Intraoperative Type B Aortic Dissection With Malperfusion in a Patient With Marfan Syndrome.

We present the case of a 72-year-old man diagnosed with an aortic root aneurysm who was then diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. The patient suffered an intraoperative type B dissection with lower extremity malperfusion managed with an axillary-bifemoral extra-anatomic bypass.

Phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance patterns in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) bacterial symbionts.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health problem. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the factors driving the spread of resistance among environmental microorganisms is limited, and few studies have been performed worldwide. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.

Intra- and Inter-Seasonal Fitness and Training Load Variations of Elite U20 Soccer Players.

Inherent physical and anthropometric traits of elite soccer players, influenced by nature and nurture, account for the emergence of performances across time. The present study aimed to evaluate inter- and intraseasonal differences and the influence of playing position on training and fitness metrics in talented young soccer players. A total of 74 male players from U20 teams of a single elite club were tested both at beginning, during, and at the end of three consecutive competitive seasons.

Biosynthesis of 2-Heptanone, a Volatile Organic Compound with a Protective Role against Honey Bee Pathogens, by Hive Associated Bacteria.

Beehives are populated by bacterial species with a protective role against honey bee pathogens thanks to the production of bioactive metabolites. These compounds are largely unexploited despite their high potential interest for pest management. This study evaluated the capability of bacterial species associated with honey bees to produce 2-heptanone, a volatile organic compound with anesthetic properties of the parasitic mite .

Honey bee-associated bacteria as producers of bioactive compounds for protecting hives. A biosynthetic gene-based approach.

Honey bee-associated bacteria are a source of natural compounds of interest for controlling hive decline which is threatening bee health globally. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of a series of extracellular compounds released by bacteria living on the external surface of honey bees were investigated. A biosynthetic gene-based approach was adopted by developing a battery of primers to target the genes involved in the biosynthesis of four groups of bioactive compounds (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, surfactin, 2-heptanone and helveticin J).

Isolation of bacterial microbiota associated to honey bees and evaluation of potential biocontrol agents of .

The honey bee parasitic mite is one of the main causes of depopulation of bee colonies. Bacterial symbionts associated to honey bees are known to produce a variety of bioactive molecules that have been suggested to play a protective role against honey bee pathogens. We hypothesised that among these bacteria, those colonising the external body of honey bees, and therefore able to survive and reproduce in the hive environment outside the insect gut, may be good candidate biocontrol agents to be tested against .

Secondary Metabolites Produced by Honey Bee-Associated Bacteria for Apiary Health: Potential Activity of Platynecine.

Secondary metabolites of bacteria associated with honey bees were evaluated as part of an investigation on their potentiality for apiary health. Low molecular weight compounds released into culture filtrates by the four bacterial isolates taken from surface of healthy honey bees were analyzed using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Only one low molecular weight compound was found in the culture filtrate of each isolate.

Changes in rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with tree decline: grapevine esca syndrome case study.

An investigation was carried out on rhizosphere bacteria to determine if they may be associated with perennial crops affected by nonspecific decline, a phenomenon that is difficult to diagnose and prevent. Esca disease of grapevine was chosen for this case study because of its easy foliar symptom identification. Ribosomal DNA fingerprint analysis by polymerase chain reaction - denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and rDNA amplicon sequencing by next-generation sequencing (NGS) were adopted to investigate the bacterial communities associated with grapevines, which were selected for the presence and absence of external foliar symptoms in 11 vineyards.

Chemical mixtures and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of natural microbial community in the Tiber river.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) regulates freshwater and coastal water quality assessment in Europe. Chemical and ecological water quality status is based on measurements of chemical pollutants in water and biota together with other indicators such as temperature, nutrients, species compositions (phytoplankton, microalgae, benthos and fish) and hydromorphological conditions. However, in the current strategy a link between the chemical and the ecological status is missing.

