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Honey is a variegate matrix depending significantly on the floral origin, and it could become an important agri-food product to valorise specific territories. Being so diverse, different analytical techniques are necessary for its description. Herein we characterized the honey produced in one of the Italian sand dunes systems hosting beekeeping activities. In terms of floristic origin, phytochemical characterization, and sensory and colour analysis, honey collected in 2021 and 2022 was comparable. Honey was polyfloral, with several pollens from dune habitat plants classified as minor. The presence of the allochthonous Amorpha fruticosa L. and the ruderal Rubus fruticosus L. pollens in the category of the secondary pollens testifies the alteration of the park vegetation. The phytochemical profile was rich in polyphenols. Other interesting compounds were coumarine derivatives, likely attributable to resin-laden plants as rockroses, long chain hydroxyacids typical of royal jelly and nicotinic acid and its analogues (2-hydroxynicotinic acid and 2-hydroxyquinoline). The above-mentioned honey showed interesting features and was a good representation of the vegetation of this area. Our study pointed out the importance of relying on multiple analytical techniques for the characterization of honey and the advisability of a technical support toward beekeepers to correctly describe and valorise their product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2020, Italy became one of the first countries to be plagued by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, COVID-19. In March 2020, the Italian government decreed a lockdown for the whole country, which overturned communication systems, hospital organization, and access to patients and their relatives and carers. This issue had a particular regard for cancer patients. Our Thoracic Oncology Division therefore reorganized patient access in order to reduce the risk of contagion and, at the same time, encourage the continuation of treatment. Our staff contacted all patients to inform them of any changes in treatment planning, check that they were taking safety measures, and ascertain their feelings and whether they had any COVID-19 symptoms. To better understand patients' fears and expectations of during the pandemic period, we created a nine-question interview, administered from April to May 2020 to 156 patients with lung cancer. Patients were classified by age, sex, comorbidity, disease stage, prior treatment, and treatment type. The survey showed that during the pandemic period some patients experienced fear of COVID-19, in particular: women (55% vs. 33%), patients with comorbidities (24% vs. 9%), and patients who had already received prior insult (radiotherapy or surgery) on the lung (30% vs. 11%). In addition, the patients who received oral treatment at home or for whom intravenous treatment was delayed, experienced a sense of relief (90% and 72% respectively). However, only 21% of the patients were more afraid of COVID-19 than of their cancer, in particular patients with long-term (> 12 months) vs. short-term cancer diagnosis (28% vs. 12.5%, respectively). Furthermore, the quarantine period or even just the lockdown period alone, worsened the quality of life of some patients (40%), especially those in oral treatment (47%). Our data demonstrate how lung cancer patients are more afraid of their disease than of a world pandemic. Also this interview indirectly highlights the clinician's major guiding principle in correctly and appropriately managing not just the patient's expectations of their illness and its treatment, but also and especially of the patient's fears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Novel low-energy X-ray fluorescence (LEXRF) system based on a multiple Si drift detector (SDD) configuration has been developed and implemented in the European TwinMic X-ray microspectroscopy station operating at the Italian synchrotron radiation facility ELETTRA. The setup, hosting up to eight large-area SDDs with specially adapted readout electronics, has demonstrated excellent performance for elemental analysis in the 280–2200eV photon energy range, which covers the K and L edges of light elements, starting from C. The great advantage is the simultaneous acquisition of LEXRF, absorption and phase contrast maps, providing complementary information on elemental composition and morphology of specimen at submicrometer length scales. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The potential value of patient preference studies has been recognized in clinical individual treatment decision-making between clinicians and patients, as well as in upstream drug decision-making. Drug developers, regulators, reimbursement and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) bodies are exploring how the use of patient preference studies could inform drug development, regulatory benefit risk-assessment and reimbursement decisions respectively. Understanding patient preferences may be especially valuable in decisions regarding Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) treatment options, where a variety of treatment options with different characteristics raise uncertainty about which features are most important to NSCLC patients. As part of the Innovative Medicines Initiative PREFER project, this qualitative study aimed to identify patient-relevant lung cancer treatment characteristics. Methods: This study consisted of a scoping literature review and four focus group discussions, 2 in Italy and 2 in Belgium, with a total of 24 NSCLC patients (Stages III-IV). The focus