An anti-Shiga toxin VHH nanobody multimer protects mice against fatal toxicosis when administered intramuscularly as repRNA.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a systemic sequelae from gastrointestinal infection with Shiga toxin (Stx) producing (STEC) that can result in acute kidney injury, lasting renal disease, and death. Despite a window for intervention between hemorrhagic diarrhea and onset of HUS, no specific therapies exist to prevent or treat HUS following STEC infection. Furthermore, there is no way to predict which patients with STEC will develop HUS or any rapid way to determine which Stx variant is present.

A roadmap for the implementation of a renewable energy community.

Environmental problems due to climate change, that have been affecting our planet for years, are the main issues which prompted European Union to establish the ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This occurrence encouraged all Member States to undergo significant changes of their energy sectors, favouring the extensive use of renewable energy sources. In this scenario, the European Union introduced Renewable Energy Communities, innovative energy systems based on a new model of renewable energy production, consumption and sharing, guaranteeing environmental, economic, energy and social benefits.

Chromosome-level reference genome for North American bison (Bison bison) and variant database aids in identifying albino mutation.

We developed a highly contiguous chromosome-level reference genome for North American bison to provide a platform to evaluate the conservation, ecological, evolutionary, and population genomics of this species. Generated from a F1 hybrid between a North American bison dam and a domestic cattle bull, completeness and contiguity exceed that of other published bison genome assemblies. To demonstrate the utility for genome-wide variant frequency estimation, we compiled a genomic variant database consisting of 3 true albino bison and 44 wild-type pelage color bison.

Quality of Life and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Who Are Treated with Multilevel Surgery or Adherent to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) syndrome is a respiratory sleep disorder characterized by a reduction (hypopnea) in or a complete cessation (apnea) of airflow in the upper airways at night, in the presence of breathing effort. The gold standard treatment for OSA is ventilation through continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), although this often shows poor patient compliance. In recent years, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been proposed as a valid surgical treatment for patients suffering from OSA in a multilevel surgical setting.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study.

Purpose: To compare and analyze the incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME), before and during the COVID-19-related pandemic period, to evaluate the effects of the social changes (lockdown, continuous use of facial masks, social distancing, reduction of social activities) in the OME incidence in children and adults.

Methods: The number of diagnosed OME in e five referral centers, between 1 March 2018 and 1 March 2021, has been reviewed and collected. To estimate the reduction of OME incidence in children and adults during the COVID-19 pandemic period the OME incidence in three period of time were evaluated and compared: group 1-patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2018 and 01/03/2019 (not pandemic period).

Immune Response to an Acute Moderate Dose of Alcohol in Healthy Young Adults.

Prior research on alcohol and the immune system has tended to focus on binge doses or chronic heavy drinking. The aim of this single-session preliminary study was to characterize immune response to moderate alcohol (0.60 g alcohol per kilogram body weight) in healthy, nonchronic drinkers.

Adolescent Access to Patient-Centered Medical Homes.

Objectives: To analyze the distribution of patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) among US adolescents, and to examine whether disparities exist among subgroups.

Study Design: Data on adolescents ages 12-17 years (n = 34 601) from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health were used in this cross-sectional study to determine what proportion had access to a PCMH. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of having a PCMH, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and special health care needs.

Cerebral Metabolites on the Descending Limb of Acute Alcohol: A Preliminary 1H MRS Study.

Aims: Chronic alcohol use is associated with cerebral metabolite abnormalities, yet alcohol's acute effects on neurometabolism are not well understood. This preliminary study investigated cerebral metabolite changes in vivo on the descending limb of blood alcohol in healthy moderate drinkers.

Methods: In a pre/post design, participants (N = 13) completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans prior to and approximately 5 hours after consuming a moderate dose of alcohol (0.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Endoscopic Endonasal Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery.

Objective: Postoperative infection is a potentially dramatic consequence in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of our intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis by analyzing the risk factors of postoperative meningitis in our series.

Methods: Each endoscopic endonasal procedure performed since 1998 in patients with no preoperative infections and a follow-up longer than 30 days were included and retrospectively reviewed.

Identification and characterization of mutant clones with enhanced propagation rates from phage-displayed peptide libraries.

A target-unrelated peptide (TUP) can arise in phage display selection experiments as a result of a propagation advantage exhibited by the phage clone displaying the peptide. We previously characterized HAIYPRH, from the M13-based Ph.D.

Modified hyoid suspension technique in the treatment of multilevel related obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: Using the Hörmann technique of hyoid suspension in sleep apnea surgery, a steel wire is placed through the thyroid cartilage and slung around the hyoid bone. However, we experienced thyroid cartilage fracture by steel wire traction. A modification is presented to avoid thyroid cartilage fracture.

Psychiatric characteristics of homicide defendants.

Objective: The authors examined the rate of mental disorders in an unselected sample of homicide defendants in a U.S. jurisdiction, seeking to identify psychiatric factors associated with offense characteristics and court outcomes.

