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The acylethanolamide anandamide (AEA) occurs in a variety of mammalian tissues and, as a result of its action on cannabinoid receptors, exhibits several cannabimimetic activities. Moreover, some of its effects are mediated through interaction with an ion channel-type vanilloid receptor. However, the chemical features of AEA suggest that some of its biological effects could be related to physical interactions with the lipidic part of the membrane. The present work studies the effect of AEA-induced structural modifications of the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer on phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, which is strictly dependent on lipid bilayer features. This study, performed by 2-dimethylamino-(6-lauroyl)-naphthalene fluorescence, demonstrates that the effect of AEA on PLA2 activity is concentration-dependent. In fact, at low AEA/DPPC molar ratios (from R = 0.001 to R = 0.04), there is an increase of the enzymatic activity, which is completely inhibited for R = 0.1. X-ray diffraction data indicate that the AEA affects DPPC membrane structural properties in a concentration-dependent manner.Because the biphasic effect of increasing AEA concentrations on PLA2 activity is related to the induced modifications of membrane bilayer structural properties, we suggest that AEA-phospholipid interactions may be important to produce, at least in part, some of the similarly biphasic responses of some physiological activities to increasing concentrations of AEA.

Dielectric Spectroscopy (DS) and TimeDomain-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) were exploited to investigate water and solid dynamics in chicken's Pectoralis major muscles having macroscopically normal appearance (N) and affected by Wooden Breasts (WB) abnormality. 147 PMM were collected and classified as macroscopically normal (N) (N=74) or Wooden Breast (WB) (N=73) based on their visual appearance and manual palpation. Protons' T 2 (transverse relaxation time), and dielectric properties were carried out. The dielectric constant ( [Formula: see text] and the loss factor ( [Formula: see text] of γ relaxation of WB samples was significantly higher than the one of N samples ( [Formula: see text] 59.8 and [Formula: see text] 18.3), while the WB revealed a low relaxation frequency (1.5 E+09) compared to N samples (1.7 E+09). WB showed a higher dielectric constant of relaxation and thus polarizability mainly due to free water, and lower relaxation frequency imputable to a more complex solid structure. This was confirmed by TD-NMR, evidencing a significant increase in the relative intensity of the proton population ascribable to the extra-myofibrillar water (32.9 vs. 21.5%; P<0.001) along with a reduction of the one occupying the intra-myofibrillar spaces (62.0 vs. 75.4%; P<0.001). These outcomes may be ascribed to the re-organization of the skeletal muscle structure associated with the onset and progression of the WB abnormality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Trazodone is a triazolpyridine derivative approved for the treatment of depression, and currently marketed as oral formulations. The transdermal administration of this drug could reduce side effects, related to peak plasma concentration, and improve patient adherence due to a reduced administration frequency. The aims of this work were: (a) the evaluation of the effect of pH vehicle and permeation enhancers on trazodone permeability across porcine skin ex-vivo; (b) the development and optimization of a transdermal drug delivery system containing trazodone hydrochloride. From the results obtained, it was found that the effect of pH of the vehicle on the permeation of trazodone across the skin is quite complex, because it influences both solubility and partitioning and that the presence of fatty acids in the vehicle has a notable effect on permeation (the enhancement factor obtained was approx. 100). For both the fatty acid selected (oleic and lauric) a parabolic relationship between the transdermal flux and the concentration was found, with an optimum activity in the range 2-3 %. In the second part of the work, different patches were prepared and tested ex-vivo. Overall, the results obtained seem to highlight that drug loading, rather than the components of the adhesive matrix, plays the most relevant role for the permeation of trazodone. The addition of lauric acid, which produced a considerable enhancement in solution, was not effective when included in the patch. The obtained data are promising although probably not clinically relevant for the treatment of depression, but might be interesting for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety disorder, which require much lower doses., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This paper comprehensively explores the development of a standalone and compact microwave sensing system tailored for automated radio frequency (RF) scattered parameter acquisitions. Coupled with an emitting RF device (antenna, resonator, open waveguide), the system could be used for non-invasive monitoring of external matter or latent environmental variables. Central to this design is the integration of a NanoVNA and a Raspberry Pi Zero W platform, allowing easy recording of S-parameters (scattering parameters) in the range of the 50 kHz-4.4 GHz frequency band. Noteworthy features include dual recording modes, manual for on-demand acquisitions and automatic for scheduled data collection, powered seamlessly by a single battery source. Thanks to the flexibility of the system's architecture, which embeds a Linux operating system, we can easily embed machine learning (ML) algorithms and predictive models for information detection. As a case study, the potential application of the integrated sensor system with an RF patch antenna is explored in the context of greenwood hydration detection within the field of smart agriculture. This innovative system enables non-invasive monitoring of wood hydration levels by analyzing scattering parameters (S-parameters). These S-parameters are then processed using ML techniques to automate the monitoring process, enabling real-time and predictive analysis of moisture levels.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is characterized by restrictive ventricular pathophysiology determined by increased myocardial stiffness. While suspicion of RCM is initially raised by clinical evaluation and supported by electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, invasive hemodynamic evaluation is often required for diagnosis and management of patients during follow-up. RCM is commonly associated with a poor prognosis and a high incidence of heart failure, and PH is reported in paediatric patients with RCM. Currently, only a few therapies are available for specific RCM aetiologies. Early referral to centres for advanced heart failure treatment is often necessary. The aim of this review is to address questions frequently asked when facing paediatric patients with RCM, including issues related to aetiologies, clinical presentation, diagnostic process and prognosis.

Introduction: The evaluation of upcoming Aortic Coarctation (CoA) in new-borns with prenatal suspicion entails a close echocardiographic monitor until Arterial Duct (AD) closure, in a department with pediatric cardiological and surgical expertise. The significant number of false-positive prenatal diagnoses causes parental stress and healthcare costs., Aim: The aim of this study was to elaborate an echocardiographic prediction model to be employed at birth when PDA is still present, in patients suspected of CoA during fetal life in order to foretell CoA requiring neonatal surgical intervention., Methods: This retrospective monocentric study included consecutive full-term and late preterm neonates with prenatal suspicion of CoA born from 01 January 2007 to 31 December 2020. Patients were divided into two groups according to the need for aortic surgery (CoA - NoCoA). All patients underwent a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic exam in presence of PDA. Multivariable logistic regression was used to create a coarctation probability model (CoMOD) including isthmal (D4), transverse arch (D3) diameters, the distance between a left common carotid artery (LCA) and left subclavian artery (LSA), presence/absence of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)., Results: We enrolled 87 neonates (49 male, 56%). 44 patients developed CoA in need of surgical repair. Our index CoMOD showed an AUC = 0.9382, high sensitivity (91%) and specificity (86%) in the prediction of CoA in neonates with prenatal suspicion. We classified neonates with CoMOD > 0 to be at high risk for surgical correction of CoA, with good PPV (86.9%) and NPV (90.9%)., Conclusions: CoMOD > 0 is highly suggestive of the need for CoA corrective surgery in newborns with prenatal suspicion.

