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Donatella Delle Cave,1,* Maria Mangini,2,* Chiara Tramontano,3,* Luca De Stefano,3 Marco Corona,1 Ilaria Rea,3 Anna Chiara De Luca,2 Enza Lonardo1 1National Research Council, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Naples, 80131, Italy; 2National Research Council, Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology “G. Salvatore”, Second Unit, Naples, 80131, Italy; 3National Research Council, Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Unit of Naples, Naples, 80131, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ilaria Rea; Anna Chiara De Luca, Email ilaria.rea@na.isasi.cnr.it; annachiara.deluca@cnr.itBackground: Metastasis-initiating cells are key players in progression, resistance, and relapse of colorectal cancer (CRC), by leveraging the regulatory relationship between Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling and anti-L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM).Methods: This study introduces a novel strategy for CRC targeted therapy and imaging based on the use of a hybrid nanosystem made of gold nanoparticles-covered porous biosilica further modified with the (L1CAM) antibody.Results: The nanosystem intracellularly delivers galunisertib (LY), a TGF-β inhibitor, aiming to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process pivotal for metastasis. Anti-L1CAM antibody-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) target tumor-initiating cells expressing L1CAM, inhibiting cancer growth. The number of antibody molecules conjugated to the single NP is precisely quantified, revealing a high surface coverage that facilitates the tumor targeting. The therapeutic efficacy of the nanosystem is investigated in organoid-like cultures of CRC cells and in vivo mouse models, showing a significant reduction in tumor growth. The spatial distribution of NPs within CRC tumors from mice is investigated using a label-free optical approach based on Raman micro-spectroscopy.Conclusion: This research highlights the multifunctional capabilities of engineered biosilica NPs, which offer new insights in targeted CRC therapy and imaging, improving patient outcomes and paving the way for personalized therapies.Keywords: targeted drug delivery, Raman imaging, antibody quantification, biosilica nanoparticle, in vivo treatment, colorectal cancer

Paolo Iovino,1 Paola Obbia,2 Vincenzo De Luca,3 Clara Donnoli,4 Lola Patumi,5 Lisa Leonardini,5 Ernesto Palummeri,6 Manuela Ruatta,2 Anna Maddalena Basso,2 Yari Longobucco,1 Laura Rasero,1 Giuseppe Liotta,4 Maddalena Illario3 1Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 2Directorate of Health Professions, Local Health Agency Cuneo 1, Cuneo, Italy; 3Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy; 4Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy; 5Programma Mattone Internazionale Salute, ULSS 4 Veneto Orientale Local Health Agency, San Donà di Piave (VE), Italy; 6Ligurian Health Agency, Genoa, Liguria Region, ItalyCorrespondence: Maddalena Illario, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini n.5, Napoli, 80131, Italy, Tel +39 081 7464211, Email illario@unina.itPurpose: Chronic diseases in older age are major sources of burden for healthcare systems. Compliance with medications is the key to treatment success for these patients, especially for frail individuals living in community settings. However, adherence to long-term medications in this population is not optimal, which leads to the need for frequent screening of compliance within large-scale public health surveys. In this context, a brief, simple and valid measure capturing medication adherence is not yet available. This study aims to develop and psychometrically test the Therapeutic Adherence Scale, a brief four-item tool that measures medication adherence in community-dwelling older adults affected by chronic diseases.Methods: We conducted a three-phase process of instrument development, content validity assessment and psychometric testing.Results: Of the candidate nine items derived from a review of the literature, only four were deemed essential to capture intentional and nonintentional nonadherence. These items underwent structural validity, convergent and known-groups validity, and internal consistency on a sample of 269 participants (mean age = 7.91 years, SD = 7.26). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed satisfactory fit indices (RMSEA = 0.000, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00). Scores of the TAS were higher for those perceiving loneliness (ρ = 0.33, p < 0.001), those declaring memory loss in the last year (ρ = 0.29, p < 0.001), and those exhibiting worse mental quality of life (ρ = − 0.15, p = 0.03) compared with the other groups. Cronbach’s alpha and split-half reliability coefficients were acceptable, with values of 0.68 and 0.77, respectively.Conclusion: The Therapeutic Adherence Scale is a brief, valid and reliable self-report measure of medication adherence that can be used in practice and research to screen patients living in community settings. This tool is also free to use, which contributes to advancing knowledge on the field of medication adherence of older adults affected by chronic diseases.Keywords: aged, factor analysis, medication adherence, patient-reported outcome, psychometrics, self-report, statistical, questionnaire

