Lipocalin-2 promotes adipose-macrophage interactions to shape peripheral and central inflammatory responses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Objective: Accumulating evidence suggests that dysfunctional adipose tissue (AT) plays a major role in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common immune-mediated and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. However, the contribution of adipose tissue to the etiology and progression of MS is still obscure. This study aimed at deciphering the responses of AT in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the best characterized animal model of MS. Results and methods: We observed a significant AT loss in EAE mice at the onset of disease, with a significant infiltration of M1-like macrophages and fibrosis in the AT, resembling a cachectic phenotype. Through an integrative and multilayered approach, we identified lipocalin2 (LCN2) as the key molecule released by dysfunctional adipocytes through redox-dependent mechanism. Adipose-derived LCN2 shapes the pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype, and the genetic deficiency of LCN2 specifically in AT reduced weight loss as well as inflammatory macrophage infiltration in spinal cord in EAE mice. Mature adipocytes downregulating LCN2 reduced lipolytic response to inflammatory stimuli (e.g. TNFα) through an ATGL-mediated mechanism. Conclusions: Overall data highlighted a role LCN2 in exacerbating inflammatory phenotype in EAE model, suggesting a pathogenic role of dysfunctional AT in MS

The Silent Epidemic of Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents in Italy During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

To compare the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with the frequency of DKA during 2017-2019

Integrated Molecular Meta-Analysis of 1,000 Pediatric High-Grade and Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.

We collated data from 157 unpublished cases of pediatric high-grade glioma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and 20 publicly available datasets in an integrated analysis of >1,000 cases. We identified co-segregating mutations in histone-mutant subgroups including loss of FBXW7 in H3.3G34R/V, TOP3A rearrangements in H3.3K27M, and BCOR mutations in H3.1K27M. Histone wild-type subgroups are refined by the presence of key oncogenic events or methylation profiles more closely resembling lower-grade tumors. Genomic aberrations increase with age, highlighting the infant population as biologically and clinically distinct. Uncommon pathway dysregulation is seen in small subsets of tumors, further defining the molecular diversity of the disease, opening up avenues for biological study and providing a basis for functionally defined future treatment stratification

Metodo per la valutazione e la comparazione quali-quantitativa della produttività scientifica degli istituti di ricerca europei

Questo studio ha lo scopo di presentare un metodo per la valutazione e la comparazione degli istituti di Ricerca Europei, individuandone i parametri utili per la stima sia quantitativa che qualitativa. Lo studio, basato sui dati disponibili nella banca dati ISI Web of Knowledge, è stato applicato a 37 Istituti di ricerca europei che conducono attività di ricerca in campo ambientale. La loro attività scientifica è stata confrontata nel quinquennio 2003-2007, attraverso parametri attestanti la produttività individuale del personale operante nell’Istituto in esame e l’impatto del singolo paper in termini di citazioni. Lo studio è stato completato attraverso un primo tentativo di elaborazione di parametri bibliometrici che, a partire dai dati di ciascun Istituto, consentissero di fare una stima della produttività scientifica del Paese di appartenenza in uno specifico settore scientifico. Il report illustra in modo dettagliato il metodo di interrogazione della banca dati ISI Web of Knowledge, utilizzata dagli autori, ed espone brevemente i principali indici bibliometrici di norma utilizzati in questo ambito

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) in Very Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (VLS-SCLC)

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumour with metastatic propensity. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging therapeutic option for SCLC, despite limited supporting evidence. By evaluating the use of SBRT in very limited stage (VLS) SCLC at our institution, we aimed to contribute to the existing knowledge in this area while establishing a basis for further research. We performed a retrospective review of all cases of VLS-SCLC treated with SBRT between 2013 and 2020. Baseline demographics, diagnostic, and treatment information were collected. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). We identified 46 patients with pathologically confirmed VLS-SCLC; 25 were treated with SBRT, and the remainder received either surgery, conventional radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or palliative-intent therapy. After a median follow-up of 23.7 months, 44% of the patients had died; the median OS was of 24.4 months for the SBRT cohort and 67.0 months for the curative intent non-SBRT cohort. The difference in disease recurrence and survival between cohorts was underpowered and not statistically significant. Higher baseline ECOG and comorbidity was noted in the SBRT cohort