Background: A progressively increasing prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in adulthood has been noticed in recent decades; CHD cases with a systemic right ventricle have a poorer outcome., Methods: Seventy-three patients with SRV evaluated in an outpatient clinic between 2014 and 2020 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-four patients had a transposition of the great arteries treated with an atrial switch operation; 39 patients had a congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA)., Results: Mean age at the first evaluation was 29.6 ± 14.2 years; 48% of the patients were female. The NYHA class at the visit was III or IV in 14% of the cases. Thirteen patients had at least one previous pregnancy. In 25% of the cases, complications occurred during pregnancy. Survival free from adverse events was 98.6% at one year and 90% at 6-year follow-up without any difference between the two groups. Two patients died and one received heart transplantation during follow-up. The most common adverse event during follow-up was the presence of arrhythmia requiring hospitalization (27.1%), followed by heart failure (12.3%). The presence of LGE together with lower exercise capacity, higher NYHA class and more dilated and/or hypokinetic RV predicted a poorer outcome. Quality of life was similar to the QoL of the Italian population., Conclusions: Long-term follow-up of patients with a systemic right ventricle is characterized by a high incidence of clinical events, prevalently arrhythmias and heart failure, which cause most of the unscheduled hospitalizations.

Background: In chronic wounds, high concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can cause excessive proteolysis and slow wound healing. Consequently, restoring a proper MMP balance can help reduce the risk of a chronic wound. An antiseptic solution containing 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (Amukine Med 0.05%, Angelini S.p.A.; hereafter termed NaClO solution) is available on the market. The NaClO solution was proven effective and safe in managing infected skin wounds. To further characterize its activity, this study evaluated the in vitro activity of the NaClO solution on the monocyte release of MMPs., Methods: Human monocytic THP-1 (ATCC ® TIB-202™) cell lines were differentiated into macrophages and treated with different concentrations of NaClO (from 0.05% to 5 × 10 -7 %). In addition, the THP-1 cell line was stimulated with wound fluid (WF) from patients with active venous leg ulcers in the inflammatory phase. The effect of NaClO (0.025-0.0062%) was also evaluated on healthy human peripheral blood serum samples. The effects of treatments on the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 were evaluated by gelatin zymography. The effects on MMPs release were evaluated through the Pro™ Human MMP 9-plex Assay. An exploratory scratch wound healing assay was also performed., Results: The NaClO solution reduced the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 and its activated form. The downregulation of MMP-9 gelatinolytic activity was also observed in peripheral blood serum. The MMPs profile showed a reduction in MMP-1 release ( p < 0.05) and a slight reduction of the release of MMP-9 and MMP-12 after the treatment with LPS and the NaClO solution. A slight improvement in wound healing was observed after macrophage activation and treatment with the NaClO solution., Conclusions: The results obtained suggest a possible ability of the NaClO solution to modulate the proteolytic pathways in the wound microenvironment, further characterizing its activity and use in clinical practice during wound care.

The simultaneous use of UVA light irradiation coupled with low energy cold plasma generated by a dielectric barrier discharge prototype, results in significant enhancement of efficiency of the integrated process with respect to the sole plasma treatment. This effect has been demonstrated both on microbial inactivation of a food-borne pathogen, i.e. Listeria monocytogenes, and on the degradation of a compound of biological origin such as phenylalanine. In the latter case, the analysis of its reaction intermediates and the spectroscopic identification and quantification of peroxynitrites, allowed to propose mechanistic hypotheses on the nature of the observed synergistic effects. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the process does not affect the quality of trout fillets, indicating its suitability as a chlorine-free, green, and sustainable tool for the decontamination of fish processing water., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk for undernutrition. The aim of our study was to describe the growth parameters of Italian children with CHD compared to healthy children. We performed a cross-sectional study collecting the anthropometric data of pediatric patients with CHD and healthy controls. WHO and Italian z-scores for weight for age (WZ), length/height for age (HZ), weight for height (WHZ) and body mass index (BMIZ) were collected. A total of 657 patients (566 with CHD and 91 healthy controls) were enrolled: 255 had mild CHD, 223 had moderate CHD and 88 had severe CHD. Compared to CHD patients, healthy children were younger (age: 7.5 ± 5.4 vs. 5.6 ± 4.3 years, p = 0.0009), taller/longer (HZ: 0.14 ± 1.41 vs. 0.62 ± 1.20, p < 0.002) and heavier (WZ: -0,07 ± 1.32 vs. 0.31 ± 1.13, p = 0.009) with no significant differences in BMIZ (-0,14 ± 1.24 vs. -0.07 ± 1.13, p = 0.64) and WHZ (0.05 ± 1.47 vs. 0.43 ± 1.07, p = 0.1187). Moderate and severe CHD patients presented lower z-scores at any age, with a more remarkable difference in children younger than 2 years (WZ) and older than 5 years (HZ, WZ and BMIZ). Stunting and underweight were significantly more present in children affected by CHD ( p < 0.01). In conclusion, CHD negatively affects the growth of children based on the severity of the disease, even in a high-income country, resulting in a significant percentage of undernutrition in this population.