Nanoporous metals are a class of nanostructured materials finding extensive applications in multiple fields thanks to their unique properties attributed to their high surface area and interconnected nanoscale ligaments. They can be prepared following different strategies, but the deposition of an arbitrary pure porous metal is still challenging. Recently, a dry synthesis of nanoporous films based on the plasma treatment of metal thin layers deposited by physical vapour deposition has been demonstrated, as a general route to form pure nanoporous films from a large set of metals. An interesting aspect related to this approach is the possibility to apply the same methodology to deposit the porous films as a multilayer. In this way, it is possible to explore the properties of different porous metals in close contact. As demonstrated in this paper, interesting plasmonic properties emerge in a nanoporous Au–Ag bi-layer. The versatility of the method coupled with the possibility to include many different metals, provides an opportunity to tailor their optical resonances and to exploit the chemical and mechanical properties of components, which is of great interest to applications ranging from sensing, to photochemistry and photocatalysis.

One of the most important obstacles for taking advantage of forest resources in the Italian Alps is represented by the high level of private properties fragmentation and by their small size. Thus, there is an urgent need for tools to support single or multi-forest owners to gain reliable and updated information on their forest stands so that the proper silvicultural activities following all the existing regulations can be adopted. The present research was aimed at promoting a shared management of small private forest properties in the mountainous area of Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy) through the implementation of a new WebGIS tool to support forest decisions and management at different spatial scales. This new tool was developed updating and merging together different available information sources (e.g., tree species composition, the presence of protected areas, forest roads, etc.) with ad-hoc elaborated layers (e.g., standing volume, annual increment of volume, forest accessibility, etc.), also elaborating a cost analysis related to the different possible harvesting methods. The tool allows queries at the level of either a single or a group of cadastral parcels to obtain data in a format, which can be used for filling in the planning document requested by the regional authorities.

Daniel KY Zheng,1 Gregory N Kawchuk,2 André E Bussières,3,4 Fadi M Al Zoubi,1 Jan Hartvigsen,5 Siu Ngor Fu,1 Katie de Luca,6 Debra K Weiner,7,8 Jaro Karppinen,9,10 Dino Samartzis,11 Manuela L Ferreira,12 Jinlong Wu,13 Liz Dennett,2 Arnold YL Wong1 1Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China; 2University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 3Université McGill, Montreal, Canada; 4Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois‑Rivières, Canada; 5University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 6Central Queensland University, Brisbane, Australia; 7University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 8VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 9Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; 10Rehabilitation Services of South Karelia Social and Health Care District, Lappeenranta, Finland; 11Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; 12The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; 13Southwest University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Arnold YL Wong, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China, Tel +852 2766 6741, Email arnold.wong@polyu.edu.hkAbstract: Although the number of publications focusing on low back pain in older adults (LBP-O) and working-age adults (LBP-W) has been growing for decades, comparative research trends in these two populations, which may help to guide future investigation, have not been rigorously explored. This analysis aimed to describe publication patterns and trends of research targeting LBP-O and LBP-W over the last three decades. Peer-reviewed LBP-O and LBP-W articles published between 1993 and 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science, which provided the details of annual publication volume, and prominent journals/countries/institutions. The relationship between the annual publication volumes and years was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. The hot topics and emerging trends were analyzed by VOSviewer and CiteSpace, respectively. A total of 4217 LBP-O-related and 50,559 LBP-W-related documents were included. The annual publication volumes of LBP-O and LBP-W articles increased over the years (r=0.995 to 0.998, p< 0.001). The United States had the highest number of prominent institutions publishing relevant articles. The most prolific journal for LBP-O (5.4%) and LBP-W-related (6.1%) papers is the journal “Spine”. Cognitive behavioral therapy, intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, physiotherapy, physical activity, and walking were the recent hot topics and physical activity was an emerging trend in LBP-O, while surgery and IVD degeneration (also a hot topic) were emerging trends in LBP-W. This study highlights the paucity of LBP-O-related research in the past. The United States and the journal Spine stand out in LBP research. The research trend of physical activity in LBP-O is consistent with the recognized importance of physical activity for older adults in general, and for managing LBP-O in particular. Conversely, the emerging trends of surgery and intervertebral disc degeneration in LBP-W research highlight a focus on the biomedical model of LBP despite LBP being a biopsychosocial condition.Keywords: low back pain, older adults, working-age adults, bibliometrics, intervertebral disc degeneration, physical activity, surgery

Julia Dvorkin,1,2 Julián De Luca,1 Damian Alvarez-Paggi,1,2 Mauricio T Caballero1,2 1Fundación INFANT, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCorrespondence: Mauricio T Caballero, Fundación INFANT, Gavilán 94, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Email mcaballero@infant.org.arAbstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has a major role in respiratory infections in young infants around the world. However, substantial progress has been made in recent years in the field of RSV. A wide variety of observational studies and clinical trials published in the past decade provide a thorough idea of the health and economic burden of RSV disease in the developing world. In this review, we discuss the impact of RSV burden of disease, major gaps in disease estimations, and challenges in generating new therapeutic options and an immune response against the virus, and briefly describe next generation technologies that are being evaluated.Keywords: respiratory syncytial virus, vaccines, prevention, antivirals, therapeutics

