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BACKGROUND: The trauma mortality rate is higher in the elderly compared with younger patients. Ageing is associated with physiological changes in multiple systems and correlated with frailty. Frailty is a risk factor for mortality in elderly trauma patients. We aim to provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of geriatric trauma patients to improve it and reduce futile procedures. METHODS: Six working groups of expert acute care and trauma surgeons reviewed extensively the literature according to the topic and the PICO question assigned. Statements and recommendations were assessed according to the GRADE methodology and approved by a consensus of experts in the field at the 10th international congress of the WSES in 2023. RESULTS: The management of elderly trauma patients requires knowledge of ageing physiology, a focused triage, including drug history, frailty assessment, nutritional status, and early activation of trauma protocol to improve outcomes. Acute trauma pain in the elderly has to be managed in a multimodal analgesic approach, to avoid side effects of opioid use. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in penetrating (abdominal, thoracic) trauma, in severely burned and in open fractures elderly patients to decrease septic complications. Antibiotics are not recommended in blunt trauma in the absence of signs of sepsis and septic shock. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with LMWH or UFH should be administrated as soon as possible in high and moderate-risk elderly trauma patients according to the renal function, weight of the patient and bleeding risk. A palliative care team should be involved as soon as possible to discuss the end of life in a multidisciplinary approach considering the patients directives, family feelings and representatives desires, and all decisions should be shared. CONCLUSIONS: The management of elderly trauma patients requires knowledge of ageing physiology, a focused triage based on assessing frailty and early activation of trauma protocol to improve outcomes. Geriatric Intensive Care Units are needed to care for elderly and frail trauma patients in a multidisciplinary approach to decrease mortality and improve outcomes.

Abstract ABCB4 is located at the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes and is responsible for the secretion of phosphatidylcholine into bile. Genetic variations of this transporter are correlated with rare cholestatic liver diseases, the most severe being progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3). PFIC3 patients most often require liver transplantation. In this context of unmet medical need, we developed a high-content screening approach to identify small molecules able to correct ABCB4 molecular defects. Intracellularly-retained variants of ABCB4 were expressed in cell models and their maturation, cellular localization and function were analyzed after treatment with the molecules identified by high-content screening. In total, six hits were identified by high-content screening. Three of them were able to correct the maturation and canalicular localization of two distinct intracellularly-retained ABCB4 variants; one molecule was able to significantly restore the function of two ABCB4 variants. In addition, in silico molecular docking calculations suggest that the identified hits may interact with wild type ABCB4 residues involved in ATP binding/hydrolysis. Our results pave the way for their optimization in order to provide new drug candidates as potential alternative to liver transplantation for patients with severe forms of ABCB4-related diseases, including PFIC3.

Background: This study evaluates the repeatability and reproducibility of fat-fraction percentage (FF%) in whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) of prostate cancer patients with bone metastatic hormone naive disease. Methods: Patients were selected from the database of a prospective phase-II trial. The treatment response was assessed using the METastasis Reporting and Data System for Prostate (MET-RADS-P). Two operators identified a Small Active Lesion (SAL,

Abstract Objective COASY, the gene encoding the bifunctional enzyme CoA synthase, which catalyzes the last two reactions of cellular de novo coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis, has been linked to two exceedingly rare autosomal recessive disorders, such as COASY protein‐associated neurodegeneration (CoPAN), a form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA), and pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 12 (PCH12). We aimed to expand the phenotypic spectrum and gain insights into the pathogenesis of COASY‐related disorders. Methods Patients were identified through targeted or exome sequencing. To unravel the molecular mechanisms of disease, RNA sequencing, bioenergetic analysis, and quantification of critical proteins were performed on fibroblasts. Results We identified five new individuals harboring novel COASY variants. While one case exhibited classical CoPAN features, the others displayed atypical symptoms such as deafness, language and autism spectrum disorders, brain atrophy, and microcephaly. All patients experienced epilepsy, highlighting its potential frequency in COASY‐related disorders. Fibroblast transcriptomic profiling unveiled dysregulated expression in genes associated with mitochondrial respiration, responses to oxidative stress, transmembrane transport, various cellular signaling pathways, and protein translation, modification, and trafficking. Bioenergetic analysis revealed impaired mitochondrial oxygen consumption in COASY fibroblasts. Despite comparable total CoA levels to control cells, the amounts of mitochondrial 4′‐phosphopantetheinylated proteins were significantly reduced in COASY patients. Interpretation These results not only extend the clinical phenotype associated with COASY variants but also suggest a continuum between CoPAN and PCH12. The intricate interplay of altered cellular processes and signaling pathways provides valuable insights for further research into the pathogenesis of COASY‐associated diseases.

