University of Ferrara

Despite numerous studies linking prenatal vaping to adverse perinatal outcomes, a systematic assessment for critical comparison remains absent. To investigate these associations, we conducted a systematic search of studies assessing perinatal outcomes in mothers and/or neonates exposed to vaping during pregnancy compared to those in women without prenatal vaping exposure through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO, and Google Scholar until July 5, 2024. We performed inverse-variance random-effects meta- analyses for maternal and neonatal outcomes of 23 studies with a total of 924,376 participants with 7552 reporting vaping-only use during pregnancy. Prenatal vaping was associated with 53% higher odds of an adverse maternal outcome (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.27 to 1.85; I2 = 80%), particularly with decreased breastfeeding (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.72; I2 = 45%) and reduced prevalence of adequate prenatal care (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.56 to 0.86; I2 = 82%). Prenatal vaping was also associated with a similarly 53% higher odds of an adverse neonatal outcome (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.34 to 1.76; I2 = 45%), such as low birth weight (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.93; I2: 15%), preterm birth (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.27 to 1.76; I2: 0%), and small for gestational age (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.89; I2: 70%). This is the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating vaping during pregnancy as a risk factor for increased odds of both maternal and neonatal outcomes and underscores the urgency to address awareness and regulations of vaping and its potential harms to both humans and the environment.

The photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a biomass‐derived intermediate, to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a key building block for industrial applications, is a well‐studied anodic reaction. This photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion typically requires an electron mediator, such as TEMPO, regardless of the semiconductor used. Various electrocatalysts can also perform this reaction electrochemically, without additional organic species in the electrolyte. In this study, Ti‐doped hematite (Ti:Fe2O3) photoanodes were employed for the HMF photoelectrochemical conversion at the anodic side of a two‐compartments PEC cell. To avoid the need of an electron mediator, nickel‐based electrocatalysts were deposited on the electrode′s surface. The Ni(OH)2‐electrodeposited (Ti:Fe2O3−Ni) and the NiMo‐sputtered Ti:Fe2O3 photoanodes (Ti:Fe2O3−NiMo) were characterised and tested for the HMF oxidation in 0.1 M NaOH (pH 13) electrolyte. Partial HMF photoelectrochemical conversion to FDCA was achieved, pointing out the beneficial effect of Ni‐based cocatalyst in shifting the selectivity towards the di‐carboxylic acid. Fixed Energy X‐ray Absorption Voltammetry (FEXRAV) and X‐ray Absorption Near‐Edge Structure (XANES) measurements were conducted to investigate the interaction between HMF and the two deposited electrocatalysts. These techniques offered valuable insights into the oxidation mechanism, which were further validated using a rate deconvolution procedure.

Analytical chemistry demands precise sample preparation methods to ensure accurate qualitative and quantitative determinations, especially those capable of clean-up and preconcentration of target analytes.

Secretase-1 (BACE1) plays a key role in the regulation of cerebral amyloid-β homeostasis, being involved in amyloidogenic and, as recently found, amyloidolytic pathways. Growing evidence indicates that increased serum BACE1 (sBACE1) activity might represent an early biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we tested the hypothesis that an increase in sBACE1 activity may already occur in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). We found that sBACE1 activity was significantly higher in individuals with SCD ( n 118) compared to cognitively normal subjects (controls, n 137) ( p < 0.001). Moreover, compared with SCD, sBACE1 activity was even higher in patients affected by amnestic ( n 179) or non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) ( n 99) ( p < 0.001 and p 0.02, respectively). In all cases, the respective increase in sBACE1 activity was significant after adjustment for possible confounders including age, sex, and comorbidities. We also found a significant sexual dimorphism, with women affected by either type of MCI, but not by SCD, having higher levels of serum BACE1 activity compared to men. These results provide evidence supporting the potential use of sBACE1 activity as tool for blood-based screening of cognitively healthy individuals at clinical risk of MCI and dementia.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Sub‐periosteal Peri‐implant Augmented Layer (SPAL) technique performed with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM), delivered either as particulate (pDBBM) or block (bDBBM), in correcting a peri implant bone dehiscence (PIBD). Implants showing a thick (≥ 2 mm) peri‐implant buccal bone plate (PBBP) at placement were also examined. Material and Methods Patients with a PIBD ≥ 1 mm, treated with SPAL with either pDBBM (SPAL particulate ) or bDBBM (SPAL block ), and patients with an implant showing a PBBP ≥ 2 mm at insertion (CONTROL) were included. Re‐entry was performed either at 6 months (SPAL groups) or 3 months (CONTROL). The rate of patients presenting no PIBD at re‐entry was the primary outcome. Bone dehiscence height (BDH) and width (BDW), thickness of buccal tissues (BTT) and marginal bone level (MBL) were secondary outcomes. Results Thirty‐nine implants in 39 patients (14 in SPAL particulate ,14 in SPAL block and 11 in CONTROL) were analyzed. No PIBD were found in SPAL particulate whereas in SPAL block one PIBD was present. Two patients in CONTROL presented a PIBD. A reduction in both BDH and BDW was observed in both SPAL particulate (2.7 ± 1.6 mm for BDH and 3.9 ± 0.2 mm for BDW) and SPAL block (2.5 ± 1.8 mm for BDH and 3.8 ± 1.1 mm for BDW). SPAL block showed a higher BTT than SPAL particulate at re‐entry (3.6 ± 1.3 mm for SPAL block and 2.6 ± 0.6 mm for SPAL particulate , p = 0.0160). All groups showed similar MBL. Conclusion SPAL performed with either a pDBBM or bDBBM is similarly effective in correcting a PIBD as well as in increasing BTT.