During a nematological survey in Iraq, in the Bashika area, Ninevah province, an anguinid nematode population was isolated from galls of infected barley plants. The morphological characteristics indicated that the recovered species is identical to Anguina tritici. The barley population of A. tritici was molecularly characterized by sequencing two ribosomal regions (ITS and 18S rRNA genes), and their phylogenetic analyses revealed the newly generated sequences are in sister relation to corresponding sequences of A. tritici from wheat in the Bayesian tree, providing further evidence that the host plant can contribute to the separation of new isolates of plant parasitic nematodes.

Assessing HER2 expression in breast cancer cells holds significant diagnostic and prognostic importance. Traditional methods like immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization suffer from low sensitivity and misclassification rates. In this frame, techniques such as vibrational microscopies can ensure, together with low costs and analytical speed, both high accuracy and precision. Herein, we propose a combined Raman and SERS approach for characterizing 4 breast cancer cell lines and normal cells with varying HER2 expression levels. We show that Raman spectroscopy offers a promising alternative, providing unique molecular fingerprints for cell types based on their biochemical signatures. Its non-invasive nature and ability to detect subtle changes in cellular metabolism make it ideal for cancer cell analysis. Coupled with machine learning techniques like PCA and LDA, Raman spectroscopy can classify different breast cancer subcategories accurately. Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) further enhances sensitivity, allowing the detection of single molecules like HER2 receptors. Overall, our results enable fast screening of cancer subpopulation in terms of HER2 concentration and macromolecule cell content. Integration of Raman spectroscopy with SERS offers precise identification and opens avenues for personalized therapies.

Low-emissive Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) coatings, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) films, can be used to reduce radiative losses that affect Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) devices. This work shows the optical properties of ITO deposited by magnetron sputtering on a glass substrate with and without thermal heat treatment at different temperatures. All the analyses conducted include UV-VIS and infrared regions, up to 20 μm.

Nucleic acids are essential biomolecules for the functioning of cells. In past years, nucleic acids have been assessing their role in prognostics and diagnostics. The progress of nanotechnology has allowed the fabrication of various type of nanostructured biosensors able to detect them with high sensitivity and specificity. Among the available sensing mechanisms, the sensor technology based on Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is frequently preferred for identifying nucleic acids. In these sensors, natural or synthetic oligonucleotide sequences, acting as probes to hybridize the target molecules, are immobilized on a plasmonic sensing platform. In particular, aptamers, short DNA/RNA sequences, are emerging as new recognition elements for their chemical stability and specificity. Here, we focus on the combination of a specific type of aptamer, a molecular aptamer beacon, and nanostructured SERS biosensors for a sensitive detection of nucleic acids.

In this study, we report the results of two non-invasive optical methods, Raman microscopy (RM) and polarization-sensitive digital holographic imaging (PSDHI), for distinguishing prostate cancer cells from healthy ones. RM reveals cancer cells metabolize glucose faster, storing it as fatty acids and cholesteryl esters in lipid droplets (LDs). On the other hand, PSDHI shows significant morphological changes in LDs in glucose-incubated cancer cells, including number, volume, and refractive index. High birefringence in cancer LDs under perpendicular polarizations was observed, enabling fast discrimination with over 90% accuracy. PSDHI results align closely with Raman microscopy, suggesting its potential as a promising, high-speed technique for cancer screening purposes.

Metastasis stands as the leading cause of mortality among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Galunisertib (LY2157299, LY) is a small molecule demonstrating promising anti-cancer effects by targeting the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) pathway. This route plays a pivotal role in initiating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical process for metastatic spread. Unfortunately, LY chronic treatment causes undesired effects. To mitigate these side effects, nanoscale drug delivery systems have emerged as a transformative approach in cancer treatment, enhancing drug effectiveness while minimizing toxicity. In this study, we introduce a hybrid nanosystem (DNP-AuNPs-LY@Gel) comprising porous diatomite nanoparticles decorated with plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), encapsulating LY within a gelatin shell. This multifunctional nanosystem demonstrates efficient LY delivery, EMT reversal in CRC 2D and 3D cultures, and anti-cancer effects in vivo. Moreover, the nanosystem allowed the quantification with sub-femtogram resolution of the drug intracellularly released using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The release of LY is triggered by CRC cell acidic microenviroment. Real-time monitoring of drug release at the single-cell level is achieved by analyzing SERS signals of LY within CRC cells. The heightened efficacy of LY delivery through the DNP-AuNPs-LY@Gel complex offers a promising alternative strategy for reducing drug dosages and subsequent undesired effects.

