Fearlessness as an Underlying Mechanism Leading to Conduct Problems: Testing the INTERFEAR Model in a Community Sample in Spain.

Conduct problems (CP) in childhood and adolescence have a significant impact on the individual, family, and community. To improve treatment for CP, there is a need to improve the understanding of the developmental pathways leading to CP in boys and girls. Prior research has linked the child's fearlessness and callous-unemotional (CU) traits, as well as experiences of parental warmth and punitive parenting, to CP. However, few studies have tested the interplay of these factors in contributing to future CP development. The present study aimed to test the InterFear model, which suggests that fearlessness in early childhood leads to CP through an indirect pathway involving low positive parenting, high negative/punitive parenting, and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. The sample included 2467 Spanish children (48.1% girls; Mage = 4.25; SD = 0.91), followed up across a five-year period. Besides a direct association between fearlessness in early childhood and future CP, the results found an indirect pathway whereby fearlessness reduces positive parenting and increases punitive parenting, which contributes to the development of CU traits and sets the stage for CP in later childhood. The specific indirect effect from fearlessness to CP via CU traits accounted for most of the variance, suggesting the existence of a temperamental pathway independent of parental variables. Further, two additional indirect pathways, exclusive of fearlessness, were identified, which started with low parental warmth and positive parenting, leading to CP via CU traits. These findings support the InterFear model, demonstrating multiple pathways to CP with the involvement of fearlessness, parenting practices, and CU traits. This model might play a pivotal role in the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies for CP.

Emotion Recognition Deficits in Children and Adolescents with Psychopathic Traits: A Systematic Review.

Children and adolescents with psychopathic traits show deficits in emotion recognition, but there is no consensus as to the extent of their generalizability or about the variables that may be moderating the process. The present Systematic Review brings together the existing scientific corpus on the subject and attempts to answer these questions through an exhaustive review of the existing literature according to PRISMA 2020 statement. Results confirmed the existence of pervasive deficits in emotion recognition and, more specifically, on distress emotions (e.g., fear), a deficit that transcends all modalities of emotion presentation and all emotional stimuli used. Moreover, they supported the key role of attention to relevant areas that provide emotional cues (e.g., eye-region) and point out differences according to the presence of disruptive behavior and based on the psychopathy dimension examined. This evidence could advance the current knowledge on developmental models of psychopathic traits. Yet, homogenization of the conditions of research in this area should be prioritized to be able to draw more robust and generalizable conclusions.

Compliance with Nutritional Recommendations and Gut Microbiota Profile in Galician Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Individuals.

Different research studies have identified specific groups or certain dietary compounds as the onset and progression of obesity and suggested that gut microbiota is a mediator between these compounds and the inflammation associated with pathology. In this study, the objective was to evaluate the dietary intake of 108 overweight (OW), obese (OB), and normal-weight (NW) individuals and to analyze their gut microbiota profile to determine changes and associations with Body Mass Index (BMI) and diet. When individuals were compared by BMI, significant differences in fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) intake were observed, showing higher adequacy for the NW group. The analysis of gut microbiota showed statistical differences for 18 ASVs; Anaerostipes and Faecalibacterium decreased in the OW/OB group, whereas the genus Oscillospira increased; the genus was also found in the LEFSe analysis as a biomarker for OW/OB. Roseburia faecis was found in a significantly higher proportion of NW individuals and identified as a biomarker for the NW group. Correlation analysis showed that adequation to nutritional recommendation for fiber indicated a higher abundance of Prevotella copri, linearly correlated with F. prausnitzii, Bacteroides caccae, and R. faecis. The same correlation was found for the adequation for MUFAs, with these bacteria being more abundant when the intake was adjusted to or below the recommendations.

