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In this review, the Author wants to share his experience and opinions after 45 years of academic research on beer. The first part of this review is dedicated to the over time situation of the Italian beer firms. The main core of the paper deals with the historical aspects of the Italian academic research on beer and its relationship with beer industries. The importance of the Italian research is also compared with the European situation. The University Teaching on this matter is also discussed. Finally it is suggested how to further upgrade the quality of the existing University research centres and laboratories. Up to 194 references are presented.

It is known that sensory signals sustain the background discharge of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) which includes the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neurons and controls the level of attention and alertness. Moreover, LC neurons influence brain metabolic activity, gene expression and brain inflammatory processes. As a consequence of the sensory control of ARAS/LC, stimulation of a sensory channel may potential influence neuronal activity and trophic state all over the brain, supporting cognitive functions and exerting a neuroprotective action. On the other hand, an imbalance of the same input on the two sides may lead to an asymmetric hemispheric excitability, leading to an impairment in cognitive functions. Among the inputs that may drive LC neurons and ARAS, those arising from the trigeminal region, from visceral organs and, possibly, from the vestibular system seem to be particularly relevant in regulating their activity. The trigeminal, visceral and vestibular control of ARAS/LC activity may explain why these input signals: (1) affect sensorimotor and cognitive functions which are not directly related to their specific informational content; and (2) are effective in relieving the symptoms of some brain pathologies, thus prompting peripheral activation of these input systems as a complementary approach for the treatment of cognitive impairments and neurodegenerative disorders.

The 2016–2017 seismic events that struck central Italy led the Government to carry out a project to produce the third level Seismic Microzonation studies in 138 municipalities. These activities have involved many experts in different disciplines such as geology, geomorphology, geophysics, seismology and geotechnical engineering. This project represented the first opportunity to perform nationally coordinated third level Seismic Microzonation studies over a wide area in a quite short time (6 months). It provided the chance to improve methodological procedures, to test the reliability of methods and models for site response analyses and to produce a huge amount of validated data. This paper focuses on the contribution of geological disciplines and concerns: (a) the definition of the main “morphostructural domains” of the Central-Northern Apennines; (b) the creation of an archive of all the lithostratigraphic units occurring in the study area with their conversion into engineering-geological units and their distribution in the different morphostructural domains; (c) the construction of the reference geological and geotechnical models, which are essential to classify the territory into seismically homogeneous microzones and to perform the successive 1D and 2D numerical analyses of the local site response. The geophysical dataset acquired for the study allowed a first statistical characterization of the Vs values typical of the engineering-geological units identified in this study. Some examples of the recurrent geological and geotechnical models are shown to explain the complexity and variety of the geological and geomorphological features of the investigated area and to highlight the different seismostratigraphic behavior of rocks and cover terrains. The analysis of third level Seismic Microzonation data made it possible to identify recurrent subsoil models and to note the main stratigraphic and morphological control-factors of the ground motion modification in the different morphostructural domains.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a global health threat, with significant morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the evolving landscape of HCV in Tuscany, Italy, from 2015 to 2022, considering demographic shifts, clinical profiles, treatment regimens, and outcomes, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Material and Methods A multicenter retrospective study was conducted on 6882 HCV patients, with data collected on demographics, clinical history, and HCV risk factors. The analysis encompassed three different temporal eras: the period before and the period after the universal availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAA), and the COVID-19 era. The treatment’s effectiveness was evaluated by the achievement of the Sustained Virological Response (SVR12), which was assessed 12 weeks after the treatment’s conclusion. Outcomes included SVR12, non-SVR12, and cases of lost to follow-up. Statistical analysis was conducted by ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multinomial logistic regression.ResultsIn the pre-DAA era, people with chronic HCV infection were older than those characterizing the subsequent periods (I: 61.12±12.23, II: 57.61±14.84%, III: 57.71±15.68%; F(2,6876)=48.265, p<0.001). While HBV coinfection rate was stable over time (χ2(2)=3.315, p=0.0191), the pre-DAA era showed higher prevalence of HCV patients with genotype 1 (I: 62.5%, II: 54.7%, III: 48.7%; χ2(2)=66.865, p<0.001), HIV co-infection (I: 5.8%, II: 3.6%, III: 1.8%, χ2(2)=33.957, p<0.001) and cirrhosis (I: 50.8%, II: 14.5%, III: 24.4%; χ2(2)=902.958, p<0.001). During the COVID-19 era, all the HCV patients were treated with HCV therapy of third generation and the loss to follow-up rate reached higher values (I: 0.3%, II: 0.3%, III: 5.6%, χ2(2)=194.383, p<0.001). The overall SVR12 remained stable over time (χ2(2)=0.357, p=0.837), while facilitating factors influenced the non-SVR12 (male gender: Odds Ratio (OR)=2.134, p=0.006; cirrhosis: OR=1.713, p=0.040; HIV co-infection: OR=3.251, p=0.005) or lost to follow-up (DAA treatment, third generation: OR=4.187, p=0.006) outcomes.ConclusionsThe study provides a comprehensive view of the HCV landscape, revealing demographic shifts, treatment patterns, and outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted service delivery, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment, and influencing patient follow-up. Despite challenges, the region maintained high SVR12 rates, emphasizing the importance of sustained efforts in HCV care. This study highlights the dynamic nature of HCV management in Tuscany, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation to public health challenges. As the region strives to meet WHO elimination targets, ongoing screening efforts and multidisciplinary interventions are crucial. The study underscores the resilience of HCV care during the pandemic and provides insights for future public health strategies.

