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The development of a resilient society is a major challenge for growing human population faced with abundant natural hazards. During and after the May 22, 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo, the local population was surprised and scared by the subsequent seismicity and associated surface fracturing, coupled with the alert of a possible new eruptive vent opening in Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo) and/or Gisenyi (Rwanda). The creation of a toll-free phone number enabled the population to record fractures and gas/thermal anomalies affecting the area. Such work was fundamental in enabling scientists and authorities to assess the associated risks. Crucially, gas data showed that the degassing through fractures did not represent direct transfer of magmatic volatiles but was more likely of superficial origin. Surprisingly, this participatory work revealed that the first fractures appeared several weeks before the eruption and their opening was not detected by the monitoring system. This firmly underlines the need for scientists to anchor citizen science in monitoring strategies.

Single-nucleon transfer reactions are processes that selectively probe single-particle components of the populated many-body nuclear states. In this context, recent efforts have been made to build a unified description of the rich nuclear spectroscopy accessible in heavy-ion collisions. An example of this multichannel approach is the study of the competition between successive nucleon transfer and charge exchange reactions, the latter being of particular interest in the context of single and double beta decay studies. To this extent, the one-proton Ti-48 (O-18, F-19)(47) pickup reaction Sc at 275 MeV was measured for the first time, under the NUMEN experimental campaign. Differential cross-section angular distribution measurements for the F-19 ejectiles were performed at INFN-LNS in Catania by using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer. The data were analyzed within the distorted-wave and coupled-channels Born approximation frameworks. The initial and final-state interactions were described adopting the Sao Paulo potential, whereas the spectroscopic amplitudes for the projectile and target overlaps were derived from shell-model calculations. The theoretical cross sections are found to be in very good agreement with the experimental data, suggesting the validity of the optical potentials and the shell-model description of the involved nuclear states within the adopted model space.

The NUMEN project aims at accessing experimentally driven information on Nuclear Matrix Elements (NME) involved in the half-life of the neutrinoless double beta decay (0v beta beta). In this view measurements of Heavy Ion (HI) induced Double Charge Exchange (DCE) reaction cross sections are performed with high-accuracy. In particular, the (O-18,(18)Nc) and ((20)Nc, O-20) reactions are used as tools for beta(+)beta(+) and beta(-)beta(-) decays, respectively. In the experiments, performed at INFN - Laboratory Nazionali del Sud (LNS) in Catania, the beams are accelerated by the Superconducting Cyclotron (CS) and the reaction ejectiles are detected the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer. The measured cross sections are challengingly low (a few nb), being the total reaction cross section much larger (a few b), thus a high sensitivity and a large rejection capability are demanded to the experimental set-up. This limits the present exploration to few selected isotopes of interest in the context of typically low-yield experimental runs. A major upgrade of the LNS facility is under way in order to increase the experimental dataset of more than two orders of magnitude, still preserving the high sensitivity of the present set-up. When accomplished this effort will make the INFN-LNS as the state-of-the-art research infrastructure for the systematic study of all the cases of interest for 0v beta beta. In this view, frontiers technologies are going to be adopted for the accelerator and the detection systems. In parallel, advanced theoretical models are being developed in order to extract the nuclear structure information from the measured cross sections

A great number of buildings built in Europe in the second half of the last century are currently in need of strengthening and retrofitting. One of the more frequent issues is the weakness of the slabs and, in particular, of the intrados covering layer (usually a plaster) and/or of the clay non-structural elements employed to decrease the overall slab weight. The application of composite-reinforced mortar (CRM) systems represents a fast and easy solution to address these weaknesses. Therefore, they are particularly attractive for applications in school buildings, to avoid long interruptions of the educational activities. In this paper, the use of CRM to strengthen different types of slabs is described and discussed on the basis of the results obtained from an experimental campaign conducted at the Politecnico di Milano.

