Diagnosis of aspergillosis: Role of proteomics

The expansion of the antifungal armamentarium and the implementation of imaging techniques and new nonculture-based fungal diagnostics (NCBFDs) have improved the survival of patients with invasive asper-gillosis (IA). However, mortality rates still remain high, possibly influenced by several pitfalls, affecting NCBFDs and reducing the window of opportunity for earlier treatment. A large body of in vitro and in vivo studies has demonstrated that several fungal proteic components are strongly immunogenic, and both the adaptive immunity and the innate branch are heavily involved in the recognition and clearance of fungal pathogens, resulting, on occasion, in a useful tool for the treatment of IA. By evaluating these studies, this review considers the possibility of exploiting either components of the innate or adaptive immunity to support the rapid and early diagnosis of IA.     

Focus: Sex and Gender Health: Tobacco Smoking and the Resting Maternal Brain: A Preliminary Study of Frontal EEG

Tobacco smoking has been attributed to a wide range of detrimental health consequences for both women and their children. In addition to its known physical health effects, smoking may also impact maternal neural responses and subsequent caregiving behavior. To begin investigating this issue, we employed electroencephalography (EEG) to examine resting neural oscillations of tobacco-smoking mothers (n = 35) and non-smoking mothers (n = 35). We examined seven EEG frequency bands recorded from frontal electrode sites (delta, theta, alpha, alpha₁, alpha₂, beta, and gamma). While no between-group differences were present in high-frequency bands (alpha₂, beta, gamma), smokers showed greater spectral power in low-frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, alpha₁) compared to non-smokers. This increased power in low-frequency bands of tobacco-smoking mothers is consistent with a less aroused state and may be one mechanism through which smoking might affect the maternal brain and caregiving behavior.     

Biogeography of the family Acartiidae (Calanoida) in the Ponto-Mediterranean Province

In the Ponto-Mediterranean Province, the geographical distribution of 19 species plus 1 variety belonging to the family Acartiidae has been studied. The study utilised cartographic techniques of terrestrial biogeography and the entire Province was subdivided in 1375 squares. The geographic distributions obtained derived from data published during the last 126 years. The first result was that about 3/4 of the area considered has never been sampled, and only about 8% of the entire area has been repeatedly sampled (at least seasonally). Long time-series of sampling are known only from very few sites. The species considered belong to three genera. Species distributions are discontinuous either in space or in time. Three species are endemic. The historical analysis suggests that four species arrived in the Province recently (two of them are Lessepsian migrants; the others have been introduced by human activities). Two species appear to have crossed the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea (anti-Lessepsian migration). Two species are considered to be ante-Lessepsian (they were tropical species present in the Mediterranean before the Suez Canal opening). The doubtful presence of two species in the Mediterranean is discussed. At the present time, it seems that the distribution of many species is rapidly changing, probably as a consequence of the anthropogenic influence on communication between areas of the Province, and supported by the ability of Acartiidae to cross geographic barriers, mainly as resting stages.     

Focus: Sex and Gender Health: Balance of the Sexes: Addressing Sex Differences in Preclinical Research

Preclinical research is fundamental for the advancement of biomedical sciences and enhancing healthcare. Considering sex differences in all studies throughout the entire biomedical research pipeline is necessary to adequately inform clinical research and improve health outcomes. However, there is a paucity of information to date on sex differences in preclinical work. As of 2009, most (about 80 percent) rodent studies across 10 fields of biology were still conducted with only male animals. In 2016, the National Institutes of Health implemented a policy aimed to address this concern by requiring the consideration of sex as a biological variable in preclinical research grant applications. This perspective piece aims to (1) provide a brief history of female inclusion in biomedical research, (2) describe the importance of studying sex differences, (3) explain possible reasons for opposition of female inclusion, and (4) present potential additional solutions to reduce sex bias in preclinical research.