Exposure to high altitude might cause the body to adapt with negative energy and fluid balance that compromise body composition and physical performance. In this field study involving 12 healthy adults, sex-balanced, and aged 29 ± 4 years with a body mass index of 21.6 ± 1.8 kg/m², we investigated the effects of a 4-day trekking up to 4556 m a.s.l. on Monte Rosa (Alps, Italy). The food intake was recorded using food diaries and nutrient averages were calculated. The bio-impedance analysis was performed at low and high altitudes, and a wearable biosensor (Swemax) was used to track hydro-saline losses in two participants. Daily total energy intake was 3348 ± 386 kcal for males and 2804 ± 415 kcal for females (13%–14% protein, 35% fat, 44%–46% carbohydrates). Although there was a significant body weight loss (65.0 ± 9.3 vs. 64.2 ± 9.10 kg, p < 0.001, d = 1.398), no significant changes in body composition parameter were found but a trend in the increase of the bioelectrical phase angle in males ( p = 0.059, d = −0.991). Body water percentage significantly changed ( p = 0.026, η² _p = 0.440), but the absolute water did not, suggesting that the weight loss was not due to water loss. Salivary and urinary osmolality did not change. A reduction in sweat rate at higher altitudes was observed in both participants. Interestingly, salivary leptin increased ( p = 0.014, η² _p = 0.510), and salivary ghrelin decreased ( p = 0.036, η² _p = 0.403). Therefore, the 4-day trekking at altitude of hypoxia exposure induced changes in satiety and appetite hormones. High altitude expeditions require more specific nutritional guidance, and using multiplex analysis could help in monitoring fluid balance and body composition.

Expanded newborn screening (NBS) is a preventive program that allows for the early identification of over 40 congenital endocrine-metabolic diseases by analyzing dried blood spot samples collected from the newborn’s heel within 48–72 h of birth. The determination of amino acids and acyl-carnitines by Flow Injection Analysis Tandem Mass Spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS) may also highlight metabolic alterations resulting from external factors, such as maternal nutrition. In the present study, we developed a questionnaire to investigate the eating habits of 109 women during pregnancy and statistically correlated the results from the investigation on dietary habits with the data obtained by the NBS laboratory of Abruzzo region (Italy). Parameters such as smoking, physical activity, and the intake of iodized salt, drugs, and supplements were analyzed. This study aimed to highlight how maternal lifestyle, diet, and drug intake during pregnancy may affect the neonatal metabolic profile, possibly generating false positive or false negative results in the NBS test. The results pointed out how the knowledge of maternal nutrition and lifestyle may also be precious in preventing misinterpretations of the neonatal metabolic profile, thereby reducing unnecessary stress for newborns and their parents and limiting costs for the health system.

The design of new drug delivery systems has been widely sought after. The stability, solubility, and difficulty of targeting active sites for new drugs have always been challenging and remain one of the major drawbacks to the efficiency of certain drugs. Liposomes are phospholipid vesicles enclosing one or more aqueous compartments. Depending on its properties, a drug is embedded in the lipid bilayer or the aqueous medium. Thus, liposomes can act as drug carriers for both lipo- and hydrophilic compounds. New strategies such as “drug-in-cyclodextrin-in liposomes” (DCLs) have been developed as safe and effective carriers for exploiting the inclusion properties of water-soluble cyclodextrins known to form host–guest complexes with lipophilic molecules. Once inclusion complexes are formed, they can be inserted into a liposome aqueous core in order to stabilize it and better control the drug release. Our review will provide an update on the use of DCLs in the field of drug delivery for various kinds of active compounds. While previous reviews focused on the interesting advantages of using this method, such as enhancing the solubility and stability of a drug or controlling and improving drug release, the authors intend to highlight the impact of these nanocarriers on the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties of drugs.

