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Italy is one of the richest countries in the world with regards to number and quality of thermal-mineral waters and has developed a widespread and extensive use of such resource (e.g. bathing, central heating, electric power production). Premised that, the Geological Survey of Italy (GSI) took part in a work package of the GeoERA Hover project (EU Horizon 2020 program under grant agreement N.731166) aimed at defining the interactions involving the geological asset and the hydrogeological processes with natural quality and contamination risk of groundwater and at building a geodatabase of thermal-mineral groundwater within an Information Platform at European level. The GSI activities also aimed at contributing to fill the lack of a comprehensive work dealing with a national scale hydrogeological picture of thermal-mineral waters in Italy. This paper shows the first results obtained with Hover Project on the definition of a general geologicalhydrogeological scenario of thermal-mineral occurrences at an Italian national scale (240 occurrences with cropping temperature >20°C have been included in a database). Most of exploited thermal-mineral water resources are aligned along the Tyrrhenian-Apenninic margin and in the Italian islands, where the most relevant active or quiescent geothermal fields related to magma ascent processes occur. As concerns physicalchemical features, extreme situations of over-mineralized and very-high temperature waters are not uncommon throughout Italy and correspond to a cluster of important SPA and geothermal field sites. Some preliminary geochemical considerations agree with mutual interaction between hydrothermal fluids rich in SO4-Cl-Na-K, likely originated from (ultra)potassic/calcalkaline/alkaline magmas, and HCO3/CO3-Ca waters, originated from leaching of calcareous rocks by groundwater. A preliminary statistical analysis on geochemical and other features of the Italian thermal-mineral sources on a regional basis envisaged that they do not display fully homogeneous characteristics.

Abstract Aim To assess the feasibility of a fast-track anesthesia protocol for hepatopancreatobiliary cancer surgery. Methods Retrospective analysis of consecutive sample of patients who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery for cancer for a period of 12 months in a high volume cancer center. Blended anesthesia was performed for most patients who were then observed in a recovery room area until achieving a safety score. Results Data of 163 patients were examined. Fifty-six and 107 patients underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and liver surgery for primary tumor or metastases, respectively. Most patients were ASA 3. The mean durations of anesthesia and surgery were 322 min (SD 320) and 296 min (SD 133), respectively. Extubation was performed in the operating room in 125 patients. Post-operatory invasive ventilation was maintained in the recovery room in fifteen patients for a mean duration of 72.7 min (SD148.2). Only one patient was admitted to intensive care for 15 h. NIV was performed in three patients for a mean duration of 73.3 min (SD 15.3). The mean recovery room staying was 79 min (SD 80). The mean hospital postoperative stay was a mean of 8.1 days (SD 5.7). No complications were found in 144 patients. Globally, mortality rate was 3%. Conclusion A program of fast-track anesthesia with a short stay in recovery room allowed to achieve a good outcome, limiting the costs of intensive care admission.

The geoscience knowledge has improved our ability to access clean water, cultivate food, mitigate natural hazards and enhance the economy. It also plays a significant role in policymaking, often supported by an interdisciplinary approach. The sustainable energy transition requires a larger supply of raw materials within the framework of a circular economy. In Italy, despite a rich history of mining, a decision was made to import the majority of mineral resources from abroad, as it was more economically sustainable. However, over the past decade, there has been increased awareness, particularly after the introduction of the EU Green Deal. The Italian Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) is actively supporting the mining sector, by coordinating technical panels and discussions on eco-friendly raw material perspectives at the national level. Additionally, ISPRA is developing a Geodatabase as a tool to promote the sustainable production of both primary and secondary mineral resources, while also contributing national and regional policies.

