In Vivo Myelin Water Quantification Using Diffusion-Relaxation Correlation MRI: A Comparison of 1D and 2D Methods.

Multidimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a versatile tool for microstructure mapping. We use a diffusion weighted inversion recovery spin echo (DW-IR-SE) sequence with spiral readouts at ultra-strong gradients to acquire a rich diffusion-relaxation data set with sensitivity to myelin water. We reconstruct 1D and 2D spectra with a two-step convex optimization approach and investigate a variety of multidimensional MRI methods, including 1D multi-component relaxometry, 1D multi-component diffusometry, 2D relaxation correlation imaging, and 2D diffusion-relaxation correlation spectroscopic imaging (DR-CSI), in terms of their potential to quantify tissue microstructure, including the myelin water fraction (MWF).

Exploring the Role of Birth Environment on Italian Mothers' Emotional Experience during Childbirth.

The physical environment is one of the factors that affect mother's experience of childbirth and psychological health. A woman's childbirth experience has been found to influence not only the mother's own health and future births but also the well-being of her child and family. The present study's objective was to investigate mothers' perceptions of spatial-physical humanization, affective quality of place, and emotions during childbirth.

Lung viral infection modelling in a bioengineered whole-organ.

Lung infections are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and this situation has been exacerbated by the emergence of COVID-19. Pre-clinical modelling of viral infections has relied on cell cultures that lack 3D structure and the context of lung extracellular matrices. Here, we propose a bioreactor-based, whole-organ lung model of viral infection.

Impact of Built Environment and Neighborhood on Promoting Mental Health, Well-being, and Social Participation in Older People: an Umbrella Review.

Background: The built environment, especially in the context of the neighborhood, affects older people's health. This umbrella review aims to summarize the associations between factors and interventions in the built environment as regards modifying or improving mental health, well-being, social inclusion and participation in the elderly.

Methods: We searched articles in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Avery Index, Sage, Web of Science, Health Evidence, and Google Scholar, without any time limits.

Effect of bovine lactoferrin on recurrent urinary tract infections: in vitro and in vivo evidences.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains are the primary cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). UPEC strains are able to invade, multiply and persisting in host cells. Therefore, UPEC strains are associated to recurrent UTIs requiring long-term antibiotic therapy.

Ambulatory COVID-19 Patients Treated with Lactoferrin as a Supplementary Antiviral Agent: A Preliminary Study.

SARS-CoV-2, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus causing COVID-19, exerts morbidity and mortality especially in elderly, obese individuals and those suffering from chronic conditions. In addition to the availability of vaccines and the limited efficacy of the first dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is an urgent requirement for the discovery and development of supplementary antiviral agents. Lactoferrin (Lf), a pleiotropic cationic glycoprotein of innate immunity, has been proposed as a safe treatment combined with other therapies in COVID-19 patients.

Impact of the Built Environment and the Neighborhood in Promoting the Physical Activity and the Healthy Aging in Older People: An Umbrella Review.

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to establish which specific elements of the built environment can contribute to improving the physical activity of self-sufficient, noninstitutionalized and living in the city adults > 65 years. (2) Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted in several database. Umbrella review methodology was used to include the reviews that presented a sufficient methodological quality.

The Impact of the Physical Environment on Intrapartum Maternity Care: Identification of Eight Crucial Building Spaces.

Objectives, Purpose, Or Aim: This article investigates whether the physical environment in which childbirth occurs impacts the intrapartum intervention rates and how this might happen. The study explores the spatial physical characteristics that can support the design of spaces to promote the health and well-being of women, their supporters, and maternity care professionals.

Background: Medical interventions during childbirth have consequences for the health of women and babies in the immediate and long term.

Optimal settings for childbirth.

Many studies highlight how health is influenced by the settings in which people live, work, and receive health care. In particular, the setting in which childbirth takes place is highly influential. The physiological processes of women's labor and birth are enhanced in optimal ("salutogenic," or health promoting) environments.

Nitrogen removal from digested slurries using a simplified ammonia stripping technique.

This study assessed a novel technique for removing nitrogen from digested organic waste based on a slow release of ammonia that was promoted by continuous mixing of the digestate and delivering a continuous air stream across the surface of the liquid. Three 10-day experiments were conducted using two 50-L reactors. In the first two, nitrogen removal efficiencies were evaluated from identical digestates maintained at different temperatures (30°C and 40°C).

A Simplified, Light Emitting Diode (LED) Based, Modular System to be Used for the Rapid Evaluation of Fruit and Vegetable Quality: Development and Validation on Dye Solutions.

NIR spectroscopy has proven to be one of the most efficient and ready to transfer tools to monitor product's quality. Portable VIS/NIR instruments are particularly versatile and suitable for field use to monitor the ripening process or quality parameters. The aim of this work is to develop and evaluate a new simplified optoelectronic system for potential measurements on fruit and vegetables directly in the field.

An integrated, multisensor system for the continuous monitoring of water dynamics in rice fields under different irrigation regimes.

The cultivation of rice, one of the most important staple crops worldwide, has very high water requirements. A variety of irrigation practices are applied, whose pros and cons, both in terms of water productivity and of their effects on the environment, are not completely understood yet. The continuous monitoring of irrigation and rainfall inputs, as well as of soil water dynamics, is a very important factor in the analysis of these practices.

[Evidence based nursing and distance learning in the Italian hospital S. Orsola-Malpighi].

An experience of distance learning on Evidence Based Nursing is being implemented at the Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi of Bologna. Commented evidence based abstracts on nursing techniques or problems are produced by a resource group of 80 nurses who attended specific courses. An abridged version of the recommendations is distributed to the 2300 health care professionals of the hospital with information on the distance learning session that consists in reading an extended review of the literature on one of the topics chosen and in an evaluation session.

Serum beta-endorphin increase after intravenous histamine treatment of chronic daily headache.

Histamine is able to induce spontaneous-like headache attacks in migraine and cluster headache subjects. Therefore, it has been considered as a possible agent in the pathogenesis of headache. Histamine desensitization is used for the treatment of cluster and other chronic headaches like migrains with interparoxysmal headache.

Common and distinct fusion proteins in axonal growth and transmitter release.

We have used the proteolytic properties of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins (BoNT, TeNT) to cleave three proteins of the membrane fusion machinery, SNAP-25, VAMP/synaptobrevin, and syntaxin, in developing and differentiated rat central neurons in vitro. Then, we have studied the capacity of neurons to extend neurites, make synapses, and release neurotransmitters. All the toxins showed the expected specificity with the exception that BoNT/C cleaved SNAP-25 in addition to syntaxin and induced rapid neuronal death.

Serum osteocalcin levels in postmenopausal obese women.

In epidemiology of osteoporosis, obesity is to be considered one of its protecting factors. However there are in the literature discordant opinions: some authors describe a protective effect of obesity on the trabecular bone, others on the cortical one, others no effects at all and others finally a positive influence on both the trabecular and the cortical bone. However, only few studies on obesity's impact on bone metabolism are available.