Experimental Infection of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is thought to have originated in wild bats from Asia, and as the resulting pandemic continues into its third year, concerns have been raised that the virus will expand its host range and infect North American wildlife species, including bats. Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) live in large colonies in the southern United States, often in urban areas and, as such, could be exposed to the virus from infected humans. We experimentally challenged wild T. brasiliensis with SARS-CoV-2 to determine the susceptibility, reservoir potential, and population impacts of infection in this species. Of 10 bats oronasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, 5 became infected and orally excreted moderate amounts of virus for up to 18 days postinoculation. These five subjects all seroconverted and cleared the virus before the end of the study with no obvious clinical signs of disease. We additionally found no evidence of viral transmission to uninoculated subjects. These results indicate that while T. brasiliensis are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, infection of wild populations of T. brasiliensis would not likely cause mortality. However, the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from T. brasiliensis to or from humans, or to other animal species, is a possibility requiring further investigation to better define. IMPORTANCE As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued for 3+ years, there has been increasing concern that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will enter wildlife populations and potentially create new reservoirs where the virus could adapt to a new host and create variants. This is particularly possible with species that reside in man-made structures, in proximity to infected human populations. Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) live in large colonies, often in urban settings and, thus, can be exposed by infected humans and potentially transmit the virus to new hosts. We experimentally challenged T. brasiliensis with SARS-CoV-2 and revealed that they are susceptible to the virus and excrete moderate amounts for up to 18 days postinoculation. This is important information for wildlife biologists, wildlife rehabilitation workers, and the general public that may contact these animals.

Experimental infection of Mexican free-tailed bats ( Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus originated in wild bats from Asia, and as the resulting pandemic continues into its third year, concerns have been raised that the virus will expand its host range and infect North American wildlife species, including bats. Mexican free-tailed bats ( Tadarida brasiliensis : TABR) live in large colonies in the southern United States, often in urban areas, and as such, could be exposed to the virus from infected humans. We experimentally challenged wild TABR with SARS-CoV-2 to determine the susceptibility, reservoir potential, and population impacts of infection in this species. Of nine bats oronasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, five became infected and orally excreted moderate amounts of virus for up to 18 days post inoculation. These five subjects all seroconverted and cleared the virus before the end of the study with no obvious clinical signs of disease. We additionally found no evidence of viral transmission to uninoculated subjects. These results indicate that while TABR are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, infection of wild populations of TABR would not likely cause mortality. However, the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from TABR to or from humans, or to other animal species, is a distinct possibility requiring further investigation to better define.

Effect of peach puree incorportion on cookie quality and on simulated digestion of polyphenols and antioxidant properties.

The aim of this work was to identify and quantify the bioaccesible phenolic compounds and evaluate their relationship with the antioxidant properties of three different cookies formulated with 10.5% peach pulp incorporation and 50% fat or added-sucrose reduction. Peach pulp and dietary fiber were incorporated in cookie formulation and two levels of fat or sucrose were analyzed. Cookie quality was modified by fruit incorporation and reduction of fat and added-sucrose. Fruit incorporation changed the polyphenol profile and improved antioxidant properties. Most phenolic compounds quantified in both the extracts and the different stages of the simulated digestion were higher in the sucrose/fat reduced samples than in the control samples, which represents a nutritional improvement of the pulp-enriched cookies. Evaluation of the bioaccessibility of polyphenols from cookies showed that a fraction of polyphenol could be absorbed by the small intestine. This fraction ranged between ~21% and ~25%, according to the sample.

Incorporation of dietary fiber on the cookie dough. Effects on thermal properties and water availability.

