The expression of pro-prion, a transmembrane isoform of the prion protein, leads to the constitutive activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway to sustain the stem-like phenotype of human glioblastoma cells.

Background: Cellular prion protein (PrP) is a widely expressed membrane-anchored glycoprotein, which has been associated with the development and progression of several types of human malignancies, controlling cancer stem cell activity. However, the different molecular mechanisms regulated by PrP in normal and tumor cells have not been characterized yet.

Methods: To assess the role of PrP in patient-derived glioblastoma stem cell (GSC)-enriched cultures, we generated cell lines in which PrP was either overexpressed or down-regulated and investigated, in 2D and 3D cultures, its role in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Chemokine signaling in tumors: potential role of CXC chemokines and their receptors as glioblastoma therapeutic targets.

Introduction: Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor, typically associated with poor prognosis. Its treatment is challenging due to the peculiar glioblastoma cell biology and its microenvironment complexity. Specifically, a small fraction of glioma stem cells within the tumor mass drives tumor growth and invasiveness by hijacking brain resident and immune cells.

[Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on the immigrant population by urbanisation degree in five Italian Regions (Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, and Sicily)].

Background: according to the literature, socially disadvantaged strata of the population, including immigrants, have been more vulnerable to the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to greater exposure and less opportunity to protect themselves, and to COVID-19 complications due to metabolic and clinical risk factors as well as to healthcare access barriers. Two Italian projects - coordinated by the Italian National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty and the Italian National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - set up an epidemiological surveillance to monitor the temporal trends of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in five Italian regions using validated indicators.

Objectives: to identify differences between Italians and immigrants in terms of the epidemic evolution and its health consequences, and to investigate possible differences by urbanisation degree and region of residence.

[Impact of COVID-19 on foreign population resident in urban areas of Italy: selection of indicators, data sources, and definition of geographical stratification levels].

Objectives: to describe indicators, data sources, and levels of geographical stratification used within the framework of the CCM project "Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of COVID-19 in Metropolitan Urban Areas and for the containment of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the immigrant population in Italy".

Design: population-based observational study based on data from the Integrated Covid-19 Surveillance System and the archive of hospital discharge records.

Setting And Participants: interregional collaborative project.

Antitumor Potential of Antiepileptic Drugs in Human Glioblastoma: Pharmacological Targets and Clinical Benefits.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by fast-growing cells, genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, and radio-chemo-therapy resistance, contributing to its dismal prognosis. Various medical comorbidities are associated with the natural history of GBM. The most disabling and greatly affecting patients' quality of life are neurodegeneration, cognitive impairment, and GBM-related epilepsy (GRE).

Proteostasis unbalance in prion diseases: Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and therapeutic targets.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are progressive neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system that affect humans and animals as sporadic, inherited, and infectious forms. Similarly to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, any attempt to reduce TSEs' lethality or increase the life expectancy of affected individuals has been unsuccessful. Typically, the onset of symptoms anticipates the fatal outcome of less than 1 year, although it is believed to be the consequence of a decades-long process of neuronal death.

N6-Isopentenyladenosine Hinders the Vasculogenic Mimicry in Human Glioblastoma Cells through Src-120 Catenin Pathway Modulation and RhoA Activity Inhibition.

Background: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a functional microcirculation pattern formed by aggressive tumor cells. Thus far, no effective drugs have been developed to target VM. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant form of brain cancer and is a highly vascularized tumor.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess Unaccompanied Migrant Minors' needs (AEGIS-Q).

Background: While many studies focus on specific aspects of Unaccompanied Migrant Minors' (UMMs) health, especially mental well-being, there is a lack of tools comprehensively assessing their needs. To fill this gap, we developed and validated a questionnaire to thoroughly assess unAccompaniEd miGrant mInorS' physical, psychological, legal, spiritual, social and educational needs (AEGIS-Q).

Methods: This work consisted of three stages.

Hemorrhagic shock from post-traumatic rupture of microcystic splenic lymphangioma: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Lymphangioma is an abnormal proliferation of lymphatic vessels. Isolated splenic lymphangioma (SL) is rare; in the last 30 years only 22 cases were reported in the literature. Diagnosis is difficult by the absence of typical symptoms and signs.

Evaluation of dimethoate toxicity on fertilization and on embryonic development of (Lamarck, 1816).

Organophosphates are a large class of chemicals with anticholinesterase action insecticides. Dimethoate belongs to the class of organophosphates and it is used for agriculture purpose. Its main toxicological role in animals and humans is the inhibition of the activity of acetylcholinesterase.

The dramatic COVID 19 outbreak in Italy is responsible of a huge drop of urological surgical activity: a multicenter observational study.

Objective: To describe the trend in surgical volume in urology in Italy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, as a result of the abrupt reorganisation of the Italian national health system to augment care provision to symptomatic patients with COVID-19.

Methods: A total of 33 urological units with physicians affiliated to the AGILE consortium (Italian Group for Advanced Laparo-Endoscopic Surgery; www.agilegroup.

Urology in the Time of Coronavirus: Reduced Access to Urgent and Emergent Urological Care during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak in Italy.

