Cocoa by-product inclusion in dairy sheep diet: effect on sensory, volatile and antioxidant properties of cheese

The possibility of inclusion of agro-industrial by-products in the diet of small ruminants represents both an economical and an environmental strategy for reducing waste management by industries and the cost of feeding as well as the impact of livestock farming. Large amounts of wastes from the cocoa industry are annually produced with a considerable part represented by cocoa bean shells, considered a suitable ingredient to be included in the diet of ruminants within the limits established by European legislation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of including cocoa bean shells in the diet of dairy sheep on the sensory, volatile, and antioxidant properties of cheese. To this purpose, 20 Comisana lactating ewes were randomly assigned to 2 experimental groups: control (CTRL) and cocoa bean shells (CBS), and received alfalfa hay ad libitum and 800g of conventional (CTRL) or experimental (CBS) concentrate containing 11.7% CBS to partially replace corn and barley of the CTRL concentrate. Bulk milk collected from each group was used to produce a total of 15 cheeses per group, obtained in 5 different days of cheese-making (3 cheeses a day per group). After 60 d of aging, each cheese of each experimental group was sampled for the analyses. The results on chemical composition revealed a greater monounsaturated fatty acids content and an increase in the nutritional indices suggesting a favorable role of cocoa bean shells dietary inclusion on the nutritive value of the cheese. The cheese sensory profile was affected by the cocoa bean shells inclusion, with more pronounced appearance, odor, aroma, and taste attributes in the product. The volatile profile showed only a few significant differences, mainly related to the cheese ripening process, and no differences were found in α-tocopherol contents in cheese fat between the 2 groups. Therefore, the coca bean shells inclusion in the diet of dairy sheep allowed to obtain a good quality cheese, without altering the characteristics associated with the typical profiles of sheep cheese. Furthermore, the use of this by-product could contribute to decrease feed costs and waste management, representing a good practice for increasing the sustainability of dairy products.

Longitudinal assessment of blepharospasm severity in patients with long disease duration

INTRODUCTION

Blepharospasm (BSP) represents one of the most common idiopathic adult-onset dystonia. A few longitudinal observations indicated progression and worsening of BSP severity within 16 years of onset. Information is lacking about the trend of BSP severity in the later stages of the disease.

METHODS

The study comprised 15 women and 3 men that underwent a standardized video protocol at two time points: 14 ± 9 years after BSP onset and 11 ± 2 years later. BSP severity was rated by the Blepharospasm Severity Rating Scale (BSRS). Two independent observers reviewed 36 videos in a pseudo-randomized order, yielding satisfactory agreement.

RESULTS

Mean total severity score was 7.6 ± 3.9 years at baseline, 6.4 ± 2.5 at the last examination (p = 0.14). The last video examination showed a stable BSRS score in 14/18 patients, while the score of 4 patients decreased by two points or more, due to disappearance (n.3) or reduction (n.1) of prolonged spasms with complete rim closure. Over the long term, the BoNT dosage increased in those who improved, but remained stable in the other patients. On follow-up examination, dystonia spread to the lower face or neck in two new patients. No significant correlations emerged between disease duration and BSP severity. The presence of sensory trick significantly correlated with disease duration but not with BSP severity.

DISCUSSION

This study provides novel information on the long-term prognosis in patients with idiopathic BSP, showing that severity of BSP may not worsen in the later stages of the disease.

Effect of cooking temperature on alkaline phosphatase in the production of raw-milk Pecorino cheese

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a native raw-milk enzyme used in many countries as the standard assay for rapidly validating the milk pasteurization process. Due to the increased restrictions on the production or import of cheeses produced from unpasteurized milk, ALP activity (<10 mU/g) in cheese was measured as a simple and reliable method to check proper milk pasteurization in cheese for both safety inspection and trading controls. In Sicily, the artisanal cheesemaking of the Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) semi-hard cheeses made with raw sheep milk, includes the cooking of the curd, after whey separation, in a wooden vat under hot Scotta whey (≥80°C), for 3 to 4 h, and finally is left to cool at ambient temperature. Thus, the temperatures adopted during cheesemaking may inactivate the ALP enzyme. To this purpose, the aim of this study was to demonstrate how different temperatures of Scotta whey (35°C [T35], 60°C [T60], 70°C [T70], 80°C [T80], 90°C [T90], and 100°C [T100]) used during the second cooking of Pecorino cheeses after molding for 3 h, influence the ALP activity in fresh and 3-mo aged cheese, both at core and outside. The results highlight that the rate of reduction of ALP was greater with increasing temperature of the second cooking, in particular for T 80°C curd, indicating that the use of Scotta whey >80°C could be a breakpoint able to reduce the ALP activity to values <10 mU/g. Different effects between the core and the outside portions of the experimental cheeses were found, with a decrease in ALP activity more on the outside than in the core portions, in both fresh and 3-mo aged cheeses, for T80, T90, and T100 treatments. Care must be taken in using ALP to control the use of pasteurized milk in the production of PDO cheeses without considering the cheesemaking processes, such as the second cooking, which could be equal to pasteurization, and an adequate interaction of time and temperature can reduce the ALP activity to values comparable with cheeses produced with pasteurized milk.

