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Il corpo umano è stato a lungo considerato come l'unica manifestazione tangibile dell’esistenza, ma l'ascesa del tecno-morfismo contemporaneo ha messo in discussione questa visione tradizionale. Il concetto di Corporea si basa sul decentramento del sé e sull'ibridazione del corpo con la tecnologia e l'ambiente. Il paper esplora come l'identità non sia più definita solo dal corpo biologico, ma si apre a nuove possibilità indagando tutte le possibili interazioni dell'individuo con la realtà manifesta e soggiacente. La moda e il design svolgono un ruolo chiave nell'esplorazione delle potenzialità del corpo ibrido. Il paper invita a riflettere sul futuro del corpo umano e sul ruolo della tecnologia nel plasmare la nostra esistenza, offrendo opportunità per una società più inclusiva, sostenibile e responsabile. Corporea rappresenta un nuovo paradigma per comprendere il corpo nell'era del post-umano.

Abstract The potential health risks of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile communications technologies have raised societal concerns. Guidelines have been set to protect the population (e.g. non-specific heating above 1 °C under exposure to radiofrequency fields), but questions remain regarding the potential biological effects of non-thermal exposures. With the advent of the fifth generation (5G) of mobile communication, assessing whether exposure to this new signal induces a cellular stress response is one of the mandatory steps on the roadmap for a safe deployment and health risk evaluation. Using the BRET (Bioluminescence Resonance Energy-Transfer) technique, we assessed whether continuous or intermittent (5 min ON/ 10 min OFF) exposure of live human keratinocytes and fibroblasts cells to 5G 3.5 GHz signals at specific absorption rate (SAR) up to 4 W/kg for 24 h impact basal or chemically-induced activity of Heat Shock Factor (HSF), RAt Sarcoma virus (RAS) and Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinases (ERK) kinases, and Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein (PML), that are all molecular pathways involved in environmental cell-stress responses. The main results are (i), a decrease of the HSF1 basal BRET signal when fibroblasts cells were exposed at the lower SARs tested (0.25 and 1 W/kg), but not at the highest one (4 W/kg), and (ii) a slight decrease of As2O3 maximal efficacy to trigger PML SUMOylation when fibroblasts cells, but not keratinocytes, were continuously exposed to the 5G RF-EMF signal. Nevertheless, given the inconsistency of these effects in terms of impacted cell type, effective SAR, exposure mode, and molecular cell stress response, we concluded that our study show no conclusive evidence that molecular effects can arise when skin cells are exposed to the 5G RF-EMF alone or with a chemical stressor.

Abstract Background The extended tau haplotype (H1) that covers the entire human microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). Nevertheless, controversial results, such as two studies in Greek populations with opposite effects, have been reported. Therefore, we set out to determine whether the H1 haplotype and additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) included in H1 are associated with PD in a sample of Greek patients. Methods We analysed MAPT haplotypes in cohorts of 122 patients and 123 controls of Greek origin, respectively. SNP genotyping was performed with Taqman assays and genotyping results were confirmed by sequencing. Results The presence of the H1 haplotype was significantly associated with PD (odds ratio for H1H1 vs. H1H2 and H2H2: 1.566; 95% CI: 1.137–2.157; P = 0.006) and remained so after adjustment for sex. Further analysis of H1 sub-haplotypes with three single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs242562, rs2435207 and rs3785883) demonstrated no significant association with PD. Conclusion Our data support the overall genetic role of MAPT and the H1 haplotype for PD susceptibility in Greek patients. However, the previously supported association of H1 sub-haplotypes with PD could not be confirmed in our study.

