Validation and Ecological Niche Investigation of a New Fungal Intraspecific Competitor as a Biocontrol Agent for the Sustainable Containment of Aflatoxins on Maize Fields

Crop yield and plant products quality are directly or indirectly affected by climate alterations. Adverse climatic conditions often promote the occurrence of different abiotic stresses, which can reduce or enhance the susceptibility to pests or pathogens. Aflatoxin producing fungi, in particular, whose diffusion and deleterious consequences on cereals commodities have been demonstrated to highly depend on the temperature and humidity conditions that threaten increasingly larger areas. Biological methods using intraspecific competitors to prevent fungal development and/or toxin production at the pre-harvest level are particularly promising, even if their efficacy could be affected by the ecological interaction within the resident microbial population. A previously characterized Aspergillus flavus atoxigenic strain was applied in two maize fields to validate its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent against aflatoxin contamination. At one month post-application, at the harvest stage, its persistence within the A. flavus population colonizing the maize kernels in the treated area was assessed, and its efficacy was compared in vitro with a representation of the isolated atoxigenic population. Results proved that our fungal competitor contained the aflatoxin level on maize grains as successfully as a traditional chemical strategy, even if representing less than 30% of the atoxigenic strains re-isolated, and achieved the best performance (in terms of bio-competitive potential) concerning endogenous atoxigenic isolates

Exploring the human chorionic gonadotropin induced steroid secretion profile of mouse Leydig tumor cell line 1 by a 20 steroid LC-MS/MS panel

: The canonical androgen synthesis in Leydig cells involves Δ5 and Δ4 steroids. Besides, the backdoor pathway, eompassing 5α and 5α,3α steroids, is gaining interest in fetal and adult pathophysiology. Moreover, the role of androgen epimers and progesterone metabolites is still unknown. We developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for measuring 20 steroids and used it to investigate the steroid secretion induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the mouse Leydig tumor cell line 1 (mLTC1). Steroids were extracted from 500 µL supernatants from unstimulated or 100 pM hCG-exposed mLTC1 cells, separated on a Luna C8 100 × 3 mm, 3 µm column, with 100 µM NH4F and methanol as mobile phases, and analyzed by positive electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring. Sensitivity ranged within 0.012-38.0 nmol/L. Intra-assay and inter-assay imprecision were < 9.1% and 10.0%, respectively. Trueness, recovery and matrix factor were within 93.4-122.0, 55.6-104.1 and 76.4-106.3%, respectively. Levels of 16OH-progesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, androstenedione, 11-deoxycorticosterone, testosterone, 17OH-progesterone, androstenedione, epitestosterone, dihydrotestosterone, progesterone, androsterone and 17OH-allopregnanolone were effectively measured. Traces of 17OH-dihydroprogesterone, androstanediol and dihydroprogesterone were found, whereas androstenediol, 17OH-pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone and allopregnanolone showed no peak. hCG induced an increase of 80.2-102.5 folds in 16OH-progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone, 16.6 in dihydrotestosterone, 12.2-27.5 in epitestosterone, progesterone and metabolites, 8.1 in 17OH-allopregnanolone and ≤ 3.3 in 5α and 5α,3α steroids. In conclusion, our LC-MS/MS method allows exploring the Leydig steroidogenesis flow according to multiple pathways. Beside the expected stimulation of the canonical pathway, hCG increased progesterone metabolism and, to a low extent, the backdoor route

Physical Exercise in Major Depression: Reducing the Mortality Gap While Improving Clinical Outcomes

Major depression shortens life while the effectiveness of frontline treatments remains modest. Exercise has been shown to be effective both in reducing mortality and in treating symptoms of major depression, but it is still underutilized in clinical practice, possibly due to prevalent misperceptions. For instance, a common misperception is that exercise is beneficial for depression mostly because of its positive effects on the body (“from the neck down”), whereas its effectiveness in treating core features of depression (“from the neck up”) is underappreciated. Other long-held misperceptions are that patients suffering from depression will not engage in exercise even if physicians prescribe it, and that only vigorous exercise is effective. Lastly, a false assumption is that exercise may be more harmful than beneficial in old age, and therefore should only be recommended to younger patients. This narrative review summarizes relevant literature to address the aforementioned misperceptions and to provide practical recommendations for prescribing exercise to individuals with major depression