Benzydamine is an active pharmaceutical compound used in the oral care pharmaceutical preparation as NSAID. Beside from its anti-inflammatory action, benzydamine local application effectively reliefs pain showing analgesic and anaesthetic properties. Benzydamine mechanism of action has been characterized on inflammatory cell types and mediators highlighting its capacity to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators' synthesis and release. On the other hand, the role of benzydamine as neuronal excitability modulator has not yet fully explored. Thus, we studied benzydamine's effect over primary cultured DRG nociceptors excitability and after acute and chronic inflammatory sensitization, as a model to evaluate relative nociceptive response. Benzydamine demonstrated to effectively inhibit neuronal basal excitability reducing its firing frequency and increasing rheobase and afterhyperpolarization amplitude. Its effect was time and dose-dependent. At higher doses, benzydamine induced changes in action potential wavelength, decreasing its height and slightly increasing its duration. Moreover, the compound reduced neuronal acute and chronic inflammatory sensitization. It inhibited neuronal excitability mediated either by an inflammatory cocktail, acidic pH or high external KCl. Notably, higher potency was evidenced under inflammatory sensitized conditions. This effect could be explained either by modulation of inflammatory and/or neuronal sensitizing signalling cascades or by direct modulation of proalgesic and action potential firing initiating ion channels. Apparently, the compound inhibited Na v 1.8 channel but had no effect over K v 7.2, K v 7.3, TRPV1 and TRPA1. In conclusion, the obtained results strengthen the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of benzydamine, highlighting its mode of action on local pain and inflammatory signalling., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Angelini Pharma S.p.A. founded this research. MV, LR and SZ are employees of Angelini Pharma. AFM is founder and shareholder of AntalGenics SL. ID, MNK and AE are employees of Antalgenics. GM and LP are external scientific consultants.

Root, shoot, and lateral meristems are the main regions of cell proliferation in plants. It has been proposed that meristems might have evolved dedicated transcriptional networks to balance cell proliferation. Here, we show that basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor heterodimers formed by members of the TARGET OF MONOPTEROS5 (TMO5) and LONESOME HIGHWAY (LHW) subclades are general regulators of cell proliferation in all meristems. Yet, genetics and expression analyses suggest specific functions of these transcription factors in distinct meristems, possibly due to their expression domains determining heterodimer complex variations within meristems, and to a certain extent to the absence of some of them in a given meristem. Target gene specificity analysis for heterodimer complexes focusing on the LONELY GUY gene targets further suggests differences in transcriptional responses through heterodimer diversification that could allow a common bHLH heterodimer complex module to contribute to cell proliferation control in multiple meristems., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is classically considered a disease of the left ventricle, right ventricular (RV) involvement has also been reported, though still not extensively characterized. We present a case of biventricular HCM with significant RV involvement in the absence of a left intraventricular gradient: RV outflow tract gradient due to hypertrophy and near obliteration of the RV cavity. Significant RV hypertrophy may cause reduced RV diastolic filling and/or RV outflow obstruction, with potentially increased incidence of symptoms of heart failure, arrhythmias, and pulmonary thromboembolism. The optimal treatment for these patients is unclear. Our patient underwent complete treatment and elimination of right ventricular obstruction, resulting in improved symptoms and a significant reduction in postoperative gradients. Direct relief of outflow tract obstruction can be achieved with low morbidity and good intermediate- to long-term results. Conventional surgery may provide significant symptomatic improvement and should thus be considered in the setting of HCM with outflow obstruction.

Myxomas are slowly growing benign neoplasms which are rare in children. Up to 80% can be located in the left atrium and generate symptoms such as embolism, cardiac failure, fever and weight loss. Rarely, myxomas can be detected in the right ventricle outflow tract, causing arrhythmias, pulmonary emboli and sudden death. We report the case of a 13-year-old healthy child brought to the Emergency Department (ED) of the Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, for recent dyspnea, chest pain on exertion and new onset cardiac murmur. Patient underwent medical examination and echocardiogram with the finding of a rounded and lobulated voluminous mass in the right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) which caused severe obstruction. The contrast computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of a heterogeneously enhancing soft-tissue mass occupying the RVOT with no evidence of pulmonary embolization. The mass was surgically excised, and the pathologic examination confirmed our suspicion of myxoma. Our experience suggests that myxoma can have mild clinical symptoms, the presentation may be non-specific, and diagnosis can be a challenge Careful examination and a diagnostic imaging workup, primarily with the transthoracic echocardiogram, are needful to make a rapid differential diagnosis and to better manage surgical treatment and follow-up.

A cheap technique based on an open-ended coaxial probe together with a vector network analyzer was set up. The vector network analyzer NanoVNA , a very tiny handheld device, is the affordable component that gives the instrumental chain a cost-effective perspective. The open-ended coaxial probe is a cable with an SMA gold-plated termination. User-friendly programs can be used to calibrate the instrument, carry out the measurements, and save data on PC. Simple liquid solutions (sodium chloride, citric acids, and saccharose) and more complex liquid food (milk, egg products, and fruit juice) were investigated. In addition, the temperature on the electric measurement of milk was measured to evaluate a possible influence for refrigerated storage products. The reflection parameters, such as the real and imaginary parts of S11, were used to build univariate and multivariate models. The best results in terms of coefficient of determination and related error were 0.997 (RMSE 0.05%) for sodium chloride and 0.965 (RMSE 0.71 °Brix) for fruit juice considering the univariate model, and 0.997 (RMSE 0.04%) for sodium chloride and 0.981 (RMSE 4.44%) for yolk using multivariate analysis. The proposed solution is non-destructive, cheap, rapid, and very attractive for potential lab and industrial applications.

