Genomic epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi reveals putative genetic drivers of adaptation in Malaysia.

Sabah, Malaysia, has amongst the highest burden of human Plasmodium knowlesi infection in the world, associated with increasing encroachment on the parasite's macaque host habitat. However, the genomic make-up of P. knowlesi in Sabah was previously poorly understood.

Hemp Hay ( L.) in Grazing Goats' Diet: Effects on Oxidative and Inflammatory Status.

Hemp ( L.) is a versatile and multipurpose crop with a wide range of industrial, commercial, environmental and medicinal applications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hemp hay on the oxidative and inflammatory status of grazing goats.

Deficits in reaching movements under visual interference as a novel diagnostic marker for mild cognitive impairment.

Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) may exhibit poorer performance in visuomotor tasks than healthy individuals, particularly under conditions with high cognitive load. Few studies have examined reaching movements in MCI and did so without assessing susceptibility to distractor interference. This proof-of-concept study analyzed the kinematics of visually guided reaching movements towards a target dot placed along the participants' midsagittal/reaching axis.

The IL-23R and Its Genetic Variants: A Hitherto Unforeseen Bridge Between the Immune System and Cancer Development.

IL-23R (interleukin-23 receptor), found on the surface of several immune cells, plays a key role in the immune system. Indeed, this process is not limited to the inflammatory response but also plays a role in the adaptive immune response. The binding between IL-23R and its specific ligand, the interleukin 23, initiates a number of specific signals by modulating both properties and behavior of immune cells.

Poly(Acrylic Acid)/TiO Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Paper Artwork Cleaning and Protection.

Paper-based artworks are prone to natural aging processes driven by chemical and biological processes. Numerous treatments have been developed to mitigate deterioration and prevent irreversible damage. In this study, we investigated the use of poly(acrylic acid)/TiO composite hydrogels, combining their cleaning and protective functions in a minimally invasive treatment.

Effects of a Cannabinoid-Based Phytocomplex (Pain Relief) on Chronic Pain in Osteoarthritic Dogs.

Twenty-one adult crossbreed dogs with chronic pain due to severe osteoarthrosis were enrolled in the study (placebo vs. treatment groups). The dogs in the experimental group received the dietary supplement (Pain Relief, Giantec, Isernia, Italy) for 30 days to evaluate its effects on metabolism and pain relief.

Cannabidiol can affect morphology, morphometry, enzymatic and microbial activity of rabbit digestive system.

The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of the continuative dietary administration of a hemp oil extract containing cannabinoids (cannabidiol, CBD) on the macroscopic morphology, morphometry, and enzymatic activity of different intestinal tracts as well as on the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum of growing rabbits. The research was performed on 16 rabbits randomly selected from 2 experimental groups (8 per group). In detail, 42 sixty-day-old New Zealand White × California rabbits (sex ratio 1:1, average weight 1621.

Germline Variant Spectrum in Southern Italian High-Risk Hereditary Breast Cancer Patients: Insights from Multi-Gene Panel Testing.

Hereditary breast cancer accounts for 5-10% of all cases, with pathogenic variants in and other susceptibility genes playing a crucial role. This study elucidates the prevalence and spectrum of germline variants in 13 cancer predisposition genes among high-risk hereditary breast cancer patients from Southern Italy. We employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze 254 individuals selected through genetic counseling.

Monitoring emergency and urgent surgery: an improvement in a Healthcare Management Unit at a third-level hospital in Italy.

Introduction: At San Martino IRCCS Hospital in Genoa, Italy, emergency and urgent surgery is classified according to the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) classification, whereby cases are divided into two categories and colour-coded accordingly: - EMERGENCY - (Colour-code: RED) "Surgery to be performed within minutes"; - URGENCY - (colour-code: YELLOW) "Surgery to be performed within hours". In this context, it is essential that the emergency surgical team gets clear and complete information from the proposing surgeon, in order to complete the surgical list.

Methods: Between 14 April 2023 and 23 July 2023, a new method of requesting urgent and emergency surgery by filling out an online form was tested.

Environmental Surveillance of . in an Italian University Hospital: results of 7 years of analysis.

Introduction: Nosocomial structures pose a high risk of . contamination due to complex water systems with challenging disinfection; moreover, the risk of severe legionellosis as a consequence of nosocomial exposure is very high in settings characterized by vulnerable patient conditions.

Methods: In the present work, we described the results of 7 years of environmental surveillance in a reference hospital in Liguria, in which a specific water safety plan (WSP) has been implemented in 2017, including data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A New Ex Vivo Model Based on Mouse Retinal Explants for the Study of Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis is the most prevalent clinical manifestation of infection, which causes irreversible retinal damage. Different experimental models have been developed to study this pathology. In the present study, a new, ex vivo model is proposed to contribute to the elucidation of disease mechanisms and to possible therapeutic solutions.

