HyperSpectral Imaging based approach for monitoring of micro-plastics from marine environment

The possibility to develop a sensor based procedure in order to monitor plastic presence in the marine environment was explored in this work. More in detail, this study was addressed to detect and to recognize different types of microplastics coming from sampling in different sea areas adopting a new approach, based on HyperSpectral Imaging (HSI) sensors. Moreover, a morphological and morphometrical particle characterization was carried by digital image processing. Morphological and morphometrical parameters, combined with hyperspectral imaging information, give a full characterization of each investigated particle, concurring to explain all the transportation, alteration and degradation phenomena suffered by each different polymer particle. Obtained results can represent an important starting point to develop, implement and set up monitor strategies to characterize marine microplastics. Moreover, the procedure developed in this work is fast, not expensive and reliable, making its utilization very profitable

Observed and simulated trophic index (TRIX) values for the Adriatic Sea basin

Abstract. The main scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is to achieve good environmental status (GES) of the EU's marine waters by 2020, in order to protect the marine environment more effectively. The trophic index (TRIX) was developed by Vollenweider in 1998 for the coastal area of Emilia-Romagna (northern Adriatic Sea) and was used by the Italian legislation to characterize the trophic state of coastal waters. We compared the TRIX index calculated from in situ data ("in situ TRIX") with the corresponding index simulated with a coupled physics and biogeochemical numerical model ("model TRIX") implemented in the overall Adriatic Sea. The comparison between in situ and simulated data was carried out for a data time series on the Emilia-Romagna coastal strip. This study shows the compatibility of the model with the in situ TRIX and the importance of the length of the time series in order to get robust index estimates. The model TRIX is finally calculated for the whole Adriatic Sea, showing trophic index differences across the Adriatic coastal areas

Study of the effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) and Pulsed Light (PL) on BSA structure and hydrolysis

Non-thermal technologies, such as High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) and Pulsed light (PL), affect protein inducing modifications in its conformational structure. For this reason the hydrolysis reaction of the protein can be modulated if it is conducted in combination with these technologies which are able to change the availability of peptide bonds exposed to the enzymatic action. The aim is to study the effects of HHP and PL on the structure and the extent of hydrolysis reaction of a target protein: the Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). BSA protein (5 mg/mL) in sodium phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH = 8) were treated with PL and HHP at different processing conditions, namely pressure level and treatment time in the case of HHP and treatment time and energy input in the case of PL. Structural modification of the protein solutions were analyzed by determining the sulphidrilic groups and the changes of the secondary structure. The effect of the two treatments on the hydrolysis degree (HD) at 37 °C was also evaluated by OPA method. Chymotrypsin and trypsin (E/S ratio = 1/10) were used to hydrolyze the BSA protein solutions. The hydrolysis was carried out in HHP assisted or PL assisted conditions or the protein solutions were treated with HHP or PL processes and immediately after hydrolyzed with the enzymes. Results obtained so far demonstrated that the two technologies tested are able to induce protein modifications and the occurrence and importance of this phenomenon depends on processing parameters causing protein unfolding, namely pressure level and number of pulses. When the maximum protein unfolding is obtained, higher HD values are detected. The highest HD value is obtained in HHP assisted hydrolysis with longer treatment time, and when, before undergoing hydrolysis, the PL treatment is applied to the solution placed at the higher distance from the lamp

Primary, Bilateral and Diffuse Renal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a Young Woman Suffering from Turner Syndrome

Primary renal lymphoma (PRL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) restricted to and primarily involving one or both kidneys, with no lymph node extension. It accounts for <1% of extranodal lymphomas, and descriptions in the literature are limited. Here, we describe an unprecedented case of bilateral PRL in a 44-year-old woman with Turner syndrome and discuss both diagnostic and therapeutic issues in the light of the available literature in the field. A personalized approach to this rare disease is necessary

Recomendaciones para el tratamiento de la psoriasis en Pediatría

Introducción: un tercio de los pacientes con psoriasis comienzan con sus síntomas en la niñez y la adolescencia, con fuerte impacto emocional y psicosocial. Objetivo: elaborar una guía de tratamiento sistémico de la psoriasis en pacientes pediátricos mediante recomendaciones fundamentadas en la mejor evidencia disponible. Materiales y métodos: Fuentes: artículos indexados en PubMed, Epistemonikos, Google Académico, Cochrane Library y Scielo, publicados entre enero de 2010 y mayo de 2022, en inglés, castellano y portugués. Selección de estudios: se consideraron guías de práctica clínica basadas en la evidencia, revisiones sistemáticas, metanálisis, estudios controlados y aleatorizados, estudios observacionales (casos y controles, estudios de cohortes, registros de la vida real) y evaluaciones de medicamentos biosimilares en pacientes de hasta 17 años de edad inclusive. Se utilizaron las palabras clave “psoriasis” y “tratamiento” en los tres idiomas. Extracción de datos: la bibliografía fue evaluada mediante las recomendaciones del sistema Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Síntesis de datos: elaboración de tablas de evidencia que fueron analizadas por el comité de expertos. Las preguntas para el desarrollo de recomendaciones se fundamentaron en el sistema PICO (población, intervención, comparación, outcome [desenlace]). Resultados: se elaboraron un total de 8 recomendaciones y 7 puntos de buena práctica. La dirección y fuerza de las recomendaciones se expresaron de acuerdo con lo sugerido por el sistema GRADE. Conclusiones: la decisión final de una terapia específica se fundamentará en la mejor opinión del médico tratante, las características individuales, y los valores y preferencias de los pacientes y sus cuidadores

