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This article, titled "Circulating angiogenic factors levels in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy according to the baseline hemodynamic findings," explores the relationship between hemodynamic phenotype and the predictive value of sFLT‐1/PlGF ratio for adverse outcomes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). The study included a cohort of women with new-onset HDP and assessed their hemodynamic parameters using USCOM-1A. The results showed that the sFLT1/PlGF ratio was significantly higher in women with a hypodynamic profile, and there was a significant association between the ratio and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in this group. Overall, the findings suggest that the sFLT1/PlGF ratio is associated with adverse outcomes only in women with a hypodynamic profile. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, examines the association between abnormal umbilical vein flow (UVF) and undetected small for gestational age (SGA) in low-risk pregnancies. The study found that undetected SGA was more common in fetuses with abnormal UVF compared to those with normal UVF. The researchers measured UVF/AC (umbilical vein flow to abdominal circumference) and found that a lower UVF/AC was associated with undetected SGA. The study suggests that if UVF/AC falls below the 20th percentile, there is a higher likelihood of abnormal fetal growth patterns. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "Speckle tracking assessment of the fetal cardiac function in early labour: pathophysiology and association with adverse outcome," explores the relationship between speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) assessment of fetal cardiac function, cardiotocography (CTG), and labor outcome in a group of singleton term pregnancies. The study found that there was a negative correlation between the right ventricle (RV) global radial strain (GRS) and baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) and birthweight percentile. Additionally, higher left ventricle (LV) and RV myocardial and endocardial global longitudinal strain (MyoGLS and EndoGLS) were observed in cases that underwent operative delivery (OD) due to suspected intrapartum fetal compromise (IFC). The study concludes that an increased RV strain was observed with reducing birthweight and baseline FHR, and higher cardiac strain was shown in cases undergoing OD due to suspected IFC, regardless of birthweight. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study that aimed to evaluate the role of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in distinguishing between small-for-gestational age (SGA) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in fetuses at risk for late-onset FGR. The study included non-anomalous singleton pregnancies with suspected late-onset FGR and used ultrasound clips of the fetal heart to perform offline STE. The results showed differences in right ventricular strain between SGA, FGR, and evolving FGR, suggesting increased cardiac deformation in the latter group. However, no differences in STE parameters were found between SGA and FGR. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "EP08.14: Computerised CTG features in small for gestational age and fetal growth restriction between 32+0 and 36+6 weeks," explores the characteristics of computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) in suspected late-onset fetal smallness and compares cCTG analysis in small-for-gestational age (SGA) and fetal growth restriction (FGR). The study, which included 105 cases and 367 cCTG recordings, found a negative correlation between umbilical artery PI and UCR and long-term variability (LTV) and short-term variability (STV), as well as a positive correlation between these parameters and the length of recording. FGR fetuses showed a longer duration of cCTG recording and lower STV compared to SGA fetuses. The study concludes that there is a relationship between cCTG and fetal Doppler parameters, and that pathological cCTG is mainly accounted for by FGR cases. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study conducted on fetuses with late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) to investigate patterns of cardiac remodeling and evaluate fetal cardiac function using speckle tracking fetal echocardiography (STE). The study found three distinct cardiac remodeling phenotypes: a morphologically normal heart, a morphologically elongated heart, and a morphologically globular heart. The comparison of cardiac functional parameters using STE showed differences in left and right ventricular strain among the phenotypes. This study highlights the existence of different cardiac remodeling phenotypes in fetuses with late-onset FGR and their association with variations in ventricular strain. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "OC19.08: Effectiveness of the antihypertensive therapy based on maternal hemodynamic findings in women with HDP: a multicentre prospective study," discusses a study that aimed to compare the effectiveness of appropriate and inappropriate antihypertensive therapy in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). The study included 152 women and assessed their hemodynamic profile before prescribing antihypertensive therapy. The results showed that women who received appropriate therapy had a lower occurrence of severe hypertension and were more likely to achieve target blood pressure values within 48-72 hours compared to those who received inappropriate therapy. The study suggests that considering the maternal hemodynamic profile when prescribing antihypertensive therapy can lead to better outcomes for women with HDP. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, explores the correlation between angiogenetic biomarkers, urinary protein values, and the presence of maternal ascites in women with new-onset Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP). The study included 80 patients with new-onset HDP and found a linear correlation between the SFLT-1/PlGF ratio and 24-hour urinary protein values. Additionally, higher values of the SFLT-1/PlGF ratio were associated with higher levels of urinary protein and a higher incidence of maternal ascites. The findings suggest a potential link between these biomarkers and the severity of HDP. [Extracted from the article]

