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Omalizumab Dose‐Related Efficacy in a Cohort of Children With Severe Food Allergy: OSAFA Observational Study
No full textBackground: We recently published on the clinical efficacy of a 1-year-long evaluation of 65 asthmatics with severe IgE-mediated food allergy (FA) under Omalizumab: Omalizumab is safe and able to increase reactivity threshold, allows safe food introduction, and improves quality of life (OSAFA-study, ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06316414). Herein, we assess Omalizumab dose–related efficacy during the first year Omalizumab treatment in achieving food desensitization in patients with severe FA. Methods: Children (6–18 years) with severe asthma and severe allergy to ≥ 1 food allergen were screened. Oral food challenges (OFCs), skin prick test (SPT), complete blood count, chemistry, total and specific IgE were measured at baseline and at 12 months of Omalizumab. Results: Seventy-six patients (previously published cohort plus 11 newly-enrolled patients) were included (OSAFA [Omalizumab in Severe Asthmatics with Food Allergy] study). 69.7% were male; mean age (SD) 12.2 [4.19] years. 77.6% were allergic to 2+ foods. Total IgE median was 644 kU/L. After adjusting for confounders, such as age, sex, and co-existing allergies, a significant association was observed between the achievement of desensitization and the dosage (mg/month) of Omalizumab (OR: 1.151, 95% CI: 1.066–1.258), while no significant effect was observed for total IgE levels at the baseline (OR: 0.999, 95% CI: 0.998–1.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that the efficacy of Omalizumab is independent, all else being equal, from total IgE levels, suggesting that body weight is the most appropriate parameter for calculating its dosage in the treatment of patients with severe FA
Consumer-Centric Energy Grid Stabilization in Smart Cities Using Spatiotemporal Data Intelligence
No full textPaper-based graphene bioelectrode enabling third-generation fructose dehydrogenase sensing of inulin
No full textCitizen science and analytical chemistry. Oxymoron or harmony of meaning?
No full textCitizen science is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in analytical chemistry by opening research
participation to non-specialists and expanding where and how data can be collected. This report explores how
recent technological advances have made analytical tools simpler, smaller, and more affordable. These developments have enabled citizens and students to be engaged directly in environmental monitoring, food-quality
assessment, and educational activities, often producing data comparable to those generated in laboratories. In
addition, several emerging prototypes have been purposefully designed with citizen use in mind, anticipating
future applications in participatory science. The discussion also addresses areas where citizen science could play
a growing role, including biomedical and forensic analysis, while recognizing challenges related to data reliability, ethics, and validation. Overall, this report highlights how accessible technologies, supported by artificial
intelligence and digital communication, are transforming analytical chemistry into a more inclusive and
collaborative discipline, connecting scientific research with everyday life
Muscle proteomics reveals biomarkers of stress and meat quality in organic versus conventional broiler chickens
No full textAnimal welfare is a crucial factor in animal production, given its impact on ethics, consumer choices, and meat
quality. Stress markedly influences poultry physiology and meat quality by affecting muscle biochemistry and
key attributes such as tenderness, flavor, and color. This study employed a label-free quantitative (LFQ) proteomics
approach using nLC-ESI-MS/MS combined with bioinformatics to compare muscle protein expression in
broiler chickens raised under organic versus conventional production systems. A total of 722 proteins were
identified, with 165 significantly upregulated and 162 downregulated in organic chickens. STRING analysis
indicated that proteins upregulated in the organic group were primarily associated with oxygen transport, oxygen/
metal binding, and muscle structure, suggesting improved oxygen metabolism and muscle development
under enhanced welfare conditions. In contrast, proteins involved in ribosomal activity, structural molecule
function, RNA binding, and translation regulation were more abundant in conventionally raised chickens, suggesting
stress-related alterations in protein synthesis. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed increased
activity in carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in
organic chickens, while glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and ribosomal pathways were downregulated. Key differentially
expressed proteins included PGM1, AMPD1, LDHA, ENO3, VDAC1, HSPB8, and PKLR (downregulated),
and COL1A1, COL1A2, TTN, TPM2, CA3, MB, HSPB1, ACO2, ACAA2, GPX1, PRDX1, and TF (upregulated) in the
organic group. These proteins, related to muscle structure and energy metabolism, may serve as potential biomarkers
to differentiate meat quality based on production system. These findings enhance the understanding of
stress-associated proteomic responses in poultry and support welfare-oriented production strategies. In this
context, the results not only offert insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying meat quality, but also
identify potential markers for its objective evaluation, offering valuable tools for both research and practical
applications
Istituzioni e PA alla prova delle sfide dell’innovazione
No full textLa Pubblica Amministrazione è da sempre una delle istituzioni più complesse
di ogni società moderna; ha il compito di erogare servizi ai cittadini e
alle imprese, e sulla base del suo buon (o cattivo) funzionamento consente
agli attori economici e sociali di poter assolvere in modo efficiente ed efficace
ai loro compiti istituzionali. È da sempre stata considerata come un apparato
rigido, statico, intriso di burocrazia e resistente ai cambiamenti; oggi viene
chiamata a reagire con elasticità e rapidità di esecuzione alle sfide di portata
epocale imposte dalla digitalizzazione e dalla modernizzazione dei processi
produttivi e organizzativi.
