Publications by authors named "Rosaria Meccariello"

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Adequate pain control is often challenging, particularly in patients with chronic pain. Despite advances in pain management, drug addiction, overtreatment, or substance use disorders are not rare.

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Background: The primary aims of our cross-sectional observational study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with epilepsy compared to controls and (ii) to explore the difference in depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy only and those with epilepsy and primary headache as a comorbidity. The secondary objective was to explore parental stress levels.

Methods: 68 pediatric patients aged 6-18 years (44 with epilepsy only and 24 with epilepsy and headache) and 50 controls were recruited.

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Background: Environmental exposures to non-biodegradable and biodegradable plastics are unavoidable. Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) from the manufacturing of plastics (primary sources) and the degradation of plastic waste (secondary sources) can enter the food chain directly or indirectly and, passing biological barriers, could target both the brain and the gonads. Hence, the worldwide diffusion of environmental plastic contamination (PLASTAMINATION) in daily life may represent a possible and potentially serious risk to human health.

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Background: Soccer match requires anaerobic and aerobic energetic metabolism. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the changes in blood lactate concentration in young male soccer players in different playing roles at different time points after the soccer match.

Methods: Following an initial screening of 134 young soccer athletes, 8 male athletes (average age of 15.

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Over the last few decades, emerging evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and circular-RNA (circRNA) contribute to the molecular events underlying progressive neuronal degeneration, and a plethora of ncRNAs have been identified significantly misregulated in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and synucleinopathy. Although a direct link between neuropathology and causative candidates has not been clearly established in many cases, the contribution of ncRNAs to the molecular processes leading to cellular dysfunction observed in neurodegenerative diseases has been addressed, suggesting that they may play a role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Aim of the present Review is to overview and discuss recent literature focused on the role of RNA-based mechanisms involved in different aspects of neuronal pathology in Parkinson's disease and synucleinopathy models.

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  • - Plastics have transformed various sectors from packaging to healthcare, but their breakdown into micro- and nanoplastics raises environmental and health concerns due to potential accumulation in nature and the human body.
  • - Biodegradable plastics are being developed that can safely break down and are useful for drug delivery, but their ability to accumulate in tissues may pose toxic risks as micro- and nanoparticles.
  • - The review emphasizes the need for more research on the safety of bioplastic micro- and nanoparticles, especially regarding their applications in treating brain diseases, despite their promising potential in nanomedicine.
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  • The study investigates the interaction between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the kisspeptin system (KS) in controlling male reproduction through the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in adolescent male rats.
  • Male rats were administered kisspeptin-10 and anandamide, with assessments made on hormone levels, gene expression, and localization of specific neurons to explore the effects of these treatments.
  • The results showed that kisspeptin-10 influenced the expression of proteins related to KS, while anandamide had distinct effects on both KS and ECS, highlighting their complex interaction and influence on reproductive development.
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Since ancient times, cannabis has been used for recreational and medical purposes [...

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Opioids are substances derived from opium (natural opioids). In its raw state, opium is a gummy latex extracted from . The use of opioids and their negative health consequences among people who use drugs have been studied.

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Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Western counties and its abuse is particularly high in male adolescents and young adults. Its main psychotropic component, the cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC), interferes in the endogenous endocannabinoid system. This signaling system is involved in the control of many biological activities, including the formation of high-quality male gametes.

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Introduction: Few studies have focused on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. The objective of our work was to evaluate the changes in emotional and behavioral symptoms in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders and the impact on parenting stress 1 year after the first national lockdown.

Methods: We enrolled 369 patients aged 1.

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  • Neuroinflammation plays a vital role in neurological diseases and brain aging, involving the brain's immune system to protect neurons and regulate synaptic function.
  • This review covers the fundamentals of neuroinflammation, dietary interventions' effectiveness, and potential RNA-based treatments for neurological disorders.
  • Findings suggest that glial cells are central to neuroinflammation, dietary changes can ease symptoms, and altered non-coding RNAs may offer new therapeutic avenues, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
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  • Kisspeptins regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, Leydig cell functions, and testosterone secretion by acting on the KISS1 receptor.
  • ANKRD31 protein is crucial for male fertility, influencing meiotic progression and sperm maturation, and it physically interacts with the KISS1 receptor in Leydig cells.
  • The study reveals that Kisspeptin-10 enhances the protein complex formation and gene expression via modulation of F-actin synthesis, highlighting a new role for Kisspeptin-10 in Leydig cells related to cytoskeletal-nucleoskeletal pathways.
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Infertility is currently one of the most important health troubles in industrialised countries after cardio-vascular diseases and cancer [...

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  • The kisspeptin system, specifically Kiss1 and its receptor Kiss1R, plays a crucial role in regulating sperm production through the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis, but its function in the epididymis and spermatozoa is not fully understood.
  • Researchers studied the presence of Kiss1 and Kiss1R in rat spermatozoa from different parts of the epididymis and found higher levels of Kiss1 in the caput compared to the cauda area.
  • The findings suggest that the kisspeptin system is involved in sperm maturation and storage within the epididymis, highlighting its importance in male reproductive physiology.
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Glyphosate is widely used worldwide as a potent herbicide. Due to its ubiquitous use, it is detectable in air, water and foodstuffs and can accumulate in human biological fluids and tissues representing a severe human health risk. In plants, glyphosate acts as an inhibitor of the shikimate pathway, which is absent in vertebrates.

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  • The study examined the Kisspeptin system, including Kiss1 and its receptor Kiss1R, in dog testis and epididymal spermatozoa to understand its role in male reproductive function.
  • It found that Kiss1 and Kiss1R are present in dog testis, with Kiss1R increasing on sperm surfaces as they mature in the epididymis, indicating a connection to sperm maturation and motility.
  • The findings suggest a new functional role for the Kisspeptin system in sperm development and storage, contributing to our understanding of male reproductive biology.
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Bisphenol A (BPA) is largely used as a monomer in some types of plastics. It accumulates in tissues and fluids and is able to bypass the placental barrier, affecting various organs and systems. Due to huge developmental processes, children, foetuses, and neonates could be more sensitive to BPA-induced toxicity.

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Aging and, particularly, the onset of age-related diseases are associated with tissue dysfunction and macromolecular damage, some of which can be attributed to accumulation of oxidative damage. Recently, growing interest has emerged on the beneficial effects of plant-based diets for the prevention of chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Several studies collectively suggests that the intake of polyphenols and their major food sources may exert beneficial effects on improving insulin resistance and related diabetes risk factors, such as inflammation and oxidative stress.

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Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles: the microplastics (MPs). Currently, particular attention has been drawn to their effects on aquatic environments but the health risks, especially in mammals, are poorly known.

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  • Diet significantly influences brain functions, affecting things like cognitive processes, reproduction, and behavior, which can lead to either negative or positive health outcomes.
  • The review emphasizes the role of Sirtuin1 (Sirt1), a key metabolic sensor in the brain, in maintaining health and its potential as a therapeutic target for certain diseases.
  • It also explores how natural compounds, particularly polyphenols, may modulate the activity of Sirt1, linking energy balance with reproductive health.
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  • - The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a crucial lipid signaling system that helps maintain physiological balance in the brain and other body tissues, influencing processes like synaptic plasticity and immune responses.
  • - Estrogens, known primarily as female hormones, influence numerous bodily functions by activating estrogen receptors, which leads to various cellular responses in both males and females.
  • - The review explores the interactions between the ECS and the estrogen system (ES), particularly how they intersect in the central nervous system, reproductive health, and cancer.
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