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Fantastico, tradizione e profezia nelle Storie naturali di Primo Levi (con un inedito accostamento a d’Annunzio)
No full textL’articolo si propone di evidenziare la grande originalità e pregnanza delle Storie naturali (1966) di Primo Levi, un libro apparso fra le polemiche riguardo all’apparente mutato impegnonarrativo dell’autore, ora non più focalizzato sugli orrori del lager bensì dispiegato ad illustrare le distopie di un mondo senza regole, dominato dalla scienza e dalla tecnica. Come dimostrano recenti studi, il fantastico coesiste da sempre con gli argomenti storico-testimoniali di Levi e la valenza profetica della sua opera si fonda anche su solide basi tradizionali, avvalendosi persino del magistero di un autore che sembrerebbe lontanissimo dai propri orizzonti ideologici e creativi come Gabriele d’Annunzio
Prolonged fasting promotes systemic inflammation and platelet activation in humans: a medically supervised, water-only fasting and refeeding study
No full textProlonged fasting (PF), defined as abstaining from energy intake for ≥4 consecutive days, has gained interest as a potential health intervention. However, the biological effects of PF on the plasma proteome are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of a medically supervised water-only fast (mean duration: 9.8 ± 3.1 days), followed by 5.3 ± 2.4 days of guided refeeding, in 20 middle-aged volunteers (mean age: 52.2 ± 11.8 years; BMI: 28.8 ± 6.4 kg/m2). Fasting resulted in a 7.7% mean weight loss and significant increases in serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), confirming adherence. Untargeted high-dimensional plasma proteomics (SOMAScan, 1,317 proteins) revealed multiple adaptations to PF, including preservation of skeletal muscle and bone, enhanced lysosomal biogenesis, increased lipid metabolism via PPARα signaling, and reduced amyloid fiber formation. Notably, PF significantly reduced circulating amyloid beta proteins Aβ40 and Aβ42, key components of brain amyloid plaques. In addition, PF induced an acute inflammatory response, characterized by elevated plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), hepcidin, midkine, and interleukin 8 (IL-8), among others. A retrospective cohort analysis of 1,422 individuals undergoing modified fasting confirmed increased CRP levels (from 2.8 ± 0.1 to 4.3 ± 0.2 mg/L). The acute phase response, associated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling, was accompanied by increased platelet degranulation and upregulation of the complement and coagulation cascade, validated by ELISAs in blood and urine. While the acute inflammatory response during PF may serve as a transient adaptive mechanism, it raises concerns regarding potential cardiometabolic effects that could persist after refeeding. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the long-term molecular and clinical implications of PF across diverse populations
THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN: THE ACTonPAIN PROJECT
No full textIntroduction: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a multifactorial condition that significantly
impacts patients' daily lives. Psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and
pain catastrophizing are known to influence CPP, yet the role of psychological
flexibility (PF) remains less understood. This project aimed to investigate the role of
PF in the development and persistence of CPP.
Methods: The project comprises three studies: a systematic review assessing the
current research on psychological factors in CPP; a correlational study examining the impact of psychological factors and PF on pain and quality of life; and a qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of CPP patients.
Results: The systematic review included 37 studies, identifying catastrophizing as a
consistent predictor of pain and quality of life, though heterogeneity among predictors, outcomes, and diagnoses limits broad conclusions. The second study found significant associations between psychological distress, PF, and pain interference, with PF components like self-as-context, defusion, and values linked to pain management, while, experential avoidance and Lack of values clarity, Psychological Inflexibility and Self as content were respectively associated with Physical and Mental scores of Quality of life. The third study identified three major themes in patient experiences: Disease as identity, Loneliness and Need for recognition. These themes reflect the complexity
of living with a CPP diagnosis.
Conclusions: These findings confirm that psychological factors substantially affect
pain and quality of life in CPP patients. They highlight the value of ACT-based
interventions aimed at enhancing PF, addressing core processes such as openness,
awareness, and engagement to improve patient outcomes.Introduzione: Il dolore pelvico cronico è una condizione multifattoriale che impatta significativamente varie aree della vita quotidiana dei pazienti che ne sono affetti. Fattori psicologici come ansia, depressione e catastrofizzazione del dolore sono noti per influenzare il dolore pelvico cronico, ma il ruolo della flessibilità psicologica è ancora poco noto. Lo scopo di questo progetto è di indagare il ruolo della flessibilità psicologica nello sviluppo e nel mantenimento del dolore pelvico cronico.
