Research and lawmakers : a student perspective

Occasional paper (University of Vermont. Center for Research on Vermont) ; no. 4

A eukaryotic specific transmembrane segment is required for tetramerization in AMPA receptors

Most fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the nervous system is mediated by glutamate acting through ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs). iGluRs (AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptor subtypes) are tetrameric assemblies, formed as a dimer of dimers. Still, the mechanism underlying tetramerization-the necessary step for the formation of functional receptors that can be inserted into the plasma membrane-is unknown. All eukaryotic compared to prokaryotic iGluR subunits have an additional transmembrane segment, theM4segment, which positions the physiologically critical C-terminal domain on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.AMPAreceptor (AMPAR) subunits lacking M4 do not express on the plasma membrane. Here, we show that these constructs are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, the major cellular compartment mediating protein oligomerization. Using approaches to assay the native oligomeric state of AMPAR subunits, we find that subunits lacking M4 or containing single amino acid substitutions along an "interacting" face of the M4 helix that block surface expression no longer tetramerize in either homomeric or heteromeric assemblies. In contrast, subunit dimerization appears to be largely intact. These experiments define the M4 segment as a unique functional unit in AMPARs that is required for the critical dimer-to-tetramer transition. © 2013 the authors

Phylogenetic structure and molecular species delimitation hint a complex evolutionary history in an Alpine endemic Niphargus clade (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

Subterranean fauna is an important contributor to the global fauna, but it is still understudied and a large part of its taxonomy is not yet resolved. One species complex with unresolved taxonomy is the groundwater amphipod Niphargus ruffoi, endemic to the Alpine chain. Here, we used new samples from across the Alpine arc to review the taxonomic status of the entire clade, including the species N. ruffoi and Niphargus arolaensis. We sequenced four genetic markers from the collected specimens, assessed the phylogenetic position of N. ruffoi within the genus, and studied the structure of this species complex using four molecular species delimitation methods. We tested for recombination using the alignments of the concatenated nuclear rDNA genes. The phylogenetic analyses revealed high support for the monophyly of the studied species complex, defining two lineages (i.e., N. arolaensis and N. ruffoi) within the clade. Molecular species delimitation methods suggested that N. arolaensis is a single species, while N. ruffoi should be considered as a species complex of three (using ITS) to eight (using COI) putative species. Moreover, we found a discrepancy between the different nuclear ribosomal DNA markers, indicating a possible recombination with fragments of 28S DNA of N. ruffoi s. lat. present in the genome of N. arolaensis. For the above-mentioned reasons, the internal phylogenetic structure of N. ruffoi s. lat. could not be fully resolved. Moreover, no clear morphological evidence supported the molecular species delimitation. Consequently, no taxonomic changes were proposed. We postulate that this complex scenario was influenced by Pleistocene climate oscillations with subsequent fragmentation events and secondary contacts, making this an interesting study system to investigate the evolution and biogeography of Alpine clades

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Italy over the Past Five Years: A Systematic Review

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has become a global threat to public health systems around the world in recent decades. In 2017, Italy was placed among the worst-performing nations in Europe by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, due to worryingly high levels of AMR in Italian hospitals and regions. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the state of the art of research on AMR in Italy over the last five years. The PubMed database was searched to identify studies presenting original data. Forty-three of the 9721 records identified were included. Overall, AMR rates ranged from 3% (in a group of sheep farmers) to 78% (in a hospital setting). The methods used to identify the microorganisms, to test their susceptibility and the criteria adopted for the breakpoint were deficient in 7, 7 and 11 studies, respectively. The main findings of our review were that most studies (79.1%) considered hospitalised patients only, 4 studies (9.3%) analysed non-hospitalised populations only. In addition, only 7 studies were multicentric and no scientific literature on the subject was produced in 7 Italian regions. In order to have a solid basis on the topic for the interventions of public health professionals and other stakeholders, studies analysing the phenomenon should be conducted in a methodologically standardised manner, should include all areas of the country and should also focus on out-of-hospital and community-based care and work settings

Erasmus+sport let’s move Europa: learning units for health promotion among children and adolescents

Background School years are crucial for acquiring life-lasting healthy habits. However, an increasing rate of children and adolescents fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle. European Union has financed the Erasmus+ Sport Let’s Move Europa project to design an innovative digital tool for promoting healthy lifestyles among those age groups. University of Bologna, partner of the project, has developed 30 Learning Units (LUs) about Physical Activity, Sleep and Nutrition to be integrated in the school program by teacher

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Education of Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic, Results from “Come Te La Passi?”—Survey in Bologna, Italy