The toxicity of tacrolimus metabolites and their potential pharmacodynamic (PD) interactions with tacrolimus might respectively explain the surprising combination of higher toxicity and lower efficacy of tacrolimus despite normal blood concentrations, described in extensive metabolizers. To evaluate such interactions, we produced tacrolimus metabolites in vitro and characterized them by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS, for all) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR, for the most abundant, M-I). We quantified tacrolimus metabolites and checked their structure in patient whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We explored the interactions of M-I with tacrolimus in silico, in vitro and ex vivo. In vitro metabolization produced isoforms of tacrolimus and of its metabolites M-I and M-III, whose HRMS fragmentation suggested an open-ring structure. M-I and M-III open-ring isomers were also observed in patient blood. By contrast, NMR could not detect these open-ring forms. Transplant patients expressing CYP3A5 exhibited higher M-I/TAC ratios in blood and PBMC than non-expressers. Molecular Dynamics simulations showed that: all possible tacrolimus metabolites and isomers bind FKPB12; and the hypothetical open-ring structures induce looser binding between FKBP12 and calcineurins, leading to lower CN inhibition. In vitro, tacrolimus bound FKPB12 with more affinity than purified M-I, and the pool of tacrolimus metabolites and purified M-I had only weak inhibitory activity on IL2 secretion and not at all on NFAT nuclear translocation. M-I showed no competitive effect with tacrolimus on either test. Finally, M-I or the metabolite pool did not significantly interact with tacrolimus MLR suppression, thus eliminating a pharmacodynamic interaction.

Dear Editor, Scabies is a common pruritic ectoparasitic infestation of the skin caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. It classically presents as an intensely pruritic eruption that usually involves hands and interdigital folds, wrists, axillae, areolae, abdomen, and genitalia. In immunocompetent adults, mite infestation affecting the face is considered exceptional; accordingly, if topical treatment is chosen, clinicians typically instruct patients to apply the product to the body, excluding the head area.

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common skin lesions found on sun-exposed areas and are considered potential precursors to squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). This observational case-control study evaluates the efficacy of combining traditional daylight photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT) with pre-treatment using 0.005% calcipotriol (CAL) ointment. Twenty immunocompetent male patients with grade I-II AKs on the scalp and/or face were randomized into two groups: the case group received a 14-day pretreatment with CAL ointment before DL-PDT, while the control group used a moisturizing cream. Both groups underwent a series of three DL-PDT sessions. The study utilized the Actinic Keratosis Area Severity Index (AKASI) scoring system to measure the actinic damage at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment. Results showed a significant reduction in AKASI scores in the CAL group compared to controls, indicating that CAL pretreatment enhances the efficacy of DL-PDT. This combination treatment was well tolerated, with minimal discomfort reported. The findings suggest that incorporating CAL into the treatment regimen can improve the clearance of AKs and potentially prevent their progression to SCCs.