Physical Exercise in Major Depression: Reducing the Mortality Gap While Improving Clinical Outcomes

Major depression shortens life while the effectiveness of frontline treatments remains modest. Exercise has been shown to be effective both in reducing mortality and in treating symptoms of major depression, but it is still underutilized in clinical practice, possibly due to prevalent misperceptions. For instance, a common misperception is that exercise is beneficial for depression mostly because of its positive effects on the body ("from the neck down"), whereas its effectiveness in treating core features of depression ("from the neck up") is underappreciated. Other long-held misperceptions are that patients suffering from depression will not engage in exercise even if physicians prescribe it, and that only vigorous exercise is effective. Lastly, a false assumption is that exercise may be more harmful than beneficial in old age, and therefore should only be recommended to younger patients. This narrative review summarizes relevant literature to address the aforementioned misperceptions and to provide practical recommendations for prescribing exercise to individuals with major depression

Landscape as a Palimpsest for Energy Transition: Correlations between the Spatial Development of Energy-Production Infrastructure and Climate-Mitigation Goals

The spatial footprint of energy infrastructures requires a re-evaluation of design and planning processes, especially in relation to the sustainable development goals enshrined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This study investigates the Ravenna area (Italy)’s transition potential towards renewable energy sources, considering their spatial interaction with the landscape and the environment. The primary objective is to identify the opportunities and limitations associated with each type of renewable energy production and provide indications for the strategic actions needed to achieve total emissions reduction by 2050. The methodology applied involves several steps to compare both the efficiency and the spatial arrangements of alternative mono-energy scenarios over time. In order to manage the uncertainty inherent in technological development and the variability of territorial policies, the study puts forward the hypothesis of a mixed strategy capable of structuring the energy transition on the specificities of the local landscape palimpsest by identifying location criteria and related impacts. The research demonstrates how site-specific assessments are important to inform resilient strategic choices, and provide decision-makers and stakeholders with data and spatialized representations of future scenarios to discuss and share

Giant Cell Tumor of Bone in Patients under 16 Years Old: A Single-Institution Case Series

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone is a locally aggressive, rarely metastasizing tumor that accounts for about 5% of bone tumors and generally occurs in patients between 20 and 45 years old. A driver mutation in the histone 3.3 (H3.3) gene H3F3A has been identified in as many as 96% of giant cell tumors of bone. The immunohistochemical expression of H3F3A H3.3 G34 expression was found in 97.8% of cases. In the present study, we describe our series of cases of giant cell tumor of bone in pediatric patients &lt;16 years old. Methods: All cases of giant cell tumor of bone in pediatric patients &lt;16 years old treated in our institute between 1982 and 2018 were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry and/or molecular analysis for H3F3A gene mutations was performed to confirm the diagnosis. A group of aneurysmal bone cysts in patients &lt;16 years old was used as a control group. Results: Fifteen cases were retrieved. A pronounced female predominance (93%) was observed. A pure metaphyseal central location occurs in 2 skeletally immature patients. Conclusions: Giant cell tumor of bone should be distinguished from its mimickers due to differences in prognosis and treatment. Immunohistochemical and molecular detection of H3F3A gene mutation represents a reliable diagnostic tool.</jats:p

Giant Cell Tumor of Bone in Patients under 16 Years Old: A Single-Institution Case Series

none9noGiant cell tumor of the bone is a locally aggressive, rarely metastasizing tumor that accounts for about 5% of bone tumors; it generally occurs in patients between 20 and 45 years old. Sporadic cases (less than 140) have been described as occurring in the first two decades of life. A histone 3.3 (H3.3) gene, H3F3A, has been recently identified in as many as 96% of giant cell tumors of bone. These mutations are useful in the differential diagnosis of giant cell tumor of bone with its mimickers. The immunohistochemical expression of H3F3A resulted comparable to molecular analysis as reported in a recent investigation. In the present study, we describe our series of giant cell tumors of bone in pediatric patients &lt;16 years old.openAmbrosi, Francesca; Righi, Alberto; Benini, Stefania; Magagnoli, Giovanna; Chiaramonte, Ilaria; Manfrini, Marco; Gasbarrini, Alessandro; Frisoni, Tommaso; Gambarotti, MarcoAmbrosi, Francesca; Righi, Alberto; Benini, Stefania; Magagnoli, Giovanna; Chiaramonte, Ilaria; Manfrini, Marco; Gasbarrini, Alessandro; Frisoni, Tommaso; Gambarotti, Marc

