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Fecal biomarkers are becoming an important analytical tool since feces are in direct contact with the inflamed intestine and site for the gut microbiome. The objective of this study was the identification of differential fecal metabolites by means of 1H-NMR to evaluate the management of male dairy beef calves, and which could become potential biomarkers of gastrointestinal disorders. Holstein calves were subjected to a protocol aimed to simulate real conditions of the dairy beef market. Three groups were studied: Control (CTR: high colostrum, no transport, milk replacer), LCMR (low colostrum, transport, milk replacer) and LCRS (low colostrum, transport, rehydrating solution). Fecal lactoferrin was determined as marker of intestinal inflammation, and metabolomic profiling was performed in feces collected the day after arrival to the farm. 41 polar and 10 non-polar metabolites were identified, of which proline, formate and creatine increased in the LCRS group, whereas butyrate and uracil decreased. Less differences were found in non-polar metabolites. Multivariate analysis indicated that most differences are found between the LCRS group and the others. In conclusion, this study indicates that feed restriction has a more important effect at this age than colostrum uptake and transport. These results should help to identify robust fecal biomarkers to assess calf intestinal health and improve management protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial-producing strains and their bacteriocins hold great promise for the control of bacterial diseases, being an attractive alternative to antibiotics. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of 15 bacteriocin-producing staphylococci and mammaliicocci (BP-S/M) strains and their pre-purified extracts with butanol (BT) against a collection of 27 harmful or zoonotic strains (including Gram-positive/-negative bacteria and molds) with relevance in the public health and agro-food fields. These indicators (excluding Gram-negative strains) were grouped into seven categories based on their potential application areas: dairy livestock mastitis, avian pathogen zoonoses, swine zoonoses, food safety, aquaculture, wine making, and mushroom cultivation. In addition, cross-immunity assays between the BP-S/M strains were carried out to identify potential strain combinations to enhance their activity against pathogens. Finally, the hemolytic and gelatinase activities were tested in the BP-S/M strains. A strong inhibitory capacity of the BP-S/M strains was verified against relevant Gram-positive indicators, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens, among others, while no activity was detected against Gram-negative ones. Interestingly, several BT extracts inhibited the two mold indicators included in this study as representants of mushroom pathogens. The Micrococcin P1 producer Staphylococcus hominis C5835 (>60% of indicators were intensively inhibited by all the methods) can be proposed as a potential candidate for the control of bacterial diseases in the aforementioned categories alone or in combination with other BP-S/M strains (mainly with Staphylococcus warneri X2969). In this regard, five potential combinations of BP-S/M strains that enhanced their activity against specific pathogens were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Infrared thermography is an advanced technique that detects infrared light emitted by the body to map thermal changes related to blood flow. It is recognized for being noninvasive, fast, and reliable and is employed in the diagnosis and prevention of various medical conditions. In podiatry, it is utilized for managing diabetic foot ulcers, musculoskeletal injuries such as Achilles tendinopathy, and onychomycosis, among others. The primary objective is to analyze the application of thermography in podiatry as a diagnostic evaluation tool. Secondary objectives include evaluating the use of thermography in diagnosing musculoskeletal injuries, determining its role in preventing diabetic foot ulcers and onychomycosis, assessing its utility in sports performance evaluation with plantar orthoses, and reviewing its cost-effectiveness in detecting common foot conditions and deformities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature on the use of thermography in podiatry were conducted. Studies addressing various applications of thermography were included, focusing on its effectiveness, sensitivity, and specificity. Both studies comparing plantar temperature before and after interventions with orthoses and those exploring thermography in diagnosing specific pathologies were analyzed. Results: Ten randomized clinical trials on the use of infrared thermography in podiatric conditions were included, with participant ages ranging from 18 to 80 years (n = 10–223). Treatments for Achilles tendinopathy, diabetic foot ulcers, and peripheral arterial