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The production of extra virgin olive oil generates significant amounts of olive mill waste, whose disposal leads to severe environmental impacts, especially due to the high content of phenolic compounds. In this study, a pomace phenolic extract composed of hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, verbascoside, and oleuropein was obtained from the liquid fraction of two-phase olive pomace and explored for its antimicrobial properties and potential as plant immunostimulants. The olive pomace extract exhibited a broad range of antimicrobial activity against important phytopathogens, including the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa, Pseudomonas syringae, and Pectobacterium carotovorum, as well as the fungi Colletotrichum graminicola, Fusarium graminearum, and Botrytis cinerea. The extract induced key features of plant innate immunity in Arabidopsis seedlings, including hydrogen peroxide production, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase MAPK6, and upregulation of defence genes, such as CYP81F2, FRK1, and WRKY53, suggesting the activation of early signalling cascades leading to the production of indole glucosinolates and salicylic acid. The immune activation pathways induced by the phenolic extract did not always match those triggered by well-known oligogalacturonide elicitors. Notably, pretreatment of adult Arabidopsis and tomato plants with the phenolic compounds-enriched extract primed responses and enhanced their resistance against B. cinerea and P. syringae. Our findings demonstrate the potential to upcycle two-phase olive pomace into plant protectants, offering a promising alternative to reduce reliance on chemically synthesized pesticides in integrated pest management programs.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic had an important psychological impact on children and their families. This study aims to explore paediatric health services users’ perceptions of quality of care (QOC) and COVID-19-related fears, and their evolution over time in relation to COVID-19 pandemic.Methods In a multicentre cross-sectional study involving 11 public hospitals providing paediatric care across the Italian territory, we collected data from services users through a validated questionnaire. We analysed four indicators—(1) QOC perceived in relation to COVID-19; (2) overall QOC perceived; (3) fear of accessing health services due to COVID-19; (4) fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospital—and calculated Spearman’s correlation indexes (ρ) with the number of COVID-19 new cases over time. Subgroup analyses were conducted by macroregions and single facility.Results Data from 956 services users were analysed. QOC indicators were stable over time at values close to the maximum (range 77–100 and median 100 for COVID-19 QOC, range 74–98 and median 80 for overall QOC), and no correlations were found with the COVID-19 new cases (ρ=−0.073 and −0.016, respectively). Fear of accessing care and fear of contracting the infection varied over time in between 0%–52% and 0%–53%, respectively, but did not correlate directly with number of COVID-19 new cases (ρ=0.101, 0.107 and 0.233, 0.046, respectively). At subgroup analyses, significantly higher frequencies of fear (p values

