Gastrointestinal parasites, liver flukes and lungworms in domestic ruminants from central Italy

Introduction - In ruminants, gastrointestinal, liver and lung parasites may represent a limiting factor for farm production. Aim - The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of gastrointestinal, liver and lung parasites in adult ruminants living in two different areas of Tuscany, central Italy. Materials and methods - Between April 2012 and December 2014, 178 adult ruminants (76 cattle, 61 sheep and 41 goats) from 16 extensive farms located in two different areas (A1 and A2) of Tuscany, were examined to assess the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites, liver flukes and lungworms. A1 included 111 animals from farms located in flat areas subject to water stagnation in rainy seasons, while A2 included 67 animals from farms located in hilly and drier areas. Individual faecal samples collected from all animals were analysed using qualitative and quantitative parasitological techniques. A total of 94 animals were examined for Fasciola hepatica also by using two commercial Elisa kits for the detection of faecal antigens and antibodies in serum, respectively. Data were statistically analysed. Results and discussion - An overall prevalence of 83.7% was found in the examined animals. Higher prevalence values (p<0.001) were found in small ruminants than in cattle and in Area 2 compared to Area 1. With regard to isolated parasites, gastrointestinal strongyles and coccidia were prevalent in all ruminant species and in both areas, while the prevalence of F. hepatica was higher in small ruminants and in Area 1 than in cattle and Area 2, respectively. Conclusion - Results indicated that in both areas and in all ruminant species, gastrointestinal parasites and liver flukes require more effective control measures

The eta-prime propagator in quenched QCD

The calculation of the eta-prime hairpin diagram is carried out in the modified quenched approximation (MQA) in which the lattice artifact which causes exceptional configurations is removed by shifting observed poles at kappa<kappa_c in the quark propagators to the critical value of hop ping parameter. By this method, the eta-prime propagator can be accurately calculated even for very light quark mass. A determination of the topological susceptibility for quenched QCD is also obtained, using the fermionic method of Smit and Vink to calculate winding numbers.Comment: 3 pages, 3 postscript figure

Precise Therapy for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Marfan Syndrome: A Puzzle Nearing Its Solution.

Abstract Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is a rare connective tissue disorder, resulting from mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene, characterized by pathologic phenotypes in multiple organs, the most detrimental of which affects the thoracic aorta. Indeed, thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), leading to acute dissection and rupture, are today the major cause of morbidity and mortality in adult MFS patients. Therefore, there is a compelling need for novel therapeutic strategies to delay TAA progression and counteract aortic dissection occurrence. Unfortunately, the wide phenotypic variability of MFS patients, together with the lack of a complete genotype-phenotype correlation, have represented until now a barrier hampering the conduction of translational studies aimed to predict disease prognosis and drug discovery. In this review, we will illustrate available therapeutic strategies to improve the health of MFS patients. Starting from gold standard surgical overtures and the description of the main pharmacological approaches, we will comprehensively review the state-of-the-art of in vivo MFS models and discuss recent clinical pharmacogenetic results. Finally, we will focus on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) as a technology that, if integrated with preclinical research and pharmacogenetics, could contribute in determining the best therapeutic approach for each MFS patient on the base of individual differences. Finally, we will suggest the integration of preclinical studies, pharmacogenetics and iPSC technology as the most likely strategy to help solve the composite puzzle of precise medicine in this condition

Endoparasite infections of the european hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in central Italy

