Search Results (294)

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by high mortality rates and responsible for about one million new cases each year globally. Surgery is the main treatment, but achieving radical resection remains a relevant intraoperative challenge. Fluorescence-guided surgery offers clinicians greater capabilities for real-time detection of tumor nodules and visualization of tumor margins. In this field, the main challenge remains the development of fluorescent dyes that can selectively target tumor tissues. Methods: we examined the expression of the most suitable GC markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule-5 (CEACAM5) and Claudin-4 (CLDN4), in GC cell lines. To further evaluate their expression, we performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tumor and healthy tissue samples from 30 GC patients who underwent partial gastrectomy at the Digestive System Surgery Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence. Additionally, we validated anti-CEACAM5 expression on patient-derived organoids. Furthermore, we developed a fluorescent molecule targeting CEACAM5 on the surface of GC cells and assessed its binding properties on patient tissue slices and fragments. Results: in this work, we first identified CEACAM5 as an optimal GC biomarker, and then we developed a fluorescent antibody specific for CEACAM5. We also evaluated its binding specificity for GC cell lines and patient-derived tumor tissue, achieving an optimal ability to discriminate tumor tissue from healthy mucosa. Conclusions: Overall, our results support the development of our fluorescent antibody as a promising tumor-specific imaging agent that, after further in vivo validation, could improve the accuracy of complete tumor resection. Full article

In this study, prospects of designing new Al–Ca–Cu–Mn (Zr) alloys for additive manufacturing (AM) were evaluated for the example of laser remelting of thin-sheet rolled products. The new as-cast alloys have a hypereutectic structure containing Al₂₇Ca₃Cu₇ primary crystals and ultrafine eutectic particles of (Al,Cu)₄Ca and Al₂₇Ca₃Cu₇ phases in equilibrium with the aluminum solid solution. The solid solutions are additionally strengthened by alloying with Mn and micro additions of Zr, which contribute to the formation of coarsening-resistant phases without compromising the manufacturability of the alloys. Laser remelting, which simulates AM-typical solidification conditions, promotes the formation of a pseudoeutectic cellular structure without the occurrence of undesirable primary Al₂₇Ca₃Cu₇. The size of the dendritic cells and eutectic particles is 10 times smaller (for solidification rates of ~200 K/s) than that of the as-cast state. This structure provides for a higher hardness of the laser-remelted alloy (96 HV) as compared to the as-cast alloy (85 HV). Data for the alloy after 350–400 °C long-term annealing for up to 100 h show that the hardness of the Al–Ca–Cu–Mn–Zr alloys declines relatively slowly by ~7.5% as compared to the Zr-free alloy, whose hardness decreases by ~22%. Thus, one can consider these alloys as a promising candidate for AM processes that require high thermal stability. Full article

In this contribution, a model order reduction (MOR) strategy for systems characterized by Warburg-type impedance behavior, frequently encountered in electrochemical applications, is addressed. In particular, the interest is focused on the time-domain approach for deriving low-order models of such a system, in contrast to the current approaches based on the frequency domain. By exploiting the peculiar structure of positive real (PR) systems, a characteristic value technique relying on the Riccati Equation Balancing strategy is introduced to approximate such models with reduced complexity. The characteristic values of the system are used to define suitable reduced-order models. A numerical case study is presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The model is also compared against experimental data from the literature, confirming its capability to capture dominant Warburg behavior. Performance indices are computed to quantitatively assess the approximation accuracy across different model orders. The results are critically compared with those obtained using conventional MOR techniques, allowing a thorough assessment of accuracy, stability, and implementation feasibility. Full article

In the era of digital communication, securing sensitive information against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats remains a critical challenge. Chaos synchronization, while promising for secure communication and control systems, faces key limitations, including high sensitivity to parameter mismatches and initial conditions, vulnerability to noise, and difficulties in maintaining stability for high-dimensional systems. This paper presents a novel secure communication system based on multi-level synchronization of three distinct chaotic systems: the Bhalekar–Gejji (BG) system, the Chen system, and a 3D chaotic oscillator. Utilizing the nonlinear active control (NAC) method, we achieve robust synchronization between master and slave systems, ensuring the stability of the error dynamics through Lyapunov theory. The proposed triple-cascade masking technique enhances security by sequentially embedding the information signal within the chaotic outputs of these systems, making decryption highly challenging without knowledge of all three systems. Numerical simulations and Simulink implementations validate the effectiveness of the synchronization and the secure communication scheme. The results demonstrate that the transmitted signal becomes unpredictable and resistant to attacks, significantly improving the security of chaos-based communication. This approach offers a promising framework for applications requiring high levels of data protection, with potential extensions to image encryption and other multimedia security domains. Full article

