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The gut microbiome is indispensable for the host physiological functioning. Yet, the impact of non-nutritious dietary compounds on the human gut microbiota and the role of the gut microbes in their metabolism and potential adverse biological effects have been overlooked. Identifying potential hazards and benefits would contribute to protecting and harnessing the gut microbiome’s role in supporting human health. We discuss the evidence on the potential detrimental impact of certain food additives and microplastics on the gut microbiome and human health, with a focus on underlying mechanisms and causality. We provide recommendations for the incorporation of gut microbiome science in food risk assessment and identify the knowledge and tools needed to fill these gaps. The incorporation of gut microbiome endpoints to safety assessments, together with well-established toxicity and mutagenicity studies, might better inform the risk assessment of certain contaminants in food, and/or food additives.

Ozone (O3) is volatile, highly oxidative, and has theoretical potential to reduce ruminant enteric methanogenesis by interactions between archaea and bacteria, and substrate and oxygen. The effects of O3 on the rumen microbiota, fermentation parameters, and CH4 emissions were studied through in vitro fermentation using a RUSITEC apparatus with O3 dissolved in the salivary buffer. The substrate consisted of maize silage or grain concentrates, and the treatments were (1) control (no O3) and (2) O3 at 0.07 ± 0.022 mg/L in the buffer. A 4-day adaptation period followed by a 6-day experimental period was used for measuring gas production and composition, as well as fermentation characteristics, which included ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA) and liquid- and solid-associated microbial communities. Ozone treatment decreased total gas production by 15.4%, most notably CH4 production by 20.4%, and CH4 gas concentration by 5.8%, without compromising dry matter digestibility (DMD) of either maize silage or grain concentrates. There were no significant effects of O3 treatment on VFA production or pH. Ozone treatment reduced the relative abundance of methanogens, particularly Methanomicrobium. This study demonstrates the potential use of O3 as a method to reduce ruminant enteric methanogenesis.

Ensiling vegetables with forage crops is a suggested method of waste diversion and can be directly utilized as a livestock feed. Carrot or pumpkin, ensiled at 0, 20, or 40% dry matter (DM) with crop sorghum, and with or without a second-generation silage inoculant were assessed for nutritive composition, organic acid profiles, aerobic stability and in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics. The study was a completely randomized design, with the fixed effects consisting of vegetable type (carrot vs. pumpkin), level (i.e., the level of vegetables), inoculant (inoculant or non-inoculant) and the interactions, and mini-silos within treatment as the random effect. The experimental unit for sorghum treatments represented by each mini-silo (5 kg capacity). Silage was sampled after 70-days ensiling for nutrient composition, 14-day aerobic stability, organic acid profiles and microbial diversity. After 24 h in vitro incubation, rumen fermentation parameters were assessed, measuring gas and methane (CH4) production, in vitro digestibility and volatile fatty acid concentrations. Sorghum ensiled with carrot or pumpkin at 20% or 40% DM increased crude fat (P ≤ 0.01) and decreased (P ≤ 0.01) silage surface temperature upon aerobic exposure compared to the control. Bacterial communities analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing linearly increased (P ≤ 0.01) in diversity across both vegetables when the vegetable proportion was increased in the silage; dominated by Lactobacillus species. ITS analysis of the fungal microbiota upon silage opening and after 14 days (aerobic stability) identified increased (P ≤ 0.03) fungal diversity with increasing vegetable proportions, predominantly populated by Fusarium denticulatum, Issatchenkia orientalis, Kazachstania humilis, and Monascus purpureus. Upon assessment in vitro, there was an increase (P ≤ 0.04) in in vitro digestibility and some CH4 parameters (% CH4, and mg CH4/g DM), with no effect (P ≥ 0.17) on remaining CH4 parameters (mL CH4/g DM, mg CH4/g digested DM), gas production or pH. However, increasing vegetable amount decreased percentage of acetic acid and increased percentage of propionic acid of the total VFA, decreasing A:P ratio and total VFA concentration as a result (P ≤ 0.01). The results from this study indicate including carrot or pumpkin at 20 or 40% DM in a sorghum silage can produce a highly digestible, microbially diverse and energy-rich livestock feed.

