Publications by authors named "Vecchio L"

Purpose: To mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) triggered in solid organ transplant procedures, we aimed to evaluate the effects of multi-organ abdominal ischemic preconditioning (MAIP) in the context of renal IRI.

Methods: An experimental kidney transplant model was conducted. Rats were divided into three groups: an intervention free basal group from which physiological data was collected; a control group (CT), which consisted of transplanted animals without MAIP; and a treated group, in which a MAIP protocol was implemented in the donor during the procurement of the left kidney, monitoring the recipient for 24 hours.

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Introduction: Hyperphosphatemia in advanced CKD often accompanies high PTH and FGF23 levels, impaired bone mineralization, ectopic calcifications, and increased cardiovascular risks. Novel treatments are now available to lower serum phosphorus effectively. However, safety, tolerability, and patient adherence must be evaluated to determine the best therapeutic option for hyperphosphatemia.

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  • The heart's proper functioning depends on both the central nervous system and its own local neuronal networks, known as the intracardiac nervous system (IcNS), which has not been thoroughly studied.
  • This research introduces a detailed classification of the IcNS by using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, revealing a surprising variety of neuronal types within it.
  • Notably, some identified neurons share characteristics with pacemaker neurons from the central nervous system, highlighting the complexity of the IcNS and its crucial role in maintaining heart rhythm, paving the way for future research on cardiac-related issues.
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Background & Aims: A significant number of post fecal immunochemical test (FIT) colonoscopies in European-organized colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs are performed beyond the recommended 31-day threshold due to overburdened colonoscopy services. We aimed to develop a simple predictive model to stratify CRC risk of FIT+ patients.

Methods: In a cohort of screenees undergoing colonoscopy following a positive (≥20 μg hemoglobin/g feces) OC-sensor FIT result between 2004 and 2019, we derived and validated logistic regression-based models including variables independently associated with CRC and advanced neoplasms.

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Anaemia is a frequent complication of chronic kidney disease; if severe and untreated, it leads to a worsening of quality of life and an increased risk of resorting to haemotransfusions. Beginning with studies in physio-pathology that began in the late 19th century and continued into the 20th century, the first step was the identification of erythropoietin, then its purification, identification of the gene involved and finally the synthesis of recombinant human erythropoietin and its 'long-acting' analogues. Today, therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), often in combination with martial therapy, is the standard of care for patients with chronic kidney disease and anaemia.

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Background: Systemic steroids are recommended for patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and proteinuria. However, there are concerns about their safety due to an excess of serious adverse events (SAEs) in previous randomised trials. This study evaluates the incidence of SAEs in IgAN patients receiving different treatment regimens in clinical practice.

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Perennial grains, which remain productive for multiple years, rather than growing for only one season before harvest, have deep, dense root systems that can support a richness of beneficial microorganisms, which are mostly underexplored. In this work we isolated forty-three bacterial strains associated with the rhizosphere of the OK72 perennial wheat line, developed from a cross between winter common wheat and Thinopyrum ponticum. Identified using 16S rDNA sequencing, these bacteria were assessed for plant growth-promoting traits such as indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores and ACC-deaminase acid production, biofilm formation, and the ability to solubilize phosphate and proteins.

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After harvesting of cones used for beer production, the remaining hop vegetative biomass requires disposal. The hop plant contains bioactive compounds in all its parts-cones, leaves, and roots-exhibiting interesting antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. In this work, extracts obtained from hop leaves, a plant material often neglected in the hop cultivation, have been investigated; the qualitative UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-TOF-MS characterization revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, α- and β-acids and terpenes are present.

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Design of Experiments (DoE), is a tool to explore relationships between factors and responses of a system. DoE and response surface methodology are increasingly used in different fields, but their application are limited in the valorization of residual biomass and agro-industrial by-products. Agro-industrial biomass residues can be eco-friendly converted into high-value compounds through bioprocesses.

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  • * Despite these positive outcomes, the effectiveness of SGLT2i in treating patients with glomerulonephritis remains uncertain due to various study limitations.
  • * This manuscript reviews evidence for the use of SGLT2i in glomerular diseases and discusses both the limitations and their potential clinical role.
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The demand for bioactive secondary metabolites of natural origin is increasing every day. Micropropagation could be a strategy to respond more quickly to market demands, regardless of seasonality. This research aims to evaluate in vitro-grown plants of two hop varieties, namely Columbus and Magnum, as a potential source of bioactive compounds.