Metodi: Il progetto si compone tre studi: una revisione sistematica della letteratura per valutare lo stato attuale della ricerca sui fattori psicologici nel dolore pelvico cronico. Uno studio correlazionale, che ha lo scopo di esaminare l'impatto della flessibilità psicologica e di altri fattori psicologici sul dolore e sulla qualità della vita dei pazienti. Infine, uno studio qualitativo, basato sull’Analisi Fenomenologica Interpretativa (IPA), con lo scopo di esplorare l'esperienza vissuta di pazienti con dolore pelvico cronico.
Risultati: la revisione sistematica ha incluso 37 studi, identificando la catastrofizzazione come un predittore comune del dolore e della qualità della vita. Tuttavia, l'eterogeneità tra i fattori predittivi, gli outcome e l'ampia variabilità diagnostica, limitano la possibilità di trarre conclusioni generali. Il secondo studio ha evidenziato associazioni significative tra distress psicologico (ansia, depressione, stress), flessibilità psicologica e interferenza del dolore. Componenti della flessibilità psicologica come sè come contesto, defusione e valori sono risultate associate alla gestione del dolore, mentre evitamento esperienziale e mancanza di chiarezza nei valori, inflessibilità psicologica e sè come contenuto sono stati rispettivamente associati ai punteggi fisici e mentali della qualità della vita. Il terzo studio ha identificato tre temi principali nell'esperienza di questi pazienti: la malattia come identità, la solitudine e il bisogno di riconoscimento, evidenziando la complessità che pazienti dolore pelvico cronico si trovano ad affrontare nella loro vita quotidiana.
Conclusioni: Questi risultati confermano che i fattori psicologici influenzano in modo significativo il dolore e la qualità della vita nei pazienti con dolore pelvico cronico. Inoltre, suggeriscono il valore delle interventi basati sulla Terapia dell’Accettazione e dell’Impegno (ACT) per migliorare la flessibilità psicologica, lavorando su processi chiave come apertura, consapevolezza e coinvolgimento per ottimizzare il trattamento di questi pazienti
Il coraggio di essere vulnerabili
No full textTesto che descrive il costrutto psicologico della "vulnerabilità" e mostra l'impatto sul successo in vari ambiti quotidiani e professionali
Un regard italien sur le projet de code de droit international privé français
No full textI. Éléments pour une comparaison entre le projet français et la loi italienne de droit international privé: A. Les analogies tenant à la portée et à la structure des deux textes; B. Des orientations de fond communes; C. Des différences pourtant significatives. - II. L’articulation des sources selon la codification italienne: A. Les stratégies envisagées par la loi de 1995; B. La pratique. - III. Quelles leçons enseigne l’expérience italienne au sujet de l’articulation des sources
The Impact of a Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (MDTB) in the Management of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
No full textBackground: The management of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex process. Defining the disease burden, assessing the radiological response and identifying the right time for surgery or other locoregional treatments are crucial factors which can require the involvement of a multidisciplinary tumor board (MDTB) comprising several specialists. This study investigates the impact of MDTB on management of CRC in our institution. Methods: We retrospectively assessed all cases discussed by our MDTB between September 2019 and April 2023. In particular, we collected data concerning radiology, surgery and radiotherapy indication before and after MDTB meetings. The primary endpoint was the overall rate of discrepancy between pre- and post-discussion evaluations. Results: Our analysis involved 1150 cases. Median age was 64 years (16-90), 629 patients (54.7%) were male and 915 (79.5%) had metastatic disease at the time of the relevant MDTB discussion. After the meetings, 325 treatment decisions were modified, producing an overall discrepancy rate of 28.3%. In particular: (1) of 648 cases discussed for radiological assessment, 156 decisions (24.1%) were altered after a central imaging review; (2) of 327 cases considered for surgical approach, treatment strategy changed in 118 (36.1%); and (3) of the 160 cases discussed regarding radiotherapy, the treatment strategy changed in 51 of them (31.9%). Conclusions: Our analysis shows significant discrepancies between the radiology and locoregional evaluations from both before and after the MDTB meetings. Our results highlight that the discussions of a MDTB can considerably change the management of CRC, maximizing the treatment strategy
Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of migraine
No full text: We here present evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of migraine. These guidelines, created by the Italian Society for the Study of Headache and the International Headache Society, aim to offer clear, actionable recommendations to healthcare professionals. They incorporate evidence-based recommendations from randomized controlled trials and expert-based opinions. The guidelines follow the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach for assessing the quality of evidence. The guideline development involved a systematic review of literature across multiple databases, adherence to Cochrane review methods, and a structured framework for data extraction and interpretation. Although the guidelines provide a robust foundation for migraine treatment, they also highlight gaps in current research, such as the paucity of head-to-head drug comparisons and the need for long-term outcome studies. These guidelines serve as a resource to standardize migraine treatment and promote high-quality care across different healthcare settings
La stabile organizzazione tra categorie tradizionali e nuove prospettive
No full textIl contributo, alla luce di un'approfondita analisi, anche in prospettiva storica, dell'istituto della stabile organizzazione, si sofferma sulla possibilità che, nell’ambito di una new economy ormai essenzialmente dematerializzata, a tale istituto, il cui tratto tipico risiede nella "stabilità" fisica, possa ancora riconoscersi un ruolo essenziale. O se, in alternativa, la stabile organizzazione sia destinata a scomparire, definitivamente "superata" da un nuovo, e totalmente distinto, concetto di "nexus"
DEVELOPING OPERATIONAL CARBON FARMING STRATEGIES TO UNLOCK THE CLIMATE BENEFITS OF SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION: FROM AGRONOMIC PRACTICES TO MRV TOOLS
No full textDurante il triennio di ricerca sono state sviluppate strategie di carbon farming per migliorare il sequestro del carbonio organico nel suolo (SOC) e la qualità del suolo, contribuendo alla transizione verso un’economia del carbonio sostenibile. L’approccio multidisciplinare adottato ha integrato esperimenti in campo, studi di incubazione e strumenti avanzati di Monitoraggio, Reporting e Verifica (MRV) per ottenere risultati robusti e scalabili.
