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Soilless cultivation of saffron ( Crocus sativus ) in a controlled environment represents an interesting alternative to field cultivation, in order to obtain a standardized high-quality product and to optimize yields. In particular, pharma-grade saffron is fundamental for therapeutic applications of this spice, whose efficacy has been demonstrated in the treatment of macular diseases, such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). In this work, a hydroponic cultivation system was developed, specifically designed to meet the needs of C. sativus plant. Various cultivation recipes, different in spectrum and intensity of lighting, temperature, photoperiod and irrigation, have been adopted to study their effect on saffron production. The experimentation involved the cultivation of corms from two subsequent farm years, to identify and validate the optimal conditions, both in terms of quantitative yield and as accumulation of bioactive metabolites, with particular reference to crocins and picrocrocin, which define the 'pharma-grade' quality of saffron. Through HPLC analysis and chromatography it was possible to identify the cultivation parameters suitable for the production of saffron with neuroprotective properties, evaluated by comparison with an ISO standard and the REPRON ® procedure. Furthermore, the biochemical characterization was completed through NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry analyses of saffron extracts. The whole experimental framework allowed to establish an optimized protocol to produce pharma-grade saffron, allowing up to 3.2 g/m 2 harvest (i.e., more than three times higher than field production in optimal conditions), which meets the standards of composition for the therapy of AMD.

A new green competitive ELISA for aflatoxin M1 quantification in raw milk was developed. This diagnostic tool is based on an anti AFM1 mAb produced by plant molecular farming in alternative to classical systems. Our assay, showing an IC 50 below 25 ng/L, fits with the requirements of EU legislation limits for AFM1 (50 ng/L). Optimal accuracy was achieved in correspondence of the decision levels (25 and 50 ng/L), and the assay enabled AFM1 quantification in the range 5-110 ng/L, with limit of detection 3 ng/L. Moreover, to evaluate a real applicability in diagnostics, raw milk-spiked samples were analysed, achieving satisfactory recovery rates of AFM1. In conclusion, an efficient and ready-to-use diagnostic assay for the quantification of aflatoxin M1 in milk, based on a plant-produced recombinant mAb, has been successfully developed.

Background: We compared multimodality treatment (MMT, defined as robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), with or without adjuvant radiotherapy (RT)) vs. ADT alone in oligometastatic prostate cancer (OPC) patients. Methods: From 2010 to 2018, we identified 74 patients affected by cM1a-b OPC (≤5 metastases). Kaplan−Meier (KM) plots depicted cancer-specific mortality (CSM), disease progression, metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC), and time to second-line systemic therapy rates. Multivariable Cox regression models (MCRMs) focused on disease progression and mCRPC. Results: Forty (54.0%) MMT and thirty-four (46.0%) ADT patients were identified. On KM plots, higher CSM (5.9 vs. 37.1%; p = 0.02), mCRPC (24.0 vs. 62.5%; p < 0.01), and second-line systemic therapy (33.3 vs. 62.5%; p < 0.01) rates were recorded in the ADT group. No statistically significant difference was recorded for disease progression. ForMCRMs adjusted for the metastatic site and PSA, a higher mCRPC rate was recorded in the ADT group. No statistically significant difference was recorded for disease progression. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 5 (12.5%) MMT vs. 15 (44.1%) ADT patients (p < 0.01). Conclusions: MMT was associated with lower CSM, mCRPC, and second-line therapy rates. A lower rate of treatment-related adverse events was recorded for the MMT group.

Background: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using an Italian multi-institutional database of TURBT patients with high-risk urothelial NMIBC between January 2019 and February 2021, followed by Re-TURBT and/or adjuvant intravesical BCG., Results: A total of 2591 patients from 27 institutions with primary TURBT were included. Of these, 1534 (59.2%) and 1056 (40.8%) underwent TURBT before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. Time between diagnosis and TURBT was significantly longer during the COVID-19 period (65 vs. 52 days, p = 0.002). One thousand and sixty-six patients (41.1%) received Re-TURBT, 604 (56.7%) during the pre-COVID-19. The median time to secondary resection was significantly longer during the COVID-19 period (55 vs. 48 days, p < 0.0001). A total of 977 patients underwent adjuvant intravesical therapy after primary or secondary resection, with a similar distribution across the two groups ( n = 453, 86% vs. n = 388, 86.2%). However, the proportion of the patients who underwent maintenance significantly differed (79.5% vs. 60.4%, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic represented an unprecedented challenge to our health system. Our study did not show significant differences in TURBT quality. However, a delay in treatment schedule and disease management was observed. Investigation of the oncological impacts of those differences should be advocated.