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ABSTRACT: This research evaluated the yield, water productivity, and economic water productivity for the oil content of three soybean cultivars under different water conditions. The experiments were conducted in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 harvests. The experimental design consisted of a two-factor randomized block, with the first factor of 5 irrigation depths, based on the reference evapotranspiration (ETO), plus the treatment without irrigation and the second factor was 3 soybean cultivars. Results reported oil yield and productivity were higher for the depths of 75% (crop 1) and 100% of ETO (crop 2). For the evaluations of water productivity and economic water productivity, the highest results were obtained at the level of 50% in crop 1 and 25% and 50% in crop 2. Cultivar BRASMAX Ponta had the highest values for oil production and BRASMAX Valente for oil yield, in both crops. In Crop 1, the BRASMAX Valente cultivar had the highest results in water productivity and economic water productivity, and in Crop 2, the BRASMAX Ponta cultivar had the highest values. Supplemental irrigation favored the increase in oil production and oil productivity. For a more efficient and economical use of water, it is necessary to use smaller irrigation depths.

Lipoaspirates represent a source of adult stem cells, cytokines, and growth factors of adipocyte origin with immunomodulation and regenerative medicine potential. However, rapid and simple protocols for their purification using self-contained devices that can be deployed at the points of care are lacking. Here, we characterize and benchmark a straightforward mechanical dissociation procedure to collect mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and soluble fractions from lipoaspirates. IStemRewind, a benchtop self-contained cell purification device, allowed a one-procedure purification of cells and soluble material from lipoaspirates with minimal manipulation. The recovered cellular fraction contained CD73+, CD90+, CD105+, CD10+ and CD13+ MSCs. These markers were comparably expressed on MSCs isolated using IstemRewind or classic enzymatic dissociation procedures, apart from CD73+ MSCs, which were even more abundant in IStemRewind isolates. IstemRewind-purified MSCs retained viability and differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes, even after a freezing-thawing cycle. Levels of IL4, IL10, bFGF and VEGF were higher compared to the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL1β and IL6 in the IStemRewind-isolated liquid fraction. In sum, IStemRewind can be useful for straightforward, rapid, and efficient isolation of MSCs and immunomodulatory soluble factors from lipoaspirates, opening the possibility to directly isolate and employ them at the point-of-care.

ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) is one of the most difficult nutrients for plants to acquire because of its low content in the soil solution. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has a thick and sparse absorbent root system; therefore, it is dependent on its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for P acquisition from the soil. Thus, inoculation of cassava with AMF can improve the development of this root crop. This study evaluated the effects of soil disinfection (disinfected vs. natural) and the spore rates of Rhizophagus clarus inoculation (0, 50, 100 and 200 spores per plant) in greenhouse conditions on the initial growth, yield, P acquisition, and P use efficiency of cassava, as well as to evaluate the contribution of the native AMF to P acquisition from the soil. For cassava production in P-deficient soil, inoculation with Rhizophagus clarus significantly increased cassava growth, P uptake, and storage root yield only when the soil was disinfected. When the soil is not disinfected, native AMF contributes up to 86 % of the P taken up by cassava. However, high spore rates of Rhizophagus clarus in natural soil cause detrimental consequences for native AMF by reducing the colonization of the absorbent roots. Therefore, for cassava grown in natural soil under greenhouse conditions, a rate of 50 spores per plant of Rhizophagus clarus is sufficient to promote a 14.5 % increase in the yield of fresh storage roots. A management strategy that favors the native AMF multiplication in the soil is a potential strategy to improve P uptake and yield of cassava in P-deficient soils.

Abstract Background Evidence-based recommendations about anticoagulation in acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD) are completely missing, but there is a diffuse conviction that it could prevent the healing process of the dissected aorta’s false lumen. However, several clinical conditions may lead to the necessity to start anticoagulant therapy among patients with acute type B aortic dissection, ranging from atrial fibrillation to more complicated clinical scenarios and the correct management in this kind of patients is still an open issue. Case presentation We are presenting a 51-years-old man with multi-infarct encephalopathy referred to us for an acute TBAD and a first diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy complicated by left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation. Coronary angiography revealed a critical stenosis of left anterior descending artery (LAD) treated with drug-eluting stent deployment. The patient was addressed to triple antithrombotic therapy with acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel and warfarin with target INR 2.0–2.5. After 6 months, computed tomography angiography revealed the stability of the dissection flap. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, however, confirmed the persistence of a small thrombotic formation in LV apex, thus double antithrombotic therapy with warfarin and clopidogrel was instituted. The patient remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period but was advised to suspend his job and physical activities. Conclusion Current guidelines do not discuss anticoagulant therapy in the setting of TBAD and large randomized trials are lacking. Despite it is generally considered unsafe to administer anticoagulants in patients with TBAD, we present a case in which triple antithrombotic therapy was well tolerated and did not lead to progression of the intimal flap after 6 months.