Background: Up to one-half of childhood sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) presents before the age of 12 years, but this patient group has not been systematically characterized., Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation and natural history of patients presenting with nonsyndromic HCM before the age of 12 years., Methods: Data from the International Paediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Consortium on 639 children diagnosed with HCM younger than 12 years were collected and compared with those from 568 children diagnosed between 12 and 16 years., Results: At baseline, 339 patients (53.6%) had family histories of HCM, 132 (20.9%) had heart failure symptoms, and 250 (39.2%) were prescribed cardiac medications. The median maximal left ventricular wall thickness z-score was 8.7 (IQR: 5.3-14.4), and 145 patients (27.2%) had left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Over a median follow-up period of 5.6 years (IQR: 2.3-10.0 years), 42 patients (6.6%) died, 21 (3.3%) underwent cardiac transplantation, and 69 (10.8%) had life-threatening arrhythmic events. Compared with those presenting after 12 years, a higher proportion of younger patients underwent myectomy (10.5% vs 7.2%; P = 0.045), but fewer received primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (18.9% vs 30.1%; P = 0.041). The incidence of mortality or life-threatening arrhythmic events did not differ, but events occurred at a younger age., Conclusions: Early-onset childhood HCM is associated with a comparable symptom burden and cardiac phenotype as in patients presenting later in childhood. Long-term outcomes including mortality did not differ by age of presentation, but patients presenting at younger than 12 years experienced adverse events at younger ages., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This work was supported by the British Heart Foundation (grant FS/16/72/32270) to Drs Norrish and Kaski. This work is (partly) funded by the National Institute for Health Research Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. Dr Norrish is supported by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Drs Field and Kaski are supported by Max’s Foundation and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Dr Kaski is supported by a Medical Research Council–National Institute for Health Research Clinical Academic Research Partnership award. This work was financially supported by the Foundation for Paediatric Research of Finland (Dr Ojala). Dr Fernandez has received speaker fees from Sanofi-Genzyme. Dr Kubus is supported by MH CZ – DRO, Motol University Hospital (00064203). All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Maximal left ventricular wall thickness (MLVWT) is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In adults, the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy has a nonlinear relationship with SCD, but it is not known whether the same complex relationship is seen in childhood. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and SCD risk in a large international pediatric HCM cohort., Methods: The study cohort comprised 1075 children (mean age, 10.2 years [±4.4]) diagnosed with HCM (1-16 years) from the International Paediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Consortium. Anonymized, noninvasive clinical data were collected from baseline evaluation and follow-up, and 5-year estimated SCD risk was calculated (HCM Risk-Kids)., Results: MLVWT Z score was <10 in 598 (58.1%), ≥10 to <20 in 334 (31.1%), and ≥20 in 143 (13.3%). Higher MLVWT Z scores were associated with heart failure symptoms, unexplained syncope, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, left atrial dilatation, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. One hundred twenty-two patients (71.3%) with MLVWT Z score ≥20 had coexisting risk factors for SCD. Over a median follow-up of 4.9 years (interquartile range, 2.3-9.3), 115 (10.7%) had an SCD event. Freedom from SCD event at 5 years for those with MLVWT Z scores <10, ≥10 to <20, and ≥20 was 95.6%, 87.4%, and 86.0, respectively. The estimated SCD risk at 5 years had a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped relationship with MLVWT Z score, peaking at Z score +23. The presence of coexisting risk factors had a summative effect on risk., Conclusions: In children with HCM, an inverted U-shaped relationship exists between left ventricular hypertrophy and estimated SCD risk. The presence of additional risk factors has a summative effect on risk. While MLVWT is important for risk stratification, it should not be used either as a binary variable or in isolation to guide implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation decisions in children with HCM.

Objective: The object of the present study is to evaluate factors precluding heart transplantation (HTx) in adult congenital heart disease patients (ACHD) with end-stage heart failure (HF) referred for HTx evaluation., Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled consecutive ACHD patients considered for HTx in our institution between 2014 and 2020 and patients receiving HTx between 2001 and 2013. HTx refusal due to poor candidacy status for excess risk of mortality after transplantation served as the main study outcome., Results: Between 2014 and 2020, 46 ACHD patients were evaluated for HTx, 14 ACHD patients underwent HTx between 2001 and 2013 (final sample size 60 patients). We compared clinical, anatomical and demographic data of 41 patients suitable for transplantation with 15 patients refused after screening (excluding 4 patients with ongoing screening). Risk factors for refusal were: multiple high risk features (odds ratio [OR]: 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 12.9; p 0.048); anatomical factors (OR: 14.5; 95% CI: 3.1 to 68.4; p 0.001), out-of-center ACHD/HTx program referral (OR: 5.3; 95% CI: 1.5 to 19.0; p 0.01). HTx refusal identifies a high risk ACHD patient subgroup (hazard ratio for overall mortality: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.1 to 8.3; p 0.02)., Conclusions: In our study risk factors for refusal from HTx are adverse anatomical features, multiple conventional HTx high risk factors and out-of-center referral. ACHD patients refused from HTx present shorter time to death. Efforts to increase HTx candidacy are strongly necessary for this growing population., Competing Interests: No authors report any relevant conflict of interest regarding this manuscript., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Bi-allelic alterations in the MDH2 gene have recently been reported in three unrelated toddlers with early-onset severe encephalopathy. Here, we describe a new case of a child carrying novel variants in MDH2. This child presented with early-onset encephalocardiopathy requiring heart transplant and showed cerebellar ataxia and drug-responsive epilepsy; his family history was significant for multiple cancers, a feature often associated with monoallelic variants in MDH2. Functional studies in cultured skin fibroblasts from the proband showed reduced protein levels and impaired enzyme activity, further corroborating the genetic results. The relatively mild neurological presentation and severe cardiac manifestations requiring heart transplant distinguish this case from previous reports. This patient thus expands the spectrum of clinical features associated with MDH2 variants., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S . Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The extraction of molecules with high added value plays an important role in the recovery of food waste. This work aimed to valorize tomato pomace, a by-product composed of skin and seeds, through extraction of carotenoids, especially lycopene and β-carotene. The tomato pomace was dried using three different methods (freeze-drying, heat drying, and non-thermal air-drying) to reduce its weight, volume, and water activity and to concentrate the carotenoid fraction. These drying approaches were compared considering the extractive potential. Three solvent mixtures were compared, a traditional one ( n -hexane:acetone) and two green deep eutectic solvent mixtures (ethyl acetate:ethyl lactate and menthol:lactic acid) in combination with different drying procedures. The extract obtained using ethyl acetate:ethyl lactate with non-thermal air-drying showed the highest contents of lycopene and β-carotene (75.86 and 3950.08 µg/g of dried sample, respectively) compared with the other procedures.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is the least frequent phenotype among pediatric heart muscle diseases, representing only 2.5-3% of all cardiomyopathies diagnosed during childhood. Pediatric RCM has a poor prognosis, high incidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH), thromboembolic events, and sudden death, is less amenable to medical or surgical treatment with high mortality rates. In this scenario , heart transplantation remains the only successful therapeutic option. Despite a shared hemodynamic profile, characterized by severe diastolic dysfunction and restrictive ventricular filling, with normal ventricle ejection fraction and wall thickness, RCM recognizes a broad etiological spectrum, consisting of genetic/familial and acquired causes, each of which has a distinct pathophysiology and natural course. Hence, the aim of this review is to cover the causes, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and prognosis of pediatric RCM., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ditaranto, Caponetti, Ferrara, Parisi, Minnucci, Chiti, Baldassarre, Di Nicola, Bonetti, Hasan, Potena, Galiè, Ragni and Biagini.)

