Changes in body composition revealed by bioelectrical impedance analysis reflect strength and motor performance in myotonic dystrophy type 2.

Introduction: In myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), metabolic dysfunctions are frequent. Therefore, measurement of muscle mass and body composition by non-invasive methods could help in evaluating disease severity and progression. The aim of our study was to investigate, by means of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), whether DM2 patients have an alteration in their body composition and if this finding correlates with strength and motor performances.

Post-COVID-19 Hyposmia Does Not Exhibit Main Neurodegeneration Markers in the Olfactory Pathway.

The biological substrate of persistent post-COVID-19 hyposmia is still unclear. However, as many neurodegenerative diseases present with smell impairment at onset, it may theoretically reflect degeneration within the central olfactory circuits. However, no data still exist regarding the post-COVID-19 patients.

Trimetazidine Improves Mitochondrial Dysfunction in SOD1 Cellular Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis through Autophagy Activation.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is considered the prototype of motor neuron disease, characterized by motor neuron loss and muscle waste. A well-established pathogenic hallmark of ALS is mitochondrial failure, leading to bioenergetic deficits. So far, pharmacological interventions for the disease have proven ineffective.

Efficient Capture of Terpenes in Olive Oil during Microwave-Assisted Cannabinoid Decarboxylation.

The development of selective extraction protocols for -inflorescence constituents is still a significant challenge. The characteristic fragrance can be mainly ascribed to monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and oxygenated terpenoids. This work investigates the entrapment of terpenes in olive oil from inflorescences via stripping under mild vacuum during the rapid microwave-assisted decarboxylation of cannabinoids (MW, 120 °C, 30 min) and after subsequent extraction of cannabinoids (60 and 100 °C).

Semi-industrial ultrasound-assisted extraction of grape-seed proteins.

Background: To manage industrial waste in accordance with the circular bioeconomy concept it is sometimes necessary to handle grape seeds, an abundant by-product of the wine-making process. This study presents a process based on ultrasound technology for the extraction of grape-seed proteins, due to their nutritional and techno-functional properties. The protein content of extracts obtained under silent and lab-scale conditions was compared with that obtained under semi-industrial ultrasound conditions, and the chemical composition (carbohydrates, total phenols, and lipids) and the elemental profiles of the final, up-scaled downstream extracts were characterized.

Symptomatic COVID-19 course and outcomes after three mRNA vaccine doses in multiple sclerosis patients treated with high-efficacy DMTs.

Background: Little is known about COVID-19 course and outcomes after a third booster dose of mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 (mRNA-Vax) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) treated with ocrelizumab (OCR) and fingolimod (FNG), which showed a weakened immune response to mRNA-vax.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate COVID-19 course and outcomes in pwMS on OCR and FNG after receiving the third dose of mRNA-Vax and to compare it with pwMS on natalizumab (NTZ).

Methods: Inclusion criteria: >18 years of age, being treated with OCR/FNG/NTZ since the first mRNA-Vax dose; COVID-19 after a third booster dose of mRNA-Vax; no steroids use.

Industrial Multiple-Effect Fractional Condensation under Vacuum for the Recovery of Hop Terpene Fractions in Water.

The inflorescences of L. are the most valuable ingredient in the brewing industry. Only female cones are used as their bitterness and aroma, much associated with beer, are granted by the production of resins and essential oils, respectively.

Substance P and Prokineticin-2 are overexpressed in olfactory neurons and play differential roles in persons with persistent post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction.

Persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) is one of the most complaining and worrying complications of long COVID-19 because of the potential long-term neurological consequences. While causes of OD in the acute phases of the SARS-CoV-2 infection have been figured out, reasons for persistent OD are still unclear. Here we investigated the activity of two inflammatory pathways tightly linked with olfaction pathophysiology, namely Substance P (SP) and Prokineticin-2 (PK2), directly within the olfactory neurons (ONs) of patients to understand mechanisms of persistent post-COVID-19 OD.

Combined Ultrasound and Pulsed Electric Fields in Continuous-Flow Industrial Olive-Oil Production.

The aim of the present study is to develop a new industrial process for the continuous-flow extraction of virgin olive oil (VOO) using the non-thermal ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric field (PEF) treatments. These technologies have been tested both separately and in combination, with the aim of making the malaxation step unnecessary. The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and PEF treatments are both effective technologies for VOO production and have been well documented in the literature.

Determination of trace antibiotics in water and milk via preconcentration and cleanup using activated carbons.

CPAC-SPE-HPLC (coconut powdered activated carbon -SPE- HPLC) has been developed for the determination of antibiotic (ABX), sulfamonomethoxine sodium (SMM), oxytetracycline (OTC), ceftiofur hydrochloride (CEF) and marbofloxacin (MAR), in water and milk. Over 99.0% SMM and OTC were recovered from 20 mL of 0.

Potent T cell-mediated anti-inflammatory role of the selective CB2 agonist lenabasum in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Lenabasum is a synthetic cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2) agonist able to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects, but its role on T cells remains unknown.

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to investigate anti-inflammatory mechanisms of lenabasum in T lymphocyte subsets and its in vivo therapeutic efficacy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Methods: Mononuclear cells from 17 healthy subjects (HS) and 25 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients were activated in presence or absence of lenabasum and analysed by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR.

Functional Assessment of Outer and Middle Macular Layers in Multiple Sclerosis.

The involvement of macular preganglionic elements' function, during the neurodegenerative process of multiple sclerosis (MS), is controversial. In this case-control observational and retrospective study, we assessed multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) responses from 41 healthy Controls, 41 relapsing-remitting MS patients without optic neuritis (ON) (MS-noON Group) and 47 MS patients with ON: 27 with full recovery of high-contrast best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (MS-ON-G Group) and 20 with poor recovery (between 0.2 and 1 LogMAR) of BCVA, (MS-ON-P Group).

Morphological Outer Retina Findings in Multiple Sclerosis Patients With or Without Optic Neuritis.

To investigate on the morphology of the macular inner (IR) and outer (OR) layers in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with and without history of optic neuritis (ON), followed by good or poor recovery of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Thirty-five normal control subjects and 93 relapsing remitting MS patients were enrolled. Of this, 40 MS patients without ON (MS-noON, 40 eyes), 27 with history of ON and good BCVA recovery (MS-ON-G, 27 eyes), and 26 with history of ON and poor BCVA recovery (MS-ON-P, 26 eyes) were studied.

Batch and Flow Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Grape Stalks: Process Intensification Design up to a Multi-Kilo Scale.

Nowadays, approximately 1 billion kg/y of grape stalks, with a remarkable polyphenols content, are produced worldwide. In this paper, the extraction process intensification of polyphenols in water was achieved under ultrasound-assisted recovery, focusing on kinetics and scaling-up factors. Immersion and cup-horn systems were exploited as acoustic cavitation sources, and the total phenolic content (TPC) was chosen to assess the process efficiency.

Valorisation of By-Products from Soybean ( (L.) Merr.) Processing.

In recent years, increased awareness of the health benefits associated with consuming soy-based foods, knowledge of milk-related allergies and a move towards more sustainable food production have led to an increase in the number of available soy-based products. The biggest producers in the world, the USA, South America and China, are from the Pacific region. This enormous production is accompanied by the accumulation of related by-products, in particular, a substance that is known as okara.

Informing MS patients on treatment options: a consensus on the process of consent taking.

In the last years, change in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapeutic scenario has highlighted the need for an improved doctor-patient communication in advance of treatment initiation in order to allow patient's empowerment in the decision-making process. AIMS: The aims of our project were to review the strategies used by Italian MS specialists to inform patients about treatment options and to design a multicentre shared document that homogenizes the information about disease-modifying treatment (DMTs) and the procedure of taking informed consent in clinical practice. RESULTS: The new resource, obtained by consensus among 31 neurologists from 27 MS Centres in Italy with the supervision of a medico-legal advisor, received the aegis of Italian Neurological Society (SIN) and constitutes a step toward a standardized decision process around DMTs in MS.

Exit strategies for "needle fatigue" in multiple sclerosis: a propensity score-matched comparison study.

Patients with multiple sclerosis on long-term injectable therapies may suffer from the so-called "needle fatigue", i.e., a waning commitment to continue with the prescribed injectable treatment.

Characteristics and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis-related trigeminal neuralgia: An Italian multi-centre study.

Background: The prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients is higher than in the general population and its management can be particularly challenging. Our aim is to describe the characteristics, treatment and prognostic factors of MS-related TN in a retrospective multicentre study.

Methods: Neurologists members of the RIREMS group (Rising Researchers in MS) enrolled MS patients with a TN diagnosis and filled out a spreadsheet comprising their clinical data.

Treatment with Dimethyl Fumarate Enhances Cholinergic Transmission in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) exerts anti-inflammatory effects in multiple sclerosis by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, which is also stimulated by acetylcholine via alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In animal models, Nrf2 potentiates cholinergic synaptic plasticity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test whether treatment with DMF modulates cholinergic pathways in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Technology and Process Design for Phenols Recovery from Industrial Chicory () Leftovers.

Vegetal leftovers from the agro-food industry represent a huge source of primary and secondary metabolites, vitamin, mineral salts and soluble as well as insoluble fibers. Economic reports on the growth in the polyphenol market have driven us to focus our investigation on chicory ( L.), which is one of the most popular horticultural plants in the world and a rich source of phenolic compounds.