The European hedgehog is a synanthropic mammal, widely distributed in Europe. This species usually inhabits the edges of deciduous or mixed woods, but it is also very common in private gardens and public parks. Despite its popularity and frequency of contacts both with humans and with wild and domestic animals, few studies have examined the endoparasitic fauna of the hedgehog in Italy. In the present study, endoparasites of naturally deceased hedgehogs (n = 40) from central Italy (Latium and Tuscany regions) were investigated, along with concurrent gross and histopathological lesions. The most prevalent identified endoparasites were Crenosoma striatum (45%), Capillaria erinacei (42.5%) and Brachylaemus erinacei (22.5%), in accordance with previous reports from hedgehogs in southern Italy. In few subjects, Physaloptera clausa, Acanthocephalans and Cystoisospora rastegaeivae coccidia were also identified. The infection by the lungworm C. striatum was found to be significantly associated (p &lt; 0.01) with bronchial hyperplasia and peribronchiolitis upon histopathological examination. Awareness of the most common parasitic infections in the hedgehog and of their effects on the health of these animals is extremely important, especially in wildlife rescue centers, where European hedgehog represents the most frequently hospitalized mammal species

Le NbS-Nature-based Solutions per l’architettura e la città. L’approccio prestazionale alle tecnologie vegetate. Atti della conferenza 2023

La pubblicazione raccoglie gli atti della conferenza “Le NbS-Nature-based Solutions per l’architettura e la città. L’approccio prestazionale alle tecnologie vegetate”, organizzata il 13 ottobre 2023 presso l’Università Iuav di Venezia. Da anni la CE-Commissione europea investe risorse economiche crescenti nella ricerca e nelle politiche per le NbS essendo stati dimostrati innumerevoli vantaggi ambientali derivanti dal loro utilizzo, fra cui il contributo all’adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici. La stessa CE, però, rileva un importante ostacolo alla loro diffusione: “Le NbS hanno il potenziale per stimolare le economie locali e creare opportunità di business. Tuttavia, molte autorità pubbliche segnalano una gamma di difficoltà nell’utilizzo degli appalti pubblici per attuare progetti NbS. Sono necessarie maggiore coerenza politica e trasversalità nella definizione delle priorità a livello dell’Unione europea, così come una maggiore progettualità” (Castellari et al., 2021). Il focus dell’evento ha riguardato gli aspetti funzionali e prestazionali della vegetazione e dei sistemi tecnologici vegetati, con prevalente riferimento alle coperture a verde e alle facciate vegetate, nonché ai sistemi vegetati e drenanti impiegabili al suolo. Gli obiettivi della conferenza sono stati: diffondere la conoscenza scientifica e la cultura tecnica delle NbS e riunire in dibattito le competenze interdisciplinari che si interfacciano nelle attività di ricerca sulle NbS

Cell models of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: advances and opportunities

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a rare genetic disease that is mostly inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. It is associated predominantly with mutations in desmosomal genes and is characterized by the replacement of the ventricular myocardium with fibrous fatty deposits, arrhythmias and a high risk of sudden death. In vitro studies have contributed to our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disease, including its genetic determinants, as well as its cellular, signaling and molecular defects. Here, we review what is currently known about the pathogenesis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and focus on the in vitro models that have advanced our understanding of the disease. Finally, we assess the potential of established and innovative cell platforms for elucidating unknown aspects of this disease, and for screening new potential therapeutic agents. This appraisal of in vitro models of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy highlights the discoveries made about this disease and the uses of these models for future basic and therapeutic research

Vaginal toxicity management in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer following exclusive chemoradiation—a nationwide survey on knowledge and attitudes by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) Gynecology Study Group