Plasmonic and Photonics applications of superconducting materials, suggested at first by the necessity to minimize the dissipative losses of conventional metals in the high frequency ranges, are topics of growing interest in Optics. In this perspective, GdSr2RuCu2O8-δ (Gd1212) Rutheno-Cuprate Superconductor presents very promising properties, showing both superconducting and magnetically ordered phases coexisting in the same cell. To investigate its features, the fabrication of macroscopic crystallographically oriented samples is necessary. The use of melt texturing techniques has shown to be among the most effective ways to achieve the best characteristics, although the fabrication of high-quality Gd1212 samples is intrinsically difficult. To reach a better understanding of Gd1212 incongruent melting reaction, a series of bulk samples annealed at temperatures below and above the melting temperature was prepared. Raman Microscopy and Mapping performed on molten and re-solidified samples revealed the presence of different phases, corresponding to those identified in our previous studies. These observations were also confirmed by XRD, TGA-DTA, and SEM+EDS characterisations. Secondary phases formation showed a strong dependence on the temperature of the annealing treatments. Susceptibility and magnetization measurements show both superconducting and magnetic transitions and a contribution of different spurious magnetic phases as suggested by EDS.

Here we have developed an advanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform that enables the ultrasensitive, rapid and highly specific identification of tumour biomarkers in liquid biopsies. Our focus is on the detection of Thyroglobulin (Tg), the most important tumour biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid cancer. Specifically, SERS-active substrates fabricated by nanosphere lithography on chip or on tips of optical fiber (OF) were functionalised with Tg Capture antibodies. Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with Detection antibodies and conjugated with a Raman reporter. The sandwich assay platform was validated in the planar configuration and a detection limit of only 7 pg/ml was successfully achieved. A careful morphological characterisation of the SERS substrates allowed us to strictly correlate the coverage area with the Tg concentration. The same approach was successfully demonstrated in the washout of fine needle aspiration biopsies from cancer patients. The strategy was transferred to the Lab On Fiber (LOF) SERS platform and successfully used to detect Tg concentration. The proposed SERS-enhanced immunoassay platform has proven to be highly versatile and can be used with both microfluidic chip POC devices and SERS-OF-based optrodes to perform sensitive, specific and rapid ex vivo assays for Tg detection in liquid intraoperative biopsies.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained significant attention in recent years due to the inherent properties of perovskite materials, such as bandgap tunability, high tolerance to defects in the structure, high light absorption, efficient charge transportation, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Although for a long time the development of PSCs has relied primarily on solution-based coating techniques, the recent advances in the field of PSCs have moved the attention of both researchers and companies toward thermal evaporation (TE) techniques, especially due to the high compatibility of these processes with the industrial production of PSCs. Indeed, TE has many advantages, such as high reproducibility, film uniformity, low material consumption, absence of toxic solvents, and easy scalability of the device. In this review, after a brief overlook of the most popular solution-based PSC fabrication methods, we illustrate the TE technique for small and large areas.

Galaxy clusters are composed of dark matter, gas and stars. Their dark matter component, which amounts to around 80% of the total mass, cannot be directly observed but traced by the distribution of diffused gas and galaxy members. In this work, we aim to infer the cluster’s projected total mass distribution from mock observational data, i.e. stars, Sunyaev-Zeldovich, and X-ray, by training deep learning models. To this end, we have created a multiview images dataset from The Three Hundred simulation that is optimal for training Machine Learning models. We further study deep learning architectures based on the U-Net to account for single-input and multi-input models. We show that the predicted mass distribution agrees well with the true one.

Our study introduces a new machine learning algorithm for estimating 3D cumulative radial profiles of total and gas mass in galaxy clusters from thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect maps. We generate mock images from 2522 simulated clusters, employing an autoencoder and random forest in our approach. Notably, our model makes no prior assumptions about hydrostatic equilibrium. Our results indicate that the model successfully reconstructs unbiased total and gas mass profiles, with a scatter of approximately 10%. We analyse clusters in various dynamical states and mass ranges, finding that our method’s accuracy and precision are consistent. We verify the capabilities of our model by comparing it with the hydrostatic equilibrium technique, showing that it accurately recovers total mass profiles without any bias.