Abstract Background Neuroacanthocytosis (NA) denotes a heterogeneous group of diseases that are characterized by nervous system abnormalities in association with acanthocytosis in the patients' blood. The 4.1R protein of the erythrocyte membrane is critical for the membrane-associated cytoskeleton structure and in central neurons it regulates the stabilization of AMPA receptors on the neuronal surface at the postsynaptic density. We report clinical, biochemical, and genetic features in four patients from four unrelated families with NA in order to explain the cause of morphological abnormalities and the relationship with neurodegenerative processes. Case presentation All patients were characterised by atypical NA with a novel alteration of the erythrocyte membrane: a 4.1R protein deficiency. The 4.1R protein content was significantly lower in patients (3.40 ± 0.42) than in controls (4.41 ± 0.40, P < 0.0001), reflecting weakened interactions of the cytoskeleton with the membrane. In patients IV:1 (RM23), IV:3 (RM15), and IV:6 (RM16) the 4.1 deficiency seemed to affect the horizontal interactions of spectrin and an impairment of the dimer self-association into tetramers was detected. In patient IV:1 (RM16) the 4.1 deficiency seemed to affect the skeletal attachment to membrane and the protein band 3 was partially reduced. Conclusion A decreased expression pattern of the 4.1R protein was observed in the erythrocytes from patients with atypical NA, which might reflect the expression pattern in the central nervous system, especially basal ganglia, and might lead to dysfunction of AMPA-mediated glutamate transmission.

IntroductionThe current deployment of the fifth generation (5G) of wireless communications raises new questions about the potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. So far, most of the established biological effects of RF have been known to be caused by heating. We previously reported inhibition of the spontaneous electrical activity of neuronal networks in vitro when exposed to 1.8 GHz signals at specific absorption rates (SAR) well above the guidelines. The present study aimed to assess the effects of RF fields at 3.5 GHz, one of the frequencies related to 5G, on neuronal activity in-vitro. Potential differences in the effects elicited by continuous-wave (CW) and 5G-modulated signals were also investigated.MethodsSpontaneous activity of neuronal cultures from embryonic cortices was recorded using 60-electrode multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) between 17 and 27 days in vitro. The neuronal cultures were subjected to 15 min RF exposures at SAR of 1, 3, and 28 W/kg.ResultsAt SAR close to the guidelines (1 and 3 W/kg), we found no conclusive evidence that 3.5 GHz RF exposure impacts the activity of neurons in vitro. On the contrary, CW and 5G-modulated signals elicited a clear decrease in bursting and total firing rates during RF exposure at high SAR levels (28 W/kg). Our experimental findings extend our previous results, showing that RF, at 1.8 to 3.5 GHz, inhibits the electrical activity of neurons in vitro at levels above environmental standards.

Laliotis et al. examine the role of the AKT3-phoshorylated RNA processing factor IWS1 and the IWS1 phosphorylation-dependent alternative splicing of U2AF2 in lung adenocarcinoma cells. The alternatively spliced variant of U2AF2 regulates the nuclear export of CAR-Epositive intronless mRNAs, including those encoding Type I interferons.

