Exploiting pancreatic cancer metabolism: challenges and opportunities

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, known for its challenging diagnosis and limited treatment options. The focus on metabolic reprogramming as a key factor in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance has gained prominence. In this review we focus on the impact of metabolic changes on the interplay among stromal, immune, and tumor cells, as glutamine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) emerge as pivotal players in modulating immune cell functions and tumor growth. We also discuss ongoing clinical trials that explore metabolic modulation for PDAC, targeting mitochondrial metabolism, asparagine and glutamine addiction, and autophagy inhibition. Overcoming challenges in understanding nutrient effects on immune-stromal-tumor interactions holds promise for innovative therapeutic strategies.

The Oxford Nanopore MinION as a Versatile Technology for the Diagnosis and Characterization of Emerging Plant Viruses

The emergence of novel viral epidemics that could affect major crops represents a serious threat to global food security. The early and accurate identification of the causative viral agent is the most important step for a rapid and effective response to disease outbreaks. Over the last years, the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION sequencer has been proposed as an effective diagnostic tool for the early detection and identification of emerging viruses in plants, providing many advantages compared with different high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies. Here, we provide a step-by-step protocol that we optimized to obtain the virome of "Lamon bean" plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), an agricultural product with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in North-East of Italy, which is frequently subjected to multiple infections caused by different RNA viruses. The conversion of viral RNA in ds-cDNA enabled the use of Genomic DNA Ligation Sequencing Kit and Native Barcoding DNA Kit, which have been originally developed for DNA sequencing. This allowed the simultaneous diagnosis of both DNA- and RNA-based pathogens, providing a more versatile alternative to the use of direct RNA and/or direct cDNA sequencing kits.

Methylation Analysis of Urinary Sample in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Carcinoma: Frequency and Management of Invalid Result

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies showed that methylation analysis represents a newly developed urinary marker based on DNA methylation changes in a panel of genomic biomarkers and it could represent a valid tool in terms of the diagnosis and prediction of high-grade urothelial carcinoma recurrences. One of the limits of the use of this new molecular method during a follow-up is represented by the number of invalid tests in routine practice.

METHOD

A total of 782 patients with a diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive high-grade carcinoma (NMIBC) was studied. The Bladder EpiCheck test (BE) was performed together with cytology in all cases within 1 year after the end of treatment. In 402 patients, the urinary samples were voided urine (UV), while, in 380 cases, the samples were collected after bladder washing (IU). For all the patients with invalid BE results, a second BE test was performed following the instructions for use that indicated the test should be repeated with a new urinary sample in the case of an invalid result.

RESULTS

Analyzing the two different groups (UV and IU), we found the invalid BE results seemed to be not related to urinary samples (p = 0.13 Fisher's exact test), suggesting that the collection method was not relevant in order to reduce the number of invalid tests.

CONCLUSIONS

In the follow-up for NMIBC, for patients for whom a BE test is planned, a combined approach of cytology and a methylation test is recommended in order to repeat the BE test with an invalid result only in those cases with a cytological diagnosis of atypical urothelial cells (AUC) suspicious for high-grade urothelial carcinoma (SHGUC) and high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC).

Sterol, tocopherol, and bioactive fatty acid differences between conventional, high-quality, and organic cow milk

Milk contains several components that are important for human nutrition and health. To date, studies on organic and conventional milk have focused on their gross composition and fatty acid content, but little attention has been paid to the differences between other minor components, such as sterols and vitamins that may have functional actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional differences among 3 types of milk from a dairy plant: conventional, high-quality, and organic (in compliance with European regulations) milk, focusing on minor components such as sterols of animal and plant origin (phytosterols), tocopherols, and bioactive fatty acids. Cholesterol ranged from 271.37 mg/100 g of fat in conventional milk to 278.76 mg/100 g of fat in organic milk. Lanosterol was the main minor animal sterol in cow milk (ranging from 3.41 to 4.37 mg/100 g of fat), followed by desmosterol. The amount of total plant sterols in the analyzed milk ranged from 4.43 mg/100 g of fat in organic to 4.71 mg/100 g of fat in high-quality milk. Brassicasterol was the main sterol of plant origin which varied from 2.6 mg/100 g of fat in conventional and organic milk, to 2.93 mg/100 g of fat in high-quality milk. The second most present phytosterol was β-sitosterol, which ranged from 0.86 mg/100 g of fat in conventional to 0.97 mg/100 g of fat in high-quality, and organic milk. The results of the study showed no significant differences in gross and sterol composition between the 3 types of milk. However, the only significant difference found was in the fatty acid profile, with a higher n-3 content found in high-quality milk than in conventional and organic milk. These findings suggest that the investigated product categories and labels have minimal effect on the sterol and fatty acid profile of commercial cow milk.

Genetic diversity of Actinidia spp. shapes the oomycete pattern associated with Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS)

Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS) is an important soil-borne disease for the Italian kiwifruit industry, causing €300,000 in economic losses in 2020 alone. So far, the organisms recognized as involved in the aetiology of KVDS mainly belong to the Oomycota. As no effective management strategies exist, a promising approach to overcoming KVDS is the use of resistant species as rootstocks or for inclusion in breeding programs. Several Actinidia genotypes showing different level of resistance to KVDS were grown in disease-promoting soils. A metabarcoding approach was set up to identify KVDS-associated oomycetes and investigate whether the main species involved may vary according to plant genotype. Our results clearly showed significant differences between the genotypes in terms of oomycetes present in both plant rhizosphere and endosphere, which were strongly correlated with the symptoms displayed. We found out that the resistance of Actinidia macrosperma to KVDS is related to its ability to shape the pathobiome, particularly as far as the endosphere is concerned. In our conditions, Phytophthora sp. was predominantly found in sensitive genotypes, whilst Globisporangium intermedium was mainly detected in asymptomatic plants, suggesting that the latter species could compete with the recruitment of Phytophthora sp. in plants with different levels of resistance, consequently, explaining the onset of symptoms and the resistance condition.

Measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters from the T2K experiment using 3.6×1021 protons on target

The T2K experiment presents new measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters using 19.7 ( 16.3 ) × 10 20 protons on target (POT) in (anti-)neutrino mode at the far detector (FD). Compared to the previous analysis, an additional 4.7 × 10 20 POT neutrino data was collected at the FD. Significant improvements were made to the analysis methodology, with the near-detector analysis introducing new selections and using more than double the data. Additionally, this is the first T2K oscillation analysis to use NA61/SHINE data on a replica of the T2K target to tune the neutrino flux model, and the neutrino interaction model was improved to include new nuclear effects and calculations. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses are presented, including results on sin 2 θ 13 and the impact of priors on the δ CP measurement. Both analyses prefer the normal mass ordering and upper octant of sin 2 θ 23 with a nearly maximally CP-violating phase. Assuming the normal ordering and using the constraint on sin 2 θ 13 from reactors, sin 2 θ 23 = 0 . 561 - 0.032 + 0.021 using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and Δ m 32 2 = 2 . 494 - 0.058 + 0.041 × 10 - 3 eV 2 using constant Δ χ 2 intervals. The CP-violating phase is constrained to δ CP = - 1 . 97 - 0.70 + 0.97 using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and δ CP = 0 , π is excluded at more than 90% confidence level. A Jarlskog invariant of zero is excluded at more than 2 σ credible level using a flat prior in δ CP , and just below 2 σ using a flat prior in sin δ CP . When the external constraint on sin 2 θ 13 is removed, sin 2 θ 13 = 28 . 0 - 6.5 + 2.8 × 10 - 3 , in agreement with measurements from reactor experiments. These results are consistent with previous T2K analyses.

Severe asthma: follow-up after one year from the Italian Registry on Severe Asthma (IRSA)

Summary

Background. Asthma affects millions of people worldwide, with a subgroup suffering from severe asthma (SA). Biologics have revolutionized SA treatment, but challenges remain in managing different patient traits. This study analyzed data from the Italian Registry on Severe Asthma (IRSA) to investigate changes in SA characteristics and effectiveness of treatments after one year of follow-up, and to identify factors associated with response to treatments in a real-world setting. Methods. Data on SA patients with one year of follow-up were extracted from IRSA. Asthma control, exacerbations, lung function, and treatments, were assessed at follow-up and analyzed against baseline characteristics. Results. After one year of follow-up, notable improvements were observed in all the outcomes of SA of the included patients (n = 570). The effectiveness of biologic therapies was particularly evident, as they contributed significantly to these positive outcomes. Additionally, certain factors were found to be associated with improvement, namely T2 phenotype, baseline eosinophil count (BEC), and area of residence. On the other hand, comorbidities (obesity, gastro-esophageal reflux disease) and poor lung function were risk factors. Notably, poor-responders to biologics exhibited lower level of education, BEC, and exacerbations, and higher frequency of atopy and ACT score ≥ 20. Conclusions. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of biologics in asthma management, when implemented as part of a planned follow-up strategy aimed at optimizing and fine-tuning the therapy. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of considering key traits such as the T2 phenotype, BEC, education, and comorbidities when tailoring SA treatment. Overall, this study contributes to enhancing our understanding of SA management and guiding the development of personalized treatment approaches for patients with SA.

Aristotle - Ἀριστοτέλης (ARISTOTÉLĒS, 384/3- 322/1 BCE) The revelation of tuberculosis in his zoological works

One of the most challenging issues with the sources of ancient medicine is to be able to identify the correspondence between the diseases we know today and those reported in ancient medical texts. Ancient diseases' definitions rarely help us, and the symptoms described often correspond to more than one disease. This is especially true about tuberculosis, a disease that historians of medicine habitually associates with the Greek words phthi(n)o (φθίνω), verb, phthisis/phthoe (φθίσις/φθόη), noun, phthinodes/phthisikos (φθινώδης/φθισικός), adjective, all etymologically linked to an Indo-European root that expresses the idea of consumption in a broad sense. This article aims to analyze a group of Greek words, branchos/branchia (βράγχος/βράγχια), krauros/kraurao (κραῦρος/κραυράω), and katarreo (καταρρέω), that appear in nosological contexts very close to the infectious disease that today we call tuberculosis. Moreover, the paper aims to focus on the transmission pathways of TB being via animal-human contact and some ancient strategies to cure it. The symptoms, transmission pathways and therapeutic approach of tuberculosis belong to a homogeneous pathological picture that emerges from a set of texts that date back to the period between the fifth century BC and the second century AD.

COVID-19 lockdown, personal protective equipment, hyper-hygiene and allergy

Summary

At the beginning of SARS-CoV 2 pandemic, in the absence of "targeted" therapies, the national health authorities have introduced some measures aimed at reducing the spread of infection in the community (lockdown, social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), personal hygiene and disinfection of living environments). All the containment measures have led to both positive and negative effects in patients with allergic diseases. We believe that further studies should be undertaken to investigate the possible correlations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and allergy, from a broader perspective. In particular, the risk factors for the development of undesirable effects should be investigated, especially in healthcare professionals forced to use PPE and sanitizing agents for a long time. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic probably will not be short-lived, the use of such protective aids will necessarily be widespread even in the general population. Therefore, further studies on the materials used for the production of PPE and sanitizing agents would be necessary to reduce their sensitizing and, in some cases, toxic potential.

