The impact of the alterations in caring for COVID-19 patients on Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in Italian nurses: a multi method study

During COVID-19 first wave, healthcare professionals were exposed to a major psychological pressure related to uncertainty, a lack of therapies or a vaccine and shortages of healthcare resources. They developed higher levels of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue, and similar levels of Compassion Satisfaction. Aim is evaluating in Italian nurses Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue and impacting individual and relational variables. A multi-methods approach was used. Qualitative data were collected through 2 focus group. Quantitative data were collected through a web survey composed by an ad hoc questionnaire developed from the focus group results, the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 and the Resilience Scale (RS-14). In the qualitative phase 6 categories emerged. From the quantitative analysis the sample reported a moderate level of Compassion Satisfaction, a low level of Burnout and a moderate level of Secondary Traumatic Stress. Compassion Satisfaction had as predictors resilience (β = .501), followed by feeling part of the team (β = .406) and collaboration with colleagues (β = .386). Secondary Traumatic Stress had as predictors the impact of PPE (β = .269), and feeling Covid-related individual sufferance (β = .212). The only predictor of Burnout was resilience (β = -2195). Conclusions: During COVID-19 first wave Italian nurses were exposed to a higher risk of Secondary Traumatic Stress, mainly impacted by frustration, loss of control, loss of possibility to properly care for patients, and personal threat. Relational and team support had a crucial role in sustaining Compassion Satisfaction

PCV2 infection in vaccinated conventional gilts inseminated with PCV2b-spiked semen

The present trial investigated the effect of PCV2 vaccination on viremia, virus shedding and viral load in maternal tissues and foetuses of conventional gilts inseminated with PCV2b-spiked semen. Twelve gilts were randomly divided into two groups of six animals each (vaccinated infected, VI; non-vaccinated infected, NVI). Estrus synchronization was followed by artificial insemination (AI) with a single PCV2 negative semen dose supplemented with 0.2 mL of a PCV2b suspension containing 104.4 TCID50/50 \u3bcL (total viral dose: 105 TCID50). Vaginal, nasal and faecal swabs, and blood samples were collected weekly from two days before artificial insemination till the end of the experimental period (55 days post AI; DPAI) and tested by real-time PCR (qPCR) for PCV2; sera were tested for anti- PCV2 antibodies. During necropsy foetal and maternal tissues were collected for qPCR and histopathology. In each of the VI and NVI groups three out of the six gilts were pregnant at 29 DPAI. The VI group showed a significantly lower proportion of PCR-positive swabs: 24.6% VI vs 71.3% NVI. PCV2 clearance was demonstrated by qPCR in lymphoid tissue during the trial in the VI group. Only one foetus was PCV2-positive (in the NVI group) and three amniotic fluids of the NVI group. PCV2 was found in a significantly lower proportion of the placenta of foetuses in the VI group (39%) than the NVI group (77%). The PCV2 vaccine seems to play an active role in reducing virus shedding, tissue viral load and foetoplacental infection

PCV2-DNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded lymph nodes of wild boar (Sus scrofa ssp. scrofa): one sampling approach for two laboratory techniques

Superficial inguinal lymph nodes from 72 wild boars examined in a previous immunohistochemical (IHC) study on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were selected for a PCV2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Four of these lymph nodes were PCV2-IHC strongly positive with PMWS histological lesions (outcome 1), 6 weak to mild PCV2-IHC positive without PMWS histological lesions (outcome 2) and 62 PCV2-IHC negative. Considering IHC the gold standard for diagnosis, the aims of the study were to evaluate the suitability of the PCV2-DNA extraction from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and the sensitivity and specificity of PCR under two IHC interpretations criteria: (A) the sample was considered positive if the result was outcome 1; (B) the sample was considered positive if the result was outcome 1 or 2. Under (A) criteria, sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 100% and 89.7%, respectively; the Cohen's Kappa coefficient was 0.49. Under (B) criteria, sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 80.0% and 95.2%, respectively; the Cohen's Kappa coefficient was 0.72. The high Cohen's Kappa coefficient under the (B) interpretative criteria indicates good agreement between the two methods. In conclusion, 1) DNA extracted from FFPE specimens of wild boar is suitable for PCR and further represents a screening test for PCV2/PCVD (PCV2 Diseases) investigations in wild boar as well; 2) routine histological sampling can also be useful for PCV2 virological studies in wild boar

