Publications by authors named "Maffei F"

Labyrinth seals (LSs) in turbomachinery are used to minimize leaks. This study presents an experimental setup designed to test and validate LS designs. The test bench (TB) described in this paper can evaluate different LS designs obtained through various methods to find better solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Researchers developed two new compounds, MG28 and MG46, by combining sulforaphane (SFR) with rhodol to enhance their ability to kill cancer cells.
  • - These compounds exhibited much greater cytotoxic effects than SFR alone, primarily through causing significant DNA damage and subsequent cell death.
  • - The unique mechanism of action for MG28 and MG46, involving direct interactions with nuclear DNA, suggests they could offer a novel approach for cancer treatment alongside existing therapies.
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Vitamin K is an essential dietary cofactor required for the synthesis of active forms of vitamin K-dependent procoagulant proteins. Vitamin K deficiency, particularly late-onset deficiency occurring between 1 week and 6 months of age, can cause a life-threatening bleeding disorder. An exclusively breastfed, full-term, 6-week-old infant male presented with severe haemorrhagic shock and multi-system organ failure related to caregiver refusal of intramuscular vitamin K after birth.

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Lessons conducted in hospitals ensure school continuity for hospitalized children unable to attend regular school. Hospital-based school (HS) provides a tailored experience that ensures normality for children through education. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of the proposed lessons in reducing negative emotions, distress, and pain in children, as well as fostering positive affects.

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Camera traps became the main observational method of a myriad of species over large areas. Data sets from camera traps can be used to describe the patterns and monitor the occupancy, abundance, and richness of wildlife, essential information for conservation in times of rapid climate and land-cover changes. Habitat loss and poaching are responsible for historical population losses of mammals in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, especially for medium to large-sized species.

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Angiogenesis and metastasis represent two challenging targets to combat cancer development in the later stages of its progression. Numerous studies have indicated the important role of natural products in blocking tumor angiogenesis signaling pathways in several advanced tumors. In recent years, the marine polysaccharides fucoidans emerged as promising anticancer compounds showing potent antitumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of different types of cancers.

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Several plant protein inhibitors with anticoagulant properties have been studied and characterized, including the trypsin inhibitor (DrTI). This protein inhibits serine proteases (trypsin) and enzymes directly involved in coagulation, such as plasma kallikrein, factor XIIa, and factor XIa. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two new synthetic peptides derived from the primary sequence of DrTI in coagulation and thrombosis models to understand the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of thrombus formation as well as in the development of new antithrombotic therapies.

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Marine sponges represent one of the richest sources of natural marine compounds with anticancer potential. Plocabulin (PM060184), a polyketide originally isolated from the sponge , elicits its main anticancer properties binding tubulin, which still represents one of the most important targets for anticancer drugs. Plocabulin showed potent antitumor activity, in both in vitro and in vivo models of different types of cancers, mediated not only by its antitubulin activity, but also by its ability to block endothelial cell migration and invasion.

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Article Synopsis
  • Study Overview
  • : The research examined the effects of an adapted physical activity (APA) program on post-menopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, focusing on bone turnover biomarkers, functional capacity, and fall risk.
  • Methodology
  • : Participants (12 in APA group, 9 in control) engaged in a 1-hour exercise session twice a week for 6 months, while the control group maintained their usual lifestyle.
  • Results
  • : The APA program did not change bone turnover biomarkers but led to significant improvements in walking capacity and reduced fall risk and fear among participants compared to the control group.
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The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data.

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Evidence shows that exercise can have a favourable effect in cancer patients. The exercise's clinical benefits are likely to concern multiple interrelated biological pathways, among which oxidative stress plays a key role. Regular training can induce an adaptive response that strengthens the antioxidative status of the body.

