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Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) represents a cornerstone of antiplatelet therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). ASA is in fact indicated in case of an acute coronary syndrome or after a percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation. Aspirin hypersensitivity is frequently reported by patients, and this challenging situation requires a careful evaluation of the true nature of the presumed sensitivity and of its mechanisms, as well as to differentiate it from a more frequent (and more easily manageable) aspirin intolerance. Two main strategies are available to allow ASA administration for patients with CAD and suspected ASA hypersensitivity: a low-dose ASA challenge, aimed at assessing the tolerability of ASA at the antiplatelet dose of 100 mg, and desensitization, a therapeutic procedure which aims to induce tolerance to ASA. For those patients who cannot undergo ASA challenge and desensitization due to previous serious adverse reactions, or for those in whom desensitization was unsuccessful, a number of further alternative strategies are available, even if these have not been validated and approved by guidelines. The aim of this state-of-the-art review is therefore to summarize the established evidence regarding pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of aspirin hypersensitivity and to provide a practical guide for cardiologists (and clinicians) who have to face the not uncommon situation of a patient with concomitant coronary artery disease and aspirin hypersensitivity.

Background: Prenatal attachment refers to the affective investment that parents develop towards their unborn baby during pregnancy. Studies have identified depressive symptoms, affect dysregulation, and poor marital adjustment as potential risk factors for poor prenatal attachment. However, no research has concurrently examined these factors. This study aims to explore the simultaneous impact of depressive symptomatology, alexithymia, and couple functioning on prenatal attachment to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping the emotional bond between expectant mothers and their fetuses. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 344 women (mean age = 34.1, SD = 4.6) in their last trimester of pregnancy recruited from the National Health System. The participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Results: Regression analyses indicated that perinatal depression and alexithymia negatively affected the Quality of Prenatal Attachment, while Dyadic Cohesion served as a protective factor. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for early identification of perinatal depression and alexithymia, along with targeted interventions aimed at supporting Dyadic Cohesion during pregnancy. These efforts are crucial for fostering positive prenatal attachment and enhancing maternal mental health.

A simple sensor for the quantitation of tryptophan (Trp) has been developed using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with electro-synthesized carbon dots functionalized with glycine (Gly@CDs). The surface functionalization with an amino acid led to the formation of large clusters of nanostructures. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which a Gly@CDs clusters modified GCE is used for the analysis of Trp. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) are the techniques used to study Trp electrochemical behavior in an alkaline solution using such an electrode. A linear concentration range was found for Trp from 5 × 10−6 to 5 × 10−3 mol L−1 with a detection limit (LOD) of 5 × 10−6 mol L−1. The reproducibility and repeatability data were satisfactory in terms of RSD%. Moreover, the stability during the time of the modified electrode was considered, evidencing interesting results. The described sensor was used for the determination of Trp in herbal tea and a dietary supplement, and the results were compared with those obtained with HPLC-ESI-MS in the Selected Ion Recording (SIR) mode as an independent method. The electrochemical sensor presents significant advantages in terms of low cost, portability, ease of handling and not requiring skilled personnel.

Some olive cultivars grown in southeastern Italy are characterized by the production of olives with a reduced level of bitterness. They are known as sweet olive cultivars and fruits are usually consumed directly or cooked without any debittering process, offering either health benefits to consumers, thanks to the high content of antioxidants, or an economic benefit to farmers for their higher price with respect to both table and oil olives. This study evaluates and compares the organoleptic, pomological, chemical, and physical parameters of seven sweet olive cultivars at different ripening degrees in the Puglia region over 8 weeks of maturity stage for two consecutive seasons (2022 and 2023). The organoleptic evaluation was performed by a restricted panel of usual consumers/experts of sweet olives. The results showed a higher preference for the olive cultivars locally named Triggiano Dolce, Cerasella, and Mele. Significant differences in weight, length, and width of the fruits were observed based on both cultivar and year. The phenolic composition of olive cultivars was significantly affected by both cultivar and harvest year, with Cazzinicchio and Cellina di Nardò having the highest total polyphenols. The analysis of water fraction extracted from olive samples by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry led to the identification of eleven compounds belonging to the secoiroids, phenylpropanoids, phenylethanolids, and flavonoids classes. The comparison of these compounds among the studied cultivars highlighted significant differences.

