University of Bari Aldo Moro
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Microscopic changes and gross morphology of placenta in women affected by gestational diabetes mellitus in dietary treatment: A systematic review
No full textIntroduction/objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) influences adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Nutritional therapy and exercise are the first steps to maintain normal glucose levels. During pregnancy, metabolic status influences placental development. Methods: This systematic review focused only on the morphology of the placenta and its microscopic changes in GMD under dietary therapy. A systematic search was performed on the main databases from inception to September 2024 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024581621). Only original articles on GDM in diet and exercise treatment that reported at least one outcome of interest (microscopic features and macroscopic morphology of the placenta) were included. Results: A total of 716 studies were identified, and nine met the inclusion criteria. The analysis confirmed that despite dietary control, some morphological changes in the placenta, including villus immaturity, chorangiosis, and fibrinoid necrosis, occurred at a different rate. In addition, the included studies reported an increase in placental weight in the diet-controlled GDM group. Conclusion: Therefore, the results of the present qualitative analysis show that pregnant women with diet-controlled GDM, despite adequate glycemic control, abnormal placental development may persist. Our findings remark on the importance of the correct diet-managed GDM pregnancy monitoring due to the placental morphology abnormalities related to GMD
Modelling the Habitat Distribution of the Endemic Azooxanthellate Coral Madracis interjecta From the Mesophotic to the Deep Red Sea
No full textThe coral genus Madracis has a global distribution from shallow waters to over 1200 m depth. In the Red Sea, the azooxanthellate endemic species Madracis interjecta is known to occur from depths of 120 to 350 m. This species is often observed in mesophotic ecosystems and has been reported to form sediment-binding bioherms, yet the conditions required for these formations are not understood. Here, we extracted quantitative data from video footage to identify the distribution of M. interjecta for the first time along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast. We present a habitat suitability model to identify potential habitats in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba for this species. Combining presence data with geomorphometric variables and environmental data, we identified both depth and seafloor ruggedness as main drivers of this species distribution. Through multivariate statistics, we found that bioherms were found in deeper and cooler waters than individual M. interjecta colonies. Due to the narrow continental shelf and steep slopes of the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, the effects of coastal development are threatening shallow, mesophotic and deep ecosystems. This work provides both a baseline survey and predicted distributions of an important habitat-forming scleractinian coral, which can inform conservation planning in the region
A sharp threshold for Trudinger–Moser type inequalities with logarithmic kernels in dimension N
No full textIn the paper we investigate Trudinger-Moser type inequalities in presence of logarithmic kernels in dimension .
A sharp threshold, depending on , is detected for the existence of extremal functions or blow-up, where the domain is the ball or the entire space .
We also show that the extremal functions satisfy suitable Euler-Lagrange equations.
When the domain is the entire space, such equations can be derived by a -Laplacian Schr\"odinger equation strongly coupled with a higher order fractional Poisson's equation.