Background and Objective: Exclusive radiotherapy, including external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and interventional radiotherapy/brachytherapy (IRT/BT), with concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy, represents the standard of care in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). The emerging topic of vaginal toxicity has become a key endpoint in LACC management, although different approaches and non-standardized procedures were available. Our aim was to analyze a nationwide study of the attitudes of Italian gynecological radiation oncology teams in the management of LACC patients' vaginal toxicities. Methods: A nationwide survey of radiation oncologists specializing in the treatment of gynecological malignancies was performed, using the free SurveyMonkey platform, consisting of 26 items. The questionnaire was proposed by the Italian Association of Radiation Oncologists (AIRO) gynecological working group to all 183 Italian radiation oncology institutions, as per AIRO's website. Results: Fifty-eight questionnaires (31%) were completed and returned. The assessment of acute and late vaginal toxicities was systematic in 32 (55.2%) and 26 (44.8%) centers, respectively. In the case of EBRT, 70.7% of centers, according to the contouring and treatment plan data, did not contour the vagina as an organ at risk (OAR). Vaginal dose constraints were heterogeneous for both EBRT and IRT/BT. Local treatment to prevent vaginal toxicity was prescribed by 60.3% of radiation oncologists, mostly vaginal hyaluronic acid cream, and one center recommended vaginal estrogen preparations. During follow-up visits, vaginal toxicity was considered an issue to be investigated always (n = 31) or in sexually active women only (n = 11). Conclusions: This survey showed that wide variation exists with regard to recording and treating vaginal toxicity after exclusive chemoradiation for cervical cancer, underscoring the need to develop more comprehensive guidelines for contouring e-dose reporting of the vagina, so as to implement clinical approaches for vaginal toxicity

Cyclophilin A/EMMPRIN Axis Is Involved in Pro-Fibrotic Processes Associated with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm of Marfan Syndrome Patients

Background: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disease, characterized by thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), which treatment is to date purely surgical. Understanding of novel molecular targets is mandatory to unveil effective pharmacological approaches. Cyclophilin A (CyPA) and its receptor EMMPRIN are associated with several cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysm. Here, we envisioned the contribution of CyPA/EMMPRIN axis in MFS-related TAA. METHODS: We obtained thoracic aortic samples from healthy controls (HC) and MFS patients' aortas and then isolated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from the aortic wall. RESULTS: our findings revealed that MFS aortic tissue samples isolated from the dilated zone of aorta showed higher expression levels of EMMPRIN vs. MFS non-dilated aorta and HC. Interestingly, angiotensin II significantly stimulated CyPA secretion in MFS-derived VSMC (MFS-VSMC). CyPA treatment on MFS-VSMC led to increased levels of EMMPRIN and other MFS-associated pro-fibrotic mediators, such as TGF-\u3b21 and collagen I. These molecules were downregulated by in vitro treatment with CyPA inhibitor MM284. Our results suggest that CyPA/EMMPRIN axis is involved in MFS-related TAA development, since EMMPRIN is upregulated in the dilated zone of MFS patients' TAA and the inhibition of its ligand, CyPA, downregulated EMMPRIN and MFS-related markers in MFS-VSMC. CONCLUSIONS: these insights suggest both a novel detrimental role for CyPA/EMMPRIN axis and its inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for MFS-related TAA treatment

A Neural “Tuning Curve” for Multisensory Experience and Cognitive-Perceptual Schizotypy

Our coherent perception of external events is enabled by the integration of inputs from different senses occurring within a range of temporal offsets known as the temporal binding window (TBW), which varies from person to person. A relatively wide TBW may increase the likelihood that stimuli originating from different environmental events are erroneously integrated and abnormally large TBW has been found in psychiatric disorders characterized by unusual perceptual experiences. Despite strong evidence of interindividual differences in TBW, both within clinical and nonclinical populations, the neurobiological underpinnings of this variability remain unclear. We adopted an integrated strategy linking TBW to temporal dynamics in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-resting-state activity and cortical excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance, indexed by glutamate/Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA) concentrations and common variation in glutamate and GABA genes in a healthy sample. Stronger resting-state longrange temporal correlations, indicated by larger power law exponent (PLE), in the auditory cortex, robustly predicted narrower audio-tactile TBW, which was in turn associated with lower cognitive-perceptual schizotypy. Furthermore, PLE was highest and TBW narrowest for individuals with intermediate levels of E/I balance, with shifts towards either extreme resulting in reduced multisensory temporal precision and increased schizotypy, effectively forming a neural ?tuning curve? for multisensory experience and schizophrenia risk. Our findings shed light on the neurobiological underpinnings of multisensory integration and its potentially clinically relevant inter-individual variability