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CONTEXT: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the two main leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Suboptimal diet, poor in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grain, and rich in processed and red meat, refined grains, and added sugars, is a primary modifiable risk factor. Based on health, economic and ethical concerns, plant-based diets have progressively widespread worldwide. OBJECTIVE: This umbrella review aims at assessing the impact of animal-free and animal-products-free diets (A/APFDs) on the risk factors associated with the development of cardiometabolic diseases, cancer and their related mortalities. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and Scopus were searched for reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published from 1st January 2000 to 31st June 2023, written in English and involving human subjects of all ages. Primary studies and reviews/meta-analyses based on interventional trials which used A/APFDs as a therapy for people with metabolic diseases were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: The umbrella review approach was applied for data extraction and analysis. The revised AMSTAR-R 11-item tool was applied to assess the quality of reviews/meta-analyses. RESULTS: Overall, vegetarian and vegan diets are significantly associated with better lipid profile, glycemic control, body weight/BMI, inflammation, and lower risk of ischemic heart disease and cancer. Vegetarian diet is also associated with lower mortality from CVDs. On the other hand, no difference in the risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension were reported in pregnant women following vegetarian diets. Study quality was average. A key limitation is represented by the high heterogeneity of the study population in terms of sample size, demography, geographical origin, dietary patterns, and other lifestyle confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Plant-based diets appear beneficial in reducing cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as CVDs, cancer risk and mortality. However, caution should be paid before broadly suggesting the adoption of A/AFPDs since the strength-of-evidence of study results is significantly limited by the large study heterogeneity alongside the potential risks associated with potentially restrictive regimens.

The present work shows that the exposure of mesothelial cells to simulated microgravity changes their cytoskeleton and adhesion proteins, leading to a cell switch from normal towards tumoral cells. Immunohistochemical and molecular data were obtained from both MeT-5A exposed to simulated microgravity and BR95 mesothelioma cell lines. Simulated microgravity was found to affect the expression of actin, vinculin, and connexin-43, altering their quantitative and spatial distribution pattern inside the cell. The analysis of the tumoral markers p27, CD44, Fibulin-3, and NANOG and the expression of genes related to cancer transformation such as NANOG, CDH-1, and Zeb-1 showed that the simulated microgravity environment led to expression patterns in MeT-5A cells similar to those observed in BR95 cells. The alteration in both quantitative expression and structural organization of the cytoskeleton and adhesion/communication proteins can thus be considered a pivotal mechanism involved in the cellular shift towards tumoral progression.

Background: Physical Education (PE) classes are vital for nurturing students' social development and promoting collaboration. This study examined how primary and middle school students perceived PE classes, with a focus on collaboration, well-being and enjoyment, teacher behavior, the inclusion of nondisabled and disabled students, and general class behavior. Methods: One-hundred and seventy students (24 primary school and 146 middle school students) were surveyed using a questionnaire. Results: Exploratory Factor Analysis identified seven factors including: well-being, activities for all students, teacher-oriented behavior, collaboration, and attention to students with disabilities. Linear regressions on each identified Factor revealed higher well-being (Factor 1) between primary and middle school students. In addition, the perceived well-being in PE classes and staying together with classmates among younger middle school students was found to be higher than that reported by their older counterparts in middle school. The analysis also revealed that males perceived a higher well-being in PE classes than females. Conclusion: The research underscores that primary and especially middle school PE teachers should promote the well-being of students by creating inclusive and enjoyable PE classes. The PE classes should consider the differences between sexes and the individual differences. Finally, this research lays the foundation for future investigations to refine inclusive PE strategies and improve students' well-being.

