Publications by authors named "Alessio N"

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of non-hematopoietic adult stem cells derived from the embryonic mesoderm. They possess self-renewal and multipotent differentiation capabilities, allowing them to give rise to mesodermal cell types, such as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, and adipocytes, as well as non-mesodermal cells, including neuron-like cells and endothelial cells. MSCs play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis across various tissues by facilitating tissue repair, immune regulation, and inflammatory response balance.

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Cellular senescence is a multifaceted process marked by irreversible cell cycle arrest in response to stressors such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and telomere shortening, leading to significant cellular and mitochondrial alterations. These changes impact mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) function, affecting their differentiation, self-renewal, and regenerative abilities. Senescent MSCs adopt the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), characterized by the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors that propagate senescence to neighboring cells.

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In August 2023, ehrlichiosis was confirmed in a patient in Italy with a Haemaphysalis punctata tick attached to his neck. Gene sequences of Ehrlichia canis from the tick and the patient were identical, indicating a potential risk for this uncommon infection for persons participating in outdoor activities.

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Senescent cells exert their effects through the release of various factors, collectively referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP can induce senescence in healthy cells (secondary senescence), modulate immune system function, reshape the extracellular matrix, and facilitate cancer progression.Among SASP components, certain factors act as key regulators in the induction of secondary senescence.

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Background: Vaccination rates are still suboptimal in cancer patients. Oncologists play a central role in recommending vaccines to their patients. Our goal was to investigate vaccine acceptance among cancer patients and understand the factors shaping their choices, thereby aiding physicians in better supporting their patients' vaccination decisions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical disease found in Italy, primarily affecting wild boars and dogs, and poses a risk to rural populations and outdoor enthusiasts.
  • A study was conducted involving 122 wild boar hunters from southern Italy, which included blood sampling and questionnaires to assess their knowledge about the infection risk related to CE.
  • Results showed that 4.9% of hunters had exposure to CE, 6.3% of hunting dogs tested positive for Taeniidae eggs, and the findings indicate the need for better education and health monitoring to reduce infection rates among hunters and their dogs.
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Trichinella spp. are cosmopolitan parasites that infect a wide range of hosts, with wildlife being the main reservoir of these zoonotic nematodes, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and wolves (Canis lupus) due to their apex position in the food chain in most European countries. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of Trichinella spp.

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Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent and fatal type of bone tumor. It is characterized by great heterogeneity of genomic aberrations, mutated genes, and cell types contribution, making therapy and patients management particularly challenging. A unifying picture of molecular mechanisms underlying the disease could help to transform those challenges into opportunities.

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The battle against the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a heightened state of vigilance in global healthcare, leading to the proliferation of diverse sanitization methods. Among these approaches, germicidal lamps utilizing ultraviolet (UV) rays, particularly UV-C (wavelength ranging from 280 to 100 nm), have gained prominence for domestic use. These light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are designed to sanitize the air, objects, and surfaces.

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Mammals exhibit two distinct types of adipose depots: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). While WAT primarily functions as a site for energy storage, BAT serves as a thermogenic tissue that utilizes energy and glucose consumption to regulate core body temperature. Under specific stimuli such as exercise, cold exposure, and drug treatment, white adipocytes possess a remarkable ability to undergo transdifferentiation into brown-like cells known as beige adipocytes.

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Cells and extracts derived from adipose tissue are gaining increasing attention not only in plastic surgery and for aesthetic purposes but also in regenerative medicine. The ability of hyaluronan (HA) to support human adipose stromal cell (hASC) viability and differentiation has been investigated. However, the compatibility of adipose tissue with HA-based formulation in terms of biophysical and rheological properties has not been fully addressed, although it is a key feature for tissue integration and in vivo performance.

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Cells that are exposed to harmful genetic damage, either from internal or external sources, may undergo senescence if they are unable to repair their DNA. Senescence, characterized by a state of irreversible growth arrest, can spread to neighboring cells through a process known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This phenomenon contributes to both aging and the development of cancer.

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Although Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus is a neglected acanthocephalan of suids occasionally responsible for severe infections in humans, the spread of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Europe could promote the circulation. Herein, we report the first morphometric, histological and molecular characterization of a severe M. hirudinaceus infection in a boar from continental Italy.