The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) has increased by about 3% per year over the last two decades. Continuous Insulin Subcutaneous Therapy (CSII) is widely used in the pediatric population with diabetes; however, it requires more preparation by the treating team and a careful selection of its potential users. Prescriptive provisions vary from region to region, and the perspective of health workers in this regard remains an unexplored area. The aim of this research project is to explore the representations of a group of diabetologists and psychologists working in pediatric diabetology throughout the country, regarding their roles, functions, and activities as part of a multidisciplinary team; it also aims to investigate their views on the potential benefits of CSII and the types of individuals who apply for the use of this technology. A socio-anagraphic data sheet was administered, and two homogeneous focus groups were conducted, one for each profession, which were then audio recorded. The transcripts produced were analyzed using the Emotional Text Mining (ETM) methodology. Each of the two corpora generated three clusters and two factors. For diabetologists, a focus on patient care emerged at different levels, involving collaboration with other health professionals and engagement with the community, often incorporating technology in medical interventions. Similarly, psychologists’ representations highlighted interdisciplinary networking with a stronger emphasis on the psychological processes involved in managing the disease, from acceptance to the elaboration and integration of diabetes into the family narrative. Understanding the representations of health professionals working in pediatric diabetes with new technologies can contribute to the consolidation of a network of professionals through targeted work on possible critical issues that may arise.

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy aims to remove supragingival and subgingival biofilm to restore periodontal health. This systematic review aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of manual and/or ultrasonic instruments and to determine whether other therapies can improve periodontal clinical outcomes. Case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies and clinical trials of patients undergoing nonsurgical periodontal therapy with ultrasonic and/or manual instruments (and any adjunctive therapies, such as glycine, erythritol, ozone, laser and glycine) from 2013 to 2023 were analyzed using Pub-med/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar. To assess the risk of bias in this review, blinding, randomization, allocation concealment, outcome data and outcome recording were assessed. No differences between treatments were found; all methods, including manual and ultrasound, were helpful in improving clinical parameters (primary outcome). Although the results were mixed, adjunctive therapies seemed to be helpful in the treatment of periodontal disease. The results of this systematic review are consistent with the previous scientific literature and have shown that both manual and ultrasonic instruments are effective in nonsurgical periodontal therapy. This review could not show how complementary therapies could further improve nonsurgical periodontal therapy. For future research, it would be good to standardize the sample with regard to the degree and stage of periodontal disease and to evaluate the risks and benefits of the instruments (manual and ultrasonic scalers).

The use of 4D seismic data in history matching has been a topic of great interest in the hydrocarbon industry as it can provide important information regarding changes in subsurfaces caused by fluid substitution and other factors where well data is not available. However, the high dimensionality and uncertainty associated with seismic data make its integration into the history-matching process a challenging task. Methods for adequate data reduction have been proposed in the past, but most address 4D information mismatch from a purely mathematical or image distance-based standpoint. In this study, we propose a quantitative and flow-based approach for integrating 4D seismic data into the history-matching process. By introducing a novel distance parametrization technique for measuring front mismatch information using streamlines, we address the problem from a flow-based standpoint; at the same time, we maintain the amount of necessary front data at a reduced and manageable amount. The proposed method is tested, and its results are compared on a synthetic case against another traditional method based on the Hausdorff distance. The effectiveness of the method is also demonstrated on a semi-synthetic model based on a real-case scenario, where the standard Hausdorff methodology could not be applied due to high data dimensionality.