Cardiac Output and Systemic Vascular Resistance showed the highest accuracy in predicting the risk of LVH (AUC 94.4 95% CI 0.86-0.99 cut-off 5.8 and AUC 94.0% 95% CI 0.86-0.99 cut-off 1387, respectively). To evaluate the accuracy of hemodynamic parameters in predicting the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in women with chronic hypertension (CH). [Extracted from the article]

CPVLr shows higher association with BSA, and the evidence of a reduced CPVLr at 11-13 weeks should prompt detailed evaluation of the fetal brain. To evaluate the association between ventriculomegaly and brain structural anomalies (BSA) at 11 + 0-13 + 6 weeks of gestation. We selected a non-consecutive series of fetuses with a BSA detected in the first trimester, excluding neural tube defects, and a group of normal fetuses as controls. [Extracted from the article]

The serological response induced by Brucella abortus strain 19 was evaluated in 52 Holstein females from a brucellosis-free herd using seven serological tests. Each calf was vaccinated at an age of 4 and 8 months old with 3 × 10[sup 10] CFU B. abortus S19 and the antibody response was determined as the proportion of positive results to each test. The antibody dynamics, measured with the buffered plate antigen (BPA) test and the rapid automated presumptive (RAP) test, were similar. The proportion of positive reactions in these tests reached 100% one week after vaccination and remained at this level for seven weeks, after which the proportion of positive samples slowly declined to 8% (BPA) and 2% (RAP) at week 50. The response in the indirect enzyme immunoassay (i-ELISA) was similar, but shorter than that observed with the BPA/RAP. The antibody dynamic, measured using the seroagglutination test (SAT) in parallel with the 2-mercaptoethanol (2-Me) test and the complement fixation test (CFT) were similar to the RAP/BPA, but of slightly shorter duration. The competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) was positive in all animals for 3 weeks, followed by a rapid decline. The fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) reached a maximum of 68.5% positive animals at week 4 and then declined. Based on these data, the c-ELISA and FPA discriminated residual antibody activity due to vaccination more efficiently than the other tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fetal heart adapts dynamically to nutrient and oxygen needs from all fetal organs. These continuous changes make it difficult to define normal/abnormal cardiac function based only on the evaluation of a few cycles. Many signs of fetal cardiac dysfunction have been suggested; however, very few can stand as true manifestations of cardiac deterioration, and none has emerged as a single reliable marker of cardiac dysfunction. It is the combination of abnormal findings that provides a more accurate assessment of the status of the fetal heart function., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Protozoan parasite Neospora caninum causes abortion in infected cattle while others remain asymptomatic. Host immunity plays a critical role in the outcome of bovine neosporosis. Despite extensive research, there is a critical gap in therapeutic and preventive measures, and no effective vaccines are available. Both beef and dairy cattle can suffer from N. caninum-induced abortions, but cumulative evidence suggests a breed susceptibility being higher in dairy compared with beef breeds. It has been established that the response to N. caninum infection primarily involves a cell-mediated immune response (CMIR) regulated by T-helper type 1 (Th1) cells and specific cytokines. The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test has been used to measure the ability of livestock to generate CMIR, in the context of breeding for disease resistance and as a method for diagnosis of several diseases. In this study, we evaluated the immune response triggered by an N. caninum-induced DTH skin test between Holstein - a dairy breed intensively selected- and Argentinean Creole heifers - a beef breed with minimal genetic selection- to assess differences in CMIR following experimental N. caninum infection. The immune response, measured through skinfold thickness and histological and immune molecular analysis, revealed variations between the breeds. Our study found an increased CMIR in Argentinean Creole heifers compared to Holstein heifers. Differential gene expression of key cytokines was observed at the DTH skin test site. Argentinean Creole heifers exhibited elevated IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-10, and IL-4, while Holstein heifers only showed higher expression of IL-17. This finding could underscore genetic diversity in response to neosporosis, which could be used in breeding cattle strategies for disease resistance in cattle populations., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Beyond 18 weeks of gestation, an increased size of the fetal lateral ventricles is reported in most fetuses with open spina bifida. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the definition of ventriculomegaly is based on the ratio of the size of the choroid plexus to the size of the ventricular space or the entire fetal head. However, contrary to what is observed from the midtrimester of pregnancy, in most fetuses with open spina bifida at 11 to 13 weeks of gestation, the amount of fluid in the ventricular system seems to be reduced rather than increased., Objective: This study aimed to compare the biometry of the lateral ventricles at 11 0/7 to 13 6/7 weeks of gestation between normal fetuses and those with confirmed open spina bifida., Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study that included all cases of isolated open spina bifida detected at 11 0/7 to 13 6/7 weeks of gestation over a period of 5 years and a group of structurally normal fetuses attending at our center over a period of 1 year for the aneuploidy screening as controls. Transventricular axial views of the fetal brain obtained from cases and controls were extracted from the archive for post hoc measurement of cerebral ventricles. The choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle length ratio, sum of the choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle area ratio, choroid plexus area-to-fetal head area ratio, and mean choroid plexus length-to-occipitofrontal diameter ratio were calculated for both groups. The measurements obtained from the 2 groups were compared, and the association between each parameter and open spina bifida was investigated., Results: A total of 10 fetuses with open spina bifida were compared with 358 controls. Compared with controls, fetuses