Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly recurrent mental illness accompanied by impairment of neurocognitive function. Lack of insight may affect patients’ motivation to seek treatment, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. This study explores the relationship of insight to neurocognitive function and the risk of recurrence of depressive episodes in patients with MDD.Demographic, clinical variables, and neurocognitive function measured with Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED) from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were collected from 277 patients with MDD. Among them, 141 participants completed a follow-up visit within 1–5 years. Insight was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). To explore the factors associated with recurrence, binary logistic regression models were used.Patients with MDD, without insight, had significantly higher total and factor scores  on the HAM-D and worse performance in the neurocognition task, compared to those with insight. Furthermore, binary logistic regression revealed that insight and retardation can predict recurrence.Lack of insight is associated with recurrence and impaired cognitive flexibility in patients with MDD. MDD is Recurrence is a serious social problem that not only influences daily life and increases the risk of suicide in depressed individuals but also aggravates the economic burden of families . ApproxiInsight is a common concept in psychiatry and broadly refers to the awareness of the illness, the ability to recognize the symptoms, and realize the need for treatment . Many stLack of insight has been associated with undesirable clinical outcomes  and poorCognitive impairment related to deficits in executive function is clinically significant, which may result in occupational difficulties and unemployment in patients with depression , 23. CogLittle attention has been paid to the relationship between insight and clinical factors such as depressive severity, executive function, or outcomes of patients with MDD, while a range of studies on insight have been performed in relation to several mental disorders, especially schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship of insight to executive function and recurrence in MDD patients in a longitudinal follow-up cohort, and to systematically examine the role of insight and other clinical factors in the risk of recurrence.2.2.1.A total of 277 patients with confirmed MDD were recruited from the Mental Health Center of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. MDD was diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV criteria by qualified psychiatrists. All were Han Chinese, aged 16–60 years, never treated with electrotherapy, never medicated by any antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, or other drugs affecting the central nervous system, or stopped using medicine at least 3 months prior to enrollment. For all participants, the exclusion criteria were any neurological history, loss of consciousness, pregnancy, current comorbidity, and other DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis.2.2.via telephone and invited to participate in the follow-up assessment. “Recurrence” was defined as the appearance of a new episode after at least 2 months of recovery  was performed to explore the relationships between measures of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, cognition function, and insight at baseline. In this model, the dependent variable was insight, and the independent variables were patients’ clinical and socio-demographic variables, which were significantly different between the groups with and without insight. Similarly, the predictors of depression recurrence at follow-up were calculated using binary logistic regression analysis. Sex, age, and years of education were covariates in these analyzes.p < 0.05.Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS 26.0 0 . The two-tailed level of statistical significance was set at 3.3.1.p < 0.05). A later onset age was more prevalent in patients without insight than in those with insight . There were no significant differences in terms of age, sex, years of education, total duration of depression, first episode/relapse, and untreated duration between those who could judge and realize their mental status and those who could not. Compared to patients with MDD who had insight, those without insight made more mistakes prior to the extra-dimensional shift of the task  and on stages successfully completed . Furthermore, the number of trials undertaken on all successfully completed stages differed between the groups , which indicates that MDD patients without insight demonstrated worse cognition function.In this study, 277 MDD patients were recruited , of whomt = −2.914, p = 0.004; see χ2 = 7.444, p = 0.007) and with a higher total  and factor scores, including anxiety/somatization  and retardation  in HAM-D, compared to those without recurrence.A total of 141 participants with depression completed the follow-up in 1–5 years, and 42 patients (29.8%) experienced recurrence. We also compared the demographics and clinical characteristics between those follow-ups and lost-to-follow at baseline, there were no statistical differences in the two groups except for sleep disturbance scores (3.2.p < 0.001) and IED completed stage errors  that related to insight.The variables in this model included onset age, anxiety/somatization scores, weight scores, retardation scores, and sleep scores of HAM-D, Pre-ED errors, completed stage errors, and completed stage trials. As shown in 3.3.p = 0.037) and retardation  that predicted recurrence .The data are available upon request to the corresponding author, Prof. Xiaohong Ma , the Program of Chengdu Science and technology (No. 2021-YF05-00272-SN), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82001432), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation , the Open Project Program of the National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition (No. 202000034), and West China Hospital Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2020HXBH104).The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. 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Lithobates catesbeiana) during refrigerated storage (4 °C) were investigated. The quality changes in samples treated with deionized water (CK), allicin solution (All), antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB), and allicin solution combined with AOB solution (AA) in microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory evaluation were analyzed, respectively. The results demonstrated that combination treatment inhibited the increase in total viable counts, delayed the decrease in amino acid content, and retarded the sensory deterioration. Preservative treatment has an inhibitory effect on the early storage of PBC, which can reduce PBC by about 1.0 log CFU/g. The reduction in thiobarbituric acid (TBA) content and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content indicated that combination treatment could better restrain the lipid oxidation and degradation of protein than the CK group and single-treatment group. In addition, the TVB-N content in the AA group still did not exceed the threshold on the 14th day. As a consequence, combination treatment prolonged the shelf life of bullfrogs for another six days. Therefore, allicin and AOB with excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity could be an effective approach to delay the biochemical reaction of refrigerated bullfrogs. This study has provided a potential approach for increasing the shelf life of bullfrogs and preserving their quality during refrigerated storage.The effects of allicin and antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) on the quality of bullfrogs ( Lithobates catesbeiana) are a type of aquacultural species in China and are considered as one of the most expensive cultured frog species. Cooked bullfrog meat is white in color, tender in texture, and lightly sweet in taste, and is similar in mouthfeel to chicken [Bullfrogs ( chicken . Bullfro chicken . Bullfro chicken . Compare chicken . As a reAllicin (All) is an oxygenated sulfur compound, which was isolated from crushed garlic petals in 1944 and identified as a compound with antibacterial activity. As one of the important organic sulfur compounds, it is beneficial to human health but is also accompanied by a typical penetrating odor ,6. The iAntioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) extracted from bamboo leaves, which is a brown–yellow powder, is mainly composed of lactones, flavonoids, and phenolic acids . It is aAt present, fresh delivery is very popular in China. As one kind of fresh food, bullfrog quality is particularly critical in the process of cold-chain delivery. Frozen bullfrog products undergo severe moisture loss and possess poor taste. The cost of live-bullfrog transportation is expensive. Therefore, it is important to develop a post-slaughter bullfrog storage method with refrigeration as the mainstay. However, most of them are thermal treatments; there are no studies on the effects of natural biopreservative treatments on bullfrogs. The objective of our study is to investigate the effects of All and AOB treatment during refrigerated storage on the quality of bullfrogs.The allicin (purity: ≥95%) was purchased from Aladdin Industrial Inc., Shanghai, China. AOB  was provided by Shaanxi Zhenghe Phar Biotechnology Co., Ltd. . All reagents used in the study were analytical grade.w/v) of allicin solution (soluble in acetic acid solution) (All); (3) samples treated with 0.5 g/L (w/v) of antioxidant of bamboo leaves (soluble in acetic acid solution) (AOB); and (4) samples treated with 0.25 g/L of allicin solution combined with 0.25 g/L of AOB solution (AA). Each group was dipped in the respective solution for 10 min, drained, and then stored in polyethylene bags at 4 °C in a refrigerator for subsequent analysis at different intervals. Microbiological, physicochemical, sensory evaluation, and protein indexes were analyzed at 2-day intervals in triplicate. It should be noted that except for TBA content, which was detected using abdominal meat, all other indicators were assessed using leg muscles.Live bullfrogs were purchased from an aquatic market  and transported to the laboratory immediately. Subsequently, samples were sacrificed. The head and internal organs were removed, and then the sample was flushed with water. They were stochastically split into four groups and underwent different treatments: (1) samples treated with deionized water (CK); (2) samples treated with 0.5 g/L .The determination of the total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) followed the method from Li et al.  with sliw/v). The mixture was centrifuged (8000× g) for 10 min. and the supernatant was taken. An equal amount of thiobarbituric acid solution was reacted with the supernatant and the absorbance (532 nm) was measured using a spectrophotometer. TBA contents are expressed as (MDA)/kg.The TBA measurement followed by the method described by Sanchez et al. . In shor1 and m2 represent the sample weights before and after centrifugation, respectively.The water-holding capacity (WHC) of bullfrog samples was detected using the method presented by Zhao et al. . The WHCTPA was measured using a texture analyzer , and the parameters followed the method described in . The meag for 10 min. The supernatants were combined, the pH adjusted to 2.0, and then diluted to 10 mL. The solution was filtered with 0.22 μm water phase filter then analyzed using an amino acid analyzer . Free amino acids (FAAs) were assessed as described by Li et al. . A two-gThe intrinsic fluorescence emission spectra of a 1 mg/mL protein solution were determined using an F-7100 fluorescence spectrometer .MFI was measured as described by Zhao . In shorSensory characteristics of bullfrogs with different treatments were assessed by 10 professional trained judges  in the laboratory. The selected sensory evaluators were trained to enhance their ability to perceive, recognize, and describe sensory stimuli, enabling them to provide accurate, consistent, and reproducible sensory measurement values. Sensory evaluation was assessed as described by Lan et al. . Sensoryp < 0.05.The results are denoted as the means ± standard deviation, and all measurements were repeated at least in replicate. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (vision 13.0) and Origin 2018. Statistical analysis was performed with Duncan’s multiple-range tests and one-way ANOVA, and significant differences were set at p < 0.05). The initial value of TVC in the CK group was 4.03 log CFU/g and reached 9.02 log CFU/g on day 12   b. Lang [p < 0.05).TBA content is a vital criterion to evaluate lipid oxidation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a type of secondary lipid oxidation product. In the initial and intermediate stages, the level of the TBA active substance increased. Some substances, such as amino acids, proteins, nucleosides, and nucleic acids in bullfrogs, led to increases in the TBA content at the end of storage . As illuThe WHCs of the samples are shown in To a certain extent, the acceptability of products for consumers depends on texture, because the texture properties reflect the gel properties and taste characteristics of bullfrogs. Musculature is influenced by WHC and some inherent biological factors . The harFAAs can be the precursors of volatile organic compounds for aquatic products, and they are closely related to flavor. In The TAV value was calculated based on different FAA thresholds  and reflp < 0.05). On day 0, the MFI values in the treated group were lower than that in the CK group, which indicated that the addition of preservatives inhibited the increase in MFI. The All and AA group showed a better effect than the CK and AOB group during storage. This may be related to the bacteriostasis of allicin, which inhibited the growth of bacteria and restrained the protein degradation. Therefore, the All and AA group had a lower MFI value, and the MFI results were consistent with the change in the microbiological index.The MFI value reflects the tenderness of meat and represents the myofibril integrity . A high Sensory evaluation uses sensory characteristics as a visible index of freshness, containing texture, odor, color, and overall acceptability . The oveCorrelation analysis between quality indexes of bullfrogs during refrigerated storage is exhibited in Allicin can rapidly pass through cell membranes with ease owing to its hydrophobic nature, reaching cellular compartments where it reacts rapidly with free thiol groups. Acetyl-CoA synthetase blockage and glutathione oxidation initiation, which result in a shift in cellular redox potential, disrupt the membrane, leading to cellular-content leakages . AOB plaThe results of the present study suggested that allicin, antioxidant of bamboo leaves, and combination treatments could retard the growth of microorganisms, the augmentation of TBA and TVB-N, and the change in texture in bullfrogs during refrigerated storage. The combined treatment was effective in sensory evaluation of bullfrogs, and the sensory quality was well maintained. At the same time, the shelf life of bullfrogs during refrigerated storage could be prolonged for another six days. Therefore, the excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of allicin and AOB, as revealed in the present study, provide a potential approach for increasing the shelf life of bullfrogs and preserving their quality during storage. However, the mechanism by which allicin and AOB improve quality and inhibit the specific spoilage microorganisms in bullfrogs needs to be further investigated.


