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The purpose of this work was to investigate the presence of C. zemplinina yeasts in Sicilian musts and grapes and to identify strains of oenological interest. We report on the taxonomical reclassification of Candida yeast isolates from Sicilian musts and on the selection of one strain of oenological interest (Cz3), based on mixed micro-fermentation experiments in sterile Nero d'Avola musts. Our results show that Candida zemplinina is abundant in Sicilian grapes and musts, and that the Cz3 strain is suitable for Candida zemplinina/Saccharomyces cerevisiae mixed fermentations. The higher glycerol content and the lower ethanol level stood out as the most promising features of the wines obtained upon sequential inoculation of the Cz3 and (S. cerevisiae) NDA21 yeast starters. We therefore have isolated a Sicilian Cz strain endowed with very promising features for the future development of mixed fermentation protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure is reported for the large scale separation of Bordetella pertussis microorganisms from liquid culture media by tangential flow filtration (cross flow filtration) using anisotropic membranes with a cut-off limit of 1×10 daltons, and microporous membranes with a pore size of 0.22 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a new protocol for winery mixed fermentations, using the selected Candida zemplinina yeast strain Cz3. The results of a two-year study, in which red musts (Merlot in 2010; Merlot, Nero d'Avola and Frappato in 2011) were inoculated with Cz3, is discussed. These wines were compared with wines obtained by inoculation with commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains (NDA21 and AR06 in 2010; NDA21 in 2011), or with those obtained by spontaneous fermentation (only in 2011). The inoculation of Cz3 always resulted in a two-phase fermentation: the first phase was driven by the C. zemplinina strain, while the second was dominated by the indigenous S. cerevisiae yeasts coming from the grapes and/or the winery. In both years the Cz3 wines contained less alcohol and more glycerol than those made with the commercial yeast strains or those obtained by spontaneous fermentation. Triangle tests showed that a sensorial difference between wines could only be achieved through the utilisation of Cz3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Mania/hypomania is the pathognomonic feature of bipolar disorder (BD). As BD is often misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), replicable neural markers of mania/hypomania risk are needed for earlier BD diagnosis and pathophysiological treatment development., Objective: To replicate the previously reported positive association between left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) activity during reward expectancy (RE) and mania/hypomania risk, to explore the effect of MDD history on this association, and to compare RE-related left vlPFC activity in individuals with and at risk of BD., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2014 to December 2023 at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Three samples were formed comprising young adults (aged 18 to 30 years) without BD and with a range of subsyndromal-syndromal affective and anxiety psychopathologies, including a new sample and 2 test samples from our previous research; a sample of individuals aged 18 to 30 years with euthymic BD was also included. All participants were recruited from the community through advertising., Exposures: Functional magnetic resonance imaging during an RE task., Main Outcomes and Measures: New sample: whole-brain activity during RE regressed to the Mood Spectrum Self-Report Lifetime Questionnaire (MOODS-SR-L) manic domain score in all participants and in those without history of MDD and RE-related whole-brain activity regressed to the MOODS-SR-L depressive domain score to determine specificity to mania/hypomania risk. Test samples: these associations were examined using parameter estimates of activity extracted from respective masks created from activity in the new sample. A tertile split of MOODS-SR-L manic domain score divided the new sample into 3 mania/hypomania risk groups. Comparison of RE-related activity (extracted parameter estimates) was performed in risk groups and individuals with BD., Results: Among the 113 individuals in the new sample, 73 were female, and the mean (SD) age was 23.88 (3.32) years. In each of the test samples, there were 52 individuals (39 female; mean [SD] age, 21.94 [2.12] years) and 65 individuals (47 female; mean [SD] age, 21.39 [2.11] years). The euthymic BD group had 37 individuals (30 female; mean [SD] age, 25.12 [3.81] years). In the new sample, 8 clusters of RE-related activity, including left vlPFC activity, showed a positive association with mania/hypomania risk, which remained after excluding individuals with MDD history and was specific to mania/hypomania risk. In the test samples, this association was shown in test sample 1 only (β, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08-0.35; P = .002; q(false discovery rate [FDR]), 0.006; R2, 0.04). Test sample 2 had a higher proportion with MDD history (49 of 65 [75.3%] compared to 31 of 52 [59.6%] in sample 1). Combining individuals without