Graduate Student Literature Review: History, technologies of production, and characteristics of ricotta cheese

This review focused on the historical, technological, and analytical characteristics of ricotta cheese available in the literature. Ricotta cheese is a typical dairy product that originated from Italy, used in the preparation of several traditional dishes, both sweet and salted. The available studies pertaining to ricotta cheese revealed a considerable biodiversity in the production with a large number of varieties produced, whose production varies according to the local uses and customs. The review shows the main chemical and microbial characteristics of the product and also the several parameters that affect the mechanism of the production process and the final characteristics of the product, including the raw materials, the processing methods, the season, the animals' diet, the animals' species, and breeds. Ricotta production can be artisanal or industrial, with differences in the making process. New trends in ricotta cheese production have been developed, with particular attention to the functional effect on human health and the novel technologies applied to extend the shelf-life of the products. Currently, it is not easy to find these new developments in the market, probably related to the cost of production, which is not always bearable by the farms. However, despite the large classification reported and the great interest by the cheese industry, just a few numbers of studies were found for artisanal ricotta productions, which still need to be characterized and studied.

Divergence Between Clinical Trial Evidence and Actual Practice in Use of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) proved that short-term (21-90 days) dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) reduces the risk of early ischemic recurrences after a noncardioembolic minor stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) without substantially increasing the hemorrhagic risk. We aimed at understanding whether and how real-world use of DAPT differs from RCTs.

METHODS

READAPT (Real-Life Study on Short-Term Dual Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients With Ischemic Stroke or TIA) is a prospective cohort study including >18-year-old patients treated with DAPT after a noncardioembolic minor ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA from 51 Italian centers. The study comprises a 90-day follow-up from symptom onset. In the present work, we reported descriptive statistics of baseline data of patients recruited up to July 31, 2022, and proportions of patients who would have been excluded from RCTs. We compared categorical data through the χ² test.

RESULTS

We evaluated 1070 patients, who had 72 (interquartile range, 62-79) years median age, were mostly Caucasian (1045; 97.7%), and were men (711; 66.4%). Among the 726 (67.9%) patients with ischemic stroke, 226 (31.1%) did not meet the RCT inclusion criteria because of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >3 and 50 (6.9%) because of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >5. Among the 344 (32.1%) patients with TIA, 69 (19.7%) did not meet the RCT criteria because of age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of TIA, presence of diabetes score <4 and 252 (74.7%) because of age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of TIA, presence of diabetes score <6 and no symptomatic arterial stenosis. Additionally, 144 (13.5%) patients would have been excluded because of revascularization procedures. Three hundred forty-five patients (32.2%) did not follow the RCT procedures because of late (>24 hours) DAPT initiation; 776 (72.5%) and 676 (63.2%) patients did not take loading doses of aspirin and clopidogrel, respectively. Overall, 84 (7.8%) patients met the RCT inclusion/exclusion criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The real-world use of DAPT is broader than RCTs. Most patients did not meet the RCT criteria because of the severity of ischemic stroke, lower risk of TIA, late DAPT start, or lack of antiplatelet loading dose.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov; Unique identifier: NCT05476081.

Updated guidelines for gene nomenclature in wheat

Here, we provide an updated set of guidelines for naming genes in wheat that has been endorsed by the wheat research community. The last decade has seen a proliferation in genomic resources for wheat, including reference- and pan-genome assemblies with gene annotations, which provide new opportunities to detect, characterise, and describe genes that influence traits of interest. The expansion of genetic information has supported growth of the wheat research community and catalysed strong interest in the genes that control agronomically important traits, such as yield, pathogen resistance, grain quality, and abiotic stress tolerance. To accommodate these developments, we present an updated set of guidelines for gene nomenclature in wheat. These guidelines can be used to describe loci identified based on morphological or phenotypic features or to name genes based on sequence information, such as similarity to genes characterised in other species or the biochemical properties of the encoded protein. The updated guidelines provide a flexible system that is not overly prescriptive but provides structure and a common framework for naming genes in wheat, which may be extended to related cereal species. We propose these guidelines be used henceforth by the wheat research community to facilitate integration of data from independent studies and allow broader and more efficient use of text and data mining approaches, which will ultimately help further accelerate wheat research and breeding.

Muscle atonia index during multiple sleep latency test: A possible marker to differentiate narcolepsy from other hypersomnias

OBJECTIVE

The complexity and delay of the diagnosis of narcolepsy require several diagnostic tests and invasive procedures such as lumbar puncture. Our study aimed to determine the changes in muscle tone (atonia index, AI) at different levels of vigilance during the entire multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and each nap in people with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and 2 (NT2) compared with other hypersomnias and its potential diagnostic value.

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with NT1 (11 M 18F, mean age 34.9 years, SD 16.8) and sixteen with NT2 (10 M 6F, mean age 39 years, SD 11.8) and 20 controls with other hypersomnias (10 M, 10F mean age 45.1 years, SD 15.1) were recruited. AI was evaluated at different levels of vigilance (Wake and REM sleep) in each nap and throughout the MSLT of each group. The validity of AI in identifying patients with narcolepsy (NT1 and NT2) was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

AI during wakefulness (WAI) was significantly higher in the narcolepsy groups (NT1 and NT2 p < 0.001) compared to the hypersomniac group. AI during REM sleep (RAI) (p = 0.03) and WAI in nap with sudden onsets of REM sleep periods (SOREMP) (p = 0.001) were lower in NT1 than in NT2. The ROC curves showed high AUC values for WAI (NT1 0.88; Best Cut-off > 0.57, Sensitivity 79.3 % Specificity 90 %; NT2 0.89 Best Cut-off > 0.67 Sensitivity 87.5 % Specificity 95 %; NT1 and NT2 0.88 Best Cut-off > 0.57 Sensitivity 82.2 % Specificity 90 %) in discriminating subjects suffering from other hypersomnias. RAI and WAI in nap with SOREMP showed a poor AUC value (RAI AUC: 0.7 Best cutoff 0.7 Sensitivity 50 % Specificity 87.5 %; WAI in nap before SOREMP AUC: 0.66, Best cut-off < 0.82 sensitivity 61.9 % and specificity 67.35 %) differentiating NT1 and NT2.

CONCLUSIONS

WAI may represent an encouraging electrophysiological marker of narcolepsy and suggests a vulnerable tendency to dissociative wake / sleep dysregulation lacking in other forms of hypersomnia.

SIGNIFICANCE

AI during wakefulness may help distinguish between narcolepsy and other hypersomnias.

Comparison of methods to homogenize ricotta cheese samples for total solids determination

Ricotta cheese is an Italian dairy product obtained by heat-coagulation of the proteins in whey, resulting from cheese production. The homogenization method applied to collect ricotta cheese samples could affect the total solids (TS) contents of the products. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 5 different homogenization methods of the samples collection applied for the accuracy in TS determination in ricotta cheese, including un-homogenized method (UNH), un-homogenized combined with the Ultra-Turrax (IKA-Werke GmbH & Co. KG) method (UNH-UTX), spoon-homogenized method (SPN), spoon-homogenized combined with Ultra-Turrax method (SPN-UTX), and Ultra-Turrax homogenized method (UTX). The repeatability and the standard deviation of repeatability are indicators of agreement between repeated measures for TS contents. Results reported that UNH ricotta cheese samples showed large variation in TS content with values ranging from 18.31% to 25.85% and a standard deviation of repeatability higher than 1%; SPN samples showed repeatability values higher than 0.35% and standard deviation of repeatability ranged until 1.36%, suggesting large variability even in this case; the Ultra-Turrax homogenization reported repeatability values lower than 0.1% and standard deviation of repeatability lower than 0.05%, indicating that this method provides repeatable measurements that may reduce the sources of uncertainty in TS determination.

Feeding tannins to dairy cows in different seasons improves the oxidative status of blood plasma and the antioxidant capacity of cheese

The aim of the present study was to assess the dietary supplementation of tannins to grazing dairy cows in 2 seasons characterized by a good quality pasture (spring) or a poor-quality pasture (summer). The effects of dietary tannins were assessed on plasma antioxidant status and cytokines profile and on the antioxidant properties of cheese and cheese in vitro digestates. Fourteen lactating dairy cows were divided into 2 homogeneous groups (n = 7): a control group (CON), and an experimental group (TAN) receiving 150 g/head per day of tannins supplementation. The experiment was performed twice, in spring and in summer. The animals were free to graze on spontaneous pasture (spring) or on dry stubble (summer). Blood was sampled at the beginning (d 0), at the midpoint (d 11), and at the end (d 22) of the trial. Individual cheese was produced before the beginning (d -1) and at the end (d 22) of the trial from the milk collected from each cow. On blood plasma, the reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), nonesterified fatty acids quantification, and cytokines profile in terms of IL-10, IL-8, IL-1β, and IFN-γ were determined. Data on ROM demonstrated that tannins supplementation lowered oxidative stress both in spring and in summer. Accordingly, TAN diet increased BAP levels compared with the CON during summer trial. Thus, feeding tannins resulted in lower ratio between ROM and BAP (oxidative stress index) in both spring and summer. Cytokines' profile showed lower IL-1β values in TAN group at d 22 during spring season, with a concomitant higher IL-10 level, during summer season. Moreover, TAN group had a lower level of IFN-γ in plasma than CON group, both in spring and in summer. On cheese samples, the in vitro digestion was performed and on cheese and cheese digestates (gastric and intestinal digestate) the free radical scavenging antioxidant activity was evaluated. The intestinal digestate fraction registered the highest antioxidant activity compared with cheese and gastric digestate, in both spring and summer seasons. Furthermore, an improvement of the antioxidant property of cheese and cheese digestates was found. Present data demonstrated that tannins supplementation contributed to reduce the oxidative stress of lactating dairy cows and showed an increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines ratio.

A Rare Case of COVID-19 Induced Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adult (MIS-A) Requiring Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO)

Introduction

MIS-A is a rare COVID-19 induced condition defined by fever, new-onset severe cardiac illness, rash, encephalopathy, and elevated inflammatory markers in the setting of positive serum COVID-19 antibodies. This inflammatory cascade can cause significant biventricular dysfunction and subsequent cardiogenic shock. Patients with MIS-A can require temporary cardiac support including VA-ECMO. We present a case of a patient requiring VA-ECMO secondary to MIS-A induced heart failure and cardiogenic shock, with eventual myocardial recovery.

