33145 research outputs found
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The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): Beyond Cardiovascular Regulation
No full textThe renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a pivotal role in regulating cardiovascular
function, fluid balance, and blood pressure. Recent research has revealed the
RAAS’s influence extends beyond cardiovascular physiology, encompassing key roles in
inflammation, fibrosis, immune regulation, cancer progression, and organ-specific disease
mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of classical and alternative
RAAS pathways, focusing on the dual roles of angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin-
(1–7) (Ang 1–7), mediated through AT1R, AT2R, MasR, and MrgD receptors. We discuss
molecular signaling cascades, including mitochondrial, nuclear, and caveolae-mediated
mechanisms, and explore the impact of RAAS modulation on hepatic fibrosis, vascular
remodeling, and autoimmune inflammation. Genetic models and emerging pharmacologic
strategies illustrate tissue-specific RAAS actions, emphasizing the therapeutic potential
of enhancing the ACE2/Ang 1–7/Mas axis while inhibiting the deleterious ACE/Ang
II/AT1R signaling. Furthermore, we highlight implications for veterinary medicine, particularly
in canine chronic inflammatory enteropathies, where RAAS dysfunction may
contribute to treatment resistance. Understanding RAAS complexity and inter-receptor
crosstalk is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies targeting cardiovascular,
hepatic, and inflammatory diseases in both human and veterinary contexts
Splenic rupture as a rare colonoscopy complication: a case report with clinical and medico-legal insights
No full textBackground: Splenic rupture is an exceedingly rare but potentially life-threatening complication of
colonoscopy, with an estimated incidence of less than 1 in 100,000 procedures and a reported mortality
rate of up to 5%. Due to its non-specific and often subtle clinical presentation—typically involving left
upper quadrant or generalized abdominal pain—it may be misdiagnosed or diagnosed late, which can result
in a significant worsening of patient outcomes. Early recognition and prompt management are therefore
essential not only for improving clinical prognosis but also for preventing potential medico-legal disputes
related to diagnostic delays or alleged procedural negligence. Raising awareness among clinicians of this
rare complication, especially in the presence of risk factors such as difficult colonoscopy, adhesions, or
splenomegaly, is of critical importance.
Case Description: A 68-year-old woman underwent a routine colonoscopy for recurrent polyps. The
procedure was uneventful, and she was discharged with post-procedural instructions. The following day,
she developed persistent abdominal pain, initially treated with analgesics. Progression to hypotension and
abdominal distension prompted emergency imaging, revealing hemoperitoneum due to splenic rupture. An
emergent splenectomy was performed, confirming multiple splenic lacerations. The patient recovered fully
postoperatively with supportive management.
Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for splenic
injury in patients presenting with delayed abdominal pain after colonoscopy. Detailed informed consent,
strict post-procedural monitoring, and patient education are essential for minimizing complications and
addressing medico-legal challenges
An innovative functional cookie modulates the mucosa and myenteric plexus in the gut of 3xTG mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
No full textNeurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the gradual degeneration of the neuronal populations, leading to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with the progressive onset of dementia, making this pathology one of the costliest and deadliest diseases of the current century. Patients with AD frequently exhibit reduced gut microbial diversity, suggesting a significant involvement of gut microbiota in influencing the pathogenesis and progression of AD. It has been proposed that gut dysbiosis, dysfunction of the intestinal epithelial barrier, and vascular deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the gut may precede the cerebral deposition of Aβ in a transgenic mouse model of AD.1 A hypocaloric cookie with prebiotic-rich ingredients (red lentils) coated with a multi-strain probiotic (SLAB51®) enriched chocolate2 was tested on 3xTg-AD mice, a murine model of AD, to evaluate the protective effects on the mucosa and ENS of the ileum and colon. 8-week-old 3xTg-AD gender-balanced mice were divided into five groups and organized for the supplementation of functional cookies. The morphology of the ileum and colonic wall, the mucus secretion, the intestinal barrier integrity, and neurodegeneration of the myenteric plexus were assessed with histochemical and immunochemical approaches. All the experimental animals showed a well-conserved morphology of the intestinal wall without fibrosis. The SLAB51®, administered alone or with the functional prebiotic enriched cookies, red lentils based appeared to be useful to reduce mucus secretion. The intestinal barrier integrity seems to be enhanced by the cookie supplementation, related to a decrease in inflammatory pathways. Moreover, in the ENS, gliosis was decreased in functional cookies supplemented mice without a clear modulation of enteric cholinergic and nitrergic neurons. This innovative symbiotic cookie could represent an innovative nutritional approach to prevent the onset of AD-related gut alterations and promote healthy aging.