history of MDD in both test samples replicated the association (β, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.08-0.58; P = .01; q[FDR], 0.023; R2, 0.02). RE-related left vlPFC activity was significantly greater in individuals at highest risk vs lowest (Cohen d, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.29-0.79; P < .001) and medium (Cohen d, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.12-0.63; P = .004) risk, as well as the euthymic BD group (Cohen d, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.07-0.58; P = .01), potentially due to medication effects., Conclusion and Relevance: Elevated RE-related left vlPFC activity was associated with mania/hypomania risk and attenuated by MDD history. These findings provide a neural target to help develop pathophysiological interventions for individuals with or at risk of mania/hypomania.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a group of bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness and occasionally causes large foodborne outbreaks. It represents a major public health concern due to its ability to cause severe illness which can sometimes be fatal. This study was undertaken as part of a rapid investigation into a national foodborne outbreak of STEC O145. On 22 May 2024, United Kingdom (UK) public health agencies and laboratories identified an increase in stool specimens submissions and patients testing positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) identified serotype O145:H28 stx2a/eae belonging to the same five single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) single linkage cluster as the causative agent. By 3 July 2024, 288 cases had been linked to the cluster. Most cases were adults (87%) and females (57%), 49% were hospitalized with a further 10% attending emergency care. Descriptive epidemiology and analytical studies were conducted which identified consumption of nationally distributed pre-packed sandwiches as a common food exposure. The implicated food business operators voluntarily recalled ready-to-eat sandwiches and wraps containing lettuce on 14 June 2024.

Purpose of Review: Women are underrepresented in HIV infection and prevention research despite making up half of people living with HIV. The female genital tract (FGT) serves as a primary site of HIV acquisition, but gaps in knowledge remain regarding protective innate immune mechanisms. Innate lymphoid cells are tissue-resident cells involved in mucosal barrier maintenance and protection, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are altered during chronic HIV infection. However, ILCs role in mucosal HIV pathogenesis is unclear and they are poorly characterized in the FGT., Recent Findings: Human ILCs differ from their mouse counterparts and plastically adjust to their tissue of residency. Human ILC characterization is difficult due to tissue-specific adaptations and transition between subsets. While evidence for ILC involvement in antiviral activity and barrier maintenance is provided in mouse models, human ILC role in mucosal immunity remain understudied, particularly in the FGT. In chronic HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, ILCs are altered in a tissue-specific manner, and SIV models indicate potential for antiviral responses., Summary: ILCs are tissue-resident plastic cells that provide barrier protection at mucosal surfaces and display antiviral capacity. Considering that HIV is primarily transmitted through mucosal exposure, more research is needed to understand ILC contribution to HIV pathogenesis in human mucosal surfaces relevant for HIV acquisition., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In 2020, firearm injuries became the leading cause of death in children and adolescents and have continued to increase despite injury prevention strategies. The information obtained about these injuries is often limited to the demographic and clinical data required for trauma registries, which often lack granularity regarding the circumstances leading to the use of a firearm. The purpose of this study is to analyze admissions for firearm injuries according to intention and social vulnerability to enable the creation of targeted prevention strategies., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using trauma registry data from a single institution from 2012 to 2022. Patients were stratified by a mechanism into unintentional, intentional, and self-inflicted firearm injuries based on chart review. Demographics were compared between groups and the overall trauma population. Social Vulnerability Index data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention registry., Results: Of the 13,197 trauma patients admitted from January 2012 to December 2022, 153 were related to firearm injuries (1.2%). Relative to the overall trauma population, patients with firearm injuries were predominantly older (9.7 versus 7.4 y, P < 0.001), male (74% versus 61%, P < 0.001), Black (43% versus 17%, P < 0.001), and insured via Medicaid or another government subsidized program (62% versus 48%, P < 0.001). Injuries were classified as intentional (53%), unintentional (44%), and self-harm (1%). Unintentional injuries more frequently resulted in death (17.6% versus 8.6%), although this difference was not enough to reach the statistical