Case Report

30-year-old male with type two diabetes was admitted with acute hypoxic respiratory failure, multiorgan failure, acute systolic biventricular heart failure, and COVID-19 infection four weeks prior. He was intubated and placed on vasopressors, antibiotics, and steroids for concerns for combined cardiogenic and septic shock. TTE noted global hypokinesis and 10-15% EF. EKG was sinus rhythm. He had mildly elevated troponins. Inflammatory markers including D-dimer, fibrinogen, and IL-6 were highly elevated. Despite antibiotics and supportive measures, the patient developed worsening hypoxia and hypotension. IVIG was also initiated, with deferral of plasmapheresis. At this time, MIS-A was suspected. The patient was approved for VA-ECMO as a means for bridging to cardiac recovery. He required VA-ECMO for four days, with ability to decannulate, extubate, and wean off vasopressors. COVID-19 antibody testing was positive. Infectious workup was negative, with the patient transitioned off antibiotics and steroid regimen after completing treatment course. Inflammatory markers improved. Repeat TTE noted 44% EF with improved biventricular function. Cardiac MRI one day later, noted 61% EF without evidence of scar, myocarditis, or perimyocarditis. He was discharged home after a total of 8 days of treatment with follow-ups scheduled.

Summary

This case highlights a severe presentation of MIS-A and showcases the benefit of VA-ECMO as a bridge to myocardial recovery. VA-ECMO has been shown to improve in-hospital survival and serve as a mechanism for cardiac recovery in acutely ill patients. Long-term cardiac effects and recovery rates post COVID-19 induced MIS-A remain unknown.

Observational study on the efficiency of Neonatal Emergency Transport in reducing mortality and morbidity indexes in Sicily

In these last 25 years, the Neonatal Emergency Transport (NET) service has been widely improved in Italy. To date, all National areas are covered by a NET service; 53 NET centers have been activated in all the Italian territory. Herein, the authors present an observational study to evaluate the rate of infantile mortality after introduction of NET in Sicily, and to study the efficiency of this service in reducing these rates of mortality in vulnerable neonates, transported from primary care birth centers to tertiary facilities to undergo to specialized NICU assistance. All neonates who required an emergency transport by NETS were included. No exclusions criteria were applied. Demographic and regional infantile mortality data, expressed as infant mortality rate, were selected by the official government database (ISTAT- National Statistic Institute- http://www.istat.it ). All data were respectively divided into three groups: data concerning transport, clinical condition, and mortality of the transported patients. We transported by NET 325 neonates. The analysis of the infant mortality rate (per 1.000 live births) in Catania from 2016 to 2018 was reduced compared to the same rate calculated before NETS activation (4.41 index before 2016 vs 4.17 index after 2016). These data showed an increase in other provinces (Enna, Caltanissetta, and Agrigento). 61% of neonates showed a respiratory disease. During the study period the proportion of neonates with a Mortality Index for Neonatal Transportation-MINT < 6 has been reduced, while there was an increase of neonates with higher Transport Risk Index of Physiologic Stability-TRIPS score results. The slight decrease of infantile mortality in Catania during the first three years after introduction of NET follows the same trend of all Italian territories, showing the importance of this service in reducing infantile mortality.

Cheese quality from cows given a tannin extract in 2 different grazing seasons

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of dietary tannins on cow cheese quality in 2 different grazing seasons in the Mediterranean. Two experiments were performed on 14 dairy cows reared in an extensive system. The first experiment took place in the wet season (WS), and the second experiment took place in the dry season (DS). In the WS and DS experiments, cows freely grazed green pasture or dry stubbles, respectively, and the diet was supplemented with pelleted concentrate and hay. In both experiments, the cows were divided into 2 balanced groups: a control group and a group (TAN) receiving 150 g of tannin extract/head per day. After 23 d of dietary treatment, individual milk was collected, processed into individual cheeses, and aged 25 d. Milk was analyzed for chemical composition, color parameters, and cheesemaking aptitude (laboratory cheese yield and milk coagulation properties). Cheese was analyzed for chemical composition, proteolysis, color parameters, rheological parameters, fatty acid profile, and odor-active volatile compounds. Data from the WS and DS experiments were statistically analyzed separately with an analysis of covariance model. In the WS experiment, dietary tannin supplementation had no effect on milk and cheese parameters except for a reduced concentration of 2-heptanone in cheese. In the DS experiment, TAN milk showed lower urea N, and TAN cheese had lower C18:1 trans-10 concentration and n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio compared with the control group. These differences are likely due to the effect of tannins on rumen N metabolism and fatty acid biohydrogenation. Dietary tannins may differently affect the quality of cheese from Mediterranean grazing cows according to the grazing season. Indeed, tannin bioactivity on rumen metabolism seems to be enhanced during the dry season, when diet is low in protein and rich in acid detergent fiber and lignin. The supplementation dose used in this study (1% of estimated dry matter intake) had no detrimental effects on cheese yield or cheesemaking parameters. Also, it is unlikely that sensorial characteristics would be affected by this kind of dietary tannin supplementation.

