The redox chemistry of copper(II) is strongly modulated by the coordination to amyloid-β peptides and by the stability of the resulting complexes. Amino terminal copper and nickel binding motifs (ATCUN) identified in truncated Aβ sequences starting with Phe4 show very high affinity for copper(II) ions. Herein, we study the oxidase activity of [Cu-Aβ4-x] and [Cu-Aβ1-x] complexes toward dopamine and other catechols. The results show that the CuII-ATCUN site is not redox-inert, the reduction of the metal is induced by coordination of catechol to the metal and occurs through an inner sphere reaction. The generation of a ternary [CuII-Aβ-catechol] species determines the efficiency of the oxidation, although the reaction rate is ruled by re-oxidation of the CuI complex. In addition to the N-terminal coordination site, the two vicinal histidines, His13 and His14, provide a second Cu-binding motif. Catechol oxidation studies together with structural insight from the mixed dinuclear complexes Ni/Cu-Aβ4-x reveal that the His-tandem is able to bind CuII ions independently of the ATCUN site, but the N-terminal metal complexation reduces the conformational mobility of the peptide chain, preventing the binding and oxidative reactivity toward catechol of CuII bound to the secondary site.

The Covid-19 crisis has been one of the most relevant economic shocks in the history of the modern economy, mainly due to the restrictions on travel and social interaction taken by the authorities (quarantines, closure of schools, artistic activities, bars, and restaurants, capacity in stores), to reduce the transmission of the virus (Sars-Cov2), having consequences on the national productions of all countries (about 7% for the loss of GDP worldwide). In our study, we analyze, through clustering methods, the effects of the level of contagion, economic projections, and economic mitigation measures taken by governments for managing the pandemic. According to the analyses, it can be concluded that a low infection rate implies a lower loss of product and economic savings when applying economic mitigation measures, taking relevance in the management of sanitary measures to reduce the transmission of the virus (and the temporality of these).

The diversification of life-histories is mediated by cooperation, innovations of biological information, modularity, and heterochrony in developmental processes. These processes are defined, contextualized, and exemplified, studying the evolution of coloniality (i.e. life-history involving modularization of the multicellular individual) in the family of benthic tunicates Styelidae. This study proposes that in these colonial tunicates there is an inter-generational division of labor, where one generation is feeding, a second is developing by morphogenetic processes, and a third is aging by programmed cell death and phagocytosis. The communication system developed in these colonies is mediated, by changes in proportion, location, and gene expression of specialized blood cells. Colonial life-history in animals is related to the reduction of individual size; development of extra-corporeal tissues to interconnect zooids; the inter-generational division of labor; and the reduction of zooid’s individuality. Processes analogous with the widely accepted major evolutionary transitions (METs), suggesting that coloniality could be studied as a MET. The understanding of colonial life-histories could provide information about key mechanisms for life diversification.

In the last two centuries, land use change (LUC) has been the most important direct changes driver for terrestrial ecosystems. To contrast the consequent ecosystems degradation, forward-looking spatial policies and target landscape and land-use planning processes, promoting a sustainable land use change, are needed. The present paper proposes a framework of action including different landscape planning and ecological approaches: from the spatial modelling to recognize the LUC and build different scenarios, to the ecosystem services (ESs) assessment to evaluate the possible environmental impacts. Three different scenarios were built: Trend, No-Tillage and Energy crops. The Sediment Delivery Ratio and Carbon Storage and Sequestration ESs were assessed and compared for each scenario. The aim of the paper is to support decision-makers and local communities into the landscape planning process. Results show that a regional development in line with past trend could lead to further land degradation. Instead, the two scenarios proposed in compliance with EU policies, could bring benefits only if related to moderate LUCs and respecting the naturally grass-vegetated land. From the local to global scale, a guided and shared LUC management allows implementing sustainable development, basing on a deep knowledge of physical-environmental but also social and economic issues.

Background: Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) believe that diet is a key factor in the pathogenesis of their disease and in worsening their symptoms; they often follow restrictive diets that can lead to malnutrition, anxiety, and stress. Recent studies have found an association between eating disorders and IBD, particularly anorexia nervosa and ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). None of these studies report the association with orthorexia nervosa, that is the obsession with healthy and natural foods. Aim: to assess the risk of orthorexia nervosa in patients with IBD. Methods: 158 consecutive subjects were recruited, including 113 patients diagnosed with IBD and 45 controls. The Donini standardized questionnaire ORTO-15 was administered to assess the risk of orthorexia; clinical and demographic data were also collected. Results: patients with IBD have a prevalence of orthorexia of 77%, significantly higher than the 47% observed in the control group. In patients with IBD, the risk of orthorexia is associated with lower BMI and history of previous surgery. Conclusion: Many patients with IBD develop orthorexia nervosa that impacts the patient's psychological and social sphere, exposes them to a high risk of nutritional deficiencies, and affects quality of life. Further high quality studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical impact of orthorexia and its correlation with clinical features and frank eating disorders.

Marine invertebrates are model organisms in several areas of biological sciences, being a source of massive biological information. Although, the scientific relevance of marine invertebrates, the research with them can be limited for their tissue characteristics and troubles for the replication of physical and chemical properties of seawater. Thence, the main goal of this laboratory workflow is to provide a useful methodological approach to reduce the experimental limitations during the study of marine invertebrates. The present study describes experimental methodologies for the collection, transport, and maintenance of sessile tunicates. Also, an approach to observe and characterize, a diverse population of blood cells in marine invertebrates, by several cytological stains and electron microscopy. Lastly, suggestions and protocols to extract quality RNA from samples with high concentrations of salts, pigments, secondary metabolites, and polysaccharides. This methodological approach can be easily adapted to other marine invertebrates, moreover uses low-cost reagents and widely available laboratory equipment. Making possible the study of different types of marine animals in diverse locations.

We develop an 1/n expansion method for the systematic approxi- mation of the solutions of classical spin systems (tri-dimensional vec- tors) which can describe general spin-spin interactions and phases with complex magnetization pattern. This method is applied to study the phase transitions observed in pyrochlore crystals (e.g. Gd₂ Ti₂ O₇ ) and the results have qualitative agreement with the experimental ones.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is diffused worldwide, and it is responsible for potentially severe chronic liver disease and primary liver cancer. Chronic infection remains for life if not spontaneously eliminated and viral persistence profoundly impairs the efficiency of host’s immunity. Attempts have been made to develop an effective vaccine, but efficacy trials have met with failure. The availability of highly efficacious direct acting antivirals (DAA) has shed hopes for progressive elimination of chronic HCV infection; however, this approach requires a global monumental effort. Moreover, DAA treatment does not completely restore the normal immunologic homeostasis. Here we discuss the main immunological features of immune responses to HCV and the epigenetic scars that chronic viral persistence leaves behind.

Cardiotoxicity is the main side effect of several chemotherapeutic drugs. Doxorubicin (Doxo) is one of the most used anthracyclines in the treatment of many tumors, but the development of acute and chronic cardiotoxicity limits its clinical usefulness. Different studies focused only on the effects of long-term Doxo administration, but recent data show that cardiomyocyte damage is an early event induced by Doxo after a single administration that can be followed by progressive functional decline, that lead to overt heart failure. The knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in the early stage of Doxo induced cardiotoxicity is of paramount importance to treat and/or prevent it. This review aims to illustrate several mechanisms considered to underlie Doxo-induced cardiotoxicity, such as oxidative and nitrosative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, here we report data from both in vitro and in vivo studies indicating new therapeutic possibilities to prevent Doxo-induced cardiotoxicity.

The study explores how different dimensions of perfectionism influence psychological well-being (PWB) in emerging adults. Literature has deepened the relationships between maladaptive perfectionism (e.g., excessive self-criticism, perceived discrepancy from the standards) and low PWB. Less is known about whether and how adaptive perfectionism (e.g., pursuing personal standards) relates to PWB. Secondly, the study has investigated whether self-compassion (i.e., self-benevolence, seeing personal imperfections as a common condition) may mediate the relationships between adaptive/maladaptive perfectionism and PWB. Participants (N=217, 18-35 y. o.) completed self-report questionnaires measuring: adaptive/maladaptive perfectionism (Almost Perfect Scale-Revised, APS-R: high standards and order/discrepancy, respectively), PWB, and self-compassion (SCS). Adaptive perfectionism resulted associated with PWB, particularly higher presence of purpose in life, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, and personal growth. Conversely, discrepancy resulted the most robust predictor of low PWB (β=-.68), followed by high standards with a positive direction (β=.23; Rc²=.514, p<.001). A strong negative association emerged between discrepancy and SCS (r=-.67, p<.001). A mediation analysis shows that self-compassion has an indirect effect reducing the strength of the relationship between discrepancy and low PWB. Results suggest focusing on self-compassion as a buffer factor that reduces the negative impact of maladaptive perfectionism on psychological well-being. Implications for education and health psychology are discussed.

The Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge for the whole world and it had major secondary effects on humans and environmental health. The viral infection induced, in many situations, secondary bacterial infections, especially enteric infections by destabilizing the balance of the gastrointestinal microbiota. The large-scale use of antibiotics and biocides both for curative and preventive purposes has determined an increase in bacterial resistance and at the same time the possibility of pathogenic microorganisms’ multiplication and their dissemination to natural environments. Wastewater is the main vector of faecal microorganisms that favour their dissemination into natural aquatic ecosystems. The present paper aimed to analyze the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on the microbiological quality of wastewater from sewage treatment plants in Romania and its impact on receiving rivers. In order to highlight different and important areas of Romania, 3 cities from the east, center and west were selected for a microbiological evaluation of their WWTPs influent and effluent between ante-Covid-19 and Covid-19 pandemic peak period, when the Covid-19 pandemic had a direct impact on WWTPs microbial composition. Our study showed a higher contamination with fecal bacteria linked to a higher Covid-19 incidence. The increased usage of pharmaceutical compounds, at their turn, increased the number of resistant bacteria reaching the environment via WWTP effluents.

The paper examines design and operating data of current concentrated solar power (CSP) solar tower (ST) plants. The study includes CSP with or without boost by combustion of natural gas (NG), and with or without thermal energy storage (TES). The latest, actual specific costs per installed capacity are very high, 6085 $/kW for Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) with no TES, and 9227 $/kW for Crescent Dunes with TES. The actual production of electricity is very low and much less than the expected. The actual capacity factors are 22% for ISEGS, despite combustion of a significant amount of NG largely exceeding the planned values, and 13% for Crescent Dunes. The design values were 33% and 52%. The study then reviews the proposed technology updates to produce better ratio of solar field power to electric power, better capacity factor, better matching of production and demand, lower plant’s cost, improved reliability and increased life span of plant’s components. The key areas of progress are found in materials and manufacturing processes, design of solar field and receiver, receiver and power block fluids, power cycle parameters, optimal management of daily and seasonal operation of the plant, new TES concepts, integration of solar plant with thermal desalination, integration of solar plant with combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) installations and finally, specialization and regionalization of the project specification.

In this paper, corticosteroid–β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes have been prepared by Supercritical AntiSolvent (SAS) precipitation to enhance the dissolution rate of dexamethasone (DEX) and prednisolone (PRED), which are poorly water-soluble drugs. The processing of the active principles in the absence of a carrier led to the almost complete extraction of the active principle (the small amount of obtained material precipitates in the form of crystals). The coprecipitation of the ingredients in the presence of β-CD was investigated at different concentrations, pressures, and molar ratios. For both the corticosteroids, the optimized operating conditions were 40 °C, 120 bar, an equimolar ratio, and a concentration in DMSO of 20 mg/mL; these conditions led to the attainment of microparticles with a mean diameter equal to 0.197±0.180 μm and 0.131±0.070 μm in the case of DEX and PRED, respectively. The Job’s method confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes in correspondence with the 1/1 mol/mol ratio. Compared to the pure ingredients, the obtained powders have an improved release rate, which is about 3 times faster in both cases.

Authentication systems based on biometrics characteristics and data represents one of the most important trend in the evolution of our world. In the near future, biometrics systems will be everywhere in the society, such as government, education, smart cities, banks etc. Due to its uniqueness characteristic, biometrics systems will become also vulnerable, privacy being one of the most important challenge. The classic cryptographic primitives are not sufficient to assure a strong level of secureness for privacy. The following work paper represents an effort to present the main cryptographic techniques and algorithms that can give us the possibility to raise a certain level of secureness for privacy. We will show their own challenges (strengths and weaknesses). We will demonstrate how we can use the most common and well-known techniques and algorithms in order to get a maximum efficiency and a high level in assuring the integrity of the biometrics data.