Background and Objectives: While systematic reviews highlight the advantages of laparoscopic nephrectomy over traditional open surgery, the impact of an assistant’s experience on surgical outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate whether the level of assistant expertise influences laparoscopic nephrectomy outcomes. Materials and Methods: Retrospective data from our institutional database were analyzed for patients who underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy between January 2018 and December 2022. Procedures were performed by a highly experienced surgeon, including postgraduate year (PGY)-3 to PGY-5 residents as assistants. Senior-level assistants had completed at least 10 procedures. Patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, and postoperative details were collected. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were performed to test the effect of assistant experience (low vs. high) on estimated blood loss (EBL), length of stay (LOS), operative time (OT), and postoperative complications. Results: 105 patients were included, where 53% had highly experienced assistants and 47% had less experienced ones. Low assistant experience and higher BMI predicted longer operative time (OT), confirmed by multivariable regression (β = 40.5, confidence interval [CI] 18.7–62.3, p < 0.001). Assistant experience did not significantly affect EBL or LOS after adjusting for covariates (β = −14.2, CI −91.8–63.3, p = 0.7 and β = −0.83, CI −2.7–1.02, p = 0.4, respectively). There was no correlation between assistant experience and postoperative complications. Conclusions: Assistant experience does not significantly impact complications, EBL, and LOS in laparoscopic nephrectomy. Surgeries with less experienced assistants had longer OT, but the overall clinical impact seems limited. Trainee involvement remains safe, guided by experienced surgeons.

All societies should carefully address the child abuse and neglect phenomenon due to its acute and chronic sequelae. Even if artificial intelligence (AI) implementation in this field could be helpful, the state of the art of this implementation is not known. No studies have comprehensively reviewed the types of AI models that have been developed/validated. Furthermore, no indications about the risk of bias in these studies are available. For these reasons, the authors conducted a systematic review of the PubMed database to answer the following questions: “what is the state of the art about the development and/or validation of AI predictive models useful to contrast child abuse and neglect phenomenon?”; “which is the risk of bias of the included articles?”. The inclusion criteria were: articles written in English and dated from January 1985 to 31 March 2023; publications that used a medical and/or protective service dataset to develop and/or validate AI prediction models. The reviewers screened 413 articles. Among them, seven papers were included. Their analysis showed that: the types of input data were heterogeneous; artificial neural networks, convolutional neural networks, and natural language processing were used; the datasets had a median size of 2600 cases; the risk of bias was high for all studies. The results of the review pointed out that the implementation of AI in the child abuse and neglect field lagged compared to other medical fields. Furthermore, the evaluation of the risk of bias suggested that future studies should provide an appropriate choice of sample size, validation, and management of overfitting, optimism, and missing data.

A simple and selective method for the determination of caffeine (CAF) and theophylline (THEO) has been developed for a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a composite including carbon dots (CDs) and chitosan (CS). To our knowledge, there are no previous studies that analyze a CDs-modified GCE for the presence of CAF and THEO. The electrochemical behavior of a GCE modified with a CDs-CS composite was studied in acidic medium by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Considering the sensor analytical parameters, the same linear concentrations range was found for CAF and THEO ranging from 1 × 10−5 to 5 × 10−3 mol L−1 with the same detection limit (LOD) of 1 × 10−6 mol L−1. The reproducibility and repeatability data were satisfactory in terms of RSD%. Moreover, the storage stability was evaluated, evidencing good results whatever the experimental conditions used. The developed sensor was applied for the simultaneous determination of CAF and THEO in tea and drug, and results were compared with those obtained with HPLC-ESI-MS in SIR mode as an independent method optimized on purpose. The electrochemical sensor presents the undoubled advantages in terms of cheapness, portability, and ease of use, since it does not require skilled personnel.

Ehlers–Danlos syndromes are a heterogeneous group of Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility. Among the different types, the hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome is the most frequent and includes generalized joint hypermobility as the major diagnostic criterion. Joint hypermobility in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome is often associated with pain that does not always allow the use of effective pain-reducing treatments. Patients with hEDS constantly describe their pain in detail. Eighty-nine patients with hEDS diagnoses were recruited and evaluated. They were asked to describe their pain in writing. The texts were examined through Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. Correlational analyses were conducted between pain perception and language. A comparison of high/low pain perception and the quality of metaphors was carried out. The results showed that language quality varies depending on how much pain is perceived. The greater the pain is perceived, the lesser the positive effects and the greater the negative effects and dehumanizing metaphors are being used. Moreover, a greater pain seems to be related to a verbal experience of greater isolation and less self-care. In conclusion, the use of metaphors is a useful tool for examining illness experience and may help clinicians in the rehabilitation program.

