Activity of N-Acetylcysteine Alone and in Combination with Colistin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms and Transcriptomic Response to N-Acetylcysteine Exposure

Chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is critical in cystic fibrosis (CF) and other chronic lung diseases, contributing to disease progression. Biofilm growth and a propensity to evolve multidrug resistance phenotypes drastically limit the available therapeutic options. In this perspective, there has been growing interest in evaluating combination therapies, especially for drugs that can be administered by nebulization, which allows high drug concentrations to be reached at the site of infections while limiting systemic toxicity. Here, we investigated the potential antibiofilm activity of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) alone and in combination with colistin against a panel of P. aeruginosa strains (most of which are from CF patients) and the transcriptomic response of a P. aeruginosa CF strain to NAC exposure. NAC alone (8,000 mg/L) showed a limited and strain-dependent antibiofilm activity. Nonetheless, a relevant antibiofilm synergism of NAC-colistin combinations (NAC at 8,000 mg/L plus colistin at 2 to 32 mg/L) was observed with all strains. Synergism was also confirmed with the artificial sputum medium model. RNA sequencing of NAC-exposed planktonic cultures revealed that NAC (8,000 mg/L) mainly induced (i) a Zn21 starvation response (known to induce attenuation of P. aeruginosa virulence), (ii) downregulation of genes of the denitrification apparatus, and (iii) downregulation of flagellar biosynthesis pathway. NAC-mediated inhibition of P. aeruginosa denitrification pathway and flagellum-mediated motility were confirmed experimentally. These findings suggested that NAC-colistin combinations might contribute to the management of biofilm-associated P. aeruginosa lung infections. NAC might also have a role in reducing P. aeruginosa virulence, which could be relevant in the very early stages of lung colonization. © 2022 Valzano et al

Clinical and socioeconomic impact of different types and subtypes of seasonal influenza viruses in children during influenza seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are few and debated data regarding possible differences in the clinical presentations of influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B viruses in children. This study evaluates the clinical presentation and socio-economic impact of laboratory-confirmed influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2 or B infection in children attending an Emergency Room because of influenza-like illness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Among the 4,726 children involved, 662 had influenza A (143 A/H1N1 and 519 A/H3N2) and 239 influenza B infection detected by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction. Upon enrolment, systematic recordings were made of the patients' demographic characteristics and medical history using standardised written questionnaires. The medical history of the children was re-evaluated 5-7 days after enrolment and until the resolution of their illness by means of interviews and a clinical examination by trained investigators using standardised questionnaires. During this evaluation, information was also obtained regarding illnesses and related morbidity among households.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Children infected with influenza A/H1N1 were significantly younger (mean age, 2.3 yrs) than children infected with influenza A/H3N2 (mean age, 4.7 yrs; p < 0.05)) or with influenza B (mean age, 5.2 yrs; p < 0.05). Adjusted for age and sex, children with influenza A/H3N2 in comparison with those infected by either A/H1N1 or with B influenza virus were more frequently affected by fever (p < 0.05) and lower respiratory tract involvement (p < 0.05), showed a worse clinical outcome (p < 0.05), required greater drug use (p < 0.05), and suffered a worse socio-economic impact (p < 0.05). Adjusted for age and sex, children with influenza B in comparison with those infected by A/H1N1 influenza virus had significantly higher hospitalization rates (p < 0.05), the households with a disease similar to that of the infected child (p < 0.05) and the need for additional household medical visits (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Disease due to influenza A/H3N2 viral subtype is significantly more severe than that due to influenza A/H1N1 subtype and influenza B virus, which indicates that the characteristics of the different viral types and subtypes should be adequately considered by health authorities when planning preventive and therapeutic measures.</p

SCIRES-IT Volume 7, Issue 1 (2017)

Forum for the exchange and sharing of know-how in the areas of Digitalization and Multimedia Technologies and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in support of Cultural and environmental Heritage (CH) documentation, preservation and fruition. It publishes comprehensive reviews on specific fields, regular research papers and short communications in a timely fashion

Applications of Active 3D Imaging to Archaeological Sites

NRC publication: Ye

CoCoNet: towards coast to coast networks of marine protected areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential

This volume contains the main results of the EC FP7 “The Ocean of Tomorrow” Project CoCoNet, divided in two sections: 1) a set of guidelines to design networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas; 2) a smart wind chart that will allow evaluating the possibility of installing Offshore Wind Farms in both seas. The concept of Cells of Ecosystem Functioning, based on connectivity, is introduced to define natural units of management and conservation. The definition of Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is fully embraced to set the objectives of the project, by adopting a holistic approach that integrates a full set of disciplines, ranging from physics to bio-ecology, economics, engineering and many sub-disciplines. The CoCoNet Consortium involved scientist sfrom 22 states, based in Africa, Asia, and Europe, contributing to build a coherent scientific community

Editorial. Survey and documentation for Archaeology, a special issue of SCIRES-IT

The journal SCIRES-IT, in the second issue of 2015, publishes a special number entitled “Survey and documentation for Archaeology”. This specific topic, more relevant today than ever, brings together new technologies and archaeology. This number offers a series of contributions that consider different applications of digital technologies in documenting diversified contexts of study. These studies pay particular attention to the spread and promotion of their results among a heterogeneous public