In the context of sustainable development, integrating the work aspect into health promotion systems is essential, ensuring that employees maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives, which respects and amplifies the potential of every individual. Lately, there has been a noticeable shift of medical professionals from the public to the private sector. This trend paints a bleak picture, highlighting the vulnerabilities of a system teetering on the brink of failure, with significant impacts on patient care. Among the myriad reasons behind this shift, burnout stands out prominently. Medical professionals face increasing pressures due to understaffing, limited organizational support, and insufficient resources, leading to feelings of cynicism, exhaustion, and detachment from their roles. Utilizing the Maslach et al. questionnaire, we assessed the risk of burnout among physicians in public hospitals to identify and underscore preventive measures and improvements, correlating our findings with key aspects of organizational empowerment. Our research indicates that enhancing interpersonal relationships and resources—both within teams and between the organization and its physicians—is crucial for the revival of the healthcare system. This approach aims at improving the delivery of healthcare services and offering appropriate recognition to healthcare professionals, aligning with the principles of sustainable employment.

Background: Post-Covid condition can reduce activity and quality of life, resulting in a significant socioeconomic and health burden. Understanding its impact on patients' health is important for the development of personalized rehabilitation interventions. An independent association between obesity and post-covid condition was found because of complications and comorbidities. Methods: Sixteen patients with obesity and post-COVID symptoms (i.e., dyspnea, pain, poor sleep quality, muscle fatigue) admitted to the Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piancavallo (VB), Italy, were recruited for a four-week rehabilitation program including conventional exercise therapy, nutritional intervention, psychological support and whole-body cryostimulation (WBC). Results: All participants attended all sessions of the program. Anthropometric data showed statistically significant changes in weight, waist circumference and body mass index. Biochemical analyses showed significant reductions in lipid and inflammatory profiles. There was a significant improvement in physical performance, reduction in pain and improvement in psychological well-being. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary rehabilitation protocol including WBC designed for patients with obesity and post-covid condition is safe and feasible. The overall improvements demonstrate that multidisciplinary rehabilitation was effective on post COVID patients and suggest that the use of WBC is safe and could play a role as a booster in rehabilitation programs.

Thermal analysis is widely employed for the characterization of nanomaterials. It encompasses a variety of techniques that allow the evaluation of the physicochemical properties of a material by monitoring its response under controlled temperature. In the case of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene derivatives, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is particularly useful to determine the quality and stability of the sample, presence of impurities and the degree of functionalization or doping after post-synthesis treatments. Furthermore, TGA is widely used to evaluate the thermal stability against oxidation by air, which can be for instance enhanced by the purification of the material and by nitrogen doping, finding application in areas where a retarded combustion of the material is required. Herein, we have evaluated key parameters that play a role in the data obtained from TGA. Within this study we show that the thermogravimetric curve of carbon nanomaterials is greatly influenced by these parameters. This is important in terms of data recording and their analysis, since a poor control of the conditions of measurement might lead to false conclusions. We highlight this by analyzing different samples of graphene and carbon nanotubes where both thermal stability and sample purity assessment are found to be dependent on the employed TGA parameters. Finally, a set of TGA parameters are recommended for the analysis of carbon nanomaterials to obtain reliable data.¡

Transdermal drug delivery systems have become an intriguing research topic in healthcare technology and one of the most frequently developed pharmaceutical products in the global market. In recent years, researchers and pharmaceutical companies have made significant progress in developing new solutions in the field. This study sheds light on current trends, collaboration patterns, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers of transdermal drug delivery. Herein, a bib-liometric and patent analysis of data recovered from Scopus and The Lens databases, respectively, is reported over the last 20 years. From 2000 to 2022, the annual global publications increased from 131 in 2000 to 659 in 2022. Researchers in the United States, China, and India produced the highest number of publications. Likewise, most patent applications have been filed in the USA, China, and Europe. The recovered patents are 7,275, grouped into 2,997 patent families, of which 314 were granted. This study could support the work of decision-makers, scientific managers, or scientists to create new business opportunities or save money, time, and intellectual capital, thus, defining when a research or technology project should be a priority or not.

This article examines the evolution of bariatric surgery, with a focus on emerging technologies such as robotics and laparoscopy. In the case of gastric bypass, no significant differences have emerged between the two techniques in terms of hospitalization duration, weight loss, weight regain, or 30-day mortality. Robotic surgery, while requiring more time in the operating room, has been associated with lower rates of bleeding, mortality, transfusions, and infections. In revisional bariatric surgery, the robotic approach has shown fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and a reduced need for conversion to open surgery. In the case of sleeve gastrectomy, robotic procedures have required more time and longer post-operative stays but have recorded lower rates of transfusions and bleeding compared to laparoscopy. However, robotic surgeries have proven to be more costly and potentially more complex in terms of post-operative complications. The review has also addressed the topic of the single anastomosis duodeno-ileal switch (SADIS), finding comparable results between robotic and laparoscopic techniques, although robotic procedures have required more time in the operating room. Robotic technology has proven to be safe and effective, albeit with slightly longer operating times in some cases.

Growing body of evidence endorse the hypothesis of a protective role played by the in-utero environment on a suitable fetal programming, mainly sustained by fitting maternal diet. Our purpose was to assess the linkage between maternal food intake and poor obstetric results, with a special focus on typical Italian food. A cross sectional study including delivering women was designed. A self-reported questionnaire about socio-demographic data, obstetric history, and food frequency intake during pregnancy was administrated. A composite of adverse perinatal outcomes (APO) was constructed. Statistically significant differences were found between APO and control group in smoking habit (9.7 vs. 3.2%, p=0.045) and BMI at delivery (27.9±4.9 vs. 26.9±3.9, p=0.003). Women complicated by any or more APOs reported increased rates of pasta (5.3± 3.6 vs.4.4±1.9 times per week, p<0.001) and pizza (1.9±3.4 vs. 1.1±0.6, p<0.001) intake, with lower consumption of vegetables (5.4±3.9 vs. 7.1±2.9, p<0.001). By logistic regression analysis and after adjustments for maternal age, ethnicity, SES, maternal BMI at delivery, excessive ingestion of pizza (aOR 1.676, 95%CI 1.199-2.343, p=0.033), but not pasta (aOR 1.077, 95%CI 0.950-1.211, p=0.244), was found associated with APO. Vegetable consumption showed a protective role in reducing APOs (aOR 0.897, 95%CI 0.818-0.985, p=0.022). Nutrition in pregnancy should minimalize pizza intakes.

The present paper aims to increase knowlodge of the methods of resistance estimating of concrete in situ by means of non-destructive tests used to integrate the quantitative results from cylindrical specimens (core). The results of experimental investigations carried out on concrete conglomerate samples of a school building are shown. The experimental campaign then will be presented like a case study, conducted on a series of concrete beams and pillars of an existing building. The distructive tests on cores were conducted at the Civil Structures Laboratory of the Engineering Department of the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli". The expression obtained through the calibration procedure of the values of non-destructive tests with those provided by the core drills allowed to estimate the average values of the compressive strength of the concrete. It is highlighted how this result was achieved with a very limited core number provided that they are extracted in selected points and that there was a proportionality link with the resistances obtained from non distructive tests.

In this work the seismic resilience of the Emergency Department of a real Hospital complex, located in Tuscany (Italy), has been quantified, with special reference to its nonstructural components and organizational features. Special attention has been paid to the ceilings, whose importance stood out in past earthquakes. A comprehensive meta-model has been set, able to relate all the considered parameters to the assumed response quantity, i.e. the waiting time of the red-code patients arriving to the Emergency Department in the hours immediately after the seismic event. The seismic resilience of the Emergency Department has been measured with reference to earthquakes compatible to the seismic hazard of the area.

Worldwide the steel corrosion is one of the greatest deterioration problems for reinforced concrete structures. Comparing some literature experimental results with a complex FEM model, the present paper points out the principal aspects those characterize the static behavior of RC elements damaged by corrosion. Moreover, the non-dimensional abaci defined for some specific case studies finalized to the evaluation of the residual flexural strength of corroded elements highlight the dangerousness of the corrosion degradation if the failure of the element is governed by the steel

SARS-CoV-2 virulence is known to increase with lowering of environmental temperature and solar ultraviolet radiation; therefore, we have focused our real-world nationwide study concerning with COVID-19 trends and dynamics on the coldest seasons of the year in Italy, the Western country hardest hit at the onset of the pandemic, comparing the autumn-winter of 2020 (before mass vaccination but when the emergency machinery was fully operative in terms of tracing and swabs) with the autumn-winter of 2021 (after mass vaccination), and analyzing the mortality burden by age groups and life stages in the years 2019 (pre-COVID-19), 2020 (before mass vaccination) and 2021 (after mass vaccination). Methods: During the state of national health emergency, the Civil Defense Department released the aggregate data coming from the Higher Institute of Health, the Ministry of Health, the Italian Regions, and the Independent Provinces, to inform the population (58.85 million people) about the pandemic situation, daily. Among these data there were the number of contagions, performed swabs, hospitalizations in Intensive Care Units (ICU), non-ICU patients, and deaths. By means of a team effort, we have collected and elaborated all these data, comparing the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy during the autumn-winter of 2020 with the autumn-winter of 2021. Moreover, we have extracted from the database of the National Institute of Statistics the total number of annual deaths in Italy during the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, comparing them to each other in order to evaluate the mortality burden attributable to COVID-19. Results: From the autumn-winter of 2020 to the autumn-winter of 2021, the contagions increased by ≈285%, however against a ≈290% increase in the performed swabs; therefore, the mean positivity rate passed from 8.74% before mass vaccination to 8.59% after mass vaccination. The unprecedent vaccination campaign allowed a ≈251% abatement in COVID-19 deaths, and a reduction of ≈224% and ≈228% in daily ICU and non-ICU hospitalizations due to COVID-19, respectively. Regarding COVID-19 deaths, in 2020 there was a mortality excess of ≈14.3% quantifiable in 105,900 more deaths compared to 2019, the pre-COVID-19 year; 103,183 out of 105,900 deaths occurred in older adults (≥60 years), which is equivalent to ≈97.4%, while in adults over 50, the segment of population just below older adults, in 2020 there were 2807 more deaths than in 2019. Surprisingly, from the analysis of our data, it is emerged that under the age of 40 in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 there were 7103, 6808 and 7165 deaths, respectively. This means that in subjects under 40 during 2020 there were 295 fewer deaths than in 2019, while during 2021 there were 357 more deaths than in 2020, equivalent to ≈5.2% more. Conclusions: COVID-19 is a potential life-threatening disease mainly in older adults, as they are the most vulnerable due to inherent immunosenescence and inflammaging. Extensive vaccination in this segment of population with up-to-date vaccines is the means to reduce deaths, hospitalizations, and ICU pressure in the public interest. In the event of future threats, a new mass vaccination campaign must not be implemented without taking into account the individual age; it should primarily be aimed at people over 60 and at patients of any age with immune deficits, and secondly at people over 50. COVID-19 vaccination shows a favorable benefit-risk balance in older adults, while this balance falls under the age of 40; this younger segment of population should be therefore exempt from any mandatory vaccination.

Like all RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 shows high mutation rate, which has led to the emergence of new variants. Among them, Gamma and Delta developed at the turn of 2020-2021 in Amazonas and India, two ecoregions characterized by hot-humid weather, very similar to that of the summer season due to climate change in Italy, the first Western country to have been hit hard by COVID-19 and to experience lockdown restrictions in a democratic framework of 58,85 million people. Methods: during the state of national health emergency and the Draghi government, the Civil Defense Department daily released the aggregate data coming from the Ministry of Health, the Higher Institute of Health, the Independent Provinces and the Italian Regions, in order to inform about the pandemic situation in Italy. Among these data there were the number of deaths, hospitalizations in intensive care units (ICU), non-ICU patients, contagions, and performed swabs. By means of a team effort, we have collected and elaborated all these data, comparing COVID-19 pandemic in Italy during the summers 2020 (following the nationwide lockdown), 2021 and 2022. Results: from summer 2020 (before mass vaccination) to summers 2021 (after primary mass vaccination) and 2022 (after booster mass vaccination) all pandemic trend indicators have showed a sharp worsening in Italy. COVID-19 deaths increased by ≈298% and ≈834%, ICU hospitalizations by ≈386% and ≈310%, non-ICU hospitalizations by ≈224% and ≈600%, contagions by ≈627% and ≈6.850% (i.e. ≈68,50 times), swabs by ≈354% and ≈370%, and the mean positivity rate passed from ≈1% to ≈2% and ≈20%, respectively. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted in any climate, including areas with hot and humid weather, and the emergence of variants adapted to hot-humid climate may result in summer COVID-19 outbreaks, even in neither tropical nor subtropical countries. Although COVID-19 vaccines can confer cross-protection against newly emerging variants, this cross-immunity is obviously not absolute but limited, also taking into account that vaccine protection wanes considerably after 6 months. It follows that a subject vaccinated at the beginning of winter will not be completely covered in the height of summer, without forgetting the unvaccinated. As a final remark, the long nationwide lockdown made it possible to flatten SARS-CoV-2 circulation and, therefore, its negative impact on Italy during summer 2020.

