Publications by authors named "Bifulco G"

Objective: The incidence of caesarean sections (CSs) has increased significantly in recent years, especially in developed countries. This study aimed to identify the factors that most influence the length of hospital stay (LOS) after a CS, using data from 9,900 women who underwent CS at the "Federico II" University Hospital of Naples between 2014 and 2021.

Methods: Various artificial intelligence models were employed to analyze the relationships between the LOS and a set of independent variables, including maternal and foetal characteristics.

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Based on the established neuroprotective properties of indole-based compounds and their significant potential as multi-targeted therapeutic agents, a series of synthetic indole-phenolic compounds was evaluated as multifunctional neuroprotectors. Each compound demonstrated metal-chelating properties, particularly in sequestering copper ions, with quantitative analysis revealing approximately 40% chelating activity across all the compounds. In cellular models, these hybrid compounds exhibited strong antioxidant and cytoprotective effects, countering reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the Aβ(25-35) peptide and its oxidative byproduct, hydrogen peroxide, as demonstrated by quantitative analysis showing on average a 25% increase in cell viability and a reduction in ROS levels to basal states.

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Cortisol and DHEA(S) are markers of allostatic load and resilience; as such, they may be added to the definition of performance measures alongside immunocompetence. We aimed at studying the potential carryover effects of management practices on growth performances and the interrelationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immunocompetence and performances during the preweaning period in dairy calves. This study consisted of first a retrospective cohort study and second a prospective study.

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Inhibiting microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), an inducible enzyme involved in prostaglandin E (PGE) biosynthesis and tumor microenvironment (TME) homeostasis, is a valuable strategy for treating inflammation and cancer. In this work, 5-methylcarboxamidepyrrole-based molecules were designed and synthesized as new compounds targeting mPGES-1. Remarkably, compounds 1f, 2b, 2c, and 2d were able to significantly reduce the activity of the isolated enzyme, showing IC values in the low micromolar range.

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  • - A rare case of right interstitial pregnancy occurred in a 32-year-old woman who had previously undergone a salpingo-oophorectomy, leading to an emergency room visit due to suspected ectopic pregnancy.
  • - After various diagnostic procedures, including ultrasound and hysteroscopy, the patient underwent a successful robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to remove the interstitial pregnancy while preserving her fertility.
  • - The exact cause of this rare pregnancy is unclear, but it may involve fertilization in the intact tube and possible changes in the remaining tubal tissue that allowed the oocyte to implant.
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  • The study identified 29 compounds from apolar and medium polarity extracts of stem bark and leaves, including three new sesquiterpenes and one new α-ionone glycoside.
  • All compounds were characterized using advanced techniques like 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS, complemented by DFT/NMR methods for structural analysis.
  • In antimicrobial tests against various bacteria, no significant inhibitory activity was found for the crude extracts.
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The antiapoptotic BAG3 protein plays a crucial role in cellular proteostasis and it is involved in several signalling pathways governing cell proliferation and survival. Owing to its multimodular structure, it possesses an extensive interactome including the molecular chaperone HSP70 and other specific cellular partners, which make it an eminent factor in several pathologies, particularly in cancer. Despite its potential as a therapeutic target, very few BAG3 modulators have been disclosed so far.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a new biomarker, termed SIR-En, in identifying patients at risk of endometrial carcinoma among those presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding during menopause.

Material And Methods: A retrospective case-control analysis was conducted on 242 women with menopausal abnormal uterine bleeding and endometrial thickness ≥ 4 mm. Peripheral blood samples were collected within 7 days before histological diagnosis.

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The common bean ( L.) is one of the oldest food crops in the world. In this study, the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) technique was used to characterize the polar lipid composition and polyphenolic fraction of five bean varieties commonly consumed in Italy: Cannellino (PVCA), Controne (PVCO), Borlotti (PVBO), Stregoni (PVST), and Vellutina (PVVE).

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  • The study investigates how adenomyosis may affect surgical outcomes for dyspareunia in patients with rectovaginal endometriosis, identifying significant challenges in treating this condition despite surgery.
  • Conducted from January 2020 to July 2023, it analyzed medical records of 94 patients who underwent surgery, comparing those with adenomyosis to those without, assessing pain levels and sexual quality of life before and after the procedure.
  • Results indicated that while pain significantly decreased and sexual quality of life improved in both groups, patients without adenomyosis exhibited greater improvements post-surgery.
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  • * The innovative combination was aimed at improving surgical outcomes by providing better identification of myomas, reducing operation times, and minimizing blood loss during the surgery.
  • * The intervention successfully resulted in the removal of 15 myomas with a total operative time of 120 minutes and low blood loss, showcasing the effectiveness of this advanced surgical approach.
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Recently, we identified magnolol bioinspired derivatives as new Tankyrase 1/2 (TNKS1/2) inhibitors by our Inverse Virtual Screening protocol. Based on these findings, in the present contribution, we enlarged our investigation of neolignans to the natural product honokiol (1) and a group of its analogues (2-8). By integrating in silico analysis and Surface Plasmon Resonance experiments, we investigated the binding of tested compounds against biological target under investigations.