Protective effect of the tunneling nanotube-TNFAIP2/M-sec system on podocyte autophagy in diabetic nephropathy

Podocyte injury leading to albuminuria is a characteristic feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Hyperglycemia and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are major determinants of DN. However, the underlying mechanisms of podocyte injury remain poorly understood. The cytosolic protein TNFAIP2/M-Sec is required for tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) formation, which are membrane channels that transiently connect cells, allowing organelle transfer. Podocytes express TNFAIP2 and form TNTs, but the potential relevance of the TNFAIP2-TNT system in DN is unknown. We studied TNFAIP2 expression in both human and experimental DN and the renal effect of tnfaip2 deletion in streptozotocin-induced DN. Moreover, we explored the role of the TNFAIP2-TNT system in podocytes exposed to diabetes-related insults. TNFAIP2 was overexpressed by podocytes in both human and experimental DN and exposre of podocytes to high glucose and AGEs induced the TNFAIP2-TNT system. In diabetic mice, tnfaip2 deletion exacerbated albuminuria, renal function loss, podocyte injury, and mesangial expansion. Moreover, blockade of the autophagic flux due to lysosomal dysfunction was observed in diabetes-injured podocytes both in vitro and in vivo and exacerbated by tnfaip2 deletion. TNTs allowed autophagosome and lysosome exchange between podocytes, thereby ameliorating AGE-induced lysosomal dysfunction and apoptosis. This protective effect was abolished by tnfaip2 deletion, TNT inhibition, and donor cell lysosome damage. By contrast, Tnfaip2 overexpression enhanced TNT-mediated transfer and prevented AGE-induced autophagy and lysosome dysfunction and apoptosis. In conclusion, TNFAIP2 plays an important protective role in podocytes in the context of DN by allowing TNT-mediated autophagosome and lysosome exchange and may represent a novel druggable target.Abbreviations: AGEs: advanced glycation end products; AKT1: AKT serine/threonine kinase 1; AO: acridine orange; ALs: autolysosomes; APs: autophagosomes; BM: bone marrow; BSA: bovine serum albumin; CTSD: cathepsin D; DIC: differential interference contrast; DN: diabetic nephropathy; FSGS: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; HG: high glucose; KO: knockout; LAMP1: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1; LMP: lysosomal membrane permeabilization; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; STZ: streptozotocin; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; TNFAIP2: tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 2; TNTs: tunneling nanotubes; WT: wild type.

Vaccine hesitancy, misinformation in the era of Covid-19: Lessons from the past

Background

As the world has challenged/argued with the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years, there has been an increase in vaccine misinformation. Although immunity against Covid-19 infection is limited to 4-6 months and requires at least three doses of vaccine to be maximally effective, the current vaccination campaign in industrialized countries shows that vaccinated citizens experience greater immunological protection against severe forms of the disease than unvaccinated citizens.

Methodology

A perusal of the literature was performed in order to reconstruct the communication methods applied in the managing of the Covid-19 pandemic; the management of the current pandemic was compared with the management of another scourge of the past: poliomyelitis.

Results/Discussion

In order to raise public awareness on public health issues, it is essential that governments and institutions communicate scientific data to all sections of the population in an unambiguous way. In this sense, it is essential to apply "prebunking", which is a layered defense system available to society that prevents misinformation before it is spread. This is to avoid the subsequent debunking of false information, which generates insecurity and fuels fears. Belief in medical misinformation represents a meaningful problem for public health efforts to fight Covid-19 through vaccination.

Conclusion/Perspectives

In this sense an example of proper management of one of the many epidemics of the recent past, poliomyelitis, should make us reflect on the effectiveness of past approaches. This testimony from the past can provide us with food for thought regarding how to face the present Covid-19 pandemic and to prepare for the future. Certainly, it shows us how the awful pandemics/epidemics from the past was handled and finally overcome, despite perceived risk and vaccine hesitancy.

P392 A MULTIMODALITY IMAGING DIAGNOSIS OF A CHALLENGING CASE OF CONCOMITANT GROUP 1 PULMONARY HYPERTENSION AND PARADOXICALLY LOW–FLOW, LOW–GRADIENT AORTIC STENOSIS

 

A 76 year old woman was admitted to our hospital for self–limiting dyspnoea (NYHA class III) in oxygen dependence and frequent lipothymia following Valsalva manoeuvres. She was previously admitted to a Spoke Centre for heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) and a new diagnosis of “pre–capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH)”. Despite a diagnosis of PH of unclear aetiology, she was started on macitentan without being reassessed for functional capacity due to Covid emergency; because of worsening symptoms, she was admitted to our Hub Centre. Resting ECG showed right axis deviation, right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy, first–degree atrioventricular block and right bundle branch block. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed reduced left ventricular (LV) volume with preserved EF (diastolic volume= 37 ml, EF = 88%), severe right atrial and RV dilation with flattening of the interventricular septum, estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of 124 mmHg, and moderate calcific aortic stenosis (peak aortic velocity 3.3 m/s, mean gradient 25 mmHg, valve area 1.1 cm2). Right and left heart catheterization showed severe pre–capillary PH (mean pulmonary pressure 60 mmHg, mean wedge 11 mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance 14.41 WU), a severe aortic valve stenosis (aortic valve area 0.68 cmq and peak–to–peak gradient 25 mmHg, slight reduction of cardiac index 2.04 l/min/mq) and no significant coronary artery disease. The degree of aortic stenosis was considered as moderate–severe by integrating data of transesophageal echocardiography (planimetric area 1cm2) and assessment of calcium score (1615 Agatson units). Pneumological causes, chronic thromboembolic PH, rheumatologic diseases, HIV infection, paraneoplastic origin and veno–occlusive disease were all ruled out as potential PH causes and a diagnosis of Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) was finally made. The Heart Team established the best therapeutic option was a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) allowing better haemodynamic tolerability of PH therapy. The patient underwent TAVI and was started on PH therapy; a complete atrio–ventricular block developed after the procedure, requiring permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation. Unfortunately, few days later, the patient died following pacemaker’s lead dislocation.