Coenzyme A (CoA), which is widely distributed and vital for cellular metabolism, is a critical molecule essential in both synthesizing and breaking down key energy sources in the body. Inborn errors of metabolism in the cellular de novo biosynthetic pathway of CoA have been linked to human genetic disorders, emphasizing the importance of this pathway. The COASY gene encodes the bifunctional enzyme CoA synthase, which catalyzes the last two reactions of the CoA biosynthetic pathway and serves as one of the rate-limiting components of the pathway. Recessive variants of this gene cause an exceptionally rare and devastating disease called COASY protein-associated neurodegeneration (CoPAN) while complete loss-of-function variants in COASY have been identified in fetuses/neonates with Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia type 12 (PCH 12). Understanding why the different symptoms emerge in these disorders and what determines the development of one syndrome over the other is still not achieved. To shed light on the pathogenesis, we generated a new conditional animal model in which Coasy was deleted under the control of the human GFAP promoter. We used this mouse model to investigate how defects in the CoA biosynthetic pathway affect brain development. This model showed a broad spectrum of severity of the in vivo phenotype, ranging from very short survival (less than 2 weeks) to normal life expectancy in some animals. Surviving mice displayed a behavioral phenotype with sensorimotor defects. Ex vivo histological analysis revealed variable but consistent cerebral and cerebellar cortical hypoplasia, in parallel with a broad astrocytic hyper-proliferation in the cerebral cortex. In addition, primary astrocytes derived from this model exhibited lipid peroxidation, iron dyshomeostasis, and impaired mitochondrial respiration. Notably, Coasy ablation in radial glia and astrocytic lineage triggers abnormal neuronal development and chronic neuroinflammation, offering new insights into disease mechanisms.

Abstract Background The trauma mortality rate is higher in the elderly compared with younger patients. Ageing is associated with physiological changes in multiple systems and correlated with frailty. Frailty is a risk factor for mortality in elderly trauma patients. We aim to provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of geriatric trauma patients to improve it and reduce futile procedures. Methods Six working groups of expert acute care and trauma surgeons reviewed extensively the literature according to the topic and the PICO question assigned. Statements and recommendations were assessed according to the GRADE methodology and approved by a consensus of experts in the field at the 10th international congress of the WSES in 2023. Results The management of elderly trauma patients requires knowledge of ageing physiology, a focused triage, including drug history, frailty assessment, nutritional status, and early activation of trauma protocol to improve outcomes. Acute trauma pain in the elderly has to be managed in a multimodal analgesic approach, to avoid side effects of opioid use. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in penetrating (abdominal, thoracic) trauma, in severely burned and in open fractures elderly patients to decrease septic complications. Antibiotics are not recommended in blunt trauma in the absence of signs of sepsis and septic shock. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with LMWH or UFH should be administrated as soon as possible in high and moderate-risk elderly trauma patients according to the renal function, weight of the patient and bleeding risk. A palliative care team should be involved as soon as possible to discuss the end of life in a multidisciplinary approach considering the patient’s directives, family feelings and representatives' desires, and all decisions should be shared. Conclusions The management of elderly trauma patients requires knowledge of ageing physiology, a focused triage based on assessing frailty and early activation of trauma protocol to improve outcomes. Geriatric Intensive Care Units are needed to care for elderly and frail trauma patients in a multidisciplinary approach to decrease mortality and improve outcomes. Graphical abstract