significance. The proportion of intentional injuries increased significantly in the 2020-2022 period relative to previous years (P = 0.032)., Conclusions: Vulnerable populations have experienced a disproportionate increase in firearm violence starting in 2020. Unintentional injuries are a significant source of mortality in the pediatric population and represent a vital target for future injury prevention strategies., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Studies conducted in the US indicate that exposure to trauma, and stigma related to weight are environmental factors associated with the development of disordered eating. Few studies have explored psychosocial and contextual factors surrounding disordered eating in Latin American populations. This study examined everyday discrimination, verbal weight-related abuse, adverse childhood experiences, and disordered eating across individuals seeking versus not seeking weight loss treatment in Peru., Method: Participants (N = 420) were recruited via social media and a weight management clinic in Peru. Participants completed disordered eating, everyday discrimination, verbal weight-related abuse, and adverse childhood experiences measures., Results: The weight loss treatment seeking group showed greater disordered eating behaviors (dietary restraint) and cognitions (body dissatisfaction, overvaluation of shape/weight) compared to the non-weight loss treatment seeking group. Increased experiences of everyday discrimination, adverse childhood experiences, and verbal weight-related abuse were associated with greater levels of disordered eating behaviors and cognitions in both samples. Weight loss treatment seeking status was not a moderator of the relationships among disordered eating behaviors and cognitions, and everyday discrimination., Discussion: Results suggest discrimination, adverse childhood experiences, and verbal weight-related abuse are associated with eating pathology, and more disordered eating and behaviors are seen in individuals seeking or engaged in weight loss treatment. Findings highlight the importance of evaluating eating pathology for individuals reporting, or at high risk for discrimination, childhood trauma or weight-related abuse., 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 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the risk of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) flare following coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. The authors detail key studies in the literature employing diverse methodologies, including cross-sectional surveys, prospective and retrospective cohorts, case-crossover designs, self-controlled case series, and systematic reviews. Data are reassuring, suggesting that vaccination is unlikely to increase the risk of flares across a range of SARD. When postvaccination flares do occur, individuals with high disease activity and frequent flares at baseline may be at higher risk. Rheumatologists may consider discussing these findings with patients during collaborative conversations about risks and benefits of vaccination., Competing Interests: Disclosure G. Braverman and M. Nong have no disclosures. M. Barbhaiya is supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation, United States Investigator Award. L.A. Mandl receives research support from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, United States and payments from UpToDate, unrelated to this work. L.A. Mandl works as an associate editor for Annals of Internal Medicine., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Temporal encephaloceles (TE) are an under-identified, potentially intervenable cause of epilepsy. This systematic review consolidates the current data to identify the major clinical, neuroimaging, and EEG features and surgical outcomes of epilepsy associated with TE. Literature searches were carried out using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to December 7, 2023. Studies were included if they described clinical, neuroimaging, EEG, or surgical data in ≥5 patients with TE and epilepsy. Of 562 studies identified in the search, 24 met the eligibility criteria, reporting 423 unique patients with both epilepsy and TE. Compared to epilepsy patients without TE, those with TE had a higher mean age of seizure onset and were less likely to have a history of febrile seizures. Seizure semiologies were variable, but primarily mirrored temporal lobe onset patterns. Epilepsy patients with TE had a higher likelihood of having clinical or radiographic features of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) than those without. Brain MRI may show ipsilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (16 %). CT scans of the skull base usually revealed bony defects near the TE (90 %). Brain PET scans primarily showed ipsilateral temporal lobe hypometabolism (80 %), mostly in the anterior temporal lobe (67 %). Scalp EEG mostly lateralized ipsilateral to the implicated TE (92 % seizure onset) and localized to the temporal lobe (96 %). Intracranial EEG revealed seizure onset near the TE (11 of 12 cases including TE-adjacent electrodes) with variable timing of spread to the ipsilateral hippocampus. After surgical treatment of the TE, the rate of Engel I or ILAE 1 outcomes at one year was 75 % for lesionectomy, 85 % for anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), and 80 % for ATL with amygdalohippocampectomy. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the relationship between IIH, TE, and epilepsy, improve the identification of TE, and optimize surgical interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Colin Ellis reports financial support was provided by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Kathryn Davis reports financial support was provided by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Colin Ellis reports a relationship with Epiminder that includes: consulting or advisory. Joel Stein reports a relationship with Epiminder that includes: consulting or advisory. If there are other authors, they 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 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective markers of pathophysiological processes underlying lifetime depression and mania/hypomania risk can provide biologically informed targets for novel interventions to help prevent the onset of affective disorders in individuals with subsyndromal symptoms. Greater activity within and functional connectivity (FC) between the central executive network (CEN), supporting emotional regulation (ER) subcomponent processes such as working memory (WM), the default mode network (DMN), supporting self-related information processing, and the salience network (SN), is thought to interfere with cognitive functioning and predispose to depressive disorders. Using an emotional n-back paradigm designed to examine WM and ER capacity, we examined in young adults: (1) relationships among activity and FC in these networks and lifetime depression and mania/hypomania risk; (2) the extent to which these relationships were specific to lifetime depression risk versus lifetime mania/hypomania risk; (3) whether findings in a first, Discovery sample n = 101, 63 female, age = 23.85 (2.9) could be replicated in a two independent Test samples of young adults: Test sample 1: n = 90, 60 female, age = 21.7 (2.0); Test sample 2: n = 96, 65 female, age = 21.6 (2.1). The Mood Spectrum Self-Report (MOODS-SR-L) assessed lifetime mania/hypomania risk and depression risk. We showed significant clusters of activity to each contrast in similar locations in the anatomic mask in each Test sample as in the Discovery sample, and, using extracted mean BOLD signal from these clusters as IVs, we showed similar patterns of IV-DV relationships in each Test sample as in the Discovery sample. Specifically, in the Discovery sample, greater DMN activity during WM was associated with greater lifetime depression risk. This finding was specific to depression and replicated in both independent samples (all ps<0.05 qFDR). Greater CEN activity during ER was associated with increased lifetime depression risk and lifetime mania/hypomania risk in all three samples (all ps< 0.05 qFDR). These replicated findings provide promising objective, neural markers to better identify, and guide and monitor early interventions for, depression and mania/hypomania risk in young adults., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Introduction: ASCEND PLUS is a randomised controlled trial assessing the effects of oral semaglutide on the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in around 20,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes in the UK. The trial's innovative design includes a decentralised direct-to-participant invitation, recruitment, and follow-up model, relying on self-completion of online forms or telephone or video calls with research nurses, with no physical sites. Extensive patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) was essential to the design and conduct of ASCEND PLUS., Aim: To report the process and conduct of PPIE activity in ASCEND PLUS, evaluate effects on trial design, reflect critically on successes and aspects that could have been improved, and identify themes and learning relevant to implementation of PPIE in future trials., Methods: PPIE activity was coordinated centrally and included six PPIE focus groups and creation of an ASCEND PLUS public advisory group (PAG) during the design phase. Recruitment to these groups was carefully considered to ensure diversity and inclusion, largely consisting of adults living with type 2 diabetes from across the UK. Two members of the PAG also joined the trial Steering Committee. Steering Committee meetings, focus groups, and PAG meetings were conducted online, with two hybrid workshops to discuss PPIE activity and aspects of the trial., Results: PPIE activity was critical to shaping the design and conduct of ASCEND PLUS. Key examples included supporting choice for participants to either complete the screening/consent process independently online, or during a telephone or video call interview with a research nurse. A concise 'initial information leaflet' was developed to be sent with the initial invitations, with the 'full' information leaflet sent later to those interested in joining the trial. The PAG reviewed the content and format of participant- and public-facing materials, including written documents, online screening forms, animated videos, and the trial website, to aid clarity and accessibility, and provided input into the choice of instruments to assess quality of