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Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic and systemic condition that causes widespread chronic pain, asthenia, and muscle stiffness, as well as in some cases depression, anxiety, and disorders of the autonomic system. The exact causes that lead to the development of FM are still unknown today. In a percentage of individuals, the symptoms of FM are often triggered and/or exacerbated by proximity to electrical and electromagnetic devices. Plasma metabolomic profile of 54 patients with fibromyalgia and self-reported electromagnetic sensitivity (IEI-EMF) were compared to 23 healthy subjects using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) coupled with multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Before the GC–MS analysis the plasma samples were extracted with a modified Folch method and then derivatized with methoxamine hydrochloride in pyridine solution and N-trimethylsilyltrifuoroacetamide. The combined analysis allowed to identify a metabolomic profile able of distinguishing IEI-EMF patients and healthy subjects. IEI-EMF patients were therefore characterized by the alteration of 19 metabolites involved in different metabolic pathways such as energy metabolism, muscle, and pathways related to oxidative stress defense and chronic pain. The results obtained in this study complete the metabolomic \"picture\" previously investigated on the same cohort of IEI-EMF patients with 1 H-NMR spectroscopy, placing a further piece for better understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms in patients with IEI-EMF.

Background: Smartphone usage in school-aged children has increased over the last two decades. This overuse interferes with emotion regulation and interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this work was to analyze the relationship between smartphone addiction risk and personality dimensions in primary school children. Methods: The aim of this research is to verify the percentage of Smartphone Addiction (SA) in a sample of primary school children and to explore the relationship between personality dimensions and SA. The Smartphone Addiction Risk Children Questionnaire (SARCQ) and the Big Five Children (BFC) questionnaire were administered to a sample (N = 94) of children. Results: We found that, in our sample, the percentage of children matching the definition of emotional addiction to smartphones was 16% and that a subgroup of children using smartphones as a transitional object represented 15% of the sample. The correlations between the SARCQ and BFC questionnaire factors showed a significant negative correlation between the “I’m not afraid with you” (INAWY) factor and Friendliness, Conscientiousness, and Openness, showing that children with low socialization capacities are prone to use smartphones as a means to handle negative internal states. In contrast, a positive correlation between the INAWY and the Emotional Instability factors has been observed. For the “Linus’s Blanket” (LB) factor, a significant negative correlation with the Friendliness and Conscientiousness factors was observed. Conclusions: The risk of SA, with the use of smartphones as “emotion-handling tools” or as “transitional objects”, was observed in children with personality dimensions associated with higher risk.

Fibromyalgia (FM) as Fibromyalgia and Electromagnetic Sensitivity (IEI-EMF) are a chronic and systemic syndrome. The main symptom is represented by strong and widespread pain in the musculoskeletal system. The exact causes that lead to the development of FM and IEI-EMF are still unknown. Interestingly, the proximity to electrical and electromagnetic devices seems to trigger and/or amplify the symptoms. We investigated the blood plasma metabolome in IEI-EMF and healthy subjects using 1 H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis. All the individuals were subjected to tests for the evaluation of psychological and physical features. No significant differences between IEI-EMF and controls relative to personality aspects, Locus of Control, and anxiety were found. Multivariate statistical analysis on the metabolites identified by NMR analysis allowed the identification of a distinct metabolic profile between IEI-EMF and healthy subjects. IEI-EMF were characterized by higher levels of glycine and pyroglutamate, and lower levels of 2-hydroxyisocaproate, choline, glutamine, and isoleucine compared to healthy subjects. These metabolites are involved in several metabolic pathways mainly related to oxidative stress defense, pain mechanisms, and muscle metabolism. The results here obtained highlight possible physiopathological mechanisms in IEI-EMF patients to be better defined.

The effect of cooperative learning in pairs and groups of 4 and in individualistic learning were compared on achievement, social support, and self-esteem. Sixty-two Italian 7th-grade students with no previous experience with cooperative learning were assigned to conditions on a stratified random basis controlling for ability, gender, and self-esteem. Students participated in 1 instructional unit for 90 min for 6 instructional days during a period of about 6 weeks. The results indicate that cooperative learning in pairs and 4s promoted higher achievement and greater academic support from peers than did individualistic learning. Students working in pairs developed a higher level of social self-esteem than did students learning in the other conditions.