disease were explored. Infrared thermography was utilized to measure thermal changes, evaluate plantar orthoses, and diagnose onychomycosis. The findings underscore the potential of infrared thermography in preventing and diagnosing various podiatric pathologies. Conclusions: Infrared thermography is a noninvasive technique in podiatry that provides real-time imaging without radiation. It is useful for detecting musculoskeletal injuries, diabetic skin ulcers, and onychomycosis and contributes to enhancing sports performance. In conclusion, it is a valuable tool in podiatric practice to optimize therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plantar warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), are a common condition that can be painful and resistant to treatment. There are various therapeutic options for managing them, but it is not always clear which are the most effective and tolerated by patients. Among the most commonly used treatments are a zinc and nitric complex (nitrizinc complex), cantharidin, and bleomycin, each with different mechanisms of action and profiles in terms of pain and patient satisfaction. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy, post-treatment pain, and patient satisfaction among three common treatments (zinc and nitric complex, cantharidin, and bleomycin) in subjects with plantar warts, as well as identify the most effective and best-tolerated treatment. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective case series study analyzing 60 records of subjects aged 18 to 40 years diagnosed with plantar warts without systemic diseases or allergies and without any prior treatment. Complete records from 2020 to 2023 were selected. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the treatment received (zinc and nitric complex, cantharidin, bleomycin), and demographic variables, post-treatment pain (measured using the visual analog scale), the number of sessions required, and satisfaction after discharge (evaluated with the Likert scale) were analyzed. Results: Of the 60 subjects included, the group treated with bleomycin experienced higher levels of pain after the first session (mean of 7.1 points on the VAS) compared to the cantharidin group (2.7 points) and the zinc and nitric complex group (1.1 points). However, the bleomycin group required fewer sessions for complete healing (an average of 1.8 sessions), while the nitric acid group needed more (3.4 sessions), with cantharidin falling in between (2.5 sessions). Regarding post-discharge satisfaction, all groups showed comparable scores (between 7.9 and 8.5 points), although cantharidin demonstrated slightly higher satisfaction. A statistical analysis showed significant differences in the number of sessions and post-treatment pain between treatments (p < 0.05) but not in final satisfaction. Conclusions: Although bleomycin treatment is more painful, it is the most effective in terms of reducing the number of sessions required for complete healing. Cantharidin offers a good balance between efficacy and patient satisfaction, while a zinc and nitric complex, although less painful, requires more sessions for complete treatment. Each treatment has specific advantages, suggesting that therapeutic choices should be personalized according to the patient's needs and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to generate improved crop varieties adapted to the ongoing changes in the climate. We studied durum wheat canopy and central metabolism of six different photosynthetic organs in two yield-contrasting varieties. The aim was to understand the mechanisms associated with the water stress response and yield performance. Water stress strongly reduced grain yield, plant biomass, and leaf photosynthesis, and down-regulated C/N-metabolism genes and key protein levels, which occurred mainly in leaf blades. By contrast, higher yield was associated with high ear dry weight and lower biomass and ears per area, highlighting the advantage of reduced tillering and the consequent improvement in sink strength, which promoted C/N metabolism at the whole plant level. An improved C metabolism in blades and ear bracts and N assimilation in all photosynthetic organs facilitated C/N remobilization to the grain and promoted yield. Therefore, we propose that further yield gains in Mediterranean conditions could be achieved by considering the source–sink dynamics and the contribution of non-foliar organs, and particularly N assimilation and remobilization during the late growth stages. We highlight the power of linking phenotyping with plant metabolism to identify novel traits at the whole plant level to support breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central Betic Cordillera, southern Spain, is affected by an uplift related to the NNW–SSE Eurasia‐Nubia convergence and shallow ENE–WSW orthogonal extension accommodated by the extensional system of the Granada Basin. The combination of