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Notwithstanding its acknowledged pivotal role for cardiovascular prevention, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is still largely under prescribed, in almost 25% of patients owing an indication for. In addition, when considering differences concerning the two sexes, female individuals are underrepresented in CR programmes with lower referral rates, participation, and completion as compared to male counterpart. This picture becomes even more tangled with reference to gender, a complex socio-cultural construct characterized by four domains (gender identity, relation, role, and institutionalized gender).

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A 3D structure-based pharmacophore model built for bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is reported here, specifically developed for investigating and identifying the key structural features of the (+)-JQ1 known inhibitor within the BRD4 binding site. Using this pharmacophore model, 273 synthesized and purchased compounds previously considered for other targets but yielding poor results were screened in a drug repositioning campaign. Subsequently, only six compounds showed potential as BRD4 binders and were subjected to further biophysical and biochemical assays.

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  • * The surgery was performed in a university hospital setting, where the patient had a history of ovarian surgery and was undergoing ovarian stimulation to retrieve eggs for potential future use.
  • * Results showed that the laparoscopic approach was successful, allowing oocytes to be harvested while safely removing the teratoma, with the patient remaining awake and comfortable throughout the procedure.
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  • The study aimed to evaluate how effective ultrasound is in detecting invasive placentation in women with placenta previa who have a history of cesarean delivery.
  • It involved a multicenter, retrospective analysis of 180 singleton pregnancies at risk for placenta accreta between January 2010 and May 2020, focusing on women with diagnosed placenta previa.
  • Out of 155 women suspected to have placenta accreta based on ultrasound findings, 99 were confirmed to have the condition during delivery, highlighting the ultrasound's diagnostic potential.
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  • The study investigates the effectiveness of ultra-low-impact laparoscopy, which combines miniaturized instruments and regional anesthesia, for treating benign gynecological diseases.
  • Conducted with 26 women, the study found minimal postoperative pain, quicker recovery times, and a low rate of nausea and vomiting, confirming the method's safety and efficacy.
  • The positive outcomes suggest this technique could become a standard in gynecological surgery, warranting further research with more participants to validate its success.
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In this work, we report the identification of novel bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9) binders through a virtual screening based on our developed 3D structure-based pharmacophore model. The in silico workflow here described led to the identification of a promising initial hit (1) featuring the 1-ethyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine motif which represented an unexplored chemotype for the development of a new class of BRD9 ligands. The encouraging biophysical results achieved for compound 1 prompted us to explore further tailored structural modification around the C-4 and C-6 positions of the central core.

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L. is commonly used in folk medicine in the form of infusion or decoction to treat gastrointestinal diseases and flatulence as a carminative, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agent. In this study, the essential oil (EO) composition of wild-grown L.

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  • * The new compounds were rigorously tested using FRET analysis and showed strong inhibition of Haspin, with some identified as the most promising candidates in cellular models when combined with paclitaxel, enhancing its effectiveness.
  • * Additional testing of these inhibitors revealed significant selectivity among 70 different kinases, and further chemical insights were gained, suggesting that these derivatives warrant more in-depth research for potential therapeutic use.
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The cheese wine pairing is a beloved combination subject to a certain subjectivity due to sensorial, psychological, chemical, and cultural factors. This work represents a first attempt to explore the interactions between cheese, wine, and saliva to objectively measure the pairing. Two experimental red wines obtained from the same grape cultivar and four different cheeses were studied for their composition.

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  • * The goal is to locate all potential lesion sites, even those not seen by the naked eye, and to evaluate the spread of the disease effectively.
  • * This technique was first applied to a 68-year-old patient with a single invasive vulvar Paget's lesion to ensure thorough treatment while minimizing the risk of recurrence and unnecessary damage.
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This research focuses on the target deconvolution of the natural compound myrianthic acid, a triterpenoid characterized by an ursane skeleton isolated from the roots of and from Nutt. (Onagraceae), using MS-based chemical proteomic techniques. Application of drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and targeted-limited proteolysis coupled to mass spectrometry (t-LiP-MS) led to the identification of the enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) as an interesting macromolecular counterpart of myrianthic acid.

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  • - Vulvar carcinoma, especially vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC), is a rare type of cancer that makes up 4% of gynecological tumors; diagnosis typically involves biopsy during vulvoscopy along with imaging techniques like MRI, USG, and PET.
  • - A study conducted with data from multiple databases analyzed the effectiveness of imaging for diagnosing and staging VSCC, revealing high sensitivity but lower specificity in identifying malignant lesions, particularly with a mean SUV value of 8.4 in PET scans for tumors.
  • - MRI was effective for evaluating lymph node involvement, showing significant accuracy rates, while USG measurements (cortical thickness and short axis length) proved crucial for distinguishing between cancerous and non-cancer
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Computational techniques accelerate drug discovery by identifying bioactive compounds for specific targets, optimizing molecules with moderate activity, or facilitating the repositioning of inactive items onto new targets. Among them, the Inverse Virtual Screening (IVS) approach is aimed at the evaluation of one or a small set of molecules against a panel of targets for addressing target identification. In this work, a focused library of benzothiazole-based compounds was re-investigated by IVS.

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