Mapping threatened Thai bovids provides opportunities for improved conservation outcomes in Asia.

Wild bovids provide important ecosystem functions as seed dispersers and vegetation modifiers. Five wild bovids remain in Thailand: gaur (), banteng (), wild water buffalo (), mainland serow () and Chinese goral (). Their populations and habitats have declined substantially and become fragmented by land-use change.

Neutrophil activation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in COVID-19 ARDS and immunothrombosis.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute inflammatory condition with a dramatic increase in incidence since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Neutrophils play a vital role in the immunopathology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by triggering the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), producing cytokines including interleukin-8 (CXCL8), and mediating the recruitment of other immune cells to regulate processes such as acute and chronic inflammation, which can lead to ARDS. CXCL8 is involved in the recruitment, activation, and degranulation of neutrophils, and therefore contributes to inflammation amplification and severity of disease.

Camera Trapping to Assess Status and Composition of Mammal Communities in a Biodiversity Hotspot in Myanmar.

Tropical forests comprise a critically impacted habitat, and it is known that altered forests host a lower diversity of mammal communities. In this study, we investigated the mammal communities of two areas in Myanmar with similar environmental conditions but with great differences in habitat degradation and human disturbance. The main goal was to understand the status and composition of these communities in an understudied area like Myanmar at a broad scale.

The Macular Choriocapillaris Flow in Glaucoma and Within-Day Fluctuations: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study.

Purpose: To assess quantitatively the choriocapillaris (CC) perfusion area in the macular area of healthy eyes, eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, and eyes with ocular hypertension using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: A consecutive series of healthy individuals and patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension were recruited prospectively in this single-center, cross-sectional study based in Milan, Italy. OCTA was performed in the morning and evening, along with a complete ophthalmologic examination.

Functionalized nanogel for treating activated astrocytes in spinal cord injury.

Astrogliosis has a unique reaction during spinal cord damage, with helpful or adverse impacts on recovery. There is consequently a pressing need for treatment to target activated astrocytes and their unsafe response after injury to ensure some preservative effect during the progressive damage. We specifically developed and characterized a functionalized nanogel-based nanovector in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating its selectivity towards astrocytes, and limited uptake by macrophages when functionalized with both NH and Cy5 groups.

Preventing species invasion: A role for integrative taxonomy?

Integrative taxonomy, a multi-disciplinary approach adding modern techniques to traditional morphology-based methods (e.g. molecular and morphological criteria), can play an important role in bioinvasion research to identify introduced taxa, discover pathways of introduction and inform authorities to control and prevent future introductions.

Efficacy and safety of morniflumate for the treatment of symptoms associated with soft tissue inflammation.

The effectiveness of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the management of pain in osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases is well documented. The role of NSAIDs is less clear in the treatment of conditions involving soft tissue inflammation, including the airways, ear-nose-throat (ENT) system and urogenital tract. These conditions are often treated inappropriately with antibiotics.

Multicentre Italian analysis on cardiovascular diseases: impact of immigrants' referral to emergency department.

During the recent years, immigration in Italy has increased. There are few data on the health status of immigrants and there is a need to improve their healthcare. Cardiovascular disorders account for 7.

Effect of clodronate treatment on risk of fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review and a meta-analysis of data of literature were performed to evaluate the efficacy of clodronate in the reduction of risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis or tumour diseases. A systematic review was conducted to identify original articles, reviews, and any other literature report suitable for the purposes of the meta-analysis, limited to prospective randomized trials that included a placebo or an untreated control arm. The search has identified 18 trials, 13 of which in patients with cancer diseases (breast cancer and multiple myeloma were prevalent), 4 in patients with osteoporosis/low BMD, and 1 in elderly women living in community.

Pharmacokinetic and tolerability of i.m. disodium clodronate 200 mg/lidocaine 1%, given twice monthly, in comparison with i.m. disodium clodronate 100 mg/lidocaine 1%, given weekly, in healthy postmenopausal female patients.