L'impatto sull’ambiente causato dal consumo di risorse non rinnovabili per la produzione di beni di consumo spinge il design ad intervenire con strategie che implementino processi sostenibili e inclusivi per mitigare gli effetti e valutare le alternative. Il capitale umano è al centro di una rivoluzione che presuppone pratiche condivise e co-creative, sviluppate all’interno della dinamica del social change per generare valore diffuso. Il design per la Moda grazie alla capacità di recepire il cambiamento sociale stimola l’innovazione lungo tutta la catena del valore; dalla creazione/progettazione; alla produzione; ai modelli di distribuzione e consumo. Il TexLAB dell’Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, con i laboratori di Fashion Design e Textile Design ha collaborato alla definizione di un progetto di sartoria sociale denominato “S'ARTE Progetto Sartoria Remida Napoli”. La partnership con Tessuti di Sondrio DiV. Marzotto ha collaborato alla realizzazione di una collezione di moda “Paesaggi della Moda Sostenibile”dimostrando la fattibilità di modelli di produzione e consumo ispirati agli obiettivi dell’Agenda ONU 2030, trai quali punti 4, 5, 11 e 12. La collezione di moda nasce dal recupero delle eccedenze di magazzino reintrodotte in un circuito di riciclo creativo, configurando nuove collezioni dall’utilizzo di materiali tessili altrimenti destinati alla discarica, rappresentando un ecosistema co-creativo fondato sull'upcycling, sulla condivisione e sull’innovazione sociale e progettuale. Si instaura un sistema di relazioni fondate sull’integrazione tra la formazione universitaria, le associazioni di volontariato e gli stakeholders nazionali, uniti allo scopo di configurare un network secondo la prospettiva multilivello. La sfida è focalizzata al rafforzamento del dialogo tra il mondo accademico e le realtà manifatturiere, che collaborano allo upcycling ripensando il sistema tessile e dell’abbigliamento in linea con la prospettiva sostenibile. Si elaborano approcci sostenibili attraverso azioni che accompagnano il cambiamento nell’Industria della Moda che si fondano su una nuova concezione della catena del valore che mira alla realizzazione di co-benefici estesi dall’umano all’ecosistema naturale. Si prospetta il passaggio dalla moda come fenomeno mass-mediale che causa sprechi e inquinamento, a fenomeno sociale che coinvolge persone, gruppi, comunità e istituzioni, nella definizione di nuovi modelli di comportamento e di business.

Background: It has been reported that mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) could be considered a useful tool to stratify the mortality risk in COVID-19 patients upon admission to the emergency department (ED). During the COVID-19 outbreak, computed tomography (CT) scans were widely used for their excellent sensitivity in diagnosing pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the possible role of CT score in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients upon admission to the ED is still unclear. Aim: The main objective of this study was to assess if the association of the CT findings alone or together with MR-proADM results could ameliorate the prediction of in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients at the triage. Moreover, the hypothesis that CT score and MR-proADM levels together could play a key role in predicting the correct clinical setting for these patients was also evaluated. Methods: Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were assessed and analyzed from 265 consecutive patients admitted to the triage of the ED with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results and conclusions: The accuracy results by AUROC analysis and statistical analysis demonstrated that CT score is particularly effective, when utilized together with the MR-proADM level, in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ED, thus helping the decision-making process of emergency physicians and optimizing the hospital resources.

We describe the case of a 32-year-old man who developed a liver neoplasm due to previous Fontan surgery (FS) for a single ventricle anomaly and situs viscerum inversus. He was admitted to our hospital for suspected hepatocellular carcinoma during an Ultrasound (US) follow up. Computed tomography (CT) showed features of chronic liver disease and 7 cm hepatic nodule with arterial enhancement. Laboratory analyses documented preserved liver function and increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Trans-arterial-chemoembolization (TACE) was performed obtaining complete necrosis at 4 weeks of follow up and significant reduction of alpha-fetoprotein. The patient is currently in follow-up, being evaluated for further treatments and/or combined liver-heart transplantation. TACE is a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and with severe heart disease, like those submitted to FS and with also other vascular abnormalities like those correlated to situs viscerum inversus.

IWS1 regulates multiple steps in RNA metabolism, including RNA elongation and alternative RNA splicing. Here the authors show that AKT3 phosphorylates IWS1, which alters U2AF2 RNA splicing and promotes growth of lung adenocarcinomas via a Sororin/ERK-dependent pathway.

