Eating and lifestyle habits and primary school health-related programs: a survey involving Italian children and teachers

Background. Childhood overweight and obesity represent serious public health concerns in several countries worldwide, including Italy, where the highest prevalence in Europe of overweight and obesity among primary school children was recorded. Among others, primary schools represent suitable social environments for health education projects. In this perspective, to optimize resources and plan successful activities, it is necessary, first of all, to analyze the context of the intervention. Study design. A pilot survey involving children and teachers was conducted in a primary school in Jesi (Le Marche Region, Italy). Methods. A questionnaire was submitted by teachers between May and June 2023 to 104 pupils (aged 6–11) from the five different primary school system classes. A qualitative questionnaire was also filled out by the same teachers (n = 5) who were present while the children were filling the eating/lifestyle questionnaire. Results. Most of the children (96.1%) had breakfast before school, with milk and cereal (51.5%) representing the preferred combination. During recess, 59.2% of pupils usually have a sandwich, 23.3% usually have sweet snacks, whereas only 2.9% have a fruit. Over 55% of the sample preferred drinking high-sugar beverages to water, and 15.5% declared going to a fast-food restaurant more than once a week. Over 17% of children did sport only once a week or less often. Over 64% of children habitually played videogames, and 77.6% normally watched TV or played with a tablet/smartphone while eating. Finally, the teachers’ interview highlighted that there were no active health-related projects addressed to the pupils, and the school did not normally organize meetings with health professionals to increase children’s and their parents’ knowledge and awareness about healthy eating habits. Conclusions. This preliminary investigation analyzed the context for a future health and nutrition education project and will assist researchers in planning successful activities and increasing the efficiency of the intervention

Cerebellar cortical degeneration in ‘Cirneco dell'Etna’ dog: First case report

A 4-month-old, intact male, Cirneco dell’Etna dog was presented with clinical signs of cerebellar ataxia, hindlimb hypometry and short steps with rapid progression. No findings were obtained from blood examinations, magnetic resonance imaging and LCR examinations and the dog was euthanased when it was not able to walk. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining of the cerebellum showed multifocal depletion of Purkinje cells, marked increase in cellularity (astrogliosis) and a moderate reduction of the cells of the granule layer and thinning of the molecular layer. This case report describes the first case of cerebellar cortical degeneration in a purebreed Cirneco dell’Etna do

Structural investigation of Cu(I) Coordination Compounds and Gold Nanorods as Drug Delivery Systems

This study investigates the molecular and electronic structure of composite nanoparticles, designed for biomedical applications, conjugated to Cu(I) complexes of a chelating agent (L) functionalized with the antineoplastic drug lonidamine and two phosphane monodentate co-ligands, namely 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) for the complex [(PTA)2Cu(L)]PF6, or triphenylphosphine (PPh3) for the complex [(PPh3)2Cu(L)]PF6 (Fig. 1). Due to their lipophilic nature, direct biomedical applications are precluded; hence, we conjugated these complexes with gold nanorods (AuNRs), acting as a well-established drug delivery system.1 To determine the behaviour, the coordination chemistry of the complexes after conjugation with nanorods and subsequent exposure to aqueous solutions is mandatory from a biomedical point of view and relevant for material understanding. The [(PTA)2Cu(L)]PF6 and [(PPh3)2Cu(L)]PF6 complexes were characterized in their dry and pristine states using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) analysis (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the Cu-coordination in [(PTA)2Cu(L)]PF6 complex was examined in both its AuNR-functionalized dry form and in aqueous solution.2 This comprehensive investigation facilitates the determination of Cu-coordination geometry and provides deep insights into the molecular structures of the complexes, showing modifications upon interaction with AuNRs and after their dissolution in water

A simplified InSAR-based approach to assess subsidence-induced impacts: the Hamburg protected area

