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This article explores the magnifying lenses of the COVID‐19 syndemic to highlight how people racialized as migrants and refugees have been—and continue to be—disproportionally harmed. We use empirical evidence collected in our scholarly/activist work in Europe, Africa, South Asia, and the United States to examine migrant injustice as being produced by a combination of power structures and relations working to maintain colonial global orders and inequalities. This is what has been defined as "border imperialism." Our data, complemented by evidence from transnational solidarity groups, show that border imperialism has further intersected with the hygienic‐sanitary logics of social control at play during the COVID‐19 period. This intersection has resulted in increasingly coercive methods of restraining people on the move, as well as in increased—and new—forms of degradation of their lives, that is, an overall multiplication of border violences. At the same time, however, COVID‐19 has provided a unique opportunity for grassroot solidarity initiatives and resistance led by people on the move to be amplified and extended. We conclude by emphasizing the need for community psychologists to take a more vigorous stance against oppressive border imperialist regimes and the related forms of violence they re/enact. Highlights: People on the move have been, and continue to be, disproportionally harmed by the COVID‐19 syndemic.Migrant injustice is produced by a global system of border imperialism.The COVID‐19 syndemic has worked as a multiplier of border violences.The COVID‐19 has been a driver of grassroots solidarity and resistance led by people on the move.Community psychologists need to take a more vigorous stance against border imperialist regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside vaccines, antiviral drugs are becoming an integral part of our response to the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Nirmatrelvir—an orally available inhibitor of the 3‐chymotrypsin‐like cysteine protease—has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to severe COVID‐19. However, the impact of nirmatrelvir treatment on the development of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific adaptive immune responses is unknown. Here, by using mouse models of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, we show that nirmatrelvir administration blunts the development of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibody and T cell responses. Accordingly, upon secondary challenge, nirmatrelvir‐treated mice recruited significantly fewer memory T and B cells to the infected lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, respectively. Together, the data highlight a potential negative impact of nirmatrelvir treatment with important implications for clinical management and might help explain the virological and/or symptomatic relapse after treatment completion reported in some individuals. Synopsis Nirmatrelvir administration to SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected mice blunts the development of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific antibody and T cell responses. Accordingly, upon secondary challenge, nirmatrelvir‐treated mice recruited significantly fewer memory T and B cells.Adaptive immune response is impaired across different SARS‐CoV‐2 variants and regardless of the time of treatment.Our results might help explain the virological and/or symptomatic relapse after treatment completion reported in some individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription of actively expressed genes is dampened for kilobases around DNA lesions via chromatin modifications. This is believed to favour repair and prevent genome instability. Nonetheless, mounting evidence suggests that transcription may be induced by DNA breakage, resulting in the local de novo synthesis of non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Such transcripts have been proposed to play important functions in both DNA damage signalling and repair. Here, we review the recently identified mechanistic details of transcriptional silencing at damaged chromatin, highlighting how post‐translational histone modifications can also be modulated by the local synthesis of DNA damage‐induced ncRNAs. Finally, we envision that these entangled transcriptional events at DNA breakages can be targeted to modulate DNA repair, with potential implications for locus‐specific therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The early‐onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with severe placental insufficiency and Doppler abnormalities. The late‐onset IUGR is associated with mild placental insufficiency and normal Doppler velocimetry. The computerized cardiotocographic (cCTG) monitoring is used to evaluate the fetal well‐being in pregnancies complicated by IUGR. Our aim was to investigate the cardiotocographic characteristics of IUGR fetuses and to identify every cCTG difference between Healthy and IUGR fetuses. Methods: Four hundred thirty pregnant women were enrolled starting from the 28th week of gestation until the time of delivery: 200 healthy and 230 IUGR fetuses. Fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline (FHR), short‐term variability (STV), long‐term irregularity (LTI), delta, interval index (II), approximate entropy (ApEn), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), movement frequency (MF), LF/(HF + MF) ratio (LF/(HF + MF)) and number of decelerations were examined. Newborn baby data were also collected. Results: The parameters of short‐ and medium‐term variability discriminate between IUGR and healthy fetuses before 36 weeks including FHR, STV, LTI and delta discriminate between each subgroup of IUGR were compared to each one of the other two (P < 0.05). Conclusion: cCTG is a useful tool for the evaluation of chronic hypoxemia, which causes a delay in the maturation of all components of the autonomic and central nervous system. However, cCTG requires integration with fetal ultrasound and Doppler vessels evaluation to improve the ability to predict the neonatal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: In spite of concerns about migration‐related detention, research