Naltrexone-induced Nicolau syndrome masquerading as cutaneous abscess.

Nicolau syndrome-also known as Embolia Cutis Medicamentosa-is a rare complication of intramuscular and subcutaneous injections manifesting as necrosis of skin and the underlying tissues. The exact pathogenesis is uncertain. There are several hypotheses including direct damage to the end artery, cytotoxic effects of the implicated drug or additives in the injectable preparations.

Frequency assessment of 25 SNPs in five different populations.

Allele and genotype frequencies of 25 SNPs previously selected and validated for forensic purposes were assessed in 250 unrelated individuals originating from five different countries of Europe (Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Serbia). All the SNPs generated extremely low F(st) values confirming our previous results on Italian, African (Benin) and Asian (Mongolian) populations. As a consequence of such F(st) values we observed similar values of random match probability across the populations: 2.

Typing of ARMS2 and CFH in age-related macular degeneration: case-control study and assessment of frequency in the Italian population.

Objectives: To determine the effects of the polymorphisms CFH Tyr402His and ARMS2 del443ins54 on susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to find the frequencies of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms in an Italian population that was not examined clinically.

Methods: A total of 286 control subjects (126 men and 160 women) and 159 white patients (73 men and 86 women) harboring exudative AMD in 1 eye were recruited. A third group of 182 DNA samples from blood donors of the same geographical areas were also typed to assess the frequency of CFH Tyr402His and ARMS2 del443ins54 polymorphisms in the general population.

Haplotypes in SLC24A5 Gene as Ancestry Informative Markers in Different Populations.

Ancestry informative markers (AIMs) are human polymorphisms that exhibit substantially allele frequency differences among populations. These markers can be useful to provide information about ancestry of samples which may be useful in predicting a perpetrator's ethnic origin to aid criminal investigations. Variations in human pigmentation are the most obvious phenotypes to distinguish individuals.

Whole genome amplification and real-time PCR in forensic casework.

Background: WGA (Whole Genome Amplification) in forensic genetics can eliminate the technical limitations arising from low amounts of genomic DNA (gDNA). However, it has not been used to date because any amplification bias generated may complicate the interpretation of results. Our aim in this paper was to assess the applicability of MDA to forensic SNP genotyping by performing a comparative analysis of genomic and amplified DNA samples.

Frequency assessment of SNPs for forensic identification in different populations.

Allele frequencies for 16 previously described autosomal SNPs were tested in 1020 unrelated individuals originating from three different continents (Africa, Asia and Europe). The populations analyzed included Africans from Benin Gulf (180), Asians from Mongolia (160) and Europeans from Italy (680).

In silico and in vitro comparative analysis to select, validate and test SNPs for human identification.

Background: The recent advances in human genetics have recently provided new insights into phenotypic variation and genome variability. Current forensic DNA techniques involve the search for genetic similarities and differences between biological samples. Consequently the selection of ideal genomic biomarkers for human identification is crucial in order to ensure the highest stability and reproducibility of results.

The effect of systemic anticoagulation in patients undergoing angioaccess surgery.

The benefit of intravenous heparin as an anticoagulant to avoid thrombotic complications during angioaccess surgery for hemodialysis is unknown. We prospectively randomized 115 consecutive patients referred to our institution for permanent hemodialysis access to receive systemic anticoagulation or no anticoagulation during angioaccess surgery. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, procedure time, complications, and patency were recorded in accordance with standards recommended by the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Fishery by-product as a nutrient source for bacteria and archaea growth media.

A highly soluble fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) with an 80% protein (peptide size between 1.5 and 20 kDa) and a low free amino acid content was obtained from hake (Merluccius hubssi) filleting waste [Lat. Am.

Detection of quorum sensing signals in the haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natronococcus occultus.

Bacteria communicate at high cell density through quorum sensing, however, there are no reports about this mechanism in archaea. The archaeon Natronococcus occultus produces an extracellular protease at the end of growth. Early production of protease activity was observed when a low density culture was incubated with late exponential conditioned medium suggesting the presence of factor(s) inducing this activity.

Myofibril-bound serine protease and its endogenous inhibitor in mouse: extraction, partial characterization and effect on myofibrils.

The protein content of muscle is determined by the relative rates of synthesis and degradation. The balance between this process determines the number of functional contractile units within each muscle cell. Myofibril-bound protease, protease M previously reported in mouse skeletal muscle could be solubilized from the myofibrillar fraction by salt and acid treatment and partially purified by Mono Q and Superose 12 chromatography.

Purification and characterization of a proteinase inhibitor from white croaker skeletal muscle (Micropogon opercularis).

A trypsin proteinase inhibitor has been purified to homogeneity from the skeletal muscle of white croaker (Micropogon opercularis). Previously, we had described the occurrence in fish muscle of a serine protease (proteinase I) which showed a great capacity to degrade whole myofibrils in vitro and an endogenous inhibitor that prevented the action of the protease, both on natural and artificial substrates. In this paper, we report the purification and further biochemical characterization of the endogenous trypsin inhibitor.