M. tuberculosis and analyzed the molecular determinants of resistance to isoniazid, ethionamide, and perchlozone. We found a wide variation in the MIC of perchlozone from 2 to 64 mg/L, correlating with the overall resistance profile: the MIC was higher for MDR and pre-XDR isolates. The cross-resistance between ethionamide and perchlozone was driven by mutations in the ethA gene encoding monooxygenase responsible for the activation of both drugs. The presumably susceptible to perchlozone and wild-type strains had MICs ranging from 2 to 4 mg/L, and the breakpoint was estimated to be 4 or 8 mg/L. In conclusion, susceptibility to perchlozone is retained for a part of the MDR strains, as is susceptibility to ethionamide, providing the possibility of therapy for such cases based on phenotypic or molecular analysis.The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis forced the development of new drugs and the screening of more effective or less toxic analogues. Mycolic acid biosynthesis is targeted by several antituberculosis drugs, isoniazid being one of the most important in tuberculosis therapy. Recently, perchlozone, acting on another step in the FAS-II cycle, was officially approved for tuberculosis treatment in the Russian Federation and was included in the Russian national clinical guidelines. Using the serial dilution method on 7H10 agar plates for perchlozone and a Sensititre MYCOTB microdilution plate, we analyzed the phenotypic properties of primary clinical isolates of  M. tuberculosis is becoming common in many regions of the world. The numbers of primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) cases are increasing steadily. Chemotherapy regimens for such patients need to be modified in a timely manner to include effective drugs.Tuberculosis currently remains a major public health problem worldwide. The transmission of drug-resistant strains of Thiosemicarbazones is a group of chemical compounds with mycobactericidal activity, discovered after a systematic investigation of sulfonamides and thiazoles as antituberculosis agents . The besIn the search for less toxic compounds, three isomeric forms of nicotinaldehyde thiosemicarbazone in the alpha, beta, and gamma positions were discovered in 1952 . Beta anThe emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis has pushed forward the development of new drugs, as well as studies of repurposed and previously described less effective drugs . The isoinhA gene [hadA-hadB-hadC [Thioacetazone, isoniazid, ethionamide, and perchlozone have a similar mode of action and partially share the biotransformation pathways . They unnhA gene ,14. PercadB-hadC ,16. ThioadB-hadC ,18.Isonaizid as a prodrug is converted to a toxic adduct with the main katalase-peroxidase KatG, and the most frequent substitution found in resistant strains is the substitution S315T that provides the perfect balance between diminished activity towards isoniazid and retains the main activity . The maiethA locus has also been proposed [mmaA4 gene, which is supposed to be the alternative activator of the drug [inhA leads to the titration of isoniazid and ethionamide and therefore to cross-resistance  retained a low MIC of ethionamide of 0.6 and 2.5 mg/L, which were below the breakpoint. One of them had a substitution L440P in EthA with an unknown effect on protein function, while the other had a frameshift mutation at nucleotide position 880, which lead to the loss of EthA function. The latter strain had discordant results of resistance to ethionamide obtained by two methods—it was resistant as determined by critical concentration at 5 mg/L.The common activation path of perchlozone and ethionamide by EthA leads to at least partial cross-resistance between these drugs . All ethfabG1 mutation and InhA I194V substitution. Two isolates resistant to isoniazid and presumably susceptible to perchlozone had a perchlozone MIC of 2 mg/L. No other mutations were found in addition to KatG S315T.The pairwise correlation of isoniazid and perchlozone MIC revealed a partial cross-correlation b. IsoniaTwo isolates had an ‘intermediate’ perchlozone MIC of 8 mg/L. One was susceptible to isoniazid and had a substitution of F97L in InhA. It was not previously described in resistant isolates and could be neutral. The second was resistant to isoniazid and had S315T substitution in KatG.ethA mutations and phenotype for three isolates with perchlozone MIC of 16mg/L. A strain had no mutations in the ethA gene, and high MICs of ethionamide and isoniazid could be explained by the frequently identified promoter PfabG1 mutation c(-15)t and the InhA substitution I194V. Additional sequencing of the hadABC locus did not reveal any mutations; thus, high perchlozone MIC is caused by alterations in other genomic loci.There were some discrepancies between ethA. They are also characterized by low MICs for ethionamides ranging from 0.6 to 2.5 mg/L  for the M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv was 0.8 mg/L, which is comparable to our data [We found a wide variation in the MIC of perchlozone from 2 to 64 mg/L, correlating with the general resistance profile of the unexposed clinical strain: the MIC was higher for MDR and pre-XDR isolates. For presumably susceptible wild-type strains, the MIC of perchlozone was 2–4 mg/L. Gopal and Dick reported the perchlozone MICdard way . Data obour data . It shouour data  and eighour data . Averageour data . Thus, tour data .M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. Resistance-associated mutations were located in the gene encoding EthA monooxygenase, and all strains with a high MIC of ethionamide also had a high MIC of perchlozone. A previous study on a set of clinical isolates lacked phenotypic data on the susceptibility of perchlozone, limiting the interpretation of the results [ethA gene emerged during perchlozone treatment. It could be proposed that isolates with elevated MIC of ethionamide and frameshift mutations in the ethA gene should be considered resistant, and such cases should not be treated with perchlozone.In our work, we showed the cross-resistance between ethionamide and perchlozone in primary non-exposed to perchlozone  results . HoweverethA and were resistant to ethionamide. Generally, susceptibility to perchlozone was retained for a part of the MDR strains, also as susceptibility to ethionamide [The incomplete cross-resistance observed between isoniazid and perchlozone was due to the properties of the strains chosen for the study, since all strains with high MIC of isoniazid and perchlozone carry mutations in ionamide ,34,35, pethA, but it was also unmutated. Another possible mechanism could be the structural similarity of perchlozone and thioacetazone. Alahari, 2007 showed the effect of thioacetazone on the family of cyclopropane mycolic acid synthases of mycobacterial enzymes responsible for the synthesis of different subtypes of mycolic acids. In the proposed model, thioacetozone inhibits MmaA2 and is activated by MmaA4 [M. tuberculosis strains, and the obtained strains had mutations in hadA, hadC, and mmaA4 [Other mutations could be the cause of elevated perchlozone MIC. We analyzed the HadABC locus sequence in an isolate with an MIC of 8 mg/L and wild-type by MmaA4 ,24, whicnd mmaA4 .M. tuberculosis isolates that combined phenotypic and molecular data and confirmed the basic assumptions about the mechanisms of resistance to perchlozone.A limitation of this study is the relatively small sample size of 22 isolates. Nevertheless, this is the first study of clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were obtained from clinical specimens collected from patients with TB at the Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Tuberculosis Control, Moscow, Russian Federation. All clinical strains were isolated in 2017–2018 from sputum from newly diagnosed patients prior to starting antituberculosis therapy or no more than one month after the initiation of treatment. The laboratory reference strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv was used as a control strain. For molecular analysis, samples were isolated sequentially, one isolate from one patient, before initiation of treatment. Drug susceptibility tests for rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, kanamycin, capreomycin, and amikacin, PAS, and ethionamide were performed using Bactec MGIT 960 as previously described [The escribed ,37. The escribed . The MICethA, inhA, and PfabG1 fragments were performed as previously described [The DNA isolation and sequencing of the escribed . The folplus online  [Twenty-four loci MIRU-VNTR typing was made according to . The proer 2022) .


Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome defined as a decline in cognitive performance greater than expected for an individual according to age and education level, not interfering notably with daily life activities. Many studies have focused on the memory domain in the analysis of MCI and more severe cases of dementia. One specific memory system is represented by autobiographical memory (AM), which has been largely studied in Alzheimer’s disease and its effect on AM; however, the impairment of AM in moderate forms of decline, such as MCI, is still controversial. Objective: The main aim of this systematic review is to analyze the functioning of autobiographical memory in patients with MCI, considering both the semantic and the episodic components. Materials: The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. The search was conducted until 20 February 2023 in the following bibliographical databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo, and twenty-one articles were included. Results: The results highlight controversial findings concerning the semantic component of AM since only seven studies have found a worse semantic AM performance in patients with MCI compared to the HC group. The results of impaired episodic AM in individuals with MCI are more consistent than those concerning semantic AM. Conclusions: Starting from the evidence of this systematic review, further studies should detect and investigate the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that undermine AM performance, allowing the development of specific interventions targeting these mechanisms. The term mild cognitive impairment (MCI) indicates a syndrome conceptualized as a decline in cognition more severe than expected for an individual according to age and schooling. This impairment does not notably interfere with daily activities . Since iOne specific memory system is represented by autobiographical memory (AM), which is important for social functioning  since itIn healthy aging, it has been demonstrated that AM declines with aging and that the episodic component is more affected than the semantic one . PiolinoTherefore, the main objective of this systematic review is to analyze the functioning of autobiographical memory in patients with MCI, considering both the semantic and the episodic components.Is autobiographical memory impaired, and to what degree in patients with MCI?Which components of AM are impaired and how are they impaired in MCI?This systematic review aims to answer the following research questions:https://osf.io/dn25x, accessed on 10 November 2022). The search was conducted until 20 February 2023 in the following bibliographical databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo. The review is based only on English, Italian, French, and Spanish articles. The search syntax can be found in The present systematic review adhered to the guidelines developed by the PRISMA-Statement ,19 and wAccording to the objectives of this review, the following inclusion criteria have been adopted: (I) randomized cross-sectional or longitudinal studies that aim at evaluating autobiographical memory in patients with MCI; (II) articles that specify the instruments for evaluating autobiographical memory; (III) studies that include a healthy control group; (IV) studies that clearly specify which criteria have been used for diagnosing MCI; (V) studies that analyzed differences in autobiographical memory performance between the different subtypes of MCI.Specific exclusion criteria were: (I) studies that included clinical patients ; (II) studies that included other diagnoses of cognitive impairment such as CIND, AAMI, or AACD; (III) studies that measured autobiographical memory only with the use of neurophysiological measures; (IV) gray literature .Two researchers independently performed a screening of the selected articles. By screening titles and abstracts, non-relevant articles were excluded, which allowed including 70 studies. Afterward, the reading of the full texts resulted in 21 retained articles. This process is described in (i)Attrition bias (which can be defined as the bias consequent of the presence of incomplete outcome data);(ii)Reporting bias .The present systematic review adopted the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias . For thi(i)Sample bias ;(ii)Measurement bias .As a complement to these types of biases, two other biases were included:A summary of the risk of bias in reviewed studies can be found in The twenty-one articles included in this systematic review involved 1046 participants. Among these, 462 were included in the MCI group, while 584 were included in the healthy control group. The female percentage ranged between 23% and 79% in the MCI group and between 44% and 86% in the HC group. The mean age ranged between 63.13 years (SD = 5.78) and 81.8 (SD = 7.8) years in the MCI group and between 62.94 (SD = 5.73) years and 78.35 (SD = 5.75) years in the healthy controls. The mean years of schooling varied from 7.6 (SD = 2.6) to 16.68 (SD = 3.96) in the MCI group and from 7.9 (SD = 2.5) to 16.06 (SD = 2.80). Five articles did not report years of education ,31,32,33In this systematic review, 20 studies out of 21 based their diagnosis of MCI on Petersen’s criteria. Only the study of Irish et al.  referredTwenty studies out of twenty-one focused on one specific subtype of MCI, that is, the amnestic subtype. Since the studies included in this systematic review intended to focus on autobiographical memory impairments, most articles have not considered the non-amnestic MCI subtype. Only the study by Davidson et al.  has not In All the studies included in this systematic review report an impairment in the episodic component of AM in patients with MCI compared to healthy controls.The situation is more controversial for what concerns the semantic component. Fourteen studies out of twenty-one have studied this aspect, while seven articles ,36,37,38In five out of twenty-one studies ,21,27,34Three ,16,27 ouRegarding the recall of autobiographical memories, some authors  found evIn our review, 13 studies ,35,37,39Regarding semantic memory, nine studies ,28,31,39This systematic review aimed to analyze AM performance in patients with MCI, specifically focusing on the main features of AM alteration. Generally, the large number of studies included in the first screening can confirm the interest in this topic. AM has a critical role in forming one’s identity, and impairments in AM can have devastating consequences for patients and their families . These aFirstly, it is important to underline that these results are only generalizable to some MCI subjects since 20 out of 21 studies focused on 1 specific subtype of MCI, that is, the amnestic subtype. It is known that individuals affected by aMCI are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) , it is aAll the studies included in this systematic review report an impairment in the episodic component of AM in patients with aMCI compared to healthy controls. This finding can have different effects on MCI patients. Indeed, research has demonstrated that people rely on their autobiographical memories to achieve various social, practical, and psychological goals . Indeed,Our results demonstrate a more controversial situation concerning the semantic component of AM.Past research investigating AM in healthy aging has shown that age-related decline is particularly marked in episodic autobiographical memory rather than the semantic component . For whaOur systematic review confirms these hypotheses. Regardless of the utilized test, the episodic component is impaired in all the included studies. Instead, only seven studies ,30,31,39Therefore, the differences in the semantic memory scores could be attributed to these different assessment procedures. Another possible interpretation could be that, in Levine’s procedure, confabulations   could beAnother important aspect to consider is the temporal gradient of autobiographical memories. Indeed, past research has shown evidence of better preservation of AM for older memories than for more recent ones, and this effect is known as Ribot’s law .For what concerns episodic memory, seven studies ,31,37,39On the other hand, for what concerns semantic memory, only three studies ,25,31 coThis review highlighted several limitations in examining autobiographical memory performance in patients with MCI. The main limitation is that MCI is a varied phenomenon. In a recent systematic review , authorsAnother limitation could be represented by the partial recovery of articles, including studies published only in some languages that could have excluded relevant information, thus undermining the generalizability of our results.Regardless of these limitations, at the end of this review emerges an actual need to investigate this specific type of memory in pathological aging. Considering the results of this review, it would be desirable for future research to investigate this aspect to find some gravity indicators of the MCI pathological profile. Moreover, it could be useful to focus on the controversial results related to autobiographical semantic memory, developing a new task more sensitive to detecting changes in this specific component. Finally, it would be interesting to study whether it is possible to draw a relationship between the native language and performance in autobiographical semantic memory.Overall, this systematic review highlights the presence of impairments in the autobiographical memory performance in patients with MCI. Specifically, all the included studies confirmed that episodic AM is impaired in patients with MCI, while the situation is more controversial when assessing the semantic component.Thanks to AM, individuals can mentally travel back, acquiring a sense of “self” that can exist in the subjective time . This spIn conclusion, past autobiographical memories are extremely significant to older people, as well as to their caregivers, since they are associated with one’s identity and emotional state, as well as with mood, social functioning, and abilities such as problem solving. This systematic review has highlighted the presence of AM impairment in patients with MCI. These impairments could worsen MCI patients’ performances in many domains, not only related to cognitive functioning, and can be affected by many impaired aspects in elderly people, such as sleep quality and mental health ,62. Ther


