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Most deaths from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection occur in older subjects. We assessed the utility of serum inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6), C reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin (Roche, Indianapolis, IN), and SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and neutralizing antibodies (Diazyme, Poway, CA). In controls, non-hospitalized subjects, and hospitalized subjects assessed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (n = 278), median IgG levels in arbitrary units (AU)/mL were 0.05 in negative subjects, 14.83 in positive outpatients, and 30.61 in positive hospitalized patients (P

Most deaths from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection occur in older subjects. We assessed the utility of serum inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6), C reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin (Roche, Indianapolis, IN), and SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and neutralizing antibodies (Diazyme, Poway, CA). In controls, non-hospitalized subjects, and hospitalized subjects assessed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (n = 278), median IgG levels in arbitrary units (AU)/mL were 0.05 in negative subjects, 14.83 in positive outpatients, and 30.61 in positive hospitalized patients (P

A total of fifteen potential methyl t-butyl ether (MtBE)-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from contaminated soil. They have been identified as belonging to the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Kocuria, Janibacter, Starkeya, Bosea, Mycolicibacterium, and Rhodovarius. Bacillus aryabhattai R1B, S. novella R8b, and M. mucogenicum R8i were able to grow using MtBE as carbon source, exhibiting different growth behavior and contaminant degradation ability. Their biocontrol ability was tested against various fungal pathogens. Both S. novella R8b and B. aryabhattai were effective in reducing the development of necrotic areas on leaves within 48 hours from Botritys cinerea and Alternaria alternata inoculation. Whereas, M. mucogenicum effectively controlled B. cinerea after 72 hours. Similar results were achieved using Pythium ultimum, in which the application of isolated bacteria increased seed germination. Only M. mucogenicum elicited tomato plants resistance against B. cinerea. This is the first report describing the occurrence of bioremediation and biocontrol activities in M. mucogenicum, B. aryabhattai and S. novella species. The production of maculosin and its antibiotic activity against Rhizoctonia solani has been reported for first time from S. novella. Our results highlight the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to achieve a consistent selection of bacterial strains useful for plant protection and bioremediation purposes.

AIM:To investigate the correlation between the dorsal tongue porphyrin autofluorescence, revealed using VELscope, and Candida saprophytism. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Consecutive patients underwent an autofluorescence examination by the VELscope device to establish the presence or absence of porphyrin fluorescence. A tongue swab was collected for the Candida cultural test. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value and positive predictive value were calculated considering the oral swab as the gold standard. The degree of agreement between the two tests was calculated using Cohen's K coefficient. RESULTS:One hundred twenty-six patients were enrolled. Porphyrin fluorescence method showed a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 76% and an accuracy of 78%. Negative predictive value and positive predictive value were respectively 90% and 59%. The strength of agreement between the two methods resulted to be moderate (k = 0.551). CONCLUSIONS:Off-label use of tongue autofluorescence examination to detect the presence of Candida species is characterized by a loss of porphyrin fluorescence. The high negative predictive value of porphyrin fluorescence loss suggests its use in preliminary selection of Candida carriers, in order to plan preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Abstract A magnetic perovskite-spinel oxide nanocomposite synthesized through a sol–gel self-combustion process is used for the first time as an adsorbent to remove toxic heavy metals (i.e., Pb2+). The synthesized LaFeO3:CoFe2O4 ((LFO)1:(CFO)x) (x = 0.11–0.87) nanocomposites possess good stability, abundant oxygenated active binding sites, and unique structural features, making them suitable for removing divalent Pb2+ ions. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, magnetization measurements, zeta-potential analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the nanocomposites, and their structural changes after Pb2+ ions adsorption. Batch tests confirmed that (LFO)1:(CFO)x efficiently removes Pb2+ from water with a maximum adsorption capacity of 105.96 mg/g. The detailed quantitative study indicates that the interaction of hydroxyl groups with Pb2+ ions occurs through electrostatic interactions and complex formation. We also demonstrate a new ring-magnetic separator system that allows magnetic separation of the toxic ions at a higher speed compared to traditional block magnets. The unique structure, high porosity, large specific surface area, and oxygenated functional groups of (LFO)1:(CFO)x nanocomposites make them promising materials for removal of heavy metal ions and possibly other environmental pollutants. This study provides a new approach to preparing nanocomposites of magnetic spinel ferrites with perovskite oxides for environmental applications.

Increasing attention is being given to the development of innovative formulations to substitute the use of synthetic chemicals to improve agricultural production and resource use efficiency. Alternatives can include biological products containing beneficial microorganisms and bioactive metabolites able to inhibit plant pathogens, induce systemic resistance and promote plant growth. The efficacy of such bioformulations can be increased by the addition of polymers as adjuvants or carriers. Trichoderma afroharzianum T22, Azotobacter chroococcum 76A and 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP; a Trichoderma secondary metabolite) were administrated singularly or in a consortium, with or without a carboxymethyl cellulose-based biopolymer (BP), and tested on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in a protected greenhouse. The effect of the treatments on basil yield, photosynthetic activity and secondary metabolites production was assessed. Photosynthetic efficiency was augmented by the applications of the bioformulations. The applications to the rhizosphere with BP + 6PP and BP + T22 + 76A increased the total fresh weight of basil by 26.3% and 23.6%, respectively. Untargeted LC-MS qTOF analysis demonstrated that the plant metabolome was significantly modified by the treatments. Quantification of the profiles for the major phenolic acids indicated that the treatment with the T22 + 76A consortium increased rosmarinic acid content by 110%. The use of innovative bioformulations containing microbes, their metabolites and a biopolymer was found to modulate the cultivation of fresh basil by improving yield and quality, thus providing the opportunity to develop farming systems with minimal impact on the environmental footprint from the agricultural production process.