In this paper, a new method is proposed to detect traffic regulations at intersections using GPS traces. The knowledge of traffic rules of regulated locations can help various location-based applications in the context of Smart Cities, such as the accurate estimation of travel time and fuel consumption from a starting point to a destination. Traffic regulations as map features, however, are surprisingly still largely absent from maps, although they do affect traffic flow which in turn affects vehicle idling time at intersections, fuel consumption, CO_2 emissions and arrival time. In addition, mapping them using surveying equipment is costly and any update process has severe time constraints. This fact is precisely the motivation for this study. Therefore, its objective is to propose an automatic, fast, scalable and inexpensive way to identify the type of intersection control (e.g. traffic lights, stop signs). A new method based on summarizing the collective behavior of vehicles crossing intersections is proposed. A modification of a well-known clustering algorithm for detecting stopping and decelerating events is presented. These detected events are then used to categorize vehicle crossing of intersections into four possible traffic categories (p1: free flow, p2: deceleration without stopping events, p3: only one stopping event, p4: more than one stopping event). The percentages of crossings of each class per junction arm, together with other speed/stop/deceleration features, extracted from trajectories, are then used as features to classify the junction arms according to their traffic control type dynamic model). The classification results of the dynamic model are compared with those of the static model, where the classification features are extracted from OpenStreetMap. Finally, a hybrid model is also tested, where a combination of dynamic and static features is used, which outperforms the other two models. For each of the three models, two variants of the feature vector are tested: one where only features associated with a single junction arm are used (one-arm model) and another where features also from neighbouring junction arms of the same junction are used to classify an arm (all-arm model). The methodology was tested on three datasets and the results show that all-arm models perform better than single-arm models with an accuracy of 94\% to 97\%.

Dietary guidance to recommend food patterns to deliver nutrients has been well accepted for the past century. Foods to deliver essential nutrients and energy are needed across the life cycle and are dependent upon local industries and accepted cultural practices to deliver essential nutrients to prevent nutrient deficiency diseases. Since the 1980s, dietary guidelines to prevent chronic diseases have relied on epidemiological research to predict what dietary patterns are linked to reduced risk of chronic disease or links to health outcomes. Dietary guidelines have been broad, typically recommending avoiding “too much sugar”, “too much saturated fat”, and “too much sodium”. Efforts to fine tune these recommendations have met with limited scientific data to support more specific recommendations across the life cycle. Consumers have become skeptical of dietary guidelines as media coverage of new studies is often in conflict with accepted nutrition dogma. We discuss whether we really have a science-based databank to support dietary guidelines, based on a scientific session at the 10th International Conference on Nutrition and Growth.

Water resources management is one of the most important challenges worldwide because water represents a vital resource for sustaining life and environment. In the aim of sustainable groundwater management, the identification of aquifer recharge areas is a useful tool for water resources protection. In a well-developed karst aquifer, environmental isotopes provide support for identifying aquifer recharge areas, residence time and interconnections between aquifer systems. This study deals the use of environmental isotopes to identify the main recharge area of a karst aquifer in the Upper Valley of Aniene River (Central Italy). The analysis of 18O/16O and 2H/H values and their spatial distribution in the aquifer, make it possible to trace back groundwater recharge areas based on average isotope elevations. The Inverse Hydrogeological Balance Method was used to validate spring recharge elevations obtained by the use of stable isotopes. Areas impacted by direct and rapid rainfall recharge into the study area were delineated, showing groundwater flowpaths from the boundaries to the core of the aquifer. The results of this study demonstrate the contribution that spatial and temporal isotope changes can provide to the identification of groundwater flowpaths in a karst basin, taking into account the hydrogeological setting

The World Health Organization has identified antimicrobial resistance as a public health emergency and developed a global priority pathogens list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be summarized in the acronym ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacterales species), reminding us of their ability to escape the effect of antibacterial drugs. We previously tested new heteroaryl-ethylene compounds in order to define their spectrum of activity and antibacterial capability. Now, we focus our attention on PB4, a compound with promising MIC and MBC values in all conditions tested. In the present study, we evaluate the activity of PB4 on selected samples of ESKAPE isolates from nosocomial infections: 14 S. aureus, 6 E. faecalis, 7 E. faecium, 12 E. coli and 14 A. baumanii. Furthermore, an ATCC control strain was selected for all species tested. MICs were performed according to the standard method, with some modifications. PB4 MIC values were within very low ranges regardless of bacterial species and resistance profiles: from 0,12 to 2 mg/L for S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. faecium and A. baumannii. For E. coli, the MIC values obtained were slightly higher (4-64 mg/L), butstill promising. The PB4 heteroaryl-ethylenic compound was able to counteract the bacterial growth of both high-priority Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical strains. In the future, it would be interesting to evaluate the activity of PB4 in animal models to test for its toxicity.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and osteoporosis are two of the most widespread metabolic disease in the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of DM among patients affected by osteoporosis and fragility fractures, and to search differences in clinical features. Methods: 713 patients belonging to CTO Bone Unit because of osteoporosis and fragility fractures were divided into two groups, according to the diagnosis of DM. The clinical and bone characteristics of patients were compared. Results: Prevalence of DM was 10.8%. When compared to patients without DM, the median age at the time of first fracture was similar (72 years ± 14 IQR vs 71 years ± 12 IQR); prevalence of combination of vertebral and hip fractures was higher (p=0.039), as well as prevalence of males, although not significantly (p=0.051). Bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites was higher in DM group; Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), instead, was significantly lower (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Patients with fragility fractures and DM more frequently show combination of major fractures with higher BMD levels. In these patients, TBS could be a better indicator of bone health than BMD and therefore should be used as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

Background: Vitamin D and calcium are important dietary compounds that affect bone mass, even if other minerals (potassium, zinc, etc.) and other vitamins (A, C and K) are also involved. Vitamin D and other minerals, in fact, play an important role in calcium homeostasis and calcium absorption. Hip fractures incidence is higher in western countries, where calcium is frequently included in human diet, while the occurrence of these fractures is lower in developing countries, where diets are often poor in calcium. This situation is known as the “calcium paradox”, and may be partially explained considering phosphate toxicity, that can induce a disorder of mineral metabolism. It is important to maintain adequate dietary calcium-phosphate balance in order to perform a healthy life, reducing the risk of osteoporotic fracture in older people. Vitamin D can also act as a hormone; vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is derived from the UV-B radiation of ergosterol, the vitamin D precursor naturally found in plants, fungi, and invertebrates. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is originated by sunlight exposure from 7-dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of cholesterol that can also act as a provitamin D3. Dietary intake of vitamin D3 is very important when skin is exposed for short times to ultraviolet B light (UV-B) one of the three kinds of invisible light rays together with UV-A and UV-C. This can be considered the usual situation in northern latitudes and in winter season, or the typical condition for older people and/or for people with very white delicate skin. Actually, the recommended daily intake of dietary vitamin D is strictly correlated with age, ranging from 5 μg for infants, children, teen-agers and adults, including women during pregnancy and lactation, to 15 μg for people over 65 years.

Critical sized bone defects and articular cartilage injuries resulting from trauma, osteonecrosis or age-related degeneration are often nonhealing by the physiological repairing mechanisms, thus representing a clinic issue due to the relevant epidemiological incidence. Current treatment approaches consist of autologous or allogenic grafting, which are associated with painfulness, morbidity, risk of infections and rejection. Novel tissue-engineering approaches, aiming at the reconstruction of damaged tissues, have been proposed as alternative solutions to these conven-tional methods. These approaches are based on the combination of three fundamental compo-nents: autologous or allogenic cells, a scaffold and growth-stimulating signals, which are gener-ally referred to as the tissue engineering triad. Three-dimensional polymer networks are fre-quently used as scaffolds to allow cell proliferation and tissue regeneration. In this scenario, cryogels are giving promising results as cell scaffolds over other polymer networks, thanks to their peculiar properties. In particular, cryogels possess an interconnected porous structure and a typical sponge-like behaviour, which facilitate the cellular infiltration and ingrowth. Their properties can be appropriately adjusted to match the requirements of the specific tissue or or-gan that it is intended to regenerate. In this review it is reported the state of the art on the fabri-cation and employment of cryogels in supporting osteo or chondro-genic differentiation for the re-building of more organized tissues. Moreover, it will highlight current progress and future perspectives in the implementation of this technology in the clinical practice.

Conventional monitoring relies on "in vivo" (non-destructive) measurements of aboveground organ traits (such as stems, branches, and leaves) to analyze plantation growth trends and assess the effectiveness of management practices like watering and fertilization. This study reveals the necessity of “ex vivo” (destructive) approaches, post-excavation, to ensure fully reliable monitoring of plantation performance, including belowground organ growth and development trends. We showcase the effectiveness of dendrometric analysis, which measures the annual ring width in the secondary xylem (wood) of the taproot and stem. Monitoring above- and belowground organ growth trends allow for the exploration of similarities and differences in how different tree organs respond to internal and external factors. Such monitoring is especially crucial for assessing plantation performance in challenging climates, such as those found in arid and semi-arid lands.

The analysis of autosomal polymorphism (STR) or Y chromosome polymorphisms (Y-STR) are usually used for the study and deconvolution of mixed DNA profiles in forensic genetics, accompanying data interpretation with biostatistical evaluations (e.g. RMP, RMNE, LR). Sometimes, however, some mixed DNA profiles are so complex that the autosomal and Y markers do not allow a correct discrimination and identification. In this work is reported a robbery case in which the analysis of the polymorphic markers of the X chromosome was applied to the mixed profiles obtained from the traces, thus falling outside the classic relationship use of the X-STRs. The aim of the authors is, in fact, to encourage the classic use of X-STRs not only in parental relationships, but also in purely forensic cases for interpreting complex mixed DNA profiles. Their application in case resolution could be more decisive than STR/Y-STR.

The Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ) can be defined as the individual be-haviour capable of generating value and competitive advantage for the organization. It is a mul-ti-dimensional construct, consisting of task performance, contextual performance and counter-productive work behavior. Albeit important, a comprehensive measure of individual job per-formance is still lacking in the Italian context. This paper describes the validation of an Italian adaptation of the IWPQ. A back translation procedure was used. To investigate the psychometric properties of the 18-item Italian IWPQ, 1053 participants (502 men, 47.7%; 551 women, 52.3%) were enrolled; the age of participants ranged between 19 and 69 (Mage=34.6, SD= 11.8), and for the oc-cupation, the sample is classified in blue collar 32.5%, pink collar 33% and white collar 34.5%. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the structural factor of the IWPQ. The results supported the goodness of the IWPQ in the Italian context and the scales were found consistent with the original structure. One item was omitted due to a low factor loading, resulting in a final 17-item structure. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor solution was invariant across both gender and occupational category and found evidence of metric invariance, uniqueness and scalar invariance, and structural invariance. Convergent and discriminant validity were also tested and showed.

The growing concern about climate change and the recognition of the planet’s limits led society to look for alternatives that promote the balance between the natural and the built environment. The circular economy emerges as an alternative to the linear economic model, inspired by natural metabolisms, by circulating resources in continuous loops, where their intrinsic value is maintained and improved. This research proposes a closed-loop strategy in the built environment by studying innovative constructive solutions that aim to find use, value, and inspiration in what is considered waste. A literature review is conducted on the circular design strategies, re-use and recycle typologies, and waste transformation processes. Then, the development of a methodology for qualitative evaluation and selection of re-used and upcycled construction materials from post-consumer waste and by-products is presented and then applied to thirty-five cases of constructive solutions from plastic, wood, paper, steel, aluminium, and agricultural waste. The research reports that the developed framework is adequate. The analysed alternative materials have good environmental performance and can be used as building materials despite their functional limitations, reflecting the enormous potential of waste as a resource for the construction industry.

Background: Though tyrosine kinase inhibitors managed to reach outstanding responses in the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, resistance is still a challenging point, occurring in approximately 10–20% of the cases, due to several mechanisms. STAT5 expression has been strictly linked to resistance and disease progression and may thus represent a significant target to overcome resistance to TKI in CML. The aim of the study is to explore the in vitro antineoplastic role of the STAT5 inhibitor Pimozide in association with 2nd and 3rd generation inhibitors on chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Methods: The cytotoxic effect was evaluated by the Trypan blue dye exclusion test. K562 cell lines were exposed to pimozide alone and in association with ponatinib and dasatinib at different concentrations to explore the drugs association effect and the in vitro cytotoxic concentrations. Conclusions: Pimozide showed a synergic effect when associated with ponatinib and dasatinib in survival inhibition of K562 cell lines. This results are of note and pave the way for a possible in vivo associations.