Inclusion of cocoa by-product in the diet of dairy sheep: Effect on the fatty acid profile of ruminal content and on the composition of milk and cheese

In this study, we hypothesized that dietary cocoa bean shell (CBS) as a partial replacer of human edible cereal grains in the diet of lactating ewes may affect performance and milk and cheese composition. Twenty Comisana lactating ewes allotted into control (CTRL; n = 10) or cocoa (CBS; n = 10) group received alfalfa hay ad libitum and 800 g of conventional (CTRL) or experimental (CBS) concentrate containing 11.7% CBS to partially replace corn and barley of the CTRL concentrate. Milk yield and composition did not differ between groups, and only urea concentration was lower in CBS milk. Dietary CBS increased cheese fat and reduced protein percentage in CBS group. Fatty acid composition of rumen content partially reflected that of the ingested diet, with total saturated fatty acids (SFA), total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1c9 greater in the CBS group. Moreover, all the identified trans- and cis-18:1 isomers were greater in CBS rumen content. Milk and cheese showed a similar fatty acid composition. Total MUFAs were greater in milk and cheese of CBS, mainly due to the proportion of 18:1c9, and conversely, total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFAn-6 and PUFAn-6-to-PUFAn-3 ratio was greater in CTRL group. Concluding, the inclusion of CBS in the diet of lactating ewes within the limit imposed by the current legislation did not cause detrimental effects on animal performance and milk composition. Interestingly, dietary CBS reduced milk urea concentration probably due to the phenols contained in CBS concentrate. However, our results support that biohydrogenation was weakly impaired by dietary CBS. Finally, CBS negatively affected cheese nutritional characteristics due to lower protein and greater fat content, but improved fat health indexes in milk and cheese.

PCDH19-Related Epilepsies

Protocadherin-19 (PCDH19) is considered one of the most relevant genes related to epilepsy. To date, more than 150 mutations have been identified as causative for PCDH19-female epilepsy (also known as early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-9, EIEE9), which is characterized by early onset epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral disturbances. More recently, mosaic-males (i.e., exhibiting the variants in less than 25% of their cells) have been described as affected by infant-onset epilepsy associated with intellectual disability, as well as compulsive or aggressive behavior and autistic features. Although little is known about the physiological role of PCDH19 protein and the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to EIEE9, many reports and clinical observation seem to suggest a relevant role of this protein in the development of cellular hyperexcitability. However, a genotype–phenotype correlation is difficult to establish. The main feature of EIEE9 consists in early onset of seizures, which generally occur in clusters lasting 1 to 5 minutes and repeating up to 10 times a day for several days. Seizures tend to present during febrile episodes, similarly to the first phases of Dravet syndrome and PCDH19 variants have been found in ∼25% of females who present with features of Dravet syndrome and testing negative for SCN1A variants. There is no “standardized” treatment for PCDH19-related epilepsy and most of the patients receiving a combination of several drugs. In this review, we focus on the latest researches on these aspects, with regard to protein expression, its known functions, and the mechanisms by which the protein acts. The clinical phenotypes related to PCDH19 mutations are also discussed.

Calcium Channels Genes and Their Epilepsy Phenotypes

Calcium (Ca2+) channel gene mutations play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurological episodic disorders like epilepsy. CACNA1A and CACNA1H genes are involved in the synthesis of calcium channels. Mutations in the α1A subunit of the P/Q type voltage-gated calcium channel gene (CACNA1A) located in 19p13.13, which encodes for the transmembrane pore-forming subunit of CAV2.1 voltage-dependent calcium channel, have been correlated to a large clinical spectrum of epilepsy such as idiopathic genetic epilepsy, early infantile epilepsy, and febrile seizures. Moreover, CACNA1A mutations have been demonstrated to be involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, familiar hemiplegic migraine, episodic ataxia type 2, early-onset encephalopathy, and hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia epilepsy syndrome. This wide phenotype heterogeneity associated with CACNA1A mutations is correlated to different clinical and electrophysiological manifestations. CACNA1H gene, located in 16p13.3, encodes the α1H subunit of T-type calcium channel, expressing the transmembrane pore-forming subunit Cav3.2. Despite data still remain controversial, it has been identified as an important gene whose mutations seem strictly related to the pathogenesis of childhood absence epilepsy and other generalized epilepsies. The studied variants are mainly gain-of-function, hence responsible for an increase in neuronal susceptibility to seizures. CACNA1H mutations have also been associated with autism spectrum disorder and other behavior disorders. More recently, also amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been related to CACNA1H alterations. The aim of this review, other than describe the CACNA1A and CACNA1H gene functions, is to identify mutations reported in literature and to analyze their possible correlations with specific epileptic disorders, purposing to guide an appropriate medical treatment recommendation.

Treating the symptom or treating the disease in neonatal seizures: a systematic review of the literature

Aim

The existing treatment options for neonatal seizures have expanded over the last few decades, but no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal therapeutic protocols. We systematically reviewed the available literature examining neonatal seizure treatments to clarify which drugs are the most effective for the treatment of specific neurologic disorders in newborns.

Method

We reviewed all available, published, literature, identified using PubMed (published between August 1949 and November 2020), that focused on the pharmacological treatment of electroencephalogram (EEG)-confirmed neonatal seizures.

Results

Our search identified 427 articles, of which 67 were included in this review. Current knowledge allowed us to highlight the good clinical and electrographic responses of genetic early-onset epilepsies to sodium channel blockers and the overall good response to levetiracetam, whose administration has also been demonstrated to be safe in both full-term and preterm newborns.

