Antioxidant capacity and athletic condition of endurance horses undergoing nutraceutical supplementation.

Endurance is an equestrian discipline that primarily relies on aerobic metabolism. Intense aerobic exercise produces reactive oxygen species due to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant substances, known as oxidative stress, which may reduce athletic performance. This study evaluated the effects of a feed supplement containing natural antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids on the blood antioxidant activity and the athletic condition of endurance horses undergoing an exercise test.

Difference in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Parameters After SARS-CoV-2 Infection During the Alpha and Delta Variant Dominance Periods.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection manifests with diverse clinical manifestations, with severity potentially influenced by the viral variant. COVID-19 has also been shown to impact ocular microcirculation in some patients, but whether this effect varies by viral lineage remains unclear. This prospective study compared clinical features and ocular parameters assessed via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infections during the dominance of two distinctive viral lineages, Alpha (B.

Assessing the Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Low-Income Communities: Challenges and Solutions.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a group of chronic and debilitating infections that affect more than one billion people, predominantly in low-income communities with limited health infrastructure. This paper analyzes the factors that perpetuate the burden of NTDs, highlighting how poor health infrastructure, unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and lack of therapeutic resources exacerbate their impact. The effectiveness of current interventions, such as mass drug administration (MDA) programs and improved sanitation, in reducing disease prevalence is examined.

Retrospective Analysis of R-COMP Therapy in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): Assessing the Impact of Sample Selection Bias.

: Retrospective studies are often criticized for their susceptibility to case selection bias compared to prospective studies, which include all patients consecutively and are thus less prone to such limitations. However, the larger sample sizes typical of retrospective studies can sometimes offset this drawback. On behalf of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL), a substantial retrospective study involving 946 patients was conducted to examine the use of non-pegylated liposomal anthracycline (Myocet).

Three-Dimensional Posture Analysis-Based Modifications After Manual Therapy: A Preliminary Study.

Manual therapies like Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and Gentle Touch Intervention (GTI) are widely employed for improving posture and spinal alignment, but their effects as measured using advanced technologies remain underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the short-term postural effects of these interventions using a non-invasive three-dimensional rasterstereography-based approach, focusing on the cervical arrow, lumbar arrow, kyphotic angle, and lordotic angle parameters. A three-armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 165 healthy participants.

New Insights on Quality, Safety, Nutritional, and Nutraceutical Properties of Honeydew Honeys from Italy.

Honeydew honey is less studied than nectar honey, although it is characterized by peculiar nutritional properties. This is mainly due to its challenging production, which leads to easy counterfeiting and difficult valorization. This contribution aims to provide a comprehensive characterization of the physico-chemical, palynological, functional, and food safety properties of a large sampling of honeydew honeys collected throughout Italy.

Exploring Mitochondrial Evolutionary Pathways: Insights into the Origin of the Endemic Ohrid Trout.

The Ohrid trout, , is an endemic species of Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's oldest lakes, located on the Albania-North Macedonia border. This species exhibits distinct morphotypes-, , , and -that differ in morphology and spawning behaviour. However, the extent of their genetic differentiation remains unclear.

Nipah Virus: A Zoonotic Threat Re-Emerging in the Wake of Global Public Health Challenges.

The re-emergence of the Nipah virus (NiV) in Kerala, India, following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy, underscores the persistent threat posed by zoonotic pathogens and highlights the growing global public health challenge. With no vaccine or curative treatment available, and fatality rates as high as 94% in past outbreaks, the Nipah virus is a critical concern for health authorities worldwide. Transmitted primarily through contact with fruit bats or consumption of contaminated food, as well as direct human-to-human transmission, NiV remains a highly lethal and unpredictable pathogen.

HERVs Endophenotype in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Human Endogenous Retroviruses, Specific Immunoreactivity, and Disease Association in Different Family Members.

Increasing evidence indicates that human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are important to human health and are an underexplored component of many diseases. Certain HERV families show unique expression patterns and immune responses in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting their potential as biomarkers. Despite these interesting findings, the role of HERVs in ASD needs to be further investigated.

Effect of Liquid Marble 3D Culture System on In Vitro Maturation and Embryo Development of Prepubertal Goat Oocytes.

Suboptimal culture conditions during in vitro maturation (IVM) affect oocyte developmental competence and the viability of the resulting embryo. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems provide a more biologically appropriate environment compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of liquid marble (LM) microbioreactors as a 3D culture system on IVM and the subsequent embryo development of prepubertal goat oocytes.

Beliefs and Perceptions in Attending the Cervical Screening: The COMUNISS Project Experience.

Background: Several studies highlighted that tailored health communication interventions improve cervical screening participation, vaccination coverage, and awareness about self-sampling benefits. The "COMUNISS" project was aimed at increasing awareness about cervical cancer prevention, identifying barriers to screening, and promoting screening uptake in under-screened women.

Methods: A dedicated website with a Q&A session regarding HPV-associated diseases has been set up.

Management of Patients with Vulvar Cancers: A Systematic Comparison of International Guidelines (NCCN-ASCO-ESGO-BGCS-IGCS-FIGO-French Guidelines-RCOG).

