A Ketogenic Diet Followed by Gradual Carbohydrate Reintroduction Restores Menstrual Cycles in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Oligomenorrhea Independent of Body Weight Loss: Results from a Single-Center, One-Arm, Pilot Study.

: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of fertile age. Some studies suggest that a ketogenic diet (KD) may have a role in treating PCOS. We aimed to demonstrate the long-term effectiveness of a KD in PCOS.

Cortical tracking of speakers' spectral changes predicts selective listening.

A social scene is particularly informative when people are distinguishable. To understand somebody amid a "cocktail party" chatter, we automatically index their voice. This ability is underpinned by parallel processing of vocal spectral contours from speech sounds, but it has not yet been established how this occurs in the brain's cortex.

Packet information encoding in a cerebellum-like circuit.

Packet information encoding of neural signals was proposed for vision about 50 years ago and has recently been revived as a plausible strategy generalizable to natural and artificial sensory systems. It involves discrete image segmentation controlled by feedback and the ability to store and compare packets of information. This article shows that neurons of the cerebellum-like electrosensory lobe (EL) of the electric fish Gymnotus omarorum use spike-count and spike-timing distribution as constitutive variables of packets of information that encode one-by-one the electrosensory images generated by a self-timed series of electric organ discharges (EODs).

The sequential antifracturative treatment: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Subjects with a fragility fracture have an increased risk of a new fracture and should receive effective strategies to prevent new events. The medium-term to long-term strategy should be scheduled by considering the mechanisms of action in therapy and the estimated fracture risk.

Objective: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the sequential strategy in patients with or at risk of a fragility fracture in the context of the development of the Italian Guidelines.

Feasibility of excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy in tandem with chemometrics for quantitation of trans-resveratrol in vine-shoot ethanolic extracts.

Background: trans-Resveratrol (TR) is a well-known phytochemical compound with important biological properties. It can be recovered from agri-food by-products or wastes, such as vine shoots. Once recovered, its concentration should be measured, possibly in a green, non-destructive, and efficient manner.

Design, implementation, and preliminary in-vivo assessment of a high-CMRR low-NEF wireless EEG miniaturized platform.

This work presents the design, manufacture, test, and preliminary in-vivo assessment of the proof-of-concept of a miniaturized wireless platform for acquiring electroencephalography signals, where the input stage is a high-CMRR current-efficiency custom-made integrated neural preamplifier.Clinical relevance- Small, low-power consumption, wireless, wearable devices for chronically monitoring EEG recordings may contribute to the diagnosis of transient neurological events, the characterization and potential forecasting of epileptic seizures, and provide signals for controlling prosthetic and aid devices.

Living life with an electric touch.

The electric organ discharges (EODs) produced by weakly electric fish have long been a source of scientific intrigue and inspiration. The study of these species has contributed to our understanding of the organization of fixed action patterns, as well as enriching general imaging theory by unveiling the dual impact of an agent's actions on the environment and its own sensory system during the imaging process. This Centenary Review firstly compares how weakly electric fish generate species- and sex-specific stereotyped electric fields by considering: (1) peripheral mechanisms, including the geometry, channel repertoire and innervation of the electrogenic units; (2) the organization of the electric organs (EOs); and (3) neural coordination mechanisms.

SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Re-Infections and Clinical Characteristics: A Two-Year Retrospective Study in a Large University Hospital Cohort of Vaccinated Healthcare Workers.

At the University Hospital of Bari, during the first year after the start of the mandatory vaccination campaign with BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the preliminary results of an observational study showed a significant prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections (BIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs), but no hospitalization or deaths. In the present study, we extended the observation period (January 2021-January 2023) with the aim of determining the incidence, characteristics and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 BIs among 6213 HCWs. All HCWs were regularly monitored and screened.