Social distancing measures adopted to face the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on adolescent education and their interaction with peers and adults, secondary to the limitation of school and recreational activities, with repercussions on social and sexual life. The “Come te la passi?” (“How is it going?”) study, performed in the Metropolitan City of Bologna (Italy), aimed at investigating the type of information sources adopted by adolescents for their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge and education, the age of their sexual debut, and the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic affected their relationships and sexual life in order to help local health care professionals and educators designing SRH education programs. A purposely designed online survey was administered during the COVID-19 pandemic to 378 high school students (age > 14 yo) in July 2021. Based on the study results, the most common source of SRH education was the web, followed by peers (friends). A total of 61.3% of 17-year-olds already had sexual intercourse, and 90% of 15-year-olds had experienced romantic or sexual attraction. For 58.2% of the adolescents, the COVID-19 pandemic had negative effects on their relationships/sexual life. The current research emphasizes the need to involve health care professionals and educators in structured programs to promote SRH education tailored to adolescents’ needs and started from early ages

ROCCA cohort study: Nationwide results on safety of Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine (Sputnik V) in the Republic of San Marino using active surveillance

Background: Gam-COVID-Vac is the world's first registered vector vaccine against COVID-19 based on a combination of two heterologous adenoviruses. It was chosen by the Republic of San Marino as the main tool in its vaccination campaign, which started on 25 February 2021. Our aim was to build up on the ROCCA study, focused on the older population, by describing adverse effects following immunisation (AEFIs) rates and characteristics in all age groups for the first time in a real-world context. Methods: An active surveillance study on recipients of at least one dose of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine was conducted. Participants were administered online questionnaires through live/phone interviews with physicians, by e-mail or by scanning a QR code at different points in time after the first dose: one week (Q1) one month (Q2), and three months (Q3) between March and August 2021. Findings: Overall, 6190 vaccine recipients were recruited. Mean age was 52·4 ± 18·2 years. After the first dose, systemic reactions were reported by 57·5% of the participants, while injection site reactions were reported by 46·7%. The most common AEFIs were pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache. Grade 3 or 4 AEFIs were reported by 0·8% and 0·3% of the participants, respectively. After the second dose, systemic reactions were reported by 63·1% of the participants, while injection site reactions by 54·7%. The most common AEFIs were malaise, pain at injection site and myalgia. Grade 3 or 4 AEFIs were reported by 2·7% and 1·1% of the participants, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed younger age, being a woman and food allergies are risk factors for more severe AEFIs. Interpretation: Our results confirm a good tolerability profile for the population aged 18 and over providing useful data for vaccination campaigns ongoing in countries planning to use Gam-COVID-Vac. Funding: None

Influenza vaccination landscape in Italy: A comprehensive study through the OBVIOUS project lens

Influenza annually claims an estimated 8,000 lives in Italy. Despite no-cost vaccinations for high-risk groups, hesitancy persists. This study aims to pinpoint social and behavioral vaccination determinants, forming strategies to bolster vaccine uptake. From April 11 to May 29, 2022, we surveyed a demographic-stratified sample of 10,000 Italian adults, employing the WHO's Behavioral and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BesD) framework. Of those, 4,613 (46.1%) were eligible for the influenza vaccine and included in the analysis. Roughly a third remained unvaccinated and unwilling. Central Italy showed the highest resistance, with significant percentages of seniors and professionals like teachers, law enforcement, and healthcare workers expressing noncompliance. A lack of awareness of being in a target group correlated significantly with vaccine refusal or delayed acceptance. Other refusal factors included female gender, being aged 45-54, rural residency, absence of higher education, perceived vaccine unsafety, and having vaccine-opposed acquaintances. Thus, addressing these perceptions and enhancing awareness can potentially increase vaccination rates and lessen disease impact

Role of the mesoamygdaloid dopamine projection in emotional learning

Amygdala dopamine is crucially involved in the acquisition of Pavlovian associations, as measured via conditioned approach to the location of the unconditioned stimulus (US). However, learning begins before skeletomotor output, so this study assessed whether amygdala dopamine is also involved in earlier 'emotional' learning. A variant of the conditioned reinforcement (CR) procedure was validated where training was restricted to curtail the development of selective conditioned approach to the US location, and effects of amygdala dopamine manipulations before training or later CR testing assessed. Experiment 1a presented a light paired (CS+ group) or unpaired (CS- group) with a US. There were 1, 2 or 10 sessions, 4 trials per session. Then, the US was removed, and two novel levers presented. One lever (CR+) presented the light, and lever pressing was recorded. Experiment 1b also included a tone stimulus. Experiment 2 applied intra-amygdala R(+) 7-OH-DPAT (10 nmol/1.0 A mu l/side) before two training sessions (Experiment 2a) or a CR session (Experiment 2b). For Experiments 1a and 1b, the CS+ group preferred the CR+ lever across all sessions. Conditioned alcove approach during 1 or 2 training sessions or associated CR tests was low and nonspecific. In Experiment 2a, R(+) 7-OH-DPAT before training greatly diminished lever pressing during a subsequent CR test, preferentially on the CR+ lever. For Experiment 2b, R(+) 7-OH-DPAT infusions before the CR test also reduced lever pressing. Manipulations of amygdala dopamine impact the earliest stage of learning in which emotional reactions may be most prevalent