Olfactory Impairment and Recovery in Zebrafish () Following Cadmium Exposure.

Anthropic activities have significantly elevated cadmium levels, making it a significant stressor in aquatic ecosystems. Present in high concentrations across water bodies, cadmium is known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify throughout the food chain. While the toxic effects of cadmium on the organs and tissues of aquatic species are well-documented, little is known about its impact on sensory systems crucial for survival.

From Online Learning to Clinical Practice: An Investigation on the Factors Influencing Training Transfer Among Physicians.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are an agile context for workplace training, which can provide physicians with needed knowledge and skills related to their clinical practice. From an organisational standpoint, their effectiveness can be assessed on physicians' intention to transfer what they learn through them in the workplace. Despite the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) standing among the more solid models in explaining individuals' behavioural intention, its adoption in investigating the training transfer process among physicians is notably underdeveloped, limiting its contribution to enhancing the transfer rates of MOOCs content.

Comment on Cabrera-Aguas, M.; Watson, S.L. Updates in Diagnostic Imaging for Infectious Keratitis: A Review. 2023, , 3358.

We read with great interest the recent article by Cabrera-Aguas M [...

Predictive value of TG/HDL-C and GFR-adjusted uric acid levels on cardiovascular mortality: the URRAH study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) and serum uric acid (SUA) are closely interconnected: SUA contributes to adversely affects the insulin signaling pathway and contributes to IR, while IR is a known predictor for the development of hyperuricemia. The triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio has been proposed as an easily obtainable marker for IR. This research aimed to investigate the interaction between IR and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-adjusted uricemia (SUA/GFR ratio) in determining CV risk in a large population cohort study.

Combined biochemical profiling and DNA sequencing in the expanded newborn screening for inherited metabolic diseases: the experience in an Italian reference center.

Background: Newborn screening (NBS) programs have significantly improved the health and outcomes of patients with inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). Methods based on liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis are viewed worldwide as the gold standard procedure for the expanded NBS programs for these disorders. Advanced molecular technologies point to genomic sequencing as an alternative and feasible strategy for the screening of genetic diseases, including IMDs.

Specific types of male infertility are correlated with T cell exhaustion or senescence signatures.

The association between male infertility and health status has yet to be unraveled. Here, by combining multiparameter phenotyping and scRNA-seq, we delineate the immune status of infertile men both at the semen and systemic levels. We first observe that young infertile men have a pro-inflammatory milieu with increased frequency of myeloid cells and inflammatory mediators in the seminal fluid and the peripheral blood, which are immune alterations typically observed in healthy elderly men.

PEPITEM, its tripeptide pharmacophores and their peptidomimetic analogues regulate the inflammatory response through parenteral and topical dosing in models of peritonitis and psoriasis.

PEPITEM is an immune-modulatory peptide that effectively regulates inflammation and mitigates immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Here, we identify two independently active tripeptide pharmacophores within PEPITEM and engineered peptidomimetics with enhanced pharmacodynamic properties. These peptidomimetics regulate T-cell trafficking in vitro and reduce T-cell, neutrophil and macrophage numbers in the inflamed peritoneal cavity in vivo.

Exploring the connection between climatic conditions and genetic properties of Abies alba Mill., including warm and summer-dry Mediterranean environments.

Abies alba Mill. is a prominent European tree species predominantly inhabiting cool and humid montane environments. However, paleoecological evidence reveals that during the Eemian and mid-Holocene, A.

Whole Blood DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals Epigenetic Changes Associated with ARSACS.

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is a rare inherited condition described worldwide and characterized by a wide spectrum of heterogeneity in terms of genotype and phenotype. How sacsin loss leads to neurodegeneration is still unclear, and current knowledge indicates that sacsin is involved in multiple functional mechanisms. We hence hypothesized the existence of epigenetic factors, in particular alterations in methylation patterns, that could contribute to ARSACS pathogenesis and explain the pleiotropic effects of SACS further than pathogenic mutations.

Targeting Kv7 Potassium Channels for Epilepsy.

Voltage-gated Kv7 potassium channels, particularly Kv7.2 and Kv.7.

Marine natural products as a source of novel anticancer drugs: an updated review (2019-2023).

Marine natural products have long been recognized as a vast and diverse source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications, particularly in oncology. This review provides an updated overview of the significant advances made in the discovery and development of marine-derived anticancer drugs between 2019 and 2023. With a focus on recent research findings, the review explores the rich biodiversity of marine organisms, including sponges, corals, algae, and microorganisms, which have yielded numerous compounds exhibiting promising anticancer properties.

Proteomic Analysis of the Murine Liver Response to Oral Exposure to Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A: The Protective Role to Bioactive Compounds.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) are considered the most important mycotoxins in terms of food safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of AFB1 and OTA exposure in Wistar rats and to assess the beneficial effect of fermented whey (FW) and pumpkin (P) as functional ingredients through a proteomic approach. For the experimental procedures, rats were fed AFB1 and OTA individually or in combination, with the addition of FW or a FW-P mixture during 28 days.

The Usefulness of the Kidney-to-Aorta Ratio in Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease .

The kidney length (KL) to aortic diameter (AoD) ratio (KL/AoD) has been proposed as an ultrasonographic objective method to assess renal dimensions. However, its wide range of normal values limits sensitivity. Of note, its clinical utility in detecting renal disease has not been investigated.

Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Recent Advances and Insights.

Focal therapy has emerged as a balanced middle ground aiming to reduce overtreatment and the risk of progression, as well as patients' distress and anxiety. Focal therapy and partial gland ablation prioritize the precise elimination of the index lesion and a surrounding safety margin to optimize treatment outcomes and lower the risk of residual disease. The paradigm of whole-gland ablation has shifted towards more targeted approaches.

Targeting the 8-oxodG Base Excision Repair Pathway for Cancer Therapy.

Genomic integrity is critical for cellular homeostasis, preventing the accumulation of mutations that can drive diseases such as cancer. Among the mechanisms safeguarding genomic stability, the Base Excision Repair (BER) pathway plays a pivotal role in counteracting oxidative DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Central to this pathway are enzymes like 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1), which recognize and excise 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) lesions, thereby initiating a series of repair processes that restore DNA integrity.

Relationship Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Stress in University Students and Their Life Habits: A Scoping Review with PRISMA Checklist (PRISMA-ScR).

Unlabelled: The global prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and the associated health risks, such as cardiovascular, metabolic and mental issues, is an epidemic worldwide problem, particularly in the university population.

Background/objectives: University students are particularly vulnerable because of academic pressure and lifestyle changes. Despite the well-known benefits of physical activity in reducing mental stress and improving physical and mental well-being, the literature lacks effective interventions and standardized protocols for this population.

Edge-AI Enabled Wearable Device for Non-Invasive Type 1 Diabetes Detection Using ECG Signals.

Diabetes is a chronic condition, and traditional monitoring methods are invasive, significantly reducing the quality of life of the patients. This study proposes the design of an innovative system based on a microcontroller that performs real-time ECG acquisition and evaluates the presence of diabetes using an Edge-AI solution. A spectrogram-based preprocessing method is combined with a 1-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN) to analyze the ECG signals directly on the device.

Impact of β-casein variants on the formation of β-casomorphins in blue cheeses: Investigating key drivers through peptidomic analysis.

β-Casomorphins (BCMs), food-associated peptides resulting from the proteolytic cleavage of β-casein (β-CN), have been widely investigated for their opioid-like activity. This research aimed to identify the presence of BCM7, BCM6, and BCM5 in different bovine milk-deriving blue cheese types and to describe the intricate mechanisms behind their formation, focusing on their origin from cheese with β-CN A1 and A2 variants. Using nanoLC-ESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS and advanced computational tools, we explored the peptidomes of Bleu d'Auvergne, Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Bergader blue cheeses from milk containing both β-CN A1 and A2 variants.

Supplementation with essential amino acids in the early stage of carbohydrate reintroduction after a very-low energy ketogenic therapy (VLEKT) improves body cell mass, muscle strength and inflammation.

Background: Although little is yet known about the long-term maintenance of very low-energy ketogenic therapy (VLEKT) effects on body composition, muscle strength and inflammation, it is plausible to assume that changes may occur, particularly during the steps following the ketogenic step, due to the loss of the protective effects of ketones and the concomitant reintroduction of carbohydrates. For this reason, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with 8 g per day of essential amino acids (EAAs) on these parameters.

Methods: A total of 68 women of reproductive age and with grade I obesity who had completed 45 days of the ketogenic phase with VLEKT (KeNuT protocol) and 40 days of non-ketogenic phase of KeNuT protocol with VLEKT (phase 3, fruit reintroduction) were included in the study.

Frequency of remission achievement in the pre-treat-to-target decade in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Over the past two decades there has been a remarkable advance in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which has led to considerable improvement in prognosis. In 2018, the introduction of the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy in JIA has been advocated to further ameliorate disease outcome. To provide a benchmark for comparing future outcomes in the "T2T era", this study investigates the percentage of JIA patients who achieved clinical inactive disease (CID) in the decade that preceded the publication of the T2T recommendations in JIA.

HISTOMORPHOMETRIC AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF BONE HEALING AROUND IMPLANTS PLACED USING PIEZOSURGERY VS CONVENTIONAL DRILLS: A SPLITMOUTH PILOT STUDY.

Purpose: This pilot study evaluated and compared histomorphometric and immunohistochemical characteristics of peri-implant bone tissue after implant site preparation using piezoelectric tips versus conventional drills.

Material And Methods: Six patients with bilateral partial edentulism underwent a splitmouth protocol. Twelve alveolar ridges were randomized into six control implant sites prepared using conventional drills (Drill Group); and six test implant sites prepared using piezoelectric implant inserts (Piezo Group).

The cardiac response of the goldfish Carassius auratus to environmental hypoxia: from hemodynamics to mitochondria.

Under low O, the heart of Carassius auratus (goldfish) shows an enhanced hemodynamics. This is observed in ex vivo cardiac preparations from animals acclimated to both normoxia and short-term (4 days) moderate hypoxia and perfused for 90 min with a hypoxic medium. Under short-term hypoxia, this is associated with a higher ventricular muscularity and an expanded mitochondrial compartment.