Visual placebo and nocebo effects.

Placebo and nocebo effects modulate symptom perception through expectations and learning processes in various domains. Predominantly, their impact has been investigated on pain and physical performance. However, the influence of placebos and nocebos on visual system functionality has yet to be explored.

Parental Social Isolation during Adolescence Alters Gut Microbiome in Rat Male Offspring.

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that parental stress, induced by social isolation starting at puberty, leads to behavioral, endocrine, and biochemical changes in the male, but not female, offspring (ISO-O) of Sprague-Dawley rats. Here, we report alterations in the gut microbiota composition of ISO-O vs. grouped-housed offspring (GH-O), although all animals received the same diet and were housed in the same conditions.

Inhibitory Effect of and Autochtonous Strains against in a Laboratory Cheese Model.

In the present study, six and seven strains isolated from artisanal Sardinian dairy products were evaluated for their efficacy in controlling the growth of during the storage of miniature fresh cheese manufactured on a laboratory scale to exploit their possible use as biopreservatives. The strains were tested for antimicrobial activity and some technological characteristics before using them in miniature fresh cheese to evaluate their in situ antilisterial effect. Our results showed that five strains ( 16FS16-9/20234-11FS16 and 1/14537-4A/20045) could be considered suitable candidates for use as protective cultures in fresh cheese manufacture since they significantly lowered the pathogen counts by 3-4 log units compared to the control; however, all strains tested were capable of decreasing numbers.

Microbiota of Sardinian Goat's Milk and Preliminary Characterization of Prevalent LAB Species for Starter or Adjunct Cultures Development.

This work was performed to study the microbiota of raw goat's milk (67 samples) collected in different areas of Sardinia, in order to select autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains for use in goat cheese manufacturing. Total mesophilic bacteria ranged between 10 and 10 cfu/mL; mean counts of did not exceed 4 log cfu/mL whereas those of and coagulase-positive staphylococci were lower than 1.5 and 2 log ufc /ml, respectively.

Application of Autochthonous Strains as Biopreservatives to Control Fungal Spoilage in Caciotta Cheese.

Fungal spoilage is one of the main causes of economic losses worldwide in the food industry. In the last years, consumer's demands for preservative-free processed foods have increased as a result of growing awareness about the health hazards associated with chemicals. Lactic acid bacteria have been extensively studied for their antibacterial and antifungal potential in order to be used as biopreservatives.

Preliminary evaluation of probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains isolated from Sardinian dairy products.

Twenty-three Lactobacillus strains of dairy origin were evaluated for some functional properties relevant to their use as probiotics. A preliminary subtractive screening based on the abilities to inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens and hydrolyze conjugated bile salts was applied, and six strains were selected for further characterization including survival under gastrointestinal environmental conditions, adhesion to gut epithelial tissue, enzymatic activity, and some safety properties. All selected strains maintained elevated cell numbers under conditions simulating passage through the human gastrointestinal tract, well comparable to the values obtained for the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and were able to adhere to Caco-2 cells to various extents (from 3 to 20%).

Use of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for identification of yeast species isolated from bovine intramammary infection.

This study reports a rapid PCR-based technique using a one-enzyme RFLP for discrimination of yeasts isolated from bovine clinical and subclinical mastitis milk samples. We analyzed a total of 1,486 milk samples collected over 1 yr in south Sardinia and northern Italy, and 142 yeast strains were preliminarily grouped based on their cultural morphology and physiological characteristics. Assimilation tests were conducted using the identification kit API ID 32C and APILAB Plus software (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France).

[Endoscopic prostate resection by bipolar gyrus resector for prostates over 80 ml: our experience after a 12-month follow-up].

Introduction: The open surgery approach is the gold standard for the treatment of prostatic adenoma with a volume over 80 mL.

Patients And Methods: We studied 180 patients from June 2004 to June 2011, affected by prostatic adenoma >80 mL, and who underwent endoscopic resection performed with bipolar technique by a single operator. We considered the following data: surgery duration, bleeding, absorption of irrigating fluids, resected tissue quantity, clinical stay, and catheterization time.

Antilisterial activity of nisin-like bacteriocin-producing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis isolated from traditional Sardinian dairy products.

With the aim of selecting LAB strains with antilisterial activity to be used as protective cultures to enhance the safety of dairy products, the antimicrobial properties of 117 Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis isolated from artisanal Sardinian dairy products were evaluated, and six strains were found to produce bacteriocin-like substances. The capacity of these strains to antagonize Listeria monocytogenes during cocultivation in skimmed milk was evaluated, showing a reduction of L.

[Deficit of cell-mediated immunity and Nocardia's infection. A case report].

We described the case of a patient, recently studied, that underwent immunosuppressive therapy for pemphigus vulgaris and then developed a Nocardia's infection. The case was severe and multiple localization in lungs and other organs was observed. The pathology was treated by using antibiotics, without autoimmunity secondary pathology.