Violacein and biofilm production in Janthinobacterium lividum

Aims: To analyse the environmental stimuli modulating violacein and biofilm production in Janthinobacterium lividum. Methods and Results: Violacein and biofilm production by J. lividum DSM1522T was assayed in different growth conditions. Our data suggest that violacein and biofilm production is controlled by the carbon source, being inhibited by glucose and enhanced by glycerol. J. lividum produced violacein also in the presence of different sub-inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin. As opposite, the production of N-acylhomoserine lactone(s), quorum sensing regulators was shown to be positively regulated by glucose. Moreover, violaceinproducing cultures of J. lividum showed higher CFU counts than violaceinnonproducing ones. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that violacein and biofilm production could be regulated by a common metabolic pathway and that violacein as well as biofilm could represent a response to environmental stresses and a key factor in the survival mechanisms of J. lividum. Significance and Impact of the Study: Although several recent studies disclosed a number of interesting biological properties of violacein, few data are reported on the physiologic function of violacein in J. lividum. This paper adds new information on the complex mechanisms allowing and regulating bacterial life in hostile environments

Indagine immunoistochimica per circovirus suino tipo 2 in una popolazione di cinghiali (Sus scrofa ssp. Majori) della provincia di Bologna

It is well known that wild boar (Sus scrofa ssp. majori) is a host of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2). In many Countries, studies reported the presence of this virus in wild boar. One hundred and sixty-five lymph nodes were sampled from 86 wild boars shot in the province of Bologna. Histologically 3 cases displayed a PMWS related pattern; 1 of which was stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) (revealing the viral capsid antigen), that also showed 6 positive subjects (7%), as the whole. In situ hybridisation (ISH) (performed in 1 out of 6 reactive cases) was positive, as well. The statistical parameters were not evaluated because of the small population sampled. However, PCV-2 was detected by histology-IHC and ISH combination in wild boar in Emilia-Romagna

Ala160 and His116 residues are involved in activity and specificity of apyrase, an ATP-hydrolysing enzyme produced by enteroinvasive Escherichia coli

The virulence plasmid-carried apy (phoN2) gene of Shigella and related enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) encodes apyrase, an ATP-diphosphohydrolase belonging to class A of the non-specific acid phosphatases (A-NSAPs). Apyrase and A-NSAPs share three domains of conserved amino acids (domains D1–D3) containing residues forming the putative active site of apyrase. In spite of their similarity, apyrase and A-NSAPs show different substrate specificity, apyrase being able to hydrolyse nucleotide tri- and diphosphates, but not monophosphates, as well as p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP), while A-NSAPs are also active towards monophosphates and pNPP. In this paper, to get further insights into the structure–function relationship of apyrase, a random and site-directed mutagenesis of the apy gene of EIEC strain HN280 was conducted. Results indicate that amino acids located within the D2 and D3 conserved domains (Ser157 and Arg192, respectively) as well as residues located in the N-terminal (Ser97) and C-terminal (Glu233) domains are required for enzyme activity. Surprisingly, Ala160, located near the D2 domain and considered to be important for enzyme specificity, is required for enzyme activity, as its substitution with Thr led to the inactivation of enzyme activity. Furthermore, residue His116 is involved in apyrase specificity, since the H116L apyrase mutant shows substrate specificity resembling that of A-NSAPs

PCR per PCV2 in linfonodi di cinghiali (Sus scrofa ssp. scrofa) fissati in formalina ed inclusi in paraffina (FFPE): valutazione comparativa con i risultati immunoistochimici.

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Lactoferrin downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines upexpressed in intestinal epithelial cells infected with invasive or noninvasive Escherichia coli strains

Intestinal epithelial cells are able to differentially interact with commensal or pathogenic microorganisms, triggering a physiological or destructive inflammation, respectively. To mimic commensal-enteroinvasive bacteria-host cell interaction, we infected Caco-2 cells with noninvasive Escherichia coli HB101 and with recombinant invasive E. coli HB101(pRI203). Using DNA microarray mRNA profiling and ELISA assays, we studied the expression of several cytokine and cytokine-related genes in infected Caco-2 cells in the absence or presence of bovine lactoferrin (bLf). Infection of Caco-2 cells with the noninvasive strain induced a slight increase in the expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8), whereas infection with invasive E. coli HB101(pRI203) induced a significant increase in the expression of IL-8 as well as other pro-inflammatory cytokines. The addition of bLf, in native- or holo-form, did not influence expression of cytokine genes by uninfected Caco-2 cells, but it decreased expression of IL-8 by cells infected with E.coli HB101. Moreover, except for IL-8, bLfs dramatically downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines upexpressed by Caco-2 cells infected with the invasive strain. Although IL-8 was decreased by bLfs, it remained upregulated, suggesting that it could be a signal of persistence of intracellular bacteria. The bLf ability to reduce expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, which appears independent of its iron saturation, might represent an important natural mechanism in regulating epithelial cell responses to pathogenic bacteria and in limiting cell damage and the spread of infections

