Publications by authors named "Piras C"

The journal retracts the article entitled "Environmental Impact of Pharmaceutical Pollutants: Synergistic Toxicity of Ivermectin and Cypermethrin" [...

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Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic resulted in lifestyle change of world's population because of the measures adopted by governments to contain the virus spread.

Design And Methods: This study examined whether lockdown impacted anthropometric indices, Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence, Physical Activity Level (PAL), and Quality of Life (SF-12) in a cohort of 116 patients (96 F, aged 57.2 ± 13.

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  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health issue that requires new approaches to tackle infectious diseases.
  • The study explores the antimicrobial properties of various plant species from the biodiverse Mediterranean, identifying promising candidates and their phytochemical constituents.
  • After analyzing 3037 studies, the research found that specific plant species exhibited effective antimicrobial activity, suggesting that these natural agents could aid in combating AMR and contribute to greener veterinary medicine.
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  • The study investigates the presence of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and antibiotic resistance proteins in bovine milk from various breeds, focusing on both intensive and non-intensive farming practices.
  • Using advanced techniques like LAP-MALDI mass spectrometry and metaproteomics, researchers analyzed milk samples to identify and characterize these proteins while successfully distinguishing Podolica breed milk from other breeds with an impressive accuracy rate.
  • The findings revealed a significant diversity in the bacterial ecosystem of milk and identified specific resistance proteins, like beta-lactamases, across samples, indicating no significant differences linked to the breed of cow.
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Deltamethrin is used against plant pests (e.g., mites and ants) and, in farm animals, against biting insects because of its acaricidal and repellent effects against ticks, thus protecting the sheep and cattle from the transmission of pathogens.

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Introduction: Emerging evidence suggests the prognostic value of spinal cord (SC) pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the 2021 MAGNIMS-CMSC-NAIMS guidelines don't recommend routine SC MRI for disease monitoring. This study investigates the frequency of new asymptomatic and isolated SC lesions, exploring their potential to predict clinical activity and guide treatment decisions.

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The Podolica cattle breed is widespread in southern Italy, and its productivity is characterized by low yields and an extraordinary quality of milk and meats. Most of the milk produced is transformed into "Caciocavallo Podolico" cheese, which is made with 100% Podolica milk. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is the technique that, in this research work, was applied together with machine learning to discriminate 100% Podolica milk from contamination of other Calabrian cattle breeds.

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  • The bee gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the interactions between bees, their environment, and other organisms, contributing to ecological balance and health.
  • Metaproteomics, a technique used in this study, reveals the complex community of bacteria, fungi, and parasites in bees, demonstrating their dynamic and functional traits, including virulence and antimicrobial resistance.
  • By analyzing both the microbial and host proteomes, this research enhances our understanding of bee gut microbiota's structure and functions, offering insights into addressing issues like antimicrobial resistance and environmental health.
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Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) represents the most frequent cause of peripheral vertigo. In most cases, it is successfully treated using the canalith repositioning procedure, but it is often followed by continuous lightheadedness in the absence of vertigo or nystagmus (residual dizziness, RD). Our aim is to describe the clinical effectiveness and the urine metabolomics profile of treating these patients with polyphenol compound supplementation.

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Several countries have recommended a booster dose of Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine for subjects under the age of 60, who have already received the first dose of ChAdOx1. This is due to several ChAdOx1 vaccine-associated adverse vascular events and thrombocytopenia. Neutralization assay and quantitative IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibody (anti-S-IgG) were conducted to investigate the long-term responses to vaccine treatment in a cohort of Sardinian participants, who have received heterologous Prime-Boost Vaccination via ChAdOx1 vector vaccine and a booster dose via BNT162b2.

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Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health issue that requires new approaches to tackle infectious diseases.
  • The diverse plant species and phytochemicals found in Italian flora could provide promising solutions in the fight against AMR.
  • This study focuses on exploring the antimicrobial effects of these plants and their compounds to develop new antimicrobial agents for use in animal production.
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Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition characterized by glucose intolerance, with hyperglycemia of varying severity with onset during pregnancy. An uncontrolled GDM can lead to an increased risk of morbidity in the fetus and newborn, and an increased risk of obesity or developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension or neurocognitive developmental impairment in adulthood. In this study, we used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS) to analyze the urinary metabolomic profile of newborns of diabetic mothers (NDMs) with the aim of identifying biomarkers useful for the monitoring of NDMs and for early diagnosis of predisposition to develop related chronic diseases.

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Polymorphic toxins (PTs) are a broad family of toxins involved in interbacterial competition and pathogenesis. PTs are modular proteins that are comprised of a conserved N-terminal domain responsible for its transport, and a variable C-terminal domain bearing toxic activity. Although the mode of transport has yet to be elucidated, a new family of putative PTs containing an N-terminal MuF domain, resembling the Mu coliphage F protein, was identified in prophage genetic elements.

