Supercritical Fluid fractionation of mentha suaveolens: concentration of functional properties

Supercritial Antisolvent Fractionation process was optimiced for the concentration of Mentha suaveolens bioactives in two different fractions. Their composition was analysed with HPLC. The antimicrobial activity of these fractions was assayed. The SAF process fractionated M. suaveolens tincture in two enriched fractions in different bioactives concentrating those with antimicrobial activity in one of them.  El proceso de Fraccionamiento Supercrítico Antidisolvente  fue optimizado para la concentrar bioactivos de Mentha suaveolens en dos diferentes fracciones. Su composición fue analizada con HPLC. La actividad antimicrobiana de estas fracciones fue ensayada. El proceso supercrítico permitió fraccionar la tintura de esta planta en 2 fracciones enrriqueciendolas en diferentes bioactivos y concentrando en uno de ellos los compuestos con actividad antimicrobiana.  &nbsp

Supercritical Fluid fractionation of mentha suaveolens: concentration of functional properties

Supercritial Antisolvent Fractionation process was optimiced for the concentration of Mentha suaveolens bioactives in two different fractions. Their composition was analysed with HPLC. The antimicrobial activity of these fractions was assayed. The SAF process fractionated M. suaveolens tincture in two enriched fractions in different bioactives concentrating those with antimicrobial activity in one of them.  El proceso de Fraccionamiento Supercrítico Antidisolvente  fue optimizado para la concentrar bioactivos de Mentha suaveolens en dos diferentes fracciones. Su composición fue analizada con HPLC. La actividad antimicrobiana de estas fracciones fue ensayada. El proceso supercrítico permitió fraccionar la tintura de esta planta en 2 fracciones enrriqueciendolas en diferentes bioactivos y concentrando en uno de ellos los compuestos con actividad antimicrobiana.  &nbsp

Miglioramento dei parametri seminali in cani ipo- e normo-fertili in seguito a supplementazione alimentare con l-arginina

Among several causes of male subfertility, deficiency of amminoacids, vitamins and minerals are recognized as possible causes of sperm abnormalities both in human and veterinary medicine. Sperm motility represents an important functional prerequisite, and, under physiologic conditions, motility and fertility are closely correlated. Several studies showed the efficacy of l-arginine supplementation on sperm motility in some species. The aim of the present study was to assess the possible efficacy of l-arginine oral supplementation on seminal characteristics in adult stud dogs with suspected subfertility and oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia and in dogs of proven fertility and with normal spermiogram. L-arginine supplemetation for 62 days improved (p<0.0001) sperm motility (from 44% to 58%) and morphology (from 40% to 69%) in the group of sub-fertile dogs and a significant increase (p<0.001) of sperm motility in the fertile dogs with normal semen characteristics. Obtained results showed that l-arginine supplementation could be useful for the treatment of male dog sub-fertility. However, the study may benefit of further investigations, considering also the possible influence of breed and age on the response to treatment

Comparative evaluation of impedanciometry combined with chromogenic agars or RNA hybridization and real-time PCR methods for the detection of L. monocytogenes in dry-cured ham

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen of particular relevance in “Ready To Eat” products. Food producers require rapid methods to detect L. monocytogenes, since the reference method (ISO 11290-1) is laborious, lengthy and costly. The aim of this study was to evaluate three alternative methods to detect L. monocytogenes in dry-cured ham following the ISO 16140-2:2016 standard: (A) impedance measurement followed by plating onto chromogenic agars; (B) impedance measurement followed by RNA hybridization, and (C) real-time PCR. Inclusivity and exclusivity were evaluated. The limits of detection 50 (LOD50) and the relative limits of detection (RLOD) were obtained by analysing dry-cured ham samples inoculated with L. monocytogenes at three different levels of contamination. The sensitivity study of alternative methods, as well as the relative specificity (SP), sensitivity (SE), and Kappa Cohen''s index were calculated analysing 93 samples of sliced dry-cured ham. The inclusivity and exclusivity tests of three methods showed no interference in pathogen detection. LOD50 were very low for the three methods evaluated (&lt;1 cfu/25 g dry-cured ham). The RLOD values of the three alternative methods were below the acceptability limit established by ISO 16140. For methods A and C, good results were obtained in the sensitivity study, as well as in the SP and SE. However, method B showed poorer results in the sensitivity study, along with lower results for SP (99.7%) and SE (79.6%), due to the occurrence of false positives and negatives in samples with presence of other Listeria spp. Methods A and C were considered to be a thoroughly appropriate control tool for use in the meat industry to improve the detection of L. monocytogenes

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of listeria monocytogenes and listeria innocua isolated from ready-to-eat products of animal origin in Spain

The objective of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance in Listeria spp. isolated from food of animal origin. A total of 50 Listeria strains isolated from meat and dairy products, consisting of 7 Listeria monocytogenes and 43 Listeria innocua strains, were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility against nine antimicrobials. The strains were screened by real-time PCR for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes: Tet M, tet L, mef A, msr A, erm A, erm B, lnu A, and lnu B. Multidrug resistance was identified in 27 Listeria strains, 4 belonging to L. monocytogenes. Resistance to clindamycin was the most common resistance phenotype and was identified in 45 Listeria strains; the mechanisms of resistance are still unknown. A medium prevalence of resistance to tetracycline (15 and 9 resistant and intermediate strains) and ciprofloxacin (13 resistant strains) was also found. Tet M was detected in Listeria strains with reduced susceptibility to tetracycline, providing evidence that both L. innocua and L. monocytogenes displayed acquired resistance. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in L. innocua and L. monocytogenes indicates that these genes may be transferred to commensal and pathogenic bacteria via the food chain; besides this, antibiotic resistance in L. monocytogenes could compromise the effective treatment of listeriosis in humans

