Design and methodology of the 'endometriosis and pelvic floor dysfunction' (EndoPFD) multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and the characteristics of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in women with endometriosis.

Methods: This is a methodological paper that describes the 'Endometriosis and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction' (EndoPFD) multicenter study protocol. It involves three sites: the University Hospital of Pisa, the San Raffaele Hospital of Milan and the Vanvitelli University Hospital of Naples.

Dopaminergic therapy disrupts decision-making in impulsive-compulsive Parkinsonian patients.

Impulsive-compulsive behaviors (ICB) are common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) often associated with dopaminergic drugs (DD) therapy. We investigated the acute effects of DD on decision-making in PD patients with ICB (ICB+) and without it (ICB-), and in healthy controls (HC). Participants performed a risk-based decision-making task twice, with PD patients tested before (DD OFF) and after (DD ON) DD intake.

Integration of rate and phase codes by hippocampal cell-assemblies supports flexible encoding of spatiotemporal context.

Spatial information is encoded by location-dependent hippocampal place cell firing rates and sub-second, rhythmic entrainment of spike times. These rate and temporal codes have primarily been characterized in low-dimensional environments under limited cognitive demands; but how is coding configured in complex environments when individual place cells signal several locations, individual locations contribute to multiple routes and functional demands vary? Quantifying CA1 population dynamics of male rats during a decision-making task, here we show that the phase of individual place cells' spikes relative to the local theta rhythm shifts to differentiate activity in different place fields. Theta phase coding also disambiguates repeated visits to the same location during different routes, particularly preceding spatial decisions.

Oxytocin induces the formation of distinctive cortical representations and cognitions biased toward familiar mice.

Social recognition is essential for the formation of social structures. Many times, recognition comes with lesser exploration of familiar animals. This lesser exploration has led to the assumption that recognition may be a habituation memory.

External Quality Assessment (EQA) scheme for serological diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 detection in Sicily Region (Italy), in the period 2020-2022.

Objectives: Since December 2019, worldwide public health has been exposed to a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by Coronavirus-2. Serological testing is necessary for retrospective assessment of seroprevalence rates, and the determination of vaccine response and duration of immunity. For this reason, it was necessary to introduce a panel of tests able to identify and quantify Covid-19 antibodies.

Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Manna Exudate, from L., and Its Potential Use as Hydrogel Formulation in Dermatology and Cosmetology.

Manna, a well-known herbal drug has multiple traditional and pharmaceutical uses and the entire composition, sugar derivatives and polyphenols, gives rise to a very interesting bioactive complex with versatile therapeutic and benefic properties such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this research was to investigate a manna extract loaded in a pectin hydrogel as a synergic vehicle to evaluate the potential use of the complex for cosmetic and dermatological applications. In particular, the study set out to disclose manna properties as a wound healing agent with antimicrobial and reparative activity on infected tissues.

Notch3-regulated microRNAs impair CXCR4-dependent maturation of thymocytes allowing maintenance and progression of T-ALL.

Malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors causes T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive childhood lymphoproliferative disorder. Activating mutations of Notch, Notch1 and Notch3, have been detected in T-ALL patients. In this study, we aimed to deeply characterize hyperactive Notch3-related pathways involved in T-cell dynamics within the thymus and bone marrow to propose these processes as an important step in facilitating the progression of T-ALL.

Investigations of Antioxidant and Anti-Cancer Activities of 5-Aminopyrazole Derivatives.

To further extend the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of 5-aminopyrazoles (5APs) and identify novel compounds able to interfere with inflammation, oxidative stress, and tumorigenesis, 5APs have been designed and prepared. Some chemical modifications have been inserted on cathecol function or in aminopyrazole central core; in detail: (i) smaller, bigger, and more lipophilic substituents were introduced in and positions of catechol portion (5APs ); (ii) a methyl group was inserted on C3 of the pyrazole scaffold (5APs ); (iii) a more flexible alkyl chain was inserted on N1 position (5APs ); (iv) the acylhydrazonic linker was moved from position 4 to position 3 of the pyrazole scaffold (5APs ). All new derivatives have been tested for radical scavenging (DPPH assay), anti-aggregating/antioxidant (in human platelets) and cell growth inhibitory activity (MTT assay) properties.

Native characterization and QC profiling of human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cell vesicular fractions for secretome-based therapy.

Human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) have unique immunomodulatory properties making them attractive candidates for regenerative applications in inflammatory diseases. Most of their beneficial properties are mediated through their secretome. The bioactive factors concurring to its therapeutic activity are still unknown.

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies on Highly Functionalized Pyrazole Hydrazones and Amides as Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Agents.

Aminopyrazoles represent interesting structures in medicinal chemistry, and several derivatives showed biological activity in different therapeutic areas. Previously reported 5-aminopyrazolyl acylhydrazones and amides showed relevant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To further extend the structure-activity relationships in this class of derivatives, a novel series of pyrazolyl acylhydrazones and amides was designed and prepared through a divergent approach.

Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions on Alginate-Based Magnetic Nanocomposite Adsorbent Beads.

Graphene oxide and its magnetic nanoparticle-based composites are a well-known tool to remove heavy metals from wastewater. Unfortunately, one of the major issues in handling such small particles consists of their difficult removal from treated wastewater (even when their magnetic properties are exploited), due to their very small diameter. One possible way to overcome this problem is to embed them in a macroscopic biopolymer matrix, such as alginate or chitosan beads.

AmBisome Formulations for Pediatrics: Stability, Cytotoxicity, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies.

Liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome) is the gold standard for the treatment and prevention of fungal infections both in the adult and pediatric populations. The lyophilized dosage form has to be reconstituted and diluted by hospital staff, but its management can be challenging due to the spontaneous tendency of amphotericin B to form aggregates with different biological activity. In this study, the colloidal stability of the liposomes and the chemical stability of amphotericin B were investigated over time at storage conditions.

NaDES Application in Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Fields: An Overview.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) represent a new generation of green, non-flammable solvents, useful as an efficient alternative to the well-known ionic liquids. They can be easily prepared and exhibit unexpected solubilizing power for lipophilic molecules, although those of a hydrophilic nature are mostly used. For their unique properties, they can be recommend for different cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, ranging from sustainable extraction, obtaining ready-to-use ingredients, to the development of biocompatible drug delivery responsive systems.

Connecting the dots in the zona incerta: A study of neural assemblies and motifs of inter-area coordination in mice.

The zona incerta (ZI), a subthalamic area connected to numerous brain regions, has raised clinical interest because its stimulation alleviates the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. To explore its coordinative nature, we studied the assembly formation in a dataset of neural recordings in mice and quantified the degree of functional coordination of ZI with other 24 brain areas. We found that the ZI is a highly integrative area.

Antiproliferative Imidazo-Pyrazole-Based Hydrogel: A Promising Approach for the Development of New Treatments for PLX-Resistant Melanoma.

Aiming at developing a dermal formulation against melanoma, the synthesized imidazo-pyrazoles 2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole-7-carboxylic acid (3-methoxy-4-phenoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide () and 2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole-7-carboxylic acid (4-benzyloxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide () were screened on patient-isolated melanoma cells (MEOV NT) and on Vemurafenib (PLX4032)-resistant (MEOV PLX-R) ones. Since on MEOV PLX-R cells was 1.4-fold more effective than PLX, a hydrogel formulation containing (R4HG-4I) was prepared in parallel with an empty R4-based hydrogel (R4HG) using a synthesized antibacterial resin (R4) as gelling agent.

The Truth Is Out There: Biological Features and Clinical Indications of Extracellular Vesicles from Human Perinatal Stem Cells.

The potential of perinatal tissues to provide cellular populations to be used in different applications of regenerative medicine is well established. Recently, the efforts of researchers are being addressed regarding the evaluation of cell products (secreted molecules or extracellular vesicles, EVs) to be used as an alternative to cellular infusion. The data regarding the effective recapitulation of most perinatal cells' properties by their secreted complement point in this direction.

SIRT6 pharmacological inhibition delays skin cancer progression in the squamous cell carcinoma.

Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) has a critical role in cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC): SIRT6 silencing in skin SCC cells has pro-differentiating effects and SIRT6 deletion abrogated DMBA-TPA-induced skin tumorigenesis in mice. On the other hand, SIRT6 acts as tumor suppressor in SCC by enhancing glycolysis in tumor propagating cells. Herein, pharmacological modulation of SIRT6 deacetylase activity was investigated in cSCC, with S6 (inhibitor) or MDL-800 (activator).

Indole Antitumor Agents in Nanotechnology Formulations: An Overview.

The indole heterocycle represents one of the most important scaffolds in medicinal chemistry and is shared among a number of drugs clinically used in different therapeutic areas. Due to its varied biological activities, high unique chemical properties and significant pharmacological behaviors, indole derivatives have drawn considerable interest in the last decade as antitumor agents active against different types of cancers. The research of novel antiproliferative drugs endowed with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity led to the approval by U.

Facing the Challenges in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: From Standard Treatments to the Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a New Therapeutic Strategy.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which counts more than 650 million cases and more than 6.6 million of deaths worldwide, affects the respiratory system with typical symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and fatigue. Other nonpulmonary manifestations are related with abnormal inflammatory response, the "cytokine storm", that could lead to a multiorgan disease and to death.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Italy: A systematic review of epidemiology, quality of life, treatment adherence, and economic impact.

Objective: This systematic review aims to update the evidence on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in Italy, describing the epidemiology, quality of life (QoL) of patients and caregivers, treatment adherence, and economic impact of DMD.

Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to January 2023. Literature selection process, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers.