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The Role of Lifestyle Intervention in Female Fertility: A Modifiable Factor for Preconception Health
No full textInfertility is a growing global phenomenon affecting millions of individuals and is characterized by multifactorial causes, including both lifestyle and environmental factors. These include smoking, chronic exposure to environmental pollutants, stress, excessive caffeine or alcohol intake, drug use, improper eating habits and physical inactivity. The potential to modify these behaviors has gained increasing interest due to its impact on reproductive health and its role in mitigating infertility. Preconception counseling has also emerged as a fundamental strategy, providing education and risk assessments to improve pregnancy outcomes. Among lifestyle factors, nutrition, body composition and physical activity significantly influence female fertility, emphasizing the strong connection between metabolism and reproductive function. Supplementation with anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), a key component of the Mediterranean diet, may offer benefits for female fertility, partially through the modulation of gene expression in reproductive tissues. However, the specific mechanisms linking diet and fertility remain unclear. The primary objective of this review is to explore how the modification of selected lifestyle factors, with particular reference to dietary habits, may positively influence the female reproductive system and improve fertility and pregnancy-related outcomes
Automated detection and scoring of pleurisy in Norwegian slaughtered pigs: a field trial
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Discovery of a human parvovirus B19 analog (Erythroparvovirus) in cats
No full textTwo feral cats (from the same colony) were presented to the veterinary clinic for weakness, weight loss, and anorexia. The cats were part of a study on feline hepatotropic viruses (collection A, 43 animals). On metaviromic investigation, parvoviral reads were identified in the sera of the two cats. The feline parvovirus genome was 5.3 kb long with an organization similar to other members of the Erythroparvovirus genus. In the ORF1 (nonstructural proteins) and ORF2 (VP1/VP2 precursor) the feline virus displayed 43.1% and 49.1% nucleotide identity to human parvovirus B19, and 48.9% and 56.6% to chipmunk parvovirus. Sequence identity to canine/feline protoparvovirus (Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1) was as low as 36.5% % and 29.2% in the ORF1 and ORF2, respectively. Using a quantitative PCR assay, the virus was also identified in an additional ten cats (prevalence 27.6%, 12/43) from collection A and in 15/1150 (1.3%) of archival sera (collection B), revealing a higher infection rate in cats with altered hepatic markers, suggestive of hepatic distress. The findings of our study extend the list of known parvoviruses in the feline host
LA GOVERNANCE DEL MERCATO DIGITALE EUROPEO
No full textAbstract. Nel contesto degli “spazi di dati”, il saggio indaga il problema del rapporto tra potere di autonomia dei privati e regolamentazione dei poteri pubblici nella governance del mercato digitale europeo. Delineate le diverse premesse teoriche e implicazioni operative dei più recenti indirizzi di pensiero, il saggio ricostruisce le linee evolutive del sistema nella chiave della dicotomia personamercato, ponendo in luce la progressiva accentuazione del momento pubblicistico sia sul versante della disciplina sui dati (DGA e DA) sia sul versante del diritto del mercato (DSA e DMA). Di fronte alla molteplicità di interessi in gioco nel governo del mercato digitale e dell’IA, l’A. propone una rilettura della relazione tra libertà individuali e interessi generali in coerenza con il sistema costituzionale, imperniato sulla tutela del valore della persona e dei suoi diritti di libertà, e sul favor dell’autoregolazione dei privati nel quadro della sussidiarietà.Abstract. In the context of “data spaces”, the essay explores the relationship between the autonomy of private individuals and the regulation of public powers in the governance of the European digital market. After outlining the various theoretical premises and operational implications of the most recent theories, the essay reconstructs the evolutionary lines of the system in terms of the person-market dichotomy. The essay highlights the increasing emphasis of public power regulation in both data regulation (DGA and DA) and market law (DSA and DMA). Given the multitude of interests at stake in the governance of the digital market and AI, the author suggests a reinterpretation of the relationship between individual freedoms and general interests in line with the constitutional system, centered on protecting the value of individuals and their rights to freedom as well as promoting the private self-regulation within the framework of subsidiarity
LGALS3BP antibody-drug conjugate enhances tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and synergizes with immunotherapy to restrain neuroblastoma growth
No full textBackground: LGALS3BP, also referred as Gal-3BP, Mac2-BP, or 90 K, is a heavily glycosylated, secreted protein prominently localized at the surface of cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). Its levels are significantly elevated in various types of cancer, including neuroblastoma, and are generally associated with advanced disease and tumor progression. Our previous research has shown that LGALS3BP is an effective target for ravtansine (DM4)-based Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) therapy in multiple preclinical models. Methods: We assessed total and extracellular vesicles (EVs)-associated LGALS3BP through ELISA assay in serum of a pseudometastatic neuroblastoma model to evaluate the correlation of LGALS3BP levels with tumor dissemination. We employed a syngeneic neuroblastoma mouse model using murine neuroblastoma NXS2 cells overexpressing human LGALS3BP in order to evaluate immunogenic cell death (ICD) induced by anti-LGALS3BP ADC therapy and investigated the nature of the tumor immune infiltrate by cytofluorimetry. Furthermore, we designed a six-arm in vivo experiment to evaluate