Premature thelarche and pesticide exposure: A case-control study in an intensive agricultural area.

The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture significantly enhances crop yields and pest control. However, it also raises concerns regarding environmental and human health impacts. Children are particularly vulnerable to health effects of pesticide exposure, especially for neurological development and reproductive health.

Investigating the modulation of the endocannabinoid system by probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC513 in a zebrafish model of di-n-hexyl phthalate exposure.

Environmental pollutants used as plasticizers in food packaging and in thousands of everyday products have become harmful for their impact on human health. Among them, phthalates, recognized as emerging endocrine disruptors (EDs) can induce toxic effects leading to different health disorders. Only few studies evaluated the effects of di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP) in in vivo models and no studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of DnHP on the endocannabinoid system (ECS), one of the majors signaling pathways involved in the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Vitellogenin Concentrations in Wild Brown Trout (Salmo trutta trutta).

The adverse effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) on aquatic wildlife and human health represent a current issue of high public concern. Substantial knowledge of the level of estrogenic EDs in fish has accumulated from field surveys. For this purpose, a survey of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta trutta) was carried out to assess the incidence of EDs in the feral fish population living in the Liri river (Abruzzi, Italy).

Pseudo-capsule "coffin effect": how to prevent penile retraction after implant of three-piece inflatable prosthesis.

Objective: Following three-component implantation of a penile prosthesis, some patients are dissatisfied with their penile length. This may be due to the procedure by itself or pre-existing risk factors or psychological reasons. We supposed that formation of a restricted pseudo-capsule due to a late prosthesis activation can inhibit later system expansion.

Microbiological and chemical profiles of naturally fermented table olives and brines from different Italian cultivars.

Six naturally fermented (Greek-style) table olives of cultivars Itrana, Peranzana, Cellina di Nardò, Nocellara del Belice and Bella di Cerignola, as well as their corresponding brines, were studied by a combined strategy consisting of chemical, microbiological and molecular analyses. In particular, organic acids, sugars, polyphenols, fatty acids, biogenic amines and cultivable microbiota were detected by standard methods. Moreover, tyramine and histamine producing bacteria were evaluated by an original approach consisting of Reverse-Transcription (RT)-qPCR.

May antioxidant therapy improve sperm parameters of men with persistent oligospermia after retrograde embolization for varicocele?

We performed a randomized, prospective, controlled, intention to treat study in order to determine the effectiveness of an antioxidant therapy in improve the quality of seminal fluid parameters and the natural pregnancies in men with persistent oligospermia (5-20 million/ml) 6 months after retrograde embolization. Forty-two subjects were enrolled and randomized in the study. Treated group (20 subjects) was assigned to receive antioxidant therapy (NAC 600 mg and vitamins-minerals).