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A photoelectrochemical sensor composed of a heterojunction between titanium dioxide and gold nanoparticles was fabricated and used for the determination of ciprofloxacin, a widely used, but environmentally toxic third‐generation antibiotic. This material has been extensively characterized from the morphological, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical points of view, comparing it with the respective counterparts. It has been demonstrated that only the presence of the heterojunction allows the detection of ciprofloxacin, thanks to the properties of gold nanoparticles combined with those of titanium dioxide. These increased performances have allowed the detection of the analyte even with low power sources and wavelengths in the visible region, obtaining good detection limits and excellent resistance to possible interferents. Thanks to this, the future implementation of these sensors in integrated circuits for online and onsite analysis is foreseen. Photoelectrochemical detection of ciprofloxacin: A heterojunction formed by titanium dioxide and gold nanoparticles can determine ciprofloxacin by photoelectrochemical analysis. Thanks to the synergistic properties of the two materials, it is possible to use low‐power and visible light sources and limit interferences.

Nitrates (NO3‐) are crucial in agricultural practices and the food industry, but their excessive presence in water can lead to adverse health effects. Their leaching into water sources necessitates regular monitoring. This study introduces a novel bimodal electrochemical (EC)/photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor, utilizing copper‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (Cu/g‐C3N4), designed for precise nitrate determination. The structural morphology and chemical composition of the Cu/g‐C3N4 nanocomposite were meticulously examined using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The optimization of copper loading in g‐C3N4 was conducted, and the electrochemical behavior and light irradiation interaction of various Cu/g‐C3N4 nanocomposites were systematically studied. The investigation revealed that 20 % Cu/g‐C3N4 represented the optimal doping ratio, establishing the most promising candidate for NO3‐. Nitrates were consistently measured using both EC and PEC techniques, yielding Limits of Detection (LoD) of 3.75 and 9.60 ppm, respectively. The sensor‘s robust performance was further demonstrated in the presence of possible interferents. The proposed sensors were also successfully used to detect NO3‐ in commercial water. This bimodal sensor presents a promising approach for accurate nitrate determination, attesting to its potential for effective cross‐validation. An innovative bimodal sensor, based on copper‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) was proposed for the analytical determination of nitrates. After the characterization of the material, coherent electrochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements were performed in the presence of interferents and in real water samples.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the extent to which the public transportation environment, such as in subways, may be important for the transmission of potential pathogenic microbes among humans, with the possibility of rapidly impacting large numbers of people. For these reasons, sanitation procedures, including massive use of chemical disinfection, were mandatorily introduced during the emergency and remain in place. However, most chemical disinfectants have temporary action and a high environmental impact, potentially enhancing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of the treated microbes. By contrast, a biological and eco-sustainable probiotic-based sanitation (PBS) procedure was recently shown to stably shape the microbiome of treated environments, providing effective and long-term control of pathogens and AMR spread in addition to activity against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Our study aims to assess the applicability and impact of PBS compared with chemical disinfectants based on their effects on the surface microbiome of a subway environment. Results The train microbiome was characterized by both culture-based and culture-independent molecular methods, including 16S rRNA NGS and real-time qPCR microarray, for profiling the train bacteriome and its resistome and to identify and quantify specific human pathogens. SARS-CoV-2 presence was also assessed in parallel using digital droplet PCR. The results showed a clear and significant decrease in bacterial and fungal pathogens ( p  < 0.001) as well as of SARS-CoV-2 presence ( p  < 0.01), in the PBS-treated train compared with the chemically disinfected control train. In addition, NGS profiling evidenced diverse clusters in the population of air vs. surface while demonstrating the specific action of PBS against pathogens rather than the entire train bacteriome. Conclusions The data presented here provide the first direct assessment of the impact of different sanitation procedures on the subway microbiome, allowing a better understanding of its composition and dynamics and showing that a biological sanitation approach may be highly effective in counteracting pathogens and AMR spread in our increasingly urbanized and interconnected environment. 2f-kwnMvWGEoeLQ9ACdzrQ Video Abstract

Invited for this issue's Front Cover is the group of Electroanalytical Chemistry of Prof. Luigi Falciola. The Cover Feature shows the photoelectrochemical sensor prepared by covering AuNPs with a thin layer of TiO2. The obtained hybrid material, which exploits synergistically the properties of its components, was used to monitor ciprofloxacin, exhibiting a response only once irradiated. Good performances were obtained using a low‐power LED. Such discovery may pave the way for future in situ applications in environmental monitoring. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202201136. “This paper describes a photoelectrochemical sensor obtained by combining gold nanoparticles and titanium dioxide. After a wide electrochemical characterization, the analytical performances were tested using low power LED irradiation obtaining promising results that pave the way for future applications…“ Learn more about the story behind the research featured on the front cover in this issue's Cover Profile. Read the corresponding Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202201136.