Background: Clodronate is a bisphosphonate effective in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Non-adherence to bisphosphonates, however, is a major issue in clinical practice. Simplifying dose regimens may increase compliance.

1-year prospective real life monitoring of asthma control and quality of life in Italy.

Objectives: The study aimed at prospectively evaluating the evolution of asthma control in Italy, to evaluate the reasons for lack of asthma control, perceived quality of life (QoL) and association with level of asthma control, the impact of pharmacological treatment, the number of exacerbations and the healthcare resource consumption.

Methods: PRISMA (PRospectIve Study on asthMA control) was an observational study performed in asthmatic patients including a cross-sectional phase and a 12-month prospective phase. Asthma control was assessed with the Asthma Control Test™ (ACT) and QoL was evaluated with EuroQoL-5D questionnaire filled in and collected during 5 clinic visits together with all the other data.

Efficacy and safety of delapril/indapamide compared to different ACE-inhibitor/hydrochlorothiazide combinations: a meta-analysis.

The main objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of the combination of delapril and indapamide (D+I) to different angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combinations for the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension. A secondary objective was to examine the safety of these two combinations. Studies comparing the efficacy of D+I to ACEi+HCTZ combinations in hypertensive patients and published on computerized databases (1974-2010) were considered.

Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of beclomethasone/formoterol versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol in patients with moderate to severe asthma.

Background: Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by acute symptomatic episodes with variable severity and duration. Pharmacological asthma management aims to achieve and maintain control without side effects, thus improving quality of life and reducing the economic impact. Recently, a clinical trial showed the non-inferiority of beclomethasone/formoterol (BDP/F) versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/S) in adults with moderate to severe persistent asthma.

Adolescents and blood donation: motivations, hurdles and possible recruitment strategies.

Background: For years researchers have been trying to determine what factors influence a person's choice to give blood, with the aim of translating the data collected into ever more concrete operative methods for recruiting new donors and managing and using blood to meet the needs of the donor. Adolescents are a potential source of great interest not only for the blood they could supply, but also because information on the subject of "giving blood" could favour the spread of healthy lifestyles and contribute to the development of a mature, responsible civic culture. The aim of the present study was to investigate the motivations and obstacles to giving blood among adolescents and strategies to recruit donors from this group of subjects.

Real-life prospective study on asthma control in Italy: cross-sectional phase results.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of partly controlled and uncontrolled asthmatic patients, to evaluate quality of life and healthcare resource consumption.

Methods: Cross-sectional phase followed by a 12-month prospective phase. Asthma Control Test and the EQ-5D were used.

Combination delapril/manidipine as antihypertensive therapy in high-risk patients.

The majority of patients with hypertension, and in particular high-risk patients or those with diabetes mellitus or renal dysfunction, are likely to require combination therapy with at least two antihypertensive agents (from different classes) to achieve their blood pressure (BP) target. The delapril/manidipine fixed-dose combination consists of two antihypertensive agents with different, yet complementary, mechanisms of action. Delapril/manidipine has demonstrated short- and long-term antihypertensive efficacy in a number of clinical studies in patients with hypertension with an inadequate response to monotherapy.

[A new setting of opportunistic cardiovascular screening: from blood donation to preventive cardiology. Preliminary results of the Cardiorisk program].

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality and disability in developed countries. Therefore, it is necessary to increase a policy of primary prevention. The most recent European guidelines recommend the use of the absolute risk profile as a tool to identify high-risk individuals, but also underline the need for interventions on the whole population.

Manidipine reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion in human endothelial cells and macrophages.

The dihydropyridine calcium antagonists (DHP-CA), commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, may exert antiatherosclerotic activity independent of the blood-pressure lowering properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect in cell culture of the third generation DHP-CA Manidipine on the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) from human endothelial cells and human macrophages, in response to different pro-inflammatory signals. In endothelial cells, incubation with acetylated LDL (acLDL), oxidized LDL (oxLDL) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), increased the release of IL-6 from 50% to 100%.