The city-port involves a decisive reality for the economic development of the territories and nations, capable of significantly influencing the conditions of well-being and quality of life, and of making the Circular City Model operational, preserving and enhancing seas and marine resources in a sustainable way, through the construction of appropriate production and consumption models, with attention to relations with the urban and territorial system. The Circular Economy paradigm identifies the ideal context in the city-port to rethink traditional development models and make ports driver areas for the regeneration of the city and metropolitan territories, in compliance with the EU Directive 2014/89 which considers maritime spatial planning as a tool for public authorities and stakeholders to achieve an integrated approach, promoting the development of maritime and coastal economies and the sustainable use of resources. The paper, starting from these assumptions, presents an adaptive decision-making process for the strategies development of the Naples (Italy) commercial port, aimed at re-establishing a sustainable city-port relationship and making operative Circular Economy principles.

Developments in technology have enabled envisioning the derivation of materials and products from renewable biomass, as an alternative to finite fossil-based resource consumption. Therefore, bioeconomy is regarded as an opportunity for sustainable economic growth. Countries are formulating strategies in accordance with their goals to attain from bioeconomy. Proper measurement, monitoring and reporting of the outcomes of these strategies is crucial for long-term success. This study aims to critically evaluate the national methods used for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of bioeconomy contribution to the total economy. For this purpose, research and surveys have been conducted on selected countries (Argentina, Germany, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United States). The results reveal that the bioeconomy targets set up in the strategies often reflect country’s priorities and comparative advantages. However, comprehensive approaches to measure and monitor bioeconomy progress are frequently lacking. Most countries only measure the contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), turnover and employment of the sectors included in their bioeconomy definition, which may provide an incomplete picture. In addition, this study identifies the mismatch between the targets and measurement methods, as the environmental and social impacts of bioeconomy are often foreseen, but not measured. It is concluded that existing global efforts towards a sustainable bioeconomy monitoring can be strengthened and leveraged to measure progress towards sustainable goals.

Identifying the determinants of human behavior is useful to adjust interventions and lead the civil society towards a stronger commitment with climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives, achieving greater support for successfully implementing environmental policies. Existing research has largely focused on case studies of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) in developed economies but there is yet very little evidence for developing countries. This study provides estimations of the effect of internal factors, such as sociodemographic variables, and four psychological dimensions (climate change knowledge, environmental attitudes, self-efficacy, trust in sources of environmental information) on PEBs. Data was obtained through a survey applied with future decision makers - university students - from Colombia (n = 4769) and Nicaragua (n = 2354). Indices were generated for PEBs and the psychological dimensions using z-scores and Principal Component Analysis. Partial correlations were evaluated through the Ordinary Least Squares method. Our results suggest that, in order to reach the planned emission reduction targets, policy approaches should more strongly focus on educating and motivating citizens and prepare them for contributing to the environmental cause, as well as provide individual solutions to combat climate change, rather than providing only information on its causes and consequences.

A growing body of evidences is showing that dysbiotic gut microbiota may correlate with a wide range of disorders; hence, the clinical use of microbiota maps and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can be exploited in the clinic of some infectious diseases. Through direct or indirect ecological and functional competition, FMT may stimulate decolonization of pathogens or opportunistic pathogens, modulating immune response and colonic inflammation, and restoring intestinal homeostasis, with reduction of host damage. Herein, we discuss how diagnostic parasitology may contribute to design clinical metagenomics pipelines and FMT programs, especially in pediatric subjects. The consequences of a more specialized diagnostics in the context of gut microbiota communities may improve the clinical parasitology and extend its applications to the prevention and treatment of several communicable and even noncommunicable disorders.

Background: biophysical stimulation therapy, and in particular Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) and capacitively coupled electric fields (CCEFs) has significantly increased in the last twenty years. For this, it is necessary to have clear information regarding the efficacy, the therapeutic indication and the expected objectives. Methods: we conducted a narrative review taking into consideration different types of studies with different areas of application. The objective was to take into consideration and analyze the different fields of use and the relevant information present in the literature. Results: There is unanimous opinion regarding the usefulness of applying biophysical therapy on the bone compartment both in terms of the tissue healing process and the symptoms associated with this situation. Differently, but no less importantly, in the joint compartment positive opinions were observed mainly on the inflammatory and catabolic process, however, at present,we did not report evidence regarding cartilaginous tissue regeneration. Conclusion: the effectiveness of PEMFs and CCEFs on the bone healing process in the Orthopedic and Traumatology fields is consolidated evidence in the literature. We have also found positive results on symptoms and patient compliance with rehabilitation therapies. Therefore, notable application can be envisaged in the fields of Prosthetic Surgery and Sports Medicine.

High Brassicaceae consumption reduces the risk of developing several cancer types, probably due to their glucosinolate amount. Extracts from Sinapis nigra L. and Sinapis alba L. have been obtained from leaves and seeds under different conditions using ethanol/water mixtures because well accepted by food industry. The EtOH/H2O 8:2 mixture gives better yields in glucosinolate amounts from grinded seeds, mainly sinalbin in S. alba and sinigrin in S. nigra. The highest antiproliferative activity in both non-tumour and tumour cell lines was induced by S. alba seeds extract. To evaluate whether Sinapis spp effect was only due to glucosinolate content or it was influenced by the extracts’ complexity, cells were treated with extracts or glucosinolates, in the presence of myrosinase. Pure sinigrin did not modify cell proliferation, while pure sinalbin was less effective than the extract. The addition of myrosinase increased the antiproliferative effects of the S. nigra extract and sinigrin. Antiproliferative activity was correlated to MAPKs modulation, which was cell and extract-dependent. Cell-cycle analysis evidenced a proapoptotic effect of S. alba on both tumour cell lines and of S. nigra only on HCT 116. Both extracts showed good antimicrobial activity in disc diffusion tests and on ready-to-eat fresh salad. These results underline the potential effects of Sinapis spp in chemoprevention and food preservation.

Bacterial internalization is a strategy that non-intracellular microorganisms use to escape the host immune system and survive inside the human body. Among bacteria species, Staphylococcus aureus showed ability to interact and infect osteoblasts causing osteomyelitis as well as bone and joint infection, while also becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotic therapy and a reservoir of bacteria that can make the infection difficult to cure. Despite being a serious issue in orthopedic surgery, little is known about the mechanisms that allow bacteria to enter and survive inside the osteoblasts, also due to the lack of consistent experimental models. In this review, we describe the current knowledge about S. aureus internalization mechanisms and various aspects of the interaction between bacteria and osteoblasts (e.g. best experimental conditions, bacteria-induced damages and immune system response), focusing on studies performed using the MG-63 osteoblastic cell line, so far the best model for the study of this phenomenon.

Thanks to several Vitis vinifera backcrosses with an initial V. vinifera L. × V. rotundifolia (previously Muscadinia rotundifolia) interspecific cross, the MrRUN1/MrRPV1 locus (resistance to downy and powdery mildews) was introgressed in genotypes phenotypically close to V. vinifera varieties. To check the consequences of introgressing parts of the V. rotundifolia genome on gene expression during fruit development, we conducted a comparative RNA-seq study on single berries from different V. vinifera cultivars and V. vinifera × V. rotundifolia hybrids, including ‘G5’ and two derivative microvine lines, ‘MV102’ (resistant) and ‘MV32’ (susceptible) segregating for the MrRUN1/RPV1 locus. RNA-Seq profiles were analyzed on a comprehensive set of single berries from the end of the herbaceous plateau to the ripe stage. Pair-end reads were aligned both on V. vinifera PN40024.v4 reference genome, V. rotundifolia cv ‘Trayshed’ and cv ‘Carlos’, and to the few resistance genes from the original V. rotundifolia cv ‘52’ parent available at NCBI. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) led to classifying the differentially expressed genes into 15 modules either preferentially correlated with resistance or berry phenology and composition. Resistance positively correlated transcripts predominantly mapped on the 4-5 Mb distal region of V. rotundifolia chromosome 12 beginning with the MrRUN1/MrRPV1 locus, while the negatively correlated ones mapped on the orthologous V. vinifera region, showing this large extremity of LG12 remained recalcitrant to internal recombination during the successive backcrosses. Some constitutively expressed V. rotundifolia genes were also observed at lower density outside this region. Genes overexpressed in developing berries from resistant accessions, either introgressed from V. rotundifolia, or triggered by these in the vinifera genome, spanned various functional groups, encompassing calcium signal transduction, hormone signaling, transcription factors, plant–pathogen-associated interactions, disease resistance proteins, ROS and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. This transcriptomic insight provides a foundation for understanding the disease resistance inherent in these hybrid cultivars and suggests a constitutive expression of NIR NBS LRR triggering calcium signaling. Moreover, these results illustrate the magnitude of transcriptomic changes caused by the introgressed V. rotundifolia background in backcrossed hybrids, on a large number of functions largely exceeding the ones constitutively expressed in single resistant gene transformants.

Identified by the eponym “Edwards’ Syndrome,” trisomy 18 (T18) represents the second most common autosomal trisomy after T21. The pathophysiology underlying the extra chromosome 18 is a nondisjunction error, mainly linked with the advanced maternal age. More frequent in female fetuses, the syndrome portends high mortality, reaching a rate of 80% of miscarriages or stillbirths. The three-step evaluation includes first trimester screening for fetal aneuploidy using a combination of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency thickness, fetal heart rate and maternal serum free ß-hCG and PAPP-A; followed by the research for fragments of fetal DNA in maternal blood; and, finally, invasive techniques leave to the established diagnosis. Starting with the first trimester scan, selected ultrasound findings should be investigated to define not only the impact of the genetic problem on the fetus, but also to address the prenatal counselling. Previous series underline that T18 is not uniformly lethal. An active dialogue on the choices in the management of infants with T18 has emerged, sustained by the transition from the comfort care to the intervention attitude. Survival rates for individuals with supposedly fatal conditions have increased. In this novel scenario, an ad hoc counselling is pivotal. To support it, a comparative analysis by pictorial assays between ultrasound and autopsy findings could be beneficial. We provide an illustrative tool from a clinical case managed in early second trimester, with the purpose to strive a balanced approach in the hard choice faced by couples of fetuses with T18.

After the increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 infections all over the world, researchers and clinicians are struggling to find a vaccine or innovative therapeutic strategies to treat this viral infection. The SARS-CoV infection that occurred in 2002, MERS and other more common infectious diseases such as HCV, led to the discovery of many RNA-based drugs. Among them, siRNAs and antisense LNAs have been demonstrated to have effective antiviral effects both in animal models and humans. Owing to the high genomic homology of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV (80-82%) the use of these molecules could be employed successfully also to target this emerging coronavirus. Trying to translate this approach to treat COVID-19, we analyzed the common structural features of viral 5’UTR regions that can be targeted by non-coding RNAs and we also identified miRNAs binding sites suitable for designing RNA-based drugs to be employed successfully against SARS-CoV-2.

The Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department of University of Brescia organized free rapid screening tests for HIV and HCV as part of the Fast Track City commitment. A cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of an anonymous, multiple-choice questionnaire that was administered to individuals who underwent the screening or consultation. The study aimed to compare knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and HCV between age groups (18-40 vs. >40) and sexual orientations (heterosexual vs. LGBTQ+). Overall, 333 questionnaires were completed. Individuals over the age of 40 and those who identified as heterosexual had the lowest level of knowledge about HIV transmission (7.9% and 30% respectively), undetectable=untransmittable (19.7% and 39.4% respectively) and PrEP (9.2% and 18.2% respectively). They were also less willing to cohabit with people with HIV (PLHIV). Only 9.6% of the population demonstrated high levels of knowledge for both HIV and HCV. People over the age of 40 had the largest gaps in knowledge and would benefit the most from educational and prevention interventions.

Abstract: Lipodystrophies (LDs) are rare, complex disorders of the adipose tissue characterized by selective fat loss, altered adipokines profile and metabolic impairment. Sirtuins (SIRTs) are class III NAD+-dependent histone-deacetylases linked to fat metabolism. SIRT1 plays a critical role in metabolic health by deacetylating target proteins in tissues including liver, muscle and adipose tissue. Circulating SIRT1 levels have been found to be reduced in obesity while increased in anorexia nervosa and in patients experiencing weight loss. We evaluated circulating SIRT1 levels in relation to fat amount in 32 lipodystrophic patients affected by congenital or acquired LDs compared to non-LD subjects (24 with anorexia nervosa, 22 normal weight and 24 with obe-sity). SIRT1 serum levels were higher in LDs as compared with normal weight subjects (mean ± SEM: 4.17 ± 0.48 vs. 2.59 ± 0.20 ng/mL) or subjects with obesity (1.7 ± 0.39 ng/mL), whereas they were close to those measured in anorexia nervosa (3.44 ± 0.46 ng/mL). Our findings show that within the LD group there was no relationship between SIRT1 levels and the amount of body fat. The mechanisms responsible for secretion and regulation of SIRT1 in LD deserve further investi-gation.

