Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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HORTUS INCLUSUS E CHIOSTRI URBANI. Un approccio per il recupero microclimatico
No full texthe topic of functional recovery and the valorization of urban open spaces centers on an often-
overlooked building type: urban cloisters, which were historically surrounded by convents. In this
contribution, the author discusses the restoration of two large monasteries in Parma that are set to be transformed into student residences. The restoration project is further enhanced by the integration of microclimatic analysis and related design considerations
Dlk1 is a novel adrenocortical stem/progenitor cell marker that predicts malignancy in adrenocortical carcinoma
Get PDFImpact of dementia and mild cognitive impairment on bone health in older people
No full text: Mild cognitive impairment, dementia and osteoporosis are common diseases of ageing and, with the increasingly ageing global population, are increasing in prevalence. These conditions are closely associated, with shared risk factors, common underlying biological mechanisms and potential direct causal pathways. In this review, the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mild cognitive impairment, dementia and skeletal health are explored. Discussion will focus on how changes in brain and bone signalling can underly associations between these conditions, and will consider the molecular and cellular drivers in the context of inflammation and the gut microbiome. There is a complex interplay between nutritional changes, which may precede or follow the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, and bone health. Polypharmacy is common in patients with MCI or dementia, and there are difficult prescribing decisions to be made due to the elevated risk of falls associated with many drugs used for associated problems, which can consequently increase fracture risk. Some medications prescribed for cognitive impairment may directly impact bone health. In addition, patients may have difficulty remembering medication without assistance, meaning that osteoporosis drugs may be prescribed but not taken. Cognitive impairment may be improved or delayed by physical activity and exercise, and there is evidence for the additional benefits of physical activity on falls and fractures. Research gaps and priorities with the aim of reducing the burden of osteoporosis and fractures in people with MCI or dementia will also be discussed
The cytotoxic/genotoxic role of impurities in soluble minerals: The case of natural (fibrous epsomite) versus synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulphate
No full textEpsomite and Epsom salt are very common mineral phases, and many known uses are found in agriculture, and in food and pharmaceutical industries. Natural epsomite can be fibrous and inhalable, potentially reaching the digestive tract after dissolving in mucus and saliva. Epsom salt is a common food additive (E 518) to which humans can be exposed daily, although its health effects are still debated. This study aims to (i) determine if natural epsomite (MP) and Epsom salt (SE) may be toxic to humans and (ii) identify and quantify the impurities in natural epsomite and try to ascertain their role in the toxicity of this mineral. In vitro experiments were performed on human colon epithelial cancer cells (Caco-2), enterocyte-like Caco-2-derived monolayers, human monocytic cell line THP-1, and THP-1-derived M0 macrophages. Generally, MP showed significantly higher toxicity in terms of oxidative stress, DNA damage and inflammation than SE, whose effects can be considered negligible. The higher pathogenicity of MP undoubtedly comes from the toxic elements of impurities, which are absent in pure SE. This research clarifies the role of impurities in the toxicity of natural epsomite, which may be higher than previously supposed. Moreover, considering its extensive use in the food industry, it represents a new step in assessing the safety of ingesting magnesium sulphate
The determinants of vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy: A survey at the Obstetrics and Gyneacology Unit of the University Hospital of Parma
No full textA Portable and Low‐Cost Single Board Computer‐Based Spectrophotometric Platform for Optical Analysis in the UV and Visible Range
No full textThe growing ability of high-performance consumer electronics is fostering innovation in prototyping and research. Although the Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC) is widely used across various fields, including diagnostics, applications involving UV-based reading remain underexplored. In this study, a simple, low-cost (less than 100 euros), and portable device for UV-vis measurements based on Raspberry Pi is presented. The system integrates the AS7341 multi-channel multispectral digital sensor, offering analytical performance comparable to two commercial spectrophotometers - one benchtop and one portable - in terms of linearity, limit of detection, quantitation, and repeatability. Furthermore, the device demonstrates reliable performance both in analyzing real wine samples using two different commercial enzymatic kits and in quantifying different concentrations of synthetic DNA oligonucleotides. By providing a ready-to-use, portable, and affordable platform for UV-vis diagnostics, this prototype is well-suited for resource-limited settings, educational environments, and IoT applications where numerous distributed sensors are required for specific diagnostic tasks
Understanding maladaptive daydreaming from the attachment framework: The intertwining roles of parental care, unresolved attachment, depression/anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms
No full text: Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD) is an excessive absorption in vivid fantasies interfering with individuals' daily functioning, which has been associated with adverse psychological outcomes and adult attachment insecurities. However, no study to date has addressed the relationships between MD, parental care, unresolved attachment, and psychological symptoms (depression/anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder; OCD) in a sample of young adults. In this study, 1295 young adults (401 males) completed an online survey including the Parental Bonding Instrument, Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale, Adult Unresolved Attachment Questionnaire, and the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure. The results evidenced the differential contribution of maternal and paternal care on individuals' psychological symptoms; whilst higher maternal care was negatively related to OCD symptoms, higher paternal care was negatively linked to depression/anxiety symptoms. A relationship between unresolved attachment, MD and psychopathological symptoms emerged; specifically, MD mediated the relationships between unresolved attachment and depression/anxiety and OCD symptoms. Overall, paternal and maternal care may have distinct roles in predicting individuals' psychopathological outcomes. In the presence of unresolved attachment, MD may represent a dissociative response that allows individuals to deal with negative experiences through psychopathological symptoms. Understanding the specific pathways that lead to different psychopathological outcomes could have important implications in developing preventive clinical interventions
Bridging bench to bedside: The evolution and impact of translational research in oncology. The experience of the Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica (GOIRC)
No full textThe Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica (GOIRC) is Italy's first cooperative oncology research group, evolving to conduct academic clinical trials since 1985. With 167 publications and collaborations with national and international partners, GOIRC has significantly impacted clinical practices. The group emphasizes training and has developed robust internal standard operative procedures (SOPs) to enhance data quality. GOIRC is poised to tackle future challenges in translational research, focusing on innovative trial designs, precision medicine, and leveraging different laboratory resources across its 42 units
A translational perspective of the malignant hematopoietic proteoglycome
No full text: Proteoglycans are an ample family of complex extracellular matrix/cell surface components known to impact on virtually all biological processes that take place during life of a human being, in its healthy and diseased conditions. They are consolidated multivalent regulators of the behaviour of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells because of being critical components of their membranes, because of their pivotal role as multifaceted factors of the hematopoietic niches and because of acting as pillars of the tumour microenvironment. Likewise, they act as promoters of the growth, spreading and therapeutic resistance of diseased hematopoietic cells, also by modulating intracellular processes through a dual utilization of core protein domains and their glycosaminoglycan side chains. The intricate pattern of expression of the myriads of proteoglycan isoforms generated by differential glycanations of the core proteins is differentiation- and cell activation-dependent and often associates with genomic aberrations and gene amplifications. Selected proteoglycans stand out as widely recognized, disease type-specific markers and as alluring but still unappreciated therapeutic targets. We therefore pose here a clinical-translational view on the hematopoietic proteoglycome to highlight its underestimated biological and pathological significance during normal and neoplastic hematopoiesis. We underscore the potential of several proteoglycans to be exploited as key markers for prognostication and therapeutic targeting of hematopoietic cancers