Single spike mutation differentiating XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 enhances SARS-CoV-2 cell-to-cell transmission and facilitates serum-mediated enhancement.

Introduction: The ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants poses significant challenges to existing therapeutics. The spike (S) glycoprotein is central to both viral entry and cell-to-cell transmission via syncytia formation, a process that confers resistance to neutralizing antibodies. The mechanisms underlying this resistance, particularly in relation to spike-mediated fusion, remain poorly understood.

Multi-omic lineage tracing predicts the transcriptional, epigenetic and genetic determinants of cancer evolution.

Cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, where phenotypically distinct subpopulations coexist and can be primed to different fates. Both genetic and epigenetic factors may drive cancer evolution, however little is known about whether and how such a process is pre-encoded in cancer clones. Using single-cell multi-omic lineage tracing and phenotypic assays, we investigate the predictive features of either tumour initiation or drug tolerance within the same cancer population.

Porto-spleno-mesenteric venous thrombosis after elective splenectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Elective splenectomy is the main treatment for a wide range of haematological diseases. Porto-spleno-mesenteric venous thrombosis represents one of the most severe complications of this procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with development of porto-spleno-mesenteric venous thrombosis after elective splenectomy.

Mechanisms of Long Non-Coding RNA in Breast Cancer.

The landscape of pervasive transcription in eukaryotic genomes has made space for the identification of thousands of transcripts that are difficult to frame in a specific functional category. A new class has been broadly named as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and shortly defined as transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides with no or limited coding potential. So far, about 19,000 lncRNAs genes have been annotated in the human genome (Gencode 41), nearly matching the number of protein-coding genes.

Smallpox vaccination-elicited antibodies cross-neutralize 2022-Monkeypox virus Clade II.

Since early May 2022, some monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections have been reported from countries where the disease is not endemic. Within 2 months, the number of patients has increased extensively, becoming the most considerable MPXV outbreak described. Smallpox vaccines demonstrated high efficacy against MPXVs in the past and are considered a crucial outbreak control measure.

The initial interplay between HIV and mucosal innate immunity.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is still one of the major global health issues, and despite significant efforts that have been put into studying the pathogenesis of HIV infection, several aspects need to be clarified, including how innate immunity acts in different anatomical compartments. Given the nature of HIV as a sexually transmitted disease, one of the aspects that demands particular attention is the mucosal innate immune response. Given this scenario, we focused our attention on the interplay between HIV and mucosal innate response: the different mucosae act as a physical barrier, whose integrity can be compromised by the infection, and the virus-cell interaction induces the innate immune response.

Proper Selection of In Vitro Cell Model Affects the Characterization of the Neutralizing Antibody Response against SARS-CoV-2.

(1) Background: Our aim is the evaluation of the neutralizing activity of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies in different in vitro cellular models, as this still represents one of the surrogates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 viral variants. (2) Methods: The entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in three cell lines (Vero E6, Vero E6/TMPRSS2 and Calu-3) were evaluated with both pseudoviruses and whole virus particles. The neutralizing capability of sera collected from vaccinated subjects was characterized through cytopathic effects and Real-Time RT PCR.

Neurogenetic dissection of the lateral horn reveals major outputs, diverse behavioural functions, and interactions with the mushroom body.

Animals exhibit innate behaviours to a variety of sensory stimuli including olfactory cues. In , one higher olfactory centre, the lateral horn (LH), is implicated in innate behaviour. However, our structural and functional understanding of the LH is scant, in large part due to a lack of sparse neurogenetic tools for this region.

Corrigendum: Analysis of Correlation between an Accelerometer-Based Algorithm for Detecting Parkinsonian Gait and UPDRS Subscales.

[This corrects the article on p. 431 in vol. 8, PMID: 28919877.

[Personality disorder and penal imputability: a case of uxoricide in a expert's report].

The personality disorders are generally described as a persistent pattern of inner experience that deviates strongly from the expectations of the culture of an individual in terms of cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning and impulse control. They are a complex area of defining and understanding for the clinical and forensic psychiatrist. A recent ruling by the Court of Cassation stated that personality disorder may be a result of reduction or cancellation of the ability to understand and will, if so serious as to affect the same.

[Amniotic fluid analysis as a screening test in term and post-term pregnancy].

Background: To verify the hypothesis that isolated oligohydramnios in low-risk term or post-term pregnancy does not increase the risk of trauma to the fetus compared with a control group.

Methods: This prospective study compared a group of patients with low-risk pregnancy and oligohydramnios (AFI = or <50) and a control group which on ultrasonography performed 24 hours before delivery had an AFI volume >50 and = or <250 mm. The evaluation criteria included incidence of induction, modality of delivery and neonatal outcome.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in obstetric and gynecological surgery.

A major problem in obstetric and gynecological surgery, especially following cesarean section in labor, total vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy, or myomectomy, is postoperative wound infection. Consequently, the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for cesarean section and for gynecological surgery has been advocated and shown to be effective in reducing postoperative morbidity, costs and duration of hospitalization. We reviewed 1021 patients who underwent cesarean section (597 elective, 424 emergency) and 814 gynecological patients undergoing abdominal (373) or vaginal (248) hysterectomy and myomectomy (193) between 1997-98 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the University of Florence.