Next-generation sequencing and metagenomic analysis advances plant virus diagnosis and discovery

The advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies dramatically advanced our ability to comprehensively investigate diseases of unknown etiology and expedited the entire process of virus discovery, identification, viral genome sequencing and, subsequently, the development of routine assays for new viral pathogens. Unlike traditional techniques, these novel approaches require no preliminary knowledge of the suspected virus(es). Currently, the RNA-Seq approach has been widely used to identify new viruses in infected plants, by analyzing virus-derived small interfering RNA populations, single- and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules extracted from infected plants. The method generates sequence in an unbiased fashion, likely allowing to detect all viruses that are present in a sample. We applied the Illumina NGS, coupled with metagenomic analysis, to generate large sequence dataset in different woody crops affected by diseases of unknown origin or infected with uncharacterized viruses or new strains. This approach allowed the identification of five novel viral species and, in addition, the sequencing of the whole genome of several viruses and viroids infecting Citrus spp., Prunus spp., grapes, fig, hazelnut, olive, persimmon and mulberry. Combined analysis of the datasets generated by using either siRNA fractions and dsRNA templates, enhanced the characterization of the whole virus-derived sequences in the infected tissues. Furthermore, profiling small RNAs from virus-infected plants led to a better understanding of host-plant response to virus and viroid infections in perennial plants. A general bioinformatic pipeline and an experimental validation strategy were developed and its application illustrated

An interaction torque control improving human force estimation of the rehab-exos exoskeleton

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Centrality dependence of the expansion dynamics in Pb-Pb collisions at 158 A GeV/c

Two-particle correlation functions of negatively charged hadrons from Pb-Pb collisions at 158 GeV/c per nucleon have been measured by the WA97 experiment at the CERN SPS. A Coulomb correction procedure that assumes an expanding source has been implemented. Within the framework of an expanding thermalized source model the size and dynamical state of the collision fireball at freeze-out have been reconstructed as a function of the centrality of the collision. Less central collisions exhibit a different dynamics than central ones: both transverse and longitudinal expansion velocities are slower, the expansion duration is shorter and the system freezes out showing smaller dimensions and higher temperature.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, Te

Real-life effectiveness and safety of guselkumab in patients with psoriasis who have an inadequate response to ustekinumab: A 104-week multicenter retrospective study – IL PSO (ITALIAN LANDSCAPE PSORIASIS)

BackgroundGuselkumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds selectively to the p19 subunit of interleukin-23, which has shown efficacy in patients with previous incomplete response to ustekinumab in the NAVIGATE clinical trial. ObjectivesWe conducted a 104-week multicenter retrospective study to assess the effectiveness and safety of guselkumab in patients affected by plaque psoriasis with an inadequate response to ustekinumab in a real-life setting. MethodsOur retrospective study included 233 adults affected by moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, enrolled in 14 different Italian centres, and treated with guselkumab after failing therapy with ustekinumab. Patient characteristics and PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) score at each visit (baseline, weeks 16, 52 and 104) were recorded. The percentages of patients achieving 75%, 90% and 100% (PASI 75, PASI 90 and PASI 100) improvement in PASI, compared with baseline, were registered. ResultsAt week 52, PASI 75 was reached by 89.88% of patients, PASI 90 by 71.43%, PASI 100 by 58.83% and absolute PASI <= 2 by 90.48%. At week 104, similar effectiveness results were observed. Compared to the NAVIGATE trial, we observed higher rates of PASI 75/90/100. Patients with the involvement of difficult-to-treat areas were significantly less likely to achieve PASI90 and PASI100 at week 16. Obese patients had significantly lower rates of PASI75 and PASI <= 2 at week 52. At week 104, comparable responses were observed among all patients' subgroups, regardless of BMI status, involvement of difficult-to-treat areas, presence of cardiometabolic comorbidities and concomitant psoriatic arthritis. No significant safety findings were reported throughout the study. ConclusionOur data suggest that the efficacy of guselkumab in patients with inadequate response to ustekinumab for plaque psoriasis in 'real-life' clinical practice is comparable with NAVIGATE study with higher percentages of patients achieving PASI90 and PASI100 at weeks 16, 52 and 104

Real-World Apremilast Use for Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis in Italy: Patient Perspective, Characteristics, and Clinical Outcomes from the DARWIN Study