Molecular stress responses to nano-sized zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles in the soil bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Nanotoxicological studies were performed in vitro using the common soil bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri to assess the potentially toxic impact of commercial nano-sized zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles, which are currently used for environmental remediation projects. The phenotypic response of P. stutzeri to nZVI toxicity includes an initial insult to the cell wall, as evidenced by TEM micrographs.

Impact of Ag and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on soil organisms: in vitro and soil experiments.

In vitro analyses were conducted to assess the impact of Al2O3 and Ag nanoparticles on two common soil bacteria, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas stutzeri. Al2O3 nanoparticles did not show significant toxicity at any dose or time assayed, whereas exposure to 5 mg L(-1) Ag nanoparticles for 48 h caused bactericidal effects. Moreover, alterations at the morphological level were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM); Ag but not Al2O3 nanoparticles evoked the entrance of B.

Integrating classical and molecular approaches to evaluate the impact of nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) on soil organisms.

Nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) is a new option for the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, but the effect of nZVI on soil biota is mostly unknown. In this work, nanotoxicological studies were performed in vitro and in two different standard soils to assess the effect of nZVI on autochthonous soil organisms by integrating classical and molecular analysis. Standardised ecotoxicity testing methods using Caenorhabditis elegans were applied in vitro and in soil experiments and changes in microbial biodiversity and biomarker gene expression were used to assess the responses of the microbial community to nZVI.

Effects of nano zero-valent iron on Klebsiella oxytoca and stress response.

Nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) is a new option for contaminated soil and groundwater treatment, despite little is known on their impact on environmental microorganisms. Klebsiella oxytoca K5 strain, isolated from the NZVI-treated soil, was used to investigate the bacterial, phenotypical and molecular response to commercial NZVI exposure. Cytotoxicity assays at three NZVI concentrations (1, 5 and 10 mg mL(-1)) suggested a negligible bacteriostatic effect and the lack of bactericidal effect.

Transcriptional and proteomic stress responses of a soil bacterium Bacillus cereus to nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles.

Nanosized zero valent iron (nZVI) is emerging as an option for treating contaminated soil and groundwater even though the potentially toxic impact exerted by nZVI on soil microorganisms remains uncertain. In this work, we focus on nanotoxicological studies performed in vitro using commercial nZVI and one common soil bacterium (Bacillus cereus). Results showed a negative impact of nZVI on B.

Application of bioplastic moving bed biofilm carriers for the removal of synthetic pollutants from wastewater.

In this series of laboratory experiments, the feasibility of using moving bed biofilm carriers (MBBC) manufactured from existing bioplastic-based products for the removal of bisphenol A, oseltamivir, and atrazine from wastewater was evaluated. After 10-d incubation, cumulative evolution of (14)CO(2) from control (no MBBC) wastewater spiked with (14)C-labeled bisphenol A, oseltamivir or atrazine, accounted for approximately 18%, 7% and 3.5% of the total added radioactivity, respectively.

Deterioration of bioplastic carrier bags in the environment and assessment of a new recycling alternative.

Increasing environmental concerns and the introduction of technologies based on renewable resources have stimulated the replacement of persistent petroleum-derived plastics with biodegradable plastics from biopolymers. As a consequence, a variety of products are currently manufactured from bioplastic, including carrier bags. This series of studies investigated the deterioration of carrier bags made with Mater-Bi (MB), a starch-based bioplastic, in soil, compost and two aquatic ecosystems, a littoral marsh and seawater.

Effect of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) on the bacterial community structure of a surface water ecosystem analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The antiviral drug Tamiflu has received particular attention because of its recommended use against the influenza A H5N1 and H1N1 viruses. Given its resistance to degradation and its hydrophilicity the active metabolite, Oseltamivir Carboxylate (OC), is expected to enter the aquatic ecosystem from sewage treatment plants. In the present paper the bacterial community of surface water samples, treated with OC (1.

