Identification of Legionella by MALDI Biotyper through three preparation methods and an in-house library comparing phylogenetic and hierarchical cluster results.

The identification and typing of bacteria are very expensive and time-consuming due to their growth times, and the expertise needed. MALDI-TOF MS represents a fast technique, reproducible with molecular approaches. This technique is still poorly applied in Legionella surveillance with estimation occurring only at the genus level.

The low-lying electronic states of 4H-pyran-4-thione; a photoionization and vacuum ultraviolet absorption study, with interpretation by configuration interaction and density functional calculations for the ionic and singlet states.

Two synchrotron-based studies on 4H-pyran-4-thione, photoelectron spectroscopy and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectra were performed. A highly resolved structure was observed in the photoelectron spectrum (PES), in contrast to an earlier PES study, where little structure was observed. The sequence of ionic states was determined using configuration interaction and coupled cluster methods.

Immune-Inflammatory Response in Lifespan-What Role Does It Play in Extreme Longevity? A Sicilian Semi- and Supercentenarians Study.

Studying models of healthy aging and exceptional longevity is crucial to understanding a possible longevity signature, as most show resistance to age-related diseases. In particular, semi- and supercentenarians are a highly selected group, having survived significant adversities, including the Spanish flu and COVID-19 pandemics, indicating distinctive immune system characteristics. This paper analyzes the inflammatory scores (INFLA-score, Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI)) and Aging-Related Immune Phenotype (ARIP) indicators calculated from the dataset of the DESIGN project, including 249 participants aged 19-111 years, aiming to understand the immune-inflammatory (IMFLAM) role in achieving longevity.

The Da Vinci Robot, a promising yet underused minimally invasive tool for spine surgery: A scoping review of its current role and limits.

Background: The Da Vinci robot ® (DVR), released in the early 2000s, provided a set of innovation aiming at pushing minimally invasive surgery forward. Its stereoscopic magnified visualization camera, motions that exceed the natural range of the human hand, or tremor reduction enhanced the surgeon's skills and added value in many surgical fields.

Objective: To map the current use of the DVR in spine surgery, identify gaps, address its limits and future perspectives.

A comprehensive analysis framework for evaluating commercial single-cell RNA sequencing technologies.

This study examined nine prominent commercially available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) kits across four technology groups. Each kit was characterized using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a single donor, which enabled consistent assessment of factors such as analytical performance, protocol duration and cost. The Chromium Fixed RNA Profiling kit from 10× Genomics, with its probe-based RNA detection method, demonstrated the best overall performance.

Comparing remote programming of cochlear implants using two methods: portable laptop and remote hosted site.

Objectives: Compare two remote programming methods as a clinical service for user satisfaction, ease of use, preparation time and accessibility.

Method: Method 1 (Portable Laptop): A 'Programming Kit' including laptop was shipped to cochlear implant users' homes ( = 20). The audiologist at the implant center used remote desktop control of this laptop to adjust subjects' speech processors.

Borylated Monosaccharide 3-Boronic-3-deoxy-d-galactose: Detailed NMR Spectroscopic Characterisation, and Method for Spectroscopic Analysis of Anomeric and Boron Equilibria.

Drug leads with a high Fsp index are more likely to possess desirable properties for progression in the drug development pipeline. This paper describes the first detailed NMR analysis of the borylated intermediate 3-deoxy-3-boronodiethanolamine-1,2:5,6-di--isopropylidene-α-d-galactofuranose and of the corresponding free monosaccharide analogue 3-boronic-3-deoxy-d-galactose in the early stage of the concurrent equilibrium processes of mutarotation and borarotation. A discussion of all potential equilibria is also presented alongside a comparison with relevant B-NMR data available from the scientific literature and our own library.

Home-based, computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation for attention in pediatric onset multiple sclerosis: a randomized, multicenter pilot study.

Objective: Cognitive impairment affects approximately 30% of pediatric onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) patients with a negative impact on everyday life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based, computer-assisted training of attention in patients with POMS.

Methods: This was a randomized double-blind study.

Starvation-induced metabolic rewiring affects mTORC1 composition in vivo.

Lysosomes play a crucial role in metabolic adaptation to starvation, but detailed in vivo studies are scarce. Therefore, we investigated the changes of the proteome of liver lysosomes in mice starved short-term for 6h or long-term for 24h. We verified starvation-induced catabolism by weight loss, ketone body production, drop in blood glucose and an increase of 3-methylhistidine.

Exploring knowledge, perception, and use of surface electromyography in physiotherapy post graduate trainees in Italy: a single center preliminary survey.

Introduction: Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a non-invasive technique that records muscle electrical activity using skin-surface electrodes, aiding physiotherapists in assessing and treating muscular and neuromuscular conditions. Despite its potential, sEMG remains underutilized in Italy. This study aims to evaluate Italian physiotherapists' knowledge and use of sEMG, specifically among those who completed the Master's Degree in Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal and Rheumatological Disorders at the University of Genoa.

