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The role of weathering and aeolian inputs on clay minerals and geochemistry in Podzols on ophiolitic materials
No full textThe process of podzolization in soils developed from ultramafic materials remains enigmatic, despite a few isolated cases described in subalpine areas under particularly acidifying vegetation and wet microclimatic conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the pedogenic processes operating in Podzols developed under humid subalpine vegetation on ultramafic and mafic parent materials in the northwestern Alps. We used clay mineralogical and geochemical approaches, also accounting for the possible contribution of aeolian inputs. The results indicate that weathering was particularly intense under these subalpine conditions, driven by strong soil acidification and resulting in extensive dissolution of serpentine minerals and in the transformation of primary Mg-chlorite into Al- and Fe-rich smectites and vermiculites, via intermediate Fe-rich soil chlorites and hydroxy-interlayered minerals. Mass balance calculations and chemical weathering indices consistently indicate a high degree of weathering and substantial elemental losses associated with podzolization in these subalpine soils. During pedogenesis, up to ∼ 80% of Mg and Si, ∼85% of Ni, and ∼ 65% of Cr appear to have been removed from the soil profiles.
However, weathering of ophiolitic parent rocks alone cannot fully account for the observed soil geochemistry. Aeolian inputs—primarily Saharan dust and possibly minor contributions from late-glacial loess—are required to explain the elevated contents of relatively immobile elements, particularly Al, Fe, Zr, and Ti, and these exogenous materials likely also influenced the mineralogical composition of the fine soil fractions. These results highlight the combined role of intense chemical weathering and external material inputs in the development of Podzols on ultramafic substrates under favorable climatic and ecological conditions
In Vitro Evaluation of ACE and DPP-IV Inhibitory, and GLP-1 Stimulation Activities of Collagen Hydrolysate Enriched in Tripeptides
No full textBackground/Objectives: Collagen hydrolysates are widely used as nutritional ingredients for skin and joint health; however, growing evidence indicates that collagen may also exert beneficial effects on cardiometabolic pathways. Short peptides have been shown to modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), key regulators of blood pressure and glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the dual ACE- and DPP-IV inhibitory and GLP-1 stimulation activities, respectively of a tripeptide-enriched formulation (CH). The study was performed using a benchmark collagen hydrolysate (BCH) as reference. Methods: ACE and DPP-IV inhibitory activities were evaluated using in vitro enzymatic assays. Cellular compatibility and in situ DPP-IV inhibition were assessed in Caco-2 intestinal cells, while glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion was measured in STC-1 enteroendocrine cells. The degree of hydrolysis was determined by OPA assay, and nanoLC–HRMS was used to characterize and compare the proteomic profiles of the samples. Results: Both hydrolysates exhibited dose-dependent ACE and DPP-IV inhibition; however, CH showed significantly higher inhibitory activity at comparable concentrations. CH also reduced cellular DPP-IV activity in Caco-2 cells and stimulated GLP-1 secretion in STC-1 cells, whereas BCH showed limited or non-significant cellular effects. Peptidomic analysis revealed an enrichment of short- and medium-length peptides in CH, while BCH contained a higher proportion of long peptides (>2000 Da). Consistently, CH exhibited a 1.7-fold higher degree of hydrolysis than BCH. Conclusions: The tripeptide-enriched collagen hydrolysate demonstrated superior enzymatic and cellular bioactivity compared with the benchmark formulation, supporting its potential as a multifunctional bioactive ingredient for health application
L’impatto economico delle università sul territorio: indicatori e approcci metodologici
No full textIl volume esamina in profondità l’impatto economico locale delle università, offrendo una tassonomia strutturata di indicatori e metodologie utili per la misurazione e la valutazione di tale impatto. Attraverso un’analisi della letteratura di riferimento, vengono individuate e descritte le principali dimensioni dell’impatto economico — capitale umano, trasferimento tecnologico e sviluppo territoriale — mettendole in relazione con le attività fondamentali delle università (didattica, ricerca e terza missione). In questo modo, il volume contribuisce a comprendere come le università possano generare valore economico nei territori in cui operano e come, quest’ultimo, possa essere dimostrato e rendicontato