The results extends \cite{CiWe2} to any dimension
CIAC 2023 – First Italian Conference on the Archaeology of the Contemporary Age
No full textThe First Italian Conference on Contemporary Archaeology (CIAC) was held at the
University of Pisa between 30 November and 2 December, 2023. The conference was
co-organised by the Universities of Pisa (MAPPA Laboratory – Francesca Anichini and
Gabriele Gattiglia) and the University of Bari (Giuliano De Felice)
Liver fibrosis is positively and independently associated with leptin circulating levels in individuals with overweight and obesity: a fibroscan-based cross-sectional study
No full textMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is strongly correlated with the severity of obesity, and the extent of liver fibrosis is associated with a higher risk of liver-related complications, cardiovascular events, and overall mortality. Leptin circulating levels are directly correlated with the amount of adipose tissue. Aims: In the present study, we investigated the association between circulating leptin levels and liver steatosis and fibrosis. Methods: Eighty-six patients (41.7 ± 12.6 yrs, 35 men, 41%), naïve to medications, who attended the Nutrition Center for the Research and Care of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases at the National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis” for weight management, were cross-sectionally evaluated. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. All patients underwent liver ultrasonographic assessment by FibroScan to diagnose liver steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter, CAP > 275 dBm) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement, LSM > 8.2 kPa). Results: Sixty-three individuals (73.3%) had liver steatosis, and 17 (19.8%) had liver fibrosis. The mean leptin levels were 22.3 ± 14.1 ng/mL, while the BMI and waist circumference were 36.7 ± 7.2 kg/m2 and 114.5 ± 16.4 cm, respectively. CAP values exhibited no correlation with leptin (r = 0.09, p = 0.436), while a significant connection was seen between leptin and LSM (β = 0.065; p = 0.038). Specifically, for each unit increase in leptin, LSM values were varied by +0.065 units (p = 0.038). This association was independent of gender, age, insulin resistance, adiponectin, RBP4, and visfatin. This is the first study showing these results by using FibroScan assessment in patients naïve to medications. Conclusions: Circulating leptin concentrations are independently correlated with hepatic fibrosis in individuals with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. These findings indicate a function for leptin in promoting liver fibrosis; however, longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the causal nature of this interaction
Orientational-growth of Cu2O {111} or {110} facets induced by frustules for CO2-H2O specific photo(electro)chemical conversion into methanol/ethanol under visible-light
No full textp-Type-semiconductor Cu2O facets {111} (octahedral) and {110} (rhombododecahedral) present a higher photo(electro)catalytic activity towards CO2RRs (CO2 Reduction Reaction) than {100} (cubic). Two frustules (the siliceous skeleton of microalgae Diatoms) having a different morphology, namely: Navicula sp. (Nsp, elongated pore-shape) and Conticribra weissflogii (Cw, round pore-shape) have been used for the first time in this work as template for the orientational growth of Cu2O facets. Frustules are calcinated at 700 °C to avoid residual organics that may give false positives during photo(electro)catalysis. Each of the frustules is found to induce a facet of Cu2O preferentially. Nsp induces the {111} facet (Band-gap=2.26 eV), while Cw preferentially induces the {110} facet (Band-gap=1.96 eV). Under visible light irradiation, Nsp-grown Cu2O converts CO2 and H2O into methanol, while Cw-grown Cu2O produces ethanol. The different behaviour is related to the different Cu-Cu distance (the active catalytic centres) in the two facets
Pembrolizumab plus Lenvatinib in patients with metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: real-world evidences from the international ARON- 1 study
No full textBackground: Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib is a treatment option for metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC). In the ARON-1 study we investigated we the real-world experiences gained from the use of this combination for mRCC. Methods: We retrospectively investigated real-world clinical outcomes of mRCC patients receiving pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib within the ARON-1 study. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the start of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib to death for any cause. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was defined as the time from the start of pembrolizumab to progression or death from any cause. Duration of response (DoR) was defined as the time from the start of pembrolizumab to disease progression or death, whichever occurred first, in patients who achieved complete remission (CR) or partial response (PR). Overall Response Rate (ORR) was defined as the proportion of patients who achieve a CR or PR per RECIST criteria. Adverse events were retrospectively collected from electronic and paper charts and categorized by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Results: Overall, we included 202 mRCC patients treated with pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib. The median follow-up time was 15.1 months. The median OS was not reached (NR), with a median PFS of 25.6 months and an Overall Response Rate (ORR) of 59%. The median Duration of Response (DoR) was 26.2 months. G3-G4 adverse events (AEs) were observed in 92 patients (46%), with hypertension being the most common AE (13%). Conclusions: Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib is an effective and tolerable treatment for mRCC also in the real-world setting
Drosophila melanogaster as a perspective organism for plastic waste management: preliminary investigation integrating transgenic techniques, with gut microbiota modification to develop a plastic-degrader fly model
Get PDFPlastics pollution management is one of the biggest challenges of our time; among plastics, polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE), are the most recalcitrant for biodegradation, due to their chemical structure. Nevertheless, several microorganisms can grow using PE as sole carbon source, lowering its molecular weight, or introducing new functional groups on its surface. Some insects’ species have also shown the ability to consume PE, such as Galleria mellonella. G. mellonella saliva has been described as capable of PE oxidation and depolymerization. A novel enzyme, Demetra, has been purified from the greater wax worm saliva and shown to produce similar effects on PE. Currently, the low efficiency of the studied organisms is the main drawback to PE biodegradation. Merging enzymatic action with microorganisms’ metabolism hold potential to overcome this issue. This work laid the foundations to weaponize the model organism D. melanogaster against PE by combining transgenic techniques and gut microbiota modification.