Background: Hyponatremia in cancer patients is often caused by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). The aim of this observational multicenter study was to analyze the medical and economic implications of SIADH in this setting. Methods: This study included 90 oncological patients from 28 Italian institutions that developed SIADH between January 2010 and September 2015. Data on clinical–pathological characteristics, anticancer therapies, hyponatremia, and related treatments were statistically analyzed. Results: The majority were lung cancer patients (73%) with metastatic disease at the onset of hyponatremia (83%). A total of 76 patients (84%) were hospitalized because of SIADH and less than half (41%) received tolvaptan for SIADH treatment. The duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in patients who did not receive tolvaptan and in those who do not reach sodium normalization during hospitalization. Patients who experienced a second episode of hyponatremia following tolvaptan dose modification/discontinuation presented a significantly lower serum sodium value at the time of hospitalization and minimum sodium value during hospitalization compared with patients who had not experienced another episode. The severity of hyponatremia, defined as minimum sodium value during hospitalization with a cut-off value of 110 mmol/l, and not obtaining sodium correction during hospitalization significantly correlated with overall survival rate. Conclusions: Hyponatremia due to SIADH could result in longer hospitalization and in a decreased overall survival when not adequately treated, and tolvaptan represents an effective treatment with a potential effect of both improving overall survival and decreasing duration of hospitalization.

Nitrates (NO 3 ‐ ) are crucial in agricultural practices and the food industry, but their excessive presence in water can lead to adverse health effects. Their leaching into water sources necessitates regular monitoring. This study introduces a novel bimodal electrochemical (EC)/photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor, utilizing copper‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (Cu/g‐C 3 N 4 ), designed for precise nitrate determination. The structural morphology and chemical composition of the Cu/g‐C 3 N 4 nanocomposite were meticulously examined using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The optimization of copper loading in g‐C 3 N 4 was conducted, and the electrochemical behavior and light irradiation interaction of various Cu/g‐C 3 N 4 nanocomposites were systematically studied. The investigation revealed that 20 % Cu/g‐C 3 N 4 represented the optimal doping ratio, establishing the most promising candidate for NO 3 ‐ . Nitrates were consistently measured using both EC and PEC techniques, yielding Limits of Detection (LoD) of 3.75 and 9.60 ppm, respectively. The sensor‘s robust performance was further demonstrated in the presence of possible interferents. The proposed sensors were also successfully used to detect NO 3 ‐ in commercial water. This bimodal sensor presents a promising approach for accurate nitrate determination, attesting to its potential for effective cross‐validation.

The Front Cover shows the photoelectrochemical sensor prepared by covering gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a thin layer of TiO2. The obtained hybrid material, which exploits synergistically the properties of its components, was used to monitor ciprofloxacin, exhibiting a response only once irradiated. Good performances were obtained using a low‐power LED. Such discovery may pave the way for future in situ applications in environmental monitoring. More information can be found in the Research Article by D. Fumagalli et al.

PurposeThe aim of our study was to assess respiratory function at the time of clinical recovery and 6 weeks after discharge in patients surviving to COVID-19 pneumonia.MethodsOur case series consisted of 13 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.ResultsAt the time of clinical recovery, FEV1 (2.07 ± 0.72 L) and FVC (2.25 ± 0.86 L) were lower compared to lower limit of normality (LLN) values (2.56 ± 0.53 L, p = 0.004, and 3.31 ± 0.65 L, p < 0.001, respectively), while FEV1/FVC (0.94 ± 0.07) was higher compared to upper limit of normality (ULN) values (0.89 ± 0.01, p = 0.029). After 6 weeks pulmonary function improved but FVC was still lower than ULN (2.87 ± 0.81, p = 0.014).ConclusionThese findings suggest that COVID-19 pneumonia may result in clinically relevant alterations in pulmonary function tests, with a mainly restrictive pattern.