Starting from D-xylonolactone and D-ribonolactone, several five-membered bromolactones, related to the C1–C5 portion of mycalin A lactone, have been synthesized. The bromination of D-ribonolactone with HBr/AcOH, without a subsequent transesterification step, has been studied for the first time, giving us most of the acetylated lactones investigated in the present study. For each compound, where possible, both the C-3 alcohol and the corresponding acetate were prepared. Evaluation of their anti-tumor activity showed that all the acetates possess a good cytotoxicity towards human melanoma (A375), human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) and human metastatic melanoma (WM266) cancer cells, comparable or even higher than that displayed by the original mycalin A lactone. Lactone acetates derived from D-ribonolactone showed the higher selectivity of action, exhibiting a strong cytotoxicity on all the tested tumor cells but only a limited toxicity on healthy human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells, used as a control. Wound healing assays showed that two of these substances inhibit the migration of the WM266 cells.

An ultrasound (US) treatment was applied during the vinification of three different red grape cultivars with the aim of assessing the impact on the volatile profile of the wines. A robust solid phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) method was developed in order to fix the best parameters for optimizing the volatile organic compound (VOC) recovery. A 15% NaCl solution was added to the samples to increase the salting-out effect, the time/temperature were appropriately selected, and the matrix effect was evaluated by comparing synthetic and real matrices. In addition, external calibration curves were used to quantify the single volatile compounds. The analyses of the wine samples at 7 and 14 months of aging revealed that US exerted the highest effect on Aglianico, which had the highest amount of total VOC. US Nero di Troia showed similar results after 14 months of aging, while Primitivo was not affected by the treatment. Nevertheless, from discriminant analysis, a clear separation was observed between the control and ultrasound-treated wines for all three cultivars, with ethyl decanoate, ethyl isopentyl succinate, and butyric acid having the highest discriminant coefficients. In conclusion, the obtained results indicated that the effect of US treatment on the VOC profile of the wine considered in the experimentation is cultivar-dependent.

The use of marine sponges dates back thousands of years, and interest in these animals is increasing as new applications are discovered. Their potential is extensive, both in their ancient and still popular use as bath sponges for cosmetics and regarding the more recent discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites mainly of interest for the pharmaceutical industry and the less developed aquariology. Despite their proven biofiltration and ecosystem restoration ability and the biomass supply problem for the interested industries, few integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems incorporate these invertebrates in their facilities. Therefore, in this brief review, the benefits that marine sponges could bring to rapidly growing IMTA systems are summarized, highlighting their suitability for a circular blue economy.

Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) represents a frequent complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to atrio-ventricular (AV) node injury. Predictors of early AV function recovery were investigated. We analyzed 50 consecutive patients (82 ± 6 years, 58% males, EuroSCORE: 7.8 ± 3.3%, STS mortality score: 5 ± 2.8%). Pacemaker interrogations within 4–6 weeks from PPI were performed to collect data on AV conduction. The most common indication of PPI was persistent third-degree (44%)/high-degree (20%) AV block/atrial fibrillation (AF) with slow ventricular conduction (16%) after TAVI. At follow-up, 13 patients (26%) recovered AV conduction (i.e., sinus rhythm with stable 1:1 AV conduction/AF with a mean ventricular response >50 bpm, associated with a long-term ventricular pacing percentage < 5%). At multivariate analysis, complete atrio-ventricular block independently predicted pacemaker dependency at follow-up (p = 0.019). Patients with persistent AV dysfunction showed a significant AV conduction time prolongation after TAVI (PR interval from 207 ± 50 to 230 ± 51, p = 0.02; QRS interval from 124 ± 23 to 147 ± 16, p < 0.01) compared to patients with recovery, in whom AV conduction parameters remained unchanged. Several patients receiving PPI after TAVI have recovery of AV conduction within a few weeks. Longer observation periods prior to PPI might be justified, and algorithms to minimize ventricular pacing should be utilized whenever possible.