Objective To describe demographic, clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a large multicentre systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort.Methods Data involving 1808 SSc patients from Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation registry were collected. The ssSSc was defined by the absence of any cutaneous sclerosis and/or puffy fingers. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc were compared with limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets.Results Among patients with SSc, only 61 (3.4%) were classified as having ssSSc (F/M=19/1). Time from Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) onset to diagnosis was longer in ssSSc (3 years, IQR 1–16.5) than lcSSc (2 years, IQR 0–7), and dcSSc (1 year, IQR 0–3) (p

Nicola Farina,1,2,&ast; Giovanni Benanti,1,2,&ast; Giacomo De Luca,1,2 Anna Palmisano,2,3 Giovanni Peretto,4 Sara Tomassetti,5 Veronica Giorgione,6 Ornella Forma,7 Antonio Esposito,2,3 Silvio Danese,2,8 Lorenzo Dagna,1,2 Marco Matucci-Cerinic,1,9 Corrado Campochiaro1,2 1Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy; 2School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; 3Unit of Clinical and Experimental Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy; 4Unit of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy; 5Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy; 6Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 7Vulnology Nursing Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; 8Unit of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy; 9Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence and Division of Rheumatology AOUC, Florence, Italy&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Corrado Campochiaro, Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, 20132, Italy, Tel +39 0226437060, Fax +39 0226433729, Email campochiaro.corrado@hsr.itAbstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease characterised by immune dysfunction, vascular damage and fibrosis affecting the skin and multiple internal organs. The clinical spectrum of SSc is wide and its manifestations may lead to severe morbidity and mortality, in addition to a great impact on patients’ quality of life. Due to the multifaceted clinical manifestations of SSc, its management requires a combined expertise of different medical specialists to guarantee an adequate disease control and prevent organ complications. Multi-disciplinary teams (MDT), which are composed by physicians and other specialized health professionals, represent therefore a key element for the comprehensive management of SSc patients. Moreover, MTD can improve communication and patients’ empowerment while the presence of dedicated nurses can help patients to ask questions about their condition. The scope of this narrative review is to analyse the available evidences regarding the role of MDT in the management of SSc patients, and how this holistic approach may improve different disease domains and the overall prognosis. MDT regarding the cardiovascular and lung complication are the more represented in literature, given the great impact in prognosis. Nonetheless, MDT have been shown to be fundamental also in other disease domains as they can intercept early manifestations, thus stratifying patients based on the individual risks in order to personalize patients’ follow-up. MDTs may also minimize the treatment delay, enabling fast-track specialist referral. On the other hand, there are few trials specifically studying MDT in SSc and several authors have highlight the lack of standardization.Keywords: systemic sclerosis, scleroderma, multidisciplinary team, shared management

Maddalena Illario,1– 3 Vincenzo De Luca,1 Gabrielle Onorato,2 Giovanni Tramontano,2,3 Ana Maria Carriazo,2,4 Regina Elisabeth Roller-Wirnsberger,5 Joao Apostolo,6 Patrik Eklund,7 Nandu Goswami,8 Guido Iaccarino,9 Maria Triassi,1 John Farrell,2 Jean Bousquet2,10 1Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy; 2Executive Board, EIP on AHA Reference Sites Collaborative Network, Brussels, Belgium; 3Research & Development Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico II, Naples, Italy; 4Deputy Regional Ministry, Regional Ministry of Health and Families of Andalusia, Seville, Spain; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 6Health and Care Sciences Research Unit, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; 7Department of Computing Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; 8Division of Physiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 9Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy; 10MACVIA-France, Fondation partenariale FMC VIA-LR, Montpellier, FranceCorrespondence: Maddalena Illario, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini n.5, Naples, 80131, Italy, Tel +39 0817464211, Fax +39 0817464212, Email illario@unina.it Nandu Goswami, Division of Physiology, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, Graz, 8010, Austria, Tel +43 31638573852, Fax +43 31638579005, Email nandu.goswami@medunigraz.atAbstract: The article describes some of the achievements of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), after eight years in operation. These results were achieved thanks to the collaborative work of the action groups (AGs) and reference sites (RSs). RS regional ecosystems include key organisations committed to investing in innovation to foster active and healthy ageing. The AGs are groups of professionals committed to sharing their knowledge and skills in active and healthy ageing. This article reports on the approach used by the EIP on AHA to bring together experts and regions in identifying and addressing these challenges. Synergies between AGs offered substantial support to RSs, allowing regional health and care priorities and challenges to be identified and pursued through AG commitments. Building upon the experiences of the EIP on AHA, the Reference Sites Collaborative Network has set up a number of thematic action groups that bring together multidisciplinary experts from across Europe to address the main health and social care challenges at regional, national and European level.Keywords: active and healthy ageing, digital health, health policy, health innovation

In many respects, classics may be considered as a language, that was aptly used to legitimate the imperialist exploitation of white people over the so called “Third World countries”. My paper is aimed at understanding whether and to which extent the Greco-Roman Antiquity as such can become a tool for telling a submerged history and for bringing forth its non hegemonic subjects. I will take into consideration a collective experience conducted by a theatre company in the south of Italy during the summer of 2018. Through a workshop involving immigrant people in the city of Palermo, Ali Farah, a Somali-Italian writer, staged an experimental rewriting of Sophocles’ Antigone, which starts from the telling of personal stories of migration through the Mediterranean sea. Grounding my analysis in the comparison between Antigone’s defiance of the power and the crossing of borders, I will underline the revolutionary message that the rewriting of this myth in contemporary Fortress Europe delivers.