Biochar is a novel carbonized feed additive sourced from pyrolyzed biomass. This compound is known to adsorb gasses and carbon, participate in biological redox reactions and provide habitat biofilms for desirable microbiota proliferation. Therefore, biochar holds potential to modify rumen fermentation characteristics and reduce enteric CH4 emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hardwood biochar supplementation on fermentation parameters, methane (CH4) production and the ruminal archaeal, bacterial, and fungal microbiota using the in vitro RUSITEC (rumen simulation technique) system. Treatments consisted of a control diet (oaten pasture: maize silage: concentrate, 35:35:30 w/w) and hardwood biochar included at 400 or 800 mg per day (3.6 and 7.2% of substrate DM, respectively), over a 15-day period. Biochar supplementation had no effect (P ≥ 0.37) on pH, effluent (mL/d), total gas (mL/d), dry matter (DM) digestibility or CH4 production (mg/d). The addition of 800 mg biochar per day had the tendency (P = 0.10) to lower the % of CH4 released in fermentation compared to 400 mg/d biochar treatment. However, no effect (P ≥ 0.44) was seen on total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyric, branched-chain VFA, valerate and caproate production and the ratio of acetate to propionate. No effect (P > 0.05) was observed on bacterial, archaeal or fungal community structure. However, biochar supplementation at 800 mg/d decreased the abundance of one Methanomethylophilaceae OTU (19.8-fold, P = 0.046) and one Lactobacillus spp. OTU (31.7-fold, P < 0.01), in comparison to control treatments. Two fungal OTUs classified as Vishniacozyma victoriae (5.4 × 107 increase) and Sporobolomyces ruberrimus (5.4 × 107-fold increase) were more abundant in the 800 mg/d biochar samples. In conclusion, hardwood biochar had no effects on ruminal fermentation characteristics and may potentially lower the concentration of enteric CH4 when included at higher dosages by manipulating ruminal microbiota abundances.

Vegetables regarded as unsalable at processing often undergo disposal into landfill, threatening food security and increasing emissions through decomposition. Ensiling vegetables with forage crops is a suggested method of waste reduction that could also double as a livestock feed. Carrot or pumpkin, ensiled at 0%, 20% or 40% DM with crop sorghum, and with or without a second-generation silage inoculant were assessed for nutritive composition, organic acid profiles, aerobic stability and in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics. Silage was sampled after 70-days ensiling for nutrient composition, 14-day aerobic stability, organic acid profiles and microbial diversity. Sorghum ensiled with carrot or pumpkin at 20% or 40% DM increased crude fat (P ≤ 0.01) and decreased (P ≤ 0.01) silage surface temperature upon aerobic exposure compared to the control. Bacterial communities analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing linearly increased (P ≤ 0.01) in diversity as vegetable proportion increased in the silage; dominated by Lactobacillus species. Upon assessment in vitro, there was an increase (P ≤ 0.04) in in vitro digestibility and some CH4 parameters (% CH4, and mg CH4/g DM), with no effect (P ≥ 0.17) on remaining CH4 parameters (mL CH4/g DM, mg CH4/g DMD), gas production or pH. However, increasing vegetable proportion decreased acetic and increased propionic acid concentrations respectively, decreasing A:P ratio and total VFA as a result (P ≤ 0.01). Results from this study indicate including carrot or pumpkin at 20% or 40% DM in a sorghum silage can produce a highly digestible, microbially diverse and energy-rich livestock feed whilst acting as a method of waste diversion of considerable environmental benefit.

Abstract This work aims at finding an alternative strategy to manage the waste generated by the winemaking industry to obtain a solid biofuel and phenolic compounds. The effect of temperature (180–260 °C), residence time (1–7 h), and biomass-to-liquid ratio (0.05–0.25) on the co-hydrothermal carbonization of vine pruning and exhausted grape pomace, by using vinasse as moisture source, is studied. The effect of the variables is investigated and optimized using the Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology to maximize mass yield, fuel ratio, energy densification yield and phenols extraction yield and to minimize energy consumption. The statistical analysis shows that the carbonization temperature is a crucial parameter of the process, decreasing the product yield on one hand and improving the quality of hydrochar on the other. At the optimal conditions (246.3 °C, 1.6 h, 0.066), an hydrochar yield of 52.64% and a calorific value of 24.1 MJ/kg were obtained. Moreover, the analysis of the H/C and O/C ratios of hydrochars demonstrates that carbonisation significantly improves the fuel properties of solid biofuel. Liquid by-products obtained from the HTC process are found to contain high concentrations of organic matter but the BOD/COD ratios suggest their potential valorization by biological methods.