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  • * Analytical techniques like mid-infrared spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared are commonly used in the dairy industry to identify potential hazards without needing to know every component's identity.
  • * This paper examines recent developments in mid-infrared spectroscopy for identifying and measuring adulterants, diluted milk, harmful bacteria, veterinary drugs, and other dangerous substances in milk.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and several studies have suggested possible early RV involvement. Aim of the study was to evaluate the 3D echo parameters of the right ventricle (RV) and the metabolomic profile to correlate both with SLE severity. Forty SLE patients, free of cardiovascular disease, were enrolled and the following 3D parameters were evaluated: the RV ejection fraction (RV-EF), longitudinal strain of the interventricular septum (Septal LS), longitudinal strain of the free wall (Free-LS) and the fractional area change (FAC).

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Cancer cells adjust their metabolism to meet energy demands. In particular, glutamine addiction represents a distinctive feature of several types of tumors, including colorectal cancer. In this study, four colorectal cancer cell lines (Caco-2, HCT116, HT29 and SW480) were cultured with or without glutamine.

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The -fluorenyl-9-methyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected amino acids have shown high antimicrobial application potential, among which the phenylalanine derivative (Fmoc-F) is the most well-known representative. However, the activity spectrum of Fmoc-F is restricted to Gram-positive bacteria only. The demand for efficient antimicrobial materials expanded research into graphene and its derivatives, although the reported results are somewhat controversial.

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One of the most persistent issues affecting people worldwide is water contamination due to the indiscriminate disposal of pollutants, causing severe environmental problems. Dyes are among the most harmful contaminants because of their high chemical stability and consequently difficult degradation. To remove contaminants from water, adsorption is the most widely used and effective method.

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The increase in demand for Pd and its low abundance pose a significant threat to its future availability, rendering research into more sustainable Pd-based technologies essential. Herein, we report Pd scavenging mechanically robust hybrid gel beads composed of agarose, a polymer gelator (PG), and an active low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG) based on 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidenesorbitol (DBS), . The robustness of the PG and the ability of the LMWG to reduce Pd(II) to generate naked Pd(0) nanoparticles (PdNPs) combine within these gel beads to give them potential as practical catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions.

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Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic and systemic condition that causes widespread chronic pain, asthenia, and muscle stiffness, as well as in some cases depression, anxiety, and disorders of the autonomic system. The exact causes that lead to the development of FM are still unknown today. In a percentage of individuals, the symptoms of FM are often triggered and/or exacerbated by proximity to electrical and electromagnetic devices.

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Article Synopsis
  • Goat cheese is a key part of the Mediterranean diet known for its health benefits and unique flavor, influenced by its microbiota.
  • A new study used two techniques, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metaproteomics, to examine the microbiota in raw goat milk cheese at different ripening stages and depths.
  • The findings revealed a stable microbiota that plays a crucial role in fermentation, with the outer rind protecting cheese integrity and the core microbiota contributing to its health benefits and taste.
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Parasites, in particular, gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) represent one of the main burdens affecting small ruminant farming and pose a serious threat to their health, welfare, productivity, and reproduction. The correct management of animals and the correct use of anthelmintic drugs are the pillars of the GIN control programs for small ruminants. However, globally due to the indiscriminate use of synthetic anthelmintics, there is a significant increase in anthelmintic resistance phenomena to one or more classes of drugs.

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Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat-ENT) focuses on inflammatory, immunological, infectious, and neoplastic disorders of the head and neck and on their medical and surgical therapy. The fields of interest of this discipline are the ear, the nose and its paranasal sinuses, the oral cavity, the pharynx, the larynx, and the neck. Besides surgery, there are many other diagnostic aspects of ENT such as audiology and Vestibology, laryngology, phoniatrics, and rhinology.

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Two different low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) have been 3D-printed as filaments by wet-spininng. When the two LMWGs are simultaneously wet-spun, the co-assembled hybrid gel filaments combine the individual properties of the two gelators (dynamic pH response and in-situ metal nanoparticle formation) in synergistic ways, creating gel objects with new properties.

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Article Synopsis
  • Drug resistance in humans is increasingly linked to antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance in farm animals and the broader environment, highlighting a significant public health challenge.
  • Green Veterinary Pharmacology has shown effectiveness in controlling parasites in small ruminants and pests like Varroa mites in bees.
  • A systematic review identified 135 Italian plants effective against Gram+ bacteria and 88 against Gram- bacteria, providing valuable resources for developing new alternative strategies in veterinary medicine.
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