Characterization by 16S Amplicon Sequencing of Bacterial Communities Overall and During the Maturation Process of Peloids in Two Spas of an Italian Thermal Complex.

Peloids are made by mixing clay materials with thermo-mineral waters, enriched with organic substances from microorganisms during maturation. Their beneficial properties may depend on clay minerals, water characteristics, and microbial components, although strong evidence is lacking. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) allows a comprehensive approach to studying the entire microbial community, including cultivable and uncultivable bacteria.

Effects of sulphur thermal water inhalations in long-COVID syndrome: Spa-centred, double-blinded, randomised case-control pilot study.

Background: The long-COVID syndrome is characterised by a plethora of symptoms. Given its social and economic impact, many studies have stressed the urgency of proposing innovative strategies other than hospital settings. In this double-blinded, randomised, case-control trial, we investigate the effects of sulphur thermal water inhalations, rich in HS, compared to distilled water inhalations on symptoms, inflammatory markers and nasal microbiome in long-COVID patients.

Occurrence of Uncultured spp. in Treated Wastewater Effluent and Its Impact on Human Health (SCA.Re.S Project).

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide optimal conditions for the environmental spread of . As part of the Evaluation of Sanitary Risk Related to the Discharge of Wastewater to the Ground (SCA.Re.

In Silico Predicting the Presence of the S100B Motif in Edible Plants and Detecting Its Immunoreactive Materials: Perspectives for Functional Foods, Dietary Supplements and Phytotherapies.

The protein S100B is a part of the S100 protein family, which consists of at least 25 calcium-binding proteins. S100B is highly conserved across different species, supporting important biological functions. The protein was shown to play a role in gut microbiota eubiosis and is secreted in human breast milk, suggesting a physiological trophic function in newborn development.

Risk assessment of natural and synthetic fibers in aquatic environment: A critical review.

Marine microplastics, categorized as primary and secondary, including synthetic microfibers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and acrylic (PC), represent a potential environmental concern. The complex classification of these fibers, originating from diverse sources such as textiles and many others commercial goods, prompts a need for understanding their impact on aquatic organisms. This study assesses the ecological risks associated with both natural and synthetic fibers in aquatic ecosystems, focusing on toxicity data and their effects on taxonomic groups like Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Cnidaria, and Chordata.

Knowledge and self-perceived competence about cardiopulmonary resuscitation among youths: a cross-sectional study in a sample of Italian undergraduates.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is fundamental to improve the outcomes of a life-threatening event. The correct knowledge of first aid actions to provide may guarantee the victim's survival. This study was aimed at evaluating the competence about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and its predictors in a sample of Italian undergraduate students.

Can Digital Technologies Be Useful for Weight Loss in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity? A Systematic Review.

Digital technologies have greatly developed and impacted several aspects of life, including health and lifestyle. Activity tracking, mobile applications, and devices may also provide messages and goals to motivate adopting healthy behaviors, namely physical activity and dietary changes. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital resources in supporting behavior changes, and thus influencing weight loss, in people with overweight or obesity.

The Multifaceted S100B Protein: A Role in Obesity and Diabetes?

The S100B protein is abundant in the nervous system, mainly in astrocytes, and is also present in other districts. Among these, the adipose tissue is a site of concentration for the protein. In the light of consistent research showing some associations between S100B and adipose tissue in the context of obesity, metabolic disorders, and diabetes, this review tunes the possible role of S100B in the pathogenic processes of these disorders, which are known to involve the adipose tissue.

UV light assisted degradation of acid orange azo dye by ZVI-ZnS and effluent toxicity effects.

Azo dyes, the most common synthetic dyes used in the textile industry, are known xenobiotic compounds and recalcitrant to conventional degradation treatments. As consequence, such contaminants are often discharged into the effluents, treating aquatic ecosystems. Among several processes, the use of zero valent iron (ZVI) represents a suitable alternative to degrade organic molecules containing azo bonds.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dietary Interventions and Microbiome in Phenylketonuria.

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) comprise a diverse group of monogenic disorders caused by enzyme deficiencies that result either in a toxic accumulation of metabolic intermediates or a shortage of essential end-products. Certain IEMs, like phenylketonuria (PKU), necessitate stringent dietary intervention that could lead to microbiome dysbiosis, thereby exacerbating the clinical phenotype. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the impact of PKU therapies on the intestinal microbiota.