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put a substantial burden on the Italian healthcare system, resulting in the restructuring of hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients. However, this has likely impacted access to care for patients experiencing other conditions. We aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on access to care for patients with urgent/emergent urological conditions throughout Italy.

Experimental Evidence and Clinical Implications of Pituitary Adenoma Stem Cells.

Pituitary adenomas, accounting for 15% of diagnosed intracranial neoplasms, are usually benign and pharmacologically and surgically treatable; however, the critical location, mass effects and hormone hypersecretion sustain their significant morbidity. Approximately 35% of pituitary tumors show a less benign course since they are highly proliferative and invasive, poorly resectable, and likely recurring. The latest WHO classification of pituitary tumors includes pituitary transcription factor assessment to determine adenohypophysis cell lineages and accurate designation of adenomas, nevertheless little is known about molecular and cellular pathways which contribute to pituitary tumorigenesis.

Emerging Role of Cellular Prion Protein in the Maintenance and Expansion of Glioma Stem Cells.

Cellular prion protein (PrP) is a membrane-anchored glycoprotein representing the physiological counterpart of PrP scrapie (PrP), which plays a pathogenetic role in prion diseases. Relatively little information is however available about physiological role of PrP. Although PrP ablation in mice does not induce lethal phenotypes, impairment of neuronal and bone marrow plasticity was reported in embryos and adult animals.

An Italian pilot study of a psycho-social intervention to support family caregivers' engagement in taking care of patients with complex care needs: the Engage-in-Caring project.

Background: The raising of disability and chronic illness burden among European population is calling for a new paradigm of care, focused on primary health care interventions. Engage-In-Caring is a novel multicomponent intervention clearly dedicated to improve family caregiver engagement in the care of patients with complex care needs, by supporting them to develop a stronger consciousness of their role, needs and skills.

Method: Engage-In-Caring intervention's efficacy and feasibility have been evaluated through a single arm pre-post observational pilot study settled in Rome.

Autophagy Activator Drugs: A New Opportunity in Neuroprotection from Misfolded Protein Toxicity.

The aim of this review is to critically analyze promises and limitations of pharmacological inducers of autophagy against protein misfolding-associated neurodegeneration. Effective therapies against neurodegenerative disorders can be developed by regulating the "self-defense" equipment of neurons, such as autophagy. Through the degradation and recycling of the intracellular content, autophagy promotes neuron survival in conditions of trophic factor deprivation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial and lysosomal damage, or accumulation of misfolded proteins.

Effects of Prion Protein on Aβ42 and Pyroglutamate-Modified AβpΕ3-42 Oligomerization and Toxicity.

Soluble Aβ oligomers are widely recognized as the toxic forms responsible for triggering AD, and Aβ receptors are hypothesized to represent the first step in a neuronal cascade leading to dementia. Cellular prion protein (PrP) has been reported as a high-affinity binder of Aβ oligomers. The interactions of PrP with both Aβ42 and the highly toxic N-truncated pyroglutamylated species (AβpE3-42) are here investigated, at a molecular level, by means of ThT fluorescence, NMR and TEM.

Troglostrongylus brevior: a feline lungworm of paediatric concern.

The immature immune system of cats in their paediatric age (i.e., first six months of life) favours the establishment of infectious respiratory tract diseases mainly caused by well recognized viruses and bacteria species.

[A health promotion campaign to improve flu vaccination adherence among medical residents in an Italian Teaching Hospital].

Introduction: In Italy annual flu vaccination for health care workers is recommended but coverage is usually unsatisfying. The compliance is even worse among medical residents (MRs) both in literature, both in our experience: in the flu season 2014/ 15 only 0.6% of MRs enrolled at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) were vaccinated.

Pharmacological activation of autophagy favors the clearing of intracellular aggregates of misfolded prion protein peptide to prevent neuronal death.

According to the "gain-of-toxicity mechanism", neuronal loss during cerebral proteinopathies is caused by accumulation of aggregation-prone conformers of misfolded cellular proteins, although it is still debated which aggregation state actually corresponds to the neurotoxic entity. Autophagy, originally described as a variant of programmed cell death, is now emerging as a crucial mechanism for cell survival in response to a variety of cell stressors, including nutrient deprivation, damage of cytoplasmic organelles, or accumulation of misfolded proteins. Impairment of autophagic flux in neurons often associates with neurodegeneration during cerebral amyloidosis, suggesting a role in clearing neurons from aggregation-prone misfolded proteins.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of stem-like cells from canine osteosarcoma and assessment of drug sensitivity.

Cancer stem cell (CSC) self-renewing and drug resistance cause treatment failure and tumor recurrence. Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone tumor characterized by biological and molecular heterogeneity, possibly dependent on CSCs. CSC identification in osteosarcoma and their efficient targeting are still open questions.

Different Effects of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Glioblastoma Stem Cells by Direct Cell Interaction or Via Released Soluble Factors.

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary brain tumor in adults, is an aggressive, fast-growing and highly vascularized tumor, characterized by extensive invasiveness and local recurrence. In GBM and other malignancies, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to drive invasive tumor growth and recurrence, being responsible for radio- and chemo-therapy resistance. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitors that exhibit tropism for tumor microenvironment mediated by cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.