Discrepancies of results for post infusion levels of extended half-life factor VIII/IX concentrates – a cause of concern, awaiting for solution
No full textHemophilia A and B are X-linked hemorrhagic disorders, characterized by low/dysfunctional factor (F)VIII or FIX, respectively. The history of hemophilia treatment has evolved remarkably over time from the introduction of cryoprecipitate in the 1960s to plasma-derived factors in the 1970s. The 1980s brought a tragic chapter, as many plasma-derived products were contaminated with blood-borne viruses. In response to ongoing safety concerns, recombinant factors were developed in the 1990s. However, coagulation factors had a relatively short half-life upon infusion. As technology progressed, extended half-life factors were introduced in the 2010s. More recently, the development of non-transfusional therapies such as emicizumab has revolutionized prophylaxis. Additionally, gene therapy is emerging as a potentially curative approach. Despite these advances, discrepancies in laboratory assays have emerged as a significant challenge. Treatments employing extended half-life products and/or gene therapy, may yield variable results depending on the type of assays used, typically one-stage clotting vs. chromogenic assays. These discrepancies can lead to confusion in monitoring factor levels and assessing treatment outcome. This article aims to review the current situation on results discrepancies recorded when measuring post infusion extended half-life factors with different methods and to provide guidance on options that may be adopted to minimize discrepancies
A proinflammatory psoriatic microenvironment has early effects on keratinocyte proliferation/differentiation and induces ferroptosis in HaCaT cells
No full textBackground: The interaction between keratinocytes and proinflammatory cytokines is essential in the development of psoriatic lesions. The synergism among these cytokines and their involvement in ferroptosis are not yet elucidated. This study aimed at evaluating the early impact of a complete proinflammatory microenvironment on keratinocyte differentiation, intercellular adhesion, proliferation, and induction of ferroptosis. Methods: HaCaT cells were differentiated with 1.8 mM CaCl2 and treated with a cytokine combination (MIX) containing IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, and TNF-alpha for 24 and 48 h. Claudin 1 (CLDN-1), Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO-1), and keratins (K)10/K14 expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunoblot analysis, paralleled by proliferation and ultrastructural analysis. Ferroptosis was induced with erastin and RSL3 and evaluated by testing glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein expression, GSH levels, cell availability/toxicity, intracellular iron and ATP levels. Results: After MIX incubation at T48, CLDN-1 and ZO-1 immunofluorescences were reduced in HaCaT cells, while K10 and K14 were unaffected. The proliferative activity was reduced. Psoriatic-like MIX triggered the ferroptotic pathway, as shown by the increase in intracellular iron levels as well as by the reduction in GPX4 protein expression, the decrease in GSH levels, cell availability, and ATP levels. Conclusions: This experimental model mimics the early pathogenetic processes underlying psoriatic plaque formation/progression paving the way for new therapeutic strategies
The Dual Climate Role of Seagrass Meadows in Arcachon Bay
No full textVegetated coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows are increasingly recognized as key contributors to climate regulation. Acting as blue carbon sinks, they exhibit carbon burial rates up to 30–50 times higher than those of terrestrial forest soils, thereby storing large amounts of organic carbon in their sediments. However, these benefits may be partly offset by the release of greenhouse gases (GHG), particularly methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which possess a much higher global warming potential than CO2. Comparing seagrass meadows to bare sediments helps identify their specific role as blue carbon ecosystems. In this study, we assessed carbon accumulation rates (CAR) together with in situ fluxes of CH4 and N2O in Zostera noltii seagrass meadows and adjacent bare sediments within Arcachon Bay, France, which hosts Europe’s largest Z. noltii meadows. Our results demonstrate that seagrass areas exhibit CAR values that are 2.5 times higher, highlighting their superior carbon burial capacity. However, GHG emissions from seagrass meadows were 3.5 times higher than those from bare sediments, offsetting 28.7 ± 0.3% of the estimated net climate benefit provided by carbon burial across the bay. Hydrodynamic conditions influence this balance: sheltered areas promote organic matter accumulation but also amplify GHG emissions. Despite these trade-offs, Z. noltii meadows still provide a net climate benefit 2.2 times greater than bare sediments, emphasizing their significant contribution to climate regulation. These findings highlight the dual nature of seagrass meadows as both carbon sinks and GHG sources. Incorporating GHG flux estimates into blue carbon assessments will improve global model predictions and guide better conservation and restoration strategies
