A Pairwise and Network Meta-analysis of Anti-inflammatory Strategies After Myocardial Infarction: the TITIAN study.

Background And Aims: Multiple anti-inflammatory drugs have been tested for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction (MI), giving mixed results and questioning the efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapy. No head-to-head comparisons between anti-inflammatory drugs have been performed. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of anti-inflammatory drugs for secondary prevention after MI and the relative merits of specific drugs and administration strategies.

Individual and community catalysts for Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) development.

This review examines factors catalyzing citizens' participation in Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), crucial for sustainable energy transitions. We analyze the interplay of individual and community elements promoting involvement in these collective projects. Individual drivers include pro-environmental values, economic incentives, desire for energy autonomy, and technical knowledge.

De novo discovery of cyclic peptide inhibitors of IL-11 signaling.

Interleukin-11 (IL-11), a member of the IL-6 cytokine family, has potential pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic roles in pulmonary, hepatic, cardiovascular, renal and intestinal disease pathogenesis, including oncogenesis. The potential for therapeutic intervention in these disease spaces has therefore made the IL-11 signaling axis an attractive target in drug discovery, and antibody inhibitors of IL-11 signaling are currently under evaluation in Phase I/II clinical trials. While lower molecular weight small molecule and peptide inhibitors may offer the potential for improved tissue penetration, developability and manufacturing cost compared with a protein therapeutic, reports of such chemical matter in the literature are limited.

Phytoremediation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Insights on plant uptake, omics analysis, contaminant detection and biomass disposal.

The unique properties of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have driven their pervasive use in different industrial applications, leading to substantial environmental pollution and raising critical concerns about the long-term impacts on ecosystem and human health. To tackle the global challenge of PFAS contamination, there is an urgent need for sustainable and efficient remediation strategies. Phytoremediation has emerged as a promising eco-friendly approach with the potential to mitigate the spread of these persistent contaminants.

Resource recovery from wastewater treatment: Effects of water reuse and slow-release fertilizers on faba bean within Palermo University (Italy) case study.

The wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) must be transformed into Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) in view of a more sustainable approach focusing on the circular economy concept. Different to WWTPs, the WRRFs have as a major goal not only the wastewater treatment to meet the legislation limits but also the recovery of resources such as: treated water for water reuse, carbon, nutrients, biopolymers etc. In view of boosting the WRRFs application in the real WWTs, a WRRF at Palermo University (UNIPA) has been built within the EU project: Achieving Wider-Uptake of Water Smart Solutions.

The role of socio-economic determinants in the interregional allocation of healthcare resources: Some insights from the 2023 reform in the Italian NHS.

This paper discusses a reform recently implemented in the Italian National Health Service, aimed at adding some socio-economic indicators to the criteria adopted for allocating healthcare funding to Regions. The reform is based on international experience in healthcare financing in decentralized settings and provides a case study of special interest since Italy is a country with significant territorial disparities and severe budget constraints. The paper first discusses the long-standing debate between Italian Regions which led to the reform.

Sorghum rhizosphere bacteriome studies and generation of multistrain beneficial bacterial consortia.

The plant rhizosphere microbiome plays a crucial role in plant growth and health. Within this microbiome, bacteria dominate, exhibiting traits that benefit plants, such as facilitating nutrient acquisition, fixing nitrogen, controlling pathogens, and promoting root growth. This study focuses on designing synthetic bacterial consortia using key bacterial strains which have been mapped and then isolated from the sorghum rhizosphere microbiome.

Chaotic recurrent neural networks for brain modelling: A review.

Even in the absence of external stimuli, the brain is spontaneously active. Indeed, most cortical activity is internally generated by recurrence. Both theoretical and experimental studies suggest that chaotic dynamics characterize this spontaneous activity.

Biological activities, biosynthetic capacity and metabolic interactions of lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains from traditional home-made kefir.

Given the widespread industrial and domestic use of probiotic blends based on combinations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts to produce fermented foods or beverages that are supposed to provide health benefits, this study aimed to generate knowledge and concepts on biologically relevant activities, metabolism and metabolic interactions in yeast/LAB communities. For this, the postbiotic capabilities of three probiotic candidates, including two lactic acid bacteria (i.e.

Regulation of physiological and pathological condensates by molecular chaperones.

Biomolecular condensates are dynamic membraneless compartments that regulate a myriad of cellular functions. A particular type of physiological condensate called stress granules (SGs) has gained increasing interest due to its role in the cellular stress response and various diseases. SGs, composed of several hundred RNA-binding proteins, form transiently in response to stress to protect mRNAs from translation and disassemble when the stress subsides.

Imagine, Discover, Inspire: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the Trisomy 21 Research Society.

Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 (T21) is present in a significant number of children and adults around the world and is associated with cognitive and medical challenges. Through research, the T21 Research Society (T21RS), established in 2014, unites a worldwide community dedicated to understanding the impact of T21 on biological systems and improving the quality of life of people with DS across the lifespan. T21RS hosts an international conference every two years to support collaboration, dissemination, and information sharing for this goal.

Aggressive Subtypes of Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma and their Clinical Behavior: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Laryngeal chondrosarcoma (CS) is a rare indolent malignant tumor. High-grade (G3), dedifferentiated (DD), and myxoid (MY) CSs are considered more aggressive subtypes due to their metastatic potential and relatively poor outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate treatment modalities and survival outcomes in patients affected by these rarer CS subtypes.

Targeted animal models for preclinical assessment of cellular and gene therapies in pancreatic and liver diseases: regulatory and practical insights.

Cellular and gene therapy (CGT) products have emerged as a popular approach in regenerative medicine, showing promise in treating various pancreatic and liver diseases in numerous clinical trials. Before these therapies can be tested in human clinical trials, it is essential to evaluate their safety and efficacy in relevant animal models. Such preclinical testing is often required to obtain regulatory approval for investigational new drugs.

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leakage: A Comprehensive Single-Center Analysis of Colorectal Anastomoses for Ovarian and Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a major complication in colorectal surgery, particularly following rectal cancer surgery, necessitating effective prevention strategies. The increasing frequency of colorectal resections and anastomoses during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal carcinomatosis further complicates this issue owing to the diverse patient populations with varied tumor distributions and surgical complexities. This study aims to assess and compare AL incidence and associated risk factors across conventional colorectal cancer surgery (CRC), gastrointestinal CRS (GI-CRS), and ovarian CRS (OC-CRS), with a secondary focus on evaluating the role of protective ostomies.

Exploring Chronic Pain in Hemodialysis Patients: An Observational Study Based on the New IASP Classification for ICD-11.

Introduction: Pain is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in hemodialyzed (HD) patients, with prevalence rates between 33% and 82%. Risk factors for chronic pain in HD patients are older age, long-lasting dialysis history, several concomitant diseases, malnutrition, and others. However, chronic pain assessment in HD patients is rarely performed by specialists in pain medicine, with relevant consequences in terms of diagnostic and treatment accuracy.