Enantiomerically pure polyheterocyclic spiro-beta-lactams from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline.

The "Staudinger ketene-imine reaction" between ketenes generated from natural O,N-protected trans-4-hydroxy-l-prolines and the N-benzyl-N-benzylideneamine led to mixtures of diastereoisomeric, enantiomerically pure pyrrolidine-derived spiro-beta-lactams with a relative cis configuration. These were transformed into the corresponding pyrroline-spiro-beta-lactams by means of treatment with a base and the new C=C double bond was submitted to a number of different reactions in order to evaluate its reactivity and obtain new polyheterocyclic enantiomerically pure spiro-beta-lactams.

Inhaled corticosteroid therapy with nebulized beclometasone dipropionate.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective anti-inflammatory agents for the management of chronic persistent asthma and are therefore recommended as first-line antiasthmatic therapy in children and adults. In various settings, the administration of ICS via nebulizer rather than hand-held inhaler (HHI) may have certain advantages, as many patients with HHI fail to use these devices properly or efficiently. In particular, young children, the elderly, the acutely ill, and those with restricted dexterity may be unable to coordinate inhalation with actuation of the device or to generate sufficient inspiratory flow to operate breath-actuated devices effectively.

Metabolic effects of manidipine.

The calcium channel antagonists (CCAs) were originally introduced as vasodilators for the treatment of coronary heart disease, but are now also noted for their clinical efficacy in the management of hypertension. Data from large clinical studies have shown that CCAs are not associated with the undesirable metabolic effects (e.g.

Does echocardiography play a role in the clinical diagnosis of congenital absence of pericardium? A case presentation and a systematic review.

Congenital absence of pericardium is an uncommon cardiac defect with variable clinical presentations. The detection of this malformation is clinically relevant because of potential complications such as fatal myocardial strangulation, myocardial ischemia and sudden death. Physical examination, chest radiograph and ECG are not helpful for the diagnosis.

Clodronic acid formulations available in Europe and their use in osteoporosis: a review.

Clodronic acid (Cl(2)-MBP [dichloromethylene bisphosphonic acid], clodronate) is a halogenated non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate with antiresorptive efficacy in a variety of diseases associated with excessive bone resorption. The drug is believed to inhibit bone resorption through induction of osteoclast apoptosis, but appears also to possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that contrast with the acute-phase and inflammatory effects seen with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. Clodronic acid has been shown to be effective in the maintenance or improvement of bone mineral density when given orally, intramuscularly or intravenously in patients with osteoporosis.

Cross-sectional epidemiological study to evaluate the cardiovascular profile of a cohort of blood donors.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are among the most frequent causes of mortality and morbidity in industrialised countries. The identification of subjects at high risk of cardiovascular diseases is one of the main aims of individual primary prevention programmes and is the essential background for instituting interventions aimed at reducing modifiable risk factors, from lifestyle changes to pharmacological interventions. DONORS AND METHOD: In order to evaluate the absolute global risk of cardiovascular disease in the population of blood donors of the Transfusion and Immunohaematology Centre of the Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena of Milan, we used the absolute global cardiovascular risk (CVR) score of the Progetto Cuore.

Delapril plus indapamide: a review of the combination in the treatment of hypertension.

Although many data indicate that the management of hypertension has improved over the last two decades, there is still a large proportion of hypertensive individuals who do not receive adequate management of their blood pressure (BP). Combination therapy with two or more antihypertensive agents from different drug classes is increasingly being recognised as the most effective means of achieving target BP values by pharmacological means, particularly in the large number of patients in whom monotherapy proves to be ineffective. Use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor combined with a diuretic is a well established antihypertensive combination that is very effective because of the different, yet synergistic, mechanisms of actions of agents from these two drug classes.