the efficacy of ADC in combination with an immune check-point inhibitor (ICI) anti-PD-1. Finally, a rechallenge assay was conducted on cured mice to assess the presence of immunological memory. Results: Here, we report that circulating and EVs-associated LGALS3BP levels significantly correlate with neuroblastoma progression and dissemination. Moreover, we show that in the syngeneic NXS2 neuroblastoma model, DM4 treatment induces cell surface expression of ICD markers calreticulin, HSP70, and HSP90, and an increased PD-L1 expression in vitro, followed by enhanced tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in vivo. Notably, the combination therapy of anti-LGALS3BP-targeting ADC with anti-PD-1 results in a higher inhibition of tumor growth and prolonged survival compared with either agent given alone. Rechallenge assay reveals that mice previously treated and cured with the ADC retain immune memory, suggesting the therapy’s ability to induce a durable and protective antitumor immune response. Conclusions: Our findings establish that circulating LGALS3BP is a potential biomarker for liquid biopsy and uncover this protein as a suitable target for therapeutic strategies combining 1959-sss/DM4 ADC with an anti-PD-1 ICI for the treatment of LGALS3BP expressing neuroblastoma
Synergistic potential of the combination of different compounds in iPS-derived neuronal cells
No full textPeripheral Blood Biomarkers Reveal Dysregulated Monoaminergic Pathways in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: A Transcriptional and Epigenetic Analysis
No full textThis study investigated the complexity of neurotransmitter-related gene regulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), aiming to identify clinically relevant molecular markers. We analyzed three key genes: SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter), MAOB (monoamine oxidase B, a dopamine-degrading enzyme), and COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase, a dopamine/norepinephrine metabolizing enzyme). OCD patients exhibited significant downregulation of SLC6A4 and MAOB, accompanied by upregulation of MB-COMT. The contrasting expression of MAOB and MB-COMT suggests a dysregulated compensatory mechanism in dopamine homeostasis, which contributes to clinical heterogeneity and variability in treatment for OCD. Epigenetic analysis revealed that downregulation of SLC6A4 was associated with hypermethylation of the gene promoter, demonstrating the critical role of epigenetic mechanisms in neurotransmitter system dysregulation. Moreover, gene–gene correlations identified distinctive molecular expression patterns that reliably discriminated OCD patients from healthy individuals, proposing their potential as peripheral biomarkers. In conclusion, serotonergic and dopaminergic abnormalities characterize OCD, where epigenetic regulation contributes to gene dysregulation. The identified molecular signatures may explain the inefficiency of treatments and support biomarker-guided clinical approaches. Given that peripheral gene regulation and core neurotransmitter systems are similar, this study contributes to the biological picture of OCD, indicating the accuracy of diagnoses and treatments
Gli appalti pubblici come leva per la tutela dell’ambiente, dell’economia circolare, dell’occupazione e della parità di genere, n. 2
No full textGli appalti pubblici costituiscono una leva strategica per promuovere politiche pubbliche sostenibili ed inclusive e contribuiscono in modo significativo alla tutela dell’ambiente, allo sviluppo dell’economia circolare, alla promozione della parità di genere e dell’occupazione, all’inserimento lavorativo giovanile ed all’inclusione lavorativa di categorie svantaggiate. In questo scenario, tecnologia e digitalizzazione rappresentano validissimi strumenti atti a rafforzare l'efficacia delle clausole ambientali e sociali inserite nei contratti di appalto poiché garantiscono trasparenza, tracciabilità e controllo sull'attuazione di tali obblighi. La strumentazione digitale in possesso di operatori economici e Stazioni appaltanti - come piattaforme E-Procurement, sistemi di monitoraggio in tempo reale, algoritmi predittivi e blockchain - può facilitare la verifica dell’effettiva applicazione di tali clausole, riducendo margini di elusione e discrezionalità, permettendo altresì una più agevole raccolta ed analisi dei dati relativi all’impatto sociale degli appalti e fornendo indicatori utili alla valutazione delle politiche pubbliche promosse tramite gli appalti. Più nello specifico, le clausole ambientali, integrate nei bandi di gara, possono essere supportate da tecnologie digitali avanzate come la blockchain e l’Internet of Things (IoT), che garantiscono tracciabilità nei processi produttivi e nei materiali utilizzati. Il risultato di tale processo consente di addivenire alla costruzione della nozione di “appalti verdi” (c.d. Green Building), i quali sono monitorati attraverso piattaforme digitali e permettono di verificare in tempo reale l’impatto ambientale dei contratti, nonché l’effettivo rispetto dei criteri ecologici, favorendo così la transizione ecologica. Parallelamente, le citate clausole sociali possono essere rafforzate grazie a strumenti digitali per il monitoraggio degli indicatori occupazionali e per la trasparenza nei criteri di selezione e valutazione. Inoltre, la digitalizzazione degli appalti
tramite piattaforme, come la Piattaforma dei Contratti Pubblici (PCP) dell’ANAC (ex SIMOG), ne consente una gestione più efficiente, riducendo il rischio di irregolarità e facilitando l’analisi dei dati per fini strategici e sociali. L’adozione dell’intelligenza artificiale (IA) per l’analisi predittiva e la valutazione d’impatto aggiunge un ulteriore livello di intelligenza e controllo nel processo. Tuttavia, l’adozione di tecnologie digitali impone anche una riflessione critica su temi come l’accesso equo agli strumenti digitali da parte degli operatori economici, la tutela della privacy e la necessità di competenze adeguate nella pubblica amministrazione. Quindi, solo un’integrazione equilibrata tra sostenibilità, inclusione ed innovazione tecnologica può trasformare gli appalti pubblici in motori concreti di cambiamento sistemico