Rapid haemostasis during surgery is essential when one wants to reduce the duration of opera-tions, reduce the need for transfusions, and above all when one wants to achieve better patient management. The use of haemostatic agents, sealants and adhesives improves the haemostatic process by offering several advantages, especially in vascular surgery. These agents vary widely in their mechanism of action, composition, ease of application, adhesion to wet or dry tissue, im-munogenicity and cost. The most used are cyanoacrylate-based glues (Glubran 2) or polysaccharide hydrogel-microsphere powder (AristaTMAH). This work is based on a retrospective study carried out on a sample of patients with different vascular diseases (FAV, pseudoaneurysm and PICC application) in which two different haemostatic sealants were used. The aim was to assess the safety, the advantages and the ability of both sealants to activate the haemostatic process at the affected site, also in relation to their chemical-physical characteristics. The obtained results showed that the application of Glubran 2 and AristaTMAH as surgical wound closure systems is effective and safe as the success achieved was ≥94% on anastomoses of FAV; 100% on stabilization of Picc catheters; ≤95% on pseudoaneurysms.

Oligodendroglioma (OG) is a brain tumor that contributes to < 1% of brain tumor diagnoses in the pediatric population. Unfortunately, pediatric OG remains without definitive molecular characteristics to aid in diagnosis, and little is known about the tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells' metabolism and proliferation rate are generally higher than healthy cells, so their iron demand is also significantly increased. This consideration underlines the great importance of iron for tumor development and progression. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the effect of iron in a cellular in vitro model of human oligodendroglioma brain tumor. Cell morphology, the effect of siderotic medium on cell growth, iron uptake, and the expression of iron metabolism-related genes were evaluated by optic microscopy, ICP-MS, confocal microscopy, and RealTime PCR, respectively. This study underlines the great importance of iron for tumor development and progression, but also the possibility of reducing the available iron concentration to determine an antiproliferative effect on OGs. Therefore, every attempt can be promising to defeat the OGs for which there are currently no long-term curative therapies.

Hepatic Encephalopaty (HE) is a common complications of advanced liver disease and acute liver failure. It is a condition that features both neurological and psychiatric symptoms, that affects mortality, morbidity and quality of patients and caregivers’ life. HE diagnosis is generally an exclusion diagnosis. Once the patient is admitted to hospital, clinical examination, blood tests and eventually neuroimaging should be performed in order to rule out other causes of acute brain dysfunction. Moreover, HE recognizes various precipitants that can potentially promote its onset, alone or in combination, that must be identified. Once the diagnostic process is complete, a correct treatment should be started. The anti-HE treatment is based on a combination of correction of precipitants and non-absorbable disaccharides and non-absorbable antibiotic, such as rifaximin. Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, specific anti-HE therapy should be maintained in order to prevent other HE episodes.

Smenamides are an intriguing class of peptide/polyketide molecules of marine origin showing antiproliferative activity against lung cancer Calu-1 cells at nanomolar concentrations through a clear pro-apoptotic mechanism. To probe the role of the activity-determining structural features, the 16-epi-analogue of smenamide A and eight simplified analogues in the 16-epi series were prepared using a flexible synthetic route. The synthetic analogues were tested on multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines showing that the configuration at C-16 slightly affects the activity, since the 16-epi-derivative is still active at nanomolar concentrations. Interestingly, it was found that the truncated compound 8, mainly composed of the pyrrolinone terminus, was not active while compound 17, essentially lacking the pyrrolinone moiety, was 1000-fold less active than the intact substance and was the most active among all the synthesized compounds.

In recent years, the use of long-term seismic monitoring systems for the protection of structures is becoming increasingly widespread. This is because more and more awareness is gradually developing regarding the importance of keeping structures under observation so as to prevent any damage scenarios. Within the field of Structural Health Monitoring, data driven techniques allow to process and analyze data collected on site. This paper presents a Mode Tracking procedure to obtain the time-histories of the natural frequencies of a monumental structure. The procedure is applied on the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, an important monumental structure site in Piedmont known for its imposing oval dome and characterized by a permanent structural monitoring system. Through the procedure presented in the paper it has been possible to obtain and observe the time series of the first natural frequencies of the structure considering various aspects, including the temperature variation.

Nurses’ competency towards Evidence-based Practice (EBP) has been extensively investigated by several studies worldwide. However, factors affecting the competence of Greek nurses working in the NHS have not been fully investigated in terms of EBP. Thus, this study aimed to explore the impact of individual qualifications of nurses on their competence towards EBP. Data from 473 registered nurses working in 10 hospitals of in the Greek National Health Service (NHS) were collected between October and December 2022 using a convenience-sampling method in a cross-section design. The Greek version of the 35-item (5-point Likert scale) Evidence-Based Practice Competency Questionnaire for Professional Registered Nurses (EBP-COQ Prof) was used to assess the competence level of nurses focusing on the attitudes, skills, and knowledge as well as the utilization of EBP in clinical practice. One-way ANOVA and Pearson coefficient tests were applied to compare possible differences among variables (two or more groups) as appropriate. A multi-factorial regression model was applied to explore participants’ qualifications, including demographics (MSc degree, gender, English language knowledge, etc.) as independent variables, and to control for potential confounding effects toward EBP competency. P-values &lt;0.05 were considered statistically significant. The mean age of 473 participants (402 women and 71 men) was 44.7 ± 9.2 years old. The mean value of competence subscales was found as follows: attitudes 3.9±0.6, knowledge 3.7±0.6, skills 3.1±0.8, and utilization 3.4±0.7. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that associates of “Master's degree” (t=3.039, p=0.003), “Writing an academic article” (3.409, p=0.001), “Working in a University clinic” (2.203, p=0.028) and, “Computer Skills” (2.404, p=0.017) are positively affecting ‘Attitudes’, ‘Knowledge’, ‘Skills’ and ‘Utilization’. Respectively. The research data suggest that nurses working in Greek NHS are limited in competence towards EBP in comparison to other European countries. Therefore, Vocational, Educational and Training programs tailored to EBP enhancement are crucially important.

This study measures the communication ability of wineries in two extreme territories of Southern Italy, Mount Etna and the island of Pantelleria. The evaluation of four dimensions of web communication was carried out by the AGIL Scheme (i.e. adaptation, goal-attainment, integration, latent pattern maintenance). The study provides a generalizable model to be applied in other similar studies. Also, focus groups of experts were carried out. The method proved to be suitable to measure the communication effectiveness of wineries through websites. Extreme territories may add value to the wine, regardless of the brand. The heroic wines may become the symbol of these territories helping environmental safeguard and contrasting territory abandonment by rural communities. The findings highlight that effective communication of heroic viticulture may be used to reposition these wines and increase their competitive advantage in foreign markets. The study generates new ideas for reflection on new types of web communication.

Recent policy and service provision recommends a woman-centered approach to maternity care and encourages the development of personalized models of clinical assistance. As ethnicity has been recognized as determinant in the risk calculation of some obstetric complication, our aim was to assess costs for birth assistance according to the maternal ethnicities. In a five-year period (2012-16) all women admitted for delivery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ IRCCS, Rome, Italy were investigated. Economic evaluations were performed by using the ‘diagnosis-related group’ (DRG) approach. Cost analysis was completed by including maternal ethnicity, delivery mode and perinatal complications. A total of 18,093 patients were involved in the analysis. An overall care expense of €42.663.481 was calculated. Caucasian was the main ethnicity (90.7%), leaving the minority groups to 9.3%. Vaginal delivery (VD) was the most common mode of delivery in all ethnic clusters, with a global rate of 59.6%. Not including Asiatic women, increased CS rates were recorded in all minority ethnic groups (Maghreb (51.5%) and Afro-Caribbean (47.8%)). A double incidence of complicated VD was observed in the minority groups, primarily among Afro-Caribbean (69.9%), followed by Asiatic (64.1%), Maghreb (63.2%) and Latin-America (62.7%) patients. By logistic regression, Afro-Caribbean delivering women had a significant increased risk of complicated CS among all subgroups. Minority groups (Afro-Caribbean, in particular) increase the health care cost for birth assistance due to higher incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a significant challenge to global health, with its prevalence projected to rise dramatically by 2045. This narrative review explores the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis (PD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms derived by the interplay between oral microbiota and the host immune response. A comprehensive search of literature published between 2008 and 2023 was conducted to elucidate the association between these two diseases. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship, with individuals with T1DM exhibiting heightened susceptibility to periodontitis, and vice versa. The review includes recent findings from human clinical studies, revealing variations in oral microbiota composition in T1DM patients, including increases in certain pathogenic species such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, along with shifts in microbial diversity and abundance. Molecular mechanisms underlying this association involve oxidative stress and dysregulated host immune responses, mediated by inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and MMPs. Furthermore, disruptions in bone turnover markers, such as RANKL and OPG, contribute to periodontal complications in T1DM patients. While preventive measures to manage periodontal complications in T1DM patients may improve overall health outcomes, further research is needed to understand the intricate interactions between oral microbiota, host response, periodontal disease, and systemic health in this population.

Background: The aim of this experimental work was to confirm the individual uniqueness of lip prints, to verify the presence of recurrent patterns according to the Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification and to search for characteristics that can be used in establishing the sex of a subject. Methods: Lip prints were taken from a sample of 172 volunteers using liquid lipstick and transparent adhesive tape and were digitally analyzed. Results: 59 prints (35.3%) were not considered for Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification due to quality errors and the impossibility of visualizing lip wrinkles in one or more sextants, all the digitized prints revealed themselves to be unique after having been analyzed using superimposition. Qualitatively valid prints indicated a prevalence of Type II in both male and female and the presence of sex-linked features. A major problem was that the analysis of the same print by different operators often resulted in a different attribution of a Type. Conclusions: The potential of cheiloscopy lies mainly in the matching of prints, given their uniqueness, and can be a valid tool in gender determination but the absence of a database greatly limits its use. It is necessary to establish an acquisition protocol for taking and analyzing prints that could reduce the errors committed by the operator.

Background: Evaluation of nutrition programs is essential to guarantee the effectiveness of community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM). Methods: The Rainbow Project Supplementary Feeding Programs (SFPs) in Zambia were evaluated between years 2015-17, following implementation of new recommendations based on previous evaluations (years 2012-14). Outcomes of the program were compared with International Standards and with those of 2012-14. Cox proportional risk regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of mortality and defaulting. Results: Data for 900 under age 5 years malnourished children (48.8% male; mean age 19.7months ±9.9) were analyzed. Rainbow 2015-17 program outcomes met International Standards, for general malnutrition or stratified moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM). When comparing with 2012-14 outcomes, better performance was noted: mortality rates were reduced by half (5.6% vs 3.1%, p = 0.01; for SAM: 12.4% vs 6.7%, p = 0.006), with significant improvement in average weight gain and mean length of stay (p<0.001), and increased awareness of HIV status (+30%; p < 0.001). HIV infection (5.5; 1.9–15.9), WAZ < −3 at baseline (4.6; 1.3–16.1) and kwashiorkor (3.5; 1.2–9.5) remained the major predictors of mortality. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the Rainbow SFPs for child malnutrition treatment and prevention in Zambia has significantly improved after evaluation and implementation activities, with impressive outcomes which resulted in a 50% reduction in mortality.

The core components of regenerative medicine are stem cells with high self-renewal and tissue regeneration potentials. Adult stem cells can be obtained from many organs and tissues. NANOG, SOX2 and OCT4 represent the core regulatory network that suppresses differentiation-associated genes, maintaining the pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells. The roles of NANOG in maintaining self-renewal and undifferentiated status of adult stem cells are still not perfectly established. In this study we define the effects of downregulation of NANOG in maintaining self-renewal and undifferentiated state in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from subcutaneous adipose tissue (hASCs). hASCs were expanded and transfected in vitro with short hairpin Lentivirus targeting NANOG. Gene suppressions were achieved at both transcript and proteome levels. The effect of NANOG knockdown on proliferation after 10 passages and on the cell cycle was evaluated by proliferation assay, colony forming unit (CFU), qRT-PCR and cell cycle analysis by flow-cytometry. Moreover, NANOG involvement in differentiation ability was evaluated. We report that downregulation of NANOG revealed a decrease in the proliferation and differentiation rate, inducing cell cycle arrest by increasing p27/CDKN1B (Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B) and p21/CDKN1A(Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A) through p53 and regulate DLK1/PREF1. Furthermore, NANOG induced downregulation of DNMT1, a major DNA methyltransferase responsible for maintaining methylation status during DNA replication probably involved in cell cycle regulation. Our study confirms that NANOG regulates the complex transcription network of plasticity of the cells, inducing cell cycle arrest and reducing differentiation potential.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious keratitis, but it has not been studied in cases occurring after corneal refractive surgery procedures such as femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx). In these procedures a surgical interface is created, where infections usually start, thus determining a different OCT pattern compared to non-surgical infections, which instead begin in the corneal surface. A total of 4 cases of post-refractive surgery infectious keratitis are reported (2 after FS-LASIK and 2 after KLEx), in which the OCT identified an initial infiltrate in the interface, followed by interface inflammation. In 1 case after FS-LASIK, interface fluid accumulation occurred. In 1 case after KLEx, diffuse interface inflammation led to stromal reabsorption, later compensated by stromal reformation and epithelial hyperplasia, well documented by OCT.