Introduction: Masculinity and femininity constitute the gender role construct into the general concept of sexual identity. Aim: To investigate the relationships of attachment style, sexual orientation and biological sex with the gender role. Methods: A convenience sample of 344 subjects (females = 207; males = 137) was recruited. Main Outcome Measures: The Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Kinsey Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory assessed, respectively, attachment styles, sexual orientation, and masculinity/femininity was administered. Results: Regression analysis revealed that the confidence scale of the ASQ (secure attachment) and relationship as secondary scale of ASQ (insecure/dismissing attachment) have a predictive role toward a higher score of masculinity (β = 0.201; P = .000 and β = 0.208; P = .000, respectively), whereas the need of approval scale of the ASQ (insecure/fearful-preoccupied attachment) shows a reverse association on it (β = −0.228; P = .001). Moreover, to be a male is predictive for masculinity (β = 0.196; P = .000). Also, femininity is predicted by the confidence (β = 0.173; P = .002) and the need of approval (β = 0.151; P = .03) scales of ASQ. Instead, the relationship as secondary scale of ASQ is negatively related to femininity (β = −0.198; P = .0001). No association between non-heterosexual orientation and gender role was found. Clinical Implications: A better knowledge of links between relational patterns and gender roles for assessment and anamnesis phases in sexual medicine. Strengths & Limitations: This is the first study considering sexual orientation and biological sex in the relationship between attachment styles and gender role. The main limitation is the use of self-reported psychometric tests. Conclusion: Our data indicate that a secure attachment is related to both masculinity and femininity. On the contrary, different and reverse aspects of insecure attachment style characterize masculinity and femininity. Masculinity is mostly linked to insecure/dismissing attachment, whereas femininity is linked to insecure/fearful-preoccupied attachment. Moreover, although being male is a further element in support of masculinity, sexual orientation is not associated with gender role.Ciocca G, Zauri S, Limoncin E, et al. Attachment Style, Sexual Orientation, and Biological Sex in their Relationships with Gender Role. Sex Med. 2019;8:76–83. Key Words: Attachment Style, Gender Role, Sexual Orientation, Biological Sex

Abstract Sexual health is strictly related with general health in both genders. In presence of a sexual dysfunction, the expert in sexual medicine aims to discover the specific weight of the physical and psychological factors can cause or con-cause the sexual problem. At the same time, a sexual dysfunction can represent a marker of the future development of a Non-communicable diseases (NCDss) as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. In the evaluation phase, the sexual health specialist must focus on these aspects, focusing especially on the risk and protective factors that could impact on both male and female sexuality. This article presents a review of researches concerning healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their contribute in the development of sexual quality of life in a gender-dependent manner. Among the unhealthy lifestyle, obesity contributes mostly to the development of sexual dysfunctions, due to its negative impact on cardiovascular and metabolic function. Tobacco smoking, alcohol - substance abuse and chronic stress lead to the development of sexual dysfunction in a med-long term. In order to guarantee a satisfying sexual quality of life, sexual health specialists have the responsibility to guide the patient through the adoption of healthy lifestyles, such as avoiding drugs, smoke and excessive alcohol, practicing a regular physical activity, following a balanced diet and use stress-management strategies, even before proposing both pharmaco- and/or psychotherapies.

Cinchonidine-functionalized β-cyclodextrin was used as stabilizing agent for platinum nanoparticles dispersed in water, but also as chiral modifier for the asymmetric hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate at 30 °C under 40 bar of hydrogen. This functionalized cyclodextrin allowed getting more stable, more catalytically active and also more enantioselective Pt nanoparticles compared to control catalytic systems. NMR and MALDI-MS analyses clearly showed the reduction of the vinyl group of the cinchonidine graft during the nanoparticles preparation. Under hydrogen pressure, the hydrogenation of the quinolinic moiety was also proven and can be responsible for the difficulties encountered during the recycling study.

