Search Results (21)

Background: Loco-regional staging of rectal cancer relies on MRI and rectal EUS (R-EUS). In situ and T1 tumors may be candidates for endoscopic resection, and R-EUS enables reliable differentiation among early-stage tumors (Tis, T1, T2), a distinction that MRI cannot consistently provide. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of a deep learning (DL) tool for detecting and staging rectal tumors on R-EUS. Methods: The DL tool uses a convolutional neural network for image segmentation and classification. Performance in lesion segmentation was assessed using the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and F1-score. The model was first evaluated for its ability to differentiate in situ and T1 tumors from T2/T3 lesions, and then for distinguishing Tis from other stages (T1, T2, T3). Results: Fifty patients were enrolled. The median DSC for tumor segmentation was 0.65 (IQR 0.17). Tumor detection showed an accuracy of 0.77, precision of 0.85, recall of 0.77, and F1-score of 0.81. In distinguishing Tis/T1 from T2/T3 tumors, the model achieved an accuracy of 0.64, precision of 0.88, recall of 0.64, and F1-score of 0.74. For distinguishing Tis from T1, T2, and T3 lesions, the accuracy was 0.80, precision 0.83, recall 0.89, and F1-score 0.86. Mesorectal lymph node segmentation showed a median DSC of 0.62 (IQR 0.17). Conclusions: The DL tool shows promise for aiding operators in identifying rectal lesions suitable for endoscopic resection. The semi-supervised training approach reduces manual segmentation burden and achieves performance comparable to expert physicians. Full article

Background/Objectives: Due to its potent local anesthetic and vasoconstrictive properties, cocaine is sometimes used in otolaryngologic surgical interventions. However, cocaine topical administration is not always adequately documented by practitioners, which can lead to serious legal consequences, particularly in the context of drug-impaired driving (DUID) investigations. This study retrospectively analyzes five road accident cases where cocaine was detected in biological samples after medical interventions. Case descriptions: Following pedestrian–car, or car–car accidents, five distinct patients aged between 30 and 84 years underwent maxillofacial surgery due to significant injuries. Given the severity of the accident and the circumstances, the police requested blood toxicological analysis to determine whether the patients were under the influence of psychoactive substances at the moment of the accidents. Results: The five cases described in this manuscript had blood cocaine concentrations exceeding the Swiss legal limit for drivers (15 µg/L). Since no information was initially provided about the medical use of cocaine after the crash, recreational use of cocaine was suspected. However, subsequent investigations confirmed that the cases involved medical administration. Conclusions: After sinonasal procedures involving the topical application of cocaine, patients may yield positive results on urine and blood drug tests, potentially resulting in serious legal repercussions, including the withdrawal of their driving license. Therefore, practitioners should thoroughly document the medical use of topical cocaine, particularly in DUID cases. These results also raise questions about the benefit–risk ratio of such use, considering that alternatives exist. Full article

Urban afforestation is a key strategy for combating climate change and enhancing urban living by reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. Reflecting these priorities, Italy’s National Ecological Transition Plan (NETP), led by the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MiTE), introduced the National Urban Forestry Plan to accelerate sustainability and resilience in urban areas. This plan focuses on reducing carbon emissions, enhancing natural capital through reforestation, and promoting Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for climate adaptation. Our study aligns with this framework by exploring how local urban forestry initiatives support the NETP’s objectives, providing a concrete example of policy implementation. Genoa (Italy) serves as a compelling case study. In 2023, the city received PNRR funding under the “Protection and Enhancement of Urban and Extra-Urban Greenery” initiative to improve air quality, restore biodiversity, and strengthen ecological corridors. Our research identifies three key areas for improvement: ecological planning, citizen engagement, and impact monitoring. We present initial findings and quantitative data, evaluating CO₂ sequestration potential, communication strategies, and consider the strengths and weaknesses of the specific context. These findings highlight the need for further investigation to optimize and communicate urban greening efforts. Full article