Background: Arthroplasty registries play a critical role in improving the quality of care and performing post-market surveillance of medical devices. We report the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative (MARCQI) findings specific to the Biomet Vanguard XP bicruciate-retaining total knee implant. Methods: Data were collected from MARCQI’s 2019 report (February 15, 2012, through December 31, 2018). Demographic data were analyzed to determine differences between Vanguard XP and all other implants. The cumulative percent revision (CPR) was computed from the survival function, S(t), using CPR(t) = 100∗(1 − S(t)). A log-rank test was used to assess differences in the CPR curve for the Vanguard XP and all other implants. Results: There were 148,832 knee arthroplasty cases in the MARCQI registry and 507 using Vanguard XP implant combinations. The unadjusted cumulative percent revision curve up to 5 years postoperatively for the Vanguard XP differed from all other implants (P < .0001). The hazard ratios for the 3 factors included in the Cox proportional hazards model were all significantly different from unity: implant (2.76, 95% CI: 1.98-3.86), sex (0.80, 95% CI: 0.74-0.85), and age (0.96, 95% CI: 0.96-0.97). The top 3 reasons for revision were pain, arthrofibrosis, and aseptic loosening. All surgeons who used the Vanguard XP experienced higher failure rates. Conclusions: The Vanguard XP experienced higher early failure rates than other TKA implants within the MARCQI registry. The development of thresholds and benchmarks for registry reporting in collaboration with industry could potentially save patients from the morbidity caused by implants that do not perform as well as anticipated.

IntroductionThe sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) mediates active iodide accumulation in the thyroid follicular cell. Biallelic loss-of-function variants in the NIS-coding SLC5A5 gene cause congenital dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism due to a defect in the accumulation of iodide, which is required for thyroid hormonogenesis.ObjectiveWe aimed to identify, and if so to functionally characterize, novel pathogenic SLC5A5 gene variants in a patient diagnosed with severe congenital dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism characterized by undetectable radioiodide accumulation in a eutopic thyroid gland, as well as in the salivary glands.MethodsThe coding region of the SLC5A5 gene was sequenced using whole-exome sequencing. In silico analysis and in vitro functional characterization of missense SLC5A5 gene variants were performed.ResultsProposita’s whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel pair of compound heterozygous missense variants in the SLC5A5 gene, c.1,627G>A (p.G543R) and c.1,684T>A (p.L562M). The parents were heterozygous carriers of the variants as determined by Sanger sequencing of the SLC5A5 gene. The p.G543R variant in the homozygous state has previously been associated with congenital hypothyroidism. The novel p.L562M variant was not reported in the Genome Aggregation Consortium dataset. In silico analysis of the pathogenic impact of the p.L562M variant yielded inconclusive results. Functional in vitro studies showed that the p.L562M variant reduces iodide accumulation due to defective expression of the mutant NIS protein at the plasma membrane. Notably, the aliphatic residue Leu at position 562 in the carboxy terminus of the protein, which is highly conserved in NIS orthologues, is required for NIS plasma membrane expression.ConclusionsWe report novel compound heterozygous missense SLC5A5 gene variants causing defective iodide accumulation, thus leading to congenital dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism.

Mega-sport events are often a means used by host countries to enhance their public image or draw attention away from human rights violations. From this point of view, this paper focuses on Qatar 2022, one of the most contested editions in the history of the FIFA World Cup. The authors look to understand how journalistic discourse shapes the processes of legitimisation or contestation of sportswashing practices. The contribution considers the media chronicle of Qatar 2022 in the main newspapers of the Italian sports press, through the methodological tools of Critical Discourse Analysis. The results show residual attention by sports journalism to the controversial aspects of this mega-event, taking into account the system of power relations both within and outside the sports journalism field.

During the period 1922-37, both the British and Italians launched institutes for educational cinematography and collaborated in the creation of the League of Nations' International Educational Cinematographic Institute. Their leading newspapers dedicated entire sections to the advertising of educational campaigns through cinema. Comparing official documents and the print apparatus about the establishment and the activities of two institutes for educational cinema in Europe gives us a perception of how similarly and differently the British and Italians used their educational films to convey imperial sentiments and rhetoric into civilian life during fifteen years of colonial rule.

