Deterministic particle approximation of aggregation diffusion equations with nonlinear mobility

We consider a class of aggregation-diffusion equations on unbounded one dimensional domains with Lipschitz nonincreasing mobility function. We show strong $L^1$-convergence of a suitable deterministic particle approximation to weak solutions of a class aggregation-diffusion PDEs (coinciding with the classical ones in the no vacuum regions) for any bounded initial data of finite energy. In order to prove well-posedness and convergence of the scheme with no BV or no vacuum assumptions and overcome the issues posed in this setting by the presence of a mobility function, we improve and strengthen the techniques introduced in arXiv:2012.01966(2).Comment: 33 pages, 0 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2012.0196

ANTEPARTUM DISTRESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: The present study investigates the impact of the Coronavirus diseases 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the subjective experience of pregnant women, as well as the impact of the pandemic on this population in terms of psychopathological correlates. Subjects and methods: Pregnant women referring to the Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the General Hospital of Perugia, Italy, were recruited from 1st May, 2021 to 15th June, 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data was collected, as well as information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the subjective experience of pregnancy. Psychopathology was evaluated by means of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Prenatal Distress Measure (Pre-DM). Descriptive analyses were performed. Significant associations between distress symptoms and the collected sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed by using the Pearson correlation (p<0.05). Results: 25 women were included in the study. Among these, 18 (72%) reported that the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted their experience of pregnancy. Were detected an average Pre-DM total score of 7.28±4.33 and an average state anxiety scale value of 35.56+-9.21 and an average trait anxiety scale value of 34.04+-7.44 at the STAI-Y. A global severity index > 1 at SCL-90 was detected in 8.3% of the sample. Conclusions: The identification of antepartum distress and the early treatment of perinatal psychopathology represent a priority during the Covid-19 pandemic era

ANTEPARTUM DISTRESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: The present study investigates the impact of the Coronavirus diseases 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the subjective experience of pregnant women, as well as the impact of the pandemic on this population in terms of psychopathological correlates. Subjects and methods: Pregnant women referring to the Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the General Hospital of Perugia, Italy, were recruited from 1st May, 2021 to 15th June, 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data was collected, as well as information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the subjective experience of pregnancy. Psychopathology was evaluated by means of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Prenatal Distress Measure (Pre-DM). Descriptive analyses were performed. Significant associations between distress symptoms and the collected sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed by using the Pearson correlation (p<0.05). Results: 25 women were included in the study. Among these, 18 (72%) reported that the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted their experience of pregnancy. Were detected an average Pre-DM total score of 7.28±4.33 and an average state anxiety scale value of 35.56+-9.21 and an average trait anxiety scale value of 34.04+-7.44 at the STAI-Y. A global severity index > 1 at SCL-90 was detected in 8.3% of the sample. Conclusions: The identification of antepartum distress and the early treatment of perinatal psychopathology represent a priority during the Covid-19 pandemic era

Forward subtractive libraries containing genes transactivated by dexamethasone in ataxia-telangiectasia lymphoblastoid cells

Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by biallelic mutations in the Ataxia Telangiectasia-mutated gene. A-T shows a complex phenotype ranging from early-onset progressive neurodegeneration to immunodeficiencies, high incidence of infections, and tumors. Unfortunately, no therapy is up to now available for treating this condition. Recently, the short term treatment of ataxia-telangiectasia patients with glucocorticoids was shown to improve their neurological symptoms and possibly reverse cerebellar atrophy. Thus, corticosteroids represent an attractive approach for the treatment of this neurodegenerative disease. However, the molecular mechanism involved in glucocorticoid action in A-T is yet unknown. The aim of our work is to construct cDNA libraries containing those genes which are transactivated by the glucocorticoid analogue, dexamethasone, in A-T human cells. For this purpose, suppression subtractive hybridization has been performed on ATM-null lymphoblastoid cell transcriptome extracted following drug administration. Annotation of whole genes contained in the libraries has been obtained by coupling subtractive hybridization with microarray analysis. Positive transcripts have been validated by quantitative PCR. Through in silico analyses, identified genes have been classified on the basis of the pathway in which they are involved, being able to address signaling required for dexamethasone action. Most of the induced transcripts are involved in metabolic processes and regulation of cellular processes. Our results can help to unravel the mechanism of glucocorticoid action in the reversion of A-T phenotype. Moreover, the induction of a specific region of the ATM transcript has been identified as putative biomarker predictive of dexamethasone efficacy on ataxic patients

Nutritional strategies to improve VRE control

The rise of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains among cellular therapy recipients raises concerns due to increased morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs, particularly impacting transplanted patients with diminished survival expectations. Recent research linking lactose to Enterococcus growth and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) emphasizes the need for data on reducing lactose in the diets of VRE-carrying patients, especially in cellular therapy contexts like CAR-T or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Responding to elevated VRE positivity rates in rectal swabs among patients in our BMT Unit, a unique nutritional strategy was implemented, introducing lactose-free milk and strictly enforcing lactose-free diets. This approach resulted in a significant reduction in VRE carriers, with a 16% positivity rate in the Lactose Group versus 3.6% in the Lactose-Free Group, as of June 2023. These results indicate the potential efficacy of this innovative nutritional strategy in high-risk departments, such as BMT Units and Intensive Care Units, with implications for reducing isolation strategies and inappropriate antibiotic use in cases of VRE colonization