Alirocumab in Pediatric Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Many pediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) cannot reach recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations on statins alone and require adjunct lipid-lowering therapy (LLT); the use of alirocumab in pediatric patients requires evaluation.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of alirocumab in pediatric patients with inadequately controlled HeFH.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a phase 3, randomized clinical trial conducted between May 2018 and August 2022 at 43 centers in 24 countries.

Trace element levels in the muscles of three tern species (Aves: Laridae) from the western Arabian Gulf: environmental assessment and implications for conservation.

In the Arabian Gulf (called also Persian Gulf; hereafter 'the Gulf'), Jana and Karan Islands are recognized as one of the most Important Bird Areas in the region. Many migratory breeding seabirds, like the Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii, White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa and Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus, depend on these islands during the breeding season. However, these aquatic wildlife species are suffering from intensified urban and industrial coastal development and various contamination events including wars and related oil spills.

Identification of a novel intra-genotype reassortant G1P[8] rotavirus in Italy, 2021.

Objectives: Rotaviruses G1P[8] are epidemiologically relevant and are targeted by vaccines. The introduction of vaccines has altered rotavirus epidemiology. Hospital-based surveillance conducted in Sicily, Italy, showed a progressive decline in rotavirus prevalence since 2014, along with an increasing vaccine coverage (63.

Breeding of ornamental orchids with focus on Phalaenopsis: current approaches, tools, and challenges for this century.

Ornamental orchid breeding programs have been conducted to develop commercially valuable cultivars with improved characteristics of commercial interest, such as size, flower color, pattern, shape, and resistance to pathogens. Conventional breeding, including sexual hybridization followed by selection of desirable characteristics in plants, has so far been the main method for ornamental breeding, but other techniques, including mutation induction by polyploidization and gamma irradiation, and biotechnological techniques, such as genetic transformation, have also been studied and used in ornamental breeding programs. Orchids are one of the most commercially important families in floriculture industry, having very particular reproductive biology characteristics and being a well-studied group of ornamentals in terms of genetic improvement.

The chemical composition of the aerial parts essential oils of (Asteraceae), an endemic species of Sicily (Italy).

In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of a very rare species, not previously investigated, Raimondo and Bancheva, collected in Sicily, was evaluated by GC-MS. The new species, classified just twenty years ago, belongs to group (sect. Hayek, Asteraceae) and grows in an extremely limited area in the NW part of Sicily.

Microporous Fluorescent Poly(D,L-lactide) Acid-Carbon Nanodot Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications.

In this study, we introduce novel microporous poly(D,L-lactide) acid-carbon nanodot (PLA-CD) nanocomposite scaffolds tailored for potential applications in image-guided bone regeneration. Our primary objective was to investigate concentration-dependent structural variations and their relevance to cell growth, crucial aspects in bone regeneration. The methods employed included comprehensive characterization techniques such as DSC/TGA, FTIR, rheological, and degradation assessments, providing insights into the scaffolds' thermoplastic behavior, microstructure, and stability over time.

Long-term analysis of microseism during extreme weather events: Medicanes and common storms in the Mediterranean Sea.

In this work, we analyze 12 meteorological events that occurred in the Mediterranean Sea during the period November 2011-November 2021 from a seismic point of view. In particular, we consider 8 Medicanes and 4 more common storms. Each of these events, in spite of the marked differences between them, caused heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts and violent storm surge with significant wave heights usually >3 m.

Excess degassing drives long-term volcanic unrest at Nevado del Ruiz.

This study combines volcanic gas compositions, SO flux and satellite thermal data collected at Nevado del Ruiz between 2018 and 2021. We find the Nevado del Ruiz plume to have exhibited relatively steady, high CO compositions (avg. CO/S ratios of 5.

Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Tangerine-Derived Nanovesicles as siRNA Delivery Vehicles toward Colorectal Cancer Cell Line SW480.

In the last years, the field of nanomedicine and drug delivery has grown exponentially, providing new platforms to carry therapeutic agents into the target sites. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are ready-to-use, biocompatible, and non-toxic nanoparticles that are revolutionizing the field of drug delivery. EVs are involved in cell-cell communication and mediate many physiological and pathological processes by transferring their bioactive cargo to target cells.

Effects of sports experience on children's gross motor coordination level.

Background: Gross motor coordination (GMC) development could be influenced by age, gender, weight status, geographical area, living setting, home environment, socio-economic status, sports practice.

Purpose: To verify whether practicing sports and practicing different sports could influence children's GMC level.

Methods: A total of 295 children aged 8-11 years were involved in the study and divided into 5 groups in relation to the sport they practiced: gymnastics group ( = 67; 51F, 16M), cycling group ( = 64; 15F, 49M), athletics group ( = 47; 22F, 25M), swimming group ( = 35; 20F, 15M), control group ( = 82; 42F, 40M).

On the characteristics of natural hydraulic dampers: An image-based approach to study the fluid flow behaviour inside the human meniscal tissue.

The meniscal tissue is a layered material with varying properties influenced by collagen content and arrangement. Understanding the relationship between structure and properties is crucial for disease management, treatment development, and biomaterial design. The internal layer of the meniscus is softer and more deformable than the outer layers, thanks to interconnected collagen channels that guide fluid flow.

Electrochemical remediation of synthetic and real marine sediments contaminated by PAHs, Hg and As under low electric field values.