Conclusion

PH has a diverse aetiology, and prognosis is generally poor, especially in patients with severe comorbidities.

Revision of the 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species description guidelines

The genus 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' was proposed to accommodate cell wall-less bacteria that are molecularly and biochemically incompletely characterized, and colonize plant phloem and insect vector tissues. This provisional classification is highly relevant due to its application in epidemiological and ecological studies, mainly aimed at keeping the severe phytoplasma plant diseases under control worldwide. Given the increasing discovery of molecular diversity within the genus 'Ca. Phytoplasma', the proposed guidelines were revised and clarified to accommodate those 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species strains sharing >98.65 % sequence identity of their full or nearly full 16S rRNA gene sequences, obtained with at least twofold coverage of the sequence, compared with those of the reference strain of such species. Strains sharing <98.65 % sequence identity with the reference strain but >98.65 % with other strain(s) within the same 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species should be considered related strains to that 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species. The guidelines herein, keep the original published reference strains. However, to improve 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species assignment, complementary strains are suggested as an alternative to the reference strains. This will be implemented when only a partial 16S rRNA gene and/or a few other genes have been sequenced, or the strain is no longer available for further molecular characterization. Lists of 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species and alternative reference strains described are reported. For new 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species that will be assigned with identity ≥98.65 % of their 16S rRNA gene sequences, a threshold of 95 % genome-wide average nucleotide identity is suggested. When the whole genome sequences are unavailable, two among conserved housekeeping genes could be used. There are 49 officially published 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species, including 'Ca. P. cocostanzaniae' and 'Ca. P. palmae' described in this manuscript.

Cation Permeability of Voltage-Gated Hair Cell Ca2+ Channels of the Vertebrate Labyrinth

Some hearing, vestibular, and vision disorders are imputable to voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels of the sensory cells. These channels convey a large Ca²⁺ influx despite extracellular Na⁺ being 70-fold more concentrated than Ca²⁺; such high selectivity is lost in low Ca²⁺, and Na⁺ can permeate. Since the permeation properties and molecular identity of sensory Ca²⁺ channels are debated, in this paper, we examine the Na⁺ current flowing through the L- and R-type Ca²⁺ channels of labyrinth hair cells. Ion currents and cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentrations were simultaneously monitored in whole-cell recording synchronous to fast fluorescence imaging. L-type and R-type channels were present with different densities at selected sites. In 10 nM Ca²⁺, the activation and deactivation time constants of the L-type Na⁺ current were accelerated and its maximal amplitude increased by 6-fold compared to physiological Ca²⁺. The deactivation of the R-type Na⁺ current was not accelerated, and its current amplitude increased by 2.3-fold in low Ca²⁺; moreover, it was partially blocked by nifedipine in a voltage- and time-dependent manner. In conclusion, L channel gating is affected by the ion species permeating the channel, and its selectivity filter binds Ca²⁺ more strongly than that of R channel; furthermore, external Ca²⁺ prevents nifedipine from perturbing the R selectivity filter.

The Virome of ‘Lamon Bean’: Application of MinION Sequencing to Investigate the Virus Population Associated with Symptomatic Beans in the Lamon Area, Italy

‘Lamon bean’ is a protected geographical indication (PGI) for a product of four varieties of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in a specific area of production, which is located in the Belluno district, Veneto region (N.E. of Italy). In the last decade, the ‘Lamon bean’ has been threatened by severe virus epidemics that have compromised its profitability. In this work, the full virome of seven bean samples showing different foliar symptoms was obtained by MinION sequencing. Evidence that emerged from sequencing was validated through RT-PCR and ELISA in a large number of plants, including different ecotypes of Lamon bean and wild herbaceous hosts that may represent a virus reservoir in the field. Results revealed the presence of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), peanut stunt virus (PSV), and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), which often occurred as mixed infections. Moreover, both CMV and PSV were reported in association with strain-specific satellite RNAs (satRNAs). In conclusion, this work sheds light on the cause of the severe diseases affecting the ‘Lamon bean’ by exploitation of MinION sequencing.

Pathogenicity of Phytopythium chamaehyphon: A New Player in Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome of Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa 'Hayward' in Italy

Kiwifruit vine decline syndrome (KVDS) is a serious soil-borne disease that degrades the fine roots of both Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa and var. chinensis. The disease seems to be the result of an interaction between several soil-borne pathogens, mostly oomycetes, and waterlogging. This work investigates the pathogenicity of the oomycete Phytopythium chamaehyphon recently isolated from roots of diseased plants. Pathogenicity was tested in 6-month-old and 1-year-old plants that, after inoculation, were flooded up to three times to induce symptom appearance. Leaf wilting and root rot typical of KVDS was observed in all the plants inoculated with P. chamaehyphon strain KD-15 (PCHA) and in all the positive controls potted in a mix of peat and soils collected in KVDS-affected orchards, while negative controls remained symptomless. Disease development on 6-month-old plants was characterized by unusual degradation of the not-lignified collar, occurring even in absence of flooding. Conversely, on 1-year-old plants, symptoms faithfully reproduced KVDS dynamics observed in orchard. This work confirmed the pathogenicity of P. chamaehyphon and raised new questions about the actual role of waterlogging in KVDS etiology.

