Screening for schistosomiasis in a non-endemic setting: accuracy of a rapid antibody test using finger prick blood.

Human schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, infecting 250 million people worldwide, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, thousands of cases have been reported in immigrants to non-endemic countries, including Italy. Serological screening is recommended but so far, no accurate point-of-care (POC) and lab-free test is available.

Ultrasound Features of -Related Gastritis.

Abdominal ultrasound (US) is a reliable method for visualizing gastric wall layers and measuring their thickness. The objective of this study is to characterize the ultrasound features of -induced gastritis and assess its predictive potential role for this condition. A cohort of 119 patients underwent gastroscopy with biopsy and abdominal US to evaluate antral wall thickness (AWT), submucosal wall thickness (SLT), mucosal wall thickness (MLT), gastric motility, and the presence of ingested material.

Fish tank granuloma not associated to Mycobacterium marinum but to Microbacterium paraoxydans.

Fish tank granuloma has traditionally been associated with Mycobacterium marinum. We report the case of a 54 old-year woman that worked in a freshwater fish pet store and developed a skin ulcer in a hand finger with a suppurative granuloma secondary to Microbacterium paraoxydans. This is a bacterial fish pathogen, rarely observed in human infections.

Silica-coated magnetic particles for efficient RNA extraction for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Molecular diagnostic methods to detect and quantify viral RNA in clinical samples rely on the purification of the genetic material prior to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Due to the large number of samples processed in clinical laboratories, automation has become a necessity in order to increase method processivity and maximize throughput per unit of time. An attractive option for isolating viral RNA is based on the magnetic solid phase separation procedure (MSPS) using magnetic microparticles.

GRF2 Is Crucial for Cone Photoreceptor Viability and Ribbon Synapse Formation in the Mouse Retina.

Using constitutive GRF1/2 knockout mice, we showed previously that GRF2 is a key regulator of nuclear migration in retinal cone photoreceptors. To evaluate the functional relevance of that cellular process for two putative targets of the GEF activity of GRF2 (RAC1 and CDC42), here we compared the structural and functional retinal phenotypes resulting from conditional targeting of RAC1 or CDC42 in the cone photoreceptors of constitutive GRF2 and GRF2 mice. We observed that single RAC1 disruption did not cause any obvious morphological or physiological changes in the retinas of GRF2 mice, and did not modify either the phenotypic alterations previously described in the retinal photoreceptor layer of GRF2 mice.

TDP43 pathology in chronic traumatic encephalopathy retinas.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head trauma. Brain pathology in CTE is characterized by neuronal loss, gliosis, and a distinctive pattern of neuronal accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and phospho-TDP43 (p-TDP43). Visual anomalies have been reported by patients with CTE, but the ocular pathology underlying these symptoms is unknown.

Distinct Clades of Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulatory B'/B56 Subunits Engage in Different Physiological Processes.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a strongly conserved and major protein phosphatase in all eukaryotes. The canonical PP2A complex consists of a catalytic (C), scaffolding (A), and regulatory (B) subunit. Plants have three groups of evolutionary distinct B subunits: B55, B' (B56), and B''.

The Italian data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in transplanted patients support an organ specific immune response in liver recipients.

Introduction: The study of immune response to SARSCoV-2 infection in different solid organ transplant settings represents an opportunity for clarifying the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system. In our nationwide registry study from Italy, we specifically evaluated, during the first wave pandemic, i.e.

Protein-Protein Interactions and Quantitative Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveal Potential Mitochondrial Substrates of Protein Phosphatase 2A-B'ζ Holoenzyme.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a heterotrimeric conserved serine/threonine phosphatase complex that includes catalytic, scaffolding, and regulatory subunits. The 3 A subunits, 17 B subunits, and 5 C subunits that are encoded by the Arabidopsis genome allow 255 possible PP2A holoenzyme combinations. The regulatory subunits are crucial for substrate specificity and PP2A complex localization and are classified into the B, B', and B" non-related families in land plants.

Heterogeneous nutrient supply modulates root exudation and accumulation of medicinally valuable compounds in and .

Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to adapt to nutrient-deficient environments, including stimulating lateral root proliferation into local soil patches with high nutrient content in response to heterogeneous nutrient distribution. Despite the widespread occurrence of this phenomenon in soil, the effect of heterogeneous nutrient distribution on the accumulation of secondary compounds in plant biomass and their exudation by roots remains largely unknown. This study aims to fill this critical knowledge gap by investigating how deficiency and unequal distributions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and iron (Fe) affect plant growth and accumulation of the antimalarial drug artemisinin (AN) in leaves and roots of , as well as AN exudation by roots.

Rheological, Physical, and Spectroscopical Characterization of Gamma-Irradiated Albumin Nanoparticles Loaded with Anthocyanin.