inside these sites of confinement is scarce.We present an ethnographic exploration into the detention of illegalized non‐citizens in Italy.Transcending individual‐centered analysis, we adopt an ecological framework with a focus on justice.We contribute to create knowledge on the psychosocial and cultural world behind the walls of detention.We discuss the oppressive qualities of detention and avenues for research and action for community psychologists. Drawing on almost 3 years of fieldwork, comprising qualitative interviews and ethnographic observations, this study provides an exploration into the detention of illegalized non‐citizens in Italy. Taking the largest detention center as a case study, the fabric of everyday life and the lived experiences of people, both detainees and professional actors, are the focus of examination. An ecological community psychology framework, with a focus on justice, guided the data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Findings highlight the oppressive qualities of detention, and its ripple effects on people's life spaces. Scarcity of resources, activities, and information created a very distressing environment for detainees, also enhancing feelings of powerlessness and frustration in professionals willing to assist them. Uncertainty and instability, rather than coercion or discipline, emerged as modes of governing and dominating. Bound in a different space and time, detainees were turned into unwanted and expendable others, their confinement becoming a means to extract profit from them. Yet, people languishing in these sites displayed an extraordinary ability to cope with, resist, and challenge the persisting conditions of injustice they endured. We conclude by highlighting the potential of the proposed framework, and discussing broader implications of our findings and avenues for research and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We aimed to analyze computerized cardiotocographic (cCTG) parameters (including fetal heart rate baseline, short-term variability, Delta, long-term irregularity [LTI], interval index [II], low frequency [LF], movement frequency [MF], high frequency [HF], and approximate entropy [ApEn]) in physiological term pregnancies in order to correlate them with ethnic differences. The clinical meaning of numerical parameters may explain physiological or paraphysiological phenomena that occur in fetuses of different ethnic origins. Methods A total of 696 pregnant women, including 384 from Europe, 246 from sub-Saharan Africa, 45 from South-East Asia, and 21 from South America, were monitored from the 37th to the 41st week of gestation. Statistical analysis was performed with the analysis of variance test, Pearson correlation test and receiver-operator curves ( P < 0.05). Results Our results showed statistically significant differences ( P < 0.05) between white and black women for Delta, LTI, LF, MF, HF, and ApEn; between white and Asian women for Delta, LTI, MF, and the LF/(HF + MF) ratio; and between white and Latina women for Delta, LTI, and ApEn. In particular, Delta and LTI performed better in the white group than in the black, Asian, and Latina groups. Instead, LF, MF, HF, and ApEn performed better in the black than in the white group. Conclusion Our results confirmed the integrity and normal functionality of both central and autonomic nervous system components for all fetuses investigated. Therefore, CTG monitoring should include both linear and nonlinear components of fetal heart rate variability in order to avoid misinterpretations of the CTG trace among ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the vicissitudes that affect the migration trajectories of many Nigerian women who experienced trafficking before arriving in Italy, and end up in Centers for Identification and Expulsion ( CIE) for undocumented migrants. Their life stories, collected within the CIE of Ponte Galeria (Rome), revealed violence as 'a rule of action' with which these women are obliged to cope with at different levels. Moreover, they highlighted the failure of traditional security approaches to human trafficking, and the necessity to rethink the measures adopted to ensure survivors' protection and rights. As it is conceived, the system of immigration control prevents the full guarantee of survivors' rights, often labelling them as 'illegal migrants'. Finally, there is the need to extend protection to all survivors of human trafficking even if the crime against them has not happened in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-HIV, and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of aqueous and alcoholic extracts from leaves, stems, and flowers of Euphorbia characias. The extracts showed a high antioxidant activity and were a good source of total polyphenols and flavonoids. Ethanolic extracts from leaves and flowers displayed the highest inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, showing potential properties against Alzheimer’s disease. Antimicrobial assay showed that leaves and flowers extracts were active against all Gram-positive bacteria tested. The ethanolic leaves extract appeared to have the strongest antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus with MIC value of 312.5 μg/mL followed by Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus that also exhibited good sensitivity with MIC values of 1250 μg/mL. Moreover, all the extracts possessed anti-HIV activity. The ethanolic flower extract was the most potent inhibitor of HIV-1 RT DNA polymerase RNA-dependent and Ribonuclease H with IC50 values of 0.26 and 0.33 μg/mL, respectively. The LC-DAD metabolic profile showed that ethanolic leaves extract contains high levels of quercetin derivatives. This study suggests that Euphorbia characias extracts represent a good source of natural bioactive compounds which could be useful for pharmaceutical application as well as in food system for the prevention of the growth of food-borne bacteria and to extend the shelf-life of processed foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To analyze computerized cardiotocographic (cCTG) parameters (baseline fetal heart rate, baseline FHR; short term variability, STV; approximate entropy, ApEn; low frequency, LF; movement frequency, MF; high frequency, HF) in physiological pregnancy in order to correlate them with the stages of labor. This could provide more information for understanding the mechanisms of nervous system control of FHR during labor progression. Methods A total of 534 pregnant women were monitored on cCTG from the 37th week before the onset of spontaneous labor and during the first and the second stage of labor. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test with the Bonferroni adjusted α (< 0.05). Results Statistically significant differences were seen between baseline FHR, MF and HF ( P < 0.001), in which the first two were reduced and the third was increased when compared between pre-labor, and the first and second stages of labor. Differences between some of the stages were found for ApEn, LF and for LF/(HF + MF), where the first and the third were reduced and the second was increased. Conclusions cCTG modifications during labor may reflect the physiologic increased activation of the autonomous nervous system. Using computerized fetal heart rate analysis during labor it may be possible to obtain more information from the fetal cardiac signal, in comparison with the traditional tracing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the retrotranscription process, characteristic of all retroviruses, the viral ssRNA genome is converted into integrationcompetent dsDNA. This process is accomplished by the virus-coded reverse transcriptase (RT) protein, which is a primary target in the current treatments for HIV-1 infection. In particular, in the approved therapeutic regimens two classes of drugs target RT, namely, nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). Both classes inhibit the RT-associated polymerase activity: the NRTIs compete with the natural dNTP substrate and act as chain terminators, while the NNRTIs bind to an allosteric pocket and inhibit polymerization noncompetitively. In addition to these two classes, other RT inhibitors (RTIs) that target RT by distinct mechanisms have been identified and are currently under development. These include translocationdefective RTIs, delayed chain terminators RTIs, lethalmutagenesis RTIs, dinucleotide tetraphosphates, nucleotide-competing RTIs, pyrophosphate analogs, RT-associated RNase H function inhibitors, and dual activities inhibitors. This paper describes the HIV-1 RT function and molecular structure, illustrates the currently approved RTIs, and focuses on the mechanisms of action of the newer classes of RTIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS) on computerized cardiotocography shortterm variability (STV) and approximate entropy (ApEn) in both low- and high-risk pregnancies. VAS was performed on 121 highand 95 low-risk pregnancies after 10 minutes of continuous quiet, while their FHR parameters were monitored and recorded by cCTG analysis. Fetal heart rate was recorded using a computer-assisted equipment. Baseline FHR, accelerations, decelerations, STV, long-term irregularity (LTI), ApEn, and fetal movements (FMs) were calculated for defined observational periods before VAS and after 10 minutes. Data were also investigated in relationship with the perinatal outcome. In each group of patients, FHR after VAS remained almost unmodified. Fetal movements significantly increased after VAS in both groups. Results show that only in the high-risk pregnancies, the increase of STV and the decrease of ApEn after VAS were significantly associated with favorable perinatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) has two associated activities, DNA polymerase and RNase H, both essential for viral replication and validated drug targets. Although all RT inhibitors approved for therapy target DNA polymerase activity, the search for new RT inhibitors that target the RNase H function and are possibly active on RTs resistant to the known non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNRTI) is a viable approach for anti-HIV drug development. In this study, several alizarine derivatives were synthesized and tested for both HIV-1 RT-associated activities. Alizarine analogues K-49 and KNA-53 showed IC values for both RT-associated functions of ∼ 10 μ. When tested on the K103N RT, both derivatives inhibited the RT-associated functions equally, whereas when tested on the Y181C RT, KNA-53 inhibited the RNase H function and was inactive on the polymerase function. Mechanism of action studies showed that these derivatives do not intercalate into DNA and do not chelate the divalent cofactor Mg. Kinetic studies demonstrated that they are noncompetitive inhibitors, they do not bind to the RNase H active site or to the classical NNRTI binding pocket, even though efavirenz binding negatively influenced K-49/KNA-53 binding and vice versa. This behavior suggested that the alizarine derivatives binding site might be close to the NNRTI binding pocket. Docking experiments and molecular dynamic simulation confirmed the experimental data and the ability of these compounds to occupy a binding pocket close to the NNRTI site. Newly synthesized alizarine analogues inhibited both HIV-1 wild-type reverse transcriptase (RT)-associated DNA polymerase and RNase H functions, and retained their inhibitory effect also on the RT-associated RNase H function of K103N and Y181C RTs. Mechanism of action studies, docking experiments and molecular dynamic simulation showed that they are allosteric inhibitors and occupy a binding pocket close to the NNRTI site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcortical vascular dementia is a clinical entity, widespread, even challenging to diagnose and correctly treat. Patients with this diagnosis are old, frail, often with concomitant pathologies, and therefore, with many drugs in therapy. We tried to diagnose and follow up for three years more than 600 patients. Study subjects were men and women, not bedridden, aged 68-94 years, outpatients, recruited from June, 1st 2007 to June, 1st 2010. We examined them clinically, neurologically, with specific consideration on drug therapies. Our aim has been to define gait and imbalance problem, if eventually coexistent with the pathology of white matter and/or with the worsening of the deterioration. Drug intake interference has been detected and considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]