Porcine circovirus type 2 detection in in vitro produced porcine blastocysts after virus sperm exposure

This study was aimed at assessing the capability of semen experimentally infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) to produce porcine blastocysts PCR positive for PCV2. Embryos were obtained from in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of porcine oocytes or by parthenogenesis. Sperm suspension was exposed to PCV2b and utilized for IVF. PCV2 spiked semen did not reveal any reduction in sperm viability or motility but its ability to produce infected blastocysts was irrelevant as only one out of 15 blastocysts obtained by IVF were PCV2b; however two blastocysts were PCV2a positive. Furthermore, the presence of PCV2 was demonstrated also in embryos obtained by parthenogenesis (one out of 17 was PCV2b and one PCV2a positive). Even if PCV2 firmly attaches to the surface of spermatozoa, experimentally spiked sperm were not effective in infecting oocytes during IVF and in producing PCR positive embryos. The infected blastocysts we obtained derived most probably from infected oocytes recovered at the abattoir

Vaccination with an innovative pressure-adjustable needle-free injection device

The Valery® is an innovative pressure-adjustable needle-free injection device (NFID). The objective of this study was to determine appropriate operation of this NFID for vaccination by evaluating the location of a vaccine in pigs after application. In a first trial, 4 groups of 12 pigs weighing respectively 4-5 kg, 6-7 kg, 8-10 kg and 15-20 kg were injected with a dye-labeled vaccine (Circovac, Merial), 0.5 mL in the neck using the NFID. Per group 3 pressure settings of the device were tested (A:low, B:medium or C:high), 4 pigs each. The pigs were immediately euthanized and frozen in vertical position (48 h; -20°C). Cross-sectional slices (3 per pig, 1 cm thick) at the injection sites were collected and digitalized by photography. The slices were checked on the penetration and dispersion of the vaccine by image analysis. In a second trial, 2 groups of 4 pigs weighing respectively 6-7 kg or 8-10 kg were used. Following cleaning and drying of the skin surface, the vaccine was injected using the NFID, in the neck. Before injection a piece of blotting paper in an empty screw cap tube had been weighed. Just after injection, the piece of paper was applied on the skin surface at the injection site for 2 secs , then stored in the screw cap container. The tube was weighed. The percentage of vaccine dose on the skin surface (SkQ) was calculated by difference. The depth of penetration of the vaccine whatever the weight group or pressure settings was 2.33±0.76 cm (n=48) with no difference observed between the pressure settings (A, n. 16, 2.14±0.77; B n. 16, 2.61±0.72; C, n. 16, 2.23±0.75 cm) or the weight group (4-5Kg, n.12, 2.18±0.4; 6-7Kg, n. 12, 2.40±0.24; 8-10Kg, n. 12, 1.89±0.56; 15-20Kg, n. 12, 2.83±1.18 cm) . The percentage of the vaccine present at the muscular level was varying between 70% (pressure A, 4-5kg) to 100% (pressure C, 6-7 Kg). In the different weight groups on average 87.0%. Setting B and C had the highest amount IM, resp.92.5 and 89.2%. The area of muscular distribution is the highest with pressure C compared to A and B (p=0.04). In trial 2,the SkQ was low whatever the operating pressure (A: 3.5±2.2%; B: 2.9±1.9%; C:1.5±0.4%) and the weight groups with a significant inverse relation between operating pressure and SkQ as well as a remarkable uniformity at the highest pressure setting. Under the conditions of the study, the Valery NFID was shown to deliver a 0.5 mL vaccine recommended for IM vaccination satisfactorily. It is advised to use pressure settings medium to high. The volume of vaccine spread on the skin was considered as acceptable. Vaccination compliance was thought not to be impacted by the NFID