life., Conclusions: PPIE is integral in ASCEND PLUS and will continue throughout the trial. This involvement has been critical to optimising the trial design, successfully obtaining regulatory and ethical approval, and conducting the trial., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: No studies systematically examined sex differences in neural mechanisms underlying depression and mania/hypomania risk., Method: 80 females and 35 males, n = 115(age21.6±1.90) were scanned using 3TfMRI during an implicit emotional-faces task. We examined neural activation to all emotional faces versus baseline, using an anatomical region-of-interest mask comprising regions supporting emotion and salience processing. Sex was a covariate. Extracted parameter estimates(FWE < 0.05,k > 15), age, IQ and their sex interactions were independent variables(IV) in two penalized regression models: dependent variable either MOODS-SR-lifetime, depressive or manic domain score as measures of mania and depression risk. Subsequent Poisson regression models included the non-zero variables identified in the penalized regression models. We tested each model in 2 independent samples. Test sample-I,n = 108(21.6 ± 2.09 years,males/females = 33/75); Test sample-II,n = 93(23.7 ± 2.9 years,males/females = 31/62)., Results: Poisson regression models yielded significant relationships with depression and mania risk: Positive correlations were found between right fusiform activity and depression(beta = 0.610) and mania(beta = 0.690) risk. There was a significant interaction between sex and right fusiform activity(beta = -0.609) related to depression risk, where females had a positive relationship than; and a significant interaction(beta = 0.743) between sex and left precuneus activity related to mania risk, with a more negative relationship in females than males. All findings were replicated in the test samples(qs < 0.05,FDR)., Limitations: No longitudinal follow-up., Conclusion: Greater visual attention to emotional faces might underlie greater depression and mania risk, and confer greater vulnerability to depression in females, because of heightened visual attention to emotional faces. Females have a more negative relationship between mania risk and left precuneus activity, suggesting heightened empathy might be associated with reduced mania/hypomania risk in females more than males., 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 B.V.)

Human ageing is a normal process and does not necessarily result in the development of frailty. A mix of genetic, environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors can have an impact on ageing, and whether an individual develops frailty. Frailty is defined as the loss of physiological reserve both at the physical and cellular levels, where systemic processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to physical decline. The newest "omics" technology and systems biology discipline, metabolomics, enables thorough characterisation of small-molecule metabolites in biological systems at a particular time and condition. In a biological system, metabolites-cellular intermediate products of metabolic reactions-reflect the system's final response to genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenetic, or environmental alterations. As a relatively newer technique to characterise metabolites and biomarkers in ageing and illness, metabolomics has gained popularity and has a wide range of applications. We will give a comprehensive summary of what is currently known about metabolomics in studies of ageing, with a focus on biomarkers for frailty. Metabolites related to amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and redox metabolism may function as biomarkers of ageing and/or frailty development, based on data obtained from human studies. However, there is a complexity that underpins biological ageing, due to both genetic and environmental factors that play a role in orchestrating the ageing process. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify pathways that contribute to functional decline in people with frailty., 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 © 2024 Abdullah, Akpan, Phelan and Wright.)

Background: Soymilk is a high-quality source of protein and minerals, such as calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). However, phytic acid in soymilk restricts mineral and protein availability. We here investigated the effects of removing phytic acid on the physicochemical properties, mineral (Ca, Fe, and Zn) bioaccessibility, and protein digestibility of soymilk., Results: Physicochemical property analysis revealed that the removal of phytic acid reduced protein accumulation at the gastric stage, thereby facilitating soymilk matrix digestion. The removal of phytic acid significantly increased Zn bioaccessibility by 18.19% in low-protein soymilk and Ca and Fe bioaccessibility by 31.20% and 30.03%, respectively, in high-protein soymilk., Conclusion: Removing phytic acid was beneficial for the hydrolysis of high-molecular-weight proteins and increased the soluble protein content in soymilk, which was conducive to protein digestion. This study offers a feasible guide for developing plant-based milk with high nutrient bioaccessibility. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)