Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Semen Quality in Healthy Young Men Living in Italy.

Background/objectives: The study aim was to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and semen quality in a sample of healthy young men in Italy.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out using data from 126 participants (mean age ± SD 20.0 ± 1.

Institutional health communication and social media: Exploring Italian hospitals' use of social media pages.

Introduction: Hospitals play a potentially crucial role in public health, and social media can be powerful tools to reach their target audiences but are hospitals exploiting them to their full potential?

Methods: We retrieved the institutional webpages and the social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Telegram) of all Italian public hospitals located in regional capitals ( = 194). From 1 March to 30 April 2022, we analysed these profiles, noting the number of followers and of posts published, the date of the last post, and the availability of a social media policy. We selected the most active 53 social media profiles (belonging to 33 hospital facilities) for a closer content analysis.

Computer-aided designed 3D-printed polymeric scaffolds for personalized reconstruction of maxillary and mandibular defects: a proof-of-concept study.

Purpose: To investigate the potential reconstruction of complex maxillofacial defects using computer-aided design 3D-printed polymeric scaffolds by defining the production process, simulating the surgical procedure, and explore the feasibility and reproducibility of the whole algorithm.

Methods: This a preclinical study to investigate feasibility, reproducibility and efficacy of the reconstruction algorithm proposed. It encompassed 3 phases: (1) scaffold production (CAD and 3D-printing in polylactic acid); (2) surgical simulation on cadaver heads (navigation-guided osteotomies and scaffold fixation); (3) assessment of reconstruction (bone and occlusal morphological conformance, symmetry, and mechanical stress tests).

Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy: A mixed-methods study of attitudes in a sample of Italian women and the role of health professionals' communication.

Objectives: We examined Italian pregnant women's attitudes about the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, seasonal influenza, and Covid-19 vaccines, healthcare professionals' (HP) communication, reasons and potential predictors for non-adherence.

Methods: From August 2021 to January 2022, we carried out a cross-sectional study in Italy using an online self-administered questionnaire addressed to women of age and pregnant, designed using LimeSurvey and disseminated through social media. Questions explored vaccination attitude/perceptions, satisfaction, and trust in HPs' information.

Efficacy of a Short-Term Lifestyle Change Intervention in Healthy Young Men: The FASt Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dietary habits and physical activity intervention on lifestyle behavior as a prevention tool supported also by personalized motivational counseling. A two-arm randomized controlled trial was carried out. A sample of 18-22-year-old students was randomly assigned to a four-month intervention based on the Mediterranean diet and moderate physical activity program (N = 66) or to a control group (N = 63).

Comparison between Macro and Trace Element Concentrations in Human Semen and Blood Serum in Highly Polluted Areas in Italy.

Macro and trace elements are important regulators of biological processes, including those ones linked to reproduction. Among them, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Se, and Zn ensure normal spermatic functions. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of 26 macro and trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, U, V, and Zn) in blood serum and also in semen of healthy young men, homogeneous for age, anthropometric characteristics, and lifestyle, living in three highly polluted areas in Italy.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Internet-Based Communication for Public Health: Systematic Review.

Background: Communicating strategically is a key issue for health organizations. Over the past decade, health care communication via social media and websites has generated a great deal of studies examining different realities of communication strategies. However, when it comes to systematic reviews, there is fragmentary evidence on this type of communication.

Wastewater toxicity removal: Integrated chemical and effect-based monitoring of full-scale conventional activated sludge and membrane bioreactor plants.

The literature is currently lacking effect-based monitoring studies targeted at evaluating the performance of full-scale membrane bioreactor plants. In this research, a monitoring campaign was performed at a full-scale wastewater treatment facility with two parallel lines (traditional activated sludge and membrane bioreactor). Beside the standard parameters (COD, nitrogen, phosphorus, and metals), 6 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, 29 insecticides, 2 herbicides, and 3 endocrine disrupting compounds were measured.

Aerosol Jet Printing of Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(Styrenesulfonate) onto Micropatterned Substrates for Neural Cells In Vitro Stimulation.

In neural tissue engineering (NTE), topographical, electrical, mechanical and/or biochemical stimulations are established methods to regulate neural cell activities in cultures. Aerosol Jet Printing is here proposed as enabling technology to develop NTE integrated devices for electrically combined stimulations. The printability of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) commercial ink onto a reference substrate was firstly investigated and the effect of the process parameters on the quality of printed lines was analyzed.

Nd:YVO Laser Irradiation on CrC-25(Ni20Cr) Coating Realized with High Velocity Oxy-Fuel Technology-Analysis of Surface Modification.

The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique has been extensively used for the deposition of hard metal coatings. The main advantage of HVOF, compared to other thermal spray techniques, is its ability to accelerate the melted powder particles of the feedstock material to a relatively high velocity, leading to good adhesion and low porosity. To further improve the surface properties, a mechanical machining process is often needed; however, a key problem is that the high hardness of the coating makes the polishing process expensive (in terms of time and tool wear).

