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Topic Review
Mechanisms, Techniques and Devices of Airborne Virus Detection
Airborne viruses, such as COVID-19, cause pandemics all over the world. Virus-containing particles produced by infected individuals are suspended in the air for extended periods, actually resulting in viral aerosols and the spread of infectious diseases. Aerosol collection and detection devices are essential for limiting the spread of airborne virus diseases. 
  • 490
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Protective Textiles against Biological Threats
The development of protective clothing is crucial nowadays, as there are increased levels of harmful biological threats, both for military forces and civilians.
  • 489
  • 29 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Nutritional Composition of Oily Fish
Oily fish is a rich source of energy, proteins, essential amino acids, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Among the macronutrients with the highest contribution are lipids, mainly long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 LC-PUFA), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both EPA and DHA play a beneficial role in promoting health and preventing many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and acute myocardial infarction. They also contribute to the prevention of neurological, metabolic, and immune-system-related diseases, as well as supporting body-weight control. Oily fish consumption is also important at different stages of human life, from conception to old age. 
  • 489
  • 30 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Mercury and Prenatal Growth
The intrauterine environment is critical for healthy prenatal growth and affects neonatal survival and later health. Mercury is a toxic metal which can freely cross the placenta and disrupt a wide range of cellular processes. Many observational studies have investigated mercury exposure and prenatal growth, but no prior review has synthesised this evidence. Four relevant publication databases (Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were systematically searched to identify studies of prenatal mercury exposure and birth weight, birth length, or head circumference. Study quality was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool, and results synthesised in a narrative review. Twenty-seven studies met the review criteria, these were in 17 countries and used 8 types of mercury biomarker. Studies of birth weight (total = 27) involving populations with high levels of mercury exposure, non-linear methods, or identified as high quality were more likely to report an association with mercury, but overall results were inconsistent. Most studies reported no strong evidence of association between mercury and birth length (n = 14) or head circumference (n = 14). 
  • 489
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Reproductive Nanotoxicity of Carbon Nanoparticles
Carbon nanoparticles have unique chemical and physical properties that make them an excellent material that can be applied in many fields of human activity, including industry, food processing, the pharmaceutical industry, or medicine. Although it has a high degree of biocompatibility, possible toxic effects on different tissue types must also be taken into account. Carbon nanoparticles are known to be toxic to the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, digestive system, etc., and they also have a negative effect on reproduction and offspring development. 
  • 487
  • 25 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Methylmercury, DNA, and Chromatin
Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental neurotoxin that can adversely affect the development of the nervous system. The molecular integrity of chromatin in the nucleus is an important target of MeHg. Low levels of MeHg trigger epigenetic mechanisms that may be involved in long-lasting and transgenerational neurotoxicity after exposure. Emerging evidence has shown that these mechanisms include histone modification, short interfering RNA (siRNA), and DNA methylation.
  • 487
  • 19 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Pollutants Generated in Piggeries
Reducing the sources of stress on farms allows for enhanced animal welfare and productivity. Aerial contaminants and pollutants that can be found in indoor animal houses are among these stressors. In Italy, the guidelines to assess animal welfare in pig farming are displayed in a protocol named “ClassyFarm”, based on European legislation. Specific indications are given on the microclimatic conditions of livestock indoor environments (temperature, relative humidity, dustiness) and air quality, especially regarding harmful gases such as ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Nevertheless, the recommended measurement techniques for dust and harmful gases are not satisfactory.
  • 485
  • 25 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Environmental Pollution and the Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic disorders are a spectrum of diseases that affect normal metabolic functioning and regulation. More than 500 metabolic disorders exist, two of the most common being diabetes mellitus and obesity. Obesity is a multifactorial disorder involving the interaction of genetics, lifestyle and environment. It results in excessive adipose tissue deposition and is defined by a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2. In addition, obesity is the leading cause of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an elevated blood glucose level, a chronic hyperglycemic state caused by a combination of pancreatic β-cell loss through apoptosis and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle. By contrast, type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune attack upon pancreatic β-cells, causing an almost complete loss of insulin production and secretion. Whilst a genetic predisposition can underlie the onset of type 1 diabetes, with particular loci of interest having been identified, environmental factors may also contribute. Well-established risk factors for type 2 diabetes and obesity are a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, insulin resistance, environmental factors and genetics.
  • 484
  • 08 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Measures against Toxic of Ochratoxin A
Ochratoxin A (OTA), which is a frequent contaminant in feeds/foods for animals and humans all over the world, is defined by IARC as a possible human carcinogen and belongs to group 2B mycotoxins, which is based on various experimental studies with rats or mice. Therefore, there are still some disputes among the research community in regard to the real potential of OTA to be carcinogenic for animals, poultry or humans because the mentioned above studies address mainly laboratory animals, such as mice or rats, whereas the data for humans, farm animals and poultry are still limited.
  • 481
  • 08 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Air Pollution on Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Asthma
Redox regulation participates in the control of various aspects of metabolism. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species participate in many reactions under physiological conditions. When these species overcome the antioxidant defense system, a distressed status emerges, increasing biomolecular damage and leading to functional alterations. Air pollution is one of the exogenous sources of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) is important because of its complex composition, which includes transition metals and organic compounds. Once in contact with the lungs’ epithelium, PM components initiate the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, macrophage activation, modulation of gene expression, and the activation of transcription factors, which are all related to the physiopathology of chronic respiratory diseases, including cancer. 
