Publications by authors named "Fortunato A"

There are no reports of cancer in sponges, despite them having somatic cell turnover, long lifespans, and no specialized adaptive immune cells. In order to investigate whether sponges are cancer resistant, we exposed a species of sponge, , to X-rays. We found that can withstand 518 Gy of X-ray radiation.

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Although significant progress has been made in recent years, some important questions remain regarding the analytical performance, pathophysiological interpretation and clinical use of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT) measurements. Several recent studies have shown that a progressive and continuous increase in circulating levels of cTnI and cTnT below the cut-off value (i.e.

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Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the need for an effective vaccine has appeared crucial for stimulating immune system responses to produce humoral/cellular immunity and activate immunological memory. It has been demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralizing immunity elicited by previous infection and/or vaccination, leading to new infection waves and cases of reinfection. The study aims to gain into cases of reinfections, particularly infections and/or vaccination-induced protection.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess the performance and establish the upper reference limit for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) using the MAGLUMI CLIA method in healthy populations.
  • Two groups of healthy adults were analyzed: one with younger adults (average age 43) and another with older adults (average age 78), focusing on blood donation volunteers.
  • Results showed that hs-cTnI levels were significantly higher in men than women, especially after age 55, confirming that the MAGLUMI CLIA method meets international diagnostic criteria for cardiac assessments.
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Psychological distress is widespread among university students, with depression being notably more prevalent compared to the general population. University counseling services are crucial for addressing these mental health challenges, and numerous studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing psychological distress and improving overall well-being. However, there is limited research on what factors predict the success of university counseling.

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Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common contaminant widely used in many industrial sectors. Because of its wide use and dispersion, it can be accumulated in living human bodies through both oral assumption and nondietary routes. BPA exhibits hormone-like properties, falling under the class of endocrine disruptors; therefore, it can alter relevant physiological functions.

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The semi-hydrogenation of acetylene in ethylene-rich gas streams is a high-priority industrial chemical reaction for producing polymer-grade ethylene. Traditional thermocatalytic routes for acetylene reduction to ethylene, despite progress, still require high temperatures and high H consumption, possess relatively low selectivity, and use a noble metal catalyst. Light-powered strategies are starting to emerge, given that they have the potential to use directly the abundant and sustainable solar irradiation, but are ineffective.

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Progression from pre-cancers like ductal carcinoma (DCIS) to invasive disease (cancer) is driven by somatic evolution and is altered by clinical interventions. We hypothesized that genetic and/or phenotypic intra-tumor heterogeneity would predict clinical outcomes for DCIS since it serves as the substrate for natural selection among cells. We profiled two samples from two geographically distinct foci from each DCIS in both cross-sectional (N = 119) and longitudinal cohorts (N = 224), with whole exome sequencing, low-pass whole genome sequencing, and a panel of immunohistochemical markers.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on the insecticidal and repellent properties of essential oils from four plants, targeting the flea Ctenocephalides felis, which affects pets and humans globally.
  • - Using Gas Chromatography, researchers analyzed the chemical composition of the oils and tested their efficacy against different flea life stages, calculating lethal concentrations for each.
  • - Results indicated that certain oils, particularly from Copaifera reticulata, showed significant insecticidal activity and residual effectiveness, making them potential alternatives to chemical pesticides.
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The first part of this Inter-Society Document describes the mechanisms involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases, particularly arterial hypertension, in adults and the elderly. It will also examine how consistent physical exercise during adolescence and adulthood can help maintain blood pressure levels and prevent progression to symptomatic heart failure. The discussion will include experimental and clinical evidence on the use of specific exercise programs for preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases in adults and the elderly.

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P2X7 is an ATP-activated purinergic receptor implicated in pro-inflammatory responses. It is associated with the development of several diseases, including inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions. Although several P2X7 receptor antagonists have recently been reported in the literature, none of them is approved for clinical use.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The Coronary Sinus Reducer System (CSRS) is a new treatment option being evaluated for its impact on the National Health Service (NHS) and how it affects patients' lives in terms of both length and quality.
  • * Initial costs are higher when using the CSRS for the first two years, but if successful, it could lead to significant healthcare savings by reducing hospital visits and other related expenses starting in the third year.
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Ensuring patient safety in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) within the field of pediatric surgery requires systematic and extensive practice. Many groups have proposed mastery learning programs encompassing a range of training methods. However, short courses often have a narrow focus on specific objectives, limiting opportunities for sustained training.

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Background: In Italy the introduction of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in 2005 has led to a significant reduction of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by of serogroup C (MenC). However, this serogroup is still responsible of sporadic cases, clusters and local outbreaks. The study aims to investigate the genotype and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of MenC isolates collected in Italy from 2000 to 2020.

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The present study examined the attachment patterns distribution of 60 lesbian mothers, 50 gay fathers, and 42 heterosexual parents through assisted reproduction and their 76 children, using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the Friends and Family Interview (FFI), respectively. The study also explored the intergenerational transmission of attachment through reflective functioning (AAI-RF). All families lived in Italy and children were aged 6-12 years ( = 8.

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Aims: The present study examined the associations between family structure, parenting, and dyadic coping and children's emotion regulation in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction. It also explored differences in parenting dimensions and dyadic coping, based on parents' sexual orientation.

Methods: Participants were 60 lesbian mothers through donor insemination, 50 gay fathers through surrogacy, and 42 heterosexual parents through gamete donation, all with a child aged 6-12 years ( = 8.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The systematic review examines university counseling services (UCSs) to understand their role in mental health assessment and interventions aimed at helping students manage psychological issues; it follows PRISMA guidelines and analyzed 152 eligible articles.
  • - The findings reveal that both face-to-face and web-based counseling effectively enhance mental health among university students, though there are significant biases in help-seeking behaviors, particularly among international students.
  • - The review emphasizes the need to address cultural barriers in seeking help, highlights the limited resources available for UCSs, and calls for more randomized clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of these psychological interventions.
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Background: Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis is a congenital or acquired aortic valve disease that occurs when the aortic valve of the heart narrows. It represents the most common valvular disease in adults and generally has a degenerative nature. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), due to its non-invasive approach, has become the standard treatment in patients who are ineligible to surgery or at high surgical risk, and it is also increasingly being performed in patients at intermediate to low surgical risk.

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In Italy, studies investigating gender identity and expression in gender non-conforming adults are lacking, as well as data regarding the non-binary population. The present study aimed at dimensionally exploring how transgender and non-binary Italian adults identify and express their gender. The Gender Diversity Questionnaire (GDQ) was administered to a sample of 112 adult subjects aged 18-60 years accessing a gender-specialized service in Rome.

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Psychopathology is a process: it unfolds over time and involves several different factors. To extend our knowledge of such process, it is vital to understand the trajectories that lead to developing and maintaining a specific disorder. The construct of continuity appears very useful to this aim.

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Chimerism is a widespread phenomenon across the tree of life. It is defined as a multicellular organism composed of cells from other genetically distinct entities. This ability to 'tolerate' non-self cells may be linked to susceptibility to diseases like cancer.

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