The complex geology of Greece includes two important parallel running ophiolitic belts. The Othrys Massif in central Greece belongs to westernmost of them. In and around this wide ophiolite outcrop, some cold hyperalkaline and some hypothermal (T < 40°C) alkaline springs are present. Thirty water samples were collected at 17 different sites and both bubbling and dissolved gases were analysed for their chemical (He, Ne, H2, O2, N2, CH4, C2H6, CO2 and H2S) and isotope (He, δ13C-CO2, δ 13C-CH4, δ 2H-CH4) composition. All samples except one have H2S contents below detection limit (10 μmol/mol), whilst H2 (from 11) waters are N2 dominated (from 727,000 to 977,000 μmol/mol). Generally, He isotope composition excludes contributions from a mantle source, showing a mostly pure crustal contribution for the alkaline waters and a prevailing atmospheric contribution for the hyperalkaline ones. Methane may have different origins, which can be subdivided in biogenic (either directly produced by microbial activity or deriving by decay of organic matter at T > 150°C) and abiogenic (from pure inorganic reactions). Among the latter, one of the most debated origins comes from serpentinization processes of ultramafic rocks in ophiolitic sequences at low temperatures (T < 80 °C). Furthermore, secondary processes (diffusion, inorganic or microbial oxidation, etc.) may mask the original chemical and/or isotope composition. Primary and secondary processes acting on CH4 can be recognised mainly through its isotope (δ13C and δ2H) composition and the ratio between CH4 and C2+C3 hydrocarbons (Bernard ratio). Samples collected in the Othrys Massif display a wide range of both isotope compositions of CH4 (δ13C-CH4 from -74.5 to -14.5 ‰ and δ2H-CH4 from -343 to -62 ‰) and Bernard ratio (from 220 to 15,800). The relatively high values of the ratio seem to exclude great contributions from thermogenic CH4. Alkaline waters present the most negative isotope values for CH4, evidencing a biogenic (microbial) origin, whereas many of the hyperalkaline waters have CH4 isotope values compatible with an abiogenic origin through serpentinization processes but also at points, very negative values are present, indicating sometimes a clear biogenic contribution. Finally, few samples both from alkaline and hyperalkaline waters show some evidence of secondary oxidation processes.

Samples of efflorescences and encrustations of hydrothermal origin have been collected at three fumarolic areas in Greece. The three sites are Sousaki, Thiafi (Methana) and Kokkino Nero (Kos) and all belong to the South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc. Samples were analysed for their mineralogical (XRD and SEM-EDS) and chemical composition. Solutions obtained from both mineralization with HNO3 and leaching with distilled water, were analysed for major (ICP-OES), minor and trace metals (ICP-MS) and for sulfate contents (IC). Results show that their composition is mainly controlled by the petrological composition of the substrate (ultramafic rocks at Sousaki, felsic volcanic rocks at Methana and low-grade metamorphic rocks at Kos). The microenvironmental conditions (humidity, oxidizing or anoxic, exposed or sheltered from meteoric agents) as well as the rainfall regime of the area play also an important role. The presence of highly soluble sulfate minerals with elevated contents of many metals further underscores the significant influence of hydrothermal activity on elements’ mobility. The sometimes very high concentrations in toxic elements like Al, As, Co, Cr, Ni evidence also a potential environmental impact.

The NUMEN main goal is the extraction from measured cross-sections of “data-driven” information on Nuclear Matrix Elements for all the systems candidate for 0 nu beta beta. The idea is to use as experimental tool Heavy Ions-Double Charge Exchange (HI-DCE) reactions. Crucial for the experimental challanges is the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS) facility, made by the Superconducting Cyclotron (CS) and the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer. The experimental measurements of HI-DCE reactions present a number of challenging aspects, since they are characterized by very low cross sections. Here it is reported the new experimental campaign of NUMEN Project.

Background: Double charge exchange (DCE) nuclear reactions have recently attracted much interest as tools to provide experimentally driven information about nuclear matrix elements of interest in the context of neutrinoless double-β decay. In this framework, a good description of the reaction mechanism and a complete knowledge of the initial and final-state interactions are mandatory. Presently, not enough is known about the details of the optical potentials and nuclear response to isospin operators for many of the projectile-target systems proposed for future DCE studies. Among these, the Ne20+Ge76 DCE reaction is particularly relevant due to its connection with Ge76 double-β decay. Purpose: We intend to characterize the initial-state interaction for the Ne20+Ge76 reactions at 306 MeV bombarding energy and determine the optical potential and the role of the couplings between elastic channel and inelastic transitions to the first low-lying excited states. Methods: We determine the experimental elastic and inelastic scattering cross-section angular distributions, compare the theoretical predictions by adopting different models of optical potentials with the experimental data, and evaluate the coupling effect through the comparison of the distorted-wave Born approximation calculations with the coupled channels ones. Results: Optical models fail to describe the elastic angular distribution above the grazing angle (≈9.4). A correction in the geometry to effectively account for deformation of the involved nuclear systems improves the agreement up to about 14. Coupled channels effects are crucial to obtain good agreement at large angles in the elastic scattering cross section. Conclusions: The analysis of elastic and inelastic scattering data turned out to be a powerful tool to explore the initial and final-state interactions in heavy-ion nuclear reactions at high transferred momenta. © 2019 American Physical Society.