with open spina bifida showed a significantly smaller size of the cerebral ventricle measurements, as expressed by larger values of choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle area ratio (0.49 vs 0.72, respectively; P<.001), choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle length ratio (0.70 vs 0.79, respectively; P<.001), choroid plexus area-to-fetal head area ratio (0.28 vs 0.33, respectively; P=.006), and choroid plexus length-to-occipitofrontal diameter ratio (0.52 vs 0.60, respectively; P<.001). The choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle area ratio was found to be the most accurate predictor of open spina bifida, with an area under the curve of 0.88, a sensitivity of 90%, and a specificity of 82%., Conclusion: At 11 0/7 to 13 6/7 weeks of gestation, open spina bifida is consistently associated with a reduced amount of fluid in the lateral cerebral ventricles of the fetus, as expressed by a significantly increased choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle length ratio, choroid plexus-to-lateral ventricle area ratio, choroid plexus area-to-fetal head area ratio, and choroid plexus length-to-occipitofrontal diameter ratio., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bovine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella abortus, responsible for abortions in cows. It is endemic in low- and middle-income countries, where the brucellosis control and eradication programs are based on compulsory vaccination, detection of infected cattle through serologic assays, and culling of infected animals at slaughterhouses. The development of high sensitivity and specificity, and low-cost serologic assays guarantee their implementation in countries where the disease is endemic. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immune assay (ciELISA) to detect anti-B. abortus antibodies in sera from cattle. The developed ciELISA was validated using 2833 serum samples from dairy and beef cattle. From these, 1515 sera were from uninfected cows that belonged to free of brucellosis herds and 1318 were from infected cows that belonged positive to brucellosis herds. Sera were analyzed with the developed ciELISA, the buffer plate antigen (BPA) test, and the complement fixation test (CFT). The brucellosis status of the herds was officially established according to the country legislation and consistent for at least 5 years and was defined for each cow using the CFT as gold standard. The cutoff for the ciELISA was calculated using a ROC curve and its sensitivity and specificity were analyzed using the Bayesian Latent Class Model (BLCM) approach. The agreement among tests was calculated using the kappa (κ) value. In addition, 15 calves were vaccinated with 3 × 10 10 viable cells of B. abortus Strain 19 vaccine, and the dynamics of antibodies were measured by CFT, buffered plate antigen (BPA) test, and the developed ciELISA. The obtained cutoff for ciELISA was ≥ 47 percentage of inhibition (% I), at the BLCM approach the sensitivity was 99.01 % (95 % CI: 97.55-100) and the specificity 98.74 % (95 % CI: 97.68-99.8). The κ between the ciELISA and BPA was κ = 0.88 and between the ciELISA and CFT κ = 0.95. Antibodies against B. abortus were detected in all the vaccinated calves 7 days after vaccination (AV) by the three assays, at day 135 AV all the calves were negative to CFT (15/15), 93.3 % (14/15) to ciELISA and 73.3 % (11/15) to BPA, and at day 190 AV all the calves were negative to the three assays. The developed ciELISA showed a very good performance, could detect the majority of vaccinated animals as negative after 135 days and could be used for the detection of anti-B. abortus antibodies in serum samples for the brucellosis control and eradication program., 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.)

Our understanding of the spread of yeasts in natural ecosystems remains somewhat limited. The recent momentum of yeast ecology research has unveiled novel habitats and vectors that, alongside human activities, impact yeast communities in their natural environments. Yeasts, as non-airborne microorganisms, rely on animal vectors, predominantly insects. However, the overlooked actor in this interplay is the environmental matrix, a player potentially influencing yeast populations and their vectors. This study aims to delve deeper into the intricate, multi-layered connections between yeast populations and ecosystems, focusing on the interactions between the attributes of the environmental matrix, arthropod diversity, and the mycobiota within a renowned yeast-inhabited framework: the vineyard. To investigate these relationships, we sampled both invertebrate and yeast diversity in six organic and conventional vineyards described in terms of management and landscape composition. We identified 80 different invertebrate taxa and isolated 170 yeast strains belonging to 18 species. Notably, new species-specific yeast-insect associations were observed, including the exclusive association between Candida orthopsilosis and Hymenoptera and between Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Coleoptera. These newly identified potential associations provide valuable insights into insect and yeast physiology, hence holding the promise of enhancing our understanding of yeast and arthropod ecology and their collective impact on overall ecosystem health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Culturomics has been temporarily exceeded by the advent of omics approaches such as metabarcoding and metagenomics. However, despite improving our knowledge of microbial population composition, both metabarcoding and metagenomics are not suitable for investigating and experimental testing inferences about microbial ecological roles and evolution. This leads to a recent revival of culturomics approaches, which should be supported by improvements in the available tools for high-throughput microbial identification. This study aimed to update the classical PCR-RFLP approach in light of the currently available knowledge on yeast genomics. We generated and analyzed a database including more than 1400 ascomycetous yeast species, each characterized by PCR-RFLP profiles obtained with 143 different endonucleases. The results allowed for the in silico evaluation of the performance of the tested endonucleases in the yeast species' identification and the generation of FId (Fungal Identifier), an online freely accessible tool for the identification of yeast species according to experimentally obtained PCR-RFLP profiles.