Funding: Next Generation EU - program “MUR-Fondo Promozione e Sviluppo - D.M. 737/2021
Effects of oral black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) supplementation on semen quality and refrigerated storage stability in subfertile and normofertile dogs: a study on sperm parameters and testosterone levels
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the beneficial effects of oral supplementation of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on improving and keeping sperm quality in dogs during storage, and to investigate its effect on changes in testosterone concentrations. Forty male dogs were enrolled in the study and divided into four groups of ten dogs each: two subfertile (control and treatment) and two normofertile (control and treatment) groups. The dogs in the treatment groups received Maca in a capsule formulation (75 mg/kg), while the control groups received placebo. The spermiogram and testosterone levels were assessed at three times of the sperm cycle: 0 (T0), 31 (T31), and 62 (T62) days. Ejaculates were processed for storage at 5 °C and evaluated for total and progressive motility and membrane integrity at 3 (T3h), 24 (T24h), 48 (T48h), and 72 h (T72h) post storage. The oral supplementation of 75 mg/kg of Maca extract in dogs can improve sperm parameters and increase serum testosterone concentrations, leading to improved reproductive capacity. The semen of subjects treated with oral Maca supplementation maintained its parameters stable for a longer period when stored compared to the semen of control subjects, demonstrating the beneficial effect of the use of this extract on male fertility
Modello di Design Europeo “Ha.Round. Dispositivo acustico modulare e personalizzabile in grado di adattarsi alle esigenze estetiche dell’utente”
No full textThe Ha.Round is a rechargeable hearing aid that meets users' hearing and aesthetic needs. Breaking away from the traditional neutral and miniaturised model, it supports wearers' personal expression. With its externalised and highly distinctive appearance, the device aims to integrate with the anatomy of the ear, encouraging greater confidence and pride in using hearing aids for auditory well-being
Presentazione del libro di Kuno Prey "Designing designers | Dal prodotto alla didattica" (Corraini edizioni, 2022)
No full textSeminario interdisciplinare: “Conservazione della biodiversità e rigenerazione urbana”
No full textUn seminario di esperti/ricercatori nel campo dell’ecologia dell’ambiente e del paesaggio messi a confronto con esperti/ricercatori nel campo della pianificazione urbana e del paesaggio, aprendo un fecondo dialogo interdisciplinare, affronta questo tema di approfondimento particolarmente significativo nel dibattito politico e e nella ricerca scientifica europea
Progetto Vitality. Trasformare gli ambienti di vita attraverso la transizione digitale e green
No full textProgetto VITALITY – Ecosistema dell’Innovazione (PNRR), nello Spoke 6- Innovation and safeness in living environments in the digital and green transition era, e specificatamente nel Wp1: “Context: indoor and outdoor at the center of the digital and green transition of living environments”, affronta la sfida cruciale di dotare le città delle conoscenze e degli strumenti per rispondere al cambiamento climatico; al tempo stesso, integra la digitalizzazione in un’ottica human-centred.
VITALITY applica alla diagnosi dei sistemi urbani un approccio multidimensionale, basato sulle MUU (Minimum Urban Units), che raccolgono dati climatici (ispirati alle Local Climate Zones), sociali, demografici, sanitari e funzionali. Aggregando queste unità si originano le CAUU (Climate Adaptive Urban Units), che superano lo zoning urbanistico funzionale, suggeriscono profili integrati di vulnerabilità e resilienza e forniscono linee guida per la rigenerazione urbana climaticamente adattiva.