Las llanuras constituyen áreas de gran potencial para la producción agropecuaria afectadas frecuentemente por inundaciones. El objetivo del trabajo es utilizar una metodología que permita evidenciar bajo qué condiciones ocurren inundaciones en áreas de llanura con escasez de información base, tomando como caso de estudio a la cuenca del río Samborombón, situada en el centro-este de Argentina. Para esto fueron observadas imágenes satelitales Landsat y se realizaron balances hídricos diarios, para posteriormente realizar un análisis estadístico de recurrencia. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que las inundaciones se ven influenciadas en gran medida por las condiciones hídricas previas del suelo. La metodología utilizada permite estimar períodos de retorno en cuencas de llanura de baja pendiente requiriendo solamente de imágenes satelitales de libre acceso y de datos de precipitación y temperatura media diaria, obteniendo resultados que reflejan el estado de la cuenca posterior a eventos de precipitación.

The aqueous extraction of orange peel waste (OPW), the byproduct of the juice extraction process generated annually in massive amounts (21 Mton), yields a carbohydrate-rich liquid fraction, termed orange peel extract (OPE). Several studies highlight that the combination of glycerol, a biodiesel byproduct, with carbohydrate mixtures might boost microbial lipid production. This study performed first a shaken flask screening of 15 oleaginous yeast strains based on their growth and lipid-producing abilities on OPE- and glycerol-based media. This screening enabled the selection of R. toruloides NRRL 1091 for the assessment of the process transfer in a stirred tank reactor (STR). This assessment relied, in particular, on either single- and double-stage feeding fed-batch (SSF-FB and DSF-FB, respectively) processes where OPE served as the primary medium and nitrogen-containing glycerol-OPE mixtures as the feeding one. The continuous supply mode at low dilution rates (0.02 and 0.01 h−1 for SSF-FB and DSF-FB, respectively) starting from the end of the exponential growth of the initial batch phase enabled the temporal extension of biomass and lipid production. The SSF-FB and DSF-FB processes attained high biomass and lipid volumetric productions (LVP) and ensured significant lipid accumulation on a dry cell basis (YL/X). The SSF-FB process led to LVP of 20.6 g L−1 after 104 h with volumetric productivity (rL) of 0.20 g L−1 h−1 and YL/X of 0.80; the DSF-FB process yielded LVP, rL and YL/X values equal to 15.92 g L−1, 0.11 g L−1 h−1 and 0.65, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of lipids from both fed-batch processes were not significantly different and resembled that of Jatropha oil, a vastly used feedstock for biodiesel production. These results suggest that OPE constitutes an excellent basis for the fed-batch production of R. toruloides lipids, and this process might afford a further option in OPW-based biorefinery.

Abstract We provide a model for the genesis of Holocene coralligenous buildups occurring in the northwestern Adriatic Sea offshore Venice at 17–24 m depth. High-resolution geophysical surveys and underwater SCUBA diving reconnaissance revealed meandering shaped morphologies underneath bio-concretionned rocky buildups. These morphologies are inferred to have been inherited from Pleistocene fluvial systems reactivated as tidal channels during the post- Last Glacial Maximum transgression, when the study area was a lagoon protected by a sandy barrier. The lithification of the sandy fossil channel-levee systems is estimated to have occurred at ca. 7 cal. ka BP, likely due to the interaction between marine and less saline fluids related to onshore freshwater discharge at sea through a sealed water-table. The carbonate-cemented sandy layers served as nucleus for subsequent coralligenous buildups growth.

Libro de Resúmenes 3 de septiembre de 2019 Sala de Consejo Directivo, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina 9 de septiembre de 2019 Auditorio del Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina Comisión organizadora Santa Fé: Natacha Bacolla Bernardo Carrizo Hugo Ramos Carina Giletta Laura Tarabella La Plata: Eleonora Carol Soledad García Lerena Edoardo Melendi Lucía Santucci Carolina Tanjal Prólogo En el marco del Proyecto ERASMUS 2019-20 el objetivo del taller es propiciar un espacio de intercambio comparativo de metodologías científicas entre universidades e institutos de investigación de Italia y Argentina sobre la interrelación entre los ambientes fluviales y los asentamientos humanos. En el mismo participan docentes investigadores de la Universidad Ca´Foscari, la Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, la Universidad Nacional de Rosario y la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Este Workshop fue realizado en dos encuentros, el primero de ellos el 3 de septiembre en la Universidad Nacional del Litoral y el segundo el 9 de septiembre en la Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