Background: Steatosis is now the most common liver disease in the world, present in approximately 25% of the global population. The aim of this study was to study the association between food intake and liver disease and evaluate the differences in blood parameters in age classes and steatosic condition. Methods: The present study included 1483 participants assessed in the fourth recall of the MICOL study. Patients were subdivided by age (</>65 years) and administered a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 28 food groups. Results: The prevalence of steatosis was 55.92% in the adult group and 55.88% in the elderly group. Overall, the results indicated many statistically significant blood parameters and dietary habits. Analysis of food choices with a machine learning algorithm revealed that in the adult group, olive oil, grains, processed meat, and sweets were associated with steatosis, while the elderly group preferred red meat, dairy, seafood, and fruiting vegetables. Furthermore, the latter ate less as compared with the adult group. Conclusions: Many differences were found between the two age groups, both in blood parameters and food intake. The random forest also revealed different foods predicted steatosis in the two groups. Future analysis will be useful to understand the molecular basis of these differences and how different food intake causes steatosis in people of different ages. The demographics of the Italian population, with 60.8 million inhabitants and the largest share of the elderly aged ≥65 years, is changing . Aging is accompanied by progressive physiological alterations, disturbances of homeostasis, functional decline, and frailty. The elderly are more susceptible to various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, hearing loss, dementia, arthritis, and many others ,3. The liver has an optimal capacity for self-regeneration. In the healthy liver, regeneration and repair are driven by mitogenic growth factors and cytokines and by complex molecular mechanisms. However, age affects the physiological turnover and regenerative capacity of the organ . ImpaireSteatosis is now the most common liver disease in the world and is present in approximately 25% of the world’s population . It can Steatosis is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fat in more than 5% of hepatocytes in the absence of other causes, such as alcohol consumption (≥30 g/day for men and ≥20 g/day for women), viral hepatitis, or drugs. The overlap of some risk factors for the liver may favor the progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), in which steatosis is associated with a state of necroinflammation . Despite the now well-recognized role of genetic factors in the development of steatosis , environAging is another factor that increases the incidence of the disease. Some studies have evaluated the link between physiological cellular senescence and hepatic fat accumulation, hypothesizing a role of cellular aging in the development of steatosis . Normal aging is associated with a redistribution of body fat in both sexes, with a decrease in subcutaneous adipose tissue, an increase in visceral adipose tissue, and an accumulation of fat in ectopic sites, including the liver . In factAge-related dysregulation of lipid metabolism and accumulation of triglycerides in the liver contribute to organ dysfunction . Under these conditions, an unhealthy diet can promote the development of steatosis. Biological, psychological, and socio-economic aspects, such as loss of appetite and alterations of smell and taste, can lead to a change in the composition of the diet and eating habits of the elderly .Starting from the crucial role of dietary habits in health and disease prevention , the aimSubjects in the present study were recruited for the first time from the electoral register of Castellana Grotte, a town in southern Italy, to take part in a multicenter Italian study on cholelithiasis (MICOL). Methodological details of this population-based study have been previously published ,19. For All participants signed informed consent before examination and the study was approved in line with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee of the National Institute of Gastroenterology and Research Hospital “S. de Bellis” in Castellana Grotte, Italy . The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975. The present study adhered to the “Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies” (STARD) guidelines and the manuscript was organized according to the “Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Nutritional Epidemiology” (STROBE-nut) guidelines .Participants were interviewed for medical history and a fasting venous blood sample was taken. The serum was separated into several aliquots. An aliquot was immediately stored at −80 °C. The second aliquot was used to test serum biochemical markers by standard laboratory techniques in our laboratory. Subjects were subdivided into two categories: adult versus elderly if aged ≥65 years , and livTo evaluate dietary habits, a validated food frequency questionnaire was administered during the visit, and each food  was converted to mean daily intake in grams; the total was summarized in 28 food groups  establisPatients’ characteristics are reported as mean and standard deviation (M ± SD) for continuous variables, and as frequency and percentages (%) for categorical variables. To test the association between the independent groups (adults vs. elderly), a chi-square or Fisher test was used for categorical variables, where necessary, while the Wilcoxon Rank Mann–Whitney was used for continuous variables.To select the predictors of the steatosis variable, a random forest (RF) was applied. RF was computed by an ensemble of binary decision trees, which could be used to select the most important variables linked to the outcomes. Variable predictiveness could be assessed using variable importance measures for both single and grouped variables . VariablDepth is indicated by a vertical bar with the mean value. The smaller the mean minimal depth, the more important the variable and the higher up the y-axis the variable will be. The color gradient reveals the min and max minimal depth for each variable. The range of the x-axis is from zero to the maximum number of trees for the feature. We randomly split the data into training and testing subgroups to predict visual outcomes separately. n = 544), while the remaining data (the test data) accounted for 25% (n = 182) and were used to test the model and minimize the heterogeneity of the obtained subsamples. In the same way, for the elderly subcohort, the training data included 75% (n = 568), and the remaining data accounted for 25%, (n = 189).For the adult subcohort, the training data included 75% of the sample  was used for the plots.p < 0.001)  and elderly (58.87%) groups, but there was a statistically significant difference between steatosic and non-steatosic patients only in the first group (< 0.001) .p < 0.0001) and a lower age in the elderly . The level of education was found to be associated with the condition of steatosis in adults (p = 0.01), but also among the groups stratified by disease (p < 0.001). Fewer elderly people were ill and smokers , while significant differences were found between the two age groups for smoking habits, as fewer elderly people  smoked compared to subjects < 65 years of age . BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and MetS were more prevalent not only among disease categories in the subcohorts but also among the steatosis and non-steatosis groups . Glucose levels were higher in patients with steatosis, both adults and the elderly. Furthermore, the elderly had higher levels (both non-steatotic and steatotic) than adults (p < 0.0001). Cholesterol did not differ in non-steatosis or steatosis conditions, but there was a significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the adult and elderly groups, showing higher cholesterol levels in the latter. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) was lower in steatotic adults , but this lower mean was also seen when comparing the elderly non-steatotic with healthy adults . Triglycerides and insulin were higher in the steatotic subjects in both groups, with all p < 0.0001. The same trend was observed for homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p < 0.0001) and red blood cells (RBC) (p = 0.02), with higher values in the subgroup of steatosis patients and with statistically significant differences. Furthermore, for the latter parameter, the differences were also found between the groups in the individual age groups, with lower values in the elderly than in adults (both p < 0.0001). Hemoglobin level was statistically significantly higher in patients with steatosis in both groups (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.03) but, comparing separately the steatotic and non-steatotic in the elderly and adult groups, elderly patients had lower levels. Only in the adult category, the hematocrit (he-MAT-uh-krit) (HCT) presented a statistically higher concentration  and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels were lower . Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was higher in the steatotic adults , while the level of white blood cells (WBC) was higher in patients with steatosis both in adults and in the elderly . The condition of steatosis was also characterized by high levels of neutrophils (p < 0.0001), lymphocytes (p < 0.0001), monocytes (p < 0.0001), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) (p < 0.0001), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (p < 0.0001), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0003) with statistically significant values. Urea and creatinine showed higher concentrations in the steatotic category only in adults , but in general (both steatotic and non-steatotic), the levels in the elderly compared to adults were statistically higher . The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) , and folate  had lower levels in adult and also between age groups. Levels of vitamin B12 (p = 0.006), free triiodothyronine (FT3) (p = 0.001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.0001) were higher in steatotic adults with statistically significant differences. Furthermore, the latter also had higher levels in the elderly group .With regard to age, this had an opposite behavior between the two age categories, i.e., patients had a higher average age in the group of steatotic adults . Furthermore, kilocalorie  intake suggested higher caloric intake in older patients .The distribution of minimal depth among the decision trees of the forests for the first four top significant variables is shown in p = 0.03), leafy and fruiting vegetables , root vegetable , other vegetables , fruits , and nuts  were consumed mostly by females. On the contrary, men consumed not only more red meat , processed meat , grains , juices , caloric drinks , coffee , but also alcoholic drinks, such as wine , beer , and spirits .Furthermore, in p = 0.006), white meat , leafy vegetables , fruiting vegetables , and other vegetables . Furthermore, women had lower intake of potatoes , grains , and drinks, such as caloric , wine and beer , and spirits , and a lower total kcal . In the steatotic group, eating behaviors were partly similar, with a higher intake in the female group of low-fat dairy , wine , and kcal intake were lower in the healthy female group. The same trend was observed in the other group with steatosis. Eggs , alcoholic drinks, such as wine , beer , and spirits , and total kcal  were lower in the female group.The elderly group showed different behaviors between groups. Seafood/shellfish  could be useful for understanding new molecular pathways and how these molecules can influence the prediction of clinical outcomes.


