Modulation of Canine Gut Microbiota by Prebiotic and Probiotic Supplements: A Long-Term In Vitro Study Using a Novel Colonic Fermentation Model.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in dogs' health, influencing immune function, digestion, and protection against pathogens. This study evaluates the effects of three canine dietary supplements-Microbiotal (prebiotic), (probiotic), and a combination of both-on the gut microbiota composition of a healthy canine donor using an in vitro colonic fermentation model. The SCIME™ platform, adapted to simulate the canine gastrointestinal tract, was used to monitor microbial shifts in the luminal and mucosal environments of the proximal and distal colon over a 2-week treatment period.

Homemade Diet as a Paramount for Dogs' Health: A Descriptive Analysis.

Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet's long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food.

Head circumference growth in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: trend and clinical correlates in the first five years of life.

Background: Macrocephaly is described in almost 15% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Relationships between head growth trajectories and clinical findings in ASD children show a high degree of variability, highlighting the complex heterogeneity of the disorder.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure differences of the early growth trajectory of head circumference (HC) in children with ASD and macrocephaly compared to ASD normocephalic children, examining clinical correlates in the two groups of patients.

Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Omicron Variants Inhibition Comparison after BNT162b2 mRNA Booster Doses with a New PETIA sVNT Assay.

Background: Monitoring antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is strategic, and neutralizing antibodies represent the gold standard. The neutralizing response to Beta and Omicron VOCs was evaluated versus the gold standard by a new commercial automated assay.

Methods: Serum samples from 100 healthcare workers from the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Biomedico and the Pescara Hospital were collected.

IMF's Surcharges as a Threat to the Right to Development.

This article focuses on the implications of the IMF's surcharges policies, jointly with its preferred creditor status, on the right to sustainable development of sovereign borrowers. The article argues that, while surcharges are not effective in limiting access to IMF credit, they inequitably distribute the IMF's operating costs, are disproportionate, pro-cyclical, very costly for developing countries, and non-transparent. Furthermore, if surcharges are theoretically a way to protect the IMF from potential risks of default, the article questions the IMF's preferred creditor status, as it precisely denies the possibility of granting debt relief in case of insolvency, ultimately affecting the right to development of -mainly- middle-income borrowing countries.

Safety and Performance of POLYTECH Mesmo Breast Implants: A 5-Year Post-market Surveillance Study on 919 Patients.

Background: In 2007, POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics (POLYTECH, Dieburg, Germany) established an ongoing patient survey to improve the post-market surveillance of silicone gel-filled breast implants based on patient-reported outcomes in the context of the pioneering "Implants of Excellence" (IoE) program.

Objectives: To disclose an update on safety and performance outcomes at 5 years for Mesmo breast implants.

Methods: Between January 2014 and October 2019, 919 patients (for a total of 1816 implants) who underwent breast augmentation and reconstruction with Mesmo implants were asked to participate in the IoE program.

Preliminary evaluation of the impact of a Web-based HIV testing programme in Abruzzo Region on the prevention of late HIV presentation and associated mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of a Web-based testing programme in terms of the prevention of late HIV presentation. The clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with HIV via the Web-based testing programme were compared to those of patients diagnosed in parallel via standard diagnostic care procedures.

Methods: This study included the clinical and demographic data of newly diagnosed HIV patients enrolled at the study clinic between February 2014 and June 2017.

Preliminary evaluation of the safety and efficacy of standard intravenous immunoglobulins in pregnant women with primary cytomegalovirus infection.

Hyperimmune globulins were reported to prevent and treat fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy. Here, we report that infusions of standard human intravenous immunoglobulin significantly increase CMV IgG titers and avidity indexes in pregnant women, paving the way to their use for passive transfer of maternal CMV humoral immunity to fetuses. Preliminary data on perinatal outcomes of the first 67 newborns are encouraging.

Sequential transmission and long-term persistence of an HIV strain partially resistant to protease inhibitors.

Transmission of drug-resistant HIV-1 variants has been increasingly documented. The most commonly observed resistance-associated mutations are thymidine analogue mutations as well as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor mutations. We report on a case of secondary transmission of a protease inhibitor (PI) primary mutation from an infected untreated subject to his sexual partner.

Absent right and persistent left superior vena cava: fetal and neonatal echocardiographic diagnosis.

Absence of the right superior vena cava (SVC) is a rare event occurring in patients without congenital cardiovascular abnormalities. Since absence of the right SVC is usually clinically silent, its diagnosis is mandatory prior to invasive medical or surgical procedures. We report two cases of echocardiographic diagnosis of absence of the right SVC with persistent left SVC and a large coronary sinus in structurally normal heart in a fetus of 20 weeks' gestation and in a newborn.

Survey of Lyme disease in Abruzzo (Italy).

This study reports the diagnostic activity for the serological diagnosis of Lyme Disease (LD) in the patients of Abruzzo, a central region of Italy. During the period from August 1994 to July 1999, serological examinations for anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were performed on 1089 samples from 769 patients with symptomatology consistent with LD. Using an immunoenzymatic technique which was confirmed with Western Blot, 29 patients were diagnosed positive.

Detection of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells by in situ RT-PCR.