The interaction of small hydrophobic and amphiphilic molecules with lipid membranes plays a pivotal role in modulating membrane structure, dynamics, and permeability, which are key factors in applications ranging from drug delivery to antimicrobial design. In this study, we investigate the incorporation of the phenolic monoterpenes thymol and carvacrol, along with some ether derivatives, into unilamellar liposomes composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). These systems were prepared via the thin-film hydration method and characterized at two distinct terpene/lipid molar ratios. A comprehensive array of biophysical techniques was employed to elucidate the structural and thermotropic modifications induced by terpene incorporation. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) provided insights into vesicle size and colloidal stability. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed perturbations in membrane phase behaviour, while Raman spectroscopy offered molecular-level details on lipid-terpene interactions, particularly at the headgroup and upper acyl chain regions. Additionally, Molecular Dynamics simulations indicated a preferential localization of terpenes just beneath the lipid headgroup, further reinforcing the experimental observations. Fluorescence-based permeability assays using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF), interpreted through a biphasic kinetic model, showed that phenolic terpenes promoted membrane leakage, especially during the initial burst phase, suggesting a key role for the phenolic -OH group in mediating interfacial interactions. This study advances our understanding of molecular determinants governing guest-bilayer interactions and underscores the utility of model membrane systems and complementary biophysical tools for probing structural phenomena in soft matter systems.

Background: Alterations of the gut microbiota have been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of dementia through mechanisms involving systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and gut–brain axis disruption. Clinical evidence, however, remains fragmented. Objectives: This systematic review aimed to characterize gut microbiota profiles in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), explore mechanistic associations with neurodegeneration, and evaluate the impact of microbiota-targeted interventions on cognitive outcomes. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD420251074832), PubMed/Medline was searched through May 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort and case–control studies assessing microbiota composition or interventions in participants with MCI or AD. Results: Twenty-one studies were included (1 RCT, 20 observational; sample size 22–302). Most used 16S rRNA sequencing; one used shotgun metagenomics. Across cohorts, MCI and AD patients consistently showed reduced short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae) and increased pro-inflammatory taxa (Escherichia/Shigella, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides). Several studies reported reduced microbial diversity. Specific taxa, including Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium, were associated with amyloid burden, hippocampal atrophy, and cognitive decline. Environmental and dietary factors influenced microbial composition and cognition. The RCT reported that probiotic supplementation improved inflammatory markers and BDNF levels, although changes in microbiota composition were inconsistent. Conclusions: Gut dysbiosis is strongly associated with cognitive impairment and markers of neurodegeneration. Modulation of the microbiota through diet and probiotics emerges as a promising avenue for dementia prevention and management, though robust longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to confirm causality and therapeutic efficacy.

Background: Sepsis with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality, increasingly complicated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to improving outcomes and limiting antimicrobial resistance. The URO-RESIST study aimed to assess the relationship between clinical features, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, CRP and PCT, respectively), microbiological profiles, and outcomes in patients with sepsis with UTI. A secondary aim was to compare microbiological patterns between institutionalized patients and those living at home without known MDR risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 231 patients with sepsis with UTI. admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit of Chieti Hospital, Italy, between 2014 and 2024 (excluding 2020–2021). Data on clinical, laboratory, and microbiological variables were collected. MDR organisms were defined per European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) criteria. Analyses included non-parametric tests and logistic regression. Results: MDR pathogens were identified in over 40% of cases. Patients from long-term care facilities had higher CRP levels and a higher prevalence of MDR infections. Carbapenems were frequently used, though empirical treatment was sometimes inappropriate. PCT did not differ significantly between MDR and non-MDR groups and had limited prognostic value. CRP and MDR presence were both associated with worse outcomes and longer hospital stays. Functional dependence and dementia were strongly linked to MDR infections. Age correlated with comorbidities but was not an independent predictor of outcome. Conclusions: MDR infections worsen the course of sepsis with UTI. CRP may outperform PCT in assessing severity, especially in institutionalized patients. Functional and cognitive impairments increase vulnerability to MDR pathogens. These findings support the need for rapid diagnostics, targeted antibiotic use, and personalized care strategies.