Peripheral nerve injuries, caused by trauma or iatrogenic damage, often lead to permanent disabilities with limited effectiveness of current therapeutic treatments. This has driven the growing interest toward natural bioactive molecules, including ursolic acid (UA). Literature studies have shown that white grape pomace oleolyte (WGPO), a natural source of UA, is a promising candidate for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration. Considering that many neurological injuries involve compression or partial damage, the present study examined the effects of WGPO on peripheral neuropathy using a neuropathic pain mouse model. Briefly, 14 days after starting the WGPO-enriched diet, mice underwent cuffing of the right sciatic nerve to induce nerve injury and inflammation. At sacrifice, the WGPO-fed mice exhibited reduced muscle atrophy, as indicated by a greater number and larger diameter of muscle fibers, along with decreased expression of Atrogin-1 and Murf-1, compared with the injured control-diet group. To determine the functional impact of the WGPO treatment, the WGPO-supplemented group was compared with a control group receiving only sunflower oil, evaluating exercise performance post-cuffing via a treadmill test. Mice on the WGPO diet exhibited improved physical performance and a significantly lower expression of pro-inflammatory interleukins than controls. Our findings suggest WGPO as a promising candidate for managing peripheral neuropathy and related muscular impairments. Full article

Checkpoint inhibitors are a modern therapeutic approach for treating various types of cancer, metabolic diseases, and chronic infections. The main goal of this therapy is to specifically unlock the immune system, allowing it to recognize and eliminate cancer cells or pathogens, primarily through the activation of T lymphocytes. Monoclonal antibodies used in the treatment of various cancers, such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), and ipilimumab (Yervoy), carry several limitations, primarily due to their large molecular size. The main challenges include limited tissue penetration, long half-life in the body, and the risk of autoimmune responses. Compared to antibodies, small-molecule and peptide inhibitors offer significant advantages related to their molecular structure. These drugs demonstrate a better ability to penetrate hard-to-reach areas, such as the tumor microenvironments, can be administered orally, and often show lower immunogenicity. A new generation of drugs is PROTACs, which combine the ability to direct proteins to degradation with the action of checkpoint inhibitors, contributing to the elimination of proteins responsible for suppressing the immune response. This publication describes small-molecule inhibitors, peptide inhibitors, and PROTAC molecules targeting negative immune checkpoints—CTLA-4, PD-1, VISTA, TIM-3, BTLA-4, LAG-3, and TIGIT. Full article

Agriculture is presently facing several ecological concerns related to the upsurging request for premium-value food produced in compliance with natural horticultural tools. The use of natural substances, such as biostimulants, principally protein hydrolysates (PHs), could be useful to maximize overall vegetable plant fitness. However, the mode of application (foliar spray or fertigation) could affect biostimulant efficiency. The current research was conducted to evaluate the effect of a Zea mays-derived PH (Surnan^®, SPAA, Pescara, Italy) and its mode of application (foliar spray and/or fertigation) on yield traits, mineral profile, nutritional and functional components, along with NUE of “Florida fortuna” strawberry cultivated under tunnel. The findings showed that the corn-based PH effectively enhanced yield and number of marketable fruits per plant (NMFP) compared with the control (+20.1% and +25.4%, respectively). Fruits from biostimulated plants also showed a higher fruit lightness and ascorbic acid and anthocyanin concentration than fruits from control plots. Furthermore, Surnan^® PH increased nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of strawberry plants. Captivatingly, plants biostimulated via fertigation showed the highest fruit potassium (K) concentration, while those exposed to the foliar spray had the highest fruit phenolic concentration. Generally, our findings recommended that the application of Zea mays-derived PH via foliar spray could be considered a suitable tool to increase functional traits of strawberry grown under tunnel. Full article