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Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). Severe immunocompromising conditions, such as solid tumors, have been largely associated with an increased risk for HZ due to waning VZV-specific cellular immunity. With the approval of the adjuvanted glycoprotein E (gE)-based recombinant vaccine (RZV; Shingrix™, GSK) also in immunocompromised subjects, HZ is considered a vaccine-preventable disease changing perspectives in immunocompromised subjects.

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Environmental and anthropogenic factors may significantly affect the diffusion of wild animals, enhancing the interface of human–wildlife interactions and driving the spread of pathogens and vector-borne diseases between animals and humans. However, in the last decade, the involvement of citizens in scientific research (the so-called approach, henceforth abbreviated as CS) provided a network of large-scale and cost-effective surveillance programmes of wildlife populations and their related arthropod species. Therefore, this review aims to illustrate different methods and tools used in CS studies, by arguing the main advantages and considering the limitations of this approach.

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The increase of wild boar populations density and their meat consumption across Europe could expose humans to a plethora of foodborne diseases as sarcocystosis, caused by the zoonotic protozoan Sarcocystis suihominis. Humans become infected by eating raw or undercooked pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) containing S. suihominis sarcocysts.

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DNA damage resulting from genotoxic injury can initiate cellular senescence, a state characterized by alterations in cellular metabolism, lysosomal activity, and the secretion of factors collectively known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Senescence can have beneficial effects on our bodies, such as anti-cancer properties, wound healing, and tissue development, which are attributed to the SASP produced by senescent cells in their intermediate stages. However, senescence can also promote cancer and aging, primarily due to the pro-inflammatory activity of SASP.

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Introduction: Following the increase of wild boar () populations in Europe, a potential risk of emerging infections by vector-borne pathogens may occur. Despite this, the circulation of piroplasmid species in these ungulates is still a neglected topic, particularly in the Mediterranean basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of / spp.

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Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population containing multipotent adult stem cells with a multi-lineage differentiation capacity, which differentiated into mesodermal derivatives. MSCs are employed for therapeutic purposes and several investigations have demonstrated that the positive effects of MSC transplants are due to the capacity of MSCs to modulate tissue homeostasis and repair via the activity of their secretome. Indeed, the MSC-derived secretomes are now an alternative strategy to cell transplantation due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and regenerative effects.

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Although adult stem cells may be useful for studying tissue-specific diseases, they cannot be used as a general model for investigating human illnesses given their limited differentiation potential. Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) stem cells, a SSEA3(+) cell population isolated from mesenchymal stromal cells, fat, and skin fibroblasts, may be able to overcome that restriction. The Muse cells present in fibroblast cultures obtained from biopsies of patients' skin may be differentiated into cells of interest for analyzing diseases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Systematic wildlife surveillance is crucial for preventing zoonotic infections that threaten human health and biodiversity.
  • The study focused on the prevalence of a specific opportunistic zoonotic protozoan in wild mammals in the Campania region of southern Italy from 2020 to 2022, testing 211 individuals from five species.
  • Results showed that 21.8% of the examined subjects were infected, with no significant differences in prevalence based on the species' trophic level or age, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring, especially in areas where wildlife and domestic animals interact.
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Genotoxic injuries converge on senescence-executive program that promotes production of a senescence-specific secretome (SASP). The study of SASP is particularly intriguing, since through it a senescence process, triggered in a few cells, can spread to many other cells and produce either beneficial or negative consequences for health. We analysed the SASP of quiescent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) following stress induced premature senescence (SIPS) by ionizing radiation exposure.

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As a result of the increase of game meat intended for human consumption through Europe, a plethora of food-borne diseases, including trichinellosis, may occur in consumers, posing a relevant public health threat. Thus, this study aims to a citizen science approach to monitor the occurrence of spp. in wild boar meat intended for human consumption, evaluating the risk of infection for consumers.

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Article Synopsis
  • Two types of adipose tissue in mammals are white adipose tissue (WAT), which stores energy as triglycerides, and brown adipose tissue (BAT), which helps regulate body temperature by using energy.
  • Research shows that under certain conditions like exercise or cold exposure, WAT can transform into brown-like cells known as beige adipocytes through a process called 'browning.'
  • The study highlights that the myokine IRISIN, along with specific drugs, can effectively promote this browning process in adult white adipocytes from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), suggesting potential therapies for metabolic diseases and obesity.
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