Refracture following vertebral fragility fracture when bone fragility is not recognized: summarizing findings from comparator arms of randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: Since vertebral fragility fractures (VFFs) might increase the risk of subsequent fractures, we evaluated the incidence rate and the refracture risk of subsequent vertebral and non-vertebral fragility fractures (nVFFs) in untreated patients with a previous VFF.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to February 2022 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that analyzed the occurrence of subsequent fractures in untreated patients with prior VFFs. Two authors independently extracted data and appraised the risk of bias in the selected studies.

Mesothelioma Risk Among Maritime Workers According to Job Title: Data From the Italian Mesothelioma Register (ReNaM).

The study describes the 466 cases of malignant mesotheliomas (MM) collected by the National Mesothelioma Register (ReNaM) in Italy in the period 1993-2018 relating to subjects with exclusive asbestos exposure in merchant or military navy. The cases among maritime workers represent 1.8% of the total cases with defined exposure registred in the ReNaM, of which 212 cases (45.

The integrated structure of care: evidence for the efficacy of models of clinical governance in the prevention of fragility fractures after recent sentinel fracture after the age of 50 years.

Unlabelled: Randomized clinical trials and observational studies on the implementation of clinical governance models, in patients who had experienced a fragility fracture, were examined. Literature was systematically reviewed and summarized by a panel of experts who formulated recommendations for the Italian guideline.

Purpose: After experiencing a fracture, several strategies may be adopted to reduce the risk of recurrent fragility fractures and associated morbidity and mortality.

The sensory effects of light on the electric organ discharge rate of Gymnotus omarorum.

Gymnotiformes are nocturnal fishes inhabiting the root mats of floating plants. They use their electric organ discharge (EOD) to explore the environment and to communicate. Here, we show and describe tonic and phasic sensory-electromotor responses to light distinct from indirect effects depending on the light-induced endogenous circadian rhythm.

Mesothelioma Risk among Construction Workers According to Job Title: Data from the Italian Mesothelioma Register.

Background: An increased risk of mesothelioma has been reported in various countries for construction workers. The Italian National Mesothelioma Registry, from 1993 to 2018, reported exposure exclusively in the construction sector in 2310 cases. We describe the characteristics of these cases according to job title.

Infection Control among Healthcare Workers and Management of a Scabies Outbreak in a Large Italian University Hospital.

This retrospective observational study describes the results of an ad-hoc designated prevention protocol aimed at containing the spread of the scabies infestation among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a large University Hospital in Italy. The outbreak started on October 2022 and a preventive protocol was set up thanks to a multidisciplinary approach. HCWs at high scabies risk were defined as subjects working in Operative Units with a scabies prevalence higher than 2%, close contacts of a confirmed case of scabies, or HCWs with signs and symptoms of the disease.

Executive summary: Italian guidelines for diagnosis, risk stratification, and care continuity of fragility fractures 2021.

Background: Fragility fractures are a major public health concern owing to their worrying and growing burden and their onerous burden upon health systems. There is now a substantial body of evidence that individuals who have already suffered a fragility fracture are at a greater risk for further fractures, thus suggesting the potential for secondary prevention in this field.

Purpose: This guideline aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for recognizing, stratifying the risk, treating, and managing patients with fragility fracture.

A systematic review on the performance of fracture risk assessment tools: FRAX, DeFRA, FRA-HS.

Purpose: Preventing fragility fractures by treating osteoporosis may reduce disability and mortality worldwide. Algorithms combining clinical risk factors with bone mineral density have been developed to better estimate fracture risk and possible treatment thresholds. This systematic review supported panel members of the Italian Fragility Fracture Guidelines in recommending the use of best-performant tool.

Indoor Radon Concentration Levels in Healthcare Settings: The Results of an Environmental Monitoring in a Large Italian University Hospital.

The aim of the study is to determine the radon concentrations in the University Hospital of Bari, Apulia Region, Southern Italy. The monitoring took place from 2017 to 2018 for a total of 402 days and included 3492 premises. Radon environmental sampling was performed with passive dosimeters of the CR-39 type.