IntroductionSurgical-related injuries are frequent, in fact the reported percentage of musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons is between 47% and 87%. These conditions are caused by long periods of standing, incorrect postures, repeated movements, little rest between operations, the lack of integrated operator rooms, the correct number and arrangement of monitors and the use of non-ergonomic instruments. This survey aims to assess the Italian overview both highlighting how prevalent surgical-related injury is in our surgeons and whether there is an operating room ergonomics education program in Italian surgical specialty schools.MethodsAn anonymous questionnaire was designed through SurveyMonkey© web application. This survey was composed of 3 different sections concerning the general characteristics of the participants, their surgical background and any training performed, and any injuries or ailments related to the surgical activity. The survey was carried out in the period 1th of December 2022 and the 6th of February 2023.ResultsAt the close of our survey, 300 responses were collected. Among the participants, the two most represented specialties were Gynecology and Obstetrics (42.3%) and General Surgery (39.7%) and surgeons were mainly employed in the Northern regions of Italy (54.8%). Analyzing the participants’ background, 61.7% of the respondents had laparoscopic training during their training and only 53.1% had a pelvic trainer during their residency. In accordance with 98.7% of the respondents, during surgery we have the feeling of being in an uncomfortable position that causes discomfort or muscle pain, and regarding the frequency of these discomforts, the majority of our study population experiences these problems monthly (46.2%), while in 29.6% it is experienced weekly, 12.1% annually and finally 12.1% daily. The surgical approach that is most correlated with these disorders is laparoscopy (62.7%) while the one that causes the least discomfort is robotic surgery (1.4%). These discomforts cause 43.9% of our population to take a break or do short exercises to reduce pain during surgery, and the body areas most affected are the back (61.6%), neck (40.6%) and shoulders (37.8%).ConclusionDespite this, our survey allows us to highlight some now-known gaps present in the surgical training program of our schools and the lack of protection toward our surgeons during their long career.

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a zoonotic disease endemic in tropical regions. CLM diagnosis mainly relies on the morphology of the skin lesions, however dermoscopy can improve diagnostic accuracy. In this paper, we report two cases of CLM to highlight the importance of dermoscopic follow-up in early identification of treatment failure, as well as the effectiveness of topical ivermectin as a combined medication.

Riehl’s melanosis (RM) is a pigmentary disorder, more common in individuals with dark skin phototypes, considered a form of pigmented contact dermatitis. In this paper we present a case of RM due to the rubber component of a work facial mask in which dermoscopy and patch test were the most important tools to help physicians in diagnosis. In addition, we reviewed the main dermoscopic clues that may be useful in differential diagnosis with others facial pigmentary disorders.

Approximate computing is a technique that sacrifices the accuracy of the result for an advantage in terms of power, area, and speed. It is useful for error-tolerant applications such as image and video processing. Many approximate arithmetic circuits can be devised using approximate versions of the basic binary full adder that simply adds three bits to generate carry and sum. Therefore, the approximate full adder has been the subject of extensive investigation in recent years. In this paper we present a comprehensive analysis of approximate full adders, by synthesizing in a FinFET 14 nm technology the whole set of possible designs, achievable by modifying one or more entries of the full adder truth-table. Our exhaustive analysis shows that only a few out of the many thousands of synthesized circuits perform reasonably well as approximate full adders. Our analysis re-discovers the approximate full adders already proposed in the literature and identifies some new ones. Examples of using the newly discovered approximate full adders in typical error resilient applications are provided, showing the performance and the usefulness of approximate arithmetic circuit designs in the real-world.

Microwave Tomography (MWT) is emerging as a potential imaging technique for monitoring bone health due to its ability to determine the dielectric properties of tissues under investigation. Studies have demonstrated a significant dielectric contrast between healthy and diseased human trabecular bones, which suggests that MWT has the potential to detect changes associated with bone disorders. The goal of this study was to assess the numerical reconstruction of an anthropomorphic two-layer (cortical and trabecular bone) calcaneus-shaped phantom, considering both healthy and diseased scenarios. Data were obtained using two different antenna configurations: a 16-antenna circular array and a 24-antenna calcaneus-shaped array. The electromagnetic (EM) inverse problem was solved by employing the Distorted Born Iterative Method (DBIM) in conjunction with the Iterative Method with Adaptive Thresholding for Compressed Sensing (IMATCS). An $L_{2}$ -based regularization method was applied along with the IMATCS. The results demonstrated that accurate reconstruction of various phantom properties at 1 GHz is feasible even under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. The achieved results suggest that the present approach can provide a good numerical reconstruction of the proposed phantoms both in the circular array and the calcaneus-shaped array scenarios, proving its robustness in distinguishing the overall reference and reconstructed dielectric properties with an average percentage difference of 10.43%. This work revealed the possibility of applying the suggested approach in a new scenario with a realistic phantom in two different antenna-array geometric configurations. In the future, this could be tested in an experimental context to assess the medical conditions of the human bones.

