Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) tem um ínstar preferencial para parasitar Tephritidae (Diptera)?

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) is a koinobiont parasitoid of Tephritidae larvae, the third instar larvae of which is considered preferential, but it is able to parasitize other larval stages and compete with native parasitoids. This study investigated the preference and parasitism capacity of D. longicaudata in larvae of different instar of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (AF) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (CC). The experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions, one instar being offered at a time in parasitism units, with the following choices among the hosts: 25 AF larvae and 25 CC larvae (first, second and third instar were evaluated). The other test was a multiple-choice in relation to the instar, for larvae of the same host species, with three parasitism units being offered, with 15 larvae of each instar. The mean number of formed pupae, emerged parasitoids, parasitized pupae, unviable pupae and sex ratio were evaluated. In the first bioassay, the mean number of emerged parasitoids and parasitized pupae in the AF host were significantly higher in treatments with first and second instar larvae. For CC there was no difference between the instars tested. In the second bioassay, the mean value of emerged parasitoids and parasitized pupae, was higher in second and third instar larvae for CC, and for AF was in second instar larvae. The sex ratio was biased for males in all treatments in both bioassays. The results show that D. longicaudata can parasitize and be successful in all available larval instars, being able to compete with parasitoids of any instar.Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) tem um ínstar preferencial para parasitar Tephritidae (Diptera)? Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) é um parasitoide coinobionte de larvas de Tephritidae sendo que o terceiro ínstar larval é tido como o preferencial, mas pode parasitar outros estágios larvais e competir com os parasitoides nativos. Este estudo investigou a preferência e capacidade de parasitismo de D. longicaudata em larvas de diferentes ínstares de Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (AF) e Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (CC). Os experimentos foram realizados em condições laboratoriais, sendo oferecido um ínstar por vez em unidades de parasitismo, havendo escolha entre os hospedeiros: 25 larvas de AF e 25 larvas de CC (foram avaliadas larvas de primeiro, segundo e terceiro ínstar). O outro teste foi de múltipla escolha em relação ao ínstar, para larvas da mesma espécie hospedeira, sendo oferecidas três unidades de parasitismo, com 15 larvas de cada ínstar. Avaliou-se o número médio de pupários formados, parasitoides emergidos, pupários parasitados, pupas inviáveis e razão sexual. No primeiro bioensaio o número médio de parasitoides emergidos e pupários parasitados no hospedeiro AF foram significativamente superiores nos tratamentos com larvas de primeiro e segundo ínstar. Para CC não houve diferença entre os ínstares testados. No segundo bioensaio, o valor médio de parasitoides emergidos e de pupas parasitadas foi maior nas larvas de segundo e terceiro ínstar para CC, e para AF nas larvas de segundo ínstar. A razão sexual foi desviada para machos em todos os tratamentos, nos dois bioensaios. Os resultados demostram que D. longicaudata pode parasitar e ter sucesso em qualquer ínstar larval disponível, podendo competir com parasitoides de qualquer ínstar

Editorial: Infection, inflammation, and neurodegeneration: A critical path to Alzheimer\u27s disease, Volume II.

No abstract availabl

Intra and interspecific competition between Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera Braconidae) and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Hymenoptera Figitidae)

Braconidae and Figitidae parasitoids are important agents of pest population regulation in natural and agricultural systems, with species used in applicate biological control programs of fruit flies (Diptera Tephritidae). However, many aspects of the interactions of parasitoids with their heterospecific and conspecific are poorly understood. Thus, the interspecific competition between the par- asitoids Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (DL) (Hymenoptera Braconidae) and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes) (AP) (Hymenoptera Figitidae), was studied using Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera Tephritidae) as host. Host larvae were offered to only one parasitoid on a single occasion or on two occasions, or even to two parasitoid species, alternating the offering sequence. Thus, six exposure regimes were completed: AP (host exposed for 4 hours); DL (host exposed for 40 minutes); AP-AP (host exposed to AP for 4 hours and then to a conspecific for an additional further 4 hours); DL-DL (host exposed to DL for 40 minutes and then to a conspecific for an additional 40 minutes); AP-DL (host exposed to AP for 4 hours and then to DL for 40 minutes); and DL-AP (host exposed to DL for 40 minutes and then exposed to AP for 4 hours). The mean number of parasitized pupae, emerged parasitoids, oviposition scars per host (larvae) and sex ratio of parasitoids were compared between the different exposure regimes. The mean of parasitized pupae and emerged parasitoids was higher in the DL-DL and DL-AP treatments. The mean number of oviposition scars per host was correlated positively with the mean number of parasitoid offspring and the emerged females in treatments AP, DL, AP-AP, DL-DL for both species, and DL-AP only to D. longicaudata. When the hosts were exposed only once to the parasitoids, the sex ratio was male biased (AP and DL treatments); but when exposed twice, the treatments spawned offspring female biased, except for D. longicaudata at AP-DL treatment. Irrespective of the parasitism order, D. longicaudata suppress the emergence of A. pelleranoi