Mycotoxin-contaminated feed is a current, worldwide problem. Mold-contaminated cereal is rich in heat-resistant and harmful metabolites such as fumonisins. The amount of fumonisins consumed as part of animal feed, including livestock feed, is unknown, and thus their influence on animal health, the costs associated with veterinary health care and the associated economic losses in breeding are impossible to calculate. Prenatal exposure of fetuses to fumonisins, through exposure of the mothers to fumonisins during pregnancy, is an important problem during breeding, often resulting in disturbed development of offspring in the postnatal period as a result. Thus, studies focused on the effects of fumonisin-exposure during the prenatal period on postnatal development are required.Animal feed is very frequently contaminated with different types of mold, the metabolites of which are toxic to living organisms. Mold-contaminated cereal is rich in heat-resistant and harmful metabolites such as fumonisins (FBs). The amount of FBs consumed as part of animal feed, including livestock feed, is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal oral FB intoxication on basal duodenum morphology and the immunolocalization of gut hormones responsible for food intake (leptin and ghrelin), as well as their receptors, in newborn rat offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of three groups: a control group or one of two FB-intoxicated groups . Basal morphological duodenal parameters changed in a dose- and sex-dependent manner. The intensity of the ghrelin immunoreaction was unchanged in females, while in males it increased after FB exposure (60 mg/kg b.w.), with a simultaneous decrease in expression of the ghrelin receptor. Leptin and its receptor immunoreaction intensity was decreased in both sexes following FB exposure. The current study highlighted the potential involvement of intestinal ghrelin and leptin in the metabolic disturbances observed later in life in offspring that were prenatally exposed to fumonisins. Fusarium is a common genus of imperfect fungi which produces heat-resistant fumonisins [Fusarium produces the A, B, C, and P types of fumonisins, type B (FB) is the most common environmental threat, which includes two types: FB1 and its cytotoxic analog, FB2. Both types of FB inhibit sphingosine N-acyltransferase [Aspergillus niger, a mold which is commonly found in soil, water and fecal matter [Animal feed is very frequently contaminated with different types of mold, the metabolites of which are toxic to living organisms . Fusariumonisins ,3. Althonsferase , and in nsferase . They dinsferase , and besnsferase ,8,9. Signsferase ,11,12. Snsferase . Assessml matter . Althougl matter ,16 and bl matter , completl matter ,21,22,23Considering the indirect impact of maternal FB exposure during pregnancy on fetal development and the resulting health problems in offspring during postnatal life, it is crucial to investigate the effects of FB exposure during pregnancy not just on intestinal development but also on the gut hormones that regulate food intake in newborn offspring. It is in line with the hypothesis of the prenatal origin of health and disease according to fetal programming ,25. New We hypothesize that prenatal FB exposure not only affects the intestinal morphology but also can alter the immunolocalization of basal gut hormones involved in food intake, resulting in postnatal developmental impairment.Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of maternal oral FB intoxication on the small intestine of newborn rat offspring. Specifically, the study analyzed changes in the basal duodenum morphology and immunolocalization of gut hormones responsible for food intake (leptin and ghrelin) and their receptors. These analyses are essential for gaining a better understanding of the consequences of FB exposure during pregnancy on the disproportional postnatal development of rat offspring.The animal study protocol (#132 676-Adm/08/2020) was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the State Scientific Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives (SCIVP) in Lviv, Ukraine. The experiment was performed in accordance with the EU Directive 2010/63/EU.F. moniliforme on a maize grain medium, as previously described [F. moniliforme cultures and allowing them to cultivate for 4 weeks at 24 °C. The resulting contaminated maize was then autoclaved, dried, ground, and subjected to liquid chromatography to analyze FB1 and FB2 levels, which showed a ratio of FB1 to FB2 of 3:1 (73% to 27%). FBs were subsequently extracted from the ground grains using ethanol solution, quantified with an ELISA kit , and concentrated to a 100 mg/mL FBs extract stock solution. During the experiment, to achieve the required concentrations in 0.5 mL, the FB extract stock was diluted in a 0.9% saline solution based on daily measurements of the body weight of individual pregnant dams.FBs were produced in vitro using escribed . Brieflyn = 18), were housed individually in polypropylene cages (380 × 200 × 590 mm). The rats were kept at a temperature of 21 ± 3 °C and a humidity of 55 ± 5% under a 12 h light/dark cycle. A standard diet for laboratory rat was provided ad libitum, with unlimited access to water. After an acclimatization period, the pregnant dams were randomly assigned to one of three groups (with six rats in each group): a control group (the FB 0 group) or one of two FB-intoxicated groups, which received FBs at a dose of either 60 mg FB/kg b.w. (the FB 60 group) or 90 mg FB/kg b.w. (the FB 90 group), respectively. FBs at a dose of 90 mg FB/kg b.w., which is equivalent to 1/10 of the established LD50 value, is sufficient to cause sub-clinical intoxication in adolescent rats, while the 60 mg FB/kg b.w. dose, which is equivalent to 1/15 of the established LD50 dose, does not elicit clinical or subclinical signs in adolescent rats [Pregnant Wistar rats, at the age of five weeks n = , were hoent rats ; howeverent rats . The twoent rats ,28.n = 6 males and n = 6 females in total) were weighed and euthanized . Immediately after euthanasia, the duodenum was carefully dissected out and fixed in 10% buffered neutral formalin solution for morphometrical assessment and immunohistochemical evaluations.The FB mixture, diluted from FB extract stock in 0.5 mL of 0.9% saline, was given to the dams daily from the 7th day of pregnancy to parturition, intragastrically via oral gavage. Pregnant control animals were administered saline solution at the same volume. All pregnant females were under veterinary care. After natural parturition, all newborn offspring were allocated to the following groups, in line with their mothers: the FB 0, FB 60 or FB 90, and two newborn offspring from each mother . They were then paraffin-embedded, cut into 5 µm sections, mounted on a microscope slide and stained with Goldner’s trichrome staining, a histological staining technique used in pathology to visualize and differentiate various tissue components. It typically stains collagen fibers green, muscle fibers red, and nuclei black or brown, allowing for the identification and assessment of connective tissue, muscle tissue, and cell nuclei in histological sections ,30. The The immunohistochemical (IHC) stain was performed with rabbit anti-leptin, anti-leptin receptor, anti-ghrelin, and anti-ghrelin receptor as primary antibodies , diluted (1:300) in Diamond antibody diluent . The sections were then processed with a ready-to-use, two-step detection system of poly-HRP-anti-mouse/rabbit IgG , developed in DAB  and counterstained with Mayer’s hematoxylin  . The IHCij = m + Di + eij, where Y represents a single observation, m represents the general mean, D represents the effect of the FB exposure , and e represents the error. Post hoc comparisons were conducted using the Tukey HSD test. Additionally, to determine the linear and quadratic effects among the means, an orthogonal contrast analysis was conducted.The data collected in the study were analyzed using the statistical software system STATISTICA  and GraphPad Prism . An experimental unit consisted of a single rat, so measurements were averaged per animal before statistical analysis. The data for males and females were analyzed separately, and all data were confirmed to be normally distributed through the Shapiro–Wilk normality test. The analysis was conducted using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on the model: Yp < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). The thicknesses of circular muscle layer, villus and villus epithelium decreased after prenatal FB exposure, irrespective of FB dose, compared to the control group . Total crypt number was significantly lower in newborn offspring exposed to fumonisins at a dose of 60 mg/kg b.w., compared to that of the other groups . No other changes in serum parameters were observed.Basal morphological changes after prenatal/maternal fumonisin exposure in female newborn rat are presented in p < 0.001). Moreover, crypt depth (p = 0.025), goblet cell number per 100 µm of villus (p < 0.001), villi length/crypt depth ratio, and villus epithelium thickness (p < 0.001) decreased linearly, while mucosa thickness, crypt thickness, and villus length decreased linearly and quadratically  following FB exposure , with a greater decrease in crypts when compared to the control group. The OD of the ghrelin receptor IR in crypts showed a significant decrease regardless of the FB dose, with a linear and quadratic trend in crypts (p < 0.001 for both) and a linear trend in villi (p < 0.001). The OD of the leptin IR decreased following FB exposure in crypts , while in villi the OD of the leptin IR decreased linearly (p < 0.001), showing a significant difference only for the FB 90 group when compared to the control. The OD of the leptin receptor IR decreased linearly in crypts (p < 0.001) with the lowest value observed in the FB 90 group, while in the villi the decrease was linear and quadratic (p < 0.001 for both), but without a difference between the FB-intoxicated groups.As shown in p < 0.001), with the highest OD observed in the FB 60group. The OD of the ghrelin IR in villi showed the highest value in the FB 60 group as well, but both a linear (p = 0.033) and quadratic trend (p < 0.001) were observed. The OD of the ghrelin receptor IR in crypts and villi significantly decreased following prenatal exposure regardless of the FB dose. The decrease showed a linear trend  and a quadratic trend . In the crypts of the duodenum of newborn male rat offspring, no effect of prenatal exposure to FBs was observed on the OD of the leptin IR. In the villi, a quadratic trend was noted (p < 0.001), with the lowest OD observed in the FB 60 group. The OD of the leptin receptor IR significantly decreased in the crypts and villi of the FB 90 group when compared to that observed in the FB 0 and FB 60 groups (p < 0.05).Fumonisins have been shown to inhibit lipid biosynthesis-related proteins , resulting in disturbances in sphingolipid synthesis, the biological effects of which include altered cellular differentiation, cell proliferation, programmed cell death, apoptosis, and inflammation ,19,27. MThe current study was designed to take place during the period of development when the most important alterations occur in the intestine, and the results showed that prenatal fumonisins exposure reduced mucosa thickness in a sex-dependent manner. This FB-induced change could not only influence secretion, digestion, and absorption, but also the protective functions of the intestine, involving non-specific (defense against injury) and specific immunity (involving mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) . The negThe only available study on rats prenatally exposed to fumonisins at the same doses as those used in the present study (60 and 90 mg/kg b.w./day) found that the reduced mucosal thickness observed in the duodenum of offspring at birth (such as that observed in the rats in the current study) seems to be temporary, since it disappears at weaning . HoweverThe smooth muscle fibers of the muscular lamina are arranged in two different layers  and determine the spiral passage of chyme to the periphery. Physiologically, the muscular lamina is the thickest in the proximal small intestine and it thins as it moves away from the pylorus. The present study only focused on the duodenum, where a thinning of both muscular layers was noted. Although we are not sure how prenatal FB exposure affects the other segments of the small intestine in rats, we can assume that it could lead to disturbances in the mixing of the chyme with digestive juices and in the movement of the chyme forwards, ultimately leading to incomplete emptying of the intestine. Moreover, it is unknown how prenatal exposure to fumonisins and the consequent thinning of the muscular lamina noted in female newborn rats could influence the basic electrical rhythm (BER), triggered in the interstitial pacemaker cells of Cajal, as well as the other physiological properties of the duodenum, such as excitability and contractility, in which the muscular layer plays a significant role .Crypts play a role in the renewal and regeneration of the villi epithelium, because immature enterocytes undergo proliferation and then rise from crypts and move along the villi and further undergo exfoliation on the villus’s tip. When proliferation and exfoliation are in equilibrium, proper villi length and shape are maintained . ChangesThe current study showed that prenatal fumonisin exposure resulted in a reduction in the length and thickness of the villi. These results are in agreement with a previous study with a similar study design, where narrower villi were observed in weaned rats following FB exposure . SimilarThe current study not only showed a reduction in thickness and narrowing of the newborn rat villi, but also narrower and more shallow crypts. Taken together, our results are in agreement with previous studies ,28 and iCrypts are important for non-specific immunity since Paneth cells are located inside them, which produce many different bacteriocidial secretions, as well as specific endocrine amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cells, which produce various biogenic amines or hormones which act in a paracrine or endocrine manner . The secA decrease in the number of goblet cells and villi epithelium thickness was also observed in the current study. The villi epithelium, together with the microbiota, immune cells, goblet cells, and tight junctions, constitute the intestinal barrier . AlthougThe proper development of intestinal structures is necessary for further general growth and development of organisms, and any changes in normal intestinal development can be associated with disease and impaired growth later in life . As prevGut hormones, leptin and ghrelin, play a role in the regulation of feed intake. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone, synthesized in the stomach and other segments of the small intestine, and released directly into the bloodstream, although during the fetal period it is also expressed in the pancreas ,60. GhreSince ghrelin and leptin play a regulatory role in food intake through the gut–brain axis , it is iThe current study showed that the OD of the ghrelin IR was unchanged in females and increased in males following FB exposure at a dose of 60 mg/kg b.w. with a simultaneous decrease in the ghrelin receptor. On the other hand, the OD of the leptin IR and that of its receptor, decreased in both sexes. Ideally, the mRNA gene expression and Western blot analyses of protein levels should also be performed, as well as the measurement of the concentration of these hormones in peripheral blood, to comprehensively examine all potential mechanisms of prenatal FB exposure and its effects on postnatal animal development , which cTo support these findings, further studies should be conducted to investigate whether prenatal exposure to fumonisins can trigger obesity and diabetes. Given the size of the newborn rats and the amount of samples we were able to collect, future studies should likely involve larger animals.The present study is the first to suggest that disturbances in the levels of intestinal ghrelin and leptin and their receptors could contribute to the development of metabolic abnormalities in offspring, at a later stage of life, as a result of prenatal exposure to fumonisins. Due to the common presence of fumonisin in feed and the widespread risk of prenatal intoxication, research should be continued, including studies of other hormonal regulators of food intake.


Caenorhabditis elegans before and after preoperative chemotherapy. When the target of the treatment effect was complete response only, the prediction accuracies calculated by area under the curve was 0.85 , and the sensitivity and specificity were 1 and 0.63, respectively. The results indicate that N-NOSE can accurately determine the response of the therapeutic effect of preoperative chemotherapy.Our research sought to elucidate the predictive capacity of Nematode Nose (N-NOSE) screening vis à vis the clinical implications of preoperative chemotherapy for patients suffering from esophageal cancer. This study focused on changes in the chemotaxis index of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) possesses a sophisticated sense of smell and is used for a novel cancer screening test that utilizes the chemotaxis index. We designed a single-institution, prospective study to confirm the ability of Nematode Nose (N-NOSE) to determine preoperative chemotherapy’s efficacy for esophageal cancer patients. Patients and Methods: We investigated the predictability of N-NOSE screening for the clinical effects of preoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer patients receiving radical surgery. The index reduction score (IRS) was calculated via the chemotaxis of C. elegans at three points: before treatment, before surgery, and after surgery, and its clinical relevance was examined. Result: Thirty-nine patients with esophageal cancer were enrolled from August 2020 to December 2021, and 30 patients receiving radical surgery were examined. Complete response or partial response was achieved in 23 cases (76.7%). When the target of the treatment effect was complete response only, the prediction accuracies of the IRS calculated by area under the curve was 0.85  in clinically achieving complete response group, and the sensitivity and specificity were 1 and 0.63, respectively. Conclusion: Index reduction score using N-NOSE screening may reflect the efficacy of chemotherapy for esophageal cancer patients. A large-scale prospective study at multiple centers is desired in the future.Background: The nematode  Worldwide, esophageal cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death for men and the eighth for women . EsophagThe prognosis for esophageal cancer depends on various factors, such as the cancer stage and the individual’s overall health. However, early detection and treatment can improve outcomes. The American Cancer Society provides the following estimated 5-year relative survival rates for esophageal cancer based on stage. Localized (cancer is only in the esophagus): approximately 49% of people with localized esophageal cancer survive for at least 5 years after diagnosis; Regional (cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues): approximately 26% of people with regional esophageal cancer survive for at least 5 years after diagnosis; Distant (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body): approximately 5% of people with distant esophageal cancer survive for at least 5 years after diagnosis.Preoperative chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer is Japan’s current standard of care ,3. AfterSurgical options for esophageal cancer may include esophagectomy, endoscopic resection, and palliative surgery. Esophagectomy is the most common surgical procedure for esophageal cancer. The cancerous portion of the esophagus is removed, and the remaining portions of the esophagus and stomach are reconnected. This is a major surgical procedure involving incisions in the chest, abdomen, or neck and may require a hospital stay of several days to weeks. In contrast, endoscopic resection is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing small, early-stage cancers from the lining of the esophagus using an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera on the end). This procedure is generally only recommended for very early-stage cancers. Palliative surgery, however, is aimed at relieving symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, and may involve inserting a stent to keep the esophagus open or bypassing the esophagus entirely.Individuals who have an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer may undergo certain tests to detect the disease at an early stage. Endoscopy is the most common test to detect esophageal cancer. While endoscopy is generally considered safe, it does carry some risks, such as bleeding, infection, and perforation of the esophagus. Endoscopy to examine the lining of the esophagus for abnormalities is invasive and burdensome. Individuals with Barrett’s esophagus, a condition in which the cells lining the lower part of the esophagus have changed, may undergo regular endoscopies to check for signs of cancer. In addition to endoscopy, other imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scans and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, may be used to detect esophageal cancer. It is important to note that screening tests for esophageal cancer are generally only recommended for individuals with a higher risk of developing the disease, such as those with a family history of the disease or a history of Barrett’s esophagus and a history of smoking and heavy alcohol use.To improve survival rate and prognosis, the early detection of esophageal cancer must be improved. Esophageal cancer screening rates by country can vary widely, depending on several factors, including access to healthcare, screening policies, and cultural attitudes towards preventive care. Japan has one of the world’s highest rates of esophageal cancer screening, with 50% of Japanese adults undergoing esophageal cancer screening routinely. The United States has no formal screening program for esophageal cancer. However, some individuals may undergo screening as part of routine endoscopy procedures or if they are at high risk due to factors such as Barrett’s esophagus or a family history of esophageal cancer. In China, esophageal cancer is relatively common, and screening rates are increasing. The screening rate for esophageal cancer in China increased from 6.5% in 2008 to 21.1% in 2016. In Europe, there is no standardized esophageal cancer screening program. However, some countries, such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, have implemented targeted screening programs for high-risk individuals due to factors such as Barrett’s esophagus or a family history of esophageal cancer.The development of cancer and cellular transformation can result in significant changes in both cellular and extracellular structures. The disease’s metabolic signatures have been detected in urine, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being one such pattern ,10,11,12Woollam et al. identified six VOCs via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry QTOF that could serve as the basis for a screening test with good separation of cancer/non-cancer (ROC AUC of 0.96) for breast cancer . ColorecC. elegans possesses a sophisticated sense of smell that enables it to detect even slight changes in the concentration of odorants in its natural habitat and exhibit chemotaxis in the direction of bacteria, which serves as its food source. With approximately 1200 olfactory receptor-like genes (compared to around 800 in dogs), C. elegans approaches desirable odors while avoiding unpleasant ones , and platelet count > 10 × 104/L).Additional criteria for selection included an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ranging from 0 to 1; a life expectancy exceeding 12 weeks; and adequate liver, bone marrow, renal, and cardiovascular functions  over 2 h on day 1. 5-FU was prepared in normal saline at a dose of 400 mg/m2 and administered IV continuously on days 1–5. TXT and CDDP were given on days 1 and 15, and 5-FU was given on days 1–5 and 15–19 of every 28-day cycle (one cycle). All included patients were scheduled to receive two cycles  and −0.039 , respectively, with a p-value of 0.598. IRS3s were 0.033  and −0.027 , respectively, with a p-value of 0.107 (When comparing the response group (CR or PR) and the non-response group (SD or PD), IRS1s were 0.003 : median [interquartile range], and −0.088 , respectively, with a of 0.107 . For theThe prediction accuracies of the three IRSs obtained from 30 patients are summarized in C. elegans to urine samples depends on the concentration of the odorant [C. elegans. Similarly, Asai et al. carried out a comparative analysis of the chemotaxis index in 83 patients suffering from pancreatic cancer, both pre- and post-surgery [−1 dilution of urine) and AUC = 0.820 (10−2 dilution). Additionally, this approach, which utilizes alterations in the chemotaxis index from the preoperative to the postoperative phase, exhibited superior sensitivity in identifying early-stage pancreatic cancer compared to traditional diagnostic markers, namely CEA and CA19-9 [C. elegans [The chemotaxis response of  odorant . These f odorant ,20,21. T odorant , one pat odorant  were inc odorant . The fin elegans .C. elegans. We used the IRS, which might reflect chemotherapy’s biological effect on cancer cells in vivo in the patients after chemotherapy. The results did not show significant AUC for all three IRSs for CR or PR treatment effect. On the other hand, when the treatment effect was limited to CR only, the AUC values were higher in IRS1 and IRS3 . The low AUC in the study, including CR and PR cases, may reflect that the nematodes reacted to the residual esophageal cancer in the PR cases. The result may support the screening ability of N-NOSE, which can detect even early-stage cancers. In the group in which CR was obtained, the presence of cancer disappeared on the image, and the AUC of IRS2 was relatively low. In addition, the AUC of IRS1 and IRS3 were relatively high. This result indicates that N-NOSE can accurately determine the response of the therapeutic effect of preoperative chemotherapy, which is confirmed by the fact that the cases achieved CR with preoperative treatment had a low change in C. elegans chemotaxis after surgery.We focused on changes in the chemotaxis index before and after preoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the relationship between the shrinking effect of anticancer drugs and changes in the olfactory behaviors of C. elegans suggested that the non-invasiveness of N-NOSE may be comparable to the usefulness of biological cancer diagnosis, such as liquid biopsy.Recently, new methods for determining the presence of biological cancer cells have been developed. For example, liquid biopsy in rectal cancer has been reported to monitor response to chemoradiation therapy and assess the risk of disease recurrence . On the C. elegans before and after preoperative chemotherapy, and as such, no control was included. In addition, since N-NOSE is a tool for assessing the presence of cancer, setting a cut-off value and focusing on the changes in the chemotaxis index requires further investigation.This study has several limitations. First, the number of patients enrolled remains insufficient. Second, it is unclear whether the factor that affected the chemotaxis index of the nematodes was simply tumor shrinkage alone. The possibility that the drugs used for chemotherapy or the patient’s general condition affected the nematode’s movement cannot be ruled out. It is important to note that this study focused on evaluating the changes in the chemotaxis index of Index reduction score using N-NOSE screening may reflect the efficacy of chemotherapy for esophageal cancer patients. A large-scale prospective study at multiple centers is desired in the future.


Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica, and to develop recommendations for future cross-sectoral PTs and EQAs within OH. The PT/EQA scheme developed within this study consisted of a test panel of five samples, designed to represent a theoretical outbreak scenario.Several Proficiency Test (PT) or External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes are currently available for assessing the ability of laboratories to detect and characterize enteropathogenic bacteria, but they are usually targeting one sector, covering either public health, food safety or animal health. In addition to sector-specific PTs/EQAs for detection, cross-sectoral panels would be useful for assessment of the capacity to detect and characterize foodborne pathogens in a One Health (OH) perspective and further improving food safety and interpretation of cross-sectoral surveillance data. The aims of the study were to assess the cross-sectoral capability of European public health, animal health and food safety laboratories to detect, characterize and notify findings of the foodborne pathogens Salmonella and bioserotype for Yersinia.A total of 15 laboratories from animal health, public health and food safety sectors were enrolled in eight countries: Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The laboratories analyzed the samples according to the methods used in the laboratory and reported the target organisms at species level, and if applicable, serovar for Salmonella, 13 for Campylobacter and 11 for Yersinia. Analytical errors were predominately false negative results. One sample (S. Stockholm and Y. enterocolitica O:3/BT4) with lower concentrations of target organisms was especially challenging, resulting in six out of seven false negative results. These findings were associated with laboratories using smaller sample sizes and not using enrichment methods. Detection of Salmonella was most commonly mandatory to notify within the three sectors in the eight countries participating in the pilot whereas findings of Campylobacter and Y. enterocolitica were notifiable from human samples, but less commonly from animal and food samples.All 15 laboratories analyzed the samples for The results of the pilot PT/EQA conducted in this study confirmed the possibility to apply a cross-sectoral approach for assessment of the joint OH capacity to detect and characterize foodborne pathogens. One Health (OH) is a concept often defined as an integrated, unifying approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems , 2. OH rCampylobacter, Salmonella and/or Yersinia. The samples may, for instance, originate from official control or surveillance programmes on animal health or food safety, or from Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) samplings at food companies or be taken from patients in hospitals or from outpatients for determination of an illness or be part of an outbreak investigation  but data from other samplings may not be collected. However, as only part of the monitoring is harmonized, results from the national monitoring programmes are difficult to compare  shall collect relevant data on zoonoses and zoonotic agents in primary production and/or at other stages in the food chain.  compare .https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018D0945&from=EN#page=12 for the diseases are updated regularly taking into account, e.g., developments of diagnostic techniques. The case definitions on national level and the capacity of detecting a case can, however, differ between countries, for reasons which could often be attributed to other factors rather than the diagnostic capacity of the laboratories. The number of reported cases generally underestimates the true number or cases . Participation in PT or EQA schemes is pivotal for assessment of the performance of the laboratory and identification of potential problems.Proficiency testing (PT) is, according to ISO 17043:2010, defined as an evaluation of participant performance against pre-established criteria by means of interlaboratory comparisons. The PT schemes can, for instance, be qualitative, quantitative, or sequential in nature. The term External Quality Assessment (EQA) is more often used in the medical field as a synonym for PTs, but EQAs can also be designed to provide insight into the complete path of workflow of the laboratory, and not just the testing processes. A common feature in EQA programmes is education of participants. Some EQA programmes are compulsory, either required by an accrediting body or by law whereas others are voluntary, and the quality manager may choose to voluntarily participate in an EQA programme serotype (BT) and sequence type (ST) determination. Notification in this study is defined as reporting of a finding of a pathogen to the responsible authorities. The specific objective was to prepare simulated samples to resemble matrices (samples) analyzed at animal health, food safety and public health laboratories. Public health laboratories in this study refer to clinical microbiological laboratories (primary laboratories) and national public health laboratories. The laboratories were also asked to describe if findings of these pathogens were mandatory notifiable according to their national legislation or guidelines.n = 12) in eight countries including Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, three public health laboratories participated in the pilot from one of the partner countries. Of the 15 participating laboratories, five represented public health, four food safety, two animal health, three both food safety and animal health and one laboratory covered both public health and food safety. These categorisations are based on the information the participants reported.The participants of the pilot PT/EQA were recruited among the partner institutions of the OHEJP CARE “Cross-sectoral framework for Quality Assurance Resources for countries in the European Union” project . Before analyzing the samples, the vials with freeze-dried bacteria were to be dissolved with 1 mL of sterile diluent and transferred to the matrix.Each participant received five samples containing 35 mL of matrix simulating a sample and five vials containing freeze-dried bacteria, designated Care 1-5, hereinafter referred to as C1-5 . The conYersinia enterocolitica O:3/biotype 4 and biotype 1A are hereinafter abbreviated to O:3/BT4 and BT1A, respectively. Vials C1-4 were freeze-dried in portions of 0.5 mL (f 0.5 mL  using Ep2) did not simultaneously exceed 2.6 and 2.0, respectively  and the test index of dispersion between vials   with NaCl , mixed by swirling and then stored at +4°C overnight. The following day, the solution was decanted and autoclaved at +134°C for 45 min. The matrix was stored at +4°C until use.Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, Salmonella spp. or Y. enterocolitica were present above the detection limit that could influence the participants' downstream results. In addition, the presence of Salmonella spp. was analyzed using MicroSEQTM Salmonella detection kit . The cultivation methods and biochemical tests used to examine the matrix were performed according to the following methods from the Nordic Committee on Food Analysis . C. jejuni, C. coli, Salmonella spp. or Y. enterocolitica were not present above the detection limit in the matrix. The matrix was also tested on the BD MAX™ System , a fully automated extraction and real-time PCR machine, using the BD MAX™ Enteric Bacterial Panel and BD MAX™ Extended Enteric Bacterial Panel at a public health laboratory. The BD MAX™ System was not able to detect Campylobacter, Salmonella or Yersinia spp. in the matrix.Quality controls of the matrix were performed with cultivation methods and biochemical tests to analyze if ® 2.0 Fluorometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The Ion XpressTM Plus Fragment Library Kit for AB Library Builder™ System (Thermo Fisher Scientific) was used for library preparation and Ion S5 XL system (Thermo Fisher Scientific) for sequencing. An additional sequencing of the samples was performed using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 , and carried out at the Clinical Genomics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.All target organisms were characterized using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Automated nucleic acid extraction and purification were performed with PSS MagLEAD 12 gC  and DNA concentration (ng/μL) was quantified with QubitCampylobacter  using the settings . Species was identified by BLAST toward an in-house database with reference sequences  and sequlobacter , the MLSlmonella –26 and tIn silico serovar prediction for Salmonella was performed with an in-house database of STs and corresponding serovars in combination with SeqSero ( SeqSero .via email about the anticipated number of samples and approximate time point (month) for the PT/EQA.The participating laboratories were informed on 5 January 2021 Samples were dispatched under refrigeration by a courier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) packing instructions 650 for UN3373, on 12 April 2021. All 15 participants received five vials, five matrix samples, a temperature logging device, instructions, and a material safety data sheet.via a web-based questionnaire at the latest on 31 May 2021. In addition to questions on the results of the pilot PT/EQA, the web-based questionnaire included questions on the laboratory methods applied, on notification practices as well as the type of samples the laboratories usually receive  at each laboratory. The laboratories were instructed to initiate the analyses the same week the PT/EQA was received. The participants were requested to report their results  receive .Y. enterocolitica O:3/BT4 of C2 showed that the virulence factors YadA (Yersinia adhesin A), VirF, and the Yops (Yersinia outer proteins) were missing, while being present in the Ion Torrent sequence data, suggesting that the Yersinia ~70-kb virulence plasmid (pYV), encoding the virulence factors, may have been lost. The genome size for the Illumina sequence data showed a smaller genome compared to the Ion Torrent genome size, indicating a plasmid loss. The extracted DNA for the Illumina sequencing were from an additional cultivation cycling.Sequencing