The Effects of Hemp Hay ( L.) in the Diets of Grazing Goats on Milk Production and Fatty Acid Profile.

Hemp ( L.) is a cosmopolitan annual herbaceous plant used in the past as a source of textile fiber. Currently, hemp is receiving great interest as animal feed due to its chemical and nutritional properties.

Agonism of β3-Adrenoceptors Inhibits Pathological Retinal Angiogenesis in the Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy.

Purpose: In response to hypoxia, sympathetic fibers to the retina activate β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs) that play an important role in the regulation of vascular and neuronal functions. We investigated the role of β3-AR using the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).

Methods: Mouse pups were exposed to 75% oxygen at postnatal day 7 (PD7) followed by a return to room air at PD12.

Lineage-informative microhaplotypes for recurrence classification and spatio-temporal surveillance of Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites.

Challenges in classifying recurrent Plasmodium vivax infections constrain surveillance of antimalarial efficacy and transmission. Recurrent infections may arise from activation of dormant liver stages (relapse), blood-stage treatment failure (recrudescence) or reinfection. Molecular inference of familial relatedness (identity-by-descent or IBD) can help resolve the probable origin of recurrences.

Survey of antimicrobial and probiotic use practices in wildlife rehabilitation in the United States.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern. As such, there have been increased efforts to monitor and standardize antimicrobial prescribing practices in humans and domestic animals. In contrast, there is relatively little known about specific prescribing practices in wild animals despite the wide use of antimicrobials and other microbial interventions, such as probiotics to treat captive wildlife.

Influence of a Solid Surface on PNIPAM Microgel Films.

Stimuli-responsive microgels have attracted great interest in recent years as building blocks for fabricating smart surfaces with many technological applications. In particular, PNIPAM microgels are promising candidates for creating thermo-responsive scaffolds to control cell growth and detachment via temperature stimuli. In this framework, understanding the influence of the solid substrate is critical for tailoring microgel coatings to specific applications.

Thyroid Hormone Signaling in Retinal Development and Function: Implications for Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Thyroid Hormones (THs) play a central role in the development, cell growth, differentiation, and metabolic homeostasis of neurosensory systems, including the retina. The coordinated activity of various components of TH signaling, such as TH receptors (THRs) and the TH processing enzymes deiodinases 2 and 3 (DIO2, DIO3), is required for proper retinal maturation and function of the adult photoreceptors, Müller glial cells, and pigmented epithelial cells. Alterations of TH homeostasis, as observed both in frank or subclinical thyroid disorders, have been associated with sight-threatening diseases leading to irreversible vision loss i.

Retinal Vascular Abnormalities and Clinical Parameters in Systemic Sclerosis.

: Systemic sclerosis is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, fibrosis, and immune dysregulation. Ocular manifestations in these patients are increasingly recognized, suggesting potential correlations between systemic vascular abnormalities and ocular microvascular changes. Advancements in molecular immunology and imaging technology using ocular coherence tomography (OCT) have unveiled intricate pathways underlying possible disease pathogenesis.

Effect of L-Methylfolate Supplementation on Sleep for Patients with Reduced Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Activity.

Introduction: Clinicians have limited options outside controlled substances to address sleep disturbance, which left untreated can negatively affect patient outcomes in cardiovascular health, mental health, immunologic function, and more. For some, genetic factors may influence sleep disturbances. L-methylfolate, the active form of folate, plays a critical role in regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters known to have significant impact on sleep regulation: dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine.

Investigating the genetic basis of salt-tolerance in common bean: a genome-wide association study at the early vegetative stage.

Salinity poses a significant challenge to global crop productivity, affecting approximately 20% of cultivated and 33% of irrigated farmland, and this issue is on the rise. Negative impact of salinity on plant development and metabolism leads to physiological and morphological alterations mainly due to high ion concentration in tissues and the reduced water and nutrients uptake. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Efficacy and Safety of Artificial Tears Containing Lipidure and Hypromellose for the Treatment of Moderate Dry Eye Disease in Contact Lens Wearers.

: Dry eye disease (DED) affects 5-50% of the global population and deeply influences everyday life activities. This study compared the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of novel Respilac artificial tears containing lipidure and hypromellose (HPMC) with the widely used Nextal artificial tears, which are also HPMC-based, for the treatment of moderate DED in contact lenses (CL) wearers. : In a prospective, single-center, randomized investigation, 30 patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with moderate DED, and wearing CL were randomly assigned to the Respilac ( = 15) or Nextal group ( = 15).

The Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Acebuche Oil Exert a Retinoprotective Effect in a Murine Model of High-Tension Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is characterized by cupping of the optic disc, apoptotic degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, and thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer, with patchy loss of vision. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for hypertensive glaucoma and the only modifiable one. There is a need to find novel compounds that counteract other risk factors contributing to RGC degeneration.