A chimeric gene was constructed that allows expression of a secreted form of Demetra. A Demetra transgenic line was created and cross-mated with transgenic enhancer trap lines expressing the GAL4 transcription factor in salivary glands. Husbandry flies were grown on food supplemented with PE microplastics and adult flies’ fitness was studied. Fertility, locomotory and life span assays suggest that while microplastics in the diet affect D. melanogaster fitness, the expression of Demetra could help recovering it. At the same time, this work aimed to deepen our knowledge about Demetra enzymatic mechanism and its role in PE metabolism in G. mellonella. Different approaches for Demetra enzyme purification were attempted but were not successful. Demetra gene expression profile in G. mellonella fed on different substrates was studied and a higher expression rate of Demetra gene correlates with PE enrichment of standard diet or with a honey wax-based diet but not with a PE - only one.
Proof of concept experiment was realized to verify the possibility to implant external bacteria strains that usually can grow using chemically pre-treated PE (PE wax) as sole carbon source, in D. melanogaster larvae gut microbiota. Three strains isolated from PE – wax degrading consortium were able to survive on fly food supplemented with PE-wax. Larvae fed on it, retrieved all the three strains in their gut until pupation.
Finally, to advance the field of transgenic technology and genome manipulation in non-model organisms with plastic-degrading capability, such as G. mellonella, we have characterized new promoters that can be implemented in these applications
Premessa
No full textIntorno al rapporto tra arte e dimensione urbana, da alcuni decenni, in Italia, il dibattito si interroga in maniera instancabile all’interno della classica triangolazione autore-opera, committenza.
Più di recente, le pratiche di trasformazione della città hanno adottato strategie definite di “rigenerazione urbana e sociale” acquisendo, come modalità essenziali della progettazione, i linguaggi che gli artisti avevano frequentato e sperimentato nello spazio pubblico, al fine di inglobare la necessaria – eppure problematica – partecipazione dei pubblici, pensati più come gruppi portatori d’interesse che come coautori delle scelte progettuali. Appare quindi ancora necessario riflettere collettivamente sul ruolo dell’arte e dei linguaggi performativi, scultorei e visivi che, nello spazio pubblico, contribuiscono a sviluppare processi comunitari, pratiche di condivisione dei saperi e decostruzione dei paradigmi consueti e normalizzanti. Promosso dal Museo Sigismondo Castromediano di Lecce, il volume raccoglie contributi di autrici e autori provenienti da ambiti disciplinari diversi per alimentare un’inesauribile riflessione critica sui territori, comuni e immaginifici, in cui viviamo
Assimilating Farmers’ Behaviour in the Development of an ET-Based Irrigation Water-Accounting Model
No full textReliable accounting of agricultural water use is critical for sustainable resource management, particularly in regions where the operation of on-farm private wells account for the largest share of groundwater exploitation. While in-situ groundwater metering entails technical, economic and political difficulties, accurate model-based estimation of irrigation water abstractions remains critical. In this context, the current research aims at developing a prompt water balance model in order to quantify on-farm irrigation water abstraction. In our approach, we assume that irrigation water uses besides being crop-specific are influenced by farmers’ behavioural variables seldom considered in water balance models. To this end, a controlled survey experiment has been carried out on an ad-hoc sample of irrigators across the Apulian region, southern Italy. Eventually, an irrigation water-accounting model incorporating farmers’ behaviour, named IRMAT (IRrigation MAnagement Tool) has been described and implemented. Findings show that IRMAT has the potential to be a useful tool to help farmers compiling their annual water abstraction audit often requested by water authorities or to develop farm-scale water balance predictions under different cropping patterns or irrigation developments. Lessons learnt for further modelling for district and basin scale agricultural water balance are pointed out