World Heritage (WH) properties and heritage sites in general are exposed to the impacts of natural and man-triggered catastrophic events, which threaten their integrity and may compromise their value. The loss or deterioration of these outstanding properties has severely negative impacts on local and national communities, both because of their cultural importance, and because of their socio-economic value (https://whc.unesco.org/en/disaster-risk-reduction/ ). In the framework of the H2020-ARCH project a simplified approach was implemented for assessing and monitoring the subsidence hazards and the possible induced damages and short- and long-term impacts that these might cause on the buildings and other structures composing and characterising the WH sites. The InSAR data sets relating to the WH area of the Hamburg city were processed to evaluate the deformation velocity affecting each building, in order to project the Subsidence Related Intensity parameters in the shortand long-term, and thus estimate the expected damage levels through fragility curves. The results show a relatively stable situation in the area, however damage levels of a certain consistency are detectable for a long period due to the differential settlements. Furthermore, the results obtained allow us to evaluate the socio-economic impacts on the basis of some assumptions about potential losses

Oxidation State and Halogen Influence on the NHC‐Gold‐Halide‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Propargylic Amides

The homogeneously catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of propargylic amides was tested as benchmark reaction for two homologous series of Au(I) and Au(III) complexes with NHC ligands. This reaction is known to afford either aromatic oxazoles or dihydrooxazoles, depending on the oxidation state of the applied gold catalysts. For this purpose, symmetric and unsymmetric NHC ligands with mixed alkyl or benzyl substituents (1,3-dimethyl-imidazolyl-2yl or 1-benzyl-3-methyl-imidazolyl-2-yl) and the corresponding Au(I) and Au(III) derivatives were prepared and characterized by analytical methods, IR and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and by X-ray diffraction methods. Ten NHC-gold(I) and NHC-gold(III) complexes were tested on the cyclization reactions by adding gold catalysts in the presence and absence of AgPF6.Noteworthy, only the 1-benzyl-3-methyl-gold(III) trichloride was able to give selectively the aromatic oxazole without the addition of the silver salt. Interestingly, on contrary to what is reported in the literature, the use of gold(I) or gold(III) complexes does not influence the chemoselectivity of the cyclization reaction, while the halide bound to the metal does. In this regard, a mechanism purposing the dihydrooxazole as an intermediate for the formation of aromatic oxazole is proposed

«È qui, come è al vero». Vita e arte di Luigi Moretti

Nel 1968, anno in cui Moretti pubblica la sua celebre monografia composta da 50 fotografie di sue opere presentate dalle parole di Giuseppe Ungaretti, l’architetto romano è al culmine di una carriera professionale che lo consacra sin oltre oceano, ma anche di un percorso che l’ha portato a confrontarsi in modo sempre più diretto con il mondo dell’arte. La sua controversa vicenda, solo di recente messa a fuoco nella complessità dei suoi registri, segue dunque un doppio binario: arte e architettura. Se l’arte è l’istanza spirituale che incarna il modo di essere di Moretti, l’architettura è la sua culla e insieme il destino di non poter vantare le sue origini

New bryological data from relict mires in the Gran Sasso-Laga National Park (Central Apennines) and their interpretation according to the EUNIS classification and Habitats Directive.

During a phytosociological field-work campaign aimed at studying some relict Scheuchzerio-Caricetea boreal mires of the montane and subalpine belts of the Laga Mountains, the highest and largest siliceous massif of the Apennine range, several bryophyte taxa of particular biogeographic interest were collected. Among these taxa, Schljakovia kunzeana and Ptychostomum cernuum were found to be new records for the whole Apennine range while Hamatocaulis vernicosus (taxon included in annex II of Habitats Directive) and Scorpidium cossonii as new for the Central-Southern Apennines. Two further species, Bryum canariense, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, were found to be confirmations of old records for the Central Apennines dating back to the early 1900s. At the national and regional level, nine, out of the forty-four bryophyte taxa identified in this study, were found to be new for the Lazio administrative Region, and one taxon as new for the Abruzzo Region. The majority of these new records belong to the boreal chorotype, the Laga Mountains being one of the most important conservation sites for the relict circumboreal and arctic-alpine flora in the whole Mediterranean area. According to both the EUNIS Habitat classification and the EU Habitats Directive Annex I, several, out of the 44 bryophytes identified in this study, act as diagnostic species for European Community Habitats. Nevertheless, a complete correspondence between bryophyte taxon and habitat type was not found upon comparing these two environmental policy systems

Calibration in the "real world" of a partially specified stochastic volatility model