Removal of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and other selected pharmaceuticals from wastewater using a granular bioplastic formulation entrapping propagules of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The capacity of the ligninolytic fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade a wide variety of environmentally persistent xenobiotics has been largely reported in the literature. Beside other factors, one barrier to a wider use of this bioremediation fungus is the availability of effective formulations that ensure easy preparation, handling and application. In this series of laboratory experiments, we evaluated the efficiency of a granular bioplastic formulation entrapping propagules of P.

Dissipation and removal of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in different aquatic environments.

The antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) has received recent attention due to the potential use as a first-line defense against H5N1 and H1N1 influenza viruses. Research has shown that oseltamivir is not removed during conventional wastewater treatments, thus having the potential to enter surface water bodies. A series of laboratory experiments investigated the fate and the removal of oseltamivir in two surface water ecosystems of Japan and in a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Northern Italy.

The role of a groundwater bacterial community in the degradation of the herbicide terbuthylazine.

A bacterial community in an aquifer contaminated by s-triazines was studied. Groundwater microcosms were treated with terbuthylazine at a concentration of 100 microg L(-1) and degradation of the herbicide was assessed. The bacterial community structure (abundance and phylogenetic composition) and function (carbon production and cell viability) were analysed.

A new fluorescent oligonucleotide probe for in situ detection of s-triazine-degrading Rhodococcus wratislaviensis in contaminated groundwater and soil samples.

A bacterial strain (FPA1) capable of using terbuthylazine, simazine, atrazine, 2-hydroxysimazine, deethylatrazine, isopropylamine or ethylamine as its sole carbon source was isolated from a shallow aquifer chronically contaminated with s-triazine herbicides. Based on its 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the strain FPA1 was identified as Rhodococcus wratislaviensis. The disappearance time of 50% of the initial terbuthylazine concentration in the presence of this strain (DT(50)) was 62days.

Use of a granular bioplastic formulation for carrying conidia of a non-aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus.

Previous research demonstrated that aflatoxin contamination in corn is reduced by field application of wheat grains pre-inoculated with the non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain NRRL 30797. To facilitate field applications of this biocontrol isolate, a series of laboratory studies were conducted on the reliability and efficiency of replacing wheat grains with the novel bioplastic formulation Mater-Bi to serve as a carrier matrix to formulate this fungus. Mater-Bi granules were inoculated with a conidial suspension of NRRL 30797 to achieve a final cell density of approximately log 7 conidia/granule.

Environmental fate of the antiviral drug Tamiflu in two aquatic ecosystems.

The antiviral drug Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate, OP), has been indicated by the World Health Organization as a first-line defense in case of an avian influenza pandemic. Recent studies have demonstrated that Oseltamivir Carboxylate (OC), the active metabolite of the prodrug OP, has the potential to be released into water bodies. The present laboratory study focused on basic processes governing the environmental fate of OC in surface water from two contrasting aquatic ecosystems of northern Italy, the River Po and the Venice lagoon.

Meeting report: risk assessment of tamiflu use under pandemic conditions.

On 3 October 2007, 40 participants with diverse expertise attended the workshop Tamiflu and the Environment: Implications of Use under Pandemic Conditions to assess the potential human health impact and environmental hazards associated with use of Tamiflu during an influenza pandemic. Based on the identification and risk-ranking of knowledge gaps, the consensus was that oseltamivir ethylester-phosphate (OE-P) and oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) were unlikely to pose an ecotoxicologic hazard to freshwater organisms. OC in river water might hasten the generation of OC-resistance in wildfowl, but this possibility seems less likely than the potential disruption that could be posed by OC and other pharmaceuticals to the operation of sewage treatment plants.

Current knowledge and future directions on bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients.

Background: Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a severe adverse event of long-term use of bisphosphonates that heavily affects the quality of life of cancer patients.

Objective: To review epidemiologic data, pathobiology, risk factors, diagnosis and management of BRONJ.

Methods: Articles were identified by searching the PubMed and MEDLINE databases and recent meetings abstracts.