group discussions sought to identify which treatment characteristics patients find most relevant. The discussions were analyzed thematically using a thematic inductive analysis. Results: Patients highlighted themes reflecting: 1) positive effects or expected gains from treatment such as greater life expectancy and maintenance of daily functioning, 2) negative effects or adverse events related to therapy that negatively impact patients' daily functioning such as fatigue and 3) uncertainty regarding the duration and type of treatment effects. These overarching themes were consistent among patients from Belgium and Italy, suggesting that treatment aspects related to efficacy and safety as well as the psychological impact of lung cancer treatment are common areas of concern for patients, regardless of cultural background or country. Discussion: Our findings illustrate the value of using qualitative methods with patients to identify preferred treatment characteristics for advanced lung cancer. These could inform a subsequent quantitative preference survey that assesses patient trade-offs regarding treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First measurements at PUMA beamline at SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility. • Attic and colonial black-glazed wares analysed by µ-XRF mapping and µ-XANES. • Chemical elements enriched-depleted in the glaze used as provenance and technological markers. • Differences in the aesthetical appearance of the glaze justified by technological issues. • Transfer of manufacturing knowledge from Greece to south Italian colonies and not to Sicilian ones. Well-designed archaeometric studies can provide pertinent information on ancient ceramic production technologies and allow better understanding of their manufacturing methods. In this regard, fine and glazed ceramics constitute a particularly interesting class of archeological artefacts, with increasing scientific interest for their production and functional aspects. In the present work we analyzed a selection of Attic and western-Greek black-glazed vessels from two archaeological excavations in Gela (Sicily, Italy), currently held at the Gela Archaeological Museum. The goal of the present study was to shed light on the archeological questions concerning the discrimination among western-Greek colonial workshops and the possible identification of different manufacture technologies throughout the colonies. Synchrotron µ-X-Ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) imaging and µ-X-Ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (µ-XANES) were performed at the newly opened PUMA beamline of the SOLEIL Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Using µ-XRF and µ-XANES we evaluated possible elemental variations in the glaze and their Fe-speciation, which can provide chemical and mineralogical markers for provenance identification. µ-XRF mapping of cross-sections spanning from the glaze to the body of each sample highlighted a variety of black-glaze compositions, including those characterized by high levels of Zn, which may be used as technological marker. Overall, our results provide chemically based criteria for the discrimination of Attic and western-Greek black-glazed colonial products and highlight distinguishing technological features among western-Greek workshops in Sicily and South-Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a preclinical rationale for inhibiting angiogenesis in mesothelioma. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody ramucirumab combined with gemcitabine in patients with pretreated malignant pleural mesothelioma.Methods: RAMES was a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial done at 26 hospitals in Italy. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, and histologically proven malignant pleural mesothelioma progressing during or after first-line treatment with pemetrexed plus platinum. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenous gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks plus either intravenous placebo (gemcitabine plus placebo group) or ramucirumab 10 mg/kg (gemcitabine plus ramucirumab group) on day 1 every 3 weeks, until tumour progression or unacceptable toxicity. Central randomisation was done according to a minimisation algorithm method, associated with a random element using the following stratification factors: ECOG performance status, age, histology, and first-line time-to-progression. The primary endpoint was overall survival, measured from the date of randomisation to the date of death from any cause. Efficacy analyses were assessed in all patients who had been correctly randomised and received their allocated treatment, and safety analyses were assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned treatment. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03560973, and with EudraCT, 2016-001132-36.Findings: Between Dec 22, 2016, and July 30, 2018, of 165 patients enrolled 161 were correctly assigned and received either gemcitabine plus placebo (n=81) or gemcitabine plus ramucirumab (n=80). At database lock (March 8, 2020), with a median follow-up of 21·9 months (IQR 17·7-28·5), overall survival was longer in the ramucirumab group (HR 0·71, 70% CI 0·59-0·85; p=0·028). Median overall survival was 13·8 months (70% CI 12·7-14·4) in the gemcitabine plus ramucirumab group and 7·5 months (6·9-8·9) in the gemcitabine plus placebo group. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 35 (44%) of 80 patients in the gemcitabine plus ramucirumab group and 24 (30%) of 81 in the gemcitabine plus placebo group. The most common treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (16 [20%] for gemcitabine plus ramucirumab vs ten [12%] for gemcitabine plus placebo) and hypertension (five [6%] vs none). Treatment-related serious adverse events were reported in five (6%) in the gemcitabine plus ramucirumab group and in four (5%) patients in the gemcitabine plus placebo group; the most common was thromboembolism (three [4%] for gemcitabine plus ramucirumab vs two [2%] for gemcitabine plus placebo). There were no treatment-related deaths.Interpretation: Ramucirumab plus gemcitabine significantly improved overall survival after first-line standard chemotherapy, with a favourable safety profile. This combination could be a new option in this setting.Funding: Eli Lilly Italy.Translation: For the Italian translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of Neolithic potsherds from caves of the Trieste Karst (northeastern Italy) belonging to the Vlaška Group has been studied through a multi-analytical approach mainly based on non-destructive X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) and portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy (OM) to investigate both manufacture technology and provenance of the vases. Most samples, probably produced using a modelling technique, were made using clay-silt size paste containing quartz inclusions, tempered with the addition of abundant calcite and some limestone fragments. Calcite minerals, very common in the karstic environment, were probably obtained by grinding speleothems. This peculiar paste seems to be typical of the Karst area since prehistoric times. One single sample (5880), characterized by an unusual shape recalling those of the Fiorano culture (present in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto), shows a fine-grained fabric with numerous grog fragments, quartz, minor feldspar but without calcite. The 2D and 3D μCT-derived fabric parameters, reflecting the manufacture technology, are also quite different from those of the local vases. These features suggest that sample 5880 was manufactured elsewhere and later reached the Karst, directly or indirectly. The combined use of conventional techniques and non-destructive XRF and μCT, which allows the quantification of clay material, lithic inclusions and porosity, has proved to be an effective approach to investigate both technology and provenance of ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juncus acutus, an halophite plant pioneer in extremely polluted mine areas, was harvested in three different locations of Sardinia (Italy), having Zn soil concentration up to 80g/kg, and Zn water concentration ranging between 10 -3 g/L and 10 -1 g/L. Rhizosphere and plant samples were investigated combining X-ray microscopy (XM)/spectroscopy (XAFS) and infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR) to elucidate the chemical composition, (bio)mineralogy and Zn coordinative environment. The multi-technique approach allowed recognizing different biomineralization processes, and Zn complexes in the plant tissues. The Zn chemical environment in root biominerals is multi-phase and, depending on the sampling site, can comprise amorphous Zn silicate, Zn apatite, hydrozincite, and Zn sulphate. Zn cysteine and Zn histidine, complexes quoted as part of a detoxification strategy, were found mainly in plants from the site where the Zn water concentration has the highest values. This different site-specific mode of Zn biomineralization has relevant implications for phytoremediation techniques and for further biotechnology development, which can be better designed and developed after knowledge of site-specific-molecular processes ruling mineral evolution and biomineralization. Carboxylic groups and organic compounds (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and esters) were identified by FTIR analysis, thought the Zn speciation is not apparently linked to these carboxylic group rich biopolymers., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Zinc incorporation into marine bivalve shells belonging to different genera (Donax, Glycymeris, Lentidium, and Chamelea) grown in mine-polluted seabed sediments (Zn up to 1% w/w) was investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical analysis, soft x-ray microscopy combined with low-energy x-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping, x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These bivalves grew their shells, producing aragonite as the main biomineral and they were able to incorporate up to 2.0-80 mg/kg of Zn, 5.4-60 mg/kg of Fe and 0.5-4.5 mg/kg of Mn. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis revealed that for all the investigated genera, Zn occurred as independent Zn mineral phases, i.e., it was not incorporated or adsorbed into the aragonitic lattice. Overall, our results indicated that Zn coordination environment depends on the amount of incorporated Zn. Zn phosphate was the most abundant species in Donax and Lentidium genera, whereas, Chamelea shells, characterized by the highest Zn concentrations, showed the prevalence of Zn-cysteine species (up to 56% of total speciation). Other Zn coordination species found in the investigated samples were Zn hydrate carbonate (hydrozincite) and Zn phosphate. On the basis of the coordination environments, it was deduced that bivalves have developed different biogeochemical mechanisms to regulate Zn content and its chemical speciation and that cysteine plays an important role as an active part of detoxification mechanism. This work represents a step forward for understanding bivalve biomineralization and its significance for environmental monitoring and paleoreconstruction.