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- Carli, F, et al.
(author)
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Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors (Di(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and Bisphenol A (BPA)) in Women from Different Residing Areas in Italy: Data from the LIFE PERSUADED Project
- 2022
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In: International journal of molecular sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1422-0067. ; 23:24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are plasticizers used in many industrial products that can act as endocrine disruptors and lead to metabolic diseases. During the LIFE PERSUADED project, we measured the urinary concentrations of BPA and Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) metabolites in 900 Italian women representative of the Italian female adult population (living in the north, centre, and south of Italy in both rural and urban areas). The whole cohort was exposed to DEHP and BPA with measurable levels above limit of detection in more than 99% and 95% of the samples, respectively. The exposure patterns differed for the two chemicals in the three macro-areas with the highest urinary levels for DEHP in south compared to central and northern Italy and for BPA in northern compared to central and southern Italy. BPA levels were higher in women living in urban areas, whereas no difference between areas was observed for DEHP. The estimated daily intake of BPA was 0.11 μg/kg per day, about 36-fold below the current temporary tolerable daily intake of 4 μg/kg per day established by the EFSA in 2015. The analysis of cumulative exposure showed a positive correlation between DEHP and BPA. Further, the reduction of exposure to DEHP and BPA, through specific legislative measures, is necessary to limit the harmfulness of these substances.
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- Andrienko, G., et al.
(author)
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(So) Big Data and the transformation of the city
- 2020
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In: International Journal of Data Science and Analytics. - : Springer. - 2364-415X .- 2364-4168.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The exponential increase in the availability of large-scale mobility data has fueled the vision of smart cities that will transform our lives. The truth is that we have just scratched the surface of the research challenges that should be tackled in order to make this vision a reality. Consequently, there is an increasing interest among different research communities (ranging from civil engineering to computer science) and industrial stakeholders in building knowledge discovery pipelines over such data sources. At the same time, this widespread data availability also raises privacy issues that must be considered by both industrial and academic stakeholders. In this paper, we provide a wide perspective on the role that big data have in reshaping cities. The paper covers the main aspects of urban data analytics, focusing on privacy issues, algorithms, applications and services, and georeferenced data from social media. In discussing these aspects, we leverage, as concrete examples and case studies of urban data science tools, the results obtained in the “City of Citizens” thematic area of the Horizon 2020 SoBigData initiative, which includes a virtual research environment with mobility datasets and urban analytics methods developed by several institutions around Europe. We conclude the paper outlining the main research challenges that urban data science has yet to address in order to help make the smart city vision a reality.
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- Jones, Gregory T., et al.
(author)
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Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Identifies Four New Disease-Specific Risk Loci
- 2017
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In: Circulation Research. - 0009-7330 .- 1524-4571. ; 120:2, s. 341-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. Together, 6 previously identified risk loci only explain a small proportion of the heritability of AAA. Objective: To identify additional AAA risk loci using data from all available genome-wide association studies. Methods and Results: Through a meta-analysis of 6 genome-wide association study data sets and a validation study totaling 10 204 cases and 107 766 controls, we identified 4 new AAA risk loci: 1q32.3 (SMYD2), 13q12.11 (LINC00540), 20q13.12 (near PCIF1/MMP9/ZNF335), and 21q22.2 (ERG). In various database searches, we observed no new associations between the lead AAA single nucleotide polymorphisms and coronary artery disease, blood pressure, lipids, or diabetes mellitus. Network analyses identified ERG, IL6R, and LDLR as modifiers of MMP9, with a direct interaction between ERG and MMP9. Conclusions: The 4 new risk loci for AAA seem to be specific for AAA compared with other cardiovascular diseases and related traits suggesting that traditional cardiovascular risk factor management may only have limited value in preventing the progression of aneurysmal disease.
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- Vultaggio, A., et al.
(author)
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IgG4 anti-infliximab in treated patients : Clinical impact and temporal evolution
- 2018
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In: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 73:11, s. 2172-2181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Infliximab (IFX) carries potential risk of immunogenicity with the production of anti-drug antibodies (ADA). ADA may belong to different isotypes and are usually measured by ELISA bridging assay. This test is not designed to detect IgG4 antibodies. The aim was to measure IgG4 anti-IFX antibodies in a cohort of IFX-treated patients and to evaluate their relationship with ADA and their clinical impact.Methods: Anti-drug antibodies were detected using a bridging ELISA in the serum of 222 treated patients with different clinical outcomes to IFX. The same samples were analyzed for IgG4 anti-IFX antibodies using an experimental ImmunoCAP assay with reduced serum IgG4 background levels. A longitudinal evaluation was performed in a subgroup of 38 patients to define the temporal evolution of IgG4 anti-IFX.Results: IgG4 anti-IFX was found in 26.6% of patients. Eighty of 222 patients were ADA+ (36%) and the majority (57/80, 71.3%) had IgG4 anti-IFX. Two IgG4-positive but ADA-negative patients were identified. IgG4 anti-IFX levels correlated with the serum levels of ADA. IgG4 anti-IFX was more common in both reactive and nonresponder patients than in tolerant/responder patients. Patients who had experienced IgE-mediated reactions displayed significantly higher IgG4 anti-IFX than IgE-negative reactive patients. The majority of patients tested positive for IgG4 anti-IFX after the first seven infusions.Conclusions: IgG4 anti-IFX is common in treated patients and a large part of ADA producing patients produce IgG4 antibodies. The IgG4 anti-IFX response does not prevent hypersensitivity reactions to IFX and correlates with the IgE anti-IFX response.
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