Myofibrillar myopathies are a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders characterized by degeneration of Z-disk, causing the disintegration of myofibrils. They may be caused by mutations in different genes, among these, the BAG3 gene (Bcl-2 associed-athanogene-3) encodes a multidomain protein that plays an important role in many cellular processes. We report the case of a 16-year-old male who at 4 years of age presented with a hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, then developed axonal sensory motor polyneuropathy, muscle weakness, rigid spine, severe kyphoscoliosis and respiratory failure. Muscle biopsy showed the typical hallmark of myofibrillar myopathy with abnormal cytoplasmic expression of multiple proteins. Ade novo heterozygous common mutation in the BAG3 gene with a c.626C > T (p.Pro209Leu) was discovered on NGS genetic analysis. Mutations in the BAG3 gene are causes of a severe and progressive condition and natural history data are important to be collected. An early diagnosis is critical for prognostic implications in cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure treatment., (©2021 Gaetano Conte Academy - Mediterranean Society of Myology, Naples, Italy.)

Aim: Due to improved therapy in childhood, many patients with congenital heart disease reach adulthood and are termed adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). ACHD often develop heart failure (HF) as a consequence of initial palliative surgery or complex anatomy and subsequently require advanced HF therapy. ACHD are usually excluded from trials evaluating heart failure therapies, and in this context, more data about heart failure trajectories in ACHD are needed to guide the management of ACHD suffering from HF., Methods and Results: The pAtients pResenTing with cOngenital heaRt dIseAse Register (ARTORIA-R) will collect data from ACHD evaluated or listed for heart or heart-combined organ transplantation from 16 countries in Europe and the Asia/Pacific region. We plan retrospective collection of data from 1989-2020 and will include patients prospectively. Additional organizations and hospitals in charge of transplantation of ACHD will be asked in the future to contribute data to the register. The primary outcome is the combined endpoint of delisting due to clinical worsening or death on the waiting list. The secondary outcome is delisting due to clinical improvement while on the waiting list. All-cause mortality following transplantation will also be assessed. The data will be entered into an electronic database with access to the investigators participating in the register. All variables of the register reflect key components important for listing of the patients or assessing current HF treatment., Conclusion: The ARTORIA-R will provide robust information on current management and outcomes of adults with congenital heart disease suffering from advanced heart failure., (© 2021 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

The rapid, massive synthesis of storage proteins that occurs during seed development stresses endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, which activates the ER unfolded protein response (UPR). However, how different storage proteins contribute to UPR is not clear. We analyzed vegetative tissues of transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants constitutively expressing the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) soluble vacuolar storage protein PHASEOLIN (PHSL) or maize (Zea mays) prolamins (27-kDa γ-zein or 16-kDa γ-zein) that participate in forming insoluble protein bodies in the ER. We show that 16-kDa γ-zein significantly activates the INOSITOL REQUIRING ENZYME1/BASIC LEUCINE ZIPPER 60 (bZIP60) UPR branch-but not the bZIP28 branch or autophagy-leading to induction of major UPR-controlled genes that encode folding helpers that function inside the ER. Protein blot analysis of IMMUNOGLOBULIN-BINDING PROTEIN (BIP) 1 and 2, BIP3, GLUCOSE REGULATED PROTEIN 94 (GRP94), and ER-localized DNAJ family 3A (ERDJ3A) polypeptides confirmed their higher accumulation in the plant expressing 16-kDa γ-zein. Expression of 27-kDa γ-zein significantly induced only BIP3 and ERDJ3A transcription even though an increase in GRP94 and BIP1/2 polypeptides also occurred in this plant. These results indicate a significant but weaker effect of 27-kDa γ-zein compared to 16-kDa γ-zein, which corresponds with the higher availability of 16-kDa γ-zein for BIP binding, and indicates subtle protein-specific modulations of plant UPR. None of the analyzed genes was significantly induced by PHSL or by a mutated, soluble form of 27-kDa γ-zein that traffics along the secretory pathway. Such variability in UPR induction may have influenced the evolution of storage proteins with different tissue and subcellular localization., (© American Society of Plant Biologists 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on plant growth, development, and response to the environment depend on local ABA concentrations. Here, we show that in Arabidopsis , ABA homeostasis is regulated by two previously unknown ABA transporters. Adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette subfamily G member 17 (ABCG17) and ABCG18 are localized to the plasma membranes of leaf mesophyll and cortex cells to redundantly promote ABA import, leading to conjugated inactive ABA sinks, thus restricting stomatal closure. ABCG17 and ABCG18 double knockdown revealed that the transporters encoded by these genes not only limit stomatal aperture size, conductance, and transpiration while increasing water use efficiency but also control ABA translocation from the shoot to the root to regulate lateral root emergence. Under abiotic stress conditions, ABCG17 and ABCG18 are transcriptionally repressed, promoting active ABA movement and response. The transport mechanism mediated by ABCG17 and ABCG18 allows plants to maintain ABA homeostasis under normal growth conditions.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a structural abnormality of the left ventricle, usually described as an isolated condition, or sometimes associated with other structural cardiac diseases. LVNC is generally asymptomatic, although it may present conduction disorders, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Here, we present the case of a patient who came to our attention with a severe LVNC phenotype associated with advanced AV conduction disorder, and supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias at young age, in which a novel MIB1, likely pathogenic, variation has been identified.