BACKGROUND: Formal education surrounding abortion care during pre-clinical years of medical school is limited and will likely decrease with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This study describes and evaluates the impact of an original abortion didactic session implemented during the pre-clinical years of medical school. METHODS: We implemented a didactic session at the University of California Irvine outlining abortion epidemiology, pregnancy options counseling, standard abortion care, and the current legislative landscape surrounding abortion. The preclinical session also included an interactive, small group case-based discussion. Pre-session and post-session surveys were obtained to evaluate changes in participants knowledge and attitudes and to collect feedback for future sessions. RESULTS: 92 matched pre- and post-session surveys were completed and analyzed (response rate 77%). The majority of the respondents identified themselves as more pro-choice compared to pro-life on the pre-session survey. Results reflected significantly increased comfort discussing abortion care and significantly increased knowledge about abortion prevalence and techniques after the session. Qualitative feedback was overwhelmingly positive and reflected participants appreciation for the focus on the medical aspects of abortion care as opposed to an ethical discussion. CONCLUSIONS: Abortion education targeted to preclinical medical students can be implemented effectively by a medical student cohort with institutional support.

The abandonment of inhabited places is a phenomenon widespread on a global scale that has spanned centuries. It has led to the birth of the so-called ‘ghost towns’. These lifeless sites dot the internal Mediterranean and European areas, testifying to the changeability of the human settlements. Through a vision that reverses the paradigm that epitomises the ‘ghost towns’, these places can be transformed from a problem into an opportunity for the development of the territories that host them. The main topic of this article is to present and update investigations performed on three abandoned settlements sited in Portugal, Italy, and Albania in view of their tourist exploitation, considering three different tailored strategies: underwater tourism, dark tourism, and heritage tourism. For each site, we analysed the site history, the abandonment causes, and the territorial-geological features, thus arguing for the possible valorisation and enjoyment approaches with special attention to digital technologies, which are highly underexploited in the sector. This study, which is part of an international research landscape still in the initial stages, falls within the BEGIN project (aBandonment vErsus reGeneratIoN), which aims to develop a multilevel methodological–operational protocol useful in regional, national, EU, and non-EU contexts for the dissemination of knowledge, conservation, regeneration, valorisation, management, and fruition of areas classified as a ‘ghost town’. The research findings can be useful for scholars, practitioners, and local entities entrusted to manage the abandoned towns. Furthermore, the methodological approach followed in this research can supply useful insights into aims to valorise and enjoy worldwide ‘ghost towns’.

Investigational drug services need to be organised in a structured approach, especially for sites with a large number of ongoing clinical trials. The aim of this study was to develop a tool to assess the complexity of pharmacy involvement in a sponsored oncology clinical trial. Categorisation into ordinal complexity categories was used to assess the complexity of the clinical trials for consistent pharmacy grant applications. The 15 items of the tool were divided into three sections, and individual item scores were agreed upon among four pharmacists with experience in the conduct of clinical trials at two different centres. A final version of the tool, named Pharm-CAT, was approved. The pharmacists were instructed to use Pharm-CAT to assign a score to each new sponsored trial. To determine the cut-offs for the complexity categories, the scores were sorted in ascending order and the cut-offs corresponding to the first and third tertiles of the score distribution were selected. To verify the reproducibility of the results, Pharm-CAT was applied by two pharmacists independently for each trial. Pharm-CAT proved to be user-friendly. Sixty clinical trials were evaluated and a total of 120 scores were recorded. Low-complexity scores ranged from 0 to 19, medium-complexity scores ranged from 20 to 25, and high-complexity scores were 26 or higher. The average score recorded was 22.88 points. Prospective multicentre validation of Pharm-CAT is needed to confirm its applicability.

Placed as a hinge between analysis and decisions, the diagnosis involves interpretations on whose correctness may depend the restorations’ outcome and the building’s future life. In the diagnosis’ context, an important role is played by the knowledge of the restoration interventions’ history and investigations in order to orient new diagnostic investigations and to compare data acquired at different times with the aim to integrating them and discovering constructive and structural variations occurred. This integrated methodology aspires to multiple objectives including the design of a new investigation plan made reliable and effective through ‘archival diagnostics’. In this sense, archival research stands as a means of adding information on the conservation history and degradation, representing a useful diagnostic tool. Hence the intention to begin a reasoning on the added value that the anamnesis and diagnosis based on archive data can provide from a cognitive and design point of view.

