Craniofacial superimposition studies on a set of cosimo i de’ medici’s (1519-1574) and eleonora di toledo’s (1522-1562) portraits

A set of portraits of the Florentine grand duke Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519-1574) and of his wife Eleonora di Toledo (1522–1562) painted by two major representatives of Florentine Mannerism (Italian Late Renaissance), Pontormo and Bronzino was compared with the skulls of the two subjects utilizing the forensic technique of craniofacial superimposition. The results show that, in the case of Cosimo I, both a painting (Pontormo, workshop of, Cosimo I de’ Medici, 1537) and a drawing (Pontormo, Cosimo I de’ Medici in Profile, 1537) show lack of fit with the skull in four points (the glabellar outline, the depth of the nasal bridge, the bony lateral wall of the orbit, and the outline of the frontal process of the zygomatic bone). The drawing, therefore, seems to contradict the well established idea that Renaissance painters prepared lifelike sketches of their sitters which were then modified when transferred to the painting. In the case of Eleonora di Toledo, on the other hand, craniofacial superimposition analysis reveals that Bronzino, possibly as the result of a desperate search for the “best angle” of the sitter, adopted an unusual perspective to portray the duchess (Bronzino, Eleonora di Toledo, c. 1539) possibly looking down the sitter, by standing, while the sitter was seated in front of him. The face of the sitter was subsequently, in another painting (Bronzino, Eleonora di Toledo and Her Son Giovanni, c. 1544-45) “transplanted” onto the rest of the body given the impression that the duchess “looks” at the viewer from above. © 2016 Romanian Society of Legal Medicine

Phylogenetic position of a copper age sheep (Ovis aries) mitochondrial DNA.

Background: Sheep (Ovis aries) were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent region about 9,000-8,000 years ago. Currently, few mitochondrial (mt) DNA studies are available on archaeological sheep. In particular, no data on archaeological European sheep are available. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we describe the first portion of mtDNA sequence of a Copper Age European sheep. DNA was extracted from hair shafts which were part of the clothes of the so-called Tyrolean Iceman or O¨ tzi (5,350 - 5,100 years before present). Mitochondrial DNA (a total of 2,429 base pairs, encompassing a portion of the control region, tRNAPhe, a portion of the 12S rRNA gene, and the whole cytochrome B gene) was sequenced using a mixed sequencing procedure based on PCR amplification and 454 sequencing of pooled amplification products. We have compared the sequence with the corresponding sequence of 334 extant lineages. Conclusions/Significance: A phylogenetic network based on a new cladistic notation for the mitochondrial diversity of domestic sheep shows that the O¨ tzi’s sheep falls within haplogroup B, thus demonstrating that sheep belonging to this haplogroup were already present in the Alps more than 5,000 years ago. On the other hand, the lineage of the O¨ tzi’s sheep is defined by two transitions (16147, and 16440) which, assembled together, define a motif that has not yet been identified in modern sheep populations

Gut Microbiome of an 11th Century A.D. Pre-Columbian Andean Mummy

The process of natural mummification is a rare and unique process from which little is known about the resulting microbial community structure. In the present study, we characterized the microbiome of paleofeces, and ascending, transverse and descending colon of an 11th century A.D. pre-Columbian Andean mummy by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics. Firmicutes were the most abundant bacterial group, with Clostridium spp. comprising up to 96.2% of the mummified gut, while Turicibacter spp. represented 89.2% of the bacteria identified in the paleofeces. Microbiome profile of the paleofeces was unique when compared to previously characterized coprolites that did not undergo natural mummification. We identified DNA sequences homologous to Clostridium botulinum, Trypanosoma cruzi and human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Unexpectedly, putative antibiotic-resistance genes including beta-lactamases, penicillin-binding proteins, resistance to fosfomycin, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, macrolides, sulfa, quinolones, tetracycline and vancomycin, and multi-drug transporters, were also identified. The presence of putative antibiotic-resistance genes suggests that resistance may not necessarily be associated with a selective pressure of antibiotics or contact with European cultures. Identification of pathogens and antibiotic-resistance genes in ancient human specimens will aid in the understanding of the evolution of pathogens as a way to treat and prevent diseases caused by bacteria, microbial eukaryotes and viruses

Structural and Functional Characterization of the Human Thymidylate Synthase (hTS) Interface Variant R175C, New Perspectives for the Development of hTS Inhibitors