Background The aim of this study was to explore the oral hygiene practices and oral health status of Italian postpartum women. Methods A self-administered questionnaire assessed socio-demographic information, oral hygiene habits and frequency of dental visits. All women received a thorough oral examination within five days after delivery. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for exposures of interest and the presence of ‘severe’ periodontitis. Results Seven hundred and fifty women participated in the study; 99.1% brushed their teeth everyday and 59.9% visited the dentist annually. The mean frequency of sites with bleeding on probing was 16.1% and the median clinical attachment level was 2.1 mm. The mean caries experience score (DMFT) was 8. Severe periodontal disease was present in 21.9% of individuals. Patients who reported visiting a dentist only when in pain and women with three dental caries or more were significantly more likely to have periodontitis (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.2; p

The attention devoted to our valuable geological heritage land has been often lacking in Italy. We have experiencedit, as field experimentalist or as science teachers. So, we need to improve the knowledge of Earth-science at anyeducational level and we think an empiric approach, can be the proper beginning for a successful scientific cognitivepath. The geo-tourism essentially attracts foreigners. During our field experiences on active volcanoes, we are stillsurprised by local visitors who enjoy seasonal activities, like skiing on the flanks of Etna, or doing sea activities on thecoastal beaches at Vulcano and Stromboli, but who are not interested in the ongoing volcanic processes. Consequently,we have integrated the social impetus that drives active citizenship with school education in order to relate our scientificknowledge to the professional and existential needs of young students. Two scientific workshops have been carried outin collaboration with the science school teacher, the researcher of a naturalistic association (Geode), and researchers ofthe INGV. The first (A.Y. 2015/2016) was targeted to the Aeolian isles of Vulcano and Stromboli, the second to M.Etna (2016/2017).Set goals:- to increase the sensibility, respect and care for natural environment, as well as the awareness of the naturalphenomena characterizing it;- to overcome the traditional school setting organized in the classroom, using both field and laboratory approach;- use a more effective (and attractive) teaching style to increase young people cognitive abilities, training also therelational skills, like work ethics, orally speaking, and teamworks;- to foster the multi-disciplinar approach for solving complex problems;- to contaminate disciplines with digital technologies highlighting instrumental potentiality and versatility;- to orient young people into future professional applications.The didactic pathway provided information on geology, volcanology and on botanic-naturalistic aspects of theAeolian archipelago, Mount Etna and surrounding areas. We formed groups of students, heterogeneous for class andaddress, ranging from 28 to 35 items. The didactic experience consisted into theoretical lessons in the classroom andexcursions by land and by sea, through the most significant itineraries of Vulcano, Stromboli and Etna (Monti Rossi,Alcantara Gorges). The students were introduced to the volcanologist's task in the field of volcanic surveillance,through an operational approach. Volcanic surveillance is a fast evolving multi-disciplinar research field, aimed to themitigation of risk. The application of geochemical and of geophysical principles and instrumentations, allow to monitorsome changes of energy release occurring in volcanic system.Field activities have provided: a) learning of the main notions of orienteering (geographic map reading, compass,GPS, Google Earth); b) petrologic recognition in field and by microscope; c) sampling of volcanic fluids emitted fromthe fumaroles on the rim of the crater; d) simulation of geochemical explorations, using temperature and pH sensors ona mesh of acquisition points; e) identification of the main botanical species, typical of the visited areas.By returning the campaign data, students shared the acquired data and prepared a final presentation with somedigital software: virtual padlet, power point presentation, genially presentation. The students' cognitive and soft skillswere evaluated as inputs and outputs from the workshops, to qualify the experience, highlighting strengths andweaknesses in the perspective of continuous improvement.Following the release of L.107 / 2015 "La Buona Scuola", this workshop experience has been recognized as aschool-work didactic method (“Alternanza Scuola Lavoro”) for high schools (L.107/2015 art.1, 33 – 43). In fact, one ofthe training objectives set out in Art. 1c.7e;i, is the deepening of the methodological dimension by expansion andinnovation of teaching strategies.