To date, remediation, protection, and restoration of contaminated sites is a global concern. The current technologies to restore sediments characterized by heterogeneous characteristics, several pollutants, fine grains, and low hydraulic permeability are poorly effective; hence their remediation is still challenging. A promising approach for the sediment's remediation could be the electrochemical route since it is a not-expensive, effective and noninvasive in situ technology.

The Environmental Impacts of Radio Frequency and Power Line Communication for Advanced Metering Infrastructures in Smart Grids.

In the neighborhood area network (NAN), the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) enables a bidirectional connection between the smart meter (SM) and the data concentrator (DC). Sensors, such as smart meter nodes or environmental sensor nodes, play a crucial role in measuring and transmitting data to central units for advanced monitoring, management, and analysis of energy consumption. Wired and wireless communication technologies are used to implement the AMI-NAN.

New Biocide Based on Tributyltin(IV) Ferulate-Loaded Halloysite Nanotubes for Preserving Historical Paper Artworks.

Combining biologically active compounds with nanocarriers is an emerging and promising strategy for enhancing the activities of molecules while reducing their levels of toxicity. Green nanomaterials have recently gained momentum in developing protocols for treating and preserving artifacts. In this study, we designed a functional biohybrid material by incorporating tributyltin(IV) ferulate (TBT-F) into halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), generating a new formulation called HNT/TBT-F.

Upcycling of Poly(lactic acid) Waste: A Valuable Strategy to Obtain Ionic Liquids.

With the aim to investigate new strategies for upcycling of plastic waste, we performed aminolysis of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), using -dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA), ,-dimethylpropylenediamine (DMPDA), and 3-aminopropylimidazole (API) as nucleophiles. The -substituted lactamides obtained were alkylated by using alkyl halides differing in alkyl chain length, obtaining organic salts that in most cases behaved as ionic liquids (ILs). Both aminolysis of PLA and alkylation of amides were carried out taking into consideration the basic principles of the holistic approach to green chemistry, applied at a laboratory scale, and carefully selecting the nature of the reaction solvent, temperature range, and amount of reagents.

How Ionic Liquid Gels Work on the Removal of Bisphenol A from Wastewater.

The occurrence of emerging pollutants in water bodies is a pressing issue of modern society and identifying materials to remove them is the main target of current research. In this work, we prepared and characterized supramolecular gels of 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-d-sorbitol (DBS) in ionic liquids differing for the anion and the aliphatic or aromatic nature of the cation. We characterized our gels for their thermal stability and mechanical properties.

Cannabis use as a potential mediator between childhood adversity and first-episode psychosis: results from the EU-GEI case-control study.

Background: Childhood adversity and cannabis use are considered independent risk factors for psychosis, but whether different patterns of cannabis use may be acting as mediator between adversity and psychotic disorders has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to examine whether cannabis use mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis.

Methods: Data were utilised on 881 first-episode psychosis patients and 1231 controls from the European network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study.

Artificial consciousness: the missing ingredient for ethical AI?

Can we conceive machines that can formulate autonomous intentions and make conscious decisions? If so, how would this ability affect their ethical behavior? Some case studies help us understand how advances in understanding artificial consciousness can contribute to creating ethical AI systems.

Environmental DNA: The First Snapshot of the Vertebrate Biodiversity in Three Sicilian Lakes.

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano.

Association Between Adequate Serum 25(OH)D Levels and Atherogenic Dyslipidemia in Young Adults.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and novel biomarkers of atherogenic dyslipidemia among young adults.

Method: A total of 976 young adults were recruited between 2011 and 2019. Their serum 25(OH)D levels were measured, and lipid profile markers, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (LDL-TG), and small-dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C), were assessed as novel biomarkers of atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Facile synthesis of ZnO/Hal nanocomposite for arsenite (As(III)) removal from aqueous media.

Arsenite (As(III)) is the most toxic form of arsenic that is a serious concern for water contamination worldwide. Herein a ZnO/Halloysite (Hal) nanocomposite was prepared by the chemical bath deposition method (CBD) through seed-mediated ZnO growth on the halloysite for eliminating As(III) from the aqueous solution. The growth of ZnO on seeded halloysite was investigated based on the HMTA: Zn molar ratio in the solution.

Standardized and simplified reporting of next-generation sequencing results in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: Practical indications from an Italian multidisciplinary group.

Molecular biomarker testing is increasingly becoming standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tissue and liquid biopsy-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) is now highly recommended and has become an integral part of the routine management of advanced NSCLC patients. This highly sensitive approach can simultaneously and efficiently detect multiple biomarkers even in scant samples.

Formoterol Exerts Anti-Cancer Effects Modulating Oxidative Stress and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Processes in Cigarette Smoke Extract Exposed Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Lung cancer frequently affects patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke (CS) fosters cancer progression by increasing oxidative stress and by modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes in cancer cells. Formoterol (FO), a long-acting β2-agonist widely used for the treatment of COPD, exerts antioxidant activities.

Chemical Composition of Mill. Essential Oil and Its Protective Effects on Both Photosynthetic Damage and Oxidative Stress in L. Induced by Environmental Heavy Metal Concentrations.

The genus L., belonging to the Lamiaceae family, contains more than 900 species distributed in various parts of the world. It is a genus containing aromatic plants used both in the culinary field and above all in the cosmetic area to produce several perfumes.