Sedentary behaviour (SB) is associated with an increased risk of metabolic issues (negative effects on diabetes, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and waist circumference), cardiovascular diseases, increased risk of all-cause mortality and accelerated ageing of skeletal muscle power. The research on SB is relatively new, with much evidence regarding its negative health effects gathered within the last decade. Office workers exhibit pronounced sedentary habits, with studies indicating they can spend up to 82% of their working day sitting. To address this issue, workplaces are responsible for promoting physical activity and minimising SB among employees. In this context, one potential strategy for reducing SB and its associated risks could be implementing active breaks (ABs). ABs are defined as brief, structured periods of physical activity or exercise. This quasi-experimental pilot study aims to implement workplace ABs programme aimed at interrupting SB among the University of Bologna (Italy) workers, and it will include both intervention and control groups. The intervention group will participate in an 8-week ABs programme. The findings from this study could establish a robust basis for future large-scale research on the effectiveness of ABs interventions in workplace settings.

Olfactory dysfunction is a common non-motor symptom associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). This condition usually appears before the onset of the cardinal motor symptoms and is still poorly understood. Here, we generated a mouse model of early-stage PD based on partial 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of the dorsal striatum to reproduce the olfactory deficit and associated cellular and electrophysiological anomalies observed in patients. Using this model, we investigated the effect of long-term, continuous administration of pramipexole, a dopamine D2/3 selective agonist, on olfactory dysfunction. We found that pramipexole reverted the impairment of odor discrimination displayed by the mouse model in the habituation/dishabituation test. In line with similar observations in PD patients, the mouse model showed an increase of dopamine cells paralleled by augmented levels of the dopamine marker, tyrosine hydroxylase, in the olfactory bulb (OB). These changes, which have been proposed to contribute to olfactory dysfunction, were abolished by oral administration of pramipexole. Local field potential recording in the OB of 6-OHDA lesion mice showed reduced oscillations in the beta frequency range, in comparison to healthy control mice. This abnormality, which is suggestive of defective long range OB transmission, was also counteracted by pramipexole. Altogether these findings indicate that prolonged pharmacological stimulation of dopamine D2-like receptors rescues olfactory discrimination observed in experimental parkinsonism. Moreover, they show that this protective effect is exerted in parallel to a normalization of dopamine neurons and beta band oscillations in the OB, providing information on the potential mechanisms involved in PD-related olfactory dysfunction.

Oxymorons combine two opposite terms in a paradoxical manner. They are closely intertwined with antonymy, since the union of antonymous items creates the paradoxical effect of the oxymoron and generates a new meaning. Compared to other forms of figurative language, oxymorons are largely underinvestigated. We explored what makes good oxymorons through a crowdsourcing task in which we asked participants to judge the acceptability, comprehensibility, effectiveness/aptness, commonness, pleasantness, and humoristic connotation of Italian adjective–noun oxymorons. We hypothesized that oxymorons featuring morphologically related antonyms (felice infelicità ‘happy unhappiness’) may be perceived to be better than oxymorons featuring morphologically unrelated antonyms (felice tristezza ‘happy sadness’) and that oxymorons constructed by complementaries (esatta inesattezza ‘exact inexactness’) may be perceived to be better than oxymorons constructed by contraries (bella bruttezza ‘beautiful ugliness’). The results confirmed only partially our hypotheses: oxymorons with complementaries were perceived as more acceptable, comprehensible, effective/apt, common, whereas no strong trend was found for the other two dimensions. Surprisingly, our analyses revealed that oxymoronic constructions containing morphologically unrelated words were perceived as more acceptable, comprehensible, effective/apt, common, pleasant, contradicting our initial expectations.