Interpretation

Our work contributes by confirming the limited availability of evidence that can be used to guide the use of anticonvulsants to treat newborns in clinical practice and examining the efficacy and potentially harmful side effects of currently available drugs when used to treat the developing newborn brain; therefore, our work might also serve as a clinical reference for future studies.

A high-quality genome of Eragrostis curvula grass provides insights into Poaceae evolution and supports new strategies to enhance forage quality

The Poaceae constitute a taxon of flowering plants (grasses) that cover almost all Earth’s inhabitable range and comprises some of the genera most commonly used for human and animal nutrition. Many of these crops have been sequenced, like rice, Brachypodium, maize and, more recently, wheat. Some important members are still considered orphan crops, lacking a sequenced genome, but having important traits that make them attractive for sequencing. Among these traits is apomixis, clonal reproduction by seeds, present in some members of the Poaceae like Eragrostis curvula. A de novo, high-quality genome assembly and annotation for E. curvula have been obtained by sequencing 602 Mb of a diploid genotype using a strategy that combined long-read length sequencing with chromosome conformation capture. The scaffold N50 for this assembly was 43.41 Mb and the annotation yielded 56,469 genes. The availability of this genome assembly has allowed us to identify regions associated with forage quality and to develop strategies to sequence and assemble the complex tetraploid genotypes which harbor the apomixis control region(s). Understanding and subsequently manipulating the genetic drivers underlying apomixis could revolutionize agriculture.

Effect of Sicilian pasture feeding management on content of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in cow milk

This study was performed to evaluate α-tocopherol and β-carotene contents of pasture milk under ordinary Sicilian farming conditions. Fourteen dairy farms were allocated into 2 balanced groups on the basis of cultivated (CULT) or spontaneous (SPO) pasture type feeding. Bulk milk per farm was collected 4 times from February through April at 3-wk intervals. Pasture botanical and diet composition, diet nutritional quality, milk yield and composition were estimated each time. Pasture intake levels were calculated based on feed analyses, hay and concentrate amounts fed, and milk yield and chemical composition. According to pasture intake, the farms were split into low pasture intake (LPI; <29.5% of dry matter) and high pasture intake (HPI; >29.5% of dry matter) groups. Milk samples per farm were analyzed for α-tocopherol and β-carotene contents by HPLC. The SPO group had higher levels of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in milk (0.7 and 0.3 mg/L, respectively) and milk fat (19.0 and 7.5 mg/kg fat, respectively) compared with the CULT group in milk (0.5 and 0.2 mg/L, respectively) and milk fat (14.6 and 4.9 mg/kg, respectively). High pasture intake compared with LPI increased α-tocopherol in milk fat (18.0 and 16.0 mg/kg of fat, respectively). However, only in the SPO (not in CULT), HPI compared with LPI increased milk α-tocopherol (0.8 vs. 0.6 mg/L, respectively), milk β-carotene (0.3 vs. 0.2 mg/L, respectively), and milk fat β-carotene (8.4 vs. 6.6 mg/kg, respectively). Results may be related to the different botanical composition of the respective pasture types and pasture intake. Spontaneous pasture compared with CULT contained a higher mass proportion of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Cruciferae, Euphorbiaceae, and Malvaceae plants. Milk and milk fat α-tocopherol levels were higher on test-days (TD)-1, TD-2, and TD-4 compared with TD-3. For HPI farms, milk fat β-carotene content was higher on the first 2 TD compared with the last 2 TD. These differences could be related to plant biological stage. On Sicilian dairy farms, the highest milk α-tocopherol and β-carotene contents may be obtained feeding high levels of SPO pasture in the spring.

Association of total-mixed-ration chemical composition with milk, fat, and protein yield lactation curves at the individual level

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the chemical composition of a total mixed ration (TMR) tested quarterly from March 2006 through December 2008 for milk, fat, and protein yield curves for 27 herds in Ragusa, Sicily. Before this study, standard yield curves were generated on data from 241,153 test-day records of 9,809 animals from 42 herds in Ragusa province collected from 1995 to 2008. A random regression sire-maternal grandsire model was used to develop variance components for yields. The model included parity, age at calving, year at calving, and stage of pregnancy as fixed effects. Random effects were herd × test date, sire and maternal grandsire additive genetic effect, and permanent environmental effect modeled using third-order Legendre polynomials. Model fitting was carried out using ASReml. Subsequently, the model with estimated variance components was used to examine the influence of TMR crude protein, soluble N, acid detergent lignin, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, starch, and ash on milk, fat, and protein yield curves. The data set contained 46,531 test-day milk yield records from 3,554 cows in the 27 herds recorded during the study period. Initially, an analysis was performed using one dietary component (one-component analysis) within each model as a fixed effect associated with the test-day record closest to the months the TMR was sampled within each herd. An interaction was included with the nutrient component and days in milk. The effect of the TMR chemical component(s) was modeled using a ninth-order Legendre polynomial. The conditional Wald F-statistic for the fixed effects revealed significant effects for acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, starch, and their interactions with days in milk on milk, fat, and protein yield. On the basis of these results, a multicomponent analysis was performed in which crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and starch were simultaneously included in the model with days in milk interactions. Although both analyses revealed that diet composition influenced production responses depending on lactation stage, the multiple-component analysis showed more pronounced effects of starch and neutral detergent fiber relative to crude protein for all traits throughout lactation.