Spatiotemporal and Quantitative Monitoring of the Fate of "Candidatus Phytoplasma Solani" in Tomato Plants Infected by Grafting

Understanding how phytoplasmas move and multiply within the host plant is fundamental for plant-pathogen interaction studies. In recent years, the tomato has been used as a model plant to study this type of interaction. In the present work, we investigated the distribution and multiplication dynamics of one strain of "Candidatus Phytoplasma (Ca. P.) solani", (16SrXII-A) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Micro-Tom) plants. We obtained infected plants by grafting, a fast and effective method to maintain phytoplasma infection. In planta spread and multiplication of "Ca. P. solani" was monitored over time using qualitative and quantitative qPCR. Root, apical shoot, lower leaves, and upper leaves were sampled at each sampling time. We hypothesized that "Ca. P. solani" from the grafting site reached firstly the highest leaf, the apex and the roots; subsequently, the phytoplasmas spread to the rest of the upper leaves and then progressively to the lower leaves. Significant differences were found in "Ca. P. solani" titer among different plant tissues. In particular, the concentration of phytoplasma in the roots was significantly higher than that in the other plant compartments in almost all the sampling dates. Since the roots show rapid colonization and the highest concentration of phytoplasmas, they represent the ideal tissue to sample for an early, sensitive and robust diagnosis.

Anaphylaxis

Summary

Anaphylaxis is the most severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction, and it can be life-threatening or even fatal. It involves the activation of multiple immune and non immune pathways beyond IgE, thus exhibiting different phenotypes. New symptoms of hypersensitivity caused by chemotherapy drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and biological agents have been suggested to be recognized as anaphylaxis phenotypes. No biomarker has been described that allows an unequivocal diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Moreover, more biomarkers for specific endotypes are needed to stratify severity, to predict risk, and to optimaze tretament choice in the individual patient. Food, drugs and stinging insects represent the most commly identified triggers. Idiopathic anaphylaxis is a diagnosis of exclusion and it can hide a clonal mast cell disorder. Individual risk factors and co-factors may influence the severity of anaphylaxis or its onset, and they should be identified to implement the appropriate measures to prevent recurrence. Prompt recognition and treatment are critical in anaphylaxis, adrenaline being the first-line saving therapy. Individualized anaphylaxis action plan should include avoidance measures, prescription of an adrenaline autoinjector, education, optimal management of relevant comorbidities, venom specific immunotherapy, food oral immunotherapy, and drug desensitization, when appropriate. However, the quality of acute and long-term anaphylaxis management is variable influencing the poor outcomes experienced by many patients. Clinical practice guidelines have the potential to improve outcomes, but they often prove challenging to implement in routine clinical care.

Evaluation of PD1 and PD-L1 expression in high-grade sarcomas of the limbs in the adults: possible implications of immunotherapy

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare tumours. Improvements in immunotherapy and the important role of PD1 and PD-L1 expression in advancement and prognosis have opened new fields of research for the treatment of these neoplasia. We evaluated the immunohistochemistry of PD1 and PD-L1 expression in 60 adults' patients affected by high-grade sarcomas of the limbs. PD1 expression was 65% while PD-L1 was 68.3%. PD-L1 expression seems to correlate to Ki67 in liposarcomas, fibrosarcoma's and pleomorphic sarcomas, while it does not show any correlation to chondrosarcomas, while in rhabdomyosarcomas there is a correlation but, given the small sample size, it was not possible to perform a statistic analysis. Our study shows positivity among the different subgroups of positive PD1 lymphocytes infiltration and PD-L1 expression in high-grade sarcomas of the limbs.

A preliminary investigation into the unsaponifiable fraction of donkey milk: Sterols of animal origin, phytosterols, and tocopherols

We investigated the main sterols, phytosterols, and the α- and γ-tocopherol content in donkey milk during the first 2 mo of lactation. Cholesterol was the main sterol in milk (mean ± standard deviation = 0.97 ± 0.443 g/100 g of fat). Lanosterol was the main minor sterol of animal origin, followed by desmosterol (0.003 ± 0.001 and 0.001 ± 0.001 g/100 g of fat, respectively). Of the phytosterols, β-sitosterol was the main sterol of vegetal origin in donkey milk (0.005 ± 0.002 g/100 g of fat), but lower levels of campesterol, brassicasterol, and stigmasterol were also recorded. Mean levels of α- and γ-tocopherol were 0.01 ± 0.007 and 0.003 ± 0.001 g/100 g of fat, respectively. We observed no significant changes in sterol or tocopherol content during the first 2 mo of lactation. The presence of lanosterol in donkey milk is of particular interest, because lanosterol is a potential drug and has important physiological effects. The presence of phytosterols, which are considered nutraceutical molecules, enhances the nutritional quality of donkey milk fat for consumers.

When a mimicker wears strange faces: description of an osteogenic melanoma arising within an ovarian teratoma with focus on its late peritoneal relapse

Secondary malignancies arising within mature teratomas are a rare event, originating from malignant transformation of the tissues derived from one of the three germ cell layers. Osteogenic melanoma is exceedingly rare histologic variant of malignant melanoma, in which the melanoma is associated to an osteogenic sarcoma component. To the best of our knowledge, first case of osteogenic melanoma arising within mature ovarian teratoma in a 30-year-old woman without evidence of a primary cutaneous or visceral melanoma. The present case showed an unusual morphological and immunohistochemical pattern and was incorrectly diagnosed as undifferentiated carcinoma. After a 15 years follow-up period, the patient presented a peritoneal recurrence histologically constituted by epithelioid cells with prominent osteoid formation and with immunohistochemical expression of melanocytic markers (S100, HMB-45). Heterozygote Mutation V600E/E complex has been detected in the BRAF exon 15 sequence. The case was then interpreted as osteogenic melanoma. The present case contributes to widen the spectrum of neoplasms derived from malignant transformation of ovarian teratomas and provides also new insights about the clinical behavior of osteogenic melanoma when arising outside its usual anatomical location.