The spread of the COVID-19 disease substantially influenced the International Healthcare system, and the national governments worldwide had before long to decide how to manage the available resources, giving priority to the treatment of the COVID-infected patients. Then, in many countries, it was decided to limit the elective procedures to surgical oncology and emergency procedures. In fact, most of the routine, middle-low complexity surgical interventions were reduced, and the day surgery (DS) activities were almost totally interrupted. As a result of this approach, the waiting list of these patients has significantly increased. In the current phase, with a significant decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 cases, the surgical daily activity can be safely and effectively restarted. Adjustments are mandatory to resume the DS activity. The whole separation of pathways with respect to the long-stay and emergency surgery, an accurate preoperative protocol of patient management, with a proper selection and screening of all-day cases, careful scheduling of surgical organization in the operating room, and planning of the postoperative pathway are the goals for a feasible, safe, and effective resumption of DS activity.

Ana C Glembotsky,1,2 Geraldine De Luca,1,2 Paula G Heller1,2 1Departamento Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas “Dr. A. Lanari”, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2Departamento Hematología Investigación, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Buenos Aires, ArgentinaCorrespondence: Paula G HellerDepartamento Hematología Investigación,Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas “Dr. A. Lanari”, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Combatientes de Malvinas 3150, Buenos Aires, 1427, ArgentinaTel +54 11 5287 3872Email paulaheller@hotmail.comAbstract: The gray platelet syndrome (GPS) is a rare platelet disorder, characterized by impaired alpha-granule biogenesis in megakaryocytes and platelets due to NBEAL2 mutations. Typical clinical features include macrothrombocytopenia, bleeding and elevated vitamin B12 levels, while bone marrow fibrosis and splenomegaly may develop during disease progression. Recently, the involvement of other blood lineages has been highlighted, revealing the role of NBEAL2 outside the megakaryocyte-platelet axis. Low leukocyte counts, decreased neutrophil granulation and impaired neutrophil extracellular trap formation represent prominent findings in GPS patients, reflecting deranged innate immunity and associated with an increased susceptibility to infection. In addition, low numbers and impaired degranulation of NK cells have been demonstrated in animal models. Autoimmune diseases involving different organs and a spectrum of autoantibodies are present in a substantial proportion of GPS patients, expanding the syndromic spectrum of this disorder and pointing to dysregulation of the adaptive immune response. Low-grade inflammation, as evidenced by elevation of liver-derived acute-phase reactants, is another previously unrecognized feature of GPS which may contribute to disease manifestations. This review will focus on the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of blood cell abnormalities in human GPS patients and NBEAL2-null animal models, providing insight into the effects of NBEAL2 in hemostasis, inflammation and immunity.Keywords: NBEAL2, gray platelet syndrome, α-granules, immune dysregulation, neutrophils

Fournier’s gangrene is a rare form of necrotizing fasciitis that affects the genital area up to the perineal region and sometimes the abdominal wall.

Ilaria Laurenzana,1,* Stefania Trino,1,* Daniela Lamorte,1 Marco Girasole,2 Simone Dinarelli,2 Angelo De Stradis,3 Vitina Grieco,4 Maddalena Maietti,5 Antonio Traficante,5 Teodora Statuto,4 Oreste Villani,6 Pellegrino Musto,6 Alessandro Sgambato,7 Luciana De Luca,4,* Antonella Caivano4,* 1Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 2Institute for the Study of the Structure of Matter, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy; 3Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Bari, Italy; 4Laboratory of Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 5Unit of Clinical Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 6Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy; 7Scientific Direction, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Antonella CaivanoLaboratory of Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostics, IRCCS CROB, Rionero in Vulture, 85028, Potenza, ItalyTel +39 0972 726395Fax +39 0972 726482Email antonella.caivano@crob.itIntroduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally secreted cellular lipid bilayer particles, which carry a selected molecular content. Owing to their systemic availability and their role in tumor pathogenesis, circulating EVs (cEVs) can be a valuable source of new biomarkers useful for tumor diagnosis, prognostication and monitoring. However, a precise approach for isolation and characterization of cEVs as tumor biomarkers, exportable in a clinical setting, has not been conclusively established.Methods: We developed a novel and laboratory-made procedure based on a bench centrifuge step which allows the isolation of serum cEVs suitable for subsequent characterization of their size, amount and phenotype by nanoparticle tracking analysis, microscopy and flow cytometry, and for nucleic acid assessment by digital PCR.Results: Applied to blood from healthy subjects (HSs) and tumor patients, our approach permitted from a small volume of serum (i) the isolation of a great amount of EVs enriched in small vesicles free from protein contaminants; (ii) a suitable and specific cell origin identification of EVs, and (iii) nucleic acid content assessment. In clonal plasma cell malignancy, like multiple myeloma (MM), our approach allowed us to identify specific MM EVs, and to characterize their size, concentration and microRNA content allowing significant discrimination between MM and HSs. Finally, EV associated biomarkers correlated with MM clinical parameters.Conclusion: Overall, our cEV based procedure can play an important role in malignancy biomarker discovery and then in real-time tumor monitoring using minimal invasive samples. From a practical point of view, it is smart (small sample volume), rapid (two hours), easy (no specific expertise required) and requirements are widely available in clinical laboratories.Keywords: extracellular vesicles, biomarkers, hematological malignancies, nanoparticle tracking analysis, flow cytometry, digital PCR