Molecular detection of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance pattern in clinical Enterococcus faecalis strains in Sardinia.

In this study, the antibiotic resistance pattern and the presence of genes encoding several virulence factors in 91 Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from different human clinical sources in Sardinia were investigated. Genotypic determination of virulence genes (gelE, esp, agg, ace, cylA,B,M,L(L),L(S), efaA, fsrB) was carried out by PCR. The production of gelatinase and haemolytic activity were also determined.

[Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Candida species in ICU].

Two hundred sixty three Candida isolates were obtained from specimens of patients hospitalized in a Intensive Care Unit. Candida albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. tropicalis, C.

Characterization of yeast population and molecular fingerprinting of Candida zeylanoides isolated from goat's milk collected in Sardinia.

The occurrence of yeast microflora in raw goat's milk collected from 62 dairy farms located in different areas of Sardinia was evaluated. Candida zeylanoides was the most frequently occurring species followed by different Basidiomycetous species. In the strains isolated some biochemical characteristics of technological interest were investigated and a predominance of lipolytic yeast species was found.

Prevalence of Candida species in different hospital wards and their susceptibility to antifungal agents: results of a three year survey.

Over a three years period, 472 Candida isolates were obtained from specimens of patients hospitalized either in "at risk", Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and Intensive Care Unit, or in conventional wards, Pneumological Divisions of the "Binaghi" Hospital of Cagliari (Italy). Antifungal susceptibility profile to amphotericin B, voriconazole, fluconazole and ketoconazole was determined. Candida albicans was the predominant species while Candida krusei was the most frequent non-albicans species.

Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human leukocytes after in vitro exposure to 1950 MHz UMTS radiofrequency field.

In the present study the third generation wireless technology of the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) signal was investigated for the induction of genotoxic effects in human leukocytes. Peripheral blood from six healthy donors was used and, for each donor, intermittent exposures (6 min RF on, 2 h RF off) at the frequency of 1950 MHz were conducted at a specific absorption rate of 2.2 W/kg.

Characterization of Fiore Sardo cheese manufactured with the addition of autochthonous cultures.

This work evaluated the effect of adjunct autochthonous cultures on the chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of Fiore Sardo cheese during ripening. A total of twelve batches of cheeses were manufactured according to the technical Disciplinary of Fiore Sardo cheese, with and without different combinations of autochthonous strains isolated from the native microflora of artisanal Fiore Sardo. There were no significant differences in the cheese compositional parameters between experimental and control cheeses, but the addition of cultures led to a statistically significant decrease in pH values in experimental cheeses.

Occurrence and characterization of yeasts isolated from artisanal Fiore Sardo cheese.

The occurrence of yeast microflora in artisanal Fiore Sardo cheese during ripening was studied. Mean yeast counts ranged from 2.64+/-1 log(10) cfu ml(-1) in milk to 0.

[Microbial circulation and control in two Intensive Care Units].

A microbiological survey was carried out in two medical Intensive Care Units from January to June 2000. The patients, staff (hands and upper respiratory tract) and environment were monitored. The results obtained in both Care Units give cause for concern.

Yeasts associated with Sardinian ewe's dairy products.

In the present work, the occurrence of yeasts in different types of typical Sardinian ewe's cheeses (32 samples of pecorino, 32 of caciotta, 40 of feta, 56 of ricotta) was determined. For the strains isolated the following properties were studied: proteolytic and lipolytic activities, the ability to grow at different temperatures, different concentrations of salt, and to assimilate and/or ferment compounds like lactate, citrate, lactose, glucose, galactose, lactic acid. Of 160 samples analysed, 76.

Yeast populations in Sardinian feta cheese.

In this study, the yeast populations in feta cheese from two different Sardinian dairies were examined. Samples of good quality feta (32) and samples of feta with a slimy surface defect (10) were examined from Dairy A. Similar, samples of good quality feta (23), feta with slimy surface defects (14) and samples with swelling defects (6) were examined from Dairy B.

[Pollution by mites and/or mold spores in work environments and the risk of occupational respiratory pathology].

In recent years the measurement of mold spore concentrations in working environments where workers spend long periods of time has acquired considerable importance because of the diffusion of diseases caused by fungi. On this basis, the aim of the research was to evaluate the level of environmental fungal pollution and contamination by mites in three factories producing seasoned foods, i.e.

[Results of an airborne spore study in various regions of southern Sardinia].

Fungal air spores can play a significant role in several allergic manifestations. Therefore, the identification of geographic areas of mould distribution could be helpful to the clinician, especially if associated with fungal air spore recording in homes or working environments of sensitized subjects, in determining the real clinical importance of sensitization to fungi. On this basis, we studied the occurrence of airborne fungi at two urban sites and at two rural sites in the South of Sardinia, from May 1987 to April 1988, using the gravity plate method.