Aims/Purpose: Recently, our group demonstrated how the Large Language Model GPT‐4 can fabricate fake ophthalmology data sets, designed to support false scientific evidence. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify peculiar statistical patterns of AI‐generated data sets, (2) to attempt at enhancing the quality of fabricated data for eliminating any discernible mark of non‐authenticity, and (3) to develop a custom GPT trained to detect signs of fabrication. Methods: Three fictional studies were designed to compare treatment outcomes for a specific ocular disease. First, prompts were submitted to the custom GPT “Data Analyst” to produce 12 “unrefined” fake data sets for the three studies. Then, the custom GPT “Fake Data Creator” was developed to generate 12 “refined” fake data sets, specifically designed to evade authenticity checks. Forensic analysis was performed on all data sets using IBM SPSS. Finally, the custom GPT “Fake Data Detector” (FDD) was developed to replicate the forensic analysis and assign 1 point for each sign of fabrication. Results: Forensic analysis of the unrefined fake data sets revealed numerous flaws, most notably: name/gender mismatch ( n = 12), non‐uniform distribution ( n = 11) and repetitive patterns of last digits ( n = 7), absence of correlation between study variables ( n = 12), and distribution shape anomalies ( n = 11). In refined fake data sets, the forensic analysis did not reveal statistical flaws, except for distribution shape anomalies ( n = 7). Overall, 5 refined fake data sets (41.7%) passed forensic analysis as authentic. The results of the statistical analyses performed by GPT FDD were identical to those obtained with IBM SPSS, with a mean of 9.67±2.13 (95% IC 8.46‐10.87) and 1.00±1.00 (95% IC 0.43‐1.57) points respectively allocated to unrefined and refined data sets. Conclusions: Sufficiently sophisticated custom GPTs can perform complex statistical tasks and may be abused to fabricate seemingly authentic ophthalmology data sets, passing forensic analysis. References Taloni A, Scorcia V, Giannaccare G. Large Language Model Advanced Data Analysis Abuse to Create a Fake Data Set in Medical Research. JAMA Ophthalmol . 2023; 141(12):1174–1175. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.5162

Aims/Purpose: Recently, our group demonstrated how the Large Language Model GPT‐4 can fabricate fake ophthalmology data sets, designed to support false scientific evidence. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify peculiar statistical patterns of AI‐generated data sets, (2) to attempt at enhancing the quality of fabricated data for eliminating any discernible mark of non‐authenticity, and (3) to develop a custom GPT trained to detect signs of fabrication. Methods: Three fictional studies were designed to compare treatment outcomes for a specific ocular disease. First, prompts were submitted to the custom GPT “Data Analyst” to produce 12 “unrefined” fake data sets for the three studies. Then, the custom GPT “Fake Data Creator” was developed to generate 12 “refined” fake data sets, specifically designed to evade authenticity checks. Forensic analysis was performed on all data sets using IBM SPSS. Finally, the custom GPT “Fake Data Detector” (FDD) was developed to replicate the forensic analysis and assign 1 point for each sign of fabrication. Results: Forensic analysis of the unrefined fake data sets revealed numerous flaws, most notably: name/gender mismatch ( n = 12), non‐uniform distribution ( n = 11) and repetitive patterns of last digits ( n = 7), absence of correlation between study variables ( n = 12), and distribution shape anomalies ( n = 11). In refined fake data sets, the forensic analysis did not reveal statistical flaws, except for distribution shape anomalies ( n = 7). Overall, 5 refined fake data sets (41.7%) passed forensic analysis as authentic. The results of the statistical analyses performed by GPT FDD were identical to those obtained with IBM SPSS, with a mean of 9.67 ± 2.13 (95% IC 8.46‐10.87) and 1.00 ± 1.00 (95% IC 0.43‐1.57) points respectively allocated to unrefined and refined data sets. Conclusions: Sufficiently sophisticated custom GPTs can perform complex statistical tasks and may be abused to fabricate seemingly authentic ophthalmology data sets, passing forensic analysis. References Taloni A, Scorcia V, Giannaccare G. Large Language Model Advanced Data Analysis Abuse to Create a Fake Data Set in Medical Research. JAMA Ophthalmol . 2023; 141(12): 1174–1175. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.5162