Despite the significant number of studies published on the measurements of complex permittivity of biological tissues in the last thirty years, implementing a successful measurement program for dielectric measurements can still present a challenge for researchers. Most problems are not theoretical but of methodological or practical nature. In this article, lessons learned from experiences with goal-oriented measurements are presented by structuring them into practical guidelines for efficient and useful measurements of dielectric properties of biological tissues, aimed at addressing gaps in knowledge. Issues related to calibration, validation of the measurement system and data collection procedures are addressed from a practical perspective. This will help support reproducibility of measurements. In addition, guidelines for data analysis and data reporting are provided. The latter is also supported by a data analysis tool developed in MATLAB, made available as open source. This facilitates the harmonisation and merging of different datasets, ease of interpreting and re-using of data and comparison of data across studies. Additionally, a data repository is presented for uploading of dielectric data of biological tissues, along with the corresponding meta-data describing the experiments. These guidelines are the result of the work carried out by a dedicated working group in the project COST Action MyWAVE.

Abstract Early and sensitive biomarkers of liver dysfunction and drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are still needed, both for patient care and drug development. We developed the Serum Enhanced Binding (SEB) test to reveal post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) of human serum albumin resulting from hepatocyte dysfunctions and further evaluated its performance in an animal model. The SEB test consists in spiking serum ex-vivo with ligands having specific binding sites related to the most relevant albumin PTMs and measuring their unbound fraction. To explore the hypothesis that albumin PTMs occur early during liver injury and can also be detected by the SEB test, we induced hepatotoxicity in male albino Wistar rats by administering high daily doses of ethanol and CCl4 over several days. Blood was collected for characterization and quantification of albumin isoforms by high-resolution mass spectrometry, for classical biochemical analyses as well as to apply the SEB test. In the exposed rats, the appearance of albumin isoforms paralleled the positivity of the SEB test ligands and histological injuries. These were observed as early as D3 in the Ethanol and CCl4 groups, whereas the classical liver tests (ALT, AST, PAL) significantly increased only at D7. The behavior of several ligands was supported by structural and molecular simulation analysis. The SEB test and albumin isoforms revealed hepatocyte damage early, before the current biochemical biomarkers. The SEB test should be easier to implement in the clinics than albumin isoform profiling.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a promising technology for sustainable energy generation, which leverages the metabolic activities of microorganisms to convert organic substrates into electrical energy. In oil spill scenarios, hydrocarbonoclastic biofilms naturally form at the water–oil interface, creating a distinct environment for microbial activity. In this work, we engineered a novel MFC that harnesses these biofilms by strategically positioning the positive electrode at this critical junction, integrating the biofilm’s natural properties into the MFC design. These biofilms, composed of specialized hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, are vital in supporting electron transfer, significantly enhancing the system’s power generation. Next-generation sequencing and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the microbial community, revealing a significant enrichment of hydrocarbonoclastic Gammaproteobacteria within the biofilm. Notably, key genera such as Paenalcaligenes, Providencia, and Pseudomonas were identified as dominant members, each contributing to the degradation of complex hydrocarbons and supporting the electrogenic activity of the MFCs. An electrochemical analysis demonstrated that the MFC achieved a stable power output of 51.5 μW under static conditions, with an internal resistance of about 1.05 kΩ. The system showed remarkable long-term stability, which maintained consistent performance over a 5-day testing period, with an average daily energy storage of approximately 216 mJ. Additionally, the MFC effectively recovered after deep discharge cycles, sustaining power output for up to 7.5 h before requiring a recovery period. Overall, the study indicates that MFCs based on hydrocarbonoclastic biofilms provide a dual-functionality system, combining renewable energy generation with environmental remediation, particularly in wastewater treatment. Despite lower power output compared to other hydrocarbon-degrading MFCs, the results highlight the potential of this technology for autonomous sensor networks and other low-power applications, which required sustainable energy sources. Moreover, the hydrocarbonoclastic biofilm-based MFC presented here offer significant potential as a biosensor for real-time monitoring of hydrocarbons and other contaminants in water. The biofilm’s electrogenic properties enable the detection of organic compound degradation, positioning this system as ideal for environmental biosensing applications.

The introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing in cervical cancer screening enhanced the opportunity to introduce self-collection as an innovative approach to improve coverage rates. Validation and standardization of the pre-analytical and analytical procedures are crucial for the quality assurance of HPV tests on self-collected samples.This study evaluated the analytical performance and the stability of self-collected vaginal samples resuspended in 5 mL of two non-alcohol-based media, eNat® and MSwab® compared to a professionally collected cervical sample, resuspended in 20 mL ThinPrep®, for the detection of high-risk HPV (hrHPV). The impact of the suspension volumes on analytical performance was also evaluated (2 and 5 ml).A good analytical concordance in hrHPV detection in cervical and vaginal self-collected swabs suspended in 5 ml of both non-alcohol-based media was demonstrated (eNat®: 91.2 %, k = 0.821; MSwab®: 91.4 %; k = 0.798). A similar analytical performance was found for samples resuspended in 2 mL (eNat®: 92.9 %, k = 0.811; MSwab®: 92.9 %, k = 0.811) compared to cervical samples.Good nucleic acid stability was demonstrated for vaginal samples stored at 20-25 °C and 37 °C for up to 4 weeks.Results of this preliminary study support the introduction of these media for vaginal self-sampling-based prevention programs. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to evaluate clinical accuracy in larger settings.

Background: Among its extragonadal effects, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has an impact on body composition and bone metabolism. Since androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has a profound impact on circulating FSH concentrations, this hormone could potentially be implicated in the changes of fat body mass (FBM), lean body mass (LBM), and bone fragility induced by ADT. The objective of this study is to correlate FSH serum levels with body composition parameters, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone turnover markers at baseline conditions and after 12 months of ADT. Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive non-metastatic prostate cancer (PC) patients were enrolled from 2017 to 2019 in a phase IV study. All patients underwent administration of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist degarelix. FBM, LBM, and BMD were evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 12 months of ADT. FSH, alkaline phosphatase, and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. For outcome measurements and statistical analysis, t-test or sign test and Pearson or Spearman tests for continuous variables were used when indicated. Results: At baseline conditions, a weak, non-significant, direct relationship was found between FSH serum levels and FBM at arms (r = 0.36) and legs (r = 0.33). Conversely, a stronger correlation was observed between FSH and total FBM (r = 0.52, p = 0.006), fat mass at arms (r = 0.54, p = 0.004), and fat mass at trunk (r = 0.45, p = 0.018) assessed after 12 months. On the other hand, an inverse relationship between serum FSH and appendicular lean mass index/FBM ratio was observed (r = −0.64, p = 0.001). This is an ancillary study of a prospective trial and this is the main limitation. Conclusions: FSH serum levels after ADT could have an impact on body composition, in particular on FBM. Therefore, FSH could be a promising marker to monitor the risk of sarcopenic obesity and to guide the clinicians in the tailored evaluation of body composition in PC patients undergoing ADT. Funding: This research was partially funded by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. The funder had no role in design and conduct of the study, collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data and in preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. Clinical trial number: clinicalTrials.gov NCT03202381, EudraCT Number 2016-004210-10.