Tabagism and its management in Italian Psychiatric Intensive Care General Hospital Units

reserved7noAim. The aim of this paper was to survey the current management of the problem of smoking in our Mental Health Units, the structural characteristics of the units and how a total smoking ban would be perceived by doctors and nurses. Method. An 18 items survey about smoking habits of inpatients and department inner regulations was sent to the Head Physician and the Charge Nurse of all the Intensive Psychiatric Care General Hospital Units in Italy (228 units), in order to increase the answer rate and to investigate if the perception of the problem is eventually different between the two groups. Results. We collected 65 answers from Head Physician and 79 from Nurses. Both groups think that the smoking rates for inpatients are between 50-100%. Most of the units is locked, with or without an external space, so that a total smoking ban is considered difficult to achieve by both groups. A very high rate of units has no specific rooms for smokers. In most cases the issue management is solved by a self-regulation, based on collecting cigarettes and lighters and granting a limited number of cigarettes per day. Anyway, an institutional intervention would be appreciated especially by nurses, who seem to be even more involved in the issue management and both of groups seem to badly judge the lack of sources to face the eventual ban: particularly the possibility to offer nicotine replacement therapy, a cognitive-behavioural support and providing more staff education would all be considered useful to implement the success rate of the ban. By the way, both of groups seem skeptical about the possibility of a total smoking-free policy in Acute Psychiatric Hospital Units. Though, a difference in the problem’s perception between the two groups has been noticed. Discussion. Smoking cessation remains a neglected area in psychiatry, in part due to misconceptions about smoking in the mentally ill, i.e. the idea that smoking cessation will exacerbate mental illness, aggression and suicide risk, even though these believes are not supported by evidence; in part due to the lack of institutional intervention and the structural deficiencies of the units.mixedCorsini G.; Trabucco A.; Respino M.; Magagnoli M.; Spiridigliozzi D.; Escelsior A.; Amore M.Corsini, G.; Trabucco, A.; Respino, M.; Magagnoli, Marco; Spiridigliozzi, D.; Escelsior, A.; Amore, M

“DIFESAMAIS”: AN ITALIAN PROJECT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AFLATOXIN CROPS CONTAMINATION

Corn aflatoxins contamination is one of the main issue that farmers of large areas of Europe have to cope with. Different strategies have been implemented to try to reduce, if not eliminate, toxin contamination at the pre-harvest level; however, a careful analysis of the costs/efficacy of each of the various inputs must be performed in order to provide an acceptable income for the farmers. On the other hand, there is an increasing market demand for food and feed commodities obtained with environmentally low-impact practices possibly through the experimentation of innovative and organic defense techniques. Minimization of mycotoxin risk requires a multifactorial approach since climatic, agronomic and phytoiatric factors are found to interact each other in complex, local ecological realities. The “DIFESAMAIS” project intends to design and validate an innovative combined approach addressed to the development and the valorization of organic farming/integrated production of corn, with particular attention to the maintenance of biodiversity. Both academic and industrial partners (PROGEO S.C.A. and AGRITES s.r.l.) were involved in the present project. The main stakeholders are farmers which will have the opportunity to acquire the economic expertise and the technical tools to implement an ecologically sustainable maize cultivation by a reduction of chemical inputs. Among the various activities performed in the framework of the Project, we will report the validation of a sustainable procedure to reduce aflatoxin contamination by bio-competition approaches, based on: 1) the use of non-aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus, and 2) the validation of technologies for Ostrinia nubilalis control. Aflatoxin containment, biocontrol, maize protection Funding have been provided by the Emilia Romagna Rural Developing Program (PSR 2014-2020), Project n. 5004325 “DIFESAMAIS: Development of innovative defense technologies to increase environmental sustainability of corn production”