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Microglia (MG) play a crucial role as the predominant myeloid cells in the central nervous system and are commonly activated in multiple sclerosis. They perform essential functions under normal conditions, such as actively surveying the surrounding parenchyma, facilitating synaptic remodeling, engulfing dead cells and debris, and protecting the brain against infectious pathogens and harmful self‐proteins. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are diverse structures enclosed by a lipid bilayer that originate from intracellular endocytic trafficking or the plasma membrane. They are released by cells into the extracellular space and can be found in various bodily fluids. EVs have recently emerged as a communication mechanism between cells, enabling the transfer of functional proteins, lipids, different RNA species, and even fragments of DNA from donor cells. MG act as both source and recipient of EVs. Consequently, MG‐derived EVs are involved in regulating synapse development and maintaining homeostasis. These EVs also directly influence astrocytes, significantly increasing the release of inflammatory cytokines like IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, resulting in a robust inflammatory response. Furthermore, EVs derived from inflammatory MG have been found to inhibit remyelination, whereas Evs produced by pro‐regenerative MG effectively promote myelin repair. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of MG‐derived Evs, their impact on neighboring cells, and the cellular microenvironment in normal conditions and pathological states, specifically focusing on demyelination and remyelination processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Dysphagia occurs in up to 50% of all patients with acute stroke. There is debate regarding which is the most effective screening tool in identifying aspiration in patients with acute stroke. We assessed the accuracy of the Sapienza Global Bedside Evaluation of Swallowing after Stroke (GLOBE‐3S), which combines the Toronto Bedside Swallowing Screening Test (TOR‐BSST©) with oxygen desaturation and laryngeal elevation measurement during swallowing. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with stroke within 72 h of symptom onset. All patients with stroke firstly underwent a standard neurological examination, then the GLOBE‐3S evaluation and finally the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Two different assessors, a neurologist and a speech pathologist, blind to both the clinical data and each other's evaluation, administered the GLOBE‐3S and FEES examination. We assessed the accuracy of the GLOBE‐3S in detecting post‐stroke swallow impairment with aspiration using the FEES as the standard. Results: We enrolled 50 patients with acute stroke, 28 of whom (56%) had swallowing impairment with aspiration at FEES evaluation. A total of 33 patients (66%) failed the GLOBE‐3S evaluation. The GLOBE‐3S reached a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 77.3% (negative predictive value, 100%; positive likelihood ratio, 4.34). The median time required for the GLOBE‐3S to be performed was 297 s. Conclusions: GLOBE‐3S is quick to perform at the bedside and can accurately identify aspiration in patients with acute stroke. By including the measurement of laryngeal elevation and monitoring of oxygen desaturation, it could represent a highly sensitive instrument to avoid the misdiagnosis of silent aspirators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a worrisome phenomenon in hematological patients. Data on the incidence of MDR colonization and related bloodstream infections (BSIs) in haematological patients are scarce. A multicentric prospective observational study was planned in 18 haematological institutions during a 6-month period. All patients showing MDR rectal colonization as well as occurrence of BSI at admission were recorded. One-hundred forty-four patients with MDR colonization were observed (6.5% of 2226 admissions). Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing (ESBL-P) enterobacteria were observed in 64/144 patients, carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacteria in 85/144 and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VREs) in 9/144. Overall, 37 MDR-colonized patients (25.7%) developed at least one BSI; 23 of them (62.2%, 16% of the whole series) developed BSI by the same pathogen (MDRrel BSI), with a rate of 15.6% (10/64) for ESBL-P enterobacteria, 14.1% (12/85) for CR Gram-negative bacteria and 11.1% (1/9) for VRE. In 20/23 cases, MDRrel BSI occurred during neutropenia. After a median follow-up of 80 days, 18 patients died (12.5%). The 3-month overall survival was significantly lower for patients colonized with CR Gram-negative bacteria (83.6%) and VRE (77.8%) in comparison with those colonized with ESBL-P enterobacteria (96.8%). CR-rel BSI and the presence of a urinary catheter were independent predictors of mortality. MDR rectal colonization occurs in 6.5% of haematological inpatients and predicts a 16% probability of MDRrel BSI, particularly during neutropenia, as well as a higher probability of unfavourable outcomes in CR-rel BSIs. Tailored empiric antibiotic treatment should be decided on the basis of colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection and identification of fungal cryptic species has been facilitated by DNA sequencing. However, the examination of some phenotypic traits is fundamental for the confirmation of genetic results. MALDI- TOF mass spectrometry has shown remarkable reliability in the recognition of species-specific phenotypic markers and has already been tested in several species of fungi. However, even though there is no direct evidence, the age of the mycelium appears to influence the composition of the