Abstract Human thymidylate synthase (hTS) is pivotal for cell survival and proliferation, indeed it provides the only synthetic source of dTMP, required for DNA biosynthesis. hTS represents a validated target for anticancer chemotherapy. However, active site-targeting drugs towards hTS have limitations connected to the onset of resistance. Thus, new strategies have to be applied to effectively target hTS without inducing resistance in cancer cells. Here, we report the generation and the functional and structural characterization of a new hTS interface variant in which Arg175 is replaced by a cysteine. Arg175 is located at the interface of the hTS obligate homodimer and protrudes inside the active site of the partner subunit, in which it provides a fundamental contribution for substrate binding. Indeed, the R175C variant results catalytically inactive. The introduction of a cysteine at the dimer interface is functional for development of new hTS inhibitors through innovative strategies, such as the tethering approach. Structural analysis, performed through X-ray crystallography, has revealed that a cofactor derivative is entrapped inside the catalytic cavity of the hTS R175C variant. The peculiar binding mode of the cofactor analogue suggests new clues exploitable for the design of new hTS inhibitors

How to critically appraise a qualitative health research study

 Evidence-based nursing is a process that requires nurses to have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to critically reflect on their practice, articulate structured questions, and then reliably search for research evidence to address the questions posed. Many types of research evidence are used to inform decisions in health care and findings from qualita- tive health research studies are useful to provide new insights about individuals' experi- ences, values, beliefs, needs, or perceptions. Before qualitative evidence can be utilized in a decision, it must be critically appraised to determine if the findings are trustworthy and if they have relevance to the identified issue or decision. In this article, we provide practical guidance on how to select a checklist or tool to guide the critical appraisal of qualitative studies and then provide an example demonstrating how to apply the critical appraisal process to a clinical scenario.Keywords: critical appraisal, qualitative health research, rigor, trustworthiness, evidence-based nursing, evidence-informed decision makingCome valutare criticamente uno studio di ricerca sanitaria qualitativa RIASSUNTO L'Evidence-Based Nursing Ë un processo che richiede agli infermieri di avere le conoscenze, le competenze e la fiducia necessarie per riflettere criticamente sulla loro pratica, articolare domande strutturate e poi cercare in modo affidabile la letteratura per rispondere alle domande poste. Ci sono molti tipi di evidence che vengono utilizzate per informare le decisioni nell'as- sistenza sanitaria e i risultati di studi di ricerca qualitativa sanitaria sono utili per fornire nuove intuizioni sulle esperienze, i valori, le convinzioni, i bisogni o le percezioni degli individui. Prima che l'evidence qualitativa possa essere utilizzata in una decisione, deve essere valutata criticamente per determinare se i risultati sono affidabili e se hanno rilevanza per la questione o la decisione identificata. In questo articolo forniamo una guida pratica su come selezionare una checklist o uno strumento per guidare la valutazione critica degli studi qualitativi e, poi, forniamo un esempio che dimostra come applicare il processo di valutazione critica a uno scenario clinico. Parole chiave: Valutazione Critica, Ricerca Sanitaria Qualitativa, Rigore, AffidabilitaÌ€, Evidence-Based Nursing, Evidence-Informed Decision Makin

Evaluation of Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Findings in Cats With Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in Comparison to Cats With Feline Bronchial Disease

The cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a cause of lower respiratory tract disease worldwide. Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are important tools for diagnosing respiratory diseases in cats. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of bronchoscopy and BAL in the diagnosis of A. abstrusus. Findings from bronchoscopic examination and BAL of 24 naturally infected cats were evaluated and compared with those of 12 cats with idiopathic Feline Bronchial Diseases (FBDs). Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney or Fisher's exact tests. No significant bronchoscopic differences were detected between cats with aelurostrongylosis and FBDs in bronchial mucus, nodular lesions, and airway collapse. On the other hand, airway hyperemia, epithelial irregularities, and bronchial stenosis were observed more frequently in cats affected by FBDs than aelurostrongylosis, while bronchiectasis was found only in cats infected by A. abstrusus. Neutrophilic, eosinophilic, lymphocytic, and mixed inflammation were recorded in both groups. Bacteria or bacterial DNA was identified regardless of the presence or absence of A. abstrusus with no significant differences between groups. Larvae of A. abstrusus were cytologically detected in 5 of the 24 cats (20.8%) with aelurostrongylosis. These results indicate that, although some findings on bronchoscopic examination (i.e., bronchiectasis) can be described more frequently in cats infected by A. abstrusus, bronchial alterations and cytological findings in aelurostrongylosis are not specific unless larvae are observed and overlap with those of other feline airway diseases

Duration of Untreated Disorder and Cannabis Use: An Observational Study on a Cohort of Young Italian Patients Experiencing Psychotic Experiences and Dissociative Symptoms