  • 480
  • 08 Feb 2023
Topic Review
LncRNAs Display Circadian Rhythmicity in Zebrafish Larvae
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play crucial roles in various life processes, including circadian rhythms. Although next generation sequencing technologies have facilitated faster profiling of lncRNAs, the resulting datasets require sophisticated computational analyses. In particular, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in circadian clocks are far from being completely understood.
  • 479
  • 07 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Marine Cyanobacterial Peptides in Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is the most prevalent extracranial solid tumor in pediatric patients, originating from sympathetic nervous system cells. Metastasis can be observed in approximately 70% of individuals after diagnosis, and the prognosis is poor. The current care methods used, which include surgical removal as well as radio and chemotherapy, are largely unsuccessful, with high mortality and relapse rates. Marine cyanobacteria are a key source of physiologically active metabolites, which have recently received attention owing to their anticancer potential. Marine peptides possess several advantages over proteins or antibodies, including small size, simple manufacturing, cell membrane crossing capabilities, minimal drug–drug interactions, minimal changes in blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, selective targeting, chemical and biological diversities, and effects on liver and kidney functions.
  • 479
  • 05 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Aerosolization of Moulds Particles from Contaminated Materials
Fungi are well known as common contaminants of the indoor environment with the ability to grow on many types of building materials and to subsequently release biological particles into the indoor air. The aerosolization of allergenic compounds or mycotoxins borne by fungal particles or vehiculated by dust may have a direct impact on the occupant’s health. 
  • 478
  • 07 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Students’ Negative Emotional Symptoms during COVID-19
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on negative emotional symptoms has been serious with studies reporting high prevalence rates for these. Isolation, reduced social contact, duration of quarantine and restrictions, which are the characteristics of a lockdown, played an important role in increased negative emotional symptoms for students.
  • 477
  • 04 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Children Health and Air Pollution
The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis links adverse fetal exposures with developmental mal-adaptations and morbidity later in life. Short- and long-term exposures to air pollutants are known contributors to health outcomes. Air pollution is an established risk factor for morbidity and mortality that affects the general population. The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis states that adverse fetal, infant, and childhood growth patterns are causally linked to disease development in adulthood. The literature on cardiovascular and metabolic, respiratory, allergic, and neuropsychological health outcomes, from prenatal development through early childhood, associated with early-life exposures to outdoor air pollutants, including traffic-related and wildfire-generated air pollutants are summarized.
  • 476
  • 26 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Social Connectedness
Poor social connectedness has long been recognised as a significant threat to both physical and mental health, particularly for older people. Numerous studies examining the health impacts of loneliness and isolation have demonstrated an association with negative outcomes such as increased mortality, cognitive decline, anxiety and depression and cardiovascular disease. However, with the rapid onset of the SARS-CoV-2 (otherwise known as COVID-19) virus in early 2020 came an additional threat to those already vulnerable to loneliness—enforced physical isolation. Confinement to the home was particularly important for the health of those in older age due to the increased mortality risk from the virus for that section of the population.
  • 476
  • 13 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Safety Management in Industry 5.0 Manufacturing
Safety management is a priority to guarantee human-centered manufacturing processes in the context of Industry 5.0, which aims to realize a safe human–machine environment based on knowledge-driven approaches. The traditional approaches for safety management in the industrial environment include staff training, regular inspections, warning signs, etc. Despite the fact that proactive measures and procedures have exceptional importance in the prevention of safety hazards, human–machine–environment coupling requires more sophisticated approaches able to provide automated, reliable, real-time, cost-effective, and adaptive hazard identification in complex manufacturing processes.
  • 475
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Viral Eco-Genomic Tools for Aquatic Biomonitoring
Enteric viruses (EVs) occurrence within aquatic environments varies and leads to significant risk on public health of humans, animals, and diversity of aquatic taxa. Early and efficacious recognition of cultivable and fastidious EVs in aquatic systems are important to ensure the sanitary level of aquatic water and implement required treatment strategies. In combination with bioinformatics techniques, genetic tools including cloning sequencing analysis, DNA microarray, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and metagenomic sequencing technologies are implemented to make informed decisions about the global burden of waterborne EVs-associated diseases.
  • 474
  • 05 Sep 2022
Topic Review
The Early Days of Personal Solar Ultraviolet Dosimetry
In the early 1970s, environmental conservationists were becoming concerned that a reduction in the thickness of the atmospheric ozone layer would lead to increased levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at ground level, resulting in higher population exposure to UV and subsequent harm, especially a rise in skin cancer. At the time, no measurements had been reported on the normal levels of solar UV radiation which populations received in their usual environment, so this lack of data, coupled with increasing concerns about the impact to human health, led to the development of simple devices that monitored personal UV exposure. 
  • 472
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
High-Polyphenol-Content Waters Using Biotechnological Approaches
Polyphenols and their intermediate metabolites are natural compounds that are spread worldwide. Polyphenols are antioxidant agents beneficial for human health, but exposure to some of these compounds can be harmful to humans and the environment. A number of industries produce and discharge polyphenols in water effluents. These emissions pose serious environmental issues, causing the pollution of surface or groundwater (which are used to provide drinking water) or harming wildlife in the receiving ecosystems. The treatment of high-polyphenol-content waters is mandatory for many industries.
  • 472
  • 16 Jan 2023
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