Adverse Drug Reactions during COVID-19 Treatment: A Comprehensive Analysis Focused on Hospitalized Patients, with the Use of a Survey in Cuba in 2020.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence and type of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), together with associated risk factors, among Cuban COVID-19 patients treated with chloroquine (CQ), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), or interferon α2b (IFN α2b), according to the Cuban protocol. Materials and Methods: A prospective descriptive analysis of ADRs was performed on 200 COVID-19 patients who were admitted consecutively to three hospitals in Havana and Pinar del Río from April to July 2020. Information on demographics, ADRs, outcomes, behavioral, and health-related factors was collected using a validated questionnaire and clinical records. Each potential ADR case was assessed for causality based on the WHO-UMC algorithm, concomitant drug influences, and the presence of any drug-drug interactions (DDI). Results: The total frequency of ADRs was 55%, with predominantly gastrointestinal disorders and general symptoms (23% vs 20%). 95.1% of ADRs occurred within 10 days after treatment and 42 potential DDI in 55.5% of patients (61/110) were observed. The prevalence of ADRs was: 44%, 30.4%, and 26.4% for IFN α2b, LPV/r, and CQ, respectively. Sex (odds ratio (OR): 0.40 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.211-0.742), age (OR: 2.36 (95% CI: 1.02-5.44)), and underlying diseases (OR: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.06-0.23)) were independently associated factors for ADRs (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The frequency of ADRs and potential DDI was high compared to their use during nonpandemic times (e.g., for malaria, HIV, or inflammatory diseases). The safety profile of these drugs when used for COVID-19 treatment showed similar characteristics. Comorbidities, age >37 years old, and female sex were associated with ADRs.

What works in the psychological treatment of child conduct problems? An umbrella review of meta-analytic studies / ¿Qué funciona en el tratamiento psicológico de los problemas de conducta en niños? Revisión umbrella de estudios meta-analíticos

Conduct problems (CP) constitute a major field for child clinical psychology, in terms of not only prevalence, but also developmental, social, andclinical relevance. This study carried out an umbrella review of meta-analyses on the efficacy of treatment/indicated prevention of child CP (meanage range up to 12 years). Following a registered protocol, several databases (i.e., Web of Science, PsycINFO, PROSPERO, and The CochraneLibrary) were searched for meta-analyses published from January 2002 to March 2022. Nine meta-analytic publications met the required criteria, andthe main characteristics and findings of the studies were systematically described. Weighted effect sizes (ESs) were calculated through RStudioprogram. Analyses of heterogeneity, publication bias, quality (AMSTAR-2), and credibility were also conducted. Results indicate that parent traininghas been the most studied intervention, with a weighted ES of d = -0.49 (95% CI -.67 to -.32). The reviewed studies identified several moderatorsfor the efficacy of parent training, including individual (severity of CP), family (financial disadvantage), and intervention (delivery format) characteristics. Results from child-centered play therapy were also analyzed, d = -.34 (95% CI -.40 to -.28), but the reduced number of meta-analyses andthe weakness detected by quality assessment suggest the need of cautiously considering the pooled effects. In general, evidence seems to besuggestive of the efficacy of treatment of CP, particularly for parent training. Nevertheless, efficacy seems to be moderate, heterogeneity indexesare high, and quality assessments of meta-analyses are often suboptimal. This study suggests several avenues to strengthen knowledge in this field. (AU)

Los problemas de conducta (PC) son un foco prioritario de atención en la psicología clínica infantil. Este estudio presenta una revisión umbrella de meta-análisis sobre la eficacia del tratamiento/prevención indicada de los PC infantiles (rango de edad media hasta 12 años). Siguiendo un protocoloregistrado, se buscaron meta-análisis (enero 2002 a marzo 2022) en Web of Science, PsycINFO, PROSPERO y The Cochrane Library. Nuevemeta-análisis cumplieron con los criterios requeridos y sus características y hallazgos fueron descritos sistemáticamente; además, con RStudiose calcularon los tamaños del efecto (TEs) ponderados. Se realizaron análisis de heterogeneidad, sesgo de publicación, calidad (AMSTAR-2) ycredibilidad. El entrenamiento parental fue la intervención más estudiada, con un TE medio ponderado de d = -.49 (IC del 95%: -.67 a -.32), y seidentificaron diversos moderadores de eficacia, incluyendo características individuales (gravedad de los PC), familiares (desventaja económica) yde intervención (formato de administración). También se analizaron los resultados de la terapia de juego centrada en el niño, d = -.34 (IC del 95%:-.40 a -.28), pero el reducido número de meta-análisis y la debilidad detectada por la evaluación de la calidad sugieren la necesidad de considerarcon cautela los efectos agrupados. En general, la evidencia es sugestiva de eficacia del tratamiento de los PC, específicamente del entrenamientoparental. No obstante, la eficacia parece ser moderada, los índices de heterogeneidad elevados y las evaluaciones de calidad de los meta-análisisno suelen ser óptimas. Este estudio sugiere varias vías para reforzar el conocimiento en este campo. (AU)