Chronic Endometritis in Subfertile Mares With Presence of Chlamydial DNA

When endometritis becomes chronic in mares, infertility can follow. Among various causative agents, many bacteria are involved, and mono- or mixed-infections are common. In our study, 50 mares with a previous history of subfertility were subjected to clinical and ultrasonographic examination of the reproductive tract, and samples were collected for cytology, histology, bacteriology, and polymerase chain reaction for Chlamydia spp detection. The aim of this work was to highlight the presence of Chlamydia abortus in chronic endometritis of subfertile mares. Endometrial chronic lesions were detected in five of six Chlamydia-positive animals

congenital rubella still a public health problem in italy analysis of national surveillance data from 2005 to 2013

In accordance with the goal of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, the Italian national measles and rubella elimination plan aims to reduce the incidence of congenital rubella cases to?less than?one case per 100,000 live births by the end of 2015. We report national surveillance data for congenital rubella and rubella in pregnancy from 2005 to 2013. A total of 75 congenital rubella infections were reported; the national annual mean incidence was 1.5/100,000 live births, including probable and confirmed cases according to European Union case definition. Two peaks occurred in 2008 and 2012 (5.0 and 3.6/100,000 respectively). Overall, 160 rubella infections in pregnancy were reported; 69/148 women were multiparous and 38/126 had had a rubella antibody test before pregnancy. Among reported cases, there were 62 infected newborns, 31 voluntary abortions, one stillbirth and one spontaneous abortion. A total of 24 newborns were unclassified and 14 women were lost to follow-up, so underestimation is likely. To improve follow-up of cases, systematic procedures for monitoring infected mothers and children were introduced in 2013. To prevent congenital rubella, antibody screening before pregnancy and vaccination of susceptible women, including post-partum and post-abortum vaccination, should be promoted. Population coverage?of two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccination of ≥?95% should be maintained and knowledge of health professionals improved

Small Open Chemical Systems Theory and Its Implications to Darwinian Evolutionary Dynamics, Complex Self-Organization and Beyond

The study of biological cells in terms of mesoscopic, nonequilibrium, nonlinear, stochastic dynamics of open chemical systems provides a paradigm for other complex, self-organizing systems with ultra-fast stochastic fluctuations, short-time deterministic nonlinear dynamics, and long-time evolutionary behavior with exponentially distributed rare events, discrete jumps among punctuated equilibria, and catastrophe.Comment: 15 page

Large community-acquired Legionnaires&#8217; disease outbreak caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, Italy, July to August 2018

In July 2018, a large outbreak of Legionnaires\u2019 disease (LD) caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) occurred in Bresso, Italy. Fifty-two cases were diagnosed, including five deaths. We performed an epidemiological investigation and prepared a map of the places cases visited during the incubation period. All sites identified as potential sources were investigated and sampled. Association between heavy rainfall and LD cases was evaluated in a case-crossover study. We also performed a case\u2013control study and an aerosol dispersion investigation model. Lp1 was isolated from 22 of 598 analysed water samples; four clinical isolates were typed using monoclonal antibodies and sequence-based typing. Four Lp1 human strains were ST23, of which two were Philadelphia and two were France-Allentown subgroup. Lp1 ST23 France-Allentown was isolated only from a public fountain. In the case-crossover study, extreme precipitation 5\u20136 days before symptom onset was associated with increased LD risk. The aerosol dispersion model showed that the fountain matched the case distribution best. The case\u2013control study demonstrated a significant eightfold increase in risk for cases residing near the public fountain. The three studies and the matching of clinical and environmental Lp1 strains identified the fountain as the source responsible for the epidemic

The Italian arm of the PREPARE study: an international project to evaluate and license a maternal vaccine against group B streptococcus.

BACKGROUND: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis in infants, with long term neurodevelopmental sequelae. GBS may be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is currently the only way to prevent early-onset disease (presenting at 0 to 6 days of life), although it has no impact on the disease presenting over 6 days of life and its implementation is challenging in resource poor countries. A maternal vaccine against GBS could reduce all GBS manifestations as well as improve pregnancy outcomes, even in low-income countries. MAIN BODY: The term "PREPARE" designates an international project aimed at developing a maternal vaccination platform to test vaccines against neonatal GBS infections by maternal immunization. It is a non-profit, multi-center, interventional and experimental study (promoted by the St George University of London. [UK]) with the aim of developing a maternal vaccination platform, determining pregnancy outcomes, and defining the extent of GBS infections in children and mothers in Africa. PREPARE also aims to estimate the protective serocorrelates against the main GBS serotypes that cause diseases in Europe and Africa and to conduct two trials on candidate GBS vaccines. PREPARE consists of 6 work packages. In four European countries (Italy, UK, Netherlands, France) the recruitment of cases and controls will start in 2020 and will end in 2022. The Italian PREPARE network includes 41 centers. The Italian network aims to collect: GBS isolates from infants with invasive disease, maternal and neonatal sera (cases); cord sera and GBS strains from colonized mothers whose infants do not develop GBS infection (controls). SHORT CONCLUSION: PREPARE will contribute information on protective serocorrelates against the main GBS serotypes that cause diseases in Europe and Africa. The vaccine that will be tested by the PREPARE study could be an effective strategy to prevent GBS disease