Serum IgE assay is a mainstay step in the allergy work up. Allergenic extracts and molecular components are available at present. This real life study compared the serum specific IgE levels against allergenic extracts with allergenic molecules in patients allergic to Parietaria, Betulaceae, and mites. This retrospective real life study included 489 subjects with respiratory allergy. Inclusion criteria were 1) documented diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and/or allergic asthma, and 2) documented allergy to Parietaria judaica (Par j) 2 (216 patients: 112 females, mean age 42 years), or to Betula verrucosa (Bet v) 1 (62 patients: 35 females, mean age 3 years), or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1 (211 patients: 107 females, mean age 34 years); and mono-allergy. Serum IgE, specific both for total/crude allergen extracts and individual purified/recombinant allergens, were assessed by ImmunoCap system. The serum IgE levels to birch extract were very strongly (R2=0.96) related to IgE to Bet v 1. There was a strong (R2=0.71) correlation between Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus IgE and Der p 1. A very strong (R2=0.87) correlation also existed between Parietaria extract IgE and Par j 2 IgE levels. However, there was discrepancy between percentages of positivity between allergenic extracts and molecules. Therefore, allergen molecular diagnostics may represent a useful way in allergy work up, but deserves caution in particular circumstances.

NORMAS GENERALES La Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana de la Universidad Ricardo Palma (http://revistas.urp.edu.pe/index.php/RFMH) es una revista científica de periodicidad trimestral, que publica artículos orginales en español y en ingles, y considerará para su publicación aquellos trabajos relacionados con salud pública, cirugía, ciencias clínicas y ciencias básicas, dichos trabajos no deben haber sido publicados previamente, ni enviados simultáneamente a otras revistas científicas. La revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana (RFMH) de la Universidad Ricardo Palma se adhiere a las recomendaciones del Comité Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas (http://www.icmje.org).

Aims. To investigate how the interfacial shear strength of the dentin - post interface with and without defects changes for different combinations irrigant/sealer.Methods. In forty human decoronated and instrumented teeth, fibreglass posts were inserted. The obtained root segments were randomly assigned to four different groups according to the irrigant adopted and the cement used to seal the root canal. The root segments were processed for metyl-methacrylate embedding. Serial sections were obtained and submitted to histomorphometric analyses in order to observe any defect of adhesion at the dentin - post interface and to measure the defects' dimension. The serial sections were also submitted to micro-push-out test. The measured shear strength values were subjected to statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA. The values of bond strength determined for the defective samples were correlated with the dimension of the defects. Finite element models were built to interpret and corroborate the experimental findings.Results. ANOVA showed that the generic combination irrigant/sealer does not affect the interfacial shear strength values. The bond strength of the samples without defects was averagely twice as large as that of the defective samples. The defects occupying more than 12 % of the total transverse section area of the endodontic cement layer led to a reduction of the bond strength of about 70 %. The predictions of the finite element models were in agreement with the experimental results.Conclusion. Defects occupying less than 2 % of the total transverse section area of the cement layer were shown to be acceptable as they have rather negligible effects on the shear strength values. Technologies/protocols should be developed to minimize the number and the size of the defects.

Background: Stem cells are defined as clonogenic cells capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. A population of these cells has been identified in human Dental Follicle (DF).Dental Follicle Stem Cells (DFSCs) were found in pediatric unerupted wisdom teeth and have been shown to differentiate, under particular conditions, into various cell types of the mesenchymal tissues.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if cells isolated from DF show stem features, differentiate toward osteoblastic phenotype and express osteoblastic markers.Methods: We studied the immunophenotype of DFSCs by flow cytometric analysis, the osteoblastic markers of differentiated DFSCs were assayed by histochemical methods and real-time PCR.Results: We demonstrated that DFSCs expressed a heterogeneous assortment of makers associated with stemness. Moreover DFSCs differentiated into osteoblast-like cells, producing mineralized matrix nodules and expressed the typical osteoblastic markers, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Collagen I (Coll I).Conclusion: This study suggests that DFSCs may provide a cell source for tissue engineering of bone.

Objectives: Two evaluate the rate of different organs involvement in 50 patients with Wegener’s Granulomatosis (GW), and to describe their clinical manifestations and their response to treatment. Methods: We evaluated 50 consecutive patients with GW, come to our attention from January 1987 to May 2003. 43 patients met the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of GW; 7 patients the 1993 ELK criteria. Results: 82% of patients presented Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) involvement, which is the most common site of inflammation. 22% of our patients had ENT-restricted disease; in 78% of cases disease extended to other organs. Lungs were involved in 72% of cases; kidney in 36%; eye in 24%; nervous system (NS) in 14% (central NS in 10% and peripheral NS in 4%); skin in 10%; heart in 8%; testis in 4%. Arthritis was present in 10% of patients. We discuss treatment of all patients and response to therapy of those 28 whose follow-up is available. Conclusions: Involvement of airways and kidney is by far the most common in GW, though potentially any other organ or system may be affected. The total rate of other organs involvement is 70%.