Sixty-one elementary school students who had never participated in cooperative learning lessons before were included in this study. Students were randomly assigned to the conditions of cooperative learning with and without group processing and participated to 5 instructional sessions during a period of approximately 15 instructional days. Results on achievement show that by the end of the study students assigned to group processing condition achieved higher than did students assigned to no processing condition. Results on perception of peer academic and personal support and teacher academic and personal support do not show significant differences between the experimental groups.

A total of 62 subjects of an Italian school, from the 4th and the 5th elementary school level (about 9,10 and 11 years old), participated in a study investigating the effects of personality, gender and two cooperative learning tasks in children interactive behaviours. In our study we have considered two particular forms of cooperative learning: collaborative peer learning and computer supported collaborative peer learning. In the first task, children, working in pairs, had access to one computer. The independent variables were the personality (extrovert, introvert and mediovert), the gender of the couples (male, female and mixed couples), and the type of the task (hypertext and questionnaire), a repeated measure's factor. The dependent variables were the percentage of the time of the different interactive behaviours. Results have shown that personality clearly influence the way in which students interact when they work in pairs.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Background Kidney involvement is frequent in SLE, with proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) forms and nephritic flares being key predictors of poor outcomes. Conflicting results have been reported for anti-C1q antibodies among the serological markers. Our purpose was to assess the value of immunological tests (C3,C4 complement fractions, anti-DNA and antiC1q antibodies) in predicting histological classes and flares of lupus nephritis (LN). Methods For histological class prediction, we evaluated the immunological tests performed on the day of kidney biopsy by linear and multiple regression analyses. For flare prediction, univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were made at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Results Of 61 participants in the study, 47 had proliferative (III, IV) and 14 non-proliferative LN (II, V) at kidney biopsy. In proliferative LN, anti-DNA ( p  = 0.0186) and anti-C1q antibodies (Ab) ( p  = 0.0050) were significantly higher, and serum C3 and C4 lower ( p  = 0.0026; p  = 0.0212) compared to non-proliferative LN. At multiple regression analysis, the best association to differentiate proliferative from non-proliferative LN was the number of urinary erythrocytes (OR 3.2292; CI 1.2585–8.2858; p  = 0.0148) and anti-C1qAb (OR 1.0288; CI 1.0016–1.0568; p  = 0.0380). Of 53 patients evaluated for flare predictions, followed for 60.69 (37.20-78.704) months, 10 (18.86%) had a renal flare at 28.19 months (24.84–39.38, range:16.3–55.8) from therapy initiation. At univariable analysis, anti-C1qAb ( p  = 0.0340, p  = 0.0005) and no-use hydroxychloroquine ( p  = 0.0313, p  = 0.0276) predicted flares at baseline and six months. Anti-C1qAb ( p  = 0.0047), non-use hydroxychloroquine ( p  = 0.0252), anti-C1qAb  ≥  40UA ( p  = 0.0047), 24/h proteinuria ( p  = 0.0185), and proteinuria  ≥  0.5 g/day ( p  = 0.0216) predicted flares at 12 months. At multivariable analysis, anti-C1q > 40UA (OR 9.0721; CI 0.9146–42.9882; p  = 0.0057) and non-use of hydroxychloroquine (OR 0.1742 CI 0.0445–0.6823; p  = 0.0126) were the independent predictors of renal flares. Conclusion Immunological tests can differentiate proliferative from non-proliferative LN, but anti-C1qAb and urinary erythrocytes had the best predictive power. Only persistent high anti-C1qAb at 1 year and non-use of hydroxychloroquine seem to predict renal flares.

Nephritis is a frequent and severe complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE). The clinical course of lupus nephritis (LN) is usually characterized by alternating phases of remission and exacerbation. Flares of LN can lead to deterioration of kidney function, necessitating timely diagnosis and therapy. The presence of autoantibodies against C1q (anti-C1qAb) in the sera of SLE patients has been reported in various studies. Some research suggests that the presence and changes in the titer of anti-C1qAb may be associated with the development of LN, as well as with LN activity and renal flares. However, the exact role of anti-C1qAb in LN remains a subject of debate. Despite variability in the results of published studies, anti-C1qAb hold promise as noninvasive markers for assessing LN activity in SLE patients. Measuring anti-C1qAb levels could aid in diagnosing and managing LN during periods of both inactive disease and renal flares. Nevertheless, larger controlled trials with standardized laboratory assays are necessary to further establish the utility of anti-C1qAb in predicting the reactivation and remission of LN and guiding treatment strategies.