Introduction: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used as a diluent and/or solvent for pharmacological compounds. Furthermore, DMSO crosses the blood-brain barrier acting on the nervous system. The natural compounds phenylamides and lignanamides (LnHS) have protective effects on neuronal health, being promising neuroprotective candidates. In this scenario, we evaluated the impact of DMSO and/or LnHS on SH-SY5Y and U-87 cells, taken as in vitro model of neurons and glia.Methods: Cells were treated with DMSO and/or LnHS at different doses and proliferation (MTT and trypan blue counting, colony forming ability, autophagy, oxidative stress (NO, ROS determination) and inflammatory (IL8, IL6, TNFα mRNA expression) response was evaluated.Results: We found that DMSO reduces both neuronal and glial cell viability, while LnHS does not affect viability of SH-SY5Y cells but reduces that of U-87 cells. Therefore, we focused on SHSY5Y cells and investigated whether LnHS could counteract DMSO toxicity. LnHS partially attenuates the inhibitory effects of DMSO on cell viability and restores the colony-forming ability of SH-SY5Y cells exposed to DMSO. Furthermore, we found that co-administration of LnHS modulates the expression of SIRT3 and SOD2 enzymes, reduces nitrite release and ROS generation increasing IL-8 levels. Interestingly, co-administration of LnHS counteracts the DMSO-induced production of IL-6, while no modification in TNF-α was found.Discussion: Our study indicates LnHS as a potential feasible compound to support neuronal health as it counteracts DMSO induced cytotoxic effects by improving SH-SY5Y cells survival. Further studies are needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the LnHS biological activities.

Cestrum parqui L’Herit. (Solanaceae family) is a species of forest shrub, self-incompatible and specialized in pollination, widespread in the subtropical area of the planet, and now widely distributed also in the Mediterranean area. The constituents of its leaves have antimicrobial, anticancer, insecticidal, antifeedant, molluscicidal, and herbicidal properties. The spread of this species represents a valuable source of compounds with high biological value. Various research groups are engaged in defining the chemical composition of the different parts of the plant and in defining its properties in view of important and promising commercial applications. To date, there are only a few incomplete reports on the potential applications of C. parqui extracts as selective natural pesticides and on their potential phytotoxic role. Scientific knowledge and the use of extraction techniques for these components are essential for commercial applications. This article summarizes the research and recent studies available on the botany, phytochemistry, functional properties, and commercial applications of C. parqui.

Climate change is leading to an increase in the intensity, duration, and frequency of severe droughts, especially in southern and southeastern Europe, thus aggravating water scarcity problems. Water deficit stress harms the growth, physiology, and yield of crops like durum wheat. Hence, studying ancient wheat varieties’ stress responses could help identify genetic traits to enhance crop tolerance to environmental stresses. In this background, this study aimed to investigate the effects of PEG 6000-stimulated drought stress in the ancient wheat variety Saragolla and the modern one Svevo by analyzing various biochemical and molecular parameters that can especially condition the stomatal movement. Our data revealed that drought stress caused a significant increase in the levels of total soluble sugars, ABA, and IAA in both selected cultivars to a greater extent in the Saragolla than in the Svevo. We demonstrated that, under water deficit stress, calcium dynamics as well as the expression of ERF109, MAPK3/6, MYB60, and TaTPC1, involved in the activation of drought-related calcium-sensitive pathways, display significant differences between the two varieties. Therefore, our study provided further evidence regarding the ability of the ancient wheat variety Saragolla to better cope with drought stress compared to the modern variety Svevo.

In the framework of the PREDIS EU project, a wireless battery-operated gamma-ray detection system was developed in order to provide a medium-to-long-term monitoring system for radioactive waste drums. It was initially proposed to monitor the gamma radioactivity outcoming from steel drums containing cemented radwaste, even though it could be usefully employed in a wider range of applications. Gamma rays are penetrating and convey information from the drum's internal structure, as the count rate measured on the surface depends on the thickness and density of the crossed materials. A number of sensors arranged around a drum, typically four units, provide indications of the emission anisotropy, and any sensitive change in the measured count rate would hint at some anomaly, thus triggering a suitable inspection by operators.