We study the "real-world" calibration of a partially specified stochastic volatility model, where the analytic expressions of the asset price drift rate and of the stochastic variance drift are not specified. The model is calibrated matching the observed asset log returns and the priors assigned by the investor. No option price data are used in the calibration. The priors chosen for the asset price drift rate and for the stochastic variance drift are those suggested by the Heston model. For this reason, the model presented can be considered as an "enhanced" Heston model. The calibration problem is formulated as a stochastic optimal control problem and solved using the dynamic programming principle. The model presented and the Heston model are calibrated using synthetic and Standard & Poor 500 (S&P500) data. The calibrated models are used to produce 6, 12, and 24 months in the future synthetic and S&P500 forecasts

Effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) oil as feed additive on broiler performance, carcass, liver and kidney functions, antioxidant, lipid profile, and immunity

The current study evaluated the effects of parsley essential oil on broiler growth performance, carcass features, liver and kidney functions, immunity and antioxidant activity, and lipid profile. A total of 160 unsexed 7-day broiler chicks (Cobb500) were distributed into five groups; each group contained five replicates with eight birds each. The treatments were (1) basal diet (no additive, T1), (2) basal diet + 0.5 mL parsley essential oil/kg (T2), (3) basal diet + 1 mL parsley essential oil/kg (T3), (4) basal diet + 1.5 mL parsley essential oil/kg (T4), and (5) basal diet + 2 mL parsley essential oil/kg (T5). According to GC-MS analysis, parsley oil contains D-limonene, hexadecanoic acid, α-cyclocitral, globulol, α-pinene, myristicin, cryophyllene, bergapten, α-chamigrene, etc. The current results indicated that the most abundant molecules in parsley oil were D-limonene (18.82%), oleic acid (14.52%), α-cyclocitral (11.75%), globulol (11.24%), α-guaiene (7.34%), apiol (5.45%), and hexadecanoic acid (4.69%). Adding parsley essential oil to the broiler diet quadratically increased body weight (BW) during 1–3 weeks of age. The T5 group recorded the highest value (869.37 g) of BW in comparison to other treatments and the control group. The cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and total immunoglobulin, including immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels in the birds fed parsley essential oil were not affected. The T3 group recorded the highest value (159 ng/mL) of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the lowest value (2.01 ng/mL) of malondialdehyde (MDA) when compared to the control and other treatment. In conclusion, we recommend using parsley oil at levels of 1 mL/kg diet of broiler chicks

Sexually transmitted infections in Adolescents and Young Adults: an Italian experience

Introduction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be caused by a number of microorganisms that vary greatly in size, life cycle, clinical manifestations, and sensitivity to available treatments. Transmission of STIs can occur during unprotected (or condomless) sexual contact and through the exchange of body fluids during any type of activity. The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases remains high in the world, despite diagnostic and therapeutic improvements for these infectious diseases that rapidly eliminate the contagiousness of patients. Our study determines the prevalence of STI pathogens in adolescents and young adults in the population of the Province of Macerata (Italy). We will analyze data in correspondence to age and gender, and we will compare our results to international studies. Materials and Method. We analyzed STI test results from the entire database of a Provincial Health Authority for the period 2021–2022. The samples came from the following age groups: 0–12, 13–18, 19–25, and 26–35 from 2021 to 2022. The results came from vaginal and cervical swabs (for females); urethral, rectal, and pharyngeal swabs (for males and females); and seminal fluid (for males) for the following infections: HPV, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasmas, Gardnerella, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Treponema pallidum. The results also came from blood tests for HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and Treponema pallidum (TPHA, VDRL). In addition, we examined results from urine tests for chlamydia, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, trichomonas, and Treponema pallidum. Conclusions. The literature for other countries reports the need for comprehensive, culturally and developmentally sensitive care to address sexuality-related issues in adolescents and young adults, a need that also applies to Italy. These data will be of great importance in adopting evidence-based STI control programs in Marche Region. This study could, indeed, represent a landmark for public health officials and professionals, with the aim of promoting adolescents’ access to sexual health services to receive useful information, strengthening preventive measures in younger age groups, and designing sexual education programs. © 2024 by the authors