Background Magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy of ventral intermediate (Vim) nucleus is useful to treat drug‐resistant tremor‐dominant Parkinson's disease (TdPD), but tremor relapse may occur. Predictors of relapse have been poorly investigated so far. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of clinico‐demographic, procedural, and neuroradiological variables in determining clinical response, relapse, and adverse events (AEs) in TdPD after MRgFUS Vim‐thalamotomy. Methods Fifty‐two TdPD patients who consecutively underwent unilateral MRgFUS Vim‐thalamotomy were prospectively evaluated at baseline and after 24 hours, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months using MDS‐UPDRS‐III in off and on medication conditions. AEs were collected at each evaluation. Lesion volume was calculated at 24‐hour magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with tremor improvement <30% in off medication were considered nonresponders (when detected after 24 hours) or relapsers (if detected from 1‐month visit onward). Results All patients showed tremor improvement >30% at 24 hours. Tremor relapse occurred in 12 patients (23%), exclusively during the first month after thalamotomy. Relapse was associated with younger age ( P = 0.030) and smaller lesion volume ( P = 0.030). At 1 month, 22 patients (42%) had AEs; at 6 and 12 months, AEs persisted in 19% and 6% of cases. AEs at 6 months were associated with larger lesions ( P = 0.018). All AEs were mild. Conclusions MRgFUS Vim‐thalamotomy is effective in treating tremor in TdPD. Relapse is associated with younger age and smaller lesion volume, but larger lesions make AEs more likely to persist. We suggest that a lesion volume between 145 and 220 mm ³ on T1‐weighted MRI may be the therapeutic window that ensures tremor control without long‐lasting AEs. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

INTRODUCTION Blood‐based biomarkers seem promising for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis on the potential of blood phosphorylated Tau181 (p‐tau181) to differentiate amyloid‐positive (A+) and amyloid‐negative (A−) subjects. Two meta‐analyses were conducted, showing the mean p‐tau values in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the A+ and A− group, and the second comparing the mean p‐tau concentrations in blood and CSF among A+ versus A‐ participants, by laboratory assessment method. RESULTS Eighteen studies (2764 A+ and 5646 A− subjects) were included. The single‐group meta‐analysis showed mean higher blood p‐tau181 values in the A+ than in the A− group. In the head‐to‐head meta‐analysis, blood p‐tau reliably differentiated A+ patients from A− participants. DISCUSSION Regardless of the laboratory technique, blood p‐tau181 reliably differentiates A+ and A− subjects. Therefore, it might have important applications for early diagnosis and inclusion in clinical trials for AD patients. Highlights The role of blood‐based biomarkers in discriminating AD patients is still uncertain. Blood p‐tau181 distinguishes among amyloid‐positive and amyloid‐negative subjects. Blood p‐tau181 might allow early diagnosis and inclusion in clinical trials.

Background The purpose of the present case study is to describe the application of a modification of the Biologically‐oriented Alveolar Ridge Preservation (BARP) principles in cases of peri‐implant bone dehiscence (PIBD) due to a compromised alveolus at immediate implant placement (IIP). Methods The technique is based on the stratification of three layers: a deep layer with a collagen sponge (CS) in the apical part of the alveolus (where the buccal bone plate was still present) to support the blood clot; a graft layer to correct the PIBD; and a superficial collagen layer to cover the graft thus providing space and enhancing clot/graft stability. Healing was obtained by primary closure. Results At the re‐entry procedure for implant uncovering, a complete PIBD correction with newly formed peri‐implant bone up to the level of the polished collar was observed in both cases. Conclusions These observations suggest that BARP based on the combined use of CS and deproteinized bovine bone mineral may be regarded as a simplified treatment option to correct a PIBD at IIP. Key points Why treat a Peri‐Implant Bone Dehiscence (PIBD)? PIBD should be treated to avoid biological and esthetic complications over time. What plays a key role in this case? The stability of both the graft and the cloth is essential for providing space for bone formation to correct the PIBD; the extraction socket supports angiogenic and osteogenic properties; Primary intention closure is crucial to prevent potential infection. Limitation: the efficacy of the technique must be assessed. Plain Language Summary This case study described the potential to correct a post‐extraction osseous defect associated with a substantial portion of a dental implant which resulted exposed and without bone support on its buccal aspect. The application of a novel bone augmentation technique, namely the biologically oriented Alveolar Ridge Preservation, has been described. This simplified procedure is based on the stratification of i) a deep collagen layer in the apical part of the socket to support the blood clot and spontaneous bone formation, ii) a graft of bone substitute to correct the missing bone, and iii) a superficial collagen layer to protect the graft and the wound. After 5 months, a complete correction of the osseous defect with newly formed bone up to the head of the implant was observed in both treated cases.