Background: Rare diseases are chronic and life-threatening disorders affecting < 1 person every 2,000. For most of them, clinical symptoms and signs can be observed at birth or childhood. Approximately 80% of all rare diseases have a genetic background and most of them are monogenic conditions. In addition, while the majority of these diseases is still incurable, early diagnosis and specific treatment can improve patients' quality of life. Transplantation is among the therapeutic options and represents the definitive treatment for end-stage organ failure, both in children and adults. The aim of this paper was to analyze, in a large cohort of Italian patients, the main rare genetic diseases that led to organ transplantation, specifically pointing the attention on the pediatric cohort., Results: To the purpose of our analysis, we considered heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants included in the Transplant Registry (TR) of the Italian National Transplantation Center in the 2002-2019 timeframe. Overall, 49,404 recipients were enrolled in the cohort, 5.1% of whom in the pediatric age. For 40,909 (82.8%) transplant recipients, a disease diagnosis was available, of which 38,615 in the adult cohort, while 8,495 patients (17.2%) were undiagnosed. There were 128 disease categories, and of these, 117 were listed in the main rare disease databases. In the pediatric cohort, 2,294 (5.6%) patients had a disease diagnosis: of the 2,126 (92.7%) patients affected by a rare disease, 1,402 (61.1%) presented with a monogenic condition. As expected, the frequencies of pathologies leading to organ failure were different between the pediatric and the adult cohort. Moreover, the pediatric group was characterized, compared to the adult one, by an overall better survival of the graft at ten years after transplant, with the only exception of lung transplants. When comparing survival considering rare vs non-rare diseases or rare and monogenic vs rare non-monogenic conditions, no differences were highlighted for kidney and lung transplants, while rare diseases had a better survival in liver as opposed to heart transplants., Conclusions: This work represents the first national survey analyzing the main genetic causes and frequencies of rare and/or monogenic diseases leading to organ failure and requiring transplantation both in adults and children., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) has gained attention as a decontamination and shelf-life extension technology. In this study its effect on psychrotrophic histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) and histamine formation in fish stored at 0-5°C was evaluated. Mackerel filets were artificially inoculated with Morganella psychrotolerans and Photobacterium phosphoreum and exposed to NTAP to evaluate its effect on their viability and the histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in broth cultures and the accumulation of histamine in fish samples, stored on melting ice or at fridge temperature (5°C). NTAP treatment was made under wet conditions for 30 min, using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The voltage output was characterized by a peak-to-peak value of 13.8 kV (fundamental frequency around 12.7 KHz). This treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the number of M. psychrotolerans and P. phosphoreum (≈3 log cfu/cm 2 ) on skin samples that have been prewashed with surfactant (SDS) or SDS and lactic acid. A marked reduction of their histamine-producing potential was also observed in HDC broth incubated at either 20 or 5°C. Lower accumulation of histamine was observed in NTAP-treated mackerel filets that have been inoculated with M. psychrotolerans or P. phosphoreum and pre-washed with either normal saline or SDS solution (0.05% w/v) and stored at 5°C for 10 days. Mean histamine level in treated and control groups for the samples inoculated with either M. psychrotolerans or P. phosphoreum (≈5 log cfu/g) varied from 7 to 32 and from 49 to 66 μg/g, respectively. No synergistic effect of SDS was observed in the challenge test on meat samples. Any detectable amount of histamine was produced in the meat samples held at melting ice temperature (0-2°C) for 7 days. The effects of NTAP on the quality properties of mackerel's filets were negligible, whereas its effect on the psychrotrophic HPB might be useful when time and environmental conditions are challenging for the cool-keeping capacity throughout the transport/storage period., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Trevisani, Cevoli, Ragni, Cecchini and Berardinelli.)

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) are common transcatheter procedures. Although they share many technical details, these procedures are targeting two different clinical indications. PFO closure is usually considered to prevent recurrent embolic stroke/systemic arterial embolization, ASD closure is indicated in patients with large left-to-right shunt, right ventricular volume overload, and normal pulmonary vascular resistance. Multimodality imaging plays a key role for patient selection, periprocedural monitoring, and follow-up surveillance. In addition to routine cardiovascular examinations, advanced neuroimaging studies, transcranial-Doppler, and interventional transesophageal echocardiography/intracardiac echocardiography are now increasingly used to deliver safely and effectively such procedures. Long-standing collaboration between interventional cardiologist, neuroradiologist, and cardiac imager is essential and it requires a standardized approach to image acquisition and interpretation. Periprocedural monitoring should be performed by experienced operators with deep understanding of technical details of transcatheter intervention. This review summarizes the specific role of different imaging modalities for PFO and ASD transcatheter closure, describing important pre-procedural and intra-procedural details and providing examples of procedural pitfall and complications.

Aim: Ethanol is highly effective at inactivating enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study is to evaluate the virucidal activity of Amuchina Gel Xgerm (74% ethanol) against SARS-CoV-2, according to the European Standard EN14476:2013+A2:2019. Materials & methods: Virucidal activity of the study product was evaluated against SARS-CoV-2 strain USAWA1/2020 in suspension, in the presence of 0.3 g/l of bovine serum albumin. Results: The log 10 reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of bovine serum albumin was ≥4.11 ± 0.12 after 30 s of exposure to the study product (80% dilution). Cytotoxicity was observed in the 10 0 dilution, affecting the detection limit by 1 log 10 . Conclusion: Virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 supports the effectiveness of this alcohol-based formulation as a prevention measure for COVID-19 illness.

Drought stress impacts the quality and yield of Pisum sativum. Here, we show how short periods of limited water availability during the vegetative stage of pea alters phloem sap content and how these changes are connected to strategies used by plants to cope with water deficit. We have investigated the metabolic content of phloem sap exudates and explored how this reflects P. sativum physiological and developmental responses to drought. Our data show that drought is accompanied by phloem-mediated redirection of the components that are necessary for cellular respiration and the proper maintenance of carbon/nitrogen balance during stress. The metabolic content of phloem sap reveals a shift from anabolic to catabolic processes as well as the developmental plasticity of P. sativum plants subjected to drought. Our study underlines the importance of phloem-mediated transport for plant adaptation to unfavourable environmental conditions. We also show that phloem exudate analysis can be used as a useful proxy to study stress responses in plants. We propose that the decrease in oleic acid content within phloem sap could be considered as a potential marker of early signalling events mediating drought response., (© 2021 The Authors. The Plant Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Salmonella and Campylobacter ssp. are bacterial pathogens responsible for most foodborne infections in EU countries. Poultry serves as a reservoir for these pathogens, and its important role in the meat industry makes it essential to develop a rapid detection assay able to provide results in one day. Indeed, the rapid identification of foodborne pathogens is an important instrument for the monitoring and prevention of epidemic outbreaks. To date, Salmonella and Campylobacter screening is mainly conducted through molecular methods (PCR or real-time PCR) performed after 18-24 h long enrichments. In this study, we evaluated short enrichments (0, 2, 4, and 6 h) combined with a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal AMPlification (LAMP) or real-time PCR to detect Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry meat contaminated at different concentration levels (10 1 , 10 3 , and 10 5 CFU/g). Our results show that real-time PCR allows the detection of Salmonella and Campylobacter , even after shorter enrichment times than prescribed by ISO references; particularly, it detected Salmonella down to 10 1 CFU/g since T0 and Campylobacter from 10 3 CFU/g since T0. Detection with LAMP was comparable to real-time PCR without the requirement of a thermal cycler and with shorter execution times. These characteristics make colorimetric LAMP a valid alternative when one-day results are needed, improving the timely identification of positive meat batches, even in the absence of specialized instrumentation.