Alterations of the miR-126-3p/POU2AF1/Spi-B Axis and JCPyV Reactivation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Natalizumab

Natalizumab (NTZ) can reactivate human polyomavirus John Cunningham polyomavirus (JCPyV) latent infection and lead to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). NTZ modulates the expression of microRNA-126-3p (miR-126-3p) and its target genes, Spi-B, POU2AF1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1); Spi-B protein binds the JCPyV regulatory region, initiating early gene transcription. This paper is aimed to evaluate the miR-126-3p and soluble (s)VCAM-1 concentration, Spi-B/POU2AF1 gene expression, and JCPyV activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) before and during 2-years NTZ. Serum miR-126-3p and sVCAM-1 concentration was measured before NTZ and after 1, 12, and 24 months of treatment in 22 MS subjects, 1 patient who developed PML, and 29 healthy controls (HCs). The Spi-B and POU2AF1 expression in blood was analyzed at baseline and at month 24 in 13 patients with MS; results were clusterized based on JCPyV activity. miR-126-3p was significantly downregulated in MS before and during NTZ but was greatly increased in the PML patient. sVCAM-1 concentration was comparable in MS and HCs, and was reduced by NTZ in MS and PML. Spi-B/POU2AF1 expression was significantly increased in MS at baseline and was upregulated by NTZ, particularly in JCPyV-infected patients in whom JCPyV reactivation was detected. Taken together, the results suggest that the modulation of the miR-126-3p/POU2AF1/Spi-B axis associates with JCPyV activity in NTZ-treated patients with MS

Evaluation of serum miRNAs expression in frail and robust subjects undergoing multicomponent exercise protocol (VIVIFRAIL)

Background: Frailty, defined as physical performance impairment, is a common condition in older adults and can anticipate the development of sarcopenia, a geriatric syndrome characterized by loss of muscle strength and mass. microRNAs (miRNAs) are short molecules of RNA endowed with the ability to modulate gene expression; miRNAs are present in serum and are considered potential biomarkers for several diseases. Serum concentration of miR-451a, miR-93-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-421-3p, miR-425-5p, miR-495-3p and miR-744-5p was recently shown to be altered in sarcopenic patients. Methods: We verified if a particular miRNAs pattern could be detected in frailty as well by analyzing these molecules in 50 frail and 136 robust subjects. Additionally, a subgroup of these subjects (15 frail and 30 robust) underwent a 12-week program based on a multicomponent exercise protocol (VIVIFRAIL) consisting of resistance training, gait retraining, and balance training. After the program, serum miRNAs concentration was measured again, to verify whether the physical activity had an effect on their concentration. Moreover, clinical characteristics and indicators of physical performance of all subjects were compared before and after intervention to verify the effect of the VIVIFRAIL program. Results: At the end of the multicomponent exercise program, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score as well right and left handgrip (p < 0.05) were significantly increased in frail subjects; right and left handgrip significantly were increased also in robust subjects (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the variation of SPPB was significantly higher in frail compared to robust subjects (p < 0.0001). Moreover, at the end of the program, in frail compared to robust subjects: miR-451a serum concentration was significantly increased (frail: 6.59 × 104; 1.12 × 104–2.5 × 105 c/ng; robust: 2.31 × 104; 1.94 × 103–2.01 × 105 c/ng) (p < 0.05); and 2) miR-93-5p and miR-495-3p serum concentration was reduced, whereas that of miR-155-5p was significantly increased (p < 0.05 in both cases). Serum concentration of miR-93-5p and miR-495-3p was decreased, and that of miR-155-5p was increased at the end of the program in robust subjects alone, statistical significance being reached for miR-93-5p alone (p = 0.02). Conclusion: These results suggest that serum miR-451a should be investigated as a potential biomarker for frailty and show that the VIVIFRAIL multicomponent program modulates circulatory miRNAs expression, at least in older adults