Research on the cerebellum and its functional organization has significantly expanded over the last decades, expanding our comprehension of its role far beyond motor control, including critical contributions to cognition and affective processing. Notably, the cerebellar lateralization mirrors contralateral brain lateralization, a complex phenomenon that remains unexplored, especially across different stages of life. The present work aims to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive scoping review of the lateralization of motor, cognitive, and affective functioning within the cerebellum across the lifespan. A methodical search in electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO) was conducted up to October 2024, focusing on neuroimaging studies with healthy participants of all ages performing motor, cognitive, or affective tasks. Our selection process, which involved multiple independent reviewers, identified 128 studies reporting cerebellar asymmetries in individuals from early childhood to older age, with a significant portion of studies regarding young-middle adults (19–45 years old). The majority of the findings confirmed established lateralization patterns in motor and language processing, such as ipsilateral motor control and right-lateralized language functions. However, less attention has been paid to other cognitive functions and affective processing where more heterogeneous and less consistent asymmetries have been observed. To the best of our knowledge, this scoping review is the first to comprehensively investigate the motor, cognitive, and affective functional lateralization of the cerebellum across lifespan, highlighting previously overlooked dimensions of cerebellar contributions.

Parameter learning is a crucial task in the field of Statistical Relational Artificial Intelligence: given a probabilistic logic program and a set of observations in the form of interpretations, the goal is to learn the probabilities of the facts in the program such that the probabilities of the interpretations are maximized. In this paper, we propose two algorithms to solve such a task within the formalism of Probabilistic Answer Set Programming, both based on the extraction of symbolic equations representing the probabilities of the interpretations. The first solves the task using an off-the-shelf constrained optimization solver while the second is based on an implementation of the Expectation Maximization algorithm. Empirical results show that our proposals often outperform existing approaches based on projected answer set enumeration in terms of quality of the solution and in terms of execution time.

When we want to compute the probability of a query from a probabilistic answer set program, some parts of a program may not influence the probability of a query, but they impact on the size of the grounding. Identifying and removing them is crucial to speed up the computation. Algorithms for SLG resolution offer the possibility of returning the residual program which can be used for computing answer sets for normal programs that do have a total well-founded model. The residual program does not contain the parts of the program that do not influence the probability. In this paper, we propose to exploit the residual program for performing inference. Empirical results on graph datasets show that the approach leads to significantly faster inference. The paper has been accepted at the ICLP2024 conference and under consideration in Theory and Practice of Logic Programming (TPLP).

Achieving safe influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant and breastfeeding women is a global health goal due to the potential risks of serious influenza for both mother and child. However, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant barrier to vaccination uptake. Since anxiety represents a determinant in vaccine decision-making, this study aimed to assess influenza vaccination hesitancy and anxiety levels in this population and to explore the association between women’s characteristics, their reluctance, and anxiety levels. A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2022 using structured phone interviews to assess: (1) socio-demographics and clinical history; (2) anti-flu vaccination status, previous anti-flu vaccination, and Sars-CoV-2 infection history; (3) insights into influenza vaccination during pregnancy; (4) attitudes toward anti-flu vaccination, using the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) Scale; (5) anxiety levels, measured by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Among the 387 participants, 22.8% were already vaccinated or expressed willingness to be vaccinated against influenza, and 54% had an anxiety disorder. While anxiety was not significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy, ongoing pregnancy emerged as an independent predictor of anxiety. Higher educational levels, ongoing pregnancy, already being vaccinated or willingness to get vaccinated, and being employed were associated with reduced vaccine hesitancy, while prior SARS-CoV-2 infection with increased hesitancy. Fear of unpredictable events and lack of healthcare professionals’ recommendations emerged as reasons for vaccine reluctance. Given the low coverage rates, these findings highlight the need for health services to enhance vaccination efforts and provide clear recommendations to counter misinformation and ensure accurate vaccine safety information.

Mucus hypersecretion is a trait of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with poorer outcomes. As it may be present before airway obstruction, its early treatment may have a preventive role. This narrative review of the literature presents the role of mucus dysfunction in COPD, its pathophysiology, and the rationale for the use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC can modify mucus rheology, improving clearance and reducing damage induced MUC5AC expression. It exerts a direct and indirect (glutathione replenishment) antioxidant mechanism; it interferes with inflammatory molecular pathways, including inhibition of nuclear factor-kB activation in epithelial airway cells and reduction in the expression of cytokine tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10. Some clinical experiences suggest that the adjunctive use of NAC may reduce symptoms and improve outcomes for patients with COPD. In conclusion, NAC may be a candidate drug for the early treatment of subjects at risk of COPD development.