In the present work it was analyzed the water mobility by characterizing the thermo-gravimetric analysis of the cookie dough with the incorporation of dietary fibers. The fibers analyzed were: inulin (IN), oat fiber (OF), high amylose maize starch (RSII) and phosphate distarch-phosphate (RSIV). Four tests were performed: thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), pasting profile analysis using water and a solution of 50% sucrose as a solvent, and the study of the ultrastructure of the flour and fiber by SEM and particle size distribution. Changes in the thermo-gravimetric profile were explained by the pasting profile of composites and the ultrastructure of the wheat flour and fibers. OF and IN incorporation changed substantially dough water loss profile and rate. The addition of fibers produced a decrease in the starch pasting profile and inulin showed the highest reduction since less water was available for the hydration of wheat flour starch granules.

Influence of the incorporation of fibers in biscuit dough on proton mobility characterized by time domain NMR.

The effect of fiber addition on the distribution and mobility of protons in biscuits is studied by using low resolution time domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR). The proportion of flour is reduced in order to incorporate inulin and oat fiber. NMR temperature dependent experiments are carried out in order to gain insight on the processes occurring in biscuit baking. Proton populations were identified measuring spin-spin relaxation times (T2). The major change in the relaxation profiles upon incorporation of fibers corresponds to mobile water molecules, which appear to be related to dough spreading behavior and biscuit quality. Biscuit samples baked in a commercial oven were studied by two dimensional spin-lattice/spin-spin (T1-T2) relaxation maps. The T1/T2 ratio is used as an indicator of the population mobility, where changes in the mobility of water in contact with flour components as starch, proteins and pentosans are observed.

Effect of four types of dietary fiber on the technological quality of pasta.

The development of dietary fiber-enriched foods permits to obtain products with functional properties but can cause several problems in technological quality. The aim of this study was to study the quality of pasta obtained by replacing bread wheat flour with resistant starch II (RSII), resistant starch IV (RSIV), oat bran (OB) and inulin (IN) with the purpose of improving their nutritional quality. RSII, RSIV, OB and IN were substituted for a portion of bread wheat flour at levels 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0%. Cooking properties, amylose and inulin losses, color and texture were measured. Finally, nutritional quality of enriched pasta was evaluated by protein losses during cooking and total dietary fiber. Microstructure of pasta was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Addition of RSII into pasta formulation improved the quality of the final product. RSIV-enriched pasta presented an improvement in textural characteristics and OB affected cooking properties positively up to 5% of substitution. Inulin was lost during cooking; besides, its addition negatively affected the technological quality of pasta. The results obtained in this study prove that it is possible to elaborate pasta with acceptable cooking quality and with improved nutritional characteristics by adding 10% of RSII and RSIV and 5% of OB.

Improvement of HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels in diabetic subjects by feeding bread containing chitosan.

In this work we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a bread formulation containing chitosan in dyslipidemic type 2 diabetic subjects. For this purpose a total of 18 patients were allowed to incorporate to their habitual diets 120 g/day of bread containing 2% (wt/wt) chitosan (chitosan group, n= 9) or standard bread (control group, n= 9). Before the study and after 12 weeks on the modified diet, the following parameters were evaluated: body weight, plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride, and hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)). Compared with the control group, the patients receiving chitosan-containing bread decreased their mean levels of LDL-cholesterol and significantly increased their mean levels of HDL-cholesterol at the end of the study. There were no significant differences in the body weight, serum triglyceride, and HbA(1c). These results suggest that chitosan incorporated into bread formulations could improve the lipoprotein balance similar to typical biliary salts trappers, increasing the HDL- and lowering the LDL-cholesterol, without changing the triglyceride levels. These results warrant further studies over a longer period of time to evaluate if a persistent improvement in levels of lipoproteins can be attained with this strategy.

Effect of freezing and frozen storage of doughs on bread quality.