Background: The definition of patients with special needs (SNs) is used in the literature to refer to individuals with mental and physical disorders for whom the usual perioperative pathways are not applicable due to lack of cooperation, regardless of age. Studies in the literature recognize the appropriateness of general anesthesia for performing day surgery dental care in this type of patient. Objectives: The main objective was to assess the possible incidence of difficult airway management, understood as difficulty ventilating and/or intubating the patient. A secondary objective was to highlight the influence of general anesthesia on patient outcomes by testing the incidence of perioperative complications. Methods: The present retrospective, single-center, observational study involved 41 uncooperative patients aged between 3 and 17 undergoing dental surgery under general anesthesia. Data relating to airway management and general anesthesia present in the medical records were analyzed. Results: Tracheal intubation was successfully completed in all of the patients considered, and in no case did the patient have to be woken up because of difficulty in airway management. No perioperative complications attributable to anesthesia were found in any patients. Conclusions: From the present experience, it can be concluded that general anesthesia is a suitable option for performing dental care in pediatric subjects with special needs, and that although the peculiar perioperative management of these patients might increase the risk of possible anesthesia-related side effects, no complications have been encountered in any case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a risk factor for female breast cancer (FBC). Obesity has also been associated with FBC, also depending on menopausal status. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of obesity and T2D on the development, aggressiveness, and invasiveness of FBC. Methods: Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data from 335 women with FBC were collected, and analyzed according to weight category (102 normal weight, 117 overweight, and 116 living with obesity) and the presence/absence of T2D. Results: Age at oncologic diagnosis was not statistically significantly different for body weight; women with overweight or obesity were more likely to have an oncologic diagnosis after menopause than normal weight (p < 0.001). The presence of overweight/obesity and T2D seemed to be associated with a higher incidence of metastasis, recurrence, and triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype (p < 0.001). Excess body weight was also associated with high histologic grade (G3) (p < 0.005). Conclusions: These results confirm excess body weight and T2D as unfavorable prognostic factors in terms of the presence of the TNBC subtype, tumor metastasis, recurrence, and aggressiveness (G3 and Ki‐67 > 20%). This study highlights the importance of prevention in all women, with early screening, and adequate nutritional programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the future of capabilities approach lies on the theoretical development of the democratic political structure. For this purpose, we take into account Martha Nussbaum’s late theoretical works. Firstly, we argue that the capability approach can be divided into two main models: the top down and the bottom up. Nussbaum, for example, endorses a top-down model, which it begins from an abstractive theory of partial justice and then draws the issue of institutional implementation. On the other hand, Amartya Sem advocates the bottom-up model, which starts from the immanent demands of justice from public sphere and then up to normative and abstract questions (like his “idea of justice”). In the second part of this paper, we present Nussbaum’s partial theory of justice, arguing that it is mainly composed by four issues: (a) the elaboration of the list of capabilities, (b) the process of normative evaluation, (c) arguments for stability, (d) the implementation of the model. About this last topic, we argue in the third part that the current theoretical advance of the capabilities approach lies on the issue of the democratic political structure. In other words, the future of capabilities approach depends on the interaction between its own theory and a theory of democracy. Finally, in the last section we provide a re-elaboration of Nussbaum’s threshold level of capabilities (the list) in order to make it more adherent with the democratic political structure.

The perioperative management of pediatric patients with psycho-physical disorders with related relational and cognitive problems must be carefully planned, in order to make the entire hospitalization process as comfortable and as less traumatic as possible. This article reports an overview of the anesthetic management of non-cooperative patients between 6 and 14 years old. The pathologies most frequently responsible for psycho-physical disorders can be summarized into three groups: (1) collaboration difficulties (autism spectrum disorders, intellectual impairment, phobia); (2) motor dysfunction (cerebral palsy, epilepsy, other brain pathologies, neuromuscular disorders), and (3) craniofacial anomalies (Down syndrome, other genetic syndromes). Anesthesia can be performed safely and successfully due to careful management of all specific problems of these patients, such as a difficult preoperative evaluation (medical history, physical examination, blood sampling, evaluation of vital parameters and predictive indices of difficult airway) and the inapplicability of a “standard” perioperative path (timing and length of the hospitalization, anesthetic premedication, postoperative management). It is necessary to ensure a dedicated perioperative process that is safe, comfortable, tailored to specific needs, and as less traumatic as possible. At the same time, all necessary precautions must be taken to minimize possible complications.

Intubation with a flexible fibrobronchoscope in an awake patient is frequently considered the technique of choice in patients with predicted difficult intubation. There are, however, situations in which the use of the fibrobronchoscope is not applicable, particularly due to problems attributable to the patient or to limited use of the instrument. In such situations, the video laryngoscope can be a useful alternative, as long as it is associated with adequate sedation of the patient. In fact, it ensures excellent viewing of the glottis, allowing for successful orotracheal intubation to be performed even in case of difficult airways, while keeping the patient spontaneously breathing throughout the procedure. From the data present in the literature, this technique seems to ensure a success rate and a safety profile similar to those obtained with the fibrobronchoscope, moreover, with greater ease of use by the anaesthesiologist. The main purpose of this work is to provide a valid and safe alternative to intubation with a fibrobronchoscope while awake in those patients with anticipated difficult airway management and in whom, for different reasons, fibrobronchoscope cannot be used.