The still under-investigated role of cognitive deficits in PML diagnosis

Background: Despite cognitive deficits frequently represent the first clinical manifestations of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Natalizumab-treated MS patients, the importance of cognitive deficits in PML diagnosis is still under-investigated. The aim of the current study is to investigate the cognitive deficits at PML diagnosis in a group of Italian patients with PML. Methods: Thirty-four PML patients were included in the study. The demographic and clinical data, the lesion load and localization, and the longitudinal clinical course was compared between patients with (n = 13) and without (n = 15) cognitive deficit upon PML suspicion (the remaining six patients were asymptomatic). Clinical presentation of cognitive symptoms was described in detail. Result: After symptoms detection, the time to diagnosis resulted to be shorter for patients presenting with cognitive than for patients with non cognitive onset (p = 0.03). Within patients with cognitive onset, six patients were presenting with language and/or reading difficulties (46.15%); five patients with memory difficulties (38.4%); three patients with apraxia (23.1%); two patients with disorientation (15.3%); two patients with neglect (15.3%); one patients with object agnosia (7.7%), one patient with perseveration (7.7%) and one patient with dementia (7.7%). Frontal lesions were less frequent (p = 0.03), whereas temporal lesions were slightly more frequent (p = 0.06) in patients with cognitive deficits. The longitudinal PML course seemed to be more severe in cognitive than in non cognitive patients (F = 2.73, p = 0.03), but differences disappeared (F = 1.24, p = 0.29) when balancing for the incidence of immune reconstitution syndrome and for other treatments for PML (steroids, plasma exchange (PLEX) and other therapies (Mefloquine, Mirtazapine, Maraviroc). Conclusion: Cognitive deficits at PML onset manifest with symptoms which are absolutely rare in MS. Their appearance in MS patients should strongly suggest PML. Clinicians should be sensitive to the importance of formal neuropsychological evaluation, with particular focus on executive function, which are not easily detected without a formal assessment

A large-scale genomic snapshot of Klebsiella spp. isolates in Northern Italy reveals limited transmission between clinical and non-clinical settings

Genomic analyses of Klebsiella isolates sampled from multiple human, animal and environmental sources in Northern Italy explore Klebsiella population diversity and show that transmission of multidrug-resistant clones between clinical and environmental settings is scarce.The Klebsiella group, found in humans, livestock, plants, soil, water and wild animals, is genetically and ecologically diverse. Many species are opportunistic pathogens and can harbour diverse classes of antimicrobial resistance genes. Healthcare-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae clones that are non-susceptible to carbapenems can spread rapidly, representing a high public health burden. Here we report an analysis of 3,482 genome sequences representing 15 Klebsiella species sampled over a 17-month period from a wide range of clinical, community, animal and environmental settings in and around the Italian city of Pavia. Northern Italy is a hotspot for hospital-acquired carbapenem non-susceptible Klebsiella and thus a pertinent setting to examine the overlap between isolates in clinical and non-clinical settings. We found no genotypic or phenotypic evidence for non-susceptibility to carbapenems outside the clinical environment. Although we noted occasional transmission between clinical and non-clinical settings, our data point to a limited role of animal and environmental reservoirs in the human acquisition of Klebsiella spp. We also provide a detailed genus-wide view of genomic diversity and population structure, including the identification of new groups.Peer reviewe

Leites fermentados – uma revisão / Fermented milk - a review

Na última década, os produtos lácteos vêm exercendo um papel significativo no segmento do mercado de alimentos funcionais, destacando-se as bebidas lácteas fermentadas. Consumidos em diversas partes do mundo pela sua atratividade promotora de saúde, os leites fermentados possuem aspectos comuns de fabricação, diferindo-se pela microbiota envolvida na fermentação, podendo alguns destes micro-organismos serem probióticos. A adição de vitaminas, minerais, prebióticos, ácidos graxos, fitoquímicos, enzimas, antioxidantes, etc., promovem o aumento do consumo de leites fermentados pelos consumidores que buscam um estilo de vida aliado a saudabilidade e prevenção de doenças, além disso, o consumo de outros tipos de leite não bovino, como o leite de jumenta e camela, e a inclusão de proteínas vegetais e animais, expressam novas tendências de fontes alternativas e de enriquecimento aos leites fermentados

Proteínas vegetais como alimentos funcionais - revisão / Vegetable proteins as functional foods – review

Alimentos vegetais possuem propriedades biológicas, podendo ser considerados alimentos potencialmente funcionais ou de promoção da saúde. Em espécies vegetais, as proteínas são de bastante interesse, estão presentes em diferentes partes de sua estrutura. Algumas de suas propriedades funcionais são atribuídas a peptídeos e proteínas biologicamente ativos, para esta atividade requer hidrólise de proteínas por digestão: enzimática, fermentação ou autólise. Além disso, as proteínas de origem vegetal exercem poder antioxidante em produtos, agregando valor a produtos. Na área alimentícia torna-se crescente a procura de antioxidantes naturais, pois além de agregar valor nutricional e baixo custo. Como objetivo para este trabalho, trata-se de avaliar por bases literárias as propriedades benéficas à saúde fornecidas por proteínas de origem vegetal