Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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Preliminary Evaluation of 3D-Printed Alginate/Gelatin Scaffolds for Protein Fast Release as Suitable Devices for Personalized Medicine
No full textPI3K Inhibitors as Potential Therapeutic Agents for the Treatment of COPD with Associated Atherosclerosis
No full textChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share a complex and multifactorial relationship characterized by overlapping risk factors, systemic inflammation, and intertwined pathophysiological mechanisms, with atherosclerosis emerging as a central inflammatory process connecting COPD and CVD, driven by systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. While systemic inflammation is recognized as a critical link between these conditions, the precise pathways through which inflammation arises remain under investigation. There is therefore a need for therapeutic strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risks in patients with COPD. Among the pathways contributing to this interplay, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway has gained significant attention. Dysregulated PI3K signaling contributes to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, which are key drivers of both COPD and CVD. Consequently, PI3K inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, offering a targeted strategy to address the shared pathological mechanisms underlying these diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the role of PI3K signaling and its inhibitors could facilitate the development of novel interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with COPD
Argomenti teologici e filosofici per la differenza di genere. Il caso di Tommaso d’Aquino
No full textL’epoca medievale viene frequentemente dipinta come un’era di chiusura mentale e intolleranza rispetto a tematiche che nella società contemporanea sono considerate delicate, quali il ruolo sociale dei generi, l’orientamento sessuale e l’espressione dell’identità, nonché la sfera dei diritti fondamentali e delle disparità sociali. Sebbene questa rappresentazione rispecchi in buona parte la realtà storica documentata, sarebbe tuttavia riduttivo considerarla valida in modo universale e assoluto. Il presente contributo si concentra nello specifico sulla questione di genere, e ancora più
in particolare, sulla questione di genere rispetto alla figura della donna, alla ricerca di quali possono essere stati alcuni presupposti filosofici e teologici che hanno determinato la risposta che nel Medioevo è stata per lo più data alla questione di genere, orientandola in una certa direzione piuttosto che in un’altra. Per far questo, il presente contributo discute quanto detto da Tommaso d’Aquino e si impegna a provare che Tommaso non ha mai voluto affermare l’inferiorità della donna rispetto all’uomo, di cui anzi riconosce il ruolo e l’importanza all’interno della famiglia e
della società, ma che ciononostante Tommaso non ha nemmeno rinunciato a giustificare le differenze di genere, promuovendo una visione gerarchica in cui il maschio è considerato principio e fine della femmina. La sua posizione si potrebbe così condensare nel detto “né uguaglianza, né inferiorità”
Phyletic evolution of calcareous nannofossil species Reticulofenestra oamaruensis: An example of microevolution preserved at IODP Site U1553 (Southern Pacific Ocean)
No full textThe IODP Expedition 378 in the Southern Ocean (Campbell Plateau) recovered a Paleogene sedimentary section at Site U1553, cored through multiple holes (A - E) in the late Eocene-early Oligocene interval. Stratigraphic continuity and good preservation of calcareous nannofossils offered the opportunity to study the phyletic origin of Reticulofenestra oamaruensis, the biostratigraphic marker for the Eocene/Oligocene Transition (EOT) in the Southern Ocean (SO). We performed biometric and morphological analyses on R. oamaruensis and the related species Reticulofenestra clatrata, revealing intermediate morphotypes with characters between R. clatrata and R. oamaruensis. These transitional morphotypes, labeled Reticulofenestra transitional form 1 (R. t1) and Reticulofenestra transitional form 2 (R. t2), differ in size from the end members and are distinguished in two size categories: 10–12 μm and 12–14 μm respectively. The intraspecific evolutionary trend shows a gradual size increase of R. clatrata(8–10 μm) that, through intermediate steps represented by R. t1 and R. t2, leads to R. oamaruensis (≥14 μm). The two morphotypes are included in the species identification of R. oamaruensis and enter the stratigraphic record at successive levels, thus delineating a “lineage zone” useful in SO biostratigraphy. R. clatrata and medium – large R. oamaruensis disappear close to the Eocene/Oligocene Boundary. Based on the morphological homology, the progressively increasing size trend from R. clatrata to R. oamaruensis, their stratigraphic range continuity, and their same geographical distribution, we document a phyletic strain endemic to high southern latitudes, of which R. clatrata would represent the archetype
Birago Project - What has happened thirty years after the introduction of macrocyclic lactones in a historically endemic area for Dirofilaria immitis? Preliminary data