During secondary growth, the thickening of plant organs, wood (xylem) and bast (phloem) is continuously produced by the vascular cambium. In Arabidopsis hypocotyl and root, we can distinguish two phases of secondary growth based on cell morphology and production rate. The first phase, in which xylem and phloem are equally produced, precedes the xylem expansion phase in which xylem formation is enhanced and xylem fibers differentiate. It is known that gibberellins (GA) trigger this developmental transition via degradation of DELLA proteins and that the cambium master regulator BREVIPEDICELLUS/KNAT1 (BP/KNAT1) and receptor like kinases ERECTA and ERL1 regulate this process downstream of GA. However, our understanding of the regulatory network underlying GA-mediated secondary growth is still limited. Here, we demonstrate that DELLA-mediated xylem expansion in Arabidopsis hypocotyl is mainly achieved through DELLA family members RGA and GAI, which promote cambium senescence. We further show that AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 6 (ARF6) and ARF8, which physically interact with DELLAs, specifically repress phloem proliferation and induce cambium senescence during the xylem expansion phase. Moreover, the inactivation of BP in arf6 arf8 background revealed an essential role for ARF6 and ARF8 in cambium establishment and maintenance. Overall, our results shed light on a pivotal hormone cross-talk between GA and auxin in the context of plant secondary growth., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Optimal nutrition is essential to improve short- and long-term outcomes in newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD). Nevertheless, several issues on nutritional management and concerns about the potential risk of complications related to enteral feeding exist. This narrative review aims to summarize and discuss the available literature on enteral feeding in term infants with CHD. A wide variability in feeding management exists worldwide. Emerging approaches to improve nutritional status and outcomes in infants with CHD include: implementation of a standardized enteral feeding protocol, both preoperative and postoperative, clearly defining time of initiation and advancement of enteral feeds, reasons to withhold, and definitions of feeding intolerance; early minimal enteral feeding; enteral feeding in stable term infants on hemodynamic support; evaluation of enteral feeding in term infants with umbilical arterial catheters and during prostaglandin infusion; assessment and support of oro-motor skills; and promotion and support of breastfeeding and provision of mother's own milk or donor milk when mother's own milk is not available. As evidence from term infants is scarce, available observations and recommendations partially rely on studies in preterm infants. Thus, well-designed studies assessing standardized clinically relevant outcomes are needed to provide robust evidence and shared recommendations and practices.

Plants deposit hydrophobic polymers, such as lignin or suberin, in their root cell walls to protect inner tissues and facilitate selective uptake of solutes. Insights into how individual root tissues contribute to polymer formation are important for elucidation of ultrastructure, function, and development of these protective barriers. Although the pathways responsible for production of the barrier constituents are established, our models lack spatiotemporal resolution-especially in roots-thus, the source of monomeric barrier components is not clear. This is mainly due to our restricted ability to manipulate synthesis of the broadly important phenylpropanoid pathway, as mutants in this pathway display lethal or pleiotropic phenotypes. Here, we overcome this challenge by exploiting highly controlled in vivo repression systems. We provide strong evidence that autonomous production of phenylpropanoids is essential for establishment of the endodermal Casparian strip as well as adherence of the suberin matrix to the cell wall of endodermis and cork. Our work highlights that, in roots, the phenylpropanoid pathway is under tight spatiotemporal control and serves distinct roles in barrier formation across tissues and developmental zones. This becomes evident in the late endodermis, where repression of phenylpropanoid production leads to active removal of suberin in pre-suberized cells, indicating that endodermal suberin depositions might embody a steady state between continuous synthesis and degradation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The usefulness of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in adult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients is well-known, whereas its role in pediatric HCM patients has not yet been explored. The present study investigates possible insights from a CPET assessment in a cohort of pediatric HCM outpatients in terms of functional and prognostic assessment. Sixty consecutive pediatric HCM outpatients aged <18 years old were enrolled, each of them undergoing a full clinical assessment including a CPET; a group of 60 healthy subjects served as controls. A unique composite end-point of heart failure (HF) related and sudden cardiac death (SCD) or SCD-equivalent events was also explored. During a median follow-up of 53 months (25th-75th: 13-84 months), a total of 13 HF- and 7 SCD-related first events were collected. Compared to controls, HCM patients showed an impaired functional capacity with most of them showing peak oxygen uptake (pVO 2 ) values of <80% of the predicted, clearly discrepant with functional New York Heart Association class assessment. The composite end-point occurred more frequently in patients with the worst CPETs' profiles. At the univariate analysis, pVO 2 % was the variable with the strongest association with adverse events at follow-up (C-index = 0.72, p = 0.025) and a cut-off value equal to 60% was the most accurate in identifying those patients at the highest risk. In a pediatric HCM subset, the CPET assessment allows a true functional capacity estimation and it might be helpful in identifying early those patients at high risk of events.

Standard analytical methods for fish freshness assessment are based on the measurement of chemical and physical attributes related to fish appearance, color, meat elasticity or texture, odor, and taste. These methods have plenty of disadvantages, such as being destructive, expensive, and time consuming. All these techniques require highly skilled operators. In the last decade, rapid advances in the development of novel techniques for evaluating food quality attributes have led to the development of non-invasive and non-destructive instrumental techniques, such as biosensors, e-sensors, and spectroscopic methods. The available scientific reports demonstrate that all these new techniques provide a great deal of information with only one test, making them suitable for on-line and/or at-line process control. Moreover, these techniques often require little or no sample preparation and allow sample destruction to be avoided.