Management of large Trigeminal Schwannoma: long-term oncologic and functional outcome from a multicentric retrospective cohort.

Objective: Trigeminal schwannoma (TS), though a rare and benign tumor, becomes a significant surgical challenge due to its intricate location. This study aims to detail the long-term functional outcomes and tumor control post-surgical resection.

Method: We analyzed a multicentric retrospective cohort of 39 patients operated on for a TS in five tertiary centers between January 1993 and July 2022.

Hanle Effect for Lifetime Determinations in the Soft X-Ray Regime.

By exciting a series of 1s^{2} ^{1}S_{0}→1snp^{1}P_{1} transitions in heliumlike nitrogen ions with linearly polarized monochromatic soft x rays at the Elettra facility, we found a change in the angular distribution of the fluorescence sensitive to the principal quantum number n. In particular it is observed that the ratio of emission in directions parallel and perpendicular to the polarization of incident radiation increases with higher n. We find this n dependence to be a manifestation of the Hanle effect, which served as a practical tool for lifetime determinations of optical transitions since its discovery in 1924.

The Molecules Gateway: A Homogeneous, Searchable Database of 150k Annotated Molecules from Actinomycetes.

Natural products are a sustainable resource for drug discovery, but their identification in complex mixtures remains a daunting task. We present an automated pipeline that compares, harmonizes and ranks the annotations of LC-HRMS data by different tools. When applied to 7,400 extracts derived from 6,566 strains belonging to 86 actinomycete genera, it yielded 150,000 molecules after processing over 50 million MS features.

Discogenic Low Back Pain: Anatomic and Pathophysiologic Characterization, Clinical Evaluation, Biomarkers, AI, and Treatment Options.

Discogenic low back pain (LBP) is a significant clinical condition arising from degeneration of the intervertebral disc, a common yet complex cause of chronic pain, defined by fissuring in the annulus fibrosus resulting in vascularization of growing granulation tissue and growth of nociceptive nerve fibers along the laceration area. This paper delves into the anatomical and pathophysiological underpinnings of discogenic LBP, emphasizing the role of intervertebral disc degeneration in the onset of pain. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving processes like mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of advanced glycation end products, and pyroptosis, all contributing to disc degeneration and subsequent pain.

Core and valence photoelectron spectroscopy of a series of substituted disulfides.

The valence and core photoelectron spectra of three substituted disulfide systems, α-lipoic acid, trans-4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-dithiane, and di-Boc-cystamine, are presented alongside detailed theoretical analysis based on equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles doubles for ionization potentials and the nuclear ensemble approach. A comparison of the linear and five- and six-membered ring cyclic structures reveals that the energetic separation of the non-bonding sulfur orbitals can be used to calculate a reliable estimate of the C-S-S-C dihedral angle, even for substituted disulfides, and that the sulfur 2p, oxygen 1s, and valence band photoelectron spectra are a useful site-specific probe of hydrogen bonding.

γδ T-Cell Immunophenotype for the Study of Human Aging.

Flow cytometry serves as a crucial tool in immunology, allowing for the detailed analysis of immune cell populations. γδ T cells, a subset of T cells, play pivotal roles in immune surveillance and immune aging. Assessing the phenotype and functional capabilities of γδ T cells isolated from whole blood or tissue within the context of human aging yields invaluable insights into the dynamic changes affecting immune function, tissue homeostasis, susceptibility to infections, and inflammatory responses.

Challenges and Complications in the Management of Advanced Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: Role of Post-Mortem Diagnosis and Future Perspectives.

Oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (OPSCC) poses significant challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and management and has important medico-legal and forensic implications. In particular, the management of OPSCC and its treatment-related complications can often be challenging. In cases with advanced OPSCC, a loco-regional extension of the tumor can contribute to the destruction of oral cavity tissues, while the radiotherapy treatment can induce profound changes in tissue morphology and structure.

Haptic Resources in Pain Communication: New Amputees Redirecting Doctors' Professional Touch at the Prosthetic Clinic.

Pain assessment is key in deciding whether amputee patients are fit to receive a prosthesis, but its interactional accomplishment is still underexplored. This study adopts multimodal conversation analysis to investigate how pain assessment is carried out during medical visits at an Italian prosthetic clinic involving 77 patients and 24 health professionals. In the analyzed data, doctors carry out pain assessment by asking patients whether they feel pain during palpation of the stump, and patients respond by elaborating on their sensations and using touch in turn.

Cole-Cole Model for the Dielectric Characterization of Healthy Skin and Basal Cell Carcinoma at THz Frequencies.

THz radiationeffectively probes biological tissue water content due to its high sensibility to polar molecules. Skin and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), both rich in water, have been extensively studied in the THz range. Typically, the Double Debye model is used to study their dielectric permittivity.