The expansion of aquaculture practices in coastal areas can alter the balance of microbial communities in nearby marine ecosystems with negative impacts on both farmed and natural species, as well as on human health through their consumption. Among marine filter-feeder invertebrates, poriferans are known as effective microbial bioremediators, even though they are currently still underutilized in association with fish mariculture plants. In this study, we investigate the microbial bioremediation capability of the demosponge Hymeniacidon perlevis in an experimental land-based fish farm where this species occurred consistently in the drainage conduit of the wastewater. Microbiological analyses of cultivable vibrios, total culturable bacteria (37 °C), fecal and total coliforms, and fecal enterococci were carried out on the fish farm wastewater in two sampling periods: autumn and spring. The results showed that H. perlevis is able to filter and remove all the considered bacterial groups from the wastewater, including human potential pathogens, in both sampling periods. This finding sustains the hypothesis of H. perlevis use as a bioremediator in land-based aquaculture plants as well.

On 11 February 2016, the LIGO and Virgo scientific collaborations announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves, a signal caught by the LIGO interferometers on 14 September 2015, and produced by the coalescence of two stellar-mass black holes. The discovery represented the beginning of an entirely new way to investigate the Universe. The latest gravitational-wave catalog by LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA brings the total number of gravitational-wave events to 90, and the count is expected to significantly increase in the next years, when additional ground-based and space-born interferometers will be operational. From the theoretical point of view, we have only fuzzy ideas about where the detected events came from, and the answers to most of the five Ws and How for the astrophysics of compact binary coalescences are still unknown. In this work, we review our current knowledge and uncertainties on the astrophysical processes behind merging compact-object binaries. Furthermore, we discuss the astrophysical lessons learned through the latest gravitational-wave detections, paying specific attention to the theoretical challenges coming from exceptional events (e.g., GW190521 and GW190814).

The results of an ex-ante survey aiming to assess the impact of a fish farm in the Mar Grande of Taranto (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) on the surrounding environment are reported. There, the implementation of an innovative IMTA plant was planned, with the goals of environment bioremediation and commercially exploitable biomass production. Analyses were conducted in February and July 2018. Both seawater and sediments were sampled at the four corners of the fish farm to detect the existing biological and physico-chemical features. The investigation was performed to identify the best area of the farming plant for positioning the bioremediating system, but also to obtain a data baseline, to compare to the environmental status after the bioremediating action. Data were also analyzed by canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP). All the measurements, in particular, microbiology and macrobenthic community characterization using AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and the Multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) indices, suggest that the effect of fish farm waste was concentrated and limited to a small portion of the investigated area in relation to the direction of the main current. A site named A3, which was found to be the most impacted by the aquaculture activities, especially during the summer season, was chosen to place the bioremediation system.

Ecological interactions between wild aquatic birds and outdoor-housed poultry can enhance spillover events of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from wild reservoirs to domestic birds, thus increasing the related zoonotic risk to occupationally exposed workers. To assess serological evidence of AIV infection in workers operating in Northern Italy at the wildfowl/poultry interface or directly exposed to wildfowl, serum samples were collected between April 2005 and November 2006 from 57 bird-exposed workers (BEWs) and from 7 unexposed controls (Cs), planning three sample collections from each individual. Concurrently, AIV surveillance of 3587 reared birds identified 4 AIVs belonging to H10N7, H4N6 and H2N2 subtypes while serological analysis by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay showed recent infections caused by H1, H2, H4, H6, H10, H11, H12, and H13 subtypes. Human sera were analyzed for specific antibodies against AIVs belonging to antigenic subtypes from H1 to H14 by using HI and virus microneutralization (MN) assays as a screening and a confirmatory test, respectively. Overall, antibodies specific to AIV-H3, AIV-H6, AIV-H8, and AIV-H9 were found in three poultry workers (PWs) and seropositivity to AIV-11, AIV-H13—still detectable in October 2017—in one wildlife professional (WP). Furthermore, seropositivity to AIV-H2, accounting for previous exposure to the “extinct” H2N2 human influenza viruses, was found in both BEWs and Cs groups. These data further emphasize the occupational risk posed by zoonotic AIV strains and show the possible occurrence of long-lived antibody-based immunity following AIV infections in humans.