Osteoarthritis (OA) stands as a prevalent and progressively debilitating clinical condition globally, impacting joint structures and leading to their gradual deterioration through inflammatory mechanisms. While both non-modifiable and modifiable factors contribute to its onset, numerous aspects of OA pathophysiology remain elusive despite considerable research strides. Presently, diagnosis heavily relies on clinician expertise and meticulous differential diagnosis to exclude other joint-affecting conditions. Therapeutic approaches for OA predominantly focus on patient education for self-management alongside tailored exercise regimens, often complemented by various pharmacological interventions primarily targeting pain alleviation. However, pharmacological treatments typically exhibit short-term efficacy and local and/or systemic side effects, with prosthetic surgery being the ultimate resolution in severe cases. Thus, exploring the potential integration or substitution of conventional drug therapies with natural compounds and extracts emerges as a promising frontier in enhancing OA management. These alternatives offer improved safety profiles and possess the potential to target specific dysregulated pathways implicated in OA pathogenesis, thereby presenting a holistic approach to address the condition’s complexities.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, primarily associated with dopaminergic neuron depletion in the Substantia Nigra. Current treatment focuses on compensating for dopamine (DA) deficiency, but the blood–brain barrier (BBB) poses challenges for effective drug delivery. Using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, we investigated the co-administration of DA and the antioxidant Grape Seed Extract (GSE) to study the cytobiocompability, the cytoprotection against the neurotoxin Rotenone, and their antioxidant effects. For this purpose, two solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulations, DA-co-GSE-SLNs and GSE-ads-DA-SLNs, were synthesized. Such SLNs showed mean particle sizes in the range of 187–297 nm, zeta potential values in the range of −4.1–−9.7 mV, and DA association efficiencies ranging from 35 to 82%, according to the formulation examined. The results showed that DA/GSE-SLNs did not alter cell viability and had a cytoprotective effect against Rotenone-induced toxicity and oxidative stress. In addition, this study also focused on the evaluation of Alpha-synuclein (aS) levels; SLNs showed the potential to modulate the Rotenone-mediated increase in aS levels. In conclusion, our study investigated the potential of SLNs as a delivery system for addressing PD, also representing a promising approach for enhanced delivery of pharmaceutical and antioxidant molecules across the BBB.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a predominantly idiopathic pathological condition characterized by protein aggregation phenomena, whose main component is alpha-synuclein. Although the main risk factor is ageing, numerous evidence points to the role of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as an etiological factor. Systemic alterations classically associated with T2DM like insulin resistance and hyperglycemia modify biological processes such as autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis. High glucose levels also compromise protein stability through the formation of advanced glycation end products, promoting protein aggregation processes. The ability of antidiabetic drugs to act on pathways impaired in both T2DM and PD suggests that they may represent a useful tool to counteract the neurodegeneration process. Several clinical studies now in advanced stages are looking for confirmation in this regard.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) represent the two main forms of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The exact IBD etiology is not yet revealed but CD and UC are likely induced by an excessive immune response against normal constituents of the intestinal microbial flora. IBD diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms often combined with invasive and costly procedures. Thus, the need for more non-invasive markers is urgent. Several routine laboratory investigations have been explored as indicators of intestinal inflammation in IBD, including blood testing for C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and specific antibodies, in addition to stool testing for calprotectin and lactoferrin. However, none has been universally adopted, some have been well-characterized, and others hold great promise. In recent years, the technological developments within the field of mass spectrometry (MS) and bioinformatics have greatly enhanced the ability to retrieve, characterize, and analyze large amounts of data. High-throughput research allowed enhancing the understanding of the biology of IBD permitting a more accurate biomarker discovery than ever before. In this review, we summarize currently used IBD serological and stool biomarkers and how proteomics and lipidomics are contributing to the identification of IBD biomarkers.

University Spin-Offs are incorporated to exploit the knowledge and skills achieved within Universities. Often, their competitive advantage is represented by specific know-how that may be hardly imitated by competitors. In this article we present an analysis of the intellectual capital assets owned by a University Spin-Off using a framework recently introduced in literature. The framework resorts to a series of structured interviews to key figures within the organization. The interviews are synthesized through the Analytic Network Process and the results are compared using graphical and cost/ benefit analyses. The implementation of the framework creates a useful panel for the planning of investments in intellectual capital assets in order to create value. Moreover, it may emphasize possible discrepancies among interviewees about the importance of each intellectual capital asset.

Interuniversity consortia are linked together through direct (participation in the same consortium) and indirect (participation of the same member in two consortia) connections. The resulting network can be analysed with the techniques of Social Network Analysis. In this article we show that in our sample the consortium's centrality increases its turnover rate and its capacity to reach the break-even point. Moreover, we show that interuniversity consortia, including non-academic organizations, have a lower turnover value than purely academic ones. The results may enhance understanding of the role played by relational capital in the performance of non-profit organizations, which may also lead to policy recommendations.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a methodological framework which could support managers in the selection of Knowledge Management Systems. The framework is based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process approach. Several aspects should draw the attention of an organization's upper level of management seeking to implement a Knowledge Management System and many specific issues have to be considered. As such, the framework has been built by making use of an ad-hoc hierarchical structure, where each singular specificity is described and compared, second-order criteria are studied and analysed, and optional decisions are highlighted and evaluated. This methodological framework offers a good applicability to different business contexts, since its hierarchical arrangement suits most of the needs of numerous organizations. Consequently, it can be regarded as a holistic approach able to assist decision makers in their Knowledge Management System selection process.