The genus Aspergillus encompasses several species with relevant lignocellulose-degrading capacity, and a novel species, denominated A. olivimuriae, was recently discovered after its isolation from table olive brine. The acquisition of insight into this species and the assessment of its potential relied on a bioinformatics approach, based on the CAZy database, associated with enzymatic activity profiles in solid-state cultures on four different types of waste, including residual thistle biomass (RTB), spent coffee grounds (SCG), digestate solid fraction and barley straw. The CAZy analysis of A. olivimuriae genome showed that the number of predicted genes for each family was close to that of other Aspergillus species, except for cellobiose dehydrogenase, acetyl xylan esterase and polygalacturonases. In A. olivimuriae solid-state cultures, hemicellulose degradation outperformed that of cellulose, and lignin removal did not occur, regardless of the growth substrate. This is in line with its CAZy content and the extent of hemicellulolytic, and ligninolytic activities detected in its solid-state cultures. RTB and barley straw were the substrates enabling the best glycosyl hydrolase production levels. The exception was SCG, the hemicellulose composition of which, mainly made of glucomannans and galactomanans, led to the highest β-mannanase and β-mannosidase production levels (3.72 ± 0.20 and 0.90 ± 0.04 IU g−1 substrate, respectively).

Introduction: The Homophobia Scale (HS) is a valid tool to assess homophobia. This test is self‐reporting, composed of 25 items, which assesses a total score and three factors linked to homophobia: behavior/negative affect, affect/behavioral aggression, and negative cognition. Aim: The aim of this study was to validate the HS in the Italian context. Methods: An Italian translation of the HS was carried out by two bilingual people, after which an English native translated the test back into the English language. A psychologist and sexologist checked the translated items from a clinical point of view. We recruited 100 subjects aged18–65 for the Italian validation of the HS. The Pearson coefficient and Cronbach's α coefficient were performed to test the test–retest reliability and internal consistency. Main Outcome Measures: A sociodemographic questionnaire including the main information as age, geographic distribution, partnership status, education, religious orientation, and sex orientation was administrated together with the translated version of HS. Results: The analysis of the internal consistency showed an overall Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.92. In the four domains, the Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.90 in behavior/negative affect, 0.94 in affect/behavioral aggression, and 0.92 in negative cognition, whereas in the total score was 0.86. The test–retest reliability showed the following results: the HS total score was r = 0.93 (P < 0.0001), behavior/negative affect was r = 0.79 (P < 0.0001), affect/behavioral aggression was r = 0.81 (P < 0.0001), and negative cognition was r = 0.75 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The Italian validation of the HS revealed the use of this self‐report test to have good psychometric properties. This study offers a new tool to assess homophobia. In this regard, the HS can be introduced into the clinical praxis and into programs for the prevention of homophobic behavior. Ciocca G, Capuano N, Tuziak B, Mollaioli D, Limoncin E, Valsecchi D, Carosa E, Gravina GL, Gianfrilli D, Lenzi A, and Jannini EA. Italian validation of Homophobia Scale (HS). Sex Med 2015;3:213–218.

O objetivo foi de averiguar a noção de justiça retributiva, mais precisamente entre os alunos indisciplinados e disciplinados e observar a prevalência dos dois tipos de reações: expiatórias ou de reciprocidade. Verificar o conceito de disciplina e de indisciplina entre professores e alunos e a estes pedir para atribuir um juízo de valor. Os resultados demonstraram que os professores partiram de várias categorias para definir disciplina e indisciplina e as priorizadas foram comportamento, aprendizagem e motivação. Para os alunos ocorreram diferenças na preferência de categorias. Quanto à atribuição de valor a grande maioria, 92,59%, considera que ser indisciplinado não é algo bom. Quanto à prevalência dos dois tipos de reações expiatórias ou de reciprocidade relativas à sanção, os alunos consideraram como mais severa e justa as sanções por reciprocidade e preferiram punir através da mesma. Porém, é grande o número de alunos que optou pelas sanções expiatórias.The aim was to analyze the sense of retributive justice, particularly, among the undisciplined and disciplined students, and to observe which type of reaction prevails: expiatory or reciprocity. The teachers and students were asked about their conceptions of discipline and indiscipline. They were also asked to attribute a value judgment. Results showed that the teachers based themselves on several categories to define discipline and indiscipline, and the main were behavior, learning and motivation. As for the students, the preference for the categories differed. In attributing a judgment value, the great majority of 92,59% considers indiscipline not good. Regarding the prevailing type of reaction, expiatory or reciprocity, students consider more severe and fair the reciprocity sanction and they would rather punishment to be in such way. It was also high, though, the number of students who preferred the expiatory sanctions.