No full textIntroduction: The first observation of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs was made by Birago in 1626, a nobleman living in Northern Italy. Since the 1980s, scientific studies have identified Northern Italy, particularly the area around the Po River, as a highly endemic region for heartworm disease, with prevalences ranging from 31% to 98% (Martini et al., 1996). After the introduction of ivermectin in 1988 and other macrocyclic lactones in the following years, parasitic pressure gradually decreased, leading to a reduction in the prevalence and incidence of heartworm disease in this area. However, in recent years, this reduction has led to some practitioners to pay less attention to the disease, including in terms of diagnosis and prevention.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess, approximately 30 years after the introduction of macrocyclic lactones preventives, the prevalence and distribution of D. immitis in Northern Italy, a historically endemic region for heartworm disease.
Materials & methods: The study population consisted of 500 dogs. The inclusion criteria were stray dogs or those without microchips referred to shelters or veterinary facilities, older than 10 months of any breed, and untreated with macrocyclic lactones for heartworm prevention. Approximately 2 ml of blood was collected from each dog and stored at +4°C in tubes with anticoagulant. An identification form was completed for each animal, including the location of recovery, age, breed, sex, weight, and the presence of any clinical signs. Each blood sample was analyzed using Knott's test (Genchi et al., 2021) and a antigen test (Idexx 4DX).
Results: Preliminary data from 328 dogs examined with Knott"s test, from 10 provinces of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, showed a D. immitis prevalence of 25% (fig.1). In particular, 14% were positive for D. immitis, 8% for D. repens and 11% mixed infection. The antigen prevalence was 29%, 9 dogs were antigen- positive but microfilariae negative, while 2 dogs were antigen-negative but microfilaremic.
Conclusion: The data show that even 40 years after the introduction of chemoprophylaxis, in a historically endemic area such as Northern Italy, parasitic pressure has remained high. These data underline the importance of continuing to make a correct diagnosis and prevention not only for D. immitis but also for D. repens and how practitioners must not lower their attention towards these parasites.
Birago F. Trattato cinegetico, overo della caccia. Milano: GB Bidelli, 1626:59
Genchi M, Ciuca L, Vismarra A, Ciccone E, Cringoli G, Kramer L, Rinaldi L. Evaluation of alternative reagents on the performance of the modified Knott's test. Vet Parasitol. 2021 Oct;298:109555.
Martini M, Capelli G, Poglayen G, Bertotti F, Turilli C. The validity of some haematological and ELISA methods for the diagnosis of canine heartworm disease. Vet Res Commun. 1996;20(4):331-
Multi-Partner Project: Electric Vehicle Data Acquisition and Valorisation: A Perspective from the OPEVA Project
No full textThe OPtimization of Electric Vehicle Autonomy (OPEVA) project enhances data aggregation for Electric Vehicles (EVs) by collecting critical real-time data (i.e., vehicle performance, battery health, charging behaviours) through heterogeneous data acquisition devices built on robust HW and integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) protocols. By combining internal sensor data and driver-specific behaviours with external information (e.g., road conditions, charging station availability), OPEVA maximizes vehicles performance, establishing secure and seamless data communication between EVs and the infrastructure, and using IoT and cloud computing tools alongside Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) devices and networks. This paper focuses on the extensible data model ensuring semantic data integrity considering in- and out-vehicle factors, presenting data acquisition solutions dealing with OPEVA's semantic data model and their use in various Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered use cases (e.g., range prediction, route optimization, battery management)
Fiber in the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Pediatric Patients
No full textDietary fiber is present in many food categories (fruits, cereals, vegetables, legumes), and is considered a beneficial component of adult and children's diets. It is now well-established that dietary intervention is the first line of treatment for childhood dyslipidemia, both as a curative intervention (Familial Hyperchylomicronemia Syndrome, Sitosterolemia) and as an appropriate lifestyle aimed at improving the lipid profile in dyslipidemia, which is associated with early atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood (Familial Hypercholesterolemia, overweight- and obesity-related dyslipidemia). In this paper, we reviewed the main consensus documents to determine the current indications for its use in children and adolescents, and analyzed the few specific papers on the subject in the literature to assess how fiber is currently used in the treatment of pediatric dyslipidemia, what precautions should be taken, and what the main benefits of fiber are on the lipid profile and cardiovascular risk
Aperitivo Time: A Made in Italy social ritual
No full textThe aperitif is a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), which has the effect of stimulating the appetite and aiding digestion. By extension, the aperitif has become a true social ritual, a time for informal sharing, an opportunity to socialise and relax. Alongside the beverage, the aperitif includes a few snacks. But can we speak of a specific time for the aperitif?