Anthocyanins are the main active compounds in blueberry. However, they have poor oxidation stability. If anthocyanins are encapsulated in protein nanoparticles, their oxidation resistance could be increased as a result of the slowing down of the oxidation process.

Envisioning the future for families running away from war: Challenges and resources of Ukrainian parents in Italy.

Since February 2022, 7.8 million people have left Ukraine. In total, 80% are women and children.

Spatial frequency and global-local visual processing in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) and humans (Homo sapiens).

Two experiments employing an identity matching-to-sample procedure were carried out to clarify the factors affecting global-local visual processing of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) in comparison with humans. In the first experiment, we assessed the relative ability of the two species to discriminate high, medium, or low spatial frequencies (HSFs, MSFs, or LSFs).

Loss of LEUCINE CARBOXYL METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 interferes with metal homeostasis in Arabidopsis and enhances susceptibility to environmental stresses.

The biochemical function of LEUCINE CARBOXYL METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (LCMT1) is to transfer a methyl group from the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the catalytic subunits of PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A (PP2Ac), PP4 and PP6. This post-translational modification by LCMT1 is found throughout eukaryotes from yeast to animals and plants, indicating that its function is essential. However, Arabidopsis with knocked out LCMT1 still grows and develops almost normally, at least under optimal growth conditions.

Scribble basal polarity acquisition in RPE cells and its mislocalization in a pathological AMD-like model.

Apicobasal polarity is a hallmark of retinal pigment epithelium cells and is required to perform their functions; however, the precise roles of the different proteins that execute polarity are still poorly understood. Here, we have studied the expression and location of Scribble, the core member of the polarity basal protein complex in epithelial-derived cells, in human and mouse RPE cells in both control and pathological conditions. We found that Scribble specifically localizes at the basolateral membrane of mouse and human RPE cells.

Minimal change prion retinopathy: Morphometric comparison of retinal and brain prion deposits in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is the most commonly diagnosed human prion disease caused by the abnormal misfolding of the 'cellular' prion protein (PrP) into the transmissible 'scrapie-type' prion form (PrP). Neuropathologic evaluation of brains with sCJD reveals abnormal PrP deposits primarily in grey matter structures, often associated with micro-vacuolar spongiform changes in neuropil, neuronal loss, and gliosis. Abnormal PrP deposits have also been reported in the retina of patients with sCJD, but few studies have characterized the morphology of these retinal PrP deposits or evaluated for any retinal neurodegenerative changes.

Insulin receptor activation by proinsulin preserves synapses and vision in retinitis pigmentosa.

Synaptic loss, neuronal death, and circuit remodeling are common features of central nervous system neurodegenerative disorders. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the leading cause of inherited blindness, is a group of retinal dystrophies characterized by photoreceptor dysfunction and death. The insulin receptor, a key controller of metabolism, also regulates neuronal survival and synaptic formation, maintenance, and activity.

Evolutionary Origin of Insulin-Degrading Enzyme and Its Subcellular Localization and Secretion Mechanism: A Study in Microglial Cells.

The insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a zinc-dependent metalloendopeptidase that belongs to the M16A metalloprotease family. IDE is markedly expressed in the brain, where it is particularly relevant due to its in vitro amyloid beta (Aβ)-degrading activity. The subcellular localization of IDE, a paramount aspect to understand how this enzyme can perform its proteolytic functions in vivo, remains highly controversial.

Liver involvement in inflammatory bowel disease: What should the clinician know?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may show a wide range of extraintestinal manifestations. In this context, liver involvement is a focal point for both an adequate management of the disease and its prognosis, due to possible serious comorbidity. The association between IBD and primary sclerosing cholangitis is the most known example.

Sources of variation in search and foraging: A theoretical perspective.

Search-the problem of exploring a space of alternatives to identify target goals-is a fundamental behaviour for many species. Although its foundation lies in foraging, most studies of human search behaviour have been directed towards understanding the attentional mechanisms that underlie the efficient visual exploration of two-dimensional (2D) scenes. With this review, we aim to characterise how search behaviour can be explained across a wide range of contexts, environments, spatial scales, and populations, both typical and atypical.

Impairment of Autophagic Flux Participates in the Antitumor Effects of TAT-Cx43 in Glioblastoma Stem Cells.

Autophagy is a physiological process by which various damaged or non-essential cytosolic components are recycled, contributing to cell survival under stress conditions. In cancer, autophagy can have antitumor or protumor effects depending on the developmental stage. Here, we use Western blotting, immunochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate that the antitumor peptide TAT-Cx43, a c-Src inhibitor, blocks autophagic flux in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) under basal and nutrient-deprived conditions.