Attomolar detection of hepatitis C virus core protein powered by molecular antenna-like effect in a graphene field-effect aptasensor.

Biosensors based on graphene field-effect transistors have become a promising tool for detecting a broad range of analytes. However, their performance is substantially affected by the functionalization protocol. In this work, we use a controlled in-vacuum physical method for the covalent functionalization of graphene to construct ultrasensitive aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) able to detect hepatitis C virus core protein. These devices are highly specific and robust, achieving attomolar detection of the viral protein in human blood plasma. Such an improved sensitivity is rationalized by theoretical calculations showing that induced polarization at the graphene interface, caused by the proximity of covalently bound molecular probe, modulates the charge balance at the graphene/aptamer interface. This charge balance causes a net shift of the Dirac cone providing enhanced sensitivity for the attomolar detection of the target proteins. Such an unexpected effect paves the way for using this kind of graphene-based functionalized platforms for ultrasensitive and real-time diagnostics of different diseases.

Development and Validation of Multi-Residue Method for Drugs Analysis in Human Feces by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The use of veterinary drugs in animal production is a common practice to secure animal and human health. However, residues of administrated drugs could be present in animal food products. Levels of drugs in food of animal origin are regulated within the European Union. In recent years, residues have been detected not only in food, but also in the environmental elements such as water or soil, meaning that humans are involuntarily exposed to these substances. This article presents a multiclass method for the analysis of various therapeutic groups of pharmaceuticals in human feces. Pharmaceuticals are extracted from feces with an acid extraction solvent, and after filtration the extract was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. A limit of detection of 10 ng/g was achieved for 9 pharmaceuticals, with linearity over 0.99 and repeatability and reproducibility lower than 20%. The method was satisfactorily applied in 25 feces samples of individuals that had declared not to be under medical treatment for the last two months. Results indicate the presence of six different compounds at concentration between 10 and 456 ng/g. This preliminary study showed the involuntary exposure of human gut microbiota to active substances such as pharmaceuticals.

In vitro Selection of High Affinity DNA and RNA Aptamers that Detect Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein of Genotypes 1 to 4 and Inhibit Virus Production in Cell Culture.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core is a highly conserved and multifunctional protein that forms the viral capsid, making it an attractive target for HCV detection and inhibition. Aptamers are in vitro selected, single-stranded nucleic acids (RNA or ssDNA) with growing applicability in viral diagnostics and therapy. We have carried out DNA and RNA in vitro selection against six different variants of HCV core protein: two versions of the full-length protein of genotype 1, and the hydrophilic domain of genotypes 1 to 4. The aptamer populations obtained were analyzed by means of Ultra-Deep Sequencing (UDS), the most abundant sequences were identified and a number of highly represented sequence motifs were unveiled. Affinity (measured as the dissociation constant, Kd) of the most abundant DNA and RNA aptamers were quantified using Enzyme-Linked OligoNucleotide Assay (ELONA)-based methods. Some aptamers with nanomolar or subnanomolar Kd values (as low as 0.4 nM) were the common outcome of DNA and RNA selections against different HCV core variants. They were tested in sandwich and competitive biosensor assays, reaching a limit of detection for HCV core of 2 pM. Additionally, the two most prevalent and high affinity aptamers were assayed in Huh-7.5 reporter cell lines infected with HCV, where they decreased both the viral progeny titer and the extracellular viral RNA level, while increasing the amount of intracellular viral RNA. Our results suggest that these aptamers inhibit HCV capsid assembly and virion formation, thus making them good candidate molecules for the design of novel therapeutic approaches for hepatitis C.

Atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumour presenting as a large retroperitoneal mass - a case report and review of the literature.

Atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumour (ASCLT) is a benign neoplasm that presents a variable proportion of atypical spindle and adipocytic cells, frequently expressing CD34, and embedded in myxoid or collagenous matrix. An important feature is a constant lack of either MDM2 or CDK4 amplification. It typically arises in the extremities. The retroperitoneum is a rare site of involvement. We report a case of a retroperitoneal ASCLT in a 62-year-old male. A differential diagnosis of ASCLT from the other mesenchymal, spindle-cell, and lipomatous tumours is crucial for optimal treatment and significantly influences the prognosis. A diagnosis should be warranted by the immunohistochemistry and molecular findings.

Capacity of underwater optical wireless communication systems over salinity-induced oceanic turbulence channels with ISI.

Point-to-point underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) links are mainly impaired by scattering due to impurities and turbidity in the open water, resulting in a significant inter-symbol interference (ISI) that limits seriously both channel capacity and the maximum practical information rate. This paper conducts, for the first time, the channel capacity analysis of UOWC systems in the presence of ISI and salinity-induced oceanic turbulence when the undersea optical channel is accurately modeled by linear discrete-time filtering of the input symbols. In this way, novel upper and lower bounds on channel capacity and mutual information are developed for non-uniform on-off keying (OOK) modulation when different constraints are imposed on the channel input. The results show that the capacity-achieving distribution, which is computed through numerical optimization, is discrete and depends on the optical signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). Moreover, a non-uniform input distribution significantly improves the channel capacity of such systems affected by ISI and oceanic turbulence, especially at low optical SNR. Monte Carlo techniques are employed to test the developed bounds for different undersea optical channels with one, two and three casual ISI coefficients.

COVID-19: presentación clínica en pacientes hospitalizados en el Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí" / COVID-19: clinical presentation in patients admitted to Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute

. Introducción: Con los primeros casos de COVID-19 en Cuba era necesario el reconocimiento temprano de los pacientes con riesgo de evolucionar hacia formas graves de la enfermedad. Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento clínico de la COVID-19 en pacientes hospitalizados en el Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí" e identificar factores asociados a la gravedad. Métodos: Se presentaron los primeros 73 casos de COVID-19 hospitalizados en el Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí desde el 11 de marzo al 5 mayo de 2020. Los pacientes se clasificaron en dos grupos: graves y con enfermedad ligera. Se compararon variables clínicas, demográficas, de laboratorio e imagenológicas en el momento del ingreso, y su posible asociación con la gravedad de la enfermedad. Resultados: Hubo siete pacientes graves (9,6 por ciento), cinco fallecieron. La edad > 60 años, tener más de una comorbilidad, hipertensión arterial y asma bronquial, fueron más frecuentes en pacientes graves. La fiebre más de seis días (p= 0,00), disnea (p= 0,00), presencia de estertores húmedos (p= 0,00), frecuencia respiratoria > 24/min (p= 0,00) y valores de linfocitos < 0,8 x109/L (p= 0,00), de ferritina > 500µg/L (p =0,00), proteína C reactiva ( 10μg/L (p= 0,01) y LDH ( 500 U/L (p= 0,01) se relacionaron con la gravedad. El 18,2 por ciento de las radiografías de tórax mostró alteraciones, con predominio de focos de condensación inflamatoria bilateral. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron: distrés respiratorio, choque, sepsis bacteriana y afecciones cardíacas. Conclusiones: Existen características clínicas y de laboratorio, identificables al ingreso, que están relacionadas con la gravedad de la enfermedad; lo que puede ser útil para la estratificación del riesgo y el manejo adecuado de los pacientes(AU)