Nos esportes de combate a massa corporal possui uma grande relevância para a determinação da categoria que o atleta irá competir. Assim, a pesagem possui uma relevância no ambiente competitivo dessas modalidades. No Taekwondo é comum atletas perderem a massa corporal usando estratégias que prejudicam a saúde e a performance. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar a influência, as estratégias e os sintomas da perda de massa corporal dos atletas participantes do Campeonato Brasileiro de Taekwondo de 2016. Foi aplicado um questionário denominado Questionário de Perda de Peso Pré-Competitiva. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de estatística descritiva. Dos 30 atletas participantes, 29 atletas (96,66%) relataram perder peso para competir. O técnico/mestre do atleta é o maior influenciador para a perda de peso pré-competitiva. As estratégias mais utilizadas são a diminuição da ingestão de líquidos, aumento da quantidade de treinamentos e a omissão na realização de refeições. A tontura foi o principal sintoma encontrado nos atletas que buscam a perda rápida de peso antes da competição. Esses achados, sugerem a importância para um maior fomento na discussão que visa a saúde do atleta na identificação de como é feita essa perda de peso rápida, as consequências, os profissionais que a orientam, assim como os riscos a que os atletas são expostos.

Abstract Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are pediatric mesenchymal-derived malignancies encompassing PAX3/7-FOXO1 Fusion Positive (FP)-RMS, and Fusion Negative (FN)-RMS with frequent RAS pathway mutations. RMS express the master myogenic transcription factor MYOD that, whilst essential for survival, cannot support differentiation. Here we discover SKP2, an oncogenic E3-ubiquitin ligase, as a critical pro-tumorigenic driver in FN-RMS. We show that SKP2 is overexpressed in RMS through the binding of MYOD to an intronic enhancer. SKP2 in FN-RMS promotes cell cycle progression and prevents differentiation by directly targeting p27Kip1 and p57Kip2, respectively. SKP2 depletion unlocks a partly MYOD-dependent myogenic transcriptional program and strongly affects stemness and tumorigenic features and prevents in vivo tumor growth. These effects are mirrored by the investigational NEDDylation inhibitor MLN4924. Results demonstrate a crucial crosstalk between transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms through the MYOD-SKP2 axis that contributes to tumorigenesis in FN-RMS. Finally, NEDDylation inhibition is identified as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in FN-RMS.

Background: We investigated 51 g-negative carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolates collected from 22 patients over a five-year period from six health care institutions in the Ochsner Health network in southeast Louisiana. Methods: Short genomic reads were generated using Illumina sequencing and assembled for each isolate. Isolates were classified as Enterobacter spp. (n = 20), Klebsiella spp. (n = 30), and Escherichia coli (n = 1) and grouped into 19 different multi-locus sequence types (MLST). Species and patient-specific core genomes were constructed representing ∼50% of the chromosomal genome. Results: We identified two sets of patients with genetically related infections; in both cases, the related isolates were collected > 6 months apart, and in one case, the isolates were collected in different locations. On the other hand, we identified four sets of patients with isolates of the same species collected within 21 days from the same location; however, none had genetically related infections. Genes associated with resistance to carbapenem drugs (blaKPC and/or blaCTX-M-15) were found in 76% of the isolates. We found three blaKPC variants (blaKPC-2, blaKPC-3, and blaKPC-4) associated with four different Enterobacter MLST variants, and two blaKPC variants (blaKPC-2, blaKPC-3) associated with seven different Klebsiella MLST variants. Conclusions: Molecular surveillance is increasingly becoming a powerful tool to understand bacterial spread in both community and clinical settings. This study provides evidence that genetically related infections in clinical settings do not necessarily reflect temporal associations, and vice versa. Our results also highlight the regional genomic and resistance diversity within related bacterial lineages.