We calculate the spectral function of a boson ladder in an artificial magnetic field by means of analytic approaches based on bosonization and Bogoliubov theory. We discuss the evolution of the spectral function at increasing effective magnetic flux, from the Meissner to the Vortex phase, focussing on the effects of incommensurations in momentum space. At low flux, in the Meissner phase, the spectral function displays both a gapless branch and a gapped one, while at higher flux, in the Vortex phase, the spectral function displays two gapless branches and the spectral weight is shifted at a wavevector associated to the underlying vortex spatial structure which can indicate a 8 supersolid-like behavior. While the Bogoliubov theory, valid at weak interactions, predicts sharp delta-like features in the spectral function, at stronger interactions we find power-law broadening of 10 the spectral functions due to quantum fluctuations as well as additional spectral weight at higher 11 momenta due to backscattering and incommensuration effects. These features could be accessed in 12 ultracold atom experiments using radio-frequency spectroscopy techniques.

Ranunculus asiaticus L. is an ornamental geophyte, mainly propagated by rehydrated tuberous roots. Vernalization before planting is a common practice to overcome the natural dormancy of tuberous roots, however little is known about the mechanisms underlying the plant response to low temperature. We investigated the influence of two hybrids, MBO and MDR, and three preparation procedures of tuberous roots, only rehydration (control, C), and rehydration plus vernalization at 3.5 °C for 2 weeks (V2) and for 4 weeks (V4), on plant growth, leaf photosynthesis, flowering and metabolism in plants grown in pot in unheated greenhouse. We reported the responses observed in the aerial part previously in this journal (Fusco et al., 2023). In this paper, we show changes in carbohydrate, amino acids, polyphenols and protein levels throughout the growing cycle, in the different plant stages: pre-planting, vegetative phase and flowering.

Microplastics (MPs) quantification in benthic marine sediments is typically performed by time-consuming and moderately accurate mechanical separation and microscopy detection. In this paper we describe the results of our innovative Polymer Identification and Specific Analysis (PISA) of microplastic total mass, previously tested on either less complex sandy beach sediment or less demanding (because of the high MPs content) wastewater treatment plant sludges, applied to the analysis of benthic sediments from a sublittoral area north-west of Leghorn (Tuscany, Italy). Samples were collected from two shallow sites characterized by coarse debris in a mixed seabed of Posidonia oceanica, and by a very fine silty-organogenic sediment, respectively. After sieving at &lt;2 mm the sediment was sequentially extracted with selective organic solvents and the two polymer classes polystyrene (PS) and polyolefins (PE and PP) were quantified by pyrolysis-GC/MS. A contamination in the 8-65 ppm range by PS could be accurately detected. Acid hydrolysis on the extracted residue to achieve total depolymerization of all natural and synthetic polyamides, tagging of all aminated species in the hydrolyzate with a fluorophore, and reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) analysis, allowed to quantify within the 137-1523 ppm range the individual mass of contaminating Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6, based on the detected amounts of the respective monomeric amines 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHA) and hexanediamine (HMDA). Finally, alkaline hydrolysis of the residue from acid hydrolysis followed by RP-HPLC analysis of the purified hydrolysate showed contamination by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the 12.1-2.7 ppm range, based on the content of its comonomer, terephthalic acid.

Outdoor exercise is beneficial for psychophysical well-being. Limited studies have compared outdoor and virtual reality (VR) indoor physical activities, especially in coastal settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of outdoor coastal walking and indoor walking in a VR simulation with a similar environment on physiological and psychological variables in healthy adults. Twenty-six subjects (14M and 12F; age 25.2 ± 2.5 years) voluntarily participated in this crossover randomized controlled and counterbalanced study and were allocated under three conditions: VR indoor walking (INVR), outdoor walking (OUT) and standard indoor walking (IN). IN and INVR conditions were performed on a treadmill (speed 4.5 Km/h) and the OUT was per-formed on a seaside pedestrian road. The same outdoor environment was displayed in the visor during the INVR. Heart rate (HRmean/max), Physical Activity Enjoyment (PACES-It) and State of Mindfulness for Physical Activity (SMS-PA) were assessed at the end of each condition. The OUT condition showed significantly greater PACES-It scores and HRmean than IN and INVR (p<0.001) and greater SMS-PA scores and HRmax than IN (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). No significant dif-ferences were found between OUT and INVR regarding HRmax and SMS-PA scores (p>0.05). Findings suggest that physical activity in an immersive technology may lead to physiological loads comparable to the outdoor environment. OUT is more enjoyable than IN and INVR but exhibits a mindfulness response comparable to INVR. Therefore, INVR could be an alternative to OUT for those who cannot engage in outdoor activities for various reasons.

Background. Sarcopenia and spinal cord injury (SCI) often coexist, but little is known about the associations of these two pathologies. This study aimed to assess the impact of SCI on muscle and bone mass and the correlations between clinical characteristics of SCI patients and sarcopenia. Methods: 136 patients diagnosed with SCI admitted to rehabilitation hospital were included in the study. The type and severity of injury (AIS), the level of spasticity (MAS), bone mineral density and Appendicular Lean Muscle Mass (ALM) were assessed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the recommended EWGSOP2 cut-off points for ALM. Results: There was a statistically significant association between the ALM value and the gender, 75% of women developing sarcopenia. Among men, 42.9% had sarcopenia. Over 55% of AIS Grades A and B cases had sarcopenia. Mean age of sarcopenic patients was 35.8 years and they had multiple comorbidities. 51.6% of the patients with osteoporosis had sarcopenia. 69.7% of MAS level 0 cases had sarcopenia, while this was diagnosed in about 40% of patients with MAS levels 1-4. Conclusions: Gender, type of injury, presence of multiple comorbidities and age were directly associated with sarcopenia, while surprisingly, spasticity level and the presence of immobilization osteoporosis were not.

The seasonal variation in fatty acids and minerals concentrations was investigated through the analysis of Pecorino Romano cheese samples collected in January, April, and June. A fraction of samples contained missing values in their fatty acid profile. Probabilistic Principal component analysis coupled with Linear Discriminant Analysis was employed to classify cheese samples on a production season basis while accounting for missing data and quantifying the missing Fatty acids concentration for the sample in which they were absent. The levels of rumenic acid, vac-cenic acid and omega-3 compounds were positively correlated with the spring season, while the length of the saturated fatty acids increased throughout the production seasons. Concerning the classification performances, the optimal number of principal components (i.e., 5) achieved an ac-curacy in cross-validation equal to 98 %. Then, when the model was tasked to impute the lacking Fatty acid concentration values, the optimal number of principal components resulted in an R2 value in cross-validation of 99.53%

The study of the impact of polyQ expansion driven proteotoxicity on cell metabolism has evi-denced NAD molecule as a central player in regulating metabolic response and cell repair in neurodegeneration. The decline in NAD intracellular levels represents a hallmark of ageing aris-ing from a dysregulation between NAD-consuming and biosynthetic enzymatic reactions in which NMNAT plays a key role. By an integrated bioanalytical and proteomic experimental design, the derangement of NAD metabolism deriving from the accumulation of polyQ-Htt protein has been analysed in Saccha-romices cerevisiae harbouring a 103Q-Htt and compared with wild-type Htt, in absence and in presence of a phenolic extract from EVOO, as a source of antioxidant bioactive compounds. Quantification of NAD and its precursors and proteomic analysis of the differential protein ex-pression has been performed by LC-DAD-MS. Chronological lifespan and NAD homeostasis was strongly impaired by proteotoxic polyQ-Htt, eliciting a depletion of NAD levels and accumulation of NaMN. In parallel a downregulation of Sirt2 expression levels has been observed. Phenolic extract administration had no meaningful ef-fects on NAD replenishment to prevent proteotoxicity. NaMN can represent a biomarker of accel-erated aging, and/or a signaling molecule for cell repair.

The criteria of “Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability” as well as a high "overall quality index” are used to register the Italian modern varieties to the national register. Differently, local conservation varieties can be certified under different EU Directives having, as overall objective, the preservation of biodiversity and the containment of genetic erosion. In recent years, products derived from an-cient grains are perceived to be healthier and more sustainable by consumer, especially in Italy, with consequent higher market prices. Ancient tetraploid wheat varieties registered in the national reg-ister of conservation varieties are 28, 24 of which are Sicilian. They are supposed to have a wide genetic variability compared to modern ones, making them vulnerable of fraud because they are difficult to trace. It is therefore important to have tools able to discriminate the autochthonous Si-cilian varieties. This can be done by gluten proteins composition, which also gives information on the technological properties of derived products. Fifty-one accessions belonging to 22 ancient va-rieties of Sicilian tetraploid (mostly durum) wheat were analyzed. Although a wide intra-accession and intra-varietal variability was assessed, the gliadin pattern of bulks of seeds belonging to each variety was discriminatory. Moreover, differences in technological attitudes were found between landraces. This paves the way to use gluten protein patterns for traceability allowing local farmers and producers to valorize their products and assure consumers about the transparency of the entire supply chain.

Auricular keloids pose significant aesthetic and functional challenges, and traditional treatments often fall short in ad-dressing these. Our study presents an innovative combined approach of ablative CO2 and dye laser therapy for improved keloid management. This treatment protocol was applied to 15 patients with auricular keloids after an initial multispec-tral analysis to assess keloid composition. The laser sequence was tailored per patient based on this analysis. Evalua-tions using the Vancouver Scar Scale and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale were carried out at baseline and at 3-week intervals post-treatment. The results showed a significant reduction in these scores at the final follow-up (p<0.05), suggesting improvements in keloid color, texture, and pliability, with minimal adverse events. Additionally, no recur-rence of keloids was observed. Our findings indicate that this novel methodology of multispectral analysis followed by tailored laser therapy may offer a safe and effective solution for auricular keloids, promising enhanced keloid treatment and prevention of recurrence. However, further investigations, including randomized controlled trials, are needed to confirm and optimize this treatment protocol.

New hybrid composites based on the inclusion of a vegetal extract, i.e., Boswellia Serrata extract (BSE), rich in boswellic acids, well known as a potent anti-inflammatory natural drug, in a lamellar solid layered double hydroxide (LDH), i.e. a Magnesium Aluminum Carbonate, were developed and characterized in the present work. The adopted LDH exhibits a layered crystal structure, comprised of positively charged hydroxide layers and interlayers composed of carbonate anions and water molecules, thus it was expected to embed negatively charged boswellic acids. In the present case, a calcination process was also adopted on LDH to increase organic acids loading, based on the replacement of original inorganic anions. An accurate investigation was carried out by TGA, PXRD, FT-IR/ATR, XPS and LC-MS to ascertain the nature, interaction, and quantifica-tion of the active molecules of the vegetal extract loaded in the developed hybrid materials. As a result, a significant disruption of the original layered structure was observed in LDH subjected to calcination (LDHc), and this material was able to include a higher amount of organic acids when its composite with BSE was prepared. However, in vitro tests on composites bioactivity, expressed in terms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, evidenced LDH-BSE as a better material compared to BSE and to LDHc-BSE, thus suggesting that, though the embedded organic acids amount was lower, they could be more available since not firmly bound to the clay. The composite was able to significantly decrease the number of viable pathogens such as Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the internalization of toxic active species into human cells imposed to oxidative stress in comparison to the BSE.

The advancements achieved in Tissue Engineering are based on a careful and in-depth study of cell-tissue interaction. The choice of a certain biomaterial in Tissue Engineering is fundamental as it represents an interface for adherent cells in the creation of a microenvironment suitable for cell growth and differentiation. The knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix is a useful tool for the optimization of polymeric scaffolds. The aim of this re-view is to analyse the chemical, physical and biological parameters on which it is possible to act in Tissue Engineering for the optimization of polymeric scaffolds. Understanding the scaffold impact on cell fate is of paramount importance for the successful advancement of Tissue Engineering.

Process model discovery covers different methodologies to mine a process model from traces of process executions, and is gaining an important role in Artificial Intelligence research. Current approaches in the area, with few exceptions, focus on determining a model of the flow of actions only. However, in several contexts, (i) restricting the attention to actions is quite limitative, since the effects of such actions have to be analysed, too, and (ii) traces provide additional pieces of information, in the form of states (i.e., values of parameters possibly affected by the actions): for instance, in several medical domains traces include both actions and measurements of patients’ parameters. In this paper, we propose AS-SIM (Action-State SIM), the first approach able to mine a process model which comprehends two distinct classes of nodes, to capture both actions and states.

