Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Hemiptera: Liviidae) (Asian citrus psyllid) for the EU. is a key pest of citrus in several countries as it is a vector of serious bacterial pathogens, the putative causal agents of Huanglongbing (HLB) also known as citrus greening. Eggs are laid on tips of growing shoots on and between unfurling leaves.

Pest categorisation of the non-EU phytoplasmas of tuber-forming spp.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of four phytoplasmas of tuber-forming spp. known to occur only outside the EU or having a limited presence in the EU. The only tuber-forming species of reported to be phytoplasma infected is .

List of non-EU phytoplasmas of tuber-forming spp.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health prepared a list of non-EU phytoplasmas of tuber-forming spp. A systematic literature review and search of databases identified 12 phytoplasmas infecting . These phytoplasmas were assigned to three categories.

Pest categorisation of beet necrotic yellow vein virus.

Following a request from the EU Commission, the Panel on Plant Health performed a categorisation of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the causal agent of the sugar beet rhizomania disease. The virus is currently listed in Annex III as a protected zone (PZ) quarantine pest of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. The identity of the BNYVV is well established.

Commodity risk assessment of oak logs with bark from the US for the oak wilt pathogen under an integrated systems approach.

The European Commission submitted to the EFSA Panel on Plant Health a Dossier by USDA proposing a systems approach to mitigate the risk of entry of to the EU when trading oak logs with bark from the USA. Due to the forthcoming ban of methyl bromide (MB), the Dossier indicates sulfuryl fluoride (SF) as the substitute fumigant for this commodity. After collecting additional evidence from USDA,EU NPPOs, external experts and the published literature, the Panel performed a quantitative assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom for at the point of entry in the EU, comparing the proposed systems approach with those already implemented by Commission Decision 2005/359/EC.

The influence of lifestyle factors on miRNA expression and signal pathways: a review.

The term 'lifestyle' includes different factors that contribute to the maintenance of a good health status. Increasing evidences suggest that lifestyle factors may influence epigenetic mechanisms, such as miRNAs expression. The dysregulation of miRNAs can modify the expression of genes and molecular pathways that may lead to functional alterations.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the Colorado potato beetle, (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for the EU. is primarily known as a major defoliator of potatoes (); feeding damage can result in significant yield loss. Field grown tomatoes and eggplants can be attacked and wild solanaceous species are also hosts.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: .

Members of the family have single-stranded circular RNA genomes that adopt a rod-like or a quasi-rod-like conformation. These genomes contain a central conserved region that is involved in replication in the nucleus through an asymmetric RNA-RNA rolling-circle mechanism. Members of the family lack the hammerhead ribozymes that are typical of viroids classified in the family .

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for the EU. This subspecies occurs in North and Central America. Adults oviposit on annual plants in the families Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae and Solanaceae.

New Insights in Laboratory Testing for COVID-19 Patients: Looking for the Role and Predictive Value of (HE4) and the Innate Immunity of the Oral Cavity and Respiratory Tract.

COVID-19 is a viral pandemic caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, an enveloped positive stranded RNA virus. The mechanisms of innate immunity, considered as the first line of antiviral defense, is essential towards viruses. A significant role in host defense of the lung, nasal and oral cavities is played by Human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) HE4 has been demonstrated to be serum inflammatory biomarker and to show a role in natural immunity at the level of oral cavity, nasopharynx and respiratory tract with both antimicrobial/antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for the EU. This species occurs in western USA and Mexico. Adults oviposit on annual plants in the families Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae and Solanaceae.

Novel Fig-Associated Viroid-Like RNAs Containing Hammerhead Ribozymes in Both Polarity Strands Identified by High-Throughput Sequencing.

Based on high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data, the existence of viroid-like RNAs (Vd-LRNAs) associated with fig trees grown in the Hawaiian Islands has been predicted. One of these RNAs has been characterized as a circular RNA ranging in size from 357 to 360 nucleotides. Structural and biochemical features of this RNA, tentatively named fig hammerhead viroid-like RNA (FHVd-LR), markedly resemble those previously reported for several viroids and viroid-like satellite RNAs (Vd-LsatRNAs), which are non-protein-coding RNAs infecting their hosts autonomously and in combination with a helper virus, respectively.