La comprensión lectora se ha convertido, en las últimas décadas, en una preocupación de quienes tienen la responsabilidad de la educación superior. Así, en el ISFD “Santa María” (San Juan, Argentina) se desarrolló durante los años 2006-2007 la investigación denominada "La Comprensión Lectora en el Nivel Superior: un estudio exploratorio". El objetivo fue indagar los factores que inciden en la comprensión lectora de alumnos de nivel superior. La estrategia metodológica se enmarcó dentro del paradigma interpretativo mediante un abordaje predominantemente cualitativo, con alumnos de dicho Instituto de la cohorte 2005. Se desarrolló en dos etapas: una enfocada a descubrir categorías desde los datos, mediante técnicas de recolección de bajo nivel de preestructuración (entrevistas en profundidad); la otra profundiza y relaciona categorías específicas del abordaje de textos escritos, usando técnicas de obtención de datos más estructuradas (cuestionario semi-estructurado autoadministrado). En la primera etapa —año 2006— la investigación estuvo orientada a recuperar la perspectiva de los alumnos para descubrir factores facilitadores y obstaculizadores de la comprensión lectora en su trayectoria educativa. Mediante un estudio de casos se puso de manifiesto la diversidad e interrelación de factores que inciden en el problema. A modo de conclusión, encontramos que la dimensión afectiva, los condicionantes académicos y las disposiciones de los alumnos se articulan para dar lugar a una determinada forma de encarar la formación de nivel superior. La segunda etapa —año 2007— se centró específicamente en el trabajo con los textos, tanto del docente como de los alumnos. Como resultado de este estudio se puso de relieve la importancia de la mediación del docente para facilitar la comprensión del material de estudio.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) degradation of extracellular matrix is thought to play an important role in invasion, angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. Several studies have demonstrated that CD147/ extracellular MMP inducer, a membrane-spanning molecule highly expressed in tumor cells, may be involved in the progression of malignancies by regulating expression of MMP in peritumoral stromal cells. In the present study we show that CD147 is expressed in microvesicles derived from epithelial ovarian cancer cells and that CD147-positive vesicles may promote an angiogenic phenotype in endothelial cells in vitro. Vesicles shed by human ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR3, SKOV3, and A2780 expressed different levels of CD147 and stimulated proangiogenic activities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a CD147-dependent fashion (OVCAR3 > SKOV3 > A2780). Moreover, vesicles shed by ovarian carcinoma cell line CABA I with low CD147 expression had no significant effect on the development of angiogenic phenotype in HUVECs. The treatment of OVCAR3 cells with small interfering RNA against CD147 suppressed the angiogenic potential of OVCAR3-derived microvesicles. However, transfection of CD147 cDNA into the CABA I cell line enabled CABA I-derived vesicles to induce angiogenesis and to promote MMP genes expression in HUVECs. We therefore conclude that vesicles shed by ovarian cancer cells may induce proangiogenic activities of HUVECs by a CD147-mediated mechanism.

Sexual assistance may have some aspects that resemble prostitution and others that might lead one to think of sexual assistants as similar to a group of subjects whose sexual object is disability (devotees). In this study, we investigate whether a rigorous selection and training process on the part of specialised organisations may reduce the risk of training subjects with an atypical sexual interest and behaviours resembling prostitution.The study population consisted of 152 subjects defining themselves as sexual assistants. Subjects were initially contacted on websites specifically dedicated to sexual assistants and prostitutes. One hundred and twenty subjects were selected, by propensity score analysis, and studied by means of a modified version of a semi-structured questionnaire previously developed to investigate a population of subjects attracted by disability.The study group was composed of 80 trained and 40 untrained sexual assistants, with mean ages of 41.5 (SD +/-12.58) and 44.5 (SD +/-11.62), respectively. A significant number of untrained subjects affirmed that their motivation in carrying out sexual assistance was of a remunerative nature, while this number was lower among the trained assistants (p = 0.001). Nearly all untrained subjects claimed to do one or more of the following activities during sexual assistance: sexual intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation. Among the trained subjects, however, only 47.5% claimed to do one or more of these activities, which means that there is a significant gap between trained and untrained assistants (p