The development of forecasting models for the evaluation of potential slope instability after rainfall event represents an important issue for the scientific community. This topic has received considerable impetus due to climate change effect on the territory [1, 2] as several studies demonstrate that the increase in global warming can significantly influence the landslide activity and stability conditions of natural and artificial slopes [3]. A consolidated approach in evaluating rainfall induced landslide hazard is based on the integration of rainfall forecasts and physically based (PB) predictive models through deterministic laws. However, considering the complex nature of the processes and the high variability of the random quantities involved, probabilistic approaches are recommended in order to obtain reliable predictions. A crucial aspect of the stochastic approach is represented by the definition of appropriate probability density functions (pdfs) to model the uncertainty of the input variables as this may have an important effect on the evaluation of the probability of failure (PoF). The role of the pdf definition on reliability analysis is discussed through a comparison of PoF maps generated using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations performed over a study area located in the Umbria Region of central Italy.

The administration of Bacilli to dairy cows exerts a beneficial effect on dry matter intake, lactation performances and milk composition. In this work, two isogenic strains, only differing in the se-cretion level of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes, were compared to establish whether B. subtilis cellulase and xylanase enzymes are involved in the positive effect exerted by these bacteria on animal nutrition. Conveniently, bacteria were grown in a newly designed growth medium based on an inexpensive waste. A multi-factorial study was conducted in which eight feed in-gredients were treated in vitro, using ruminal fluid from cannulated cows, with cultures of the two B. subtilis strains. Feed digestibility and gas production, a parameter linked to feed fermentability, were assessed. Fiber degradability was significantly higher in feeds treated with the en-zyme-overexpressing strain (10% and 5% higher than control treatment with B. subtilis-free media and the parent strain, respectively). This effect was accentuated for the most recalcitrant feeds, in which the benefits of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes were maximized. Fermentability also benefited by the treatment with the enzyme-overexpressing strain, although the trend observed in gas production didn’t reach statistical difference between the two strains, and only minor changes in fermentation profiles were detected. Our results revealed that B. subtilis cellulases and xylanases effectively contribute to improving forage quality, supporting the use of Bacilli as fodder sup-plements to increase animal productivity.

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is the gold standard in the surgical correction of refractive errors on the cornea. It entails the creation of a superficial hinged corneal flap by a femtosecond laser, ablation of the underlying stromal bed by an excimer laser, and reposition of the flap. The corneal flap can be build in a 2-dimension (2D) fashion with tapered edges, or in a 3-dimension (3D) fashion, with angled sidecut. The latter reduces the risk of flap dislocation and infiltration of epithelial cells. This retrospective study compares with optical coherence tomography 3D and 2D flaps, and respective intra- and early post-operative complications. Four hundred consecutive eyes were included, 200 for each group. In the 3D group, the mean edge angle was 92°. The procedure was in average 5.2 seconds slower in the 3D group (p=0). Non visually significant flap folds were found in 13 eyes of the 2D group and in 7 eyes of the 3D group (p= 0.17). An intracorneal opaque bubble layer induced by laser photodisruption was more commonly observed in the 3D group (9 eyes vs. 2; p=0.03). In conclusion, the creation of a LASIK flap by a 3D-femtosecond laser cut was safe and effective.

Neural precursors (NPs) present in the hippocampus can be modulated by several neurogenic stimuli including environmental enrichment (EE) and antidepressant treatment acting through BDNF-TrkB signaling. We have recently identified NPs in meninges, however menigneal niche response to pro-neurogenic stimuli has never been investigated. To this aim, we analyzed the effects of 4 weeks fluoxetine administration or 1 week EE treatment on NP distribution in mouse brain meninges. Following neurogenic stimuli, although we did not detect modification of meningeal cell number and proliferation, we observed, in meninges, an increased number of β3-Tubulin⁺ immature neuronal cells. Lineage-tracing experiment confirmed that EE-induced β3-Tubulin⁺ immature neuronal cells present in meninges originated from GLAST⁺ radial glia cells. To investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for this response, we studied the BDNF-TrkB interaction. Treatment with ANA-12, a TrkB non-competitive inhibitor, abolished the EE-induced increase of β3-Tubulin⁺ immature neuronal cells in meninges.Overall these data showed, for the first time, that the meningeal niche responded to neurogenic stimuli by increasing the immature neuronal population through TrkB-mediated signaling. A better understanding of the neurogenic stimuli effects on NPs in meninges may be useful to improve the effectiveness of depression and mood disorders treatments.

Pulmonary complications are frequently observed in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), with large airway disease being the most prevalent manifestation. In this case study, we explore the potential for Immunosuppressant, a monoclonal antibody, to induce pulmonary hemorrhage—a side effect not previously documented with its use. The subject, a young male in his twenties with a six-year history of UC, tragically died suddenly. Found in a pool of blood without external injuries, extensive post-mortem examinations were required to determine the cause of death. The patient had been on biologic therapy, receiving Immunosuppressant intermittently over the past two years, including an infusion five days prior to death. External examination revealed bloody, pinkish foamy material expelling from his nose and mouth. An autopsy supported an atypical presentation of UC, while histopathology confirmed diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage, marked by edema and emphysematous changes. Additionally, there was a notable lymphomonocytic infiltration around the arterial walls, and signs of bronchiolitis and focal pleural fibrosis were evident. We concluded that the cause of death was Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage (DAH), directly associated with the recent administration of Immunosuppressant. This finding underscores the need for vigilant pulmonary monitoring in patients treated with monoclonal antibodies to promptly identify and manage potential fatal adverse reactions.

Artworks play a fundamental role in the cultural and economic asset of communities, enforcing their identity and helping the social integration. Despite their importance, they are not always adequately protected against degradation, which can be induced by the aging, atmospheric and human-induced occurrence, and catastrophic events. Earthquakes certainly represent one of the main risks for art goods; however, traffic, construction works, and shipment can also represent a threat for art goods. Therefore, the assessment of the vulnerability of art collection to dynamic excitations plays a crucial role in their conservation, and it has been collecting an increasing attention by researchers, academics, and Museums’ managers. This work focuses on the vulnerability of the art collections exhibited at the Museum “Gaio Cilnio Mecenate” in Arezzo. Namely, it aims at assessing the effective dynamic loading experienced by the artworks, which is a function of the dynamic propagation plaid by the foundation soil, by the building and by the displayers used for exhibition. In this study the dynamic properties of some of the displayers used for exhibiting the art collections are investigated by performing an experimental survey. The analysis of the experimental data lead to assess the proper frequencies of the displayers, which have been compared to the ones of the building and the foundation soil of the Museum.

Photoacoustic imaging is attracting a great deal of interest owing to its distinct advantages over other imaging techniques such as fluorescence or magnetic resonance image. Availability of photoacoustic probes for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) could shed light on a plethora of biological processes mediated by these key intermediates. Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) is a non-toxic and non-mutagenic colorless dye that develops a distinctive blue color upon oxidation. In this work we have investigated the potential of TMB as photoacoustic probe for ROS/RNS. Our results indicate that TMB reacts with hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen and nitrogen dioxide to produce the blue oxidation product, while ROS such as the superoxide radical anion, sodium peroxide, hydroxyl radical or peroxynitrite yield a colorless oxidation product. TMB does not penetrate Escherichia coli cytoplasm but is capable of detecting singlet oxygen generated in its outer membrane.

A Multicomponent Reaction (MCR) strategy, alternative to the known cycloaddition reaction, towards variously substituted 1-amino-1H-imidazole-2(3H)-thione derivatives has been successfully developed. The novel approach involves α-halohydrazones whose azidation process followed by tandem Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction with CS₂ in a sequential MCR regioselectively leads to the target compounds avoiding the formation of the regioisomer iminothiazoline heterocycle. The approach can be applied to a range of differently substituted α-halohydrazones bearing also electron-withdrawing groups confirming the wide scope and the substituent tolerance of the process for the synthesis of the target compounds. Interestingly, the concurrent presence of reactive functionalities in the scaffolds so obtained, ensures postmodifications in view of N-bridgedheaded heterobicyclic structures.

In last decades, growing migration flows have modified the obstetric clinical care, requiring specific attention by health care systems. The aim was to describe the phenomenon focusing on miscarriage (pregnancy loss at <20 weeks). Patients admitted for care at miscarriage in a six-year period (2012-17) were revised. Miscarriage rates in all ethnic groups, dichotomized in early (within the first 12 weeks of gestation) and late (at <20 weeks) pregnancy loss. Associations between women's characteristics (age, parity, inter-pregnancy interval (IPI)) were explored to elucidate any differences. A total of 1,940 patients were included, segregated in early (n = 1769, 91.2%) and late (n = 171, 8.8%) pregnancy losses. Caucasian ethnicity was the most common (87.9%), leaving the minority groups to 12.1%. Maternal age was higher among Caucasians women than other subgroups, in contrast to Asiatic patients. Nulliparity was observed in 1045 (53.9%) patient, more widespread among Caucasian and Maghrebins. A positive obstetric history counting at least one miscarriage was frequent, ranging from 22.2% to 75%, in particular among Asiatic women, while the recurrence in Caucasians. In Afro-Carribeans the most relevant rate of late miscarriage was found. By multiple regression modelling, maternal age, nulliparity and Afro-Carribean were identified as determinants. Maternal ethnicity should be considered in the management of pregnancy losses in combination with already well-defined risk factors, including age at miscarriare and nulliparity.

Epithelial barrier damage plays a central role in the development and maintenance of allergic inflammation. The rise in airways epithelial barrier permeability alters the tissue homeostasis and allows the allergen and other external agents penetration. Different factors contribute to barrier impairment, such as eosinophilic infiltrate and allergens proteases action: the eosinophilic cationic proteins and the allergens' proteolytic activity have a central role in contributing to epithelial damage. In the airways, the allergens proteases degrade the epithelial junctional proteins allowing the allergen penetration and the uptake by dendritic cells. The increase in allergen-immune system interactions induce the release of the alarmins and the activation of type 2 inflammatory pathways causing, or worsening, the main symptoms at skin, bowel and respiratory levels. We aim to highlight the molecular mechanisms underlying allergenic proteases-induced epithelial barrier damage and the role of immune response in allergic asthma onset, maintenance and progression. We further will explore clinical and radiological potential biomarkers of airways remodeling in allergic asthma patients.

Cervical cancer is known as one of the most important cancers in women worldwide. Chemotherapy is a standard treatment for advanced/recurrent cervical cancer in which the prognosis of the disease is really poor and the 1-year survival chance in these patients is maximally 20%. However, resistance to anticancer drugs is a major problem in treating cancer. Cervical cancer stem cells are considered as a fundamental cause of chemo and radio-resistance and also relapse after primary successful treatment. Signaling pathways include a wide range of molecular mechanisms contribute to drug resistance. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are announced as a group of molecular biomarkers involving in response to chemotherapy in cancer patients. As the miRNAs, there are some long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) which their aberrant expression is considered as a biomarker for monitoring chemoresistance. In this review, we summarized current reports about the involvement of signaling pathways during chemoresistance in cervical cancer. Then, genes that have been demonstrated their involvement during drug resistance in cervical cancer were tabulated. Further, miRNAs that have been reported as biomarkers during treatment are listed. By bioinformatic analysis, we predictedmiR-335-5p and miR-16-5p as the most potential biomarkers for monitoring resistance to chemotherapy. Finally, long non-coding RNAs that have been introduced in recent studies as novel biomarkers during the response to chemotherapy were mentioned.

The purpose of this study is to identify gender by highlighting common coordinates and discriminating coordinates in the two sexes through palatal rugoscopy, comparing sagittal sections of the hard palate and evaluating the assistance given by digital technology and its applicability in this method. In this study, 85 digital impressions were examined. The impressions were in .stl format. The palatal rugae, retroincisal papilla, and the palatal cusps of the second premolars were isolated using Meshmixer software (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, CA, USA) by eliminating everything else from the scan. Then the impressions were aligned using the same software so as to be subsequently imported to Geomagic® Control 14 software (3D System, NC, USA). Results: 2,223 impression sections were studied and 145 coordinates that were present with a frequency greater than 50% in one or both groups were obtained: 52 discriminating traits (DT) in the male group, 29 discriminating traits in the female group, and 64 common traits (CT). The sum of all the coordinates found in the 57 impressions was 9,328: 4,569 in the male group and 4,759 in the female group (P=0). The DTs in the female group showed no statistically significant difference from the same coordinates in the male one (P=0.832). Statistically significant differences were observed in the DTs in the male group compared to the same coordinates in the female group (P=0.018). No statistically significant differences were observed in the frequency of DTs in both sexes (P=0.056). Further research in forensic odontology is needed to determine its scientific certainty. It is certain that digital technology may one day be a valuable support for the forensic odontologist but to date the lack of dedicated and certified programs limits its reliability.