In the last 2 decades, a large proportion of studies have focused on the relationship between maternal periodontal disease and poor obstetric outcomes. The aim of the present review is to summarize the current knowledge about human studies on the pathogenetic mechanisms linking periodontal diseases with adverse pregnancy outcomes. A search of the medical literature was conducted using NIH (National Institute of Health) Pubmed through April 2011. Articles were identified with the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) and free text terms "small for gestational age (SGA)," "preeclampsia," "preterm labor," and "periodontal disease." Experimental human studies have shown that periodontal pathogens may disseminate toward placental and fetal tissues accompanied by an increase in inflammatory mediators in the placenta. As such, new inflammatory reactions within the placental tissues of the pregnant woman may occur, the physiological levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the amniotic fluid may increase and eventually lead to premature delivery. Although many data from clinical trials suggest that periodontal disease may increase the adverse pregnancy outcome, the exact pathogenetic mechanism involved remains controversial. The findings explain the potential link between periodontal infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. First, periodontal bacteria can directly cause infections both of the uteroplacenta and the fetus; second, systemic inflammatory changes induced by periodontal diseases can activate responses at the maternal-fetal interface. Of note, associative studies have produced different results in different population groups and no conclusive evidence has still been produced for the potential role of preventive periodontal care to reduce the risk factors of preterm birth.

The article describes the main achievements of the NUMEN project together with an updated and detailed overview of the related R&D activities and theoretical developments. NUMEN proposes an innovative technique to access the nuclear matrix elements entering the expression of the lifetime of the double beta decay by cross section measurements of heavy-ion induced Double Charge Exchange (DCE) reactions. Despite the fact that the two processes, namely neutrinoless double beta decay and DCE reactions, are triggered by the weak and strong interaction respectively, important analogies are suggested. The basic point is the coincidence of the initial and final state many-body wave functions in the two types of processes and the formal similarity of the transition operators. First experimental results obtained at the INFN-LNS laboratory for the 40Ca(18O,18Ne)40Ar reaction at 270MeV give an encouraging indication on the capability of the proposed technique to access relevant quantitative information. The main experimental tools for this project are the K800 Superconducting Cyclotron and MAGNEX spectrometer. The former is used for the acceleration of the required high resolution and low emittance heavy-ion beams and the latter is the large acceptance magnetic spectrometer for the detection of the ejectiles. The use of the high-order trajectory reconstruction technique, implemented in MAGNEX, allows to reach the experimental resolution and sensitivity required for the accurate measurement of the DCE cross sections at forward angles. However, the tiny values of such cross sections and the resolution requirements demand beam intensities much larger than those manageable with the present facility. The on-going upgrade of the INFN-LNS facilities in this perspective is part of the NUMEN project and will be discussed in the article. © 2018, SIF, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Introduction Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may play a crucial role during pregnancy by sustaining adequate placentation and fetal growth. Unambiguous demonstration of EPC increase during pregnancy has been hampered so far by lack of standardized methods for EPC quantification. In this study we used the currently most accepted phenotype for EPC detection for investigating whether maternal circulating EPCs might increase during normal pregnancy and whether they may fail to increase in pregnancy complicated by idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity characterized by insufficient placental perfusion. Methods Twenty-one non-pregnant women, 44 women during healthy pregnancy progression (9, 13 and 22 women in the first, second and third trimester, respectively) and 11 with pregnancy complicated by idiopathic IUGR were recruited in a cross-sectional study. EPCs in maternal blood were identified as CD45dim/CD34+/KDR+ cells by flow cytometry. Plasmatic cytokines were measured by ELISA. Results We observed a significant and progressive increase of EPCs in normal pregnancy, yet detectable in early pregnancy but even more pronounced in the third trimester. The increase of EPCs was impaired in IUGR-complicated pregnancies at comparable gestational age. The circulating levels of placental growth-factor and stromal-derived-factor-1 were significantly lower in IUGR than normal pregnancies, possibly contributing to EPC impairment. Conclusions EPC count in maternal circulation may have a great potential as a novel biomarker for pregnancy monitoring and may represent the target of novel therapeutic strategies designed to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes often occurring in IUGR.