Objective estimation of body condition score by modeling cow body shape from digital images

Body condition score (BCS) is considered an important tool for management of dairy cattle. The feasibility of estimating the BCS from digital images has been demonstrated in recent work. Regression machines have been successfully employed for automatic BCS estimation, taking into account information of the overall shape or information extracted on anatomical points of the shape. Despite the progress in this research area, such studies have not addressed the problem of modeling the shape of cows to build a robust descriptor for automatic BCS estimation. Moreover, a benchmark data set of images meant as a point of reference for quantitative evaluation and comparison of different automatic estimation methods for BCS is lacking. The main objective of this study was to develop a technique that was able to describe the body shape of cows in a reconstructive way. Images, used to build a benchmark data set for developing an automatic system for BCS, were taken using a camera placed above an exit gate from the milking robot. The camera was positioned at 3 m from the ground and in such a position to capture images of the rear, dorsal pelvic, and loin area of cows. The BCS of each cow was estimated on site by 2 technicians and associated to the cow images. The benchmark data set contained 286 images with associated BCS, anatomical points, and shapes. It was used for quantitative evaluation. A set of example cow body shapes was created. Linear and polynomial kernel principal component analysis was used to reconstruct shapes of cows using a linear combination of basic shapes constructed from the example database. In this manner, a cow's body shape was described by considering her variability from the average shape. The method produced a compact description of the shape to be used for automatic estimation of BCS. Model validation showed that the polynomial model proposed in this study performs better (error=0.31) than other state-of-the-art methods in estimating BCS even at the extreme values of BCS scale.

Ensembl 2008

The Ensembl project (http://www.ensembl.org) is a comprehensive genome information system featuring an integrated set of genome annotation, databases and other information for chordate and selected model organism and disease vector genomes. As of release 47 (October 2007), Ensembl fully supports 35 species, with preliminary support for six additional species. New species in the past year include platypus and horse. Major additions and improvements to Ensembl since our previous report include extensive support for functional genomics data in the form of a specialized functional genomics database, genome-wide maps of protein–DNA interactions and the Ensembl regulatory build; support for customization of the Ensembl web interface through the addition of user accounts and user groups; and increased support for genome resequencing. We have also introduced new comparative genomics-based data mining options and report on the continued development of our software infrastructure.

Ensembl 2007

The Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org/) project provides a comprehensive and integrated source of annotation of chordate genome sequences. Over the past year the number of genomes available from Ensembl has increased from 15 to 33, with the addition of sites for the mammalian genomes of elephant, rabbit, armadillo, tenrec, platypus, pig, cat, bush baby, common shrew, microbat and european hedgehog; the fish genomes of stickleback and medaka and the second example of the genomes of the sea squirt (Ciona savignyi) and the mosquito (Aedes aegypti). Some of the major features added during the year include the first complete gene sets for genomes with low-sequence coverage, the introduction of new strain variation data and the introduction of new orthology/paralog annotations based on gene trees.

Interaction of Brine Concentration, Brine Temperature, and Presalting on Salt Penetration in Ragusano Cheese

Thirty-one 3.6-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese were made on each of 6 different days (in different weeks) starting with a different batch of milk on each day. On d 1, 3, and 5, the cheeses were not presalted and on d 2, 4, and 6, all cheeses were presalted (PS). One of the 31 blocks of cheese was selected at random for analysis before brine salting (i.e., on d 0). The remaining 30 blocks were randomly divided into 2 groups of 15 blocks each; one group was placed in 18% brine (18%B) and the other group was placed in saturated brine (SB). For the 15 blocks within each of the 2 brine concentrations (BC), 5 blocks were placed in a brine tank at 12 degrees C, 5 at 15 degrees C, and 5 at 18 degrees C, and submerged for 24 d. The research objective was to determine the combined impacts (i.e., interactions) of PS the curd before stretching, BC (SB vs. 18%B), and brine temperature (BT; 12, 15, and 18 degrees C) on salt uptake, moisture content, and yield of Ragusano cheese. Although BC, BT, and PS each had their own separate impacts on salt uptake, there was little interaction of these effects on salt uptake when they were used in combination. The PS most quickly delivered salt to the interior of the cheese and was the most effective approach to salting for controlling early gas formation. There were strong separate impacts of BC, BT, and PS on cheese moisture content, moisture loss, and net weight loss, with BC having the largest separate impact on these parameters. Reducing BT reduced salt content and increased moisture, but the effects were small. The more important effect of reduced BT was to reduce growth of gas forming bacteria. The 18%B produced higher moisture, and less moisture and weight loss than SB. The effect of interactions of BC, BT, and PS on moisture loss and net weight loss were small. To achieve the maximum benefit from the various approaches to salting for controlling early gas formation in Ragusano cheese, PS combined with slightly lower BT (i.e., 15 degrees C instead of 18 degrees C) should be used. Although using 18%B instead of SB did increase salt uptake, the point at which improved salt uptake occurred due to use of 18%B did not provide benefit in prevention of early gas formation, as reported separately. However, use of 18%B instead of SB provided a 9.98% increase in cheese yield due to reduced moisture loss during brining; this would be very attractive to cheese makers. The increase in yield needs to be balanced against the risk of growth of undesirable bacteria in the 18%B and the creation of another cheese quality defect.

