University of Pisa

Early Introduction and Prolonged Full‐Dose Anakinra Reduce Recurrence Risk After Discontinuation in Recurrent Pericarditis: An International Multicenter Cohort

Background Anakinra is effective in recurrent pericarditis, yet optimal treatment duration and strategies for safe drug discontinuation remain uncertain. Identifying predictors of sustained remission after discontinuation is important for clinical management. Methods We retrospec...

Illustrating Shakespeare in Italian Comic Books: The Case of Gianni De Luca

This article examines the role of Shakespearean adaptations in comics through the case of Italian artist Gianni De Luca (1927–1991), focusing on his Trilogia Shakespeariana (The Tempest, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet), originally published in the children’s magazine Il Giornalino in t...

Locomotion and hunting strategies of large vertebrate predators in pelagic waters

Abstract Many of the key dynamics that shape predator–prey interactions are governed by the physical and physiological principles which determine how animals move and perform in their environments. This opinion paper outlines the foundations underlying marine vertebrate predator–...

Airflows redefine the cost of aerial transport in the wild

Fuel economy matters to both animals and machines, as the cost of transport can determine where, when, and how far locomotion is possible. However, established estimates of these values for animal flight come from laboratories and treat the atmosphere as constant, even though fre...

Thermally metamorphosed CM chondritic clasts reveal deep interior conditions: Insights from thermometry

We studied four coarse-grained crystalline clasts within CM carbonaceous chondrites to constrain their thermal history and origin. These clasts have near-identical mineralogies, dominated by olivine (Fa 37 or Fa 40 ), with lesser quantities of high-Ca pyroxene (diopside: Fs 10-11...

Training the Next Generation of Future Surgical Residents: A Scoping Review and Proposal for an Undergraduate Curriculum From the Italian Polispecialistic Society of Young Surgeons

AIM: The transition from medical school to surgical residency is marked by a persistent gap between theoretical instruction and clinical readiness. In Italy, variability in training programs across centers creates persistent gaps in residents’ medical education. Scientific societ...

Development of N -Hydroxyindole-2-Carboxamides as New Host-Targeted Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents Against Human Respiratory Viruses

Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) oxidoreductases are promising targets for host-targeted antiviral agents (HTAs) because of their essential role in protein folding, including the maturation of viral proteins. Human protein disulfide isomerase family member A3 (PDIA3) is involv...

MDPHP in Post-Mortem Tissues and Necrophagous Larvae After Advanced Decomposition: LC-HRMS Findings and Tentative Phase-I Metabolites

Background/Objectives: 3,4-Methylenedioxy-alpha-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MDPHP) is a pyrrolidinophenone synthetic cathinone whose post-mortem interpretation is particularly difficult when advanced decomposition prevents blood-based toxicology. This case report examined instrumen...

Wax-treated hemp fabrics to reduce water absorption in PLA/PBSA laminated composites

Biocomposites with natural fibres have generated considerable interest thanks to their environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, their use in humid environments remains limited. This study investigates a blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBSA) reinf...

Travel distance to tertiary healthcare reflects disease severity and medication access in Italian systemic sclerosis patients: a geographical study on adult-onset rare diseases from SPRING-SIR registry

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, multiorgan disease in adults that requires specialized care. Commuting to tertiary medical centers poses a considerable burden and incurs significant costs, potentially affecting management choices. This study aims to describe the healthcare co...

Disproportionate systolic blood pressure response relative to oxygen consumption identifies a high-risk haemodynamic phenotype in arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVES: Conventional definitions of hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) rely on absolute systolic blood pressure (SBP) thresholds, which do not account for the metabolic demand driving the pressor response and show inconsistent association with pathophysiology and prognos...

Limited global awareness of invasive alien species and little support for their management

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the main drivers of global change and can cause a wide range of negative ecological and social impacts. Addressing these impacts requires management actions, which can fail to be effective when not supported by the public. Here, we conducte...

The Electrodynamical Nature of Chiral Nanoplasmonics from the Quantum Regime to the Mesoscale

Abstract Chiral plasmonic nanostructures are rapidly emerging as ideal substrates for enantioselective sensing, chiral near-field engineering, and plasmon-assisted catalysis, owing to their exceptional sensitivity to structural handedness. However, whether an atomistic classical...

Cardiac Complications of Infections Due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Clinical Features

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are major causes of respiratory tract infections across different age groups. Although primarily regarded as respiratory pathogens, both viruses have been associated with cardiac complications, whose clinical spec...

Morphological and morphometric variability in Quaternary rhinoceroses as revealed by a small-sized adult Stephanorhinus etruscus skeleton from Poggio Rosso in Upper Valdarno (Early Pleistocene, Italy)

A nearly complete skeleton of Stephanorhinus etruscus from the Upper Valdarno Basin (Italy) provides a rare opportunity to investigate the morphological and morphometric variability of Early Pleistocene rhinoceroses. The specimen, IGF8212V, is here described and compared with S....

Effects of Oral Iron and Commercial Colostrum Supplementation on Clinical Health and Haematological Parameters in Neonatal Chianina Beef Calves: A Pilot Study

The neonatal period is a critical stage for calf health and development, and nutritional interventions have been proposed to support neonatal adaptation and reduce disease risk. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness in extensively reared beef breeds remains limited. Thi...

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antifungal Agents: Toward Harmonization of Therapeutic Ranges

Background: Invasive fungal infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Antifungal therapy is complicated by substantial pharmacokinetic variability, drug–drug interactions, and narrow therapeutic...

Mitochondria-Disrupting Aminocarbyne−DMAP Diiron(I) Complexes Perturb Iron Homeostasis with Marginal ROS Contribution in Cancer Cells

Abstract Five diiron complexes, [Fe2Cp2(CO)(dmap)(μ-CO){μ-CN(Me)(R)}]CF3SO3 (3a-e), were synthesized from readily available tris-carbonyl precursors and characterized. The complexes display ≈10−4 M aqueous solubility, amphiphilicity, and 50−74% of intact complex remaining after 7...

Drug shortages in Italy: strategic insights and empirical evidence from the Italian pharmaceutical market

Abstract Drug shortages disrupt healthcare delivery and pose a critical challenge to the resilience of pharmaceutical supply chains. This study investigates the drivers of drug shortages in Italy – Europe’s leading pharmaceutical producer – to identify the factors associated with...

Coherent Absorption Reveals Colors Hidden in a Grey Fabry–Pérot Cavity

ABSTRACT Thin dielectric films are known to show distinct colors, depending primarily on the film thickness. In the present article we show that a specialized thin film Fabry–Pérot resonator, that we name conductor–dielectric–conductor (CDC) matched cavity, appears grey when obse...