The year 2015 will certainly be remembered as the Year of the Universal Exposition (EXPO) hosted in Milan, Italy, focusing on a hot theme in the current scenario: “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. This event has drawn a wide international attention towards Italy as a country with peculiar and valuable food traditions, thus strengthening its reputation as “gastronomic capital of the world” rich in protected designation of origin products (PDOs) and characterised by a longstanding food culture.

Methylphenidate (MPH), the first-line medication in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is associated with increased risk of sleep disorders. Melatonin has both hypnotic and chronobiotic properties that influence circadian rhythm sleep disorders. This study explores the effectiveness of melatonin in children with ADHD who developed sleep problems after starting MPH. This study, based on a clinical database, included 74 children (69 males, mean age 11.6±2.2 years) naturalistically treated with MPH (mean dosage 33.5±13.5 mg/d). The severity of sleep disorder (sleep onset delay) was recorded at baseline and after a follow-up of at least 4 weeks using a seven-point Likert scale according to the Clinical Global Impression Severity score. Effectiveness of melatonin on sleep (mean dosage 1.85±0.84 mg/d) after 4 weeks was assessed using a seven-point Likert scale according to the Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) score, and patients who scored 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) were considered responders. Clinical severity of sleep disorders was 3.41±0.70 at the baseline and 2.13±1.05 after the follow-up ( <0.001). According to the CGI-I score, 45 patients (60.8%) responded to the treatment with melatonin. Gender and age (children younger and older than 12 years) did not affect the response to melatonin on sleep. Patients with or without comorbidities did not differ according to sleep response. Specific comorbidities with disruptive behavior disorders (oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder), affective (mood and anxiety) disorders and learning disabilities did not affect the efficacy of melatonin on sleep. Treatment was well tolerated, and no side effects related to melatonin were reported. In children with ADHD with sleep problems after receiving MPH treatment, melatonin may be an effective and safe treatment, irrespective of gender, age and comorbidities.

The RISE-Vac project consortium applied evidence-based public health methods to collate, assess, and analyze all the evidence generated through project activities, including literature review and prospective data collection on quantitative and qualitative aspects of vaccine services implementation in prison settings. A multi-sectorial and inter-disciplinary group of experts was set-up including health professionals, statisticians, social scientists and people with lived experience from civil society organisations, health services, prison administrations, academia and international agencies. A set of recommendations, advice, and policy options on how to increase vaccine uptake, targeted to people in prison and using a citizen-centred approach, were developed and tailored to specific needs profiles of different prison population subgroups. Vaccinations to be considered in prison settings were grouped according to target population and/or public health objective into: Seasonal vaccinations and vaccination during outbreak; Childhood life-course vaccinations (booster doses); Vaccinations for cancer prevention; Vaccination for older population groups and people with chronic conditions. In consideration of the diversity of the countries participating in the project, their epidemiological context and available resources and infrastructures, a multi-tiered approach for the development and implementation of models for vaccination services implementation in prison settings was devised, encompassing core vaccinations, such as HBV, Flu, COVID-19 and tetanus, as well as expanded vaccination offer to respond to enhanced health needs and to promote equity of health outcomes, including e.g. HPV vaccination.