Mirror of Venus lake (MV) is a small (1.5 km2) endorheic alkaline lake located in a calderic depression on the northern side of Pantelleria Island (South Italy), a quiescent Pleistocenic stratovolcano located in the NW-SE trending continental rift developed between North Africa and Sicily. The lake, sub-squared in shape (around ca 450 m long and ca 350 m wide and 13 m depth) water input contribution is essentially from the thermal springs situated on its shores (Q = 0.1 l.s-1) and from meteoric waters. A total volume of 580.000 m3 has been estimated in June 2014. CO2 flux measurements made with a floating accumulation chamber in 2014 on the MV surface (both diffusive and bubbling CO2) highlighted a total CO2 flux of 14 t.d-1. MV and spring water chemical compositions are the result of notable interactions between waters and Na-rich peralkaline rhyolite (Pantellerite) enhanced by large amounts of dissolved CO2 of magmatic origin. Due to the small volume of the lake, changes in hydrological and meteorological/rainfall inputs strongly control the composition of MV together with water evaporation and precipitation of solid phases (mainly carbonates). Most of sampled waters show a partial equilibrium with rocks at temperature estimated around 170°C. Vertical profile doesn’t show variation with depth of chemical-physical characteristics and in gas dissolved composition. The frequent overturning of the water lake, together with morphological (small volume and shallow dept) and chemical (high pH) preclude the dangerous accumulation of CO2 gas on the floor. In particular, trace elements like Li, Rb, Cr, Hg, Cs and B in MV are enriched respect springs due to evaporative phenomena, while Mg, Mn, Fe, Sr, Ba, Ti, Ni, Ca and SiO2 are depleted because of their precipitation as solid phases. The influence of rock composition on the concentration of elements in waters is emphasize by their concentration in fumarolic steam. In fact, with the exception of Ni, and partially Al and Cd, the majority of trace elements show concentrations lower than that the MV and springs.

Like other geodynamically active areas, Greece is also affected by a large number of geogenic gas manifestations that occur either in form of point sources (fumaroles, mofettes, bubbling gases) or as diffuse soil gas emanations. Geogenic sources could have strong impact on human health. CO2 and H2S are the main gases responsible for acute mortality due to their asphyxiating and/or toxic properties. Gas hazard is often disregarded because in fatal episodes the death cause is often not correctly attributed. Geodynamic active areas can release geogenic gases for million years over wide areas and it is therefore important not to underestimate potential risks. A preliminary estimation of the gas hazard has been made for the time period of the last 20 years considering the whole population of Greece. In this period at least two fatal episodes with a total of three victims can be attributed to geogenic gases (specifically CO2). This gives a risk of 1.3x10-8 fatalities per annum. This risk is unevenly distributed and depends on many factors with the most important being the geographical distribution of the gas manifestations, while also the source strength, the gas composition, the meteorological conditions and the topography of the area will contribute to the determination of the local risk. Although low, this risk has not to be neglected, not only because possibly underestimated but also because simple countermeasures could be adopted. Dangerous areas can be easily identified and delimited by geochemical prospections and their hazard properly evidenced.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) occurs when fetal growth rate falls below the genetic potential and affects a significant number of pregnancies, but still no therapy has been developed for this pregnancy disease. This article reviews the most recent findings concerning maternal characteristics and behaviours predisposing to IUGR as well as maternal early markers of the disease. A comprehensive understanding of factors associated with IUGR will help in providing important tools for preventing and understanding adverse outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Maternal nutritional status, diet and exposure to environmental factors are increasingly acknowledged as potential factors affecting fetal growth both by altering nutrient availability to the fetus and by modulating placental gene expression, thus modifying placental function. SUMMARY Assessing nutritional and environmental factors associated with IUGR, and the molecular mechanisms by which they may have a role in the disease onset, is necessary to provide comprehensive and common guidelines for maternal care and recommended behaviours. Moreover, maternal genetic predispositions and early serum markers may allow a better and more specific monitoring of high risk pregnancies, optimizing the timing of delivery.