Background: Developmental epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are often associated with variably severe cognitive and motor impairment and frequent refractory epilepsy, with many children not achieving adequate seizure control via standard antiepileptic medications. The classic ketogenic diet (KD) has proven effective in reducing seizure frequency and/or severity in a category of DEEs and in certain refractory epilepsies of infancy. However, its multifaceted mechanisms, e.g., epigenetic modulation, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, and direct neuronal excitability changes, are balanced by a high burden and low long-term adherence. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), particularly decanoic acid (C10:0), have gained attention in recent years for their potential direct inhibitory action on AMPA receptors, contributing to seizure reduction. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, including articles from January 2000 to January 2025, to explore the potential role of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) add-on to classic KD and as MCT supplementation in free diets in the management of pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Results: Selected studies show how the action of MCTs, and decanoic acid in particular, is via negative modulation of AMPA receptors, with a positive impact on epileptic seizures. Conclusions: This review discusses the complexities of implementing and sustaining KD in children and presents recent pre-clinical and clinical evidence, including trials where MCTs (often enriched in decanoic acid) serve as an add-on therapy in both ketogenic and free/unrestricted diets. The summarized findings reinforce the therapeutic potential of MCTs, highlighting both the beneficial seizure outcomes and the hurdles that remain to be addressed through future research. Full article

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has emerged as an early indicator of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) caused by transthyretin-associated (ATTR) mutations, possibly linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This case series examines the relationship between idiopathic CTS and CA imaging diagnosis. Methods: Twenty-two patients from the cross-sectional study CarPoS (NCT05409833) were included. These patients underwent physical evaluation, laboratory exams, electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, and scintigraphy with ^99mTc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid. Results: Four of the twenty-two patients included had ATTR cardiomyopathy. These patients presented left-ventricle hypertrophy and signs of infiltrative cardiomyopathy in echocardiograms and late gadolinium enhancement in CMR images without having any cardiovascular symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a high prevalence of CA in patients with bilateral idiopathic CTS, highlighting the importance of screening for CA in patients with CTS. Early detection could significantly impact patient prognosis, underscoring the need for further research into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article

Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine, with (fluoro)quinolones emerging as one of the most impactful classes of antibacterial agents. Since their introduction, four generations of (fluoro)quinolones have been developed, demonstrating a broad spectrum of activity, favourable pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy. However, the rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens has posed significant challenges to their continued effectiveness, particularly in healthcare settings. Among the main resistant species, Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus spp. (E. faecium and E. faecalis), Campylobacter spp., and Acinetobacter baumannii are the most important. This critical literature review provides an updated perspective on (fluoro)quinolones (old and new), encompassing their spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of resistance, and the role of antimicrobial stewardship in preserving their utility, to address the growing threat of resistance. Full article

Age determination through reading annual rings in whole otoliths is a complicated, time-consuming task that can lead to errors in population age structure, negatively affecting marine fish management plans. Recently, Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) has been successfully used to evaluate annual age, at least in several long-life fish species. European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) is an important pelagic species for its ecological role and socioeconomic value. In the Mediterranean Sea, anchovy stocks are regularly monitored for assessment purposes, and fish age is calculated by traditional otolith reading. In the present study, anchovies, caught over a decade (2012 to 2023) during on-board surveys in four different areas (i.e., North Tyrrhenian, South Tyrrhenian, North of Sicily, and Strait of Sicily), provided an otolith collection used to acquire absorption spectra by FT-NIRS. These spectra were processed to optimize calibration models, and the best linear models obtained revealed a good predictability for anchovy annual age (coefficient of determination of 0.90, mean squared error 0.3 years, bias < 0.001 years). The calibration model developed for all regions combined proved more robust than the models for each area, demonstrating its efficacy for the entire study area. FT-NIRS analyses proved suitable for predicting age, when applied to E. encrasicolus individuals within the age range of 0 to 3, also when compared to traditional aging methods. Moreover, this methodology improved the standardization of age estimates. Finally, this preliminary study encourages the further application of FT-NIRS also to short-life pelagic species involved in stock assessment plans. Full article