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  • Cerebral toxoplasmosis is becoming more common in immunocompetent people due to mutant strains that are resistant to current treatments, posing a significant health risk.
  • An experimental study was conducted on rats, where severe toxoplasmosis was induced and then treated with various fractions from a medicinal plant known for its potential health benefits.
  • The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction specifically helped improve cognitive impairments and other neurological deficits caused by toxoplasmosis, indicating its potential as a therapeutic option.
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Introduction: In recent years, thanks to significant advances in basic science and biotechnologies, nephrology has witnessed a deeper understanding of the mechanisms leading to various conditions associated with or causing kidney disease, opening new perspectives for developing specific treatments. These new possibilities have brought increased challenges to physicians, who face with a new complexity in disease characterization and selection the right treatment for individual patients.

Areas Covered: We chose four therapeutic situations: anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure in CKD, IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and membranous nephropathy (MN).

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  • IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune disease affecting the kidneys, historically seen as mild but now known to potentially lead to kidney failure in many patients.
  • Traditional treatments like systemic steroids carry significant risks, prompting research into new, safer therapeutic options.
  • Current promising developments include new drugs targeting specific molecules, with a focus on personalized medicine to better match treatments to individual patients.
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The adult zebrafish spinal cord displays an impressive innate ability to regenerate after traumatic insults, yet the underlying adaptive cellular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that while the cellular and tissue responses after injury are largely conserved among vertebrates, the large-size fast spinal zebrafish motoneurons are remarkably resilient by remaining viable and functional. We also reveal the dynamic changes in motoneuron glutamatergic input, excitability, and calcium signaling, and we underscore the critical role of calretinin (CR) in binding and buffering the intracellular calcium after injury.

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  • - HIF-PHIs are newly developed drugs aimed at treating anemia related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) by enhancing the body's erythropoietin production and improving iron absorption.
  • - Recent studies suggest that HIF-PHIs are as effective and safe as standard treatments for CKD-related anemia, though long-term effects, especially regarding potential risks like cancer and cardiovascular events, remain uncertain.
  • - The Italian Society of Nephrology has endorsed a position paper to adapt KDIGO's recent findings about HIF-PHIs to Italy, considering their effectiveness, safety, and application in specific patient groups.
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This study aims to explore the potential psychological and cognitive advantages for older individuals engaged in hard martial arts (HMA), through a comprehensive scoping review of literature up to 2023. Specifically, it examines the extent of changes in cognition, mental state, and quality of life among elderly participants of HMA. Inclusion criteria were studies conducted on healthy persons who were over 50 years of age.

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Iron is a fundamental element for biological life, from bacteria to humans. Iron is essential for cell function and survival, energy production and metabolism, whereas increased levels cause oxidative stress. It is also a constituent of haemoglobin and thus it is necessary for oxygen transportation through the body.

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Sex (biologically determined) and gender (socially constructed) modulate manifestations and prognosis of a vast number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). CVD remains the leading cause of death in CKD patients. Population-based studies indicate that women present a higher prevalence of CKD and experience less CVD than men in all CKD stages, although this is not as clear in patients on dialysis or transplantation.

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  • Anaemia is a frequent issue in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, leading to worsened health outcomes and quality of life, despite established treatments like iron supplements and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
  • Many CKD patients with anaemia remain undertreated, facing higher risks of mortality, hospitalizations, cardiovascular problems, and CKD progression, especially as anaemia becomes more severe.
  • Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors show promise as a new treatment for anaemia in CKD, backed by significant clinical trial evidence, and have additional health benefits, although their long-term safety requires further investigation.
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Kicking strikes are fundamental in combat sports such as Taekwondo, karate, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts. This review aimed to explore the measurement methods, kinematics such as velocities, kinetics such as impact force, determinants, and injury potential of kicking strikes in combat sports. Searches of Academic Search Premier, The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were conducted for studies that measured kicking velocity and impact force.

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