Publications by authors named "Guida M"

Rare earth elements (REEs) encompass 15 lanthanides and play a crucial role in modern technology. Despite their essential uses, REEs are emerging environmental contaminants due to their growing presence in industrial, agricultural, and medical applications. For the first time, the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach was applied to REEs considering 58 papers including toxicity about Ce, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, and Y.

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Background: Intensive physical activity and rigid dietary regimes can act as modifiers of neuroendocrine axes in women, inducing hormonal disorders and related menstrual irregularities such as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). It would be important to evaluate if such disturbances may worsen female fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian reserve markers and neuroendocrine axis in young military academy female cadets with years of training and occurrence of FHA.

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is a self-pollinating species belonging to the Poaceae family characterized by a resistance to drought higher than that of corn. Sorghum ( L. Moench) has been grown for centuries as a food crop in tropical areas where it has an increasing importance, particularly as a cereal option for people with celiac disease.

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  • The XENONnT dark matter experiment successfully measured nuclear recoils from solar ^{8}B neutrinos, marking a significant advancement in neutrino detection technology.
  • Using a two-phase time projection chamber with a 5.9 t liquid xenon target, the experiment produced 37 observed events, which surpassed the expected background events, indicating a notable signal.
  • The results provide a measured solar neutrino flux consistent with previous studies and confirm the neutrino cross section predictions aligned with the Standard Model, showcasing the effectiveness of dark matter detectors in neutrino research.
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In a marine ecosystem, the most sensitive organisms to environmental changes, mainly to anthropic pressures, are fishes and invertebrates. Therefore, they are considered the ideal targets to indirectly evaluate the health of an entire ecosystem. Teleost fishes, particularly those that occupy the highest trophic levels, can accumulate toxic substances through their diet.

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To investigate DNA methylation levels of a panel of genes in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). We selected 15 genes among the most promising epigenetic biomarkers of TETs and evaluated their methylation levels in 71 TET samples. thymic carcinomas (TCs) showed hypermethylation of and genes and reduced methylation levels compared with thymomas (TMs) and healthy thymic tissues.

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  • Secondary metabolites are compounds that help organisms defend against others or attract mates, and their production is influenced by evolutionary factors.
  • This study focused on the ecotoxicological effects of extracts from three marine sponges and two benthic diatoms on marine organisms, specifically the Mediterranean purple sea urchin and other diatoms.
  • Results indicated that while unfertilized eggs showed some protection from harmful sponge compounds, treatments with sponge extracts had significant negative effects post-fertilization, and diatom extracts led to increased malformations in both pre- and post-fertilization stages.
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Limited data are available about the coastal ecology of the Calabria region, in the southern Italy. As well, data about the levels of biodiversity and the structure of food webs in these environments are totally missing. However, considering the wide range of physical and ecological conditions distinguishing these ecosystems, a remarkable spread of biodiversity is expected.

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Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health issue, causing around 10 million new cases and 1.3 million deaths in 2022. The challenge is compounded by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB strains, and co-infection with HIV.

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Antifungal substances are essential for managing fungal infections in humans, animals, and plants, and their usage has significantly increased due to the global rise in fungal infections. However, the extensive application of antifungal agents in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and agriculture has led to their widespread environmental dissemination through various pathways, such as excretion, improper disposal, and agricultural runoff. Despite advances in wastewater treatment, many antifungal compounds persist in the environment, affecting non-target organisms and contributing to resistance development.

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The present work aims at providing a multi-disciplinary approach for environmental monitoring in marine-coastal areas. A monitoring campaign of 13 months (October 2022-October 2023) was carried out on sandy foreshore sediments (SFSs). The SFSs were analysed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) content determination.

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In order to estimate the effects on aquatic organisms of long-term exposure to low doses of yttrium (Y) as a potential emerging contaminant, ecotoxicological and metabolomic data were collected on the model organism Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems. Following an initial acute toxicity assessment, a 21-day chronic exposure experiment was conducted using a sublethal concentration of 27 μg L⁻¹ of Y, corresponding to the effective concentrations inducing 10 % effect (EC) value for mortality endpoint and simulating the environmental Y level in aquatic systems. Results from the 21-day two-factor experiment combining microcrustacean survival, growth and reproduction bioassays and targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics indicated significant adverse effects of chronic exposure to Y on D.

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  • - The peptidoglycan pathway, crucial for bacterial cell wall formation, targets the translocation of undecaprenyl phosphate (C-P) across the membrane, which is facilitated by proteins like DedA and UptA.
  • - Research using native mass spectrometry reveals that UptA binds C-P more effectively than shorter-chain lipid analogs and interacts in a pH-sensitive manner.
  • - The study also finds that certain lipopeptide antibiotics can inhibit UptA by competing for its binding site, suggesting potential directions for developing new antibiotics that target lipid recycling processes in bacteria.
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  • The clinical management of women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) poses challenges, particularly due to inconsistent definitions of DOR across studies.
  • This research aims to evaluate various adjuvant treatments for women with DOR based on the POSEIDON criteria, analyzing data from numerous studies published until June 2024.
  • The analysis includes 38 randomized controlled trials, identifying testosterone supplementation as a treatment associated with higher live birth rates in women with DOR compared to those who did not receive supplementation.
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Introduction: The management of cancer patients follows a Diagnostic Therapeutic and Care Pathway (PDTA) approach, aimed at achieving the optimal balance between care and quality of life. To support this process, precision medicine and innovative technologies [e.g.

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Background: The impact of the order of treatment with checkpoint inhibitors or BRAF/MEK inhibitors on the development of brain metastases in patients with metastatic unresectable V600-mutant melanoma is unknown. The SECOMBIT trial examined the impact of the order of receipt of these treatments in such patients.

Methods: In this three-arm trial, we reviewed patients without brain metastases who received the BRAF/MEK inhibitors encorafenib and binimetinib until they had progressive disease followed by the immune checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab (arm A); or treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab until they had progressive disease followed by encorafenib and binimetinib (arm B); or treatment with encorafenib and binimetinib for 8 weeks followed by ipilimumab and nivolumab until they had progressive disease followed by retreatment with encorafenib arm binimetinib (arm C).

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A first comprehensive survey was carried out in a university campus in Italy in order to investigate in terms of natural elements an area where medium-high values of natural radiation are expected because of its peculiar geological features. The content of terrestrial radionuclides in 20 topsoil samples from the campus was determined with the aim to provide an important database of the soil characteristics. Ra, Th, and K concentrations were analysed by High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer in order to determine the background levels of natural radionuclides characteristics of the original area.

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The extensive use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has led to the emergence of antibiotic contaminants in the environment, posing significant risks to ecosystems and public health. This contamination arises from the persistence of antibiotics in aquatic environments, particularly in aquifer systems, where they contribute to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Despite increasing research, the understanding of the ecological and human health implications of these contaminants remains incomplete.

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Background: Risk stratification and treatment benefit prediction models are urgent to improve negative sentinel lymph node (SLN-) melanoma patient selection, thus avoiding costly and toxic treatments in patients at low risk of recurrence. To this end, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) could help clinicians to better calculate the recurrence risk and choose whether to perform adjuvant therapy.

Methods: We made use of AI to predict recurrence-free status (RFS) within 2-years from diagnosis in 94 SLN- melanoma patients.

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  • The study aimed to evaluate how effective ultrasound is in detecting invasive placentation in women with placenta previa who have a history of cesarean delivery.
  • It involved a multicenter, retrospective analysis of 180 singleton pregnancies at risk for placenta accreta between January 2010 and May 2020, focusing on women with diagnosed placenta previa.
  • Out of 155 women suspected to have placenta accreta based on ultrasound findings, 99 were confirmed to have the condition during delivery, highlighting the ultrasound's diagnostic potential.
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  • This study investigates the early diagnosis of preeclampsia (PE) by analyzing biochemical changes and immune system activity in pregnant women.
  • Researchers compared 30 women divided into three groups: healthy pregnant women, those with early preeclampsia, and those with late preeclampsia, focusing on various immune markers and lipid profiles.
  • Results showed notable increases in immune markers IL-6 and IL-8 in early preeclampsia cases, indicating heightened immune activity, while a decrease in PCSK9 gene expression was observed in early preeclampsia, suggesting potential implications for placental hormone synthesis.
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Purpose: To analyze the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of two sisters affected by hereditary transthyretin related amyloidosis (ATTRv) and bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss treated with cochlear implant.

Methods: A description of two patients underwent three cochlear implant (CI) surgery was performed. Age at time of implantation ranged from 48 to 53 years.

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