The barriers to the full implementation of strategic purchasing and the role of health policy and decision-makers: past, current status, ethical aspects and future challenges

Healthcare systems are complex, multi-level, highly integrated organizations, comprising of different professional figures, institutions, and resources. Such breadth and complexity reflect the multi-dimensionality of the concept of health, which implies the adoption of a holistic approach. Health, rather than merely being the absence of disorders or infirmity, is a highly dynamic state, which represents the abilities of an individual to cope with adverse social, physical and emotional/psychological events and conditions, continuously adapting to them. Ensuring an adequate health state is one of the most important concerns, and the healthcare systems are called to renew themselves in order to meet with the new challenges and health needs. Throughout the last decades, due to demographic shifts and transitions, epidemiological and societal changes, technological achievements and scientific advancements, healthcare systems have undergone an extensive series of reform plans. Therefore, health policy- and decision-makers have made efforts to develop and implement initiatives for preserving the quality of the healthcare provisions. Strategic purchasing is an approach of purchasing that takes into account several health-related issues such as a proper, comprehensive planning of service delivery, the design and selection of the best packages of services and provisions, the appropriate selection of providers and the allocation of economical and financial incentives to provide better services and to motivate managers to adopt appropriate policies to implement strategic purchasing. Here, we intend to consider the various dimensions and aspects that can be effective in strategic purchasing, as well as the main barriers and obstacles that hinder its full implementation.

With or Without You: Altered Plant Response to Boron-Deficiency in Hydroponically Grown Grapevines Infected by Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus Suggests a Relation Between Grapevine Leaf Mottling and Deformation Symptom Occurrence and Boron Plant Availability

Despite the increasing spread of Grapevine Leaf Mottling and Deformation (GLMD) worldwide, little is known about its etiology. After identification of grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) as the presumptive causal agent of the disease in 2015, various publications have evaluated GPGV involvement in GLMD. Nevertheless, there are only partial clues to explain the presence of GPGV in both symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevines and the mechanisms that trigger symptom development, and so a consideration of new factors is required. Given the similarities between GLMD and boron (B)-deficiency symptoms in grapevine plants, we posited that GPGV interferes in B homeostasis. By using a hydroponic system to control B availability, we investigated the effects of different B supplies on grapevine phenotype and those of GPGV infection on B acquisition and translocation machinery, by means of microscopy, ionomic and gene expression analyses in both roots and leaves. The transcription of the genes regulating B homeostasis was unaffected by the presence of GPGV alone, but was severely altered in plants exposed to both GPGV infection and B-deficiency, allowing us to speculate that the capricious and patchy occurrence of GLMD symptoms in the field may not be related solely to GPGV, but to GPGV interference in plant responses to different B availabilities. This hypothesis found preliminary positive confirmations in analyses on field-grown plants.

Frozen section accurately allows pathological characterization of endometrial cancer in patients with a preoperative ambiguous or inconclusive diagnoses: our experience

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the agreement rate between intraoperative evaluation (IOE) and final diagnosis (FD) in a series of surgically resected endometrial carcinoma (EC), with a preoperative ambiguous or inconclusive diagnosis by endometrial biopsies and imaging.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed selecting patients who underwent surgery with IOE for suspected EC at our institution from 2012 to 2018. A K coefficient was determined with respect to the histotype, tumor grade, myometrial infiltration and cervical involvement.

Results

Data analysis has been performed on 202 women. The IOE evaluation was distributed as Endometrioid (n = 180) and Non-Endometrioid (n = 22). The comparison between the frozen section (FS) and the definitive histological subtype showed an overall agreement rate of 93,07% (k = 0.612) and an agreement of 97.2% for Endometrioid vs 59% for Non-Endometrioid tumors. The FIGO system grading was the same in 91,1% of patients, none was upgraded and in 8,9% downgraded. Observed agreements were 89,11% and 95,54% for myometrial and cervical involvement, respectively.

Conclusions

The good agreement between intraoperative grading, myometrial invasion and their histological definition on permanent sections highlights that FS is a good predictor for surgical outcome, in particular in presence of a preoperative ambiguous or inconclusive diagnostic evaluation.

Transfer of passive immunity in dairy calves: the effectiveness of providing a supplementary colostrum meal in addition to nursing from the dam

Failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in dairy calves - which is often due to the low amount of colostrum provided within a few hours after birth - remains a crucial issue. Enabling dairy calves to nurse colostrum from their dams could be useful in increasing intake and thus avoiding FTPI, but further potential effects on the health and welfare of both calves and dams should also be considered. In this study, 107 calf-dam pairs from two Italian dairy farms were alternately assigned to one of the following colostrum provision methods (CPMs): 'hand-fed method' (HFM) - the calf was separated from the dam immediately after birth and colostrum was provided by nipple-bottle (n = 50); 'nursing method' (NM) - the calf nursed colostrum from the dam for the first 12 h of life without farmer assistance (n = 30); and 'mixed method' (MM) - the nursing calf received a supplementary colostrum meal by nipple-bottle (n = 27). Serum of calves (1 to 5 days of age) and samples of their first colostrum meal were analysed by electrophoresis to assess immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration. Additionally, behavioural indicators of separation distress (calf and dam vocalisations; calf refusal of the first meal after separation; undesirable dam behaviour at milking) in the following 24 h were recorded as binary variables (Yes/No), and the health status of calves (disease occurrence and mortality) and dams (postpartum disorders and mastitis occurrence) were monitored for the first 3 months of life and 7 days after parturition, respectively. The lowest FTPI occurrence (calf serum Ig concentration <10.0 g/l) was found in the MM (11.1%) and the HFM (22.0%) compared with the NM (60.0%) (P<0.05), and the highest percentage of calves with optimal transfer of passive immunity (serum Ig concentration ≥16.0 g/l) was observed in the MM (55.6%). The lowest calf-dam separation distress was observed in the HFM (P<0.05). The highest calf disease occurrence was recorded in the HFM (64.0%) and the lowest in the NM (33.3%), with an intermediate value for the MM (44.4%) (P<0.05). No effect of the CPM was observed on dam health or calf mortality (P>0.05). The results of this study indicated that providing calves with a supplementary colostrum meal in addition to nursing from the dam (MM) is truly effective in maximizing passive immunity transfer. Anyway, specific strategies should be studied to minimise calf-dam separation distress.

Clinical aspects of hymenoptera venom allergy and venom immunotherapy

Summary

Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) is the most frequent cause of anaphylaxis in Europe, accounting for most of the severe reactions occurring in adults, and being the second cause of anaphylaxis in children. Prevention of further episodes in patients who developed a systemic reaction (SR) is based on the correct management of the allergic emergency, the referral to an allergist for a correct diagnosis, prescription of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) and specific venom immunotherapy (VIT), if recommended. Diagnosis is based on the classification of the type of reaction, confirmation of an IgE-mediated pathogenesis and the identification of the offending insect. The use of component resolved diagnostics may be helpful in case of poly-sensitization or negative allergy tests with a proven history of previous SRs. When a severe SR occurs, baseline serum tryptase levels should always be assessed. The prescription of AAI is recommended or suggested for untreated patients, patients undergoing VIT and after discontinuation of treatment, according to multiple evidence. VIT is the most effective treatment available for HVA patients, as confirmed by recent European guidelines. VIT has an early, sustained and persistent protective effect and modifies the natural course of the disease. Moreover, VIT proved to be safe and well tolerated. According to a recent systematic review, no treatment-related fatalities were recorded to date. Compared to AAI, VIT significantly improves the quality of life of HVA patients by reducing the anxiety and limitations in daily activities caused by the fear of stinging insects. The memory of a life-threatening experience is the most likely reason why adherence to VIT is higher compared to immunotherapy with inhalant allergens. Several risk factors in HVA have been identified that can influence not only the severity of sting reactions in untreated patents, but also the occurrence of side effects, treatment effectiveness and the risk of relapse after discontinuation of VIT. Patient and treatment-related risk factors must be considered while selecting the best candidates for VIT, the type and duration of treatment. In this paper we address the most important issues related to HVA and VIT that may have an impact on daily clinical practice.

1438MicroRNA editing is integral for interleukin-6 trans-signalling and leukocyte trafficking to ischemic tissues

Background/Aim

Adenosine to inosine RNA editing is an essential post-transcriptional RNA modification catalysed by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1 and -2 (ADAR1; ADAR2). Endothelial cells (ECs) attract and guide leukocytes to sites of ischemic tissue injury. Here we studied the role of RNA editing in ischemic disease.

Methods

Primary human and murine vascular endothelial cell cultures were used to assess the EC responses to interleukin-6 (IL-6) or ischemia. For the animal studies, the effect of ADAR2 in acute and chronic ischemic disease was evaluated in cremaster muscle microcirculation by intravital microscopy, in peritoneal cavity after sterile peritonitis and in gastrocnemius muscle after hind-limb ischemia by 8-colour flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies of Adar2−/−/tg as well as of i(nducible)EC-ADAR2 knockout (KO) mice. For the mechanistic studies, deep RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, western blot, confocal microscopy, target-specific microRNA (miRNA) editing studies, RNA-immunoprecipitation, miRNA/plasmid silencing/overexpression and luciferase reporter assays were used among others. For human studies, ischemic tissues derived from patients with acute or chronic ischemic heart disease were processed.

Results

ADAR2, but not ADAR1, expression is induced by >2-fold in hypoxic ECs and in ischemic vascular ECs in mice and humans. Unbiased gene ontology analysis of the EC transcriptome indicated that ADAR2 controls inflammatory responses and predominantly the expression of interleukin-6-signal transducer (IL6ST), the co-receptor of IL-6. Subsequently, ADAR2 controls IL-6 trans-signalling in ECs as documented by the STAT3 phosphorylation and expression of the downstream leukocyte adhesion molecules, E-selectin and VCAM-1. IL-6-inflamed cremaster muscles showed that rolling and adhesion of leukocyte subsets to vascular wall were severely impaired in Adar2−/−/tg mice. Leukocyte transmigration was also diminished by >2-fold in Adar2−/−/tg and in iEC-ADAR2 KO mice in response to IL-6 or ischemia. Similar results were obtained for leukocyte rolling, adhesion and infiltration after acute (4h) and chronic (3d; 21d) ischemia from iEC-ADAR2 KO mice and human ischemic muscle tissues. Next we studied how ADAR2 controls IL6ST expression. ADAR2-deficient vascular EC miRNAome revealed the upregulation of a conserved group of miRNAs targeting the IL6ST mRNA including miR-199a-5p and miR-335-3p. At a single-nucleotide level, ADAR2-induced RNA editing of the stem loops of the primary miR-199a1/2 and miR-335 directly disrupted Drosha recruitment to both and thus inhibited their maturation process. Accordingly, rescue experiments using miRNA-inhibitors restored IL6ST levels after ADAR2 deficiency.