We have studied the expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA by in situ hybridization and in situ RT-PCR in human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. In situ RT-PCR demonstrated the overexpression of ODC mRNA, localized over the cytoplasm, while a very low signal was detected by in situ hybridization. Our findings indicate that in situ RT-PCR could represent a useful tool to study different levels of ODC expression in normal and tumor tissues.

In situ RT-PCR allows the detection of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in paraffin embedded archival human hyperplastic breast tissues.

Expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is induced by c-Myc oncoprotein and is required for cell proliferation and tumour growth. We have studied the expression of ODC mRNA by in situ hybridisation and in situ RT-PCR in archival human hyperplastic breast tissues. A very low signal was detected by in situ hybridisation, while the in situ RT-PCR on human breast archival tissues demonstrated an over-expression of ODC mRNA in epithelial cells characterised by some degree of hyperplasia, maintaining the morphology of the archival tissue intact despite the multiple steps of fixation, permeabilization and thermal cycling.

Inhibition of cancer cell growth and c-Myc transcriptional activity by a c-Myc helix 1-type peptide fused to an internalization sequence.

c-Myc is a nuclear protein with important roles in cell transformation, cell proliferation, and gene transcription. It has been previously shown that a 14-amino acid (aa) modified peptide (H1-S6A,F8A) derived from the helix 1 (H1) carboxylic region of c-Myc can interfere in vitro with specific c-Myc DNA binding. Here, we have linked the above Myc-derived 14-aa peptide to a 16-aa sequence from the third helix of Antennapedia (Int).

Mutation frequencies at codon 248 of the p53 tumour suppressor gene are not increased in colon cancer cell lines with the RER+ phenotype.

The replication-error positive (RER+) phenotype characterizes tumour cells with microsatellite instability. This 'mutator phenotype' is thought to induce spread mutations throughout the genome, thus increasing the risk of tumour development. Here we analyse spontaneously arising mutations at the tetranucleotide CCGG ( Msp I recognition site), at positions 14 067-14 070 of the p53 gene sequence, in three colon cancer cell lines, two with microsatellite instability and one without this characteristic.

A fast and simple in situ PCR method to detect human papilloma virus infection in archival paraffin-embedded tissues.

We describe a simple and fast method for the detection and localization of low copy numbers of HPV DNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archival tissues. We have developed a protocol for direct bl situ-PCR in order to demonstrate its convenience in rapid and reproducible assessment of HPV infection in unknown biopsies. The morphological aspect of the tissues has been maintained, despite the multiple steps of fixation, permeabilization and thermal cycling, and positivity has been detected only in virus target cells.

Mechanism of resistance to cisplatin in a human ovarian-carcinoma cell line selected for resistance to doxorubicin: possible role of p53.

A possible novel mechanism of cross-resistance to cisplatin (CDDP) in the doxorubicin-resistant ovarian-cancer cell line A2780-DX3, which displays atypical multidrug resistance, is presented. A2780-DX3 is found to be more resistant than the parental line A2780 in terms of CDDP-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Resistance is not related to the amount of cross-links.

Endogenous tumor necrosis factor enhances topoisomerase II inhibitors activity in human ovarian cancer cell lines.

In this study, we demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor (TNF), secreted endogenously by four human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2774, IGROV-1, OVCAR-8, SW626), is biologically active against L929 cells and its activity is specifically inhibited by anti-TNF antibodies. Its endogenous production is increased by treatment for 24 h with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/ Ionomycin (Iono). All cell lines express TNF high-affinity receptors and release only 60-kdalton soluble TNF receptor, both spontaneously and after stimulation with PMA/Iono.

Comparison between novel steroid-like and conventional nonsteroidal antioestrogens in inhibiting oestradiol- and IGF-I-induced proliferation of human breast cancer-derived cells.

1. This study has two specific aims: (a) to compare the antioestrogenic activity of two steroidal analogues of 17 beta-oestradiol, the 7 alpha-alkylamide, ICI 164,384 and the 7 alpha-alkylsulphinylamide, ICI 182,780, with that of the triphenylethylene-derived compound 4OH-tamoxifen on a pool of human breast cancer cell lines (HBCCL) with a range of hormonal responsiveness and acquired anti-oestrogen resistance and (b) to investigate the ability of such antioestrogens to modulate the potent breast carcinoma growth-stimulatory activity of the 'IGF-I system'. 2.

Oncosuppressor genes: mechanisms of inactivation for the retinoblastoma gene and p53.

Mutations that affect oncosuppressor genes contribute to transformed phenotype. The recessive characteristics of these genes require mutations on both alleles. For this reason alterations of the oncosuppressor genes can be transmitted with the germ line.

Detailed ultrasound as a screening method for craniospinal abnormalities.

High resolution diagnostic ultrasound was assessed as a screening method for craniospinal anomalies during the second trimester of pregnancy in a population at low risk for neural tube defects (83,403 mothers). The effectiveness of the test was about 60% and the failure rate mainly due to late attendance. In a subgroup (9325) where the screening purposes were satisfactorily fulfilled, the detection rate (87%) was substantially greater.

Multiple malignant tumors of the uterus.

A case of a 59 year old patient with a diagnosis of uterine double carcinoma, namely of the cervix and of the corpus is reported. Pathological criteria of diagnosis and pathogenetic hypotheses are then discussed.