Background: TAVR is a safe alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR); however, sex-related differences are still debated. This research aimed to examine gender differences in a real-world transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) cohort. Methods: All-comer aortic stenosis (AS) patients undergoing TAVR with a Medtronic valve across 19 Italian sites were prospectively included in the Italian Clinical Service Project (NCT01007474) between 2007 and 2019. The primary endpoint was 1-year mortality. We also investigated 3-year mortality, and ischemic and hemorrhagic endpoints, and we performed a propensity score matching to assemble patients with similar baseline characteristics. Results: Out of 3821 patients, 2149 (56.2%) women were enrolled. Compared with men, women were older (83 ± 6 vs. 81 ± 6 years, p < 0.001), more likely to present severe renal impairment (GFR ≤ 30 mL/min, 26.3% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001) but had less previous cardiovascular events (all p < 0.001), with a higher mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score (7.8% ± 7.1% vs. 7.2 ± 7.5, p < 0.001) and a greater mean aortic gradient (52.4 ± 15.3 vs. 47.3 ± 12.8 mmHg, p < 0.001). Transfemoral TAVR was performed more frequently in women (87.2% vs. 82.1%, p < 0.001), with a higher rate of major vascular complications and life-threatening bleeding (3.9% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.012 and 2.5% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.024). One-year mortality differed between female and male (11.5% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.002), and this difference persisted after adjustment for significant confounding variables (Adj.HR1yr 1.47, 95%IC 1.18–1.82, p < 0.001). Three-year mortality was also significantly lower in women compared with men (19.8% vs. 24.9%, p < 0.001) even after adjustment for age, STS score, eGFR, diabetes and severe COPD (Adj.HR3yr 1.42, 95%IC 1.21–1.68, p < 0.001). These results were confirmed in 689 pairs after propensity score matching. Conclusion: Despite higher rates of peri-procedural complications, women presented better survival than men. This better adaptive response to TAVR may be driven by sex-specific factors.

This study evaluated the effects of ecology (plant community, topography and pedology), as well as of climate, on the composition of essential oils (EOs) from two officinal wild plant species (Lamiales) from Apulia, namely Satureja cuneifolia Ten. and Thymus spinulosus Ten. Few scientific data on their chemical composition are available, due to the fact that the first has a limited distribution range and the second is endemic of southern Italy. Results for both species, never officially used in traditional medicine and/or as spices, showed that the ecological context (from a phytosociological and ecological point of view) may influence their EO composition, and hence, yield chemotypes different from those reported in the literature. S. cuneifolia and Th. spinulosus can be considered good sources of phytochemicals as natural agents in organic agriculture due to the presence of thymol and α-pinene. Overall, the obtained trend for EOs suggests a potential use of both species as food, pharmacy, cosmetics and perfumery. Hence, their cultivation and use represent a positive step to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and to meet the increasing demand for natural and healthier products.

Manipulation of ions and molecules by external control at the nanoscale is highly relevant to biomedical applications. We report a biocompatible electrode-embedded nanofluidic channel membrane designed for electrofluidic applications such as ionic field-effect transistors for implantable drug-delivery systems. Our nanofluidic membrane includes a polysilicon electrode electrically isolated by amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC). The nanochannel gating performance was experimentally investigated based on the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, leakage current, and power consumption in potassium chloride (KCl) electrolyte. We observed significant modulation of ionic diffusive transport of both positively and negatively charged ions under physical confinement of nanochannels, with low power consumption. To study the physical mechanism associated with the gating performance, we performed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the flat band voltage and density of states were significantly low. In light of its remarkable performance in terms of ionic modulation and low power consumption, this new biocompatible nanofluidic membrane could lead to a new class of silicon implantable nanofluidic systems for tunable drug delivery and personalized medicine.