Conclusion

Taking together, inhibition of the microRNA maturation process by ADAR2-mediated RNA editing is integral for IL-6 trans-signalling in vascular endothelium and subsequent leukocyte trafficking to ischemic tissues in mice and humans.

'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' interferes with the distribution and uptake of iron in tomato

Background

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ is endemic in Europe and infects a wide range of weeds and cultivated plants. Phytoplasmas are prokaryotic plant pathogens that colonize the sieve elements of their host plant, causing severe alterations in phloem function and impairment of assimilate translocation. Typical symptoms of infected plants include yellowing of leaves or shoots, leaf curling, and general stunting, but the molecular mechanisms underlying most of the reported changes remain largely enigmatic. To infer a possible involvement of Fe in the host-phytoplasma interaction, we investigated the effects of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ infection on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) grown under different Fe regimes.

Results

Both phytoplasma infection and Fe starvation led to the development of chlorotic leaves and altered thylakoid organization. In infected plants, Fe accumulated in phloem tissue, altering the local distribution of Fe. In infected plants, Fe starvation had additive effects on chlorophyll content and leaf chlorosis, suggesting that the two conditions affected the phenotypic readout via separate routes. To gain insights into the transcriptional response to phytoplasma infection, or Fe deficiency, transcriptome profiling was performed on midrib-enriched leaves. RNA-seq analysis revealed that both stress conditions altered the expression of a large (> 800) subset of common genes involved in photosynthetic light reactions, porphyrin / chlorophyll metabolism, and in flowering control. In Fe-deficient plants, phytoplasma infection perturbed the Fe deficiency response in roots, possibly by interference with the synthesis or transport of a promotive signal transmitted from the leaves to the roots.

Conclusions

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ infection changes the Fe distribution in tomato leaves, affects the photosynthetic machinery and perturbs the orchestration of root-mediated transport processes by compromising shoot-to-root communication.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-6062-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Regulation of PDE5 expression in normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) expression in the normal and pathological prostate is controversial.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed at identifying the cell type/s, if any, expressing PDE5 in human healthy or pathological prostate sections in order to further validate the rationale of PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5i) treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their safety in the treatment of erectile dysfunction following prostate cancer (PCa) surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By immunohistochemical analysis, we studied PDE5 expression in tissue microarrays containing sections obtained from healthy, BPH, and PCa samples.

RESULTS

Our results showed that PDE5 is barely expressed in the epithelial or stromal compartment of normal human prostates, but it is highly expressed in the stromal compartment of BPH sections. We also found that a low but significant number of PCa samples (22%) expressed PDE5 in the epithelial cancer cells but not in stromal cells and that such expression was not correlated with the tumor aggressiveness, according to their Gleason score.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

PDE5 overexpression in the stromal compartment of BPH samples supports the rationale of PDE5 as a target in lower urinary tract symptoms of BPH. PDE5 expression in a significant percentage of PCa samples but the lack of correlation with the Gleason score suggests that this enzyme is not correlated with tumor aggressiveness; however, a role of PDE5 in the minimal residual disease of PCa cannot be excluded.

New simplified protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI) in milk-producing donkeys

This study compared the outcome of two new timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols in a milk-producing donkey farm. Ninety Amiata jennies were inseminated at the moment of ovulation induction with hCG, with fresh-transported semen that had been stored at room temperature from 3 up to 6 h, with an approximate average storage time of 4 h and a half. In both protocols, on Day 0 jennies were treated with alfaprostol (PGF2α), and on Day 7 they were checked by ultrasound (US) and, if in estrus, they were treated in order to induce ovulation and were then artificially inseminated. In the slow-short TAI protocol, jennies not already inseminated were treated again with PGF2α at Day 14. On day 21 US was repeated and estrus jennies were induced to ovulate and inseminated. In the fast-long TAI protocol, US was performed once a week in jennies not already inseminated and if found in estrus, they were induced to ovulate and inseminated, while those not in estrus were treated again with PGF2α. This protocol was repeated for up to nine weeks. The rates of inseminated/treated, pregnant/inseminated and pregnant/treated jennies were 76%, 56% and 43% for the slow-short TAI protocol and 94%, 47% and 44% for the fast-long TAI protocol. The age class and the lactation status of the jennies had no significant effect on synchronization success or final pregnancy rate. This study demonstrates that it is possible to achieve reasonable pregnancy rates through simplified TAI protocols in jennies, reducing animal handling to a minimum.

Genome Sequence and Antifungal Activity of Two Niche-Sharing Pseudomonas protegens Related Strains Isolated from Hydroponics

This work reports the comparison of the genome sequence and the ability to inhibit fungal growth of two Pseudomonas protegens related strains that were isolated from the same hydroponic culture of lamb's lettuce. The two strains were very similar in their core genome but one strain, Pf4, contained three gene clusters for the production of secondary metabolites, i.e., pyoluteorin (plt), pyrrolnitrin (prn), and rhizoxin (rzx), that were missing in the other strain, Pf11. The difference between the two strains was not due to simple insertion events, but to a relatively complex differentiation focused on the accessory genomes. In dual culture assays, both strains inhibited nearly all tested fungal strains, yet Pf4 exerted a significantly stronger fungal growth inhibition than Pf11. In addition to the differences in the secondary metabolite production associated genes abundance, the genome of Pf4 was more stable, smaller in size and with a lower number of transposons. The preservation of a dynamic equilibrium within natural populations of different strains comprised in the same species but differing in their secondary metabolite repertoire and in their genome stability may be functional to the adaptation to environmental changes.