of EXOs are higher in VR compared to CABG patients (P<0.01). Even if the cross-clamp time in VR is higher than CABG patients, EXOs levels do not change over time. In CABG patients, plasma EXOs are significantly increased by 20% at T1 and by 45% at T2 (P< 0.01). Conversely, the cTnI and CK-MB levels decline at T2 (P<0.05; r:0.645) after initial increase at T1 in CABG patients. Conclusions. Our preliminary results suggest that the prolonged rise of plasma EXOs levels is a potential innovative perioperative indicator of myocardial viability after weaning from CPB in older patients undergoing CABG. It is conceivable that high EXOs levels may protect other organs, including the heart

Cardiomyocyte-targeting exosomes from sulforaphane-treated fibroblasts affords cardioprotection in infarcted rats.

Background Exosomes (EXOs), tiny extracellular vesicles that facilitate cell–cell communication, are being explored as a heart failure treatment, although the features of the cell source restrict their efficacy. Fibroblasts the most prevalent non-myocyte heart cells, release poor cardioprotective EXOs. A noninvasive method for manufacturing fibroblastderived exosomes (F-EXOs) that target cardiomyocytes and slow cardiac remodeling is expected. As a cardioprotective isothiocyanate, sulforaphane (SFN)-induced F-EXOs (SFN-F-EXOs) should recapitulate its anti-remodeling properties. Methods Exosomes from low-dose SFN (3 μM/7 days)-treated NIH/3T3 murine cells were examined for number, size, and protein composition. Fluorescence microscopy, RT-qPCR, and western blot assessed cell size, oxidative stress, AcH4 levels, hypertrophic gene expression, and caspase-3 activation in angiotensin II (AngII)-stressed HL-1 murine cardiomyocytes 12 h-treated with various EXOs. The uptake of fluorescently-labeled EXOs was also measured in cardiomyocytes. The cardiac function of infarcted male Wistar rats intramyocardially injected with different EXOs (1·1012) was examined by echocardiography. Left ventricular infarct size, hypertrophy, and capillary density were measured. Results Sustained treatment of NIH/3T3 with non-toxic SFN concentration significantly enhances the release of CD81 + EXOs rich in TSG101 (Tumor susceptibility gene 101) and Hsp70 (Heat Shock Protein 70), and containing maspin, an endogenous histone deacetylase 1 inhibitor. SFN-F-EXOs counteract angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertrophy and apoptosis in murine HL-1 cardiomyocytes enhancing SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a) levels more effectively than F-EXOs. In stressed cardiomyocytes, SFN-F-EXOs boost AcH4 levels by 30% (p &lt; 0.05) and significantly reduce oxidative stress more than F-EXOs. Fluorescence microscopy showed that mouse cardiomyocytes take in SFN-F-EXOs ~ threefold more than F-EXOs. Compared to vehicle-injected infarcted hearts, SFNF- EXOs reduce hypertrophy, scar size, and improve contractility. Conclusions Long-term low-dose SFN treatment of fibroblasts enhances the release of anti-remodeling cardiomyocyte- targeted F-EXOs, which effectively prevent the onset of HF. The proposed method opens a new avenue for largescale production of cardioprotective exosomes for clinical application using allogeneic fibroblasts

The Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area: Characterization of Soil Bacterial Communities from Four Oases

Understanding how microbial communities survive in extreme environmental pressure is critical for interpreting ecological patterns and microbial diversity. Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area represents an intriguing model for studying the bacterial community since it is a protected and intact wild area of the Mongolian desert. In this work, the composition of a bacterial community of the soil from four oases was characterized by extracting total DNA and sequencing through the Illumina NovaSeq platform. In addition, the soil’s chemical and physical properties were determined, and their influence on shaping the microbial communities was evaluated. The results showed a high variability of bacterial composition among oases. Moreover, combining specific chemical and physical parameters significantly shapes the bacterial community among oases. Data obtained suggested that the oases were highly variable in physiochemical parameters and bacterial communities despite the similar extreme climate conditions. Moreover, core functional microbiome were constituted by aerobic chemoheterotrophy and chemoheterotrophy, mainly contributed by the most abundant bacteria, such as Actinobacteriota, Pseudomonadota, and Firmicutes. This result supposes a metabolic flexibility for sustaining life in deserts. Furthermore, as the inhabitants of the extreme regions are likely to produce new chemical compounds, isolation of key taxa is thus encouraged