using the IonTorrent and Illumina platforms yielded the same result except for one sample . AnalysiThe participants received the pilot PT/EQA on 13 April (13 participants) and 14 April 2021 (2 participants).n = 4), 14 April (n = 3), 14 and 15 April (n = 1), 19 April (n = 4), 13 May (n = 1), and 15 May (n = 1), 2021. One participant initiated the analysis of Salmonella on 19 April, the analysis of Campylobacter and that of Yersinia on 3 May 2021. After arrival, the package was stored at refrigerator temperature (+3–+8°C) at 11 laboratories, in a freezer (−20°C) at two laboratories and at room temperature (+20–+22°C) at two laboratories. The laboratories that stored the package at room temperature initiated the analysis upon arrival.The analyses were initiated on 13 April . The amount of the sample used for detection varied between 10 μL and 10 mL, the public health laboratories used smaller sample sizes , one at genus level and one as either C. jejuni or C. coli. Twelve of the laboratories testing for Campylobacter reported a correct detection result for C3. Ten laboratories reported the result at species level (C. jejuni), one at genus level and one as either C. jejuni or C. coli.sm in C1 . Eleven Campylobacter spp. for sample C5. Two different laboratories reported these results and the laboratory reporting the false negative result for sample C3 correctly detected Campylobacter in sample C1.One false negative result was reported for sample C3 and one false positive result of Salmonella. Nine laboratories performed both pre-enrichment and enrichment prior to plating onto selective media  and in two countries (France and the Netherlands) notifications were based on a voluntary system  and in three countries  notifications were based on a voluntary system. Notification in animal and food samples could depend on the animal species and/or matrix or whether the sampling was performed within official monitoring programmes. Detection of Yersinia was rarely notifiable in animal and food samples. In human samples notifications of yersiniosis were mandatory in five countries , notifications based on a voluntary system in two countries , whereas the Netherlands has no surveillance system in place for yersiniosis. In two countries BT1A of Y. enterocolitica was excluded from the case definition. Two of the public health laboratories indicated that no pathogenic Yersinia was detected in sample C5, which was correct according to the notification criteria for these participants, since the target bacterium was Y. enterocolitica BT1A.Notifications of findings of y system . NotificSalmonella, 11 for testing of Campylobacter and five for Yersinia : 107 cfu/mL, 106 cfu/mL and 105 cfu/mL (4 cfu/mL the sensitivity of BD MAX™ was 100% for C. jejuni but only 69% for Salmonella spp. and 44% at 103 cfu/mL, which might explain the difficulties with detecting Salmonella spp., but not Campylobacter spp. in the pilot PT/EQA.Three of the public health laboratories used multiplex PCR as the primary detection method, either a commercial system or an in-house method. The BD MAX™ system for enteric pathogens was used by one laboratory without performing any enrichment of the samples. In a study using spiked samples, BD MAX™ system demonstrated 100% sensitivity for 5 cfu/mL . At 104 Y. enterocolitica detection and lack of non-Y. enterocolitica detection was demonstrated by assessing four commercially available real-time PCR systems, including the BD MAX™ system (Y. enterocolitica might be explained by known heterogeneity between strains and different choices of chromosomal target genes such as ail, for detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, and ystB, which is also present in most BT1A strains (Yersinia in the BD MAX™ system is invA which is also present in non-pathogenic Yersinia. Some commercial PCR systems use ail as the target gene, which will, with few exceptions, exclude Y. enterocolitica BT1A. The ail gene is also used as the target gene in the international standard ISO/TS 18867 for the detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in the samples of the food chain. On the other hand, different PCR methods for detection of Salmonella and Campylobacter, in general, do not encounter similar issues related to different target genes.A poor performance of ™ system . The poo strains , 32. TheY. enterocolitica O:3/BT4 from sample C2 derived from Ion Torrent and Illumina showed that virulence factors involved in the pathogenicity of Y. enterocolitica, YadA, VirF, and the Yops, carried on a plasmid, were present in the first sequencing data from Ion Torrent and absent in the later sequencing performed using the Illumina platform. These findings suggest that a spontaneous loss of the pYV plasmid, encoding the virulence factors, may have occurred. The use of plasmid markers alone, may therefore not be sufficient for identification of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in diagnostic settings.Analysis of sequence data of In general, rapid detection or exclusion of bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens in human, food and animal samples is highly requested for the patients, the food industry and the animal keepers. However, bacterial isolates are still required for species determination, subtyping and for susceptibility testing. In future, new molecular techniques like metagenomics, probably minimize the need for cultivation of microorganisms for typing purposes, also for fecal samples.Salmonella were notifiable across sectors although the notification could be conditional, especially within animal health. Findings of Campylobacter in animal or food samples were either not notifiable or conditionally notifiable and findings of Yersinia in animal samples were rarely notifiable in any of the countries. In a foodborne outbreak investigation, the findings of these pathogens would nevertheless be reported as part of the outbreak investigation. Due to the differences in legal notification practices, it is specifically challenging to compare and interpret surveillance data between sectors where different criteria are set enabling only specific serovars to be notified or notification is only required within specific animal matrices. However, few studies have investigated the compliance to the notification criteria. A clear variation in incidence and notification of Campylobacter and Salmonella were seen in a British general practice area (According to the responses from the PT/EQA participants, the notification practices varied between pathogens, sectors and countries. Notification of all these three pathogens was most common within public health. Findings of ice area . WhetherThe matrix in the present panel was similar for all the participants and independent of the sector recipient. This matrix was chosen to enable the same conditions regarding inhibitors, homogenization issues, and concentrations of the target pathogens that could influence the detection for the participants. For further studies to consider in the future, another option could be having different matrices, consisting of the same target pathogens if the sensitivity within the specific matrix would be an important aspect to cover.The panel was set in an epidemiological context of an outbreak scenario. Cross-sectoral panels put in an outbreak scenario should trigger further discussions between the sectors on differences in methods for detection and typing, and notification rules. For future cross-sectoral panels, the results outcome of the panels, methods used, and notification criteria could be discussion topics for cross-sectoral post PT/EQA workshops. This could in turn increase awareness of cross-sectoral differences which need to be taken into consideration when interpreting surveillance data within OH.Salmonella and Campylobacter and could be considered as a characterization option in future schemes. WGS for determination of antimicrobial resistance would primarily be used for surveillance purposes (The target foodborne zoonotic organisms for future panels could also have specific resistance profiles, which could be part of the testing capacity. Approaches for phenotypic testing of antimicrobial resistance may vary between sectors. In addition, using WGS for predicting antimicrobial resistance and typing has increased during the last years for e.g., purposes  and not In conclusion, this pilot PT/EQA showed that a cross-sectoral approach could be used for assessment of the OH capacity to detect and characterize foodborne pathogens. PTs of the food and animal laboratories are often used to test a specific predefined method whereas the EQA schemes of the public health laboratories are most often used to assess the capacity to correctly detect and characterize independent of the applied methods. Cross-sectoral PT/EQA schemes could result in more general recommendations, e.g., on the target genes for PCRs, or on the characterization methods to apply. Moreover, the organization of such comparative testing schemes stimulates collaboration and discussion across laboratories working in different countries and sectors, setting the ground for further development of methodologies applied to face foodborne zoonosis. Future cross-sectoral PT and EQA schemes should include a genomic aspect, for instance by assessing the performance of the analysis of bioinformatics. The pilot showed that the participating laboratories, however working in different countries and sectors obtained a wide level of agreement even if using different methodologies. This information is currently limited and is pivotal for ensuring comparability of results at the EU level, especially when considering scenarios such as outbreak investigations.https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/home accession number PRJEB57080. The other original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Original datasets on sequencing data are available in a publicly accessible repository: The original contributions presented in the study are publicly available. This data can be found here: ET, HR, LB, and CJ designed the study and analyzed the results. ET, NK, HR, LB, and CJ drafted the manuscript. All authors collected data, contributed to the interpretation of the results, contributed to the manuscript, and accepted it.