The NUMEN project aims at accessing experimentally driven information on Nuclear Matrix Elements (NME) involved in the half-life of the neutrinoless double beta decay (0v beta beta), by high-accuracy measurements of Heavy Ion (HI) induced Double Charge Exchange (DCE) reaction cross sections. In particular, the (O-18,Ne-18) and (Ne-20, O-20) reactions are used as tools for beta(+)beta(+) and beta(-)beta(-) decays, respectively. In the experiments, performed at INFN - Laboratory Nazionali del Sud (LNS) in Catania, the beams are accelerated by the Superconducting Cyclotron (CS) and the reaction ejectiles are detected the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer. The measured cross sections are challengingly low (a few nb), being the total reaction cross section much larger (a few b), thus a high sensitivity and a large rejection capability are demanded to the experimental set-up. This limits the present exploration to few selected isotopes of interest in the context of typically low-yield experimental runs. A major upgrade of the LNS facility is foreseen in order to increase the experimental yield of at least two orders of magnitude, still keeping the high sensitivity of the present set-up, making it feasible a systematic study of all the cases of interest. Frontiers technologies are going to be developed, to this purpose, for the accelerator and the detection systems. In parallel, advanced theoretical models are being developed in order to extract the nuclear structure information from the measured cross sections.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic molecule produced by the placenta and implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We have evaluated utility and applicability of the PlGF test in a clinical setting of pregnancies at risk of PE or complicated by IUGR in order to assess its relationship with pregnancy outcomes. Seventy-three pregnancies were enrolled between 19 and 35 weeks: 57 pregnancies at risk of PE and 16 at diagnosis of IUGR. Maternal circulating PlGF levels were measured by the Triage PlGF test (Alere, San Diego, CA). Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in relation to three categories of plasma PlGF levels: very low ( 95th percentile. Our data indicate that PlGF may provide useful information to identify fetuses requiring increased surveillance and possibly urgent delivery in pregnancies at risk of adverse outcomes. Furthermore, in IUGR, PlGF can predict adverse pregnancy outcomes that may be secondary to placental insufficiency

Endothelial dysfunction typical of preeclampsia (PE) is the result of an excessive maternal inflammatory response to pregnancy. We investigated PTX3 in maternal, fetal and placental compartments in complicated pregnancies. Maternal blood samples were collected during the third trimester in 53 PE, 43 IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and 50 normal pregnancies. Fetal samples were collected from the umbilical vein in 26 PE, 23 IUGR and 26 normal pregnancies at elective cesarean section. Pattern and site of expression of PTX3 were studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on placenta, decidual bed and maternal peritoneum. PE and IUGR pregnancies had significantly higher maternal PTX3 levels compared to normal pregnancies, with IUGR significantly lower than PE. Maternal peritoneum expressed a significantly higher signal in the endothelium of pathological compared to normal pregnancies. The maternal increase of PTX3 correlated with the severity of disease with higher PTX3 concentrations in severe PE. Increased PTX3 levels in PE and IUGR mothers, together with IHC data represent the expression of altered endothelial function on the maternal side. IUGR fetuses had higher PTX3 values than controls and the increase was related to IUGR severity, likely reflecting the hypoxic environment. These data confirm the relevance of PTX3 in support the hypothesis that PE is a disease associated with altered maternal endothelial function. The PTX3 increase in IUGR fetuses deserves further investigation.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and the short- and long-term efficacy of hysteroscopic myomectomy for submucous myomas with intramural development [grade 1 (G1) and grade 2 (G2)] by using non-electrical “cold” loops and to verify the role of preoperative variables on surgical outcomes. Symptomatic (bleeding and infertility) premenopausal patients with the diagnosis of submucous myoma at transvaginal sonography, and with G1 and G2 grading at sonohysterography, were included in this prospective study. Hysteroscopic myomectomy was performed by the combined monopolar electrical slicing and traction-and-leverage manoeuvres by non-electrical “cold” loops. One hundred fifty-nine patients were recruited, and 169 procedures were performed. Operating time, fluid deficit, complications and complete resection at first procedure (perioperative outcomes) and persisting symptoms and additional surgery for persisting symptoms (long-term outcomes) were not significantly different for G1 vs. G2 myomas. Perioperative outcomes were significantly different when comparing myoma mean diameter