The effects of freezing and storage in frozen conditions on bread quality, crumb properties, and aggregative behavior of glutenins were analyzed. The effect of different additives on bread quality was also studied. The results obtained showed that freezing and storage at -18 degrees C decreased the bread quality. Samples stored in frozen conditions supplemented with diacetyl-tartaric acid ester of monoglycerides, gluten, and guar gum produced breads of greater volume and more open crumb structure than those prepared with the base formulation (without additives). All additives analyzed increased the proof time. Crumb firmness increased with dough frozen storage and bread aging time at 4 degrees C. A decrease in the amount of glutenin subunits of high molecular mass was observed by electrophoresis analysis of the SDS-soluble proteins aggregates extracted from the frozen dough. This result suggested that the protein matrix of bread underwent depolymerization during storage in frozen conditions.

CA27.29: a valuable marker for breast cancer management. A confirmatory multicentric study on 603 cases.

Recently, a fully automated method has become commercially available to measure the MUC-1-associated antigen CA27.29. The present investigation was performed in order to compare CA27.29 and CA15.3 in a wide series of patients affected with breast cancer. Overall, 603 cases with breast cancer and 194 healthy controls were investigated. Patients were enrolled in 4 institutions, while assays were performed in one laboratory. CA27.29 was measured by the ACS:180 BR assay (Bayer Diagnostics) and CA15.3 by the AxSYM (Abbott Laboratories). An excellent correlation was found between the results obtained by the two methods. The two markers showed comparable results in healthy controls, with higher levels in post-menopausal than in pre-menopausal subjects. The markers were significantly higher in primary breast cancer than in controls. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves of the two tests were comparable, but CA27.29 showed better sensitivity in cases with low antigen concentrations (below the cut-off point). Accordingly, when comparing each test in different stage categories, significance levels of the differences were higher for CA27.29 than for CA15.3 for all T categories versus healthy controls, for pT1 versus pT2, for all N categories versus healthy controls and for node-negative versus N1-3 patients. From the results of the present study, that has been performed on samples taken at diagnosis and prior to any treatment from the widest series of patients with primary breast cancer reported so far, we can draw the following conclusions: CA27.29 provides comparable results to CA15.3; CA27.29 seems more sensitive than CA15.3 to limited variations of tumour extension; however, it cannot help clinicians in distinguishing stage I patients from stage II patients. However, from the point of view of clinical decision making, CA27.29 provides comparable results to CA15.3. CA27.29 is therefore suitable for routine use in the management of patients with breast cancer.

Interactions of different carrageenan isoforms and flour components in breadmaking.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of carrageenans with different sulfate contents on bread volume and dough rheological properties. Results showed that only lambda carrageenan, the most sulfated isoform, produced a significant increase in bread volume. In contrast, the different carrageenans induced a negative effect on the cookie factor. Alveographic and farinographic analyses indicated that dough rheological properties were differentially modified depending on whether lambda carrageenan was added to flour and then hydrated or vice versa. Analysis of the interaction between lambda carrageenan and flour components by infrared spectroscopy and SDS-PAGE indicated that a pool of low molecular weight hydrophobic gluten proteins interact with carrageenan. This interaction drastically changes their physicochemical properties since carrageenan-gluten protein complexes show a hydrophilic behavior. In addition, the results indicate that carrageenan sulfate groups and probably the amino groups of glutamines present in the primary structure of gluten proteins are involved in the interaction.

Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of CA27.29 and CA15.3 in primary breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: A new, fully automated method that measures the breast cancer-associated glycoprotein CA27.29 has become commercially available. The aim of the present study was to compare this CA27.29 assay with the assay that measures CA15.3 in primary breast cancer. METHODS: The study was performed retrospectively on preoperative serum samples collected from 275 patients with untreated primary breast cancer (154 node positive and 121 node negative). Eighty-three healthy control subjects were also evaluated. CA27.29 was measured using the fully automated Chiron Diagnostics immunochemiluminescent system (ACS:180 BR). CA15.3 was measured with a manual immunoradiometric method (Centocor CA15.3 RIA). RESULTS: In healthy subjects, CA15.3 was significantly higher than CA27.29 (P <0. 0001). On the other hand, in breast cancer patients CA27.29 was higher than CA15.3 (P = 0.013). The mean value found in the control group plus 2 SD was chosen as the positive/negative cutoff point. The overall positivity rates were 34.9% for CA27.29 and 22.5% for CA15.3. The area under the ROC curve was greater (P <0.001) for CA27. 29 (0.72) than for CA15.3 (0.61). Both markers showed a statistically significant, direct relationship, with pathological stage being higher in node-positive than in node-negative cases and in larger than in smaller tumors. Neither CA27.29 nor CA15.3 showed significant associations with age, menopausal status, or tumor receptor status. CONCLUSIONS: CA27.29 discriminates primary breast cancer from healthy subjects better than CA15.3, especially in patients with limited disease. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm this conclusion.