The main purpose of this research is to develop the ideas of moral restoration and psychological well-being in Alasdair MacIntyre and Martin Seligman. Both categories are the result of various analyzes, debates, and publications made by these authors over many years. Both categories agree that to carry out this proposal the practice of virtue is essential. At the same time, they differ in their approach and in their development. However, the dialogue between the two alternatives is fruitful, since they promote insights that with further development could provide holistic psychological therapy and become complementary to those already initiated in positive psychology and philosophical counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Megaselia scalaris and Senotainia tricuspis parasitoid flies of the honeybee Apis mellifera were found to infest apiaries of different European and Mediterranean countries but their prevalence and impact on apiary health are little known. Therefore, in this study, quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based methods were developed for their rapid detection directly in hive matrices. The newly developed qPCR assays were targeted at the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for the M. scalaris and the cytochrome B (cytB) gene for the S. tricuspis. The tests were preliminarily applied to 64 samples of adult honeybees and hive debris collected in the Abruzzo and Molise regions, Central Italy, and the Republic of Kosovo showing that both flies occur in the two countries and more frequently in Italy. The positive apiaries in Italy were re-sampled by capturing viable forager bees and isolating emerging flies to carry out the genotyping and analyses aimed at defining if these flies can transmit honeybee pathogens. Genotyping based on the COI and cytB gene sequencing for M. scalaris and S. tricuspis, respectively, identified one S. tricuspis genotype and diverse genotypes of M. scalaris highly similar to those from distant countries. Some fly isolates harbored the DNA or RNA of honeybee microbial pathogens Paenibacillus larvae, deformed wing viruses A and B (DWVA and B), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic paralysis virus (CBPV), and Nosema ceranae. The results indicated that these parasites should be efficiently controlled in apiaries by using rapid detection methods to facilitate the large screening studies and early detection.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) die after optic nerve trauma or in degenerative disease. However, acute changes in protein expression that may regulate RGC response to injury are not fully understood, and detailed methods to quantify new protein synthesis have not been tested. Here, we develop and apply a new in vivo quantitative measure of newly synthesized proteins to examine changes occurring in the retina after optic nerve injury. Azidohomoalanine, a noncanonical amino acid, was injected intravitreally into the eyes of rodents of either sex with or without optic nerve injury. Isotope variants of biotinalkyne were used for quantitative BONCAT (QBONCAT) mass spectrometry, allowing identification of protein synthesis and transport rate changes in more than 1000 proteins at 1 or 5 d after optic nerve injury. In vitro screening showed several newly synthesized proteins regulate axon outgrowth in primary neurons in vitro. This novel approach to targeted quantification of newly synthesized proteins after injury uncovers a dynamic translational response within broader proteostasis regulation and enhances our understanding of the cellular response to injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) between sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) and elective neck dissection (END) in the surgical management of cT1‐2N0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). Methods: English full‐text articles were searched in PubMed and Embase on May 9, 2021. Articles had to compare SNB with END in cT1‐T2N0 OCSCC patients; report hazard ratios (HRs), Kaplan–Meier curves, or P‐values with total number of events for survival outcomes; be from a clinical trial, cohort, or case–control study. Two reviewers reviewed articles and a third settled disagreements. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines and the Risk of Bias in Non‐randomized Studies of Interventions tool and revised Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for randomized trials were used. The generic inverse variance method with a random‐effect model was used for meta‐analysis. Results: Ten studies, five retrospective, three prospective, and two randomized controlled trials, were included (total number of patients [n] = 10,498, END n = 9102, SNB n = 1396). No significant differences were found in OS (HR = 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–1.31) or DFS (HR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.41–1.20). Heterogeneity was not detected in pooled OS analysis (P =.18; I2 = 30%), but was in pooled DFS analysis (P =.003; I2 = 66%). Conclusions: No statistically significant differences in OS or DFS were observed between SNB and END in cT1‐2N0 OCSCC, suggesting that SNB might be an alternative to END in the management of early‐stage, clinically node‐negative OCSCC. Laryngoscope, 132:989–998, 2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary brain neoplasms are associated with elevated mortality and morbidity rates. Brain tumour surgery aims to achieve maximal tumour resection while minimizing damage to healthy brain tissue. Research on Neuromodulation Induced Cortical Prehabilitation (NICP) has highlighted the potential, before neurosurgery, of establishing new brain connections and transfer functional activity from one area of the brain to another. Nonetheless, the neural mechanisms underlying these processes, particularly in the context of space-occupying lesions, remain unclear. A patient with a left frontotemporoinsular tumour underwent a prehabilitation protocol providing 20 sessions of inhibitory non-invasive neuromodulation (rTMS and multichannel tDCS) over a language network coupled with intensive task training. Prehabilitation resulted in an increment of the distance between the tumour and the language network. Furthermore, enhanced functional connectivity within the language circuit was observed. The present innovative case-study exposed that inhibition of the functional network area surrounding the space-occupying lesion promotes a plastic change in the network’s spatial organization, presumably through the establishment of novel functional pathways away from the lesion’s site. While these outcomes are promising, prudence dictates the need for larger studies to confirm and generalize these findings.

Diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) is one of the most challenging fields in early lung cancer diagnosis. Despite novel techniques and new approaches to the periphery of the lung, almost 25% of PPL remains undiagnosed. Virtual bronchoscopy navigation (VBN) potentially allows to sample PPL previously not reachable with conventional bronchoscopy. In this preliminary report, we described nine cases of PPL (in which conventional bronchoscopy did not reach the lesion) sampled with VBN, from which we obtained a diagnosis in seven out of nine cases (77.8%), consistent with other reported results in literature. More large-scale data are needed to whether VBN can increase diagnostic yield (DY) of PPL.

ABSTRACT Sex determination plays a crucial role in the post-mortem identification of human remains. One effective approach for obtaining sex-related data is to use measurements of anatomical structures such as the mandible. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of mandibular radiomorphometric indices from panoramic radiographs (PRs) for the identification of sexual dimorphism. The study sample included 300 PRs of individuals aged 51 to 80 years from the northeastern region of Brazil. Four linear measures and three numerical indices were analyzed with Inkscape® version 1.0.1 for Windows by two blinded evaluators. After statistical analysis, the results showed that the linear measurements obtained from PRs are a reliable method for sex identification. However, the calculated indices of these measurements exhibited lower efficacy for the same purpose. Therefore, PRs proved to be a valuable method for sexual identification through mandibular assessment.

Long-term immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires the identification of T-cell epitopes affecting host immunogenicity. In this computational study, we explored the CD8+ epitope diversity estimated in 27 of the most common HLA-A and HLA-B alleles, representing most of the United States population. Analysis of 16 SARS-CoV-2 variants [B.1, Alpha (B.1.1.7), five Delta (AY.100, AY.25, AY.3, AY.3.1, AY.44), and nine Omicron (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.4, BA.5, BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, XBB.1.5)] in analyzed MHC class I alleles revealed that SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ epitope conservation was estimated at 87.6%–96.5% in spike (S), 92.5%–99.6% in membrane (M), and 94.6%–99% in nucleocapsid (N). As the virus mutated, an increasing proportion of S epitopes experienced reduced predicted binding affinity: 70% of Omicron BQ.1-XBB.1.5 S epitopes experienced decreased predicted binding, as compared with ~3% and ~15% in the earlier strains Delta AY.100–AY.44 and Omicron BA.1–BA.5, respectively. Additionally, we identified several novel candidate HLA alleles that may be more susceptible to severe disease, notably HLA-A*32:01, HLA-A*26:01, and HLA-B*53:01, and relatively protected from disease, such as HLA-A*31:01, HLA-B*40:01, HLA-B*44:03, and HLA-B*57:01. Our findings support the hypothesis that viral genetic variation affecting CD8 T-cell epitope immunogenicity contributes to determining the clinical severity of acute COVID-19. Achieving long-term COVID-19 immunity will require an understanding of the relationship between T cells, SARS-CoV-2 variants, and host MHC class I genetics. This project is one of the first to explore the SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ epitope diversity that putatively impacts much of the United States population.

[Article in Italian] Le attività avviate per la realizzazione di una Carta Idrogeologica d’Italia alla scala 1:500.000