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of the body to neutralize them by antioxidant defense systems. Cells produce ROS as a control of physiological processes, but increasing ROS becomes pathological leading to non-specific and irreversible damage to biological molecules, such as DNA, lipid, and protein. Endogenous ROS are mainly produced by mitochondria during both physiological and pathological conditions, and enzymes, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX), xanthine oxidase (XO), lipoxygenase (LOX), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and monoamine oxidase (MAO). To neutralize ROS, the body employs enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense systems. The dietary intake of bioactive phenols, such as quercetin (Que), is a non-enzymatic system that can quench ROS and protect from pro-oxidative damage. In this review, we evaluate the ability of Que to target endogenous oxidant enzymes involved in ROS production and explore the mechanisms of action underlying its antioxidant properties. Que not only acts as a free radical scavenger by donating electrons through the negative charges in its phenolic and ketone groups, but it can effectively inhibit the activity of several endogenous oxidative enzymes, binding them with high affinity and specificity. Among all targets, Que showed the best results in molecular docking simulations with XO, followed by MAO-A, 5-LOX, NOX, and MPO. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of Que as a natural antioxidant therapy for oxidative stress-related diseases.

The use of modulator drugs that target the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the final frontier in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic multiorgan disease. F508del is the most common mutation causing defective formation and function of CFTR. Elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor is the first triple combination of CFTR modulators. Herein we report on a one-year case-control study that involved 26 patients with at least one F508del mutation. Patients were assigned to two similar groups, with patients with the worse clinical condition receiving treatment with the triple combination therapy. The study aims to define the clinical and especially microbiological implications of treatment administration. The treatment provided significant clinical benefits in terms of respiratory, pancreatic and sweat function. After one year of therapy, airway infection rates decreased and pulmonary exacerbations were dramatically reduced. Finally, treated patients reported a surprising improvement in their quality of life. The use of triple combination therapy has become essential in most CF people carrying the F508del mutation. While the clinical and instrumental benefits of treatment are thoroughly known, further investigations are needed to properly define its microbiological respiratory implications and establish the real advantage of life-long treatment with elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor.

A combination of compost and biochar has been proven to be a promising strategy to immobilize metal(loid)s and improve soil properties. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted to investigate the effect of biochar and compost combination administered at different rates on mining technosol. Thus, we investigated the effect of different rates of compost (20%, 40%, 60% w/w) in combination with biochar (0%, 2%, 6% w/w) on soil physiochemical properties and the mobility of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), the ability of Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia-0) to grow and accumulate metal(loid)s. All modalities improved pH and electrical conductivity, stabilized Pb and mobilized As, but only the mixture of 20% compost and 6% biochar improved plant growth. Plants in all modalities showed a significant reduction in root and shoot Pb concentrations compared to the non-amended technosol. Whereas, As shoot concentration was significantly lower for plants in all modalities (except with 20% compost only) compared to non-amended technosol. For root As, plants in all modalities showed no significant reduction except for the mixture of 20% compost and biochar. Overall, the mixture of 20% compost with 6% biochar represents the optimum combination for improving plant growth and As uptake.

Background: Assessing the impact of bone health clinical management in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy and designing a personalized clinical pathway to reduce bone loss, in an Italian research hospital. Methods: The primary endpoint was to assess (through the process improvement organizational method) the clinical pathway that post-surgical BC patients prescribed with endocrine therapy undergo to prevent bone loss. The secondary endpoint was to design a personalized clinical pathway for a prompt implementation of guidelines, to assess and possibly prescribe antiresorptive therapy. Results: During the first year of the new diagnostic therapeutic assistance pathway execution, an 60% increase in Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry evaluations within 30 days and a 39.5% increase in antiresorptive therapy prescription within 90 days (since prescription of endocrine therapy) were shown, thus increasing patients’ compliance. Conclusion: Case managers and bone health specialists in this context can improve patients’ adherence to therapies and bone health, helping physicians to expand their collaboration.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful orthopedic procedures and is highly effective in improving function and quality of life. However, after discharge patients commonly experience edema, which can lead to health consequences and lower quality of life. For these rea-sons, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intermittent leg pneumatic compression on lower limb edema and physical outcomes in patients after total hip arthroplasty, compared to standard conservative treatment. A total of 47 patients were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: the pneumatic compression group (PG=24) and the control group (CG=23). We evaluated thigh and calf circumferences, knee and ankle range of motion, pain and walking autonomy. Our results showed a greater reduction in thigh and calf circumference for PG (p<0.001), while other outcomes were similar for the two groups (p>0.05). The combination of standard therapy with pneumatic leg compression was more effective in reducing lower limb edema, thigh, and calf circumferences compared to the use of standard treatment. Our results suggest that pressotherapy treatment is a valuable and efficient option for managing lower limb edema and preventing VTE after THA.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common inflammatory disease of paranasal sinuses, which causes rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and hyposmia. The genetic predisposition or the exposure to irritants can sustain the inflammatory response and the development of nasal polyposis. Nasal polyps are benign and teardrop-shaped growths that project in the nasal cavities and originate from the ethmoid sinuses. This inflammatory process is associated with high expression of IL-5 cytokine and infiltration of eosinophils. Humanized monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-5 or its receptor, represent a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of nasal polyposis in combination with corticosteroids. The molecular pathogenesis of nasal polyps in CRS patients is associated to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process in which epithelial cells lose their typical phenotype acquiring a mesenchymal phenotype. TGFβ/SMAD, ERK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways are altered in EMT during the nasal tissue remodeling. miRNA and inhibitor molecules targeting these altered signaling pathways are able to interfere with EMT; which could lead to alternative therapies. Nasal polyps are an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells which can be easily isolated from surgical biopsies. A molecular understanding of the biology of PO-MSCs will contribute to delineating inflammatory process underlying the development of nasal polyps.

We present the case of a 35-year-old patient without pathological history who developed hemopneumothorax due to altitude barotrauma during a commercial airline flight. The computed tomography of the chest identified the presence of emphysema "blebs" and bubbles, and the histopathological examination of the lung fragment obtained during the diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy identified elements suggestive for the diagnosis of respiratory bronchiolitis associated with desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP).

A bread wheat line (N11) and a disomic 2D(2R) substitution triticale line have been crossed and backrossed four times. At each step electrophoretic selection for the seeds that possessed, simultaneously, the complete set of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of N11 and the two high molecular weight secalins of rye, present in the 2D(2R) line, was carried out. Molecular cytogenetic analyses of the BC4F5 generation have revealed that the selection carried out had produced a disomic addition line (2n=44). The pair of additional chromosomes consisted of the long arm of chromosome 1R (1RL) from rye fused with the satellite body of the wheat chromosome 6B. Rheological analyses revealed that the dough obtained by the new addition line had higher quality characteristics when compared with the two parents. The role of the two additional high molecular weight secalins, present in the disomic addition line, in influencing improved dough characteristics is discussed.

Antibiotics (ABs) are common medications used for treating infections. In cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), concomitant exposure to ABs may impair the efficacy of ICIs and lead to a poorer outcome compared to AB non-users. We report here the results of a meta-analysis evaluating the effects of ABs on the outcome of patients with solid tumors treated with ICIs. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched from inception until September 2019 for observational or prospective studies reporting prognosis of adult patients with cancer treated with ICIs and with or without ABs. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint, and progression-free survival (PFS) was the secondary endpoint. The effect size was reported as hazard ratios (HRs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and an HR > 1 associated with a worse outcome in ABs users compared to no-ABs users. Fifteen publications were retrieved for a total of 2363 patients. In the main analysis (n = 15 studies reporting data), OS was reduced in patients exposed to ABs before or during treatment with ICIs (HR = 2.07, 95%CI 1.51–2.84; P<.01). Similarly, PFS was inferior in ABs users in n = 13 studies with data available (HR = 1.53, 95%CI 1.22–1.93; p<.01). In cancer patients treated with ICIs, AB use significantly reduces OS and PFS. Short duration/course of ABs may be considered in clinical situations in which they are strictly needed.

Background: To assess the prevalence of Hypertension (HTN) in Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) patients and to investigate its relationship with sociodemographic factors, pain and the psychological profile. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by enrolling 242 BMS patients and 242 controls matched for age and gender. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and all the participants completed the numeric rating scale (NRS), the short-form of the McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety and depression (HAM-A, HAM-D), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Results: The BMS patients presented a statistically significant higher prevalence of HTN compared to the controls (55% versus 33.5%; p-value: &lt;.001**) and higher median scores of the NRS, SF-MPQ, HAM-A, HAM-D, PSQI and ESS (p &lt; .001**). Multivariate regression analysis in the BMS patients indicated positive correlations between HTN and age, systemic diseases, drug consumption and anxiety (p-value: &lt;.001**) and these predictors were responsible for 11.3% of the HTN variance in the BMS patients, when considered together. Conclusions: The prevalence of HTN was significantly higher in the BMS patients, since ageing, the presence of comorbidities, drug consumption and anxiety were potential predictors. Further studies are needed to better investigate the relationship between BMS and HTN.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease associated with airways inflammation and lung parenchyma fibrosis. The primary goals of COPD treatment are to re-duce symptoms and risk of exacerbations, therefore pulmonary rehabilitation is considered the key component of managing COPD patients. Oxidative airway damage, inflammation and re-duction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Natural antioxidants have also recently been considered as they play an important role in metabolism, DNA repair and fighting the effects of oxidative stress. In this paper we evaluated the response of 105 elderly COPD patients to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), based on high or low vegetable consumption, by analyzing clinical parameters and biological measure-ments at baseline and after completion of the three weeks PR. We found that high vegetable in-take in normal diet, without any specific intervention, can increase the probability to success-fully respond to rehabilitation (65.4% of responders ate vegetables daily vs. 40.0% of Non-Responders, p=0.033). Three weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation are probably too short to reveal a reduction of the oxidative stress and DNA damage, but are enough to show an im-provement in the patient's inflammatory state.

Recent media reports commented about a possible antidiabetics’ misuse issue related to molecules promoted as a weight-loss treatment in non-obese people. We here evaluated available pharmacovigilance misuse/abuse signals related to semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, in comparison to other GLP-1 receptor agonists (albiglutide; dulaglutide; exenatide; liraglutide; lixisenatide; tirzepatide) and the phentermine-topiramate combination. To that aim, we analysed the Food and Drug Administration-FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) dataset, performing a descriptive analysis of adverse event reports (AER) and calculating related pharmacovigilance measures, including the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and the proportional reporting ratio (PRR). During January 2018-December 2022, a total of 31,542 AER involving the selected molecules were submitted to FAERS; most involved dulaglutide (n=11,858; 37.6%) and semaglutide (n=8,249; 26.1%). In comparing semaglutide vs the remaining antidiabetics, the AER ‘drug abuse’, ‘drug withdrawal syndrome’, ‘prescription drug used without a prescription’ and ‘intentional product use issue’ respective PRR values were 4.05, 4.05, 3.60 and 1.80 (all<0.01). The same comparisons of semaglutide vs the phentermine-topiramate combination were not associated with any significant differences. To our best, this is the first study documenting the misusing/abusing potential of semaglutide in comparison with other novel antidiabetics and the phentermine-topiramate combination. Current findings will need to be confirmed by further empirical investigations to fully understand the safety profile of those molecules.

We conducted a monocentric observational study aimed at evaluating the pharmaceutical service provided at a Community Pharmacy (C.PH.) during pandemia in our Puglia Region in the period from 29.12.2021 to 12.03.2022 on 550 patients of various ages, sexes, and with concomitant diseases. We collected anamnestic data and any post-vaccination adverse reactions. Interviews with the integrated EQ5 method on evaluating the quality of the service offered and any therapy preference were also performed. As expected, the vaccines were reactogenic after the first dose in the patients with mild-moderate reactions with younger age and female gender as risk factors. Immune-allergic reactions of moderate-severe degree were observed in adult females. In the elderly, the vaccination procedure was well tolerated. Comirnaty showed a favorable O.R.<;1 vs other vaccines. No myocarditis and thromboembolic events in our population were observed. All treatments in May 2023 were correlated with a viremia trend, Paxlovid was prescribed in 3% of the patients in our center and in 1.46% in the Puglia Region with no effects in the hospitalization. It was distributed/dispensed by a novel on behalf of third parties distribution/dispensation (D.P.C.) protocol by the C.PH. The C.PH. resulted in a safe vaccination center providing appropriate patient inclusion during vaccination.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease associated with airways inflammation and lung parenchyma fibrosis. The primary goals of COPD treatment are to re-duce symptoms and risk of exacerbations, therefore pulmonary rehabilitation is considered the key component of managing COPD patients. Oxidative airway damage, inflammation and re-duction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Natural antioxidants have also recently been considered as they play an important role in metabolism, DNA repair and fighting the effects of oxidative stress. In this paper we evaluated the response of 105 elderly COPD patients to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), based on high or low vegetable consumption, by analyzing clinical parameters and biological measure-ments at baseline and after completion of the three weeks PR. We found that high vegetable in-take in normal diet, without any specific intervention, can increase the probability to success-fully respond to rehabilitation (65.4% of responders ate vegetables daily vs. 40.0% of Non-Responders, p=0.033). Three weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation are probably too short to reveal a reduction of the oxidative stress and DNA damage, but are enough to show an im-provement in the patient's inflammatory state.