IntroductionWhile several european studies have reported real-world apremilast use, patient-perceived benefits, and treatment satisfaction, local reimbursement criteria for apremilast vary and data from Italy are limited.methodsThe cross-sectional DARWIN study enrolled consecutive patients who had initiated apremilast for plaque psoriasis 6 (+/- 1) months prior to enrolment at a single visit across 24 Italian dermatological sites. disease severity was assessed using body surface area (BSA) and physician global assessment (PGA). patient-reported outcomes assessed 6 (+/- 1) months after apremilast initiation were dermatology life quality Index (DLQI), patient benefit Index (PBI), and 9-item treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication (TSQM-9).ResultsOf 184 patients enrolled between July 2019 and January 2021, 180 were included in the analysis. at apremilast initiation, median (25th-75th percentile) time since psoriasis diagnosis was 8.6 (3.2-22.2) years; median BSA, 10.0% (5.0-16.0); mean (standard seviation, SD) DLQI total score, 13.5 (8.0). over half (54.9%) of patients with available data reported psoriasis had a very or extremely large effect on their quality of life (QoL); half reported itching (50.6%) and/or special areas involvement (50.0%). most (73.9%) had comorbidities and were biologic-naive (81.5%). the most common reasons for initiating apremilast were lack of efficacy of previous treatment (56.7%) and contraindications to other treatments (44.4%). At 6 (+/- 1) months, most patients were continuing apremilast and/or reported a global PBI score >= 1 (minimum clinical benefit) (86.1% and 90.0%, respectively); approximately half achieved BSA <= 3% and/or DLQI total score <= 5 (47.1% and 48.5%); 18.8% achieved PGA = 0; mean (SD) TSQM-9 global treatment satisfaction score was 59.0 (24.8). apremilast was well tolerated; no new safety signals were identified .conclusions patients treated with apremilast for 6 months in Italian clinical practice reported improved QoL, clinically relevant improvements in symptoms, high treatment satisfaction, and high treatment persistence. our data indicate apremilast is a valuable treatment option for moderate plaque psoriasis. study registration clinical trials.gov identifier, NCT04031027

Effectiveness and safety of bimekizumab for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. a real-life multicenter study—IL PSO (Italian landscape psoriasis)

Introduction: Bimekizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets Interleukin-17 A and F, approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. While bimekizumab has been evaluated in several phase-III clinical trials, real-world evidence is still very limited. Method: This multicenter retrospective study included patients affected by plaque psoriasis treated with bimekizumab from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, at 19 Italian referral hospitals. Patients affected by moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis eligible for systemic treatments were included. The effectiveness of bimekizumab was evaluated in terms of reduction in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) compared with baseline at weeks 4 and 16. The main outcomes were the percentages of patients achieving an improvement of at least 75% (PASI75), 90% (PASI90) and 100% (PASI100) in PASI score. Results: The study included 237 patients who received at least one injection of bimekizumab. One hundred and seventy-one patients and 114 reached four and 16 weeks of follow-up, respectively. Complete skin clearance was achieved by 43.3% and 75.4% of patients at weeks 4 and 16, respectively. At week 16, 86.8% of patients reported no impact on their quality of life. At week 16, there were no significant differences between bio-naïve and bio-experienced patients in terms of PASI75, PASI90 and PASI100. The most commonly reported adverse events (AEs) were oral candidiasis (10.1%). No severe AEs or AEs leading to discontinuation were observed throughout the study. Conclusion: Our experience supports the effectiveness and tolerability of bimekizumab in a real-world setting with similar results compared with phase-III clinical trials

Hyperon production in proton-sulphur collisions at 200 GeV/c

The WA94 experiment uses the production of strange particles and antiparticles to investigate the properties of hot hadronic matter created in heavy--ion interactions. \PgL, \PagL, \PgXm\ and \PagXp\ particle yields and transverse mass spectra are presented for pS interactions. These results are compared with those from SS interactions. Our results are also compared with those from pW and SW interactions of the WA85 experiment

Observation of vertex factorisation breaking in central pp interactions

Central \pipi events produced in pp interactions are studied in terms of correlations between the outgoing protons. It is observed there is more $\rho^{0}$(770) and \fmeson production in reactions where the outgoing protons %fastest and slowest particles in the laboratory frame are on opposite sides of the beam. This effect is not attributable to the trigger or the experimental acceptance, and suggests that the vertices do not factorise