Additive Manufacturing for Personalized Skull Base Reconstruction in Endoscopic Transclival Surgery: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Endoscopic transnasal transclival intradural surgery is limited by a high postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of three-dimensional printing to create a personalized, rigid scaffold for clival reconstruction.

Methods: Two different types of clivectomy were performed in 5 specimens with the aid of neuronavigation, and 11 clival reconstructions were simulated.

Cancer Cell Direct Bioprinting: A Focused Review.

Three-dimensional printing technologies allow for the fabrication of complex parts with accurate geometry and less production time. When applied to biomedical applications, two different approaches, known as direct or indirect bioprinting, may be performed. The classical way is to print a support structure, the scaffold, and then culture the cells.

Genotoxic Activity of Particulate Matter and In Vivo Tests in Children Exposed to Air Pollution.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between micronuclei and DNA damage in children's buccal mucosa cells and the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of the different sized fractions of particulate matter as well as the concentration of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and metals in particulate matter. Air particulate matter was collected by high volume samplers located near the schools attended by the children on the same days of biological samplings. The mutagenic activity was assessed in different cells in in vitro tests (Ames test on bacteria and comet test on leukocytes).

Parents and Mobile Devices, from Theory to Practice: Comparison between Perception and Attitudes to 0-5 Year Old Children's Use.

Pediatrics associations recommend avoiding the use of mobile devices (MDs) in children aged 0-2 years and limiting them to one hour per day for children aged 3-5 years. This study aimed to explore public risk perception on MDs use by children aged 0-5 years and attitudes of parents to children's use. Participants were recruited on a voluntary basis by social media using a self-administered survey.

Effects of a Lifestyle Change Intervention on Semen Quality in Healthy Young Men Living in Highly Polluted Areas in Italy: The FASt Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Human semen quality is affected by lifestyle and environmental factors.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effects of a diet and physical activity intervention on semen quality of healthy young men living in highly polluted areas of Italy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized controlled trial was conducted.

Selective Laser Melting and Electron Beam Melting of Ti6Al4V for Orthopedic Applications: A Comparative Study on the Applied Building Direction.

The 3D printing process offers several advantages to the medical industry by producing complex and bespoke devices that accurately reproduce customized patient geometries. Despite the recent developments that strongly enhanced the dominance of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques over conventional methods, processes need to be continually optimized and controlled to obtain implants that can fulfill all the requirements of the surgical procedure and the anatomical district of interest. The best outcomes of an implant derive from optimal compromise and balance between a good interaction with the surrounding tissue through cell attachment and reduced inflammatory response mainly caused by a weak interface with the native tissue or bacteria colonization of the implant surface.

Comet Test in Saliva Leukocytes of Pre-School Children Exposed to Air Pollution in North Italy: The Respira Study.

Air pollution is a well-known problem for human health, especially for children living in highly polluted urban areas. This study aimed to assess the relationship between airborne pollutants concentration and biomarkers of DNA damage in the buccal mucosa cells of pre-school children. DNA damage was investigated with comet test in saliva leukocytes taken from sputum of 3- to 6-year-old children living in Brescia, Northern Italy, collected during two consecutive winter seasons (2012-2013).

Genotoxicity of source, treated and distributed water from four drinking water treatment plants supplied by surface water in Sardinia, Italy.

High levels of disinfection by-products (DBPs) are constantly found in drinking water distributed in Sardinia, an Italian island with a tourist vocation and critical issues related to the drinking water supply. To reduce the concentration of trihalomethanes the disinfectant in use was changed - chlorine dioxide was adopted instead of hypochlorite. However, this caused the appearance of other DBPs (e.

Numerical Optimization of the Blank Dimensions in Tube Hydroforming Using Line-Search and Bisection Methods.

The change from a consolidated manufacturing practice to a new solution is often a complex problem because of the operative limits of technologies and the strict constraints of industrial parts. Moreover, the new process must reflect or enhance the characteristics of the product and, overall, it must be more competitive in performances and costs. Accordingly, the development of a new process is a multilevel and multivariate problem that requires a systematic and hierarchical approach.

Nebulized jet-based printing of bio-electrical scaffolds for neural tissue engineering: a feasibility study.

In this paper we investigate the application of a direct writing technique for printing conductive patterns onto a biocompatible electrospun-pyrolysed carbon-fibre-based substrate. The result is a first study towards the production of bio-electrical scaffolds that could be used to enhance the promotion of efficient connections among neurons for in vitro studies in the field of neural tissue engineering. An electrospinning process is employed for production of the materials derived from the precursor polyacrylonitrile, in which the embedding of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is also investigated.

Meningococcal disease in Italy: public concern, media coverage and policy change.

Background: Between 2015 and 2017 six deaths due to meningitis in the Lombardy Region, Northern Italy, caught the attention of media and increased concern among the population, with a consequent increase in demand for vaccination. Considering the evidence about the impact of media coverage of health issues on public behaviour, this paper investigates the trend of media coverage and internet searches regarding meningitis in the Lombardy Region.

Methods: Content analysis of online articles published from January 2015 to May 2017 and analysis of Google Trends were carried out.