Polygraphic characterization of the sleep-epilepsy patterns in a hydranencephalic child with severe generalized seizures of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

This is the report of a hydranencephalic child with severe generalized seizures of the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) who lacked the development of the entire cerebral hemispheres and had preserved the brain stem, cerebellum, hypothalamus and a portion of the thalamus as evidenced by radiological and/or physiological studies. Conventional polygraphic sleep studies in these patients showed presence of scalp EEG and other peripheral, somatic and vegetative signs characterizing the wakefulness, quiet sleep and active sleep stages. Absence of the vertex waves and disrupted sleep spindles were the major qualitative EEG abnormalities. In contrast, quantitative abnormalities in duration, latency and number of sleep cycles found in this patient were similar to those found in other children with Idiopathic Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (ILGS). A substantial reduction in the number of interictal EEG spikes and a shortening of the ictal clonic EEG activities without concomitant EMG jerks were the most distinct epileptiform abnormalities in this child. In contrast, his basic polygraphic patterns of the tonic and apneic seizures were similar to those found in other children with ILGS. Data obtained from this child suggest that both the sleep stages and the generalized seizures of the ILGS basically depend more on the integrity of the brain stem than on the telencephalic structures.

Sleep-epilepsy interactions in patients with intractable generalized tonic seizures and depth electrodes in the centro median thalamic nucleus.

Sleep-epilepsy interactions were studied in ten patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) suffering intractable generalized tonic seizures associated with generalized ictal fast spikes and interictal slow spike-wave complexes, where electrodes were implanted in the centromedian thalamic nucleus (CM) as part of a neuroaugmentive procedure for seizure control. In these patients, continuous all night recordings according to International Guidelines were performed to quantitatively determine changes in sleep patterns produced by the epileptic condition and changes in ictal and interictal surface and CM EEG activities produced by sleep stages. LGS patients showed significantly longer wakefulness (W) and shorter slow wave sleep (SWS) II than normals. Patients with seizures during the night showed shorter latency and larger number of paradoxical sleep (PS) periods than those patients without seizures. Ictal and interictal spike-wave EEG activities appeared together in surface and CM regions during all sleep stages with a ratio SURFACE/CM almost equal to one and PS did not focalize ictal and interictal activities in thalamic or cortical regions. Occurrence and duration of "myoclonic" ictal EEG component and number of interictal spike-wave complexes were higher during SWSII while they were smaller during PS than during W.

PS2 in breast cancer--alternative or complementary tool to steroid receptor status? Evaluation of 446 cases.

The oestrogen induced pS2 protein was measured in the cytosol of 446 breast cancer samples by an immunoradiometric assay. The relationships between pS2 and several clinical and biological parameters were evaluated. pS2 was not correlated to age, pT and nodal status, while it was higher in pre- than in peri- and post-menopausal women. A statistically significant positive association was found between pS2 and ER, PgR and cathepsin D. However, the frequency of pS2 negative values in ER+ (25.6%), PgR+ (21.7%) and cathepsin D-(19.0%) cases suggests that pS2 provides information independent of the above parameters in a fairly high percentage of patients. The prognostic role of pS2 was evaluated in 267 cases (follow up time 24-102 months). pS2+ showed longer RFS (P = 0.016) and OS (P = 0.004) than pS2-. pS2+ cases were significantly associated with a better prognosis in N+ but not in N- cases. Multivariate analysis showed that pS2 is an independent prognostic factor being the second most effective indicator for OS after nodal status and the third for RFS after nodal status and cathepsin D. From the present findings, we conclude that pS2 probably provides additional biological information to steroid receptor status and cathepsin D in patients with primary breast cancer.

Maturation of the coherence of EEG activity in normal and learning-disabled children.

The age effect on coherence has been studied in control (98) and learning-disabled (LD, 54) school-aged children (from 6.0 to 16.8 years old). The EEG recordings were made at rest in 15 leads, and 105 pairwise combinations for coherence were calculated (each lead was compared with all the rest) for delta, theta, alpha, beta and total frequency bands. A significant increase of coherence with age was found in both groups, with a different pattern of maturation. In the control group, a significant increase with age was found in the coherences between posterior regions and vertex (Cz). A significant decrease with age in the coherence between frontal areas was observed, especially in the theta band. The LD group showed a different pattern: no significant relation with age was found in the coherence between any lead and vertex. A high effect of age on coherence between temporal regions was observed with a predominance of the left side in comparison with the contralateral and the ipsilateral. No decrease in frontal coherence was found: in the same region where the control group showed negative values with age, the LD groups had no age effect. The results obtained are discussed as differences in brain organization, in myelogenesis and synaptogenesis and an explanation of the etiology of LD is proposed.

Epileptiform EEG activity of the centromedian thalamic nuclei in children with intractable generalized seizures of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Centromedian thalamic nuclei (CM) epileptiform EEG activities were recorded in children with intractable generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) through implanted recording-stimulating electrodes used for seizure control. Ictal CM epileptiform activities were consistently correlated to widespread surface cortical EEG activities and symptoms in all patients and all types of generalized seizures; i.e., fast spike discharges at CM correlated at onset of tonic and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; slow (1-2 Hz) spike-wave complex discharges at CM correlated for atypical absence seizures; slow polyspike-wave complex discharges correlated for myoclonic seizures; and spike bursts and suppression patterns correlated for combined tonic-atonic-myoclonic seizures. Ictal EEG activities occurred simultaneously at right and left CM and surface at onset of all seizure types, with the exception of myoclonic seizures where CM complete discharges and individual spike-wave complexes significantly lead those of the surface. Brief tonic-atonic spasms clinically undistinguishable from "real" epileptic seizures showed no EEG counterparts at CM and surface. Interictal CM spike-wave complete discharges and individual spike-wave complexes showed variable amplitude-temporal patterns. Amplitude emphasis on CM and frontopolar regions was observed in most of complete discharges, however, and phase shifts between CM and frontopolar regions were observed in individual spike-wave complexes.

Comparison between single saturating dose ligand binding assay and enzyme immunoassay for low-salt extractable oestrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer: a multicentre study.

An excellent correlation between ligand binding assay (LBA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for both oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors has been reported. Nevertheless, considering that the clinical value of any discrepancy between LBA and EIA probably varies with the receptor level, we undertook a collaborative study in which a single saturating dose (SSD) LBA and EIA were compared in different ER and PR dose ranges. The values of ER measured by EIA were higher in tumours with low or intermediate receptor content, causing a misclassification of ER status in 9% of cases (ER+: 77.5%, EIA, 68.8% SSD). In the case of ER, EIA values tended to be higher than SSD in all centres. For PR, EIA and SSD were generally more comparable (PR+: 66.0% EIA, 72.0% SSD, discordance rate 6%), with EIA showing, however, different trends in different centres. PR concentration was not significantly different in ER SSD-/EIA+ and in ER SSD+/EIA+ cases, suggesting that EIA detects at least in part integer ER. We conclude that although EIA may be a reliable methodological alternative to SSD, the two methods are not interchangeable until effective cut-off levels for clinical decisions are assessed for EIA.