Women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer can develop metastatic disease following successful initial treatment, with bone being the most common site of metastases. The Breast to Bone (B2B) cohort study of early-stage breast cancer patients was established as a research platform to study the basic biology of breast cancer to bone metastasis and to identify the factors that could improve prevention, early detection and treatment for this debilitating and incurable disease. The B2B cohort includes 478 women diagnosed with incident primary breast cancer (stages I to III) who were recruited from Calgary, Alberta and surrounding areas between February 2010 and July 2015. Four projects have been conducted to date, utilizing data and samples from this cohort. These studies have found the following: (a) women with insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations in pretreatment serum samples had larger tumors and higher breast cancer grades, (b) several metabolomic biomarkers and cytokines were associated with tumor characteristics and time to recurrence, (c) additional biomarkers were found to be predictive for the high risk of bone metastasis and (d) circulating progastrin (hPG80) was associated with multiple survival outcomes. These research studies and future ones will provide new evidence on bone metastasis etiology in women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, improve identification of those at high risk and contribute to personalized treatment and prevention options. Full article

The aim of this study was to inviestigate cardiac and arterial remodelling before and after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) by measuring the Aorto-Septal Angle (AoSA) and the geometric characteristics of the aorta. Five patients were prospectively included. Pre- and post-operative cardio-CTA scans were used to create patient-specific 3D models to calculate the AoSA, defined by the intersection of the aortic and left ventricular axes. Additionally, geometric parameters and the inclination of the ascending aorta (AA) were measured. The results demonstrated a variation between pre- and post-operative AoSA in all patients, with an increase in the case of an aneurysmal disease from 112.36° ± 8.21° to 117.16° ± 9.65° (+4.1%, p = 0.041) and a decrease in the case of aortic dissection from 113.62° ± 0.96° to 107.83° ± 1.45° (−5.1%). Additionally, an increase in the length of both the outer and inner curvatures of the AA was observed from 102.21 ± 10.17 mm to 105.73 ± 11.2 mm (+ 3.33% p = 0.016) and from 55.55 ± 9.53 mm to 58.35 ± 9.96 mm (+4.8%, p = 0.04), respectively. This study introduced a new repeatable and reproducible method for assessing the AoSA using cardiac-CTA images. Thoracic stent deployment changes the AoSA, potentially impacting long-term left ventricle hemodynamics. Full article

Variant annotation is an important step in deciphering the functional impact of genomic variants and their association with diseases. In this study, we analyzed 80 pan-cancer cases that underwent comprehensive genomic testing and compared the auto-classified variant tiers among four globally-available software solutions for variant interpretation from Roche, SOPHiA GENETICS, QIAGEN, and Genoox. The results revealed striking differences in tier classifications, which are believed to be a result of several factors, including subjectivity in the AMP/ASCO/CAP guidelines, threshold settings for variant allele frequencies and population allele frequencies, as well as variation in disease ontologies. Although the software tools described here provide a time-saving and repeatable process for interpretation of genomic data, it is crucial to understand the nuances and various settings for these solutions, as they can strongly influence variant tier classifications and downstream management. Full article

Nematodes of the genus Anisakis (Rhabditida, Anisakidae) are zoonotic fish-borne parasites and cause anisakiasis, a disease with mild to severe acute or chronic gastrointestinal and allergic symptoms and signs. Anisakiasis can potentially lead to misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis, and it has been suggested as a risk factor for gastrointestinal tumors. Here, we describe a case report of a 25-year-old woman who presented with gastrointestinal (abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea) and allergic (diffuse skin rash) symptoms and reported ingestion of raw fish contaminated by worms. Gastro and colon endoscopy allowed the visualization and removal of nematodes and collection of bioptic tissue from ulcers and polyps. The removed nematodes were molecularly identified as Anisakis pegreffii. The patient was treated with chlorphenamine maleate, betamethasone, omeprazole, paracetamol, albendazole. We conclude that an upper endoscopy matched with a colonoscopy and molecular characterization of the pathogen yields the most reliable diagnosis and treatment for human anisakiasis, enabling the complete removal of the larvae and preventing chronic inflammation and damage. Full article