Efficacy of traditional swallowing therapy plus neuromuscular electrostimulation in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial
No full textBackground: Dysphagia is a common and potentially life-threatening complication in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), even in early disease stages. Although compensatory strategies may reduce aspiration risk, they do not restore normal swallowing. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) has shown promise in dysphagic populations, but evidence in pwMS is scarce. Objectives: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility and added benefit of NMES combined with standard swallowing therapy in pwMS with dysphagia. Results: Of 151 dysphagic pwMS screened, 101 were enrolled and randomized to receive NMES plus conventional swallowing exercises (TST-NMES) (n = 52) or sham stimulation with the same therapy (TST-S) (n = 49). Both groups improved in dysphagia disturbances over time. However, when we analysed the two groups according to disease severity, significantly greater ASHA score gains were observed in severely disabled patients (EDSS ≥7) receiving NMES. Baseline ASHA predicted outcomes, while EDSS influenced only controls. At follow-up, no adverse effects were reported, confirming treatment safety and tolerability. Conclusion: NMES combined with standard swallowing therapy appears to be a feasible and effective intervention for dysphagia in pwMS, especially in more disabled people. These results support further investigation in larger randomized trials
Can AI write reports like a radiologist? A blinded evaluation of large language model-generated lumbar spine MRI reports
No full textBackground: To compare the quality and clinical usefulness of large language model (LLM)-generated lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports with radiologist-written ones and assess whether medical professionals can distinguish between them. Materials and methods: This retrospective observational single-center study was approved by the local ethics committee. A total of 125 lumbar spine MRI reports (104 human-written, 21 LLM-generated using ChatGPT-4o) were anonymized, randomized, and blindly evaluated by five medical professionals (one board-certified radiologist, two radiology residents, one general practitioner, one orthopedic surgeon), all with basic familiarity with LLM. Each report was scored on a five-point Likert scale for clinical relevance, clarity, completeness, diagnostic accuracy, and intelligibility, whereas general practitioner and orthopedic surgeon evaluated intelligibility only. Evaluators also classified each report as AI-generated or human-written. Accuracy was defined as the proportion of correctly classified reports in distinguishing LLM-generated from radiologist-written texts. Mann-Whitney U or Student's t-tests were used. Results: Radiologists' reports consistently received higher median scores across all domains (p < 0.001). No differences were found in the description of the imaging technique (p > 0.175). No clinically false statements were identified in the LLM-generated reports. Identification accuracy varied widely among evaluators: Board-certified radiologist achieved 88.0% accuracy (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 92.3%), Resident 1 65.6% (14.3%, 76.0%), Resident 2 94.4% (66.7%, 100%), orthopedic surgeon 78.4% (90.5%, 76.0%) and general practitioner 65.6% (81.0%, 62.5%). Conclusion: Radiologist-written lumbar spine MRI reports outperform LLM-generated reports in quality and structure. However, some AI-generated reports were indistinguishable from human ones, particularly for non-specialized readers. LLMs may support radiologists in structured reporting and improve workflow efficiency, while maintaining diagnostic reliability. Relevance statement: Large language models can draft lumbar spine MRI reports, but currently lack the quality and consistency of radiologist reports. With radiologist supervision, large language models may improve reporting efficiency while preserving diagnostic reliability and supporting clinical decision-making. Key points: LLM-generated reports are clinically coherent and stylistically comparable to those written by expert radiologists. Radiologist-written reports scored significantly higher for clinical relevance, findings, and structure. LLM-generated reports were sometimes misclassified as human-written by clinicians