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The process of bone loss occurs silently and progressively with age, often appearing as osteopenia or osteoporosis or related fractures. Given the rapid raise in disease burden and socio-economic costs of these conditions worldwide, drug therapy combined with physical activity can be a useful strategy and bone biomarkers, can represent a useful evaluation tool to assess their effects. The objective of this systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA statement, was to investigate the effects of physical activity interventions combined with drug treatments on bone biomarkers in people with osteopenia and osteoporosis.

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Problem: The consistent prevalence and occasionally severe consequences of bullying and victimization suggest the need to include a more accurate assessment of these episodes within the Emergency Departments (ED). However, the literature on mental health related symptoms of bullying/victimization treated in the ED is still scarce. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of peer victimization amongst children and adolescents referred to an Italian Pediatric Emergency Department.

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Background: Bone imbalance between anabolic and catabolic processes at the level of remodeling unit due to the prevalence of resorbing activity, represents a health problem of aging. The consequence is the negative balance of bone turnover that can lead to osteoporosis. Physical activity (PA) can play a central role in the comprehensive management of osteoporosis, since it induces the anabolism of bone tissue.

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The success of cancer therapy is often compromised by the narrow therapeutic index of many anticancer drugs and the occurrence of drug resistance. The association of anticancer therapies with natural compounds is an emerging strategy to improve the pharmaco-toxicological profile of cancer chemotherapy. Sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables, targets multiple pathways involved in cancer development, as recorded in different cancers such as breast, brain, blood, colon, lung, prostate, and so forth.

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Cancer represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Progresses in treatment of cancer have continued at a rapid pace. However, undesirable side effects and drug resistance remain major challenges for therapeutic success.

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Proteasome inhibition represents an important anticancer strategy. Here, we studied the mechanisms at the basis of the pro-apoptotic activity of the standardized decoction of Hemidesmus indicus, a plant evoking a complex anticancer activity, and explored its inhibition of proteasome activity in human leukemia cells. Additionally, we preliminary tested the cytotoxicity of some H.

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Purpose: Shop Talk is a therapeutic board game for children and adolescents with cancer, aimed at helping them talk about their disease, life, and emotions in a creative way and in a secure setting. The scope of this study was to translate Shop Talk into Italian, evaluating its acceptability, feasibility, and emotional impact.

Methods: The game board, question cards, and game instructions were translated into Italian from the original English-Spanish version.

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Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer among women for which an exhaustive cure has not been discovered yet. Nowadays, tamoxifen still represents the gold standard for breast cancer therapy; it acts on both estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers. Unfortunately, its toxicity and the related chemoresistance undermine its antitumor potential.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patulin is a mycotoxin found in fruits and vegetables, and the yeast Rhodotorula kratochvilovae strain LS11 can help reduce its levels in food.
  • R. kratochvilovae converts patulin into a less harmful compound called desoxypatulinic acid (DPA).
  • Tests show that while both compounds can cause genetic damage, patulin is significantly more damaging than DPA.
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Amphibians are among the most threatened vertebrates in the world and this is also true for those inhabiting the Atlantic Forest hotspot, living in ecosystems that are highly degraded and threatened by anthropogenic activities. We present a data set containing information about amphibian communities sampled throughout the Atlantic Forest Biome in South America. The data were extracted from 389 bibliographic references (articles, books, theses, and dissertations) representing inventories of amphibian communities from 1940 to 2017.

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The purpose of antithrombotic therapy is the prevention of thrombus formation and/or its extension with a minimum risk of bleeding. The inhibition of a variety of proteolytic processes, particularly those of the coagulation cascade, has been reported as a property of plant protease inhibitors. The role of trypsin inhibitors (TIs) from Delonix regia (Dr) and Acacia schweinfurthii (As), members of the Kunitz family of protease inhibitors, was investigated on blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, and thrombus formation.

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Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown its antitumor activity in both and systems. However, the mechanisms at the basis of CAP-cell interaction are not yet completely understood. The aim of this study is to investigate CAP proapoptotic effect and identify some of the molecular mechanisms triggered by CAP in human T-lymphoblastoid leukemia cells.

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