Introduction: Upon appearance of the first COVID-19 cases in Cuba, early identification of patients at risk of developing severe forms of the disease became a necessity. Objective: Describe the clinical behavior of COVID-19 in patients admitted to Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute and identify factors associated to severity. Methods: A presentation was made of the first 73 COVID-19 cases admitted to Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute from 11 March to 5 May 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: severe and mild disease. A comparison was made of clinical, demographic, laboratory and imaging variables at admission, and their possible association to disease severity. Results: Seven patients (9.6%) were critically ill; five died. Age > 60 years, more than one comorbidity, arterial hypertension and bronchial asthma were more common among critical patients. Fever for more than six days (p= 0.00), dyspnea (p= 0.00), presence of humid stertors (p= 0.00), respiratory rate > 24/min (p= 0.00) and lymphocytes < 0.8 x109/l (p= 0.00), ferritin > 500 µg/L (p =0.00), C-reactive protein 10 μg/l (p= 0.01) and LDH 500 U/l (p= 0.01) were related to disease severity. 18.2 percent of the chest radiographs showed alterations, with a predominance of bilateral foci of inflammatory condensation. The most common complications were respiratory distress, shock, bacterial sepsis and heart disorders. Conclusions: Some clinical and laboratory characteristics identifiable at admission may be associated to disease severity, which makes them useful for risk stratification and the appropriate management of patients(AU)

Hábitos alimentarios en la población gallega durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19 / Food habits in the Galician population during confinement by COVID-19

INTRODUCCIÓN: en plena crisis por la COVID-19, el consumo alimentario ha pasado a llevarse a cabo en su totalidad en el hogar y las visitas a los centros de distribución de alimentos se han visto reducidas. Asimismo, otros hábitos, como la práctica de ejercicio físico o las horas de sueño, se han visto también modificadas. OBJETIVOS: el objetivo de este trabajo ha sido evaluar los cambios producidos en los hábitos alimentarios y en el estilo de vida de la población gallega durante el período de confinamiento por la COVID-19. MÉTODOS: se elaboró una encuesta en Microsoft Forms para adultos residentes en Galicia y se distribuyó, de manera aleatoria, a través de un servicio de mensajería instantánea para móviles a través de Internet. RESULTADOS: el número de participantes fue de 1350 personas, mayores de edad, siendo el promedio de edad de 63,2 ± 8,1 años y estando la muestra compuesta por un 30 % de hombres y un 70 % de mujeres. Los datos muestran una tendencia hacia el consumo de alimentos saludables, como frutas y verduras, y un descenso de otros menos saludables, como son los alimentos procesados. Un 46 % de la población indicó estar comiendo más que antes del confinamiento, aumentando el picoteo entre horas (54 %) y la ansiedad por la comida, debido a situaciones de estrés o nervios, en un 40 % de los encuestados. Esto se ha traducido en un incremento del peso corporal, indicado por un 44 % de la muestra, siendo la media de kilos ganada de 2,8 ± 1,5. CONCLUSIONES: durante el confinamiento, los hábitos alimentarios y el estilo de vida de la población gallega se han visto modificados. El incremento de peso experimentado en una población que ya partía de un elevado porcentaje de sobrepeso y obesidad al inicio del confinamiento podría tener un impacto negativo en el desarrollo de patologías crónicas no transmisibles

INTRODUCTION: during the COVID-19 crisis food habits have changed among the population as food consumption is now carried out totally at home, and visits to groceries or food centers have decreased considerably. Likewise, other habits, such as physical activity or sleeping hours have also been modified. OBJECTIVES: the objective of this work was to evaluate the changes occurred in eating and lifestyle habits among the adult Galician population during the confinement period ordered in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: a survey was conducted using Microsoft Forms, and spread among the population using an instant messaging service for mobiles through the internet. RESULTS: a total of 1350 Galician adults completed the questionnaire; mean of age was 63.2 ± 8.1 years, 30 % were men, and 70 % were women. The obtained data show a trend towards consumption of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, and a decrease in less healthy ones such as processed foods. In total, 46 % of the population reported they were eating more than before the confinement, with an increase in snacking between meals (54 %) and in anxiety about food due to situations of stress or nervousness bieng reported by 40 % of respondents. This has resulted in an increase in body weight, reported by 44 % of participants, with the average gain being 2.8 ± 1.5 kg. CONCLUSIONS: during confinement, the eating and lifestyle habits of the Galician population have been modified. The weight gain observed in a population that already had a high level of overweight and obesity at confinement onset aggravates the present situation and may have a negative impact on the development of chronic, non-communicable diseases

Impact of angular pointing error on BER performance of underwater optical wireless links.