Il concetto di cambiamento sta diventando ormai un fondamentale paradigma
dell’attività quotidiana, con il quale anche le amministrazioni pubbliche
debbono confrontarsi, in un’epoca di continua accelerazione dei processi
innovativi, che, come descritto ampiamente nei vari contributi del presente
volume, rappresenta il vero fulcro di tutto il processo di trasformazione attuale:
se per decenni la PA è stato sinonimo di burocrazia, lentezza, inefficienza,
resistenza al cambiamento, oggi le nuove tecnologie –in primis la
digitalizzazione – si propongono come gli strumenti per invertire questa tendenza,
e trasformare la PA da zavorra a vero e proprio motore propulsivo del
Paese
Insights into canine reproductive health: ultrasonographic evaluation of the uterus—a review
No full textThis review provides a comprehensive exploration of the applications and
advancements in ultrasonographic techniques for evaluating the uterus in domestic
canines. Conventional grey-scale ultrasonography remains a cornerstone for detecting
anatomical and pathological changes, while emerging modalities such as Doppler
ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and ultrasound
elastography (UEl) have expanded diagnostic capabilities by providing insights into
vascularity, tissue stiffness, and microvascular perfusion. Recent innovations in
three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasonography have further
revolutionized imaging by enabling detailed visualization of fetal anatomy and
dynamic intrauterine processes. While these techniques have been extensively
studied in human and veterinary medicine for various organs, their application to
the canine uterus, both non-pregnant and pregnant, remains underexplored. This
review bridges gaps in existing literature by incorporating findings from related
fields and outlining future directions for research to improve the diagnosis and
management of reproductive uterine disorders in dogs
Trasparenza algoritmica e accountability nell’emergenza pandemica. Un’analisi comparata tra Unione europea, Stati Uniti e Cina
No full textZEBRAFISH AS AN INNOVATIVE IN VIVO MODEL FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND RARE GENETIC DISEASES
No full textThis thesis investigates regeneration and early disease mechanisms using zebrafish as a unified in vivo platform. The work is organised into two complementary sections. The first explores the regenerative and immunomodulatory properties of microvesicles (MVs) derived from human immortalised amniotic epithelial cells (iAECs), with particular focus on their mitochondrial cargo. The second establishes and phenotypically characterises a severe early-developmental founder generation (F0) zebrafish model of Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) generated via CRISPR/Cas9, by targeting the zebrafish frataxin orthologue (fxn). This model serves as a tool to investigate the developmental impact of frataxin deficiency and provides a basis for exploring the therapeutic potential of iAEC-derived MVs in severe mitochondrial diseases.
In the regenerative section, iAEC secretomes were fractionated to isolate an MV-enriched component, whose mitochondrial content was tracked in vivo using Turbo Red Fluorescent Protein (TurboRFP)-labelled iAEC mitochondria and qPCR for human mitochondrial DNA (hmtDNA). MV-treated larvae displayed enhanced caudal fin regrowth and altered patterns of proliferation and apoptosis following amputation. In parallel, analyses of neutrophils, macrophages and key cytokines (Tnfα, Il-1β, Tgfβ1) indicated that MVs modulate early inflammatory dynamics in a manner compatible with a pro-regenerative environment. These results suggest that iAEC-derived MVs support tissue repair through a combination of mitochondrial transfer and immune regulation.
The identification of active, functional mitochondria within iAEC-derived MVs prompted us to investigate their potential as a treatment for severe mitochondrial diseases. Building on this premise, the disease-modelling section evaluates the efficiency of three single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting exons 1, 3 and 4 of the fxn gene. Targeting fxn gene resulted in efficient F0 editing and produced a range of phenotypes consistent with FRDA, including developmental delay, craniofacial and cardiac defects, and reduced locomotor responsiveness. Analysis in transgenic neuronal, glial and cardiac reporter lines revealed impaired development of high-energy-demanding tissues, while cardio physiological assessment indicated mild bradycardia and altered ventricular activity. Although mosaic and early-onset in nature, this model captures developmental vulnerabilities associated with frataxin loss and provides a basis for future generation of stable mutant lines.
Overall, this work highlights the value of zebrafish both as a regenerative model responsive to cell-free therapies and as a vertebrate system for dissecting early consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction. Together, the two complementary approaches offer a platform for future studies on microvesicle-based regenerative medicine and for the development of mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic strategies