Over the recent years, the SMCHD1 (Structural Maintenance of Chromosome flexible Hinge Domain Containing 1) chromatin-associated factor has triggered increasing interest after the identification of variants in three rare and unrelated diseases, type 2 Facio Scapulo Humeral Dystrophy (FSHD2), Bosma Arhinia and Microphthalmia Syndrome (BAMS), and the more recently isolated hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH) combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) and septo-optic dysplasia (SOD). However, it remains unclear why certain mutations lead to a specific muscle defect in FSHD while other are associated with severe congenital anomalies. To gain further insights into the specificity of SMCHD1 variants and identify pathways associated with the BAMS phenotype and related neural crest defects, we derived induced pluripotent stem cells from patients carrying a mutation in this gene. We differentiated these cells in neural crest stem cells and analyzed their transcriptome by RNA-Seq. Besides classical differential expression analyses, we analyzed our data using MOGAMUN, an algorithm allowing the extraction of active modules by integrating differential expression data with biological networks. We found that in BAMS neural crest cells, all subnetworks that are associated with differentially expressed genes converge toward a predominant role for AKT signaling in the control of the cell proliferation–migration balance. Our findings provide further insights into the distinct mechanism by which defects in neural crest migration might contribute to the craniofacial anomalies in BAMS.

The study focused on the effects of ecology (plant communities and topographical data) on composition of essential oils (EOs) of some officinal wild plant species (Lamiales): Clinopodium suaveolens, Salvia fruticosa subsp. thomasii, Satureja montana subsp. montana, and Thymbra capitata, in different environments of Apulia (Italy). C. suaveolens and S. fruticosa subsp. thomasii are rare species of conservation interest, while S. montana subsp. montana and T. capitata, have a wide distribution and are used in traditional medicine or as spices. Results showed that the ecological context (phytosociological and ecological features) may influence the composition of EOs of the studied species. High differences in the compound composition have been found in S. montana subsp. montana, whereas minor effects were observed in C. suaveolens, S. fruticosa subsp. thomasii, and T. capitata accessions. The understanding of such aspects is necessary for providing optimal conditions to produce EOs rich in compounds known for their biological activities. The results are of great interest also for EOs producers and at the same time to improve our knowledge and valorize wild officinal plants.

Sponges are an important constituent of filter-feeder benthic communities, characterized by high ecological plasticity and abundance. Free bacteria constitute an important quota of their diet, making them excellent candidates in aquaculture microbial bioremediation, where bacteria can be a serious problem. Although there are studies on this topic, certain promising species are still under investigation. Here we report applied microbiological research on the filtering activity of Sarcotragus spinosulus on two different concentrations of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a laboratory experiment. To evaluate the effects of the filtration on the surrounding nutrient load, the release of ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate was also measured. The results obtained showed the efficient filtration capability of S. spinosulus as able to reduce the Vibrio load with a maximum retention efficiency of 99.72% and 99.35% at higher and lower Vibrio concentrations, respectively, and remarkable values of clearance rates (average maximum value 45.0 ± 4.1 mL h−1 g DW−1) at the highest Vibrio concentration tested. The nutrient release measured showed low values for each considered nutrient category at less than 1 mg L−1 for ammonium and phosphate and less than 5 mg L−1 for nitrate. The filtering activity and nutrient release by S. spinosulus suggest that this species represents a promising candidate in microbial bioremediation, showing an efficient capability in removing V. parahaemolyticus from seawater with a contribution to the nutrient load.