Even in clear ocean water, underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) is impaired not only by absorption and scattering, but also by oceanic turbulence and dynamic pointing errors which result in a fading channel, degrading the bit error rate (BER) performance. In this paper, for the first time, we quantify analytically the trade-off between geometric loss and misalignment in underwater scattering channels. A novel geometric loss model is developed which is used to compute the average BER in the presence of absorption and scattering over salinity-induced oceanic turbulence channels. Our findings suggest that UOWC systems are less sensitive to angular pointing errors due to jitter since scattering is able to alleviate such a fading effect at the expense of a higher attenuation due to geometric spread. Monte Carlo simulation results are further included to verify the developed BER expression which is valid over a wide range of signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). Finally, the impact of inter-symbol interference (ISI) is also quantified by measuring the optical power penalty.

Interferon gamma, TGF-ß1 and RANTES expression in upper airway samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

Upper respiratory tract is the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Releasing of pro and anti-inflammatory mediators plays an important role in the immunopathogenesis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the early inflammatory response in upper airway by measuring of IFN-γ, TGF-ß1 and RANTES at mRNA level. Forty five SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were enrolled, whose were divided in two groups: asymptomatic and symptomatic. Twenty healthy persons, SARS-CoV-2 negative were included as controls. Higher IFN-γ expression was detected in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in comparison with controls (p = 0.0393). IFN-γ expression was increased in symptomatic patients (p = 0.0405). TGF-ß1 and RANTES expressions were lower in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients than controls (p < 0.0001; p = 0.0011, respectively). A significant correlation between IFN-γ and TGF-ß1 was observed in SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic patients (r = +0.61, p = 0.0014). The findings suggest that imbalance between IFN-γ and TGF-ß1 expression could be an impact in clinical expression of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Antimicrobial Activity of Five Apitoxins from Apis mellifera on Two Common Foodborne Pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of today's major public health challenges. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have been responsible for an increasing number of deaths in recent decades. These resistant bacteria are also a concern in the food chain, as bacteria can resist common biocides used in the food industry and reach consumers. As a consequence, the search for alternatives to common antimicrobials by the scientific community has intensified. Substances obtained from nature have shown great potential as new sources of antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of five bee venoms, also called apitoxins, against two common foodborne pathogens. A total of 50 strains of the Gram-negative pathogen Salmonella enterica and 8 strains of the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were tested. The results show that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were highly influenced by the bacterial genus. The MIC values ranged from 256 to 1024 µg/mL in S. enterica and from 16 to 32 µg/mL in L. monocytogenes. The results of this study demonstrate that apitoxin is a potential alternative agent against common foodborne pathogens, and it can be included in the development of new models to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the food chain.

Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents.

During the first two decades of this century, conventional antimicrobial compounds have been found out to have more bacterial resistance. What has also been worrying is the rediscovery of the so-called "natural compounds", which in turn have a good name among the average citizen because of the former's plant or animal origin. However, they do not form a well-classified group of substances. This Special Issue consists of five reviews focusing on clinical bacteria applications in food and their specific effects upon virulent bacterial factors. You will also find a research on much needed, new antimicrobials sourced in extreme environments, and secondary metabolites of Burkholderia. This issue includes 12 original research papers which will provide you with an in-depth coverage of the protein extract activity, as well as the activity of other plant extracts, on fighting bacteria, fungi or diarrhea. Their use in broilers or laying eggs for production purposes has also been focused on in order to improve gut microbiota. Last but not least, we should not forget about honey and its effect; Allium sativum-fermented extracts, as well as other "natural" compounds, have been studied in their fight against biofilms. Furthermore, we have also examined the use of essential oils, which are currently used in edibles such as fresh sausages. The present work also deals with other applications such as natural compound derivatives as well as compound mixtures.