Background: Vulvar carcinoma is an uncommon gynecological tumor primarily affecting older women. Its treatment significantly impacts the quality of life and, not least, aesthetics because of the mutilating surgery it requires.

Objectives: The management requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists who know how to care for the patient in her entirety, not neglecting psychological aspects and reconstructive surgery.

Current Evidence on the Relation Between Microbiota and Oral Cancer-The Role of -A Narrative Review.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one the most prevalent head and neck cancers and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The main established risk factors for OSCC include tobacco and alcohol consumption and betel quid chewing, which may contribute alone or in combination with other environmental factors to carcinogenesis. The oral microbiota is emerging as a key player in the establishment of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that may trigger or promote carcinogenesis, including in the oral cavity.

Neuroprotective Effects of Myrtle Berry By-Product Extracts on 6-OHDA-Induced Cytotoxicity in PC12 Cells.

The rising global focus on healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability has prompted interest in repurposing plant-based by-products for health benefits. With increasing life expectancy, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases-characterized by complex, multifactorial mechanisms such as abnormal protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation-continues to grow. Medicinal plants, with their diverse bioactive compounds, offer promising therapeutic avenues for such conditions.

Immune response profiling of HERV-W envelope proteins in multiple sclerosis: potential biomarkers for disease progression.

Introduction: The envelope proteins syncytin-1 and pHERV-W from the Human Endogenous Retroviral family 'W' (HERV-W) have been identified as potential risk factors in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aims to evaluate both humoral and cell-mediated immune response to antigenic peptides derived from these proteins across different clinical forms and inflammatory phases of MS.

Methods: Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to syncytin-1 and pHERV-W peptides in MS patients.

Plasma Humanin and Non-Coding RNAs as Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), largely driven by peripheral endothelial dysfunction (ED). Humanin, a mitochondrial-derived peptide, has been suggested to play a protective role in endothelial function. However, the relationship between Humanin levels and ED in RA, as well as the interaction between Humanin and non-coding RNAs such as Long Non-Coding RNA GAS5, microRNA-21 (miR-21), and microRNA-103 (miR-103), remains unclear.

Esteem body convexity algorithm to prevent leakages in patient with an ostomy: results of an Italian expert opinion.

Stoma surgery is frequently used to treat conditions such as colorectal cancer and inflammatory diseases. While it can extend patients' lives, it often introduces challenges that negatively affect quality of life. Convex skin barriers are commonly recommended for managing flat or retracted stomas and addressing irregular peristomal surfaces, such as creases or folds.

Efficacy of Ceftazidime-avibactam in treating Gram-negative infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) has emerged as a promising treatment option for Gram-negative infections, particularly those caused by CAZ-Non-Susceptible (NS) pathogens. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy and safety of CAZ-AVI in these challenging infections.

Methods: We systematically queried EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PubMed/Medline for studies published until September 15, 2024.

Diabetes and gut microbiome.

Diabetes mellitus represents a significant global health problem. The number of people suffering from this metabolic disease is constantly rising and although the incidence is heterogeneous depending on region, country, economic situation, lifestyle, diet and level of medical care, it is increasing worldwide, especially among youths and children, mainly due to lifestyle and environmental changes. The pathogenesis of the two most common subtypes of diabetes mellitus, type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM), is substantially different, so each form is characterized by a different causation, etiology, pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment.

TYK2:p.Pro1104Ala Variant Protects Against Autoimmunity by Modulating Immune Cell Levels.

The TYK2:p.Pro1104Ala (rs34536443) hypomorph variant has been associated with protection against numerous autoimmune disorders. Thus, its mechanism of action becomes of great interest.

Training received, knowledge, and use of Silver Diamine Fluoride among Italian dentists: a nationwide survey.

Objective: To investigate the education, knowledge and behaviour of Italian dentists regarding Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2022, through an online survey linked to an online continuing medical education (CME) course sent to Italian dentists. A priori power analysis estimated the necessary sample to be 1480 dentists with an anticipated frequency of 50% and a power of 99.

The extent of the hip bone sexual dimorphism in two Italian coeval modern skeletal samples.

The rate of sexual dimorphism in the human hip bone is primarily due to the structural demands of childbirth. Genetic, environmental, and socio-cultural factors can also influence pelvic shape variations across populations. This study examines intra-population sex variation within the Italian population based on regional differences of 280 coxal bones from two documented human osteological collections (Bologna and Sassari) coming from different geographical areas, the northern continental and island regions.

Ultrasound guided procedures in the head and neck: a clinician centered model.

Background: US guided sampling is a validated diagnostic approach for non-thyroid deep head and neck masses.

Aim: To describe the setting of a clinician-driven Lump Clinic and analyze a monoinstitutional 7-year database of 849 patients undergoing US-guided sampling.

Methods: FNA with Rapid OnSite Evalutation (ROSE) was the first diagnostic step.

Incidence of hospital-acquired infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in critically ill patients in Italy: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria, including Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), are common causes of infections in intensive care units (ICUs) in Italy.

Objective: This prospective observational study evaluated the epidemiology, management, microbiological characterization, and outcomes of hospital-acquired CRE or CRPA infections treated in selected ICUs in Italy.

Methods: The study included patients with hospital-acquired infections due to CRE and CRPA treated in 20 ICUs from June 2021 to February 2023.