Baseline and incident hypochloremia in chronic heart failure outpatients: Clinical correlates and prognostic role.

Background: Electrolyte serum disorders are associated with poor outcome in chronic heart failure. The aim of this study sought to identify the main driver of incident hypochloremia in chronic HF (CHF) outpatients and to determine the prognostic value of baseline and incident hypochloremia.

Methods: Consecutive CHF outpatients were enrolled and clinical, laboratoristic and echocardiographic evaluations were performed at baseline and repeated yearly in a subgroup of patients.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) for the EU. occurs in Japan, China and Taiwan and has spread to the USA: Florida, Hawaii and the territory of Puerto Rico. is a polyphagous mealybug recorded feeding on roots of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the EU territory. is a polyphagous pest reported to feed on 385 plant species; cultivated hosts include alfalfa, beans, brassicas, carrots, clover, onions, peas, potatoes and soft fruits. is native to eastern South America.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Coleoptera: Rutelidae) (Oriental beetle) for the EU. Larvae feed on the roots of a variety of hosts including most grasses and many vegetable crops. Maize, pineapples, sugarcane are among the main host plants.

Commodity risk assessment of plants from Israel.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health was requested to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in the relevant Implementing Acts as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects' [Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 establishing a provisional list of high risk plants, plant products or other objects, within the meaning of Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031]. The current Scientific Opinion covers all plant health risks posed by bare rooted plants for planting of (1 year old with a stem diameter of less than 2.5 cm) imported from Israel, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Israel by 26 December 2019.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Diptera: Agromyzidae) for the EU. (the tomato leaf miner; EPPO code: LIRIBO) is a polyphagous Palaearctic species which probably originates from southern Europe, where it occurs commonly outdoors and has now spread to many parts of central and northern Europe, where it is only found in greenhouses. The species is also reported in North Africa and in several countries in Asia.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Diptera: Agromyzidae) for the EU. (the cabbage or vegetable leaf miner; EPPO code: LIRISA) is a polyphagous pest native to the Americas which has spread to Africa, Asia and Oceania. can have multiple overlapping generations per year.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Malloch) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) for the European Union (EU). is an oligophagous pest; cultivated hosts include , lettuce and other Asteraceae although there is little evidence of recent impacts. occurs widely in the Americas and is present on the island of Madeira (Portugal), where it is under official control.

Electrospun nanofibers in cancer research: from engineering of in vitro 3D cancer models to therapy.

Electrospinning is historically related to tissue engineering due to its ability to produce nano-/microscale fibrous materials with mechanical and functional properties that are extremely similar to those of the extracellular matrix of living tissues. The general interest in electrospun fibrous matrices has recently expanded to cancer research both as scaffolds for in vitro cancer modelling and as patches for in vivo therapeutic delivery. In this review, we examine electrospinning by providing a brief description of the process and overview of most materials used in this process, discussing the effect of changing the process parameters on fiber conformations and assemblies.

Commodity risk assessment of plants from .

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation EU/2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers all plant health risks posed by unrooted cuttings of produced in a protected environment (greenhouse) that are imported from Israel, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the NPPO of Israel by 15 March 2020. The relevance of an EU quarantine pest for this opinion was based on evidence that: (i) the pest is present in Israel; (ii) is a host of the pest; and (iii) the pest can be associated with the commodity.

Taste and Smell Disorders in COVID-19 Patients: Role of Interleukin-6.

The rapid recovery of smell and taste functions in COVID-19 patients could be attributed to a decrease in interleukin-6 levels rather than central nervous system ischemic injury or viral damage to neuronal cells. To correlate interleukin-6 levels in COVID-19 patients with olfactory or gustatory dysfunctions and to investigate the role of IL-6 in the onset of these disorders, this observational study investigated 67 COVID-19 patients with taste or smell disorders or both, who did not require intensive care admission, admitted at COVID Hospital of Policlinico of Bari from March to May 2020. Interleukin-6 was assayed in COVID-19 patients with taste or smell disturbances at the time of admission and at the time of swab negativization.