Tonsillar carcinoma is the second most common malignancy of the head and neck region, with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TSCC) as the most common histological type (>90%). For the advanced stage of TSCC, radiotherapy with or without platinum-based chemotherapy is the only therapeutic option. Immuno-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), in particular Nivolumab, considerably improves clinical management of these patients, but the response can be unpredictable. Difficulties can be encountered in evaluating response to immunotherapy, especially with morphological imaging, which can show an atypical response, such as pseudo-progression, leading to a premature discontinuation. Conversely, metabolic imaging can guide a more properly therapeutic decision. We present a case of a 71-year-old man affected by TSCC, treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and Nivolumab as the last line of treatment. Pre- and post-immunotherapy 18F-FDG PET/CT showed an impressive response, avoiding early drug discontinuation and ensuring better management of this patient.

Dentro del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje la intervención en el aula es sin duda, uno de los elementos más difíciles y complejos de diseñar y llevar a cabo en busca del logro del mayor grado posible de aprendizaje por parte del alumnado. Debido a la importancia de éste constructo, el objetivo del presente estudio fue la creación y validación (muestra de 1401 estudiantes con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y 17 años) de un cuestionario de evaluación motivacional del proceso de aprendizaje. Los resultados obtenidos ofrecen un instrumento formado por 33 ítems, que proporciona información relativa a la motivación intrínseca, extrínseca y global con α de Cronbach de .83, .93 y .93 respectivamente. Los baremos de interpretación del cuestionario para cada tipo de motivación están divididos en función del sexo y de la edad, proporcionando de esta forma comparaciones entre los grupos de iguales de forma fiable.

HIV-1 is a chronic disease managed by strictly adhering to daily antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, not all people living with HIV-1 have access to ART, and those with access may not adhere to treatment regimens increasing viral load and disease progression. Here, a subcutaneous nanofluidic implant was used as a long-acting (LA) drug delivery platform to address these issues. The device was loaded with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and implanted in treatment-naïve simian HIV (SHIV)-positive nonhuman primates (NHP) for a month. We monitored intracellular tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) concentration in the target cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The concentrations of TFV-DP were maintained at a median of 391.0 fmol/106 cells (IQR, 243.0 to 509.0 fmol/106 cells) for the duration of the study. Further, we achieved drug penetration into lymphatic tissues, known for persistent HIV-1 replication. Moreover, we observed a first-phase viral load decay of −1.14 ± 0.81 log10 copies/mL (95% CI, −0.30 to −2.23 log10 copies/mL), similar to −1.08 log10 copies/mL decay observed in humans. Thus, LA TAF delivered from our nanofluidic implant had similar effects as oral TAF dosing with a lower dose, with potential as a platform for LA ART.

In this paper, we report data from the first year of rearing of a set of filter feeder bioremediator organisms: macrobenthic invertebrates (sabellid polychaetes and sponges), coupled with macroalgae, realized in a mariculture fish farm. This innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was realized at a preindustrial level in the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy, northern Ionian Sea), within the framework of the EU Remedia Life project. Long lines containing different collector typologies were placed around the fish breeding cages. Vertical collectors were utilized for both polychaetes and sponges, whilst macroalgae were cultivated in horizontal collectors. Data on the growth and mortality of the target species after the first year of rearing and cultivation are given together with their biomass estimation. Polychaete biomass was obtained from natural settlement on ropes previously hung in the system, while sponges and macroalgae were derived from explants and/or inocules inserted in the collectors. The description of the successional pattern occurring on collectors used for settling until reaching a “stable” point is also described, with indications of additional filter feeder macroinvertebrates other than polychaetes and sponges that are easily obtainable and useful in the system as bioremediators as well. The results demonstrate an easy, natural obtaining of large biomass of sabellid polychaetes settling especially from about a 4 to 10 m depth. Sponges and macroalgae need to be periodically cleaned from the fouling covering. The macroalgae cycle was different from that of invertebrates and requires the cultivation of two different species with about a 6-month cycle for each one. The present study represents one of the first attempts at IMTA in the Mediterranean area where invertebrates and macroalgae are co-cultured in an inshore fish farm. Possible utilization of the produced biomass is also suggested.