The S100B Protein: A Multifaceted Pathogenic Factor More Than a Biomarker.

S100B is a calcium-binding protein mainly concentrated in astrocytes in the nervous system. Its levels in biological fluids are recognized as a reliable biomarker of active neural distress, and more recently, mounting evidence points to S100B as a Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern molecule, which, at high concentration, triggers tissue reactions to damage. S100B levels and/or distribution in the nervous tissue of patients and/or experimental models of different neural disorders, for which the protein is used as a biomarker, are directly related to the progress of the disease.

S100B Expression Plays a Crucial Role in Cytotoxicity, Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation Induced by Amyloid β-Protein in an Astrocytoma Cell Line.

S100B is an astrocytic cytokine that has been shown to be involved in several neurodegenerative diseases. We used an astrocytoma cell line (U373 MG) silenced for S100B, and stimulated it with amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) as a known paradigm factor for astrocyte activation, and showed that the ability of the cell (including the gene machinery) to express S100B is a prerequisite for inducing reactive astrocytic features, such as ROS generation, NOS activation and cytotoxicity. Our results showed that control astrocytoma cell line exhibited overexpression of S100B after Aβ treatment, and subsequently cytotoxicity, increased ROS generation and NOS activation.

Surface modification of TiO nanoparticles with organic molecules and their biological applications.

In recent years, titanium(IV) dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) have shown promising potential in various biological applications such as antimicrobials, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, biosensors, and tissue engineering. For employing TiONPs in these fields, their nanosurface must be coated or conjugated with organic and/or inorganic agents. This modification can improve their stability, photochemical properties, biocompatibility, and even surface area for further conjugation with other molecules such as drugs, targeting molecules, polymers, This review describes the organic-based modification of TiONPs and their potential applications in the mentioned biological fields.

S100B Affects Gut Microbiota Biodiversity.

This in vivo study in mice addresses the relationship between the biodiversity of the microbiota and the levels of S100B, a protein present in enteroglial cells, but also in foods such as milk. A positive significant correlation was observed between S100B levels and Shannon values, which was reduced after treatment with Pentamidine, an inhibitor of S100B function, indicating that the correlation was influenced by the modulation of S100B activity. Using the bootstrap average method based on the distribution of the S100B concentration, three groups were identified, exhibiting a significant difference between the microbial profiles.

Vitamin D status and COVID-19 prevention in a worker subgroup in Italy.

Background: Low levels of vitamin D are widespread in the world's population and associated with sun exposure, genetics, and lifestyles. Office workers in different occupational sectors seem more vulnerable than others. Scientific evidence reports a contribution of vitamin D in resistance to infections, opening to supplementation as a preventive action against pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2.

Assessment of dietary supplement consumption among Italian university students: The multicenter DiSCo study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of dietary supplements (DSs) and related sociodemographic characteristics or behaviors in Italian undergraduates.

Methods: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2021 and May 2022 involving undergraduates from 12 public universities. The use of DSs in the previous 6 mo, the aim and reason for use, the purchasing channel, and related adverse effects were explored and compared by sex.

Studying Respiratory Symptoms Related to Swimming Pools Attendance in Young Athletes: The SPHeRA Study.

This study investigates the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the training factors possibly associated with them in a sample of young Italian competitive swimmers. A questionnaire about training information and symptoms was administered to participants during the winter and summer 2021 training seasons. In total, 396 athletes took part in the study.

Consumption patterns of energy drinks in university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Energy drink (ED) use is promoted to stimulate mental and/or physical activity, and their popularity has increased over the years, especially among young people. However, the use of EDs is often improper, and can induce adverse effects for human health. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the literature to characterize the prevalence of ED consumption and motivations for use among undergraduate students.

Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks (AmED) Use among University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In the last decades, there has been a huge increase in the consumption of both Energy Drinks (EDs) and alcohol and, concurrently, these two trends generated the additional practice of mixing ED with alcohol, known as Alcohol mixed with Energy Drink (AmED). One of the most important group of AmED consumers is represented by young. Indeed, the study population of the researches in this field are mainly represented by college students and the results evidence a great range of negative consequences for health.

Swimming at the Time of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study among Young Italian Competitive Athletes.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several restriction measures were imposed to control the virus transmission, with important repercussions on different sectors, including sport. This study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italian competitive swimmers by analyzing how the disease and the restriction measures affected their training. In total, 396 competitive swimmers (mean age 16.