Gli obiettivi principali della ricerca hanno incluso:
- Valutare l’efficacia di pratiche agronomiche e proporre soluzioni operative per settori agricoli specifici, come le colture bioenergetiche e la filiera del pomodoro industriale, al fine di ottimizzare la gestione del carbonio nel suolo e aumentarne lo stock.
- Analizzare i processi microbici coinvolti nella stabilizzazione del SOC, con particolare attenzione al ruolo della disponibilità di nutrienti e della decomposizione della sostanza organica.
- Sviluppare strumenti MRV scalabili basati su tecnologie di proximal sensing, machine learning e dati ausiliari, per migliorare la precisione della stima degli stock di SOC.During the three-year research period, carbon farming strategies were developed to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and soil quality, supporting the transition towards a sustainable carbon economy. The multidisciplinary approach integrated field experiments, incubation studies, and advanced Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) tools to obtain robust and scalable results.
The main objectives of the research included:
- Assessing the effectiveness of agronomic practices and proposing operational solutions for specific agricultural sectors, such as bioenergy crops and the industrial tomato supply chain, to optimize soil carbon management and increase SOC stocks.
- Analyzing microbial processes involved in SOC stabilization, with a particular focus on the role of nutrient availability and organic matter decomposition.
- Developing scalable MRV tools based on proximal sensing technologies, machine learning, and auxiliary data, to improve the accuracy of SOC stock estimation
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin-Based Nanoparticles Containing α-Linolenic Acid in a Model of Psoriasis In Vitro
No full text: Background/Objectives. Psoriasis is a common chronic skin inflammatory disorder pathogenetically associated with genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. The hallmarks of psoriatic lesions include sustained inflammation related to alterations in the innate and adaptive immune response, uncontrolled keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation, and death, as well as dysregulated crosstalk between immune cells and keratinocytes. In search of novel therapeutic strategies based on the use of natural products and dietary components to combine to the available conventional and innovative therapeutics, we explored the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities of Curcumin (CU)-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) carrying the omega-3 fatty acid linolenic acid (LNA) in an in vitro model of psoriasis that had been previously constructed and characterized by us. Methods. This in vitro model consists of differentiated in vitro THP-1 macrophages (Mφs) and NCTC-2544 keratinocytes exposed or not to conditioned medium (CM) from Mφs treated with the Toll-like receptor-7 ligand imiquimod (IMQ). Results. In Mφs, the treatment with CU-LNA-SLNs inhibited the IMQ-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-23, IL-8, IL-6: 43%, 26.5% and 73.7% inhibition, respectively, vs IMQ-treated Mφs), as well as the hyperproliferative response (12.8% inhibition vs IMQ-treated Mφs) and the increase in cell death observed in keratinocytes treated with Mφ-derived CM (64.7% inhibition). Moreover, in the same conditions, CU-LNA-SLNs reverted to control levels of the increased keratinocyte expression of two markers of ferroptosis, a form of death recently involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis (TFRC and MDA: 13.4% and 56.1% inhibition, respectively). Conclusions. These results suggest that CU-LNA-SLNs could inhibit psoriatic inflammation, as well as the hyperproliferation and death of keratinocytes in psoriatic lesions, and could be considered as a new possible therapeutic strategy for psoriasis to be further evaluated for the topic treatment of psoriatic skin in vivo