Experimental models play a pivotal role in biomedical research, facilitating the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutics. This is particularly true for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and motor neuron disease, which present complex challenges for research and therapy development. In this work, we review the recent literature about experimental models and motor neuron disease. We identified three main categories of models that are highly studied by scientists. In fact, experimental models for investigating these diseases encompass a variety of approaches, including modeling the patient's cell culture, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, and organoids. Each model offers unique advantages and limitations, providing researchers with a range of tools to address complex biological questions. Here, we discuss the characteristics, applications, and recent advancements in terms of each model system, highlighting their contributions to advancing biomedical knowledge and translational research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the case of a 41‐year‐old woman who developed a liver neoplasm due to previous Fontan surgery for a single ventricle anomaly and pacemaker implantation. She was admitted to our hospital for moderate ascites and she was affected by hepatocellular carcinoma treated by trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Computed tomography showed features of chronic liver disease and 4 cm hepatic nodules with arterial enhancement. Laboratory analyses documented preserved liver function and increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein. TACE was performed obtaining complete necrosis at 4 weeks of follow up and significant reduction of alpha-fetoprotein after 2 months. The patient is currently in follow-up, being evaluated for further treatments and/or combined liver/heart transplantation. TACE is a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with unresectable HCC and with severe heart disease, like those submitted to FS.

Earthquakes are clustered in time and space; therefore, structures may be subjected to multiple consecutive instances of potentially damaging shaking, with insufficient in‐between time for repair operations to take place. Methodologies to evaluate the risk dynamics in this situation require vulnerability models that are able to capture the transitions between damage states, from the intact conditions to failure, due to multiple damaging earthquakes, that is, state‐dependent fragility curves. One of the state‐of‐the‐art methods for the assessment of structure‐specific state‐dependent fragility curves relies on a variant of incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), which is often termed back‐to‐back or B2B‐IDA. The computational costs typically involved in B2B‐IDA motivate attempts to simplify the evaluation of state‐dependent fragility curves. This paper presents a simplified method for multi‐story moment‐resisting frame structures, based on pushover analysis in conjunction with a predictive model for the main features of a damaged structural system, such as residual deformations and loss of stiffness and/or strength. The predictive model enables the probabilistic definition of the post‐earthquake pushover curve of a damaged structural system, given the displacement demand imposed by a preceding damaging shock. The state‐dependent fragility curves are then evaluated via IDA of single‐degree‐of‐freedom oscillators based on these pushover curves. Illustrative applications validate the ability of the proposed methodology to provide state‐dependent fragilities with reduced computational costs compared to the back‐to‐back IDA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Millimeter wave (MMW)-induced heating represents a promising alternative for non-invasive hyperthermia of superficial skin cancer, such as melanoma. Pulsed MMW-induced heating of tumors allows for reaching high peak temperatures without overheating surrounding tissues. Herein, for the first time, we evaluate apoptotic and heat shock responses of melanoma cells exposed in vitro to continuous (CW) or pulsed-wave (PW) amplitude-modulated MMW at 58.4 GHz with the same average temperature rise. Using an ad hoc exposure system, we generated 90 min pulse train with 1.5 s pulse duration, period of 20 s, amplitude of 10 °C, and steady-state temperature at the level of cells of 49.2 °C. The activation of Caspase-3 and phosphorylation of HSP27 were investigated using fluorescence microscopy to monitor the spatial variation of cellular response. Our results demonstrate that, under the considered exposure conditions, Caspase-3 activation was almost 5 times greater following PW exposure compared to CW. The relationship between the PW-induced cellular response and SAR-dependent temperature rise was non-linear. Phosphorylation of HSP27 was 58% stronger for PW compared to CW. It exhibits a plateau for the peak temperature ranging from 47.7 to 49.2 °C. Our results provide an insight into understanding of the cellular response to MMW-induced pulsed heating.

A 39-year-old female, liver transplanted for Autosomic Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) developed refractory ascites early after surgery, with frequent need of large-volume paracentesis. This was associated with severe sarcopenia and kidney impairment. Liver biopsy showed a sinusoidal congestion with a significant enlargement of hepatic portal veins. This picture suggested the diagnosis of vascular obstructions. Due to an unfavorable passage through the piggy-back surgical anastomosis and the angle between the hepatic veins and the portal branches, a conventional placement of a transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was not feasible. An alternative approach was pursued with success, using a combined percutaneous-transjugular approach and achieving a complete recovery of ascites, sarcopenia and renal function.