Ensembl 2006

The Ensembl () project provides a comprehensive and integrated source of annotation of large genome sequences. Over the last year the number of genomes available from the Ensembl site has increased from 4 to 19, with the addition of the mammalian genomes of Rhesus macaque and Opossum, the chordate genome of Ciona intestinalis and the import and integration of the yeast genome. The year has also seen extensive improvements to both data analysis and presentation, with the introduction of a redesigned website, the addition of RNA gene and regulatory annotation and substantial improvements to the integration of human genome variation data.

Ensembl 2005

The Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org/) project provides a comprehensive and integrated source of annotation of large genome sequences. Over the last year the number of genomes available from the Ensembl site has increased by 7 to 16, with the addition of the six vertebrate genomes of chimpanzee, dog, cow, chicken, tetraodon and frog and the insect genome of honeybee. The majority have been annotated automatically using the Ensembl gene build system, showing its flexibility to reliably annotate a wide variety of genomes. With the increased number of vertebrate genomes, the comparative analysis provided to users has been greatly improved, with new website interfaces allowing annotation of different genomes to be directly compared. The Ensembl software system is being increasingly widely reused in different projects showing the benefits of a completely open approach to software development and distribution.

Influence of Brine Concentration, Brine Temperature, and Presalting on Early Gas Defects in Raw Milk Pasta Filata Cheese

Thirty-one 3.8-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese were made on each of 6 d starting with a different batch of raw milk on each day. On d 1, 3, and 5, cheeses were not presalted and on d 2, 4, and 6, all cheeses were presalted. Before brine salting, one of the 31 blocks of cheese was selected at random for analysis (i.e., at d 0). The remaining 30 blocks were randomly divided into 2 batches of 15 blocks each, one group was placed in 18% brine, and the other group was placed in saturated brine. For the 15 blocks within each of the 2 brine concentrations, 5 blocks each were placed in brine tanks at 12, 15, and 18 degrees C. Cheese blocks were sampled immediately before brine salting (d 0) and after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brine salting. Presalting the curd with 2% added salt before stretching reduced the coliform count in the cheese by 1.41 log and resulted in a major reduction in early gas formation. Across all treatments in the present study, the average reduction in gas formation due to presalting was 75%. Reducing brine temperature had the second largest impact on reducing gas production, but did not reduce the coliform count in the cheese. Reducing brine temperature from 18 to 12 degrees C made a larger reduction in early gas formation in cheeses that were not presalted (from 6.8 to 1.8% gas holes, respectively) than in cheeses that were presalted (from 1.9 to 0.5% gas holes, respectively). To achieve the same absolute level of gas production in the nonpre-salted cheese as was achieved in presalted cheese in combination with 18 degrees C brine, the brine temperature for the nonpresalted cheese had to be lowered from 18 to 12 degrees C. Reducing brine concentration, although effective at increasing the rate of salt penetration into the block, did not have any impact on coliform count and had minimal impact on reducing gas production. The condition where reducing brine concentration was able to make a reduction in gas production was for cheeses that were not presalted and brined at 18 degrees C. Presalting is a very simple and practical approach to reducing the problem of early gas formation in combination with strategies to improve milk quality and cheese making conditions. Further work is needed to understand the impact of different levels of presalting on death of coliforms and gas production in the cheese.

Measurement of gas holes and mechanical openness in cheese by image analysis

A method to measure the amount of the surface area of cheese slices occupied by gas holes was developed to reflect the relative gas production among different cheeses. A digital camera mounted on a copy stand with lighting was used to make digital images of each slice of cheese. A commercial digital image analysis software program was used and an algorithm was written to measure the area of the image of the cheese slice occupied by holes. The image was cropped and scanned to determine which color channel produced the best image contrast. The MATLAB program allowed the user to eliminate mechanical openness or false holes and then to scan the image to produce a percent distribution of pixels in the image as a function of pixel intensity. The user then determined a threshold value to differentiate pixels that were in holes from those representing areas with no holes. The percentage of the total surface area occupied by holes was calculated. The coefficient of variation of the method ranged from 2.43% with gas holes of about 1% of the surface of the cheese slice to a coefficient of variation of 0.92% with gas holes of about 6.8% of the surface area of the cheese slice. Examples of applications of this method are given for Emmental, Ragusano, and Cheddar cheeses. The method can be used as a tool in research studies to correlate the amount of gas production with manufacturing conditions or as a quality control tool in cheese manufacturing.

Ensembl 2004

The Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org/) database project provides a bioinformatics framework to organize biology around the sequences of large genomes. It is a comprehensive and integrated source of annotation of large genome sequences, available via interactive website, web services or flat files. As well as being one of the leading sources of genome annotation, Ensembl is an open source software engineering project to develop a portable system able to handle very large genomes and associated requirements. The facilities of the system range from sequence analysis to data storage and visualization and installations exist around the world both in companies and at academic sites. With a total of nine genome sequences available from Ensembl and more genomes to follow, recent developments have focused mainly on closer integration between genomes and external data.