Lo scopo di questo articolo di commento è quello di discutere e innescare riflessioni sulle conseguenze di un eventuale arruolamento degli studenti del 3 anno del CdL in Infermieristica, come rinforzo nei setting ospedalieri per il contenimento dell’emergenza COVID-19. Le loro competenze limitate potrebbero generare esiti negativi nel sistema salute.

Emmanuele De Luca,1,2,* Donatella Marino,1,2,* Massimo Di Maio1,2 1Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy; 2Division of Medical Oncology, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Torino, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Massimo Di MaioDivision of Medical Oncology, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Via Magellano 1, Turin 10128, ItalyTel +39 011 5082032Fax +39 011 5085081Email massimo.dimaio@unito.itAbstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer and predominantly develops in patients with liver cirrhosis. In patients with advanced disease, such as extra-hepatic extension or portal vein involvement, and with intermediate disease unsuitable for locoregional therapies, systemic therapy is recommended, if liver function and performance status are adequate. Following a decade of negative Phase III trials since the approval of sorafenib, more recently several drugs have proven efficacy both in first line versus sorafenib (lenvatinib) or in second line versus placebo (regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab). In this review, we summarize the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the use of ramucirumab, a recombinant IgG1 monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), in HCC. Following the results of the REACH trial, that was negative in the overall study population but identified a subgroup that could benefit from ramucirumab treatment, the REACH-2 trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, designed to assess ramucirumab as second line in patients with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥ 400 ng/mL. The results of REACH-2 were published in February 2019, leading to Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approval of the drug as second-line agent for advanced HCC (after sorafenib) in patients with AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL. For the first time in the history of systemic treatments for HCC, a predictive factor of efficacy was identified. In this review, we also discuss the potential clinical development of systemic treatments in HCC, focusing on combination therapies with immunotherapy (following the recent results of the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab in the IMbrave 150 clinical trial) and treatment sequences as a way to maximize survival benefit.Keywords: ramucirumab, hepatocellular carcinoma, VEGF, immunotherapy

Selective Emitters (SEs) are the main components of solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems; they act as intermediate thermal radiation emitters to shape the incident solar spectrum to match the wavelengths useful for the PV cell. In this work, we present the design, optimisation, fabrication, and characterisation of an SE based on a multilayer design made of SiNx, SiO2, and TiO2 layers. The SE is optimised to work with PV cells based on III-V semiconductors, such as GaSb, InGaAs, and InGaAsS, the bests suitable for SPTV applications. The fabricated SE shows an emitter efficiency (ηSE) of 50% if matched with a PV cell with an energy bandgap of 0.63 eV.

Selective Solar Absorbers (SSAs) are the critical element of high-vacuum flat plate collectors, as these are subject to elevated operating temperatures and thus experience high radiation losses. Here we design and optimize an SSA based on a multilayer design made of HfCx, Si3N4, and SiO2 layers. The structure of the proposed SSA has been optimized to maximize the solar-to-thermal energy conversion efficiency in high vacuum solar thermal panels working at 200 °C, reaching thermal emissivity values much lower than absorbers currently available on the market (0.07) and obtaining unprecedented performances.

Early warning systems for debris flows are low cost measures for mitigating this kind of hazard. The early warning systems provide a timely alert for upcoming events in order to take protective measures, such as closing railways-roads, evacuating people from the threatened areas, and put rescue forces into readiness. These systems usually are sensor-based, and the alert time is the interval between the timing of the first detachment of debris flow by a sensor and its arrival into the threatened area. At the purpose of increasing the alert time, we propose an early warning system based on a model-cascade: nowcasting, hydrological- and triggering models. Nowcasting anticipates rainfall pattern that is transformed into runoff by the hydrological model. The triggering model estimates the volume of sediments that the runoff can entrain, and compares it with a critical threshold. If this is exceeded the alert is launched. The proposed early warning system is tested against the available data of the Rovina di Cancia (Northeast Italy) site.