In the course of the 20th century, alongside consumption for convivial and digestive use during and at the end of meals, alcoholic beverages increasingly found use in the pre-meal. This is what is known in Italian as the 'aperitivo', i.e. the consumption of a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic accompanied by a light meal/tasting) that takes place before one of the main meals of the day (lunch or dinner). It is a kind of warm-up phase to the meal, to enjoy in company.
In the aperitif, spirits or wines (think sparkling wines and prosecco, but also vermouth) are often mixed with each other and with other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in what is called a 'cocktail'. The expansion of the aperitif ritual has even changed the products, with wines increasing in alcoholic strength from 12° to even 14°-15°.
In our article, we will analyse the evolution of aperitif time, emphasising its 'social construction' and also the fact that it has evolved from a practice destined for the aristocratic and bourgeois classes to a transclass phenomenon, starting from the years of the Italian economic boom and then especially from the 1980s.
To this end, we will examine the specific case of vermouth, characterised by an entirely original evolutionary path that has made it recognisable worldwide as one of the excellences of Made in Italy. Vermouth has managed, also thanks to a media representation capable of deeply affecting the collective imagination of consumers, to maintain such an appeal over time as to make it an internationally iconic product, among the most resilient in the medium to long term. Aperitif time, therefore, involves a drink, but moves away from it to become a relational and emotional time
YAK MILK: Novel Fluid Milk-Processing Tactics
No full textThis review explores the emerging significance of minor dairy species, with a focus on yak milk production, using novel fluid-processing tactics, and its potential impact on the natural, ecological, and economic landscape. Yak milk, rich in nutrients and possessing distinct physiological properties, has witnessed a recent surge in commercialization efforts, leading to the development of various products such as liquid milk, fermented varieties, casein, and milk powder. Enormous studies are available on bovine milk-processing using cutting-edge technologies, including ultrasound, pulsed electric fields, ohmic heating, enzymatic, supercritical fluid, high pressure, ionizing radiation, cold plasma and microwave-assisted treatment from the perspective of immune-active components retention and microbial safety. From various literature reviews we couldn't find any novel fluid-processing approach to yak milk, the core part of this chapter focused on the application of some cutting-edge technologies, including high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEF), ohmic heating (OH), UV-C, and ultrasonication (US) that have already been applied to bovine milk-processing that could be utilized for yak milk-processing. Pasteurization and ultra-high temperature processing are commonly used to maintain milk quality and safety. However, the drawbacks associated with intense heat treatments, such as nutrient loss, color alterations, and flavor changes, have prompted the exploration of new technologies. This pursuit aims to create milk products that retain nutrients and biological components more effectively. Notable among these emerging technologies, particularly for milk and its products, are both thermal methods like ohmic and microwave heating, as well as non-thermal methods like high-pressure processing, UV treatment, ultrasound, and pulsed electric field applications. These advancements offer promising avenues to produce wholesome milk products while addressing the limitations of traditional heat treatments