The Metopes of Selinunte: Presentation of the Interactive CD-ROM

This paper describes the content and the rational of a CD-ROM that brings both the history and the technology enthusiast to a newlevel of cognition about Western European history. This bilingual (Italian/English) digital document allows the visitor access tohistorical information about the Metopes of Selinunte and the temples remains that are tributary of a larger and impressivearchaeological complex of Selinunte. A straightforward and convivial navigation through the menus provides a multitude ofinformation in the form of video, images, renderings, three-dimensional models created from reality, historical and scientific articles,and texts that cover the many facets of this archaeological site. Features were programmed in Macromedia DirectorTM to embellishand ease the navigation through the multimedia information that might in some cases frighten novice users of this new type of digitalcontent. Special attention was invested in using spatial information effectively in order to facilitate the understanding of the artefactsdisplayed in the museum room. A documentary, a backstage movie, a 3D animation, a number of interviews with experts and interactive windows with the virtualized sculptures are fundamental to this rich-media cultural product.Cet article d\ue9crit le contenu et l'objet d'un CD-ROM qui permet aux amateurs d'histoire et de technologie d'acqu\ue9rir une plus grande connaissance de l'histoire de l'Europe de l'Ouest. Ce document num\ue9rique bilingue (italien/anglais) permet au visiteur d'acc\ue9der \ue0 de l'information historique sur les m\ue9topes de Selinunte et les vestiges des temples du tr\ue8s impressionnant et vaste complexe arch\ue9ologique de Selinunte. La navigation simple et conviviale \ue0 l'aide de menus fournit une mine de renseignements sous forme de vid\ue9os, d'images, de rendus, de mod\ue8les tridimensionnels cr\ue9\ue9s \ue0 partir de la r\ue9alit\ue9, d'articles historiques et scientifiques, et de textes qui d\ue9crivent les nombreuses facettes de ce site arch\ue9ologique. Les fonctionnalit\ue9s ont \ue9t\ue9 programm\ue9es en Macromedia DirectorTM afin de rehausser et de faciliter la navigation dans l'information multim\ue9dia qui pourrait, dans certains cas, intimider les utilisateurs novices de ce nouveau type de contenu num\ue9rique. Une attention sp\ue9ciale a \ue9t\ue9 consacr\ue9e \ue0 l'utilisation efficace de l'information spatiale afin de faciliter la compr\ue9hension des artefacts pr\ue9sent\ue9s dans la salle du mus\ue9e. Un documentaire, un film sur les " coulisses ", une animation 3D, plusieurs entrevues avec des experts, ainsi que des fen\ueatres interactives contenant des sculptures virtualis\ue9es sont des \ue9l\ue9ments cl\ue9s de ce riche produit culturel.NRC publication: Ye

Realistic Representations of Cultural Heritage Sites and Objects through Laser Scanner Information

When presenting the history of a heritage site or an artefact using multimedia technology, the proper use of technology to acquire and represent spatial information is crucial in order to facilitate the understanding of that particular site and the relationship between the elements constituting that site. In many cases, one has to model complex environments that have a rich historical content. These are composed of several objects with various characteristics and it is essential to combine data from different sensors and information from different sources. There is no single approach that works for all types of environment and at the same time is fully automated and satisfies the requirements of every application. A general approach combines information from historical material, multiple images, single images, laser scanner data, known shapes, CAD drawings, existing maps, survey data, and GPS data. This paper presents the work that was accomplished in preparing realistic representations of cultural heritage sites for interpretation and entertainment purposes. The general approach was applied to three cases: the Byzantine Crypt of Santa Cristina, Apulia; the remains of Temple C of Selinunte Sicily; a bronze sculpture with very fine incisions, and, a cave with Neolithic paintings.La pr\ue9sentation multim\ue9dia de l'histoire d'un site ou d'un objet culturel exige un bon usage de la technologie d'acquisition et de repr\ue9sentation des donn\ue9es spatiales afin de faciliter la compr\ue9hension du site pr\ue9sent\ue9 ou de la relation entre les divers \ue9l\ue9ments de ce site. Dans de nombreux cas, il faut mod\ue9liser des environnements complexes comportant un riche contenu historique. Ces environnements regroupent plusieurs objets aux caract\ue9ristiques vari\ue9es, et il est essentiel de combiner les donn\ue9es provenant de diff\ue9rents capteurs et de diverses sources. Aucune approche ponctuelle n'est valable pour tous les types d'environnements tout en \ue9tant enti\ue8rement automatis\ue9e et adapt\ue9e aux exigences de toutes les applications. Une approche g\ue9n\ue9rale combine l'information de documents historiques, images multiples, images uniques, donn\ue9es de balayage laser, formes connues, dessins CAO, cartes existantes, donn\ue9es d'arpentage et donn\ue9es GPS. Nous pr\ue9sentons ici les travaux r\ue9alis\ue9s pour la pr\ue9paration de repr\ue9sentations r\ue9alistes de sites du patrimoine culturel \ue0 des fins d'interpr\ue9tation et de divertissement. L'approche g\ue9n\ue9rale a \ue9t\ue9 appliqu\ue9e dans trois cas : la crypte byzantine de Santa Cristina, en Apulie; les vestiges du temple C \ue0 S\ue9linonte en Sicile; une sculpture de bronze finement incis\ue9e et un ensemble de peintures rupestres du N\ue9olithique.NRC publication: Ye