metabolites detected. In this study, we demonstrate that MALDI- TOF is a reliable technique to identify suitable metabolites to distinguish three monophyletic species of Diplodia ( D. pinea, D. seriata and D. scrobiculata), thus supporting recent DNA results. Nevertheless, different collections of samples over a period of 3 months after inoculation also revealed that the MALDI- TOF spectra are highly dependent on mycelial age. More importantly, the species-specific markers emerge only after 1 month of mycelial growth. The methodological and biological implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptoglossus occidentalis, an insect native to North America, was inadvertently introduced into Italy about 1999. The insect damages the cones of conifer trees, especially Pinus pinea (Italian Stone pine). Pinus pinea is also affected by Diplodia pinea, a fungus native to Italy, which is becoming an increasing threat because pine trees are becoming more susceptible to it as a consequence of global warming. Because the insect and the fungus both have the pine cones as a common habitat, a possible interaction between them has been postulated. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether L. occidentalis and D. pinea interact on P. pinea cones. The interaction was studied using real-time PCR on a group of naturally infected insects collected from a forest, and a group raised in the laboratory and artificially inoculated with D. pinea conidia. Molecular analysis showed that D. pinea DNA occurred on both naturally infected and inoculated insects, but with significant differences between the two groups. The rapid and sensitive molecular technique made it possible to detect D. pinea DNA on the bodies of the insects, and to show that the native D. pinea occurred on the exotic insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented that discusses the medical case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the right labium majus.

The complex relationship between EBV, IL-10 and lymphomagenesis has been widely investigated and several studies have highlighted the diagnostic value of EBV DNA copies and serum IL-10, that may be considered as tumor markers. Notwithstanding the great number of data published in the last few years on the behavior of EBV DNA copies in the peripheral blood of transplanted patients, a threshold value significant for impending or overt post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) has not yet been defined. Too many factors, both technical and clinicopathological, may affect the results of clinical studies, making their comparison difficult. On the contrary, although the role of IL-10 in PTLDs has been well documented, a sufficient number of studies exploring sensitivity and specificity of serum IL-10 measurement is lacking. The aim of this review is to summarise data on EBV load quantification and serum IL-10 detection in transplanted patients, providing clinicians with wide and useful information in order to improve bedside management of transplanted patients with regard to PTLDs occurrence and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary 99 individually kept, fattening pigs (castrated males) were divided into 3 groups. 33 animals each were supplemented with 0, 0.5 or 1.0 g alpha-tocopheryl acetate per day last 21 days before slaughtering. Samples from blood, liver, bacon, and muscle were taken to determine vitamin E content by HPLC depending on time of storing. TBARS values of muscle and bacon, induction-time of bacon (,,Rancimat"), pH, drip loss, and color of muscle were determined as further criterions of quality. The Vitamin E supply increased significantly the vitamin E content of all samples (e.g., serum: 1.5, 2.4, and 2.7 mg/kg; liver: 3.8, 5.6, and 7.0 mg/kg for 0, 0.5, or 1.0 g per animal per day, respectively). Vitamin E content of pork decreased depending on time of storing (3.9, 6.2, and 7.8 mg/kg vets. 1.9, 4.1, and 5.0 mg/kg after 29 weeks of freeze storing). Storing time had no significant influence on vitamin E content of bacon. Vitamin E supply (esp. 1.0 g daily) decreased TBARS values, increased time of induction and improved meat color, but did not influence pH and drip loss of porc significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass spectra of a series of substituted diphenylmethanes were obtained. The mass spectral features were compared with those of the corresponding 1,2 diphenylethanes and discussed in terms of the factors which influence the electron-impact fragmentation. In the series examined, it is shown that the activation energy is the most important factor in determining cracking patterns. The meaning of the averaged rate constants is criticised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying altered T cell response in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, we compared autologous and allogeneic CD8(+) T cell responses against RCC line from RCC patients and their HLA-matched donors, using mixed lymphocyte/tumor cell cultures (MLTCs). In addition, we analyzed the expression of molecules associated with cell cycle regulation. Autologous MLTC responder CD8(+) T cells showed cytotoxic activity against RCC cell lines; however the analysis of the distribution of CD8(+) T-cell subsets revealed that allogenic counterparts mediate superior antitumor efficacy. In RCC patients, a decreased proliferative response to tumor, associated with defects in JAK3/STAT5/6 expression that led to increased p27KIP1 expression and alterations in the cell cycle, was observed. These data define a molecular pathway involved in cell cycle regulation that is associated with the dysfunction of tumor-specific CD8(+) effector cells. If validated, this may define a therapeutic target in the setting of patients with RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]