An ultrasound-assisted extraction method, employing ethanol and water as solvents at low temperature (30 °C) and reduced time (15 min), was proposed to extract bioactive molecules from different cultivars (Magliocco Canino, Magliocco Rosato, Gaglioppo, and Nocera Rosso) of wine lees. All the extract yields were evaluated and their contents of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and total polyphenols were determined by means of colorimetric assays and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. Radical scavenging assays were performed and the Magliocco Canino extracted with a hydroalcoholic mixture returned the best results both against ABTS (0.451 mg mL⁻¹) and DPPH (0.395 mg mL⁻¹) radicals. The chemometric algorithms principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square regression (PLS) were used to process the data obtained from all qualitative–quantitative sample determinations with the aim of highlighting data patterns and finding possible correlations between composition and antioxidant features of the different wine lees cultivars and the extraction procedures. Wine lees from Magliocco Canino and Magliocco Rosato were found to be the best vegetable matrices in terms of metabolite content and antioxidant properties. The components extracted with alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solvents, specifically (−)-epigallocatechin gallate, chlorogenic acid, and trans-caftaric acid, were found to be correlated with the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. Multivariate data processing was able to identify the compounds related to the antioxidant features. Two PLS models were optimized by using their concentration levels to predict the IC₅₀ values of the extracts in terms of DPPH and ABTS with high values of correlation coefficient R², 0.932 and 0.824, respectively, and a prediction error lower than 0.07. Finally, cellular (SH-SY5Y cells) antioxidant assays were performed on the best extract (the hydroalcoholic extract of Magliocco Canino cv) to confirm its biological performance against radical species. All these recorded data strongly outline the aptness of valorizing wine lees as a valuable source of antioxidants. Full article

The present research is aimed at investigating the potential of two commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (EC1118 and AWRI796) to generate wine-specific volatile molecule fingerprinting in relation to the initial must applied. To eliminate the effects of all the process variables and obtain more reliable results, comparative fermentations on interlaboratory scale of five different regional red grape musts were carried out by five different research units (RUs). For this purpose, the two S. cerevisiae strains were inoculated separately at the same level and under the same operating conditions. The wines were analyzed by means of SPME-GC/MS. Quali-quantitative multivariate approaches (two-way joining, MANOVA and PCA) were used to explain the contribution of strain, must, and their interaction to the final wine volatile fingerprinting. Our results showed that the five wines analyzed for volatile compounds, although characterized by a specific aromatic profile, were mainly affected by the grape used, in interaction with the inoculated Saccharomyces strain. In particular, the AWRI796 strain generally exerted a greater influence on the aromatic component resulting in a higher level of alcohols and esters. This study highlighted that the variable strain could have a different weight, with some musts experiencing a different trend depending on the strain (i.e., Negroamaro or Magliocco musts). Full article

Current literature supports the notion that the recognition of objects, when visually presented, is sub-served by neural structures different from those responsible for the semantic processing of their nouns. However, embodiment foresees that processing observed objects and their verbal labels should share similar neural mechanisms. In a combined behavioral and MEG study, we compared the modulation of motor responses and cortical rhythms during the processing of graspable natural objects and tools, either verbally or pictorially presented. Our findings demonstrate that conveying meaning to an observed object or processing its noun similarly modulates both motor responses and cortical rhythms; being natural graspable objects and tools differently represented in the brain, they affect in a different manner both behavioral and MEG findings, independent of presentation modality. These results provide experimental evidence that neural substrates responsible for conveying meaning to objects overlap with those where the object is represented, thus supporting an embodied view of semantic processing. Full article

Calabria is a region located in Southern Italy and it is characterized by a long tradition of viticulture practices and favorable pedoclimatic conditions for grapevine cultivation. Nevertheless, less than 2% of cultivated land is dedicated to grapevine growing in Calabria. The characterization of local grapevine accessions is crucial to valorize the local and peculiar Italian products and boost the Calabrian winemaking sector. With this purpose, we performed a deep characterization of two widespread Calabrian grapevine varieties—Magliocco Dolce and Brettio Nero, of which very little is known. In particular, a genetic and morphological analysis, a berry physico-chemical and polyphenolic compositions assessment, and oenological evaluation of monovarietal wines were carried out. Our results allowed us to demonstrate that Magliocco Dolce and Brettio Nero are unique and distinct varieties with peculiar morphological and chemical characteristics and show the suitability of these two varieties in high-quality wine production. Moreover, the obtained molecular profiles will be useful for authentication and traceability purposes. Full article