The Biological Foundations of Sarcopenia: Established and Promising Markers

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, is one of the major health issues in older adults, given its high prevalence accompanied by huge clinical and socioeconomic implications. Age-related changes in skeletal muscle can be attributed to mechanisms both directly and indirectly related to muscle homeostasis. Indeed, a wide spectrum of age-related modifications in the organism was shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Not surprisingly, sarcopenia has sometimes been indicated as a syndrome stemming from the aging process, and not as univocal standalone disease. Due to the multidimensionality of sarcopenia, a single biomarker approach is not enough to explain the biology of this condition. The aim of this review is to suggest innovative and promising sarcopenia markers investigating the link between skeletal muscle and brain. Indeed, as a neurological origin of sarcopenia has been hypothesized, a new perspective on sarcopenia biomarkers may focus on the dysfunction of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The core SNARE synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP25) accumulates in the plasma membrane of nerve terminals at NMJs and regulates exocytosis at peripheral and central synapses. Interestingly, mice studies have shown that SNAP25 affects the neuromuscular function. SNARE complex and, in particular, SNAP25 may represent a promising pathway to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating muscular homeostasis and concur at profiling the sarcopenia biological background

Synthesis and nanoprecipitation of HEMA-CLnbased polymers for the production of biodegradable nanoparticles

The control over the size distribution and stability of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial in many of their applications, especially in the biomedical field. These characteristics are typically influenced by the production method and the nature of the starting material. To investigate these aspects, the controlled radical polymerization of functionalized methacrylates constituted by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) functionalized with a controlled number of ε-caprolactone (CL) units (HEMA-CLn), was carried out via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) in solution. The living reaction allows for good control over the molar mass of the final polymer with a low molar mass dispersity. The obtained polymer solutions were nanoprecipitated in order to produce NPs suitable for drug delivery applications with narrow particle size distribution and a wide size range (from 60 to 250 nm). The NP synthesis has been performed using a mixing device, in order to control the parameters involved in the nanoprecipitation process. As already seen for similar systems, the size of the produced NPs is a function of the polymer concentration during the nanoprecipitation process. Nevertheless, when the polymer concentration is kept constant, the NP size is influenced by the chemical structure of the polymer used, in terms of the presence of PEG (poly(ethylene glycol)), the degree of RAFT polymerization, and the length of the caprolactone side chain. These characteristics were also found to influence the stability and degradation properties of the produced NPs

Complications in Post-Liver Transplant Patients

Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for liver failure and selected cases of malignancies. Transplantation activity has increased over the years, and indications for LT have been widened, leading to organ shortage. To face this condition, a high selection of recipients with prioritizing systems and an enlargement of the donor pool were necessary. Several authors published their case series reporting the results obtained with the use of marginal donors, which seem to have progressively improved over the years. The introduction of in situ and ex situ machine perfusion, although still strongly debated, and better knowledge and treatment of the complications may have a role in achieving better results. With longer survival rates, a significant number of patients will suffer from long-term complications. An extensive review of the literature concerning short- and long-term outcomes is reported trying to highlight the most recent findings. The heterogeneity of the behaviors within the different centers is evident, leading to a difficult comparison of the results and making explicit the need to obtain more consent from experts

Psychological treatments and psychotherapies in the neurorehabilitation of pain. Evidences and recommendations from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly recognized that treating pain is crucial for effective care within neurological rehabilitation in the setting of the neurological rehabilitation. The Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation was constituted with the purpose identifying best practices for us in this context. Along with drug therapies and physical interventions, psychological treatments have been proven to be some of the most valuable tools that can be used within a multidisciplinary approach for fostering a reduction in pain intensity. However, there is a need to elucidate what forms of psychotherapy could be effectively matched with the specific pathologies that are typically addressed by neurorehabilitation teams. OBJECTIVES: To extensively assess the available evidence which supports the use of psychological therapies for pain reduction in neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review of the studies evaluating the effect of psychotherapies on pain intensity in neurological disorders was performed through an electronic search using PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Based on the level of evidence of the included studies, recommendations were outlined separately for the different conditions. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 2352 results and the final database included 400 articles. The overall strength of the recommendations was medium/low. The different forms of psychological interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, cognitive or behavioral techniques, Mindfulness, hypnosis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brief Interpersonal Therapy, virtual reality interventions, various forms of biofeedback and mirror therapy were found to be effective for pain reduction in pathologies such as musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Central Post-Stroke pain, Phantom Limb Pain, pain secondary to Spinal Cord Injury, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating syndromes, diabetic neuropathy, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, migraine and headache. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological interventions and psychotherapies are safe and effective treatments that can be used within an integrated approach for patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation for pain. The different interventions can be specifically selected depending on the disease being treated. A table of evidence and recommendations from the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation is also provided in the final part of the pape