Il presente decreto promulgato da Delfi stabilisce la concessione della προμαντεία agli abitanti di Chio. Tale privilegio consente la precedenza nella consultazione dell’oracolo, una precedenza relativa poiché gli abitanti di Delfi avevano la precedenza assoluta nell’interrogare l’oracolo. Tale privilegio fu probabilmente attribuito ai Chii prima dell’effettiva incisione del decreto, la cui datazione risale all’epoca dell’erezione del complesso dedicatorio. L’altare fu edificato alla fine del IV secolo a.C., dopo il terremoto che danneggiò il primo altare, di cui fa menzione Erodoto in 2.135. Lo stile imitato nella formulazione dell’epigrafe riprende una solennità quasi arcaica, ad avvalorare l’ipotesi di una concessione antica del privilegio. La concessione della προμαντεία è di fatto piuttosto comune a Delfi, come attestato da differenti esempi epigrafici di decreti destinati ad altri gruppi etnici (e.g. Turii, Etoli).

Background: Recent advances in tendinopathy research have focused on tendon vascularization detected with Color Doppler (CD) ultrasound. The use of CD has also been described in horses in a study on chronic lesions of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and suspensory ligament. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of Power Doppler (PD) signal in horses with superficial digital flexor tendinopathy. Methods: Twenty-two horses with tendinopathy were included and ten healthy horses with no lameness and no ultrasonographic abnormalities used for comparison. Results: In all horses with tendinopathy PD signal was visible while normal tendons with no abnormalities in B-mode were PD signal-free. Conclusion: We can speculate that PD could provide essential information about the healing process than the greyscale ultrasound.

A De Luca,1,* M Mariani,2,* MT Riccardi,2 G Damiani2,31Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri, Rome, Italy; 2Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; 3Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workIntroduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability, and mortality in high-income countries. Early prehospital stroke recognition plays a fundamental role, because most clinical decisions should be made within the first hours after onset of symptoms. The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) is a validated screening tool whose utilization is suggested during triage. The aim of this study is to review the role of the CPSS by assessing its sensitivity and specificity in prehospital and hospital settings.Methods: A systematic review and a meta-analysis of the literature reporting the CPSS sensitivity and specificity among patients suspected of stroke were undertaken. Electronic databases were searched up to December 2018, and the quality assessment was carried out by using the Revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies −2 (QUADAS-2).Results: Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results showed an overall sensitivity of 82.46% (95% confidence interval [CI] 74.83–88.09%) and specificity of 56.95% (95% CI 41.78–70.92). No significant differences were found in terms of sensitivity when CPSS was performed by physicians (80.11%, 95% CI 66.14–89.25%) or non-physicians (81.11%, 95% CI 69.78–88.87%). However, administration by physicians resulted in higher specificity (73.57%, 95% CI 65.78–80.12%) when compared to administration by non-physicians (50.07%, 95% CI 31.54–68.58%). Prospective studies showed higher specificity 71.61% (95% CI 61.12–80.18%) and sensitivity 86.82% (95% CI 74.72–93.63) when compared to retrospective studies which showed specificity of 33.37% (95% CI 22.79–45.94%) and sensitivity of 78.52% (95% CI 75.08–81.60).Conclusions: The CPSS is a standardized and easy-to-use stroke screening tool whose implementation in emergency systems protocols, along with proper and consistent coordination with local, regional, and state agencies, medical authorities and local experts are suggested.Keywords: stroke, triage, healthcare, diagnostic accuracy, emergency medical services, emergency department

Introduction: In societies that place a great emphasis on physical appearance and body aestheticism, the use of image enhancing drugs (IEDs) has become increasingly widespread. Of particular concern is the use of skin lightening drugs, which might contain undisclosed and harmful ingredients of potential adulterated nature. These products are frequently advertised on social media platforms and elsewhere and used without medical consultation. Methods: An explorative literature search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, CINHAL, and ProQuest to better understand the motivational risk factors associated with skin lightening and assess their relation to body image, self-esteem, and other psychological disorders. All studies published until December 2020 were included in the review. Results: A number of non-psychological factors can be associated with this practice. These include: (a) sociocultural i.e., achieve different social and cultural benefits, and (b) skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation lesions. Conversely, psychological factors can be correlated to (a) low self-esteem, (b) body image disturbances, and (c) other psychological factors like history of trauma and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Skin lightening remains a poorly studied and understood multifactorial phenomenon. More extensive research is needed to improve current clinical practice and raise public awareness on this dangerous practice.