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Background: The Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) is the time between the first-episode psychosis (FEP) and the initiation of antipsychotic treatment. It is an important predictor of several disease-related outcomes in psychotic disorders. The aim of this manuscript is investigating the influence of cannabis on the DUP and its clinical correlates. Methods: During years 2014−2019, sixty-two FEP patients with and without cannabis use disorder (CUD) were recruited from several Italian psychiatric hospitals. The subjects were then divided into two groups based on the duration of the DUP and assessed at the beginning of the antipsychotic treatment and after 3 and 6 months, using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II). Results: As expected, a longer DUP was associated with worse symptoms and cannabis use did not seem to affect the DUP, but both were related with more dissociative symptoms at onset and over time. Discussion: According to our study, cannabis use can be a predictor of FEP and DUP, and of disease outcome. However, several factors might influence the relationship between cannabis use and DUP. Preventing cannabis use and early diagnosis of psychotic disorders might impact the disease by reducing the persistence of symptoms and limiting dissociative experiences.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

An Introduction to Qualitative Health Research - Un'introduzione alla ricerca sanitaria qualitativa

Within the context of evidence-informed decision making, health care professionals are critical consumers of research evidence. Clinician scientists, including nurse researchers, play a central role in producing this research evidence to inform and improve health practice, education, and policy. Health research is commonly conducted within one of three different paradigms: quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. Each research approach is underpinned with unique philosophic assumptions, methods, and rhetoric. The evidence produced within each paradigm is necessary to provide health care decision-makers with information about the complex, and intrinsically diverse, human experiences of health and illness. Qualitative health research has been defined as a discipline, which has its roots in qualitative research and yet is unique in its focus, methods, and rules. The focus of qualitative health research is to describe, explore, and explain the health-illness continuum and issues specific to health services or policy contexts. Research designs unique to conducting qualitative health research include qualitative description, interpretive description, focused ethnography, and case study. Each qualitative health research design helps to logically and pragmatically determine the appropriate methods to use to: 1) define a purposeful sample; 2) identify appropriate strategies for data collection; 3) rigorously apply analytic techniques to the gathered data; and 4) present valid findings. In health, qualitative studies are often an integral component of program evaluations to identify and describe contextual factors related to individuals, teams, organizations or social structures that inhibit or facilitate the successful adoption, implementation and delivery of an intervention or program. Findings from qualitative studies can also inform the development of theoretically and contextually relevant assessment tools that can be used in practice.Keywords: Research Methodology, Qualitative Research, Qualitative Health Research, Research DesignUn'introduzione alla ricerca sanitaria qualitativaNel contesto dell'evidence informed decision making, i professionisti della salute sono utilizzatori critici di evidence. I ricercatori clinici, inclusi i ricercatori infermieristici, hanno un ruolo centrale nel produrre queste evidence per informare e migliorare la pratica clinica, la formazione e le politiche sanitarie. La ricerca sanitaria è generalmente condotta con uno dei tre diversi paradigmi: quantitativo, qualitativo o misto. Ogni approccio di ricerca è sostenuto da dei propri presupposti filosofici, dai propri metodi e dalla propria retorica. Le evidence prodotte attraverso ciascun paradigma sono necessarie per fornire a chi prende decisioni evidence informed nell'ambito della salute, informazioni circa la complessa, ed intrinsecamente diversa, esperienza umana di salute e malattia. La ricerca sanitaria qualitativa è stata definita come una disciplina, che ha le sue radici nella ricerca qualitativa eppure è unica nel suo focus, nei metodi e nelle regole. Il focus specifico della ricerca sanitaria qualitativa è quello di descrivere, esplorare e spiegare il continuum salute-malattia e argomenti specifici al contesto dei servizi alla salute e delle politiche sanitarie. I disegni di ricerca specifici per la conduzione di ricerca sanitaria qualitativa includono: qualitative description, interpretive description, focused ethnography e case study. Ogni disegno di ricerca sanitaria aiuta a determinare logicamente e pragmaticamente i metodi appropriati da utilizzare per: 1) definire un campionamento propositivo; 2) identificare strategie appropriate per la raccolta dati; 3) applicare ai dati raccolti rigorose tecniche analitiche; 4) presentare risultati valide. In sanití , gli studi qualitativi sono spesso una parte integrale della valutazione delle politiche, per identificare e descrivere fattori contestuali legati a individui, team, organizzazioni o strutture sociali che agiscono come barriere o facilitatori per un'adozione, implementazione o erogazione di un intervento o programma. I risultati derivanti da studi qualitativi possono inoltre informare lo sviluppo di strumenti di valutazione rilevanti teoreticamente e contestualmente che possono essere utilizzati nella pratica.Parole Chiave: Metodologia della ricerca, Ricerca Qualitativa, Ricerca Sanitaria Qualitativa, Disegni di Ricerca"