Carla Galvani,1 Paola Caramaschi,1 Paolo Mura,2 Antonella Paladini,3 Alba Piroli,3 Elisa Arnaudo,4 Lucia De Franceschi,5 Maurizio Evangelista,6 Alice Pari,4 Giovanna Ongaro,1 Gabriele Finco,2 Anna Ciannameo,4 Antonio Carletto,1 Giustino Varrassi,3,7 Domenico Biasi1 1Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; 2Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy Unit, Department of Medical Science “M. Aresu”, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 3Department of MESVA, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; 4Department of Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 5Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; 6Emergency Department, Institute of Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; 7Paolo Procacci Foundation, Rome, Italy Background: Chronic pain is a key symptom in fibromyalgia (FM), and its management is still challenging for rheumatologists in daily practice. FM patients show psychological and psychiatric manifestations, going from mood and emotional disorders to depression and alexithymia that negatively impact their quality of life, limiting their daily activities. Since pharmacological strategies have a limited efficacy in FM pain, alternative or complementary non-pharmacological approaches have been introduced in the clinical management of FM. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study on FM patients (n=52) treated with a novel integrated postural counseling (PC) rehabilitation program carried out by a counselor physiotherapist. The clinical impact of PC was evaluated by 1) a semi-structured interview using an ad hoc modified questionnaire McGill Illness Narrative Interview (MINI) 1 to obtain data on pain management by highlighting everyday experience of living with pain and 2) an FM impact questionnaire (FIQ) total score. Results: Two main structures of narrative emplotment of FM illness were recognized: 1) the cumulative life narrative structure (46.15%) and 2) the broken life (53.85%) narrative structure. Baseline FIQ score was 77.38±7.77, and it was significantly reduced after PC to 39.12±13.27 (P

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Summary: Patients with neurocognitive disorders often battle sleep disturbances. Kynurenic acid is a tryptophan metabolite of the kynurenine pathway implicated in the pathology of these illnesses. Modest increases in kynurenic acid, an antagonist at glutamatergic and cholinergic receptors, result in cognitive impairments and sleep dysfunction. We explored the hypothesis that inhibition of the kynurenic acid synthesising enzyme, kynurenine aminotransferase II, may alleviate sleep disturbances. At the start of the light phase, adult male and female Wistar rats received systemic injections of either: (i) vehicle; (ii) kynurenine (100 mg kg−1; i.p.); (iii) the kynurenine aminotransferase II inhibitor, PF‐04859989 (30 mg kg−1; s.c.); or (iv) PF‐04859989 and kynurenine in combination. Kynurenine and kynurenic acid levels were evaluated in the plasma and brain. Separate animals were implanted with electroencephalogram and electromyogram telemetry devices to record polysomnography, and evaluate the vigilance states wake, rapid eye movement sleep and non‐rapid eye movement sleep following each treatment. Kynurenine challenge increased brain kynurenic acid and resulted in reduced rapid eye movement sleep duration, non‐rapid eye movement sleep delta power and sleep spindles. PF‐04859989 reduced brain kynurenic acid formation when given prior to kynurenine, prevented disturbances in rapid eye movement sleep and sleep spindles, and enhanced non‐rapid eye movement sleep. Our findings suggest that reducing kynurenic acid in conditions where the kynurenine pathway is activated may serve as a potential strategy for improving sleep dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires represent a critical environmental and social challenge, with long-term implications for human health, ecosystems, and infrastructure. This complex issue is exacerbated by various factors, including socioeconomic changes, unsustainable practices in agro-forestry land management, and the intensification of extreme weather events. The complexity of fire management in Italy necessitates effective governance mechanisms and planning tools at both regional and national levels. This study looks at successful prevention strategies, such as prescribed burning and proactive land management, while also addressing existing governance challenges, such as coordination among relevant institutions and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks. In addition to providing insights into the current state of fire governance and proposing practical solutions, we suggest that more resilient and sustainable fire management practices, already successfully implemented in some regions, should be adopted nationwide in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we propose a reflection on the meaning of the concept of assumption within the analytical process, defined as the possibility, for the I-subject, to come to terms with his own historical configuration, to appropriate it, to go beyond the implementation of himself that occurs on the basis of consciousness and access the qualitative relationship with the organization that is his own through the consciousness of consciousness, going beyond the delegation that is the tendency of each I-subject and that unites patient and analyst as both I-subject. One wonders, even through the brief illustration of a clinical case, about the meaning and role of the assumption of self and patient by the analyst, within the therapeutic relationship, and how the analyst can promote the assumption of self by the patient through the assumption of self, paying constant attention to the games of delegation and mutual claims that inevitably arise during the analytical process.