geophysical, geodetic, and geological data reveals that the southwestern boundary of this extensional system is a seismically active compressional front extending from the W to the SW of the Granada Basin. The near‐field Global Navigation Satellite System data determine NNE–SSW shortening of up to 2 mm/yr of the compressional front in the Zafarraya Polje. In this setting, the normal Ventas de Zafarraya Fault developed as a result of the bending‐moment extension of the Sierra de Alhama antiform and was last reactivated during the 1884 Andalusian earthquake (Mw 6.5). The uplift in the central Betic Cordillera together with the subsidence in the Western Alborán Basin may facilitate a westward to southwestward gravitational collapse through the extensional detachment of the Granada Basin. The heterogeneous crust of the Betic Cordillera would generate the compressional front, which is divided into two sectors: thrusting to the west, and folding associated with buttressing to the south. Our results evidence that basal detachments, linking extensional fault activity with compressional fronts, may determine the activity of local surface structures and the geological hazard in densely populated regions. Plain Language Summary: A combination of geological, geophysical, and geodetic methods is used to understand the evolution in the frontal area of the extensional system of Granada Basin, near the Zafarraya Polje. In particular, this approach improves our knowledge of the Ventas de Zafarraya Fault (VZF) that hosted the 1884 Andalusian earthquake. Seismic data provide information on the distribution of stress and deformation in the region and made it possible to identify a compressional front linked to the extensional system of the Granada Basin. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data accurately locate the sites of the Zafarraya GNSS network surrounding the VZF, and repeated measurements provide deformation rates of the area that suggests shortening. Thus, we locate the VZF within the former compressional setting. Meanwhile, electrical‐resistivity tomography images sub‐surface structures given its electrical properties and, together with the field geological observations, suggests the extensional behavior of the fault. Therefore, it is considered to be a fold‐related fault formed due to the extension of the outer arc of the Sierra de Alhama antiform. As in the research presented here, a joint interpretation of data from different methods makes it possible to propose active seismic tectonic extensional models in a compressional setting applicable to other regions. Key Points: Shortening up to 2 mm/yr suggests activity of the Ventas de Zafarraya normal Fault simultaneous to foldingThe Sierra de Alhama‐Zafarraya Polje area belongs to a compressional front located to the W and SW of the extensional Granada BasinShallow normal faults may constitute the surface expression of deep main faults developed in a complex crustal compressional setting [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Good strategical programs are required for the early detection of disease even in the absence of evident clinical signs, which is crucial in satisfying animal welfare. Haptoglobin (Hp) and inter‐α‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4) are acute phase proteins and good biomarkers of early inflammation in cattle, with plasma levels that significantly increase after injury or infection. Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate two new immunoturbidimetric methods for Hp and ITIH4. Methods: Species‐specific antibodies were obtained and used to develop the immunoassays. For the Hp assay, antibodies were fixed to latex microparticles to enhance detection. The immunoassays were set up in an automated analyzer to carry out validation studies. Reference intervals were calculated using Reference Value Advisor. Results: The Hp immunoturbidimetric method had a linear analytical range up to 0.40 mg/mL. The limit of detection (LoD) was 0.005 mg/mL, and the limit of quantification (LoQ) was 0.007 mg/mL. Total imprecision was less than 7%. Comparison with ELISA and single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) showed good correlation, whereas the comparison with the colorimetric method showed constant and proportional differences. The ITIH4 immunoassay showed linearity up to 5 mg/mL, and the LoD was 0.002 mg/mL. Total imprecision was less than 6%. Method comparison showed a good correlation with single radial immunodiffusion, both methods being equivalent. Bilirubin, triglycerides, and hemoglobin presented no interference in any of the assays. Reference intervals were 0.007‐0.017 mg/mL for Hp and 0.2‐0.7 mg/mL for ITIH4 in dairy cows 10 days before parturition. Conclusions: Immunoturbidimetric methods developed for Hp and ITIH4 can measure basal and increased levels of these proteins, showing adequate precision, accuracy, and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]