Cells and extracts derived from adipose tissue are gaining increasing attention not only in plastic surgery and for aesthetic purposes but also in regenerative medicine. The ability of hyaluronan (HA) to support human adipose stromal cell (hASC) viability and differentiation has been investigated. However, the compatibility of adipose tissue with HA-based formulation in terms of biophysical and rheological properties has not been fully addressed, although it is a key feature for tissue integration and in vivo performance. In this study, the biophysical and biochemical properties of highly concentrated (45 mg/mL) high/low-molecular-weight HA hybrid cooperative complex were assessed with a further focus on the potential application in adipose tissue augmentation/regeneration. Specifically, HA hybrid complex rheological behavior was observed in combination with different adipose tissue ratios, and hyaluronidase-catalyzed degradation was compared to that of a high-molecular-weight HA (HHA). Moreover, the HA hybrid complex’s ability to induce in vitro hASCs differentiation towards adipose phenotype was evaluated in comparison to HHA, performing Oil Red O staining and analyzing gene/protein expression of PPAR-γ, adiponectin, and leptin. Both treatments supported hASCs differentiation, with the HA hybrid complex showing better results. These outcomes may open new frontiers in regenerative medicine, supporting the injection of highly concentrated hybrid formulations in fat compartments, eventually enhancing residing staminal cell differentiation and improving cell/growth factor persistence towards tissue regeneration districts.

Aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is characterized by an aortic wall hematoma without intimal flap and it is a variant of acute aortic syndromes (AAS). This entity may represent 10%-25% of the AAS involving the ascending aorta and aortic arch (Stanford Type A) in 10%-30% of cases and the descending thoracic aorta (Stanford Type B) in 60%-70% of cases. IMH impairs the aortic wall and may progress to either inward disruption of the intima, which finally induces typical dissection or outward rupture of the aorta. The literature describes some clinical reports where Type A aortic dissection mimics a pulmonary embolism but is not described as a case provoked by IMH with outward rupture of the aorta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italy is a country with high seismic risk. In the past many catastrophic earthquakes have occurred causing severe damage to buildings and infrastructures, serious economic impacts, and the loss of thousands of human lives. To mitigate the impact of seismic risk, as well as of other risks, many efforts have been made, implementing preventive structural measures and acting to raise awareness in the community. In Italy, this need was strengthened with the emanation of the new Civil Protection Code (D.Lgs January 2, 2018 n.1), with the purpose of encouraging the participation of citizens and spreading risk knowledge and the culture of civil protection, thus contributing to "increase the resilience of communities" (art. 31). As part of the agreement between the Italian Civil Protection Department (ICPD) and EUCENTRE (European Centre for training and research in Earthquake Engineering), an interactive web-tool was developed to allow citizens to display the most updated seismic risk maps. These maps were produced in 2018 by the ICPD, with the relevant support of the scientific community operating in the field of seismic risk, in particular of ReLUIS (The Laboratories University Network of seismic engineering) and EUCENTRE. The web-tool, named SICURO+ (Information System for Risk Communication, www.sicuropiu.it), was created to raise awareness in citizens on seismic risk in the place where they live, work, or go on holiday. Communication strategies and behavioural techniques were designed and tested experimentally with the support of behavioural scientists, as part of an agreement between the National School of Administration and the Prime Minister's Office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the PREDIS EU project, a wireless battery-operated gamma-ray detection system was developed in order to provide a medium-to-long-term monitoring system for radioactive waste drums. It was initially proposed to monitor the gamma radioactivity outcoming from steel drums containing cemented radwaste, even though it could be usefully employed in a wider range of applications. Gamma rays are penetrating and convey information from the drum's internal structure, as the count rate measured on the surface depends on the thickness and density of the crossed materials. A number of sensors arranged around a drum, typically four units, provide indications of the emission anisotropy, and any sensitive change in the measured count rate would hint at some anomaly, thus triggering a suitable inspection by operators.