Background/Objectives: The main objective was to evaluate and compare the antifungal efficacy against Candida spp. in commercially available mouthwashes distributed in the European market. Indeed, the solution to emerging infectious diseases may no longer lie in costly new drug development but rather in unlocking the untapped potential of existing substances. Materials and Methods: Eighteen mouthwashes, chosen based on their composition, were tested in vitro against ten Candida strains, including clinical isolates of oral origin and reference strains, in both planktonic and biofilm forms. The antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted using the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) disc diffusion method and the evaluation of the kinetic growth in planktonic Candida. Biofilm reduction was determined by the evaluation of the minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to evaluate potential morphological alterations of Candida biofilms. Results: Most mouthwashes effectively reduced biomass production and colony-forming unit (CFU) count. Parodontax Extra showed the highest efficacy. In the disc diffusion assay, Gum Paroex 0.12% exhibited the largest average inhibition zone diameter. Some unusual trends in the data may be explained by a higher reaction of fungal cells and the release of excess biomass during co-incubation in higher concentration of mouthwashes. SEM images revealed significant morphological alterations. Conclusion: Mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine digluconate, either alone or in combination with cetylpyridinium chloride and other active compounds, emerged as a common factor among the most efficacious formulations. In vivo studies will be essential to validate these findings, but mouthwashes may serve as a valuable adjuvant in the treatment of oral candidiasis. Full article

This pilot study aims to evaluate the state of the natural environment in the Silver Maples Alley (SMA) in Łódź, Poland, by using interdisciplinary research methods combining landscape architecture and environmental microbiology. The research focuses on the ecological condition of the trees in SMA, a historical monument consisting of about 100 century-old silver maples (Acer saccharinum L.). As part of the analysis, the study examines the area’s soil properties, microbiological composition, and air quality, providing a comprehensive approach to assessing environmental quality. Microbial analyses were conducted to determine soil pH, the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the activity of Bacillus bacteria that produce biosurfactants for pollutant degradation. The results were compared with control sites with different Air Quality Index (AQI) values, including a park, a rural area, and a revitalized urban space. The findings support the hypothesis that environmental cleanliness correlates with the presence of pollutant-degrading microorganisms, particularly in areas with better air quality. This research contributes to understanding the role of green infrastructure, particularly old tree alleys, in urban ecosystems and public health. It also provides valuable insights into future management practices for historical green spaces. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between landscape architecture, microbiology, and environmental sciences to address pressing sustainable development challenges. Full article

Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Adolescents with ADHD have an elevated risk of developing Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), a condition involving excessive gaming that disrupts daily life. IGD is linked to traits such as low frustration tolerance and sensation-seeking, with comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression further increasing vulnerability. Gaming frequently serves as a coping strategy due to emotional regulation difficulties. The dynamics within family units and peer relationships play a pivotal role, with dysfunctional environments heightening the risks and positive interactions serving as protective factors. Methods: This scoping review analyzed empirical studies published in the last decade exploring the association between ADHD, Problematic Internet Use (PIU), or IGD, focusing on neurobiological, psychological, and environmental factors. Results: The findings highlight that impulsivity and emotional dysregulation in ADHD contribute to IGD. Gaming is frequently used as a maladaptive coping strategy, with social and family influences modulating risk. Diagnostic complexities arise in distinguishing ADHD-related behaviors from IGD symptoms. Conclusions: Addressing these comorbid conditions requires interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based interventions. Future research should focus on understanding ADHD, PIU, or IGD interactions and developing targeted interventions. Longitudinal studies are necessary to establish causal links and assess effective treatment strategies. Full article

Unmanned aerial and autonomous surface vehicles (UAVs and ASVs, respectively) are two emerging technologies for the mapping of coastal and marine environments. Using UAV photogrammetry, the sea-bottom composition can be resolved with very high fidelity in shallow waters. At greater depths, acoustic methodologies have far better propagation properties compared to optics; therefore, ASVs equipped with multibeam echosounders (MBES) are better-suited for mapping applications in deeper waters. In this work, a sea-bottom classification methodology is presented for mapping the protected habitat of Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (habitat code 1120) in a coastal subregion of Heraklion (Crete, Greece). The methodology implements a machine learning scheme, where knowledge obtained from UAV imagery is embedded (through training) into a classifier that utilizes acoustic backscatter intensity and features derived from the MBES data provided by an ASV. Accuracy and precision scores of greater than 85% compared with visual census ground-truth data for both optical and acoustic classifiers indicate that this hybrid mapping approach is promising to mitigate the depth-induced bias in UAV-only models. The latter is especially interesting in cases where the studied habitat boundaries extend beyond depths that can be studied via aerial devices’ optics, as is the case with P. oceanica meadows. Full article