Wakefulness-sleep modulation of EEG-EMG epileptiform activities: a quantitative study on a child with intractable epilepsia partialis continua.

Continuous all night recordings of epileptiform EEG activities from right frontal scalp and thalamic Centromedian regions and EMG activities from left deltoid muscular region were performed on a child with intractable epilepsia partialis continua, with depth stimulating-recording electrodes used for neuroaugmentive seizure control. In addition, "normal" and "mature" sleep indicators in the same child were simultaneously recorded according to the International Procedures. During wakefulness (W), type B seizures consisted of isolated, high amplitude, negative-positive EEG sharp waves recorded from the right Centromedian region (RCM sharp) correlated with isolated bursts of high amplitude EMG potentials recorded from the left deltoid muscle (LEMG jerks). Type C seizures consisted of clusters of repetitive RCM sharp and LEMG jerks, where individual EEG-EMG activities showed poor correlations. Number and amplitude of type B RCM sharp and LEMG jerks significantly decreased when patient directly shifted from W to slow wave sleep I and II (SWSI and II). Number and amplitude of RCM sharp increased while those of LEMG jerks decreased directly from SWS I and II to slow wave sleep III (SWS III); all forms of EEG-EMG epileptiform type B activities significantly decreased directly or indirectly from W and SWS to paradoxical sleep (PS). Scalp EEG spikes from right frontal and central regions showed almost parallel changes to those of RCM sharp, except during SWS II, when amplitude increased in the former and decreased in the later. Occurrence of type C seizures only decreased during PS and duration decreased directly from SWS I to II and indirectly from SWS I to SWS II and PS; and from W to SWS II and III and PS.

Effect of sex, psychosocial disadvantages and biological risk factors on EEG maturation.

Broad-band frequency analysis was performed on the EEGs of school-age children in order to study the effects of sex, socioeconomic status (SES) and biological risk factors on EEG maturation. Absolute power and relative power in delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were computed in monopolar recordings from F3, F4, C3, C4, P3, P4, O1, O2, F7, F8, T3, T4, T5 and T6. Total absolute power and power in the delta and theta bands decreased with age, following a quadratic polynomial expression. Relative power followed a linear regression with age. Delta and theta decreased while alpha and beta increased. Sex differences in relative power were observed, possibly related to a pubertal spurt: slopes of regression equations were steeper in girls than in boys. Children from low SES (very low income and/or illiterate mother) had higher values of absolute power and a higher percentage of delta and lower of alpha than children with good SES, suggesting a maturational lag. A group of children with personal antecedents of risk factors associated with brain damage were compared with children without antecedents. The former group had higher values of absolute power. Depending on the severity of the risk, children with more severe antecedents had greater differences from children with no antecedents than children in whom antecedents were considered as slight. Risk antecedents had no effect on relative power.

Effect of different factors on EEG spectral parameters.

We had previously observed that in groups of children with low socioeconomic and cultural level the EEG spectral parameters did not correlate with age due to the great variance in the distribution of such EEG parameters. In this paper we have made several statistical analyses in order to look for other factors that may explain the great variance observed. EEG during rest was recorded in 14 monopolar leads from 119 children. After FFT the following measures were calculated: absolute power, relative power, dominant frequency, coherence and left power/right power ratio for the delta, theta, alpha and beta bands in each derivation. For each measure, in each derivation, ANOVA analyses were performed taking age as covariable and sex, presence or absence of antecedents of risk factors and of learning disorders (LD) as independent variables. Age had its main effect on absolute power in the different bands and in the dominant frequency in the alpha band. Sex affected absolute and relative power in the alpha band. Risk factors per se had no effect. Presence of LD showed its main effect on absolute power. Many interactions between risk and LD and sex and LD were observed. Other analyses, such as MANCOVA, corroborated these results: significant differences between girls and boys, significant differences between children with and without LD and no differences between children with and without antecedents of risk factors.