Mucopolysaccharidosis are genetic disorders due to deficiency of lysosomal enzymes, resulting in abnormal glycosaminoglycans accumulation in several tissues. Heart involvement tends to be progressive and worsens with age. We describe the first case of mucopolysaccharidosis type I presenting with noncompaction/dilated-mixed cardiomyopathy and heart failure within neonatal period, which responded successfully to specific metabolic treatment. Cardiac function recovered after enzyme replacement therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, adding to the existing knowledge of the disease., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Objectives: Energy demand and supply need to be balanced to preserve myocardial function during paediatric cardiac surgery. After a latent aerobic period, cardiac cells try to maintain energy production by anaerobic metabolism and by extracting oxygen from the given cardioplegic solution. Myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) changes gradually during the administration of cardioplegia., Methods: MVO2 was measured during cardioplegic perfusion in patients younger than 6 months of age (group N: neonates; group I: infants), with a body weight less than 10 kg. Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate crystalloid solution was used for myocardial protection and was administered during a 5-min interval. To measure pO2 values during cardioplegic arrest, a sample of the cardioplegic fluid was taken from the inflow line before infusion. Three fluid samples were taken from the coronary venous effluent 1, 3 and 5 min after the onset of cardioplegia administration. MVO2 was calculated using the Fick principle., Results: The mean age of group N was 0.2 ± 0.09 versus 4.5 ± 1.1 months in group I. The mean weight was 3.1 ± 0.2 versus 5.7 ± 1.6 kg, respectively. MVO2 decreased similarly in both groups (min 1: 0.16 ± 0.07 vs 0.36 ± 0.1 ml/min; min 3: 0.08 ± 0.04 vs 0.17 ± 0.09 ml/min; min 5: 0.05 ± 0.04 vs 0.07 ± 0.05 ml/min)., Conclusions: We studied MVO2 alterations after aortic cross-clamping and during delivery of cardioplegia in neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery. Extended cardioplegic perfusion significantly reduces energy turnover in hearts because the balance procedures are both volume- and above all time-dependent. A reduction in MVO2 indicates the necessity of a prolonged cardioplegic perfusion time to achieve optimized myocardial protection., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Dielectric barrier discharge plasma and photocatalysis have been proposed as tools for decontamination of process water, especially in food industry. The present investigation aims to redefine and identify the features of coupling the two technologies in terms of degradation efficiency of a model compound. Results show that, when the process is carried out in plasma activated water in the presence of irradiated TiO 2 , the efficiency of the integrated process is lower than the sum of the two processes acting separately. It is proposed that afterglow species, e.g. hydrogen peroxide and/or peroxynitrites could be activated by UVA light irradiation producing hydroxyl radicals in the liquid phase. Even if TiO 2 limits this additional effect by acting as UVA screen barrier material, its decontamination efficiency under certain conditions results higher than that obtained with plasma systems. These results open the route to chlorine-free decontamination processes and redefine the application framework of this integrated approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

During post-embryonic development, the pericycle specifies the stem cells that give rise to both lateral roots (LRs) and the periderm, a suberized barrier that protects the plant against biotic and abiotic stresses. Comparable auxin-mediated signaling hubs regulate meristem establishment in many developmental contexts; however, it is unknown how specific outputs are achieved. Using the Arabidopsis root as a model, we show that while LR formation is the main auxin-induced program after de-etiolation, plants with age become competent to form a periderm in response to auxin. The establishment of the vascular cambium acts as the developmental switch required to trigger auxin-mediated periderm initiation. Moreover, distinct auxin signaling components and targets control LR versus periderm formation. Among the periderm-specific-promoting transcription factors, WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 4 (WOX4) and KNAT1/BREVIPEDICELLUS (BP) stand out as their specific overexpression in the periderm results in an increased number of periderm layers, a trait of agronomical importance in breeding programs targeting stress tolerance. These findings reveal that specificity in pericycle stem cell fate is achieved by the integration of developmental cues into distinct regulatory modules., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This paper will show the electronic architecture of a portable and non-invasive soil moisture system based on an open rectangular waveguide. The spectral information, measured in the range of 1.5-2.7 GHz, is elaborated on by an embedded predictive model, based on a partial least squares (PLS) regression tool, for the estimation of the soil moisture (%) in a real environment. The proposed system is composed of a waveguide, containing Tx and Rx antennas, and an electronic circuit driven by a microcontroller (MCU). It will be shown how the system provides a useful and fast estimation of moisture on a silty clay loam soil characterized by a moisture range of about 9% to 32% and a soil temperature ranging from about 8 °C and 18 °C. Using the PLS approach, the moisture content can be predicted with an R 2 value of 0.892, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.0%, and a residual prediction deviation (RPD) of 4.3. The results prove that it is possible to make accurate and rapid moisture assessments without the use of invasive electrodes, as currently employed by state-of-the-art approaches.

Brain aging involves changes in the lipid membrane composition that lead to a decrease in membrane excitability and neurotransmitter release. These membrane modifications have been identified as contributing factors in age-related memory decline. In this sense, precursors of phospholipids (PLs) can restore the physiological composition of cellular membranes and produce valuable therapeutic effects in brain aging. Among promising drugs, alpha-glycerylphosphorylethanolamine (GPE) has demonstrated protective effects in amyloid-injured astrocytes and in an aging model of human neural stem cells. However, the compound properties on mature neuronal cells remain unexplored. Herein, GPE was tested in human hippocampal neurons, which are involved in learning and memory, and characterized by a functional cholinergic transmission, thus representing a valuable cellular model to explore the beneficial properties of GPE. GPE induced the release of the main membrane phospholipids and of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter. Moreover, the compound reduced lipid peroxidation and enhanced membrane fluidity of human brain cells. GPE counteracted the DNA damage and viability decrease observed in in vitro aged neurons. Among GPE treatment effects, the autophagy was found positively upregulated. Overall, these results confirm the beneficial effects of GPE treatment and suggest the compound as a promising drug to preserve hippocampal neurons and virtually memory performances., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment is a non-thermal technology that has shown good potential for microbial inactivation. However, in many cases, it cannot be sufficient to avoid microbial proliferation, and the combination with other stabilizing technologies is needed. In the framework of the hurdle concept, several researches have been focused on the use of PEF in combination with heat and/or antimicrobials to increase its efficacy. This study investigated the inactivation effect of PEF on a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (isolated from spoiled beverages) in a model system (growth medium). The efficacy of PEF treatment was evaluated in relation to different variables, such as electric field strength (25 and 50 kV/cm), treatment time (from 1 to 5 s), initial inoculum level (4 or 6 log cfu/ml), preheating at 50°C, medium pH (4 or 6), and addition of citral at sublethal concentration (i.e., half of minimum inhibiting concentration). The data from plate counting, modeled with the Weibull equation, showed that one of the main factors affecting yeast inactivation was the preheating of the suspension at 50°C. Indeed, higher cell load reductions were obtained with heat-assisted PEF, especially in the presence of citral. The effect of initial cell load was negligible, while pH affected yeast inactivation only without preheating, with higher death kinetics at pH 6. Flow cytometry (FCM) analysis confirmed higher mortality under these conditions. However, the occurrence of injured cells, especially in samples treated at pH 4, was observed. The ability of these cells to recover from the damages induced by treatments was affected by both citral and preheating. The synergic effects of PEF, preheating, and citral were likely due to the increase of membrane permeability (especially at pH 6), as the primary target of electroporation, which favored the solubilization of citral in the cell membrane, enhancing the efficacy of the whole process. The multi-analytical approach (traditional plate counting and FCM) allowed defining parameters to increase PEF efficacy against S. cerevisiae . Moreover, FCM, able to discriminate different physiological states of the yeast population, was helpful to better clarify the action mechanism and the potential recovery of cells after treatment.