Biotic Factors Affecting Ecosystem Services in Urban and Peri-Urban Forests in Italy: The Role of Introduced and Impending Pathogens and Pests

The present-day phytosanitary disasters caused by biological invasions are afflicting urban and peri-urban forest stands worldwide, as well as the varied services they normally provide. In Europe, we are witnessing an alarming situation due to an increasing introduction of infectious diseases and pests. The authors present an up-to-date list of alien microbial pathogens and insect pests affecting urban greening that have been accidentally imported in Italy or that are likely to be introduced. Information about the biology, epidemiology, ethology, and control of these invasive organisms is provided. For each species, the current geographical distribution, including newly-colonized areas, is also given, as well as the chronological progression of its occurrence. Particular detail is used for describing symptoms—the key diagnostic elements for appropriate and timely phytosanitary management. This paper will benefit urban forest management, which is a crucial factor in maintaining the social and ecological viability of urban green spaces, as well as ecosystem services. The importance of engaging citizens in community-based monitoring of urban greenspaces for tracking the location, abundance, and pathways of invasive pathogens and pests will also be touched upon

Machine Learning Approach for Care Improvement of Children and Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Treated with Hybrid Closed-Loop System

Type 1 diabetes is a disease affecting beta cells of the pancreas and it’s responsible for a decreased insulin secretion, leading to an increased blood glucose level. The traditional method for glucose treatment is based on finger-stick measurement of the blood glucose concentration and consequent manual insulin injection. Nowadays insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems are replacing them, being simpler and automatized. This paper focuses on analyzing and improving the knowledge about which Machine Learning algorithms can work best with glycaemic data and tries to find out the relation between insulin pump settings and glycaemic control. The dataset is composed of 90 days of recordings taken from 16 children and adolescents. Three Machine Learning approaches, two for classification, Logistic Regression (LR) and Random Forest (RL), and one for regression, Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR), have been used for the purpose. Specifically, the pump settings analysis was performed based on the Time In Range (TIR) computation and comparison consequent to pump setting changes. RF and MLR have shown the best results, while, for the settings’ analysis, the data show a discrete correlation between changes and TIRs. This study provides an interesting closer look at the data recorded by the insulin pump and a suitable starting point for a thorough and complete analysis of them

Adolescenti e fiducia: le loro parole, il loro sguardo

La fiducia \ue8 un costrutto centrale in adolescenza perch\ue8 incide sulla qualit\ue0 delle relazioni e sull'adattamento psicosociale degli individui. Secondo l\u2019approccio del Positive Youth Development (PYD) la fiducia, in quanto risorsa individuale, pu\uf2 essere potenziata dalle risorse ambientali esterne. Il presente contributo si pone come obiettivo di descrivere la fiducia percepita della Generazione Z. Esso \ue8 composto da due studi: uno studio quantitativo e uno studio qualitativo, condotti in forma parallela e indipendente. Il primo ha analizzato la fiducia generalizzata, mentre il secondo la fiducia interpersonaleTrust is a core construct in adolescence because it affects the quality of relationships and the psychosocial adaptation of individuals. According to the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach, trust, as an individual resource, can be enhanced by external environmental resources. This paper aims to describe the trust perceived by Italian Generation Z. It is made up of two studies: a quantitative study and a qualitative study, that were conducted in parallel and independently. The first one analyzed generalized trust, while the second one analyzed interpersonal trus

A Machine Learning Approach for Postoperative Outcome Prediction: Surgical Data Science Application in a Thoracic Surgery Setting

The use of innovative methodologies, such as Surgical Data Science (SDS), based on artificial intelligence (AI) could prove to be useful for extracting knowledge from clinical data overcoming limitations inherent in medical registries analysis. The aim of the study is to verify if the application of an AI analysis to our database could develop a model able to predict cardiopulmonary complications in patients submitted to lung resection