Dietary phenolic compounds possess potent bioactivity against inflammatory pathways of chronic inflammatory conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Here, the phenolic profile and bioactivity of Italian red wines Gaglioppo, Magliocco, and Nerello Mascalese were characterized. NMR, HPLC/UV-Vis and spectrophotometric characterization showed that Magliocco was the richest wine in monomeric anthocyanins (two-fold), catechins, and low molecular weight phenolics (LMWP). A positive correlation was observed between the polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05), with Magliocco displaying the highest antioxidant capacity (p < 0.01). In vitro evidence on the endothelial cell models of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia showed the ability of Magliocco to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.01) and cytokine release (p < 0.01) and to upregulate SIRT1 and SIRT6 (p < 0.01). On the whole, the results indicated that the quantitative and qualitative phenolic profiles of red wines influence their in vitro beneficial effects on oxidative and proinflammatory milieu in endothelial cells, showing a positive modulation of SIRT1 and SIRT6, both implied in vascular aging. Full article

Farm management can directly and indirectly affect animal care. We explored how farm management affected animal care on two large dairy farms in China (anonymized as Farm A and Farm B). We used a mini-ethnographic case study design whereby the first author lived for 38 days on Farm A and 23 days on Farm B. She conducted participant observation and ethnographic interviews with farm staff positions within five departments in Farm A and six departments in Farm B. In addition, she conducted 13 semi-structured interviews (seven on Farm A; six on Farm B). We used template analysis to generate key themes. On both farms, workers believed that animal care practices had improved over time, due to three key employee management factors: 1) organizational culture, 2) competency of worker and management, and 3) an effective incentive system. Our results suggest that animal care may be improved in this context by: 1) promoting a culture in which workers have ‘grit’ and are eager to learn, 2) ensuring basic worker wellbeing, and 3) using animal care outcomes as performance indicators linked to pay. Full article

In this study, we assessed the potential use of the 1β-hydroxy-deoxycholic acid (1β-OH-DCA) to deoxycholic acid (DCA) urinary metabolic ratio (UMR) as a CYP3A metric in ten male healthy volunteers. Midazolam (MDZ) 1 mg was administered orally at three sessions: alone (control session), after pre-treatment with fluvoxamine 50 mg (12 h and 2 h prior to MDZ administration), and voriconazole 400 mg (2 h before MDZ administration) (inhibition session), and after a 7-day pre-treatment with the inducer rifampicin 600 mg (induction session). The 1β-OH-DCA/DCA UMR was measured at each session, and correlations with MDZ metrics were established. At baseline, the 1β-OH-DCA/DCA UMR correlated significantly with oral MDZ clearance (r = 0.652, p = 0.041) and C_max (r = −0.652, p = 0.041). In addition, the modulation of CYP3A was reflected in the 1β-OH-DCA/DCA UMR after the intake of rifampicin (induction ratio = 11.4, p < 0.01). During the inhibition session, a non-significant 22% decrease in 1β-OH-DCA/DCA was observed (p = 0.275). This result could be explained by the short duration of CYP3A inhibitors intake fixed in our clinical trial. Additional studies, particularly involving CYP3A inhibition for a longer period and larger sample sizes, are needed to confirm the 1β-OH-DCA/DCA metric as a suitable CYP3A biomarker. Full article

Background: Three accelerated oxidation tests were proposed to simulate red wine oxidation thus providing information useful to correctly manage moderate oxygen exposure of wine during aging in regard to phenolic composition and wine color. Since the results of the tests have never been compared on wines with different initial composition, the aim of this study was to find a suitable method to simulate oxidation of any still red wine. Methods: Aglianico, Barbera, Gaglioppo, Magliocco, and Nerello wines were treated with (1) three cycles of air saturation, (2) the addition of hydrogen peroxide, and (3) the addition of acetaldehyde. Changes in chromatic characteristics and phenolic composition were determined by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. Results: Important differences in the behavior of the different wines were detected: the highest formation of polymeric pigments was observed in Barbera and Aglianico wines. In contrast, Gaglioppo and Magliocco wines showed a lower variability before and after the oxidation probably due to the lower anthocyanin/tannin ratio. Among the accelerated oxidation tests applied, no significant differences in color parameters and phenolic composition were detected in samples treated with the addition of H₂O₂ and the air saturation method. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that H₂O₂ addition is a successful tool to predict the evolution of different phenolic compounds during the air saturation treatment of wines. Full article