Il progetto mette al centro il benessere umano, ottimizzando parametri come il comfort termico e l’accesso a spazi verdi sicuri e utilizzando le Nature-based Solutions (NbS) come infrastrutture essenziali per garantire la biodiversità, e la salute. Il superamento della tradizionale separazione tra edificio e città, attraverso la concezione della facciata come “membrana climatica” attiva, costituisce un altro elemento di innovazione. L’involucro edilizio diventa il mediatore di flussi energetici e ambientali in grado di ottimizzare non solo il comfort interno, ma anche l’impatto sul microclima urbano circostante.
Il sistema delle conoscenze transdisciplinari e transcalari è gestito dal Decision Support System (DSS) che permette a tecnici, amministratori e cittadini di comprendere i rischi ambientali in tempo reale e di simulare gli effetti di diverse strategie di intervento prima di attuarle. Le decisioni, basate sull’evidenza e partecipate, contribuiscono a costruire una “città saggia”, dove la tecnologia è al servizio dell’intelligenza collettiva e dell’equità.
Replicabile e scalabile, VITALITY unisce digitale, natura e comunità per città efficienti, resilienti e a misura d’uomo
Linking eruptive style with pore network geometry in tephritic/basanitic tephra from the 2021 Tajogaite eruption (Canary Islands, Spain)
No full textInvestigating the textural properties and 3D geometry of the connected pore network in volcanic products provides insight into magma ascent processes, due to their influence on magma permeability, outgassing efficiency and explosivity. Here, we used X-ray computed microtomography to investigate vesicle textures in tephra from the 2021 Tajogaite eruption (La Palma, Spain) and the relationship between these pore network parameters and eruptive style. We report a 3D dataset of pore network parameters for lapilli clasts collected throughout the eruption, associated with different eruptive styles (ash-rich jets, lava fountains, Strombolian activity). In clasts from Strombolian activity, the lower vesicle number density (VND) and tortuosity factor (m) suggests that there are fewer vesicles and that the channels which connect them are less tortuous than in clasts from fountain and ash-rich jet activity, favouring a lower degree of gas–melt coupling and thus, more efficient outgassing. Instead, for clasts of lava fountain and ash-rich jet activity, the higher VND and m suggest a higher number of vesicles connected by more tortuous channels, promoting some degree of gas–melt coupling and thus, less efficient outgassing. However, in clasts from ash-rich jets, the presence of narrower channels, as suggested by the lower throat-pore size ratio, favours a greater degree of gas–melt coupling with respect to fountain activity, leading to magma fragmentation. This work highlights the importance of textural and pore network analyses in understanding eruption dynamics, and provides a case study for investigating the interplay between pore network parameters, magma permeability and ascent dynamics for low-viscosity magmas
Pharmacokinetics of a single oral administration of two cannabidiol formulations in fed and fasted horses
No full textPain management in horses plays a pivotal role in the therapeutic approach to several diseases. Horses have cannabinoid receptors at the level of dorsal root ganglia, blood vessels, and synoviocytes that can be up or down- regulated by inflammatory conditions, justifying the possible efficacy of exogenous cannabinoids (i.e., phytocannabinoids) in managing several painful pathologies in this animal species. However, the current use of supplements containing cannabidiol (CBD) in equines is based on anecdotal evidence, without the support of sufficient pharmacokinetic studies. In humans, the concentration peak of CBD and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) are both strongly influenced by food administration. Also, in equids, the oral bioavailability of some drugs can be influenced by the meal but no information is available about CBD. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of CBD following single oral administration of two different formulations of pure CBD (oil and paste), dosed at 1 mg/kg, at two different times about food administration. CBD oil and CBD paste were administered orally at 1 mg/kg to eight healthy horses according to a cross over design, and blood samples were taken at pre-fixed time-points for the pharmacokinetic analyses. The obtained pharmacokinetic data did not allow for statistically significant differences between formulations (paste or oil) and feeding time (fed and fasted status). However, following treatment with the paste, the Cmax was achieved in a shorter time range compared to the oily formulation, indicating that it could be a better formulation to consider in future equine studies