Secure communication for FSO links in the presence of eavesdropper with generic location and orientation.

When the beam waist at the receiver is significantly larger than the receiver size, free-space optical (FSO) links may be vulnerable to some optical tapping risks at the physical layer. In this paper, we conduct a new framework for the analysis of the secrecy performance in terms of the secrecy outage probability (SOP) of FSO systems affected by gamma-gamma (GG) turbulence-induced fading channels with pointing errors. As a key feature, we evaluate the SOP in the presence of an external eavesdropper with generic location and orientation. For that reason, a new misalignment error model is proposed to consider a non-orthogonal optical beam with respect to the photodetector plane at the eavesdropper's receiver, where the effective area is determined by a rotated ellipse. New approximate and asymptotic solutions at high signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) for the secrecy performance are obtained in closed-form, which are verified by exact Monte Carlo simulations. By using the developed expressions, we analyze in greater detail some effects such as the SNR of the eavesdropper's channel, the normalized beamwidth at the receiver-side, and the location and orientation of the eavesdropper on the secrecy performance for different turbulence conditions.

Short Chain Fatty Acids Commonly Produced by Gut Microbiota Influence Salmonella enterica Motility, Biofilm Formation, and Gene Expression.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are commonly produced by healthy gut microbiota and they have a protective role against enteric pathogens. SCFAs also have direct antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens by diffusion across the bacterial membrane and reduction of intracellular pH. Due to this antimicrobial activity, SCFAs have promising applications in human health and food safety. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of four SCFAs (acetic acid, butyric acid, propionic acid, and valeric acid) in Salmonella strains isolated from poultry were determined. The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of SCFAs in Salmonella biofilm formation, motility, and gene expression was also evaluated. Butyric acid, propionic acid, and valeric acid showed a MIC of 3750 µg/mL in all strains tested, while the MIC of acetic acid was between 1875 and 3750 µg/mL. Subinhibitory concentrations of SCFAs significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the motility of all Salmonella strains, especially in the presence of acetic acid. Biofilm formation was also significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the presence of SCFAs in some of the Salmonella strains. Salmonella strain. Salmonella Typhimurium T7 showed significant (p < 0.05) upregulation of important virulence genes, such as invA and hilA, especially in the presence of butyric acid. Therefore, SCFAs are promising substances for the inhibition of the growth of foodborne pathogens. However, it is important to avoid the use of subinhibitory concentrations that could increase the virulence of foodborne pathogen Salmonella.

Antimicrobial activity of apitoxin from Apis mellifera in Salmonella enterica strains isolated from poultry and its effects on motility, biofilm formation and gene expression.

Salmonella is a major global food-borne pathogen. One of the main concerns related to Salmonella and other food-borne pathogens is their capacity to acquire antimicrobial resistance and produce biofilms. Due to the increased resistance to common antimicrobials used to treat livestock animals and human infections, the discovery of new antimicrobial substances is one of the main challenges in microbiological research. An additional challenge is the development of new methods and substances to inhibit and destruct biofilms. We determined the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of apitoxin in 16 Salmonella strains isolated from poultry. In addition, the effect of apitoxin on Salmonella motility and the expression of biofilm- and virulence-related genes was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of apitoxin ranged from 1,024-256 µg/mL, with 512 µg/mL being the most common. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of apitoxin significantly reduced biofilm formation in 14 of the 16 Salmonella strains tested, with significant increases in motility. MIC concentrations of apitoxin destroyed the pre-formed biofilm by 27.66-68.22% (47.00% ±â€¯10.91). The expression of biofilm- and virulence-related genes and small RNAs was differentially regulated according to the strain and the presence of apitoxin. The transcription of the small RNAs dsrA and csrB, related to antimicrobial resistance, was upregulated in the presence of apitoxin. We suggest that apitoxin is a potential antimicrobial substance that could be used in combination with other substances to develop new drugs and sanitizers against food-borne pathogens.