Provincia Autonoma di Trento

Tissue-level phase transitions are emerging as a crucial mechanism in tumour development and metastasis. When becoming invasive, epithelial tumours undergo a transition from a solid-like state to a more fluid-like one. Although the contributions of cell adhesions, traction forces and cell migration for such behaviour are known, the exact biophysical and molecular mechanisms controlling these transitions are not fully understood. Here we show that breast cancer cell fluidity is regulated by IRSp53, a protein linking plasma membranes to the cytoskeleton. In both two-dimensional monolayers and three-dimensional spheroids, the depletion of IRSp53 increases fluidity and active wetting of the substrate due to a decrease in intercellular friction and enhanced local cell rearrangements. Molecularly, IRSp53 interacts with the junctional protein Afadin to control global tensile state and active wetting, establishing these proteins as key regulators of epithelial collectives' viscosity in breast cancer tumouroids. In breast cancer patient samples, low IRSp53 expression levels and aberrant localization correlate with worse clinical outcomes. These findings support the broader relevance of IRSp53-regulated mechanics in epithelia and their potential prognostic value in cancer.

Nontraumatic diaphragmatic rupture is a rare condition with clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic to severe respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. Owing to its nonspecific nature, it can be difficult to differentiate from other diaphragmatic disorders. We present a case of a 35-year-old German woman with a right-sided nontraumatic diaphragmatic rupture, presenting with recurrent hypertensive crises and acute dyspnea. Although initially misdiagnosed, further clinical and radiological evaluations suggestive of diaphragmatic elevation led to the decision to proceed with robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of non-traumatic diaphragmatic rupture, especially in complex clinical scenarios. It highlights the importance of thorough clinical assessment, appropriate imaging, and timely surgical intervention. Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery proved to be a safe and effective therapeutic option and should be considered in select cases where conventional diagnostics fail to provide definitive answers.

Background: Artificial intelligence is emerging as a promising tool in surgical oncology, with growing evidence suggesting potential applications in diagnostic support, intraoperative guidance, and perioperative risk assessment. In gastric cancer surgery, emerging applications range from AI-assisted endoscopic detection to data-driven perioperative risk prediction, while some technological developments, particularly in robotic autonomy, derive from broader surgical or experimental models that may inform future gastric procedures. Methods: A narrative review was conducted following established methodological standards, including the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) and the Search-Appraisal-Synthesis-Analysis (SALSA) framework. English-language studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science up to October 2025 were included. Evidence was synthesized thematically across five domains: AI-assisted anatomical recognition and lymphadenectomy support, autonomous robotic systems, early cancer detection, perioperative predictive and frailty models, and ethical and regulatory considerations. Results: AI-based computer vision and deep learning algorithms have demonstrated promising capabilities for real-time anatomical recognition, surgical phase classification, and intraoperative guidance, although evidence of direct patient-level benefit remains limited. In diagnostic settings, AI-assisted endoscopy and Raman spectroscopy have been shown to improve early lesion detection and reduce dependence on operator experience. Predictive models, including MySurgeryRisk and AI-driven frailty assessments, may support individualized prehabilitation planning and perioperative risk stratification. Persistent limitations include small and heterogeneous datasets, insufficient external validation, and unresolved concerns related to data privacy, algorithmic interpretability, and medico-legal responsibility. Conclusions: Artificial intelligence is progressively emerging as a promising tool in gastric cancer surgery, integrating automation, advanced analytics, and human clinical reasoning. Its safe and ethical adoption requires robust validation, transparent governance, and continuous surgeon oversight. When developed within human-centered and ethically grounded frameworks, AI can augment, rather than replace, surgical expertise, potentially advancing precision, safety, and equity in oncologic care.

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a widely used geophysical method for investigating permafrost in challenging mountain environments, such as rock glaciers (Hauck and Kneisel, 2008). This study focuses on optimizing ERT acquisition strategies using modern high-quality multi-channel georesistivity meters, steel-net electrodes, and appropriate acquisition schemes, in order to efficiently and rapidly acquire multiple ERT transects and reliably characterize the internal structure of rock glaciers, despite complex surface conditions.As recently proposed by Pavoni et al. (2025), the use of light steel-net electrodes facilitates the deployment and removal of ERT transects in blocky terrain, ensuring optimal galvanic contact without compromising data quality. In addition to these practical benefits, the choice of acquisition scheme strongly influences survey efficiency and data reliability. Hybrid acquisition schemes based on Dipole-dipole and Multigradient multi-skip approaches, when combined with multi-channel instruments, allow for rapid data acquisition, improved model sensitivity, and enhanced evaluation of dataset quality.In this work, we compare the performance of a mixed Dipole-dipole and Multigradient multi-skip scheme with the traditional Wenner-alpha configuration. While traditional Wenner-alpha measurements are usually acquired only in the direct configuration, the Dipole-dipole and Multigradient schemes enables the acquisition of a substantially larger number of quadripoles within the same time frame, including both direct and reciprocal measurements, which provide a more robust estimation of data error by accounting for both instrumental and systematic contributions (Binley et al., 1995).Furthermore, we evaluate the Polo-Dipole configuration’s potential to increase model sensitivity at depth (White et al., 2003), facilitating a more reliable identification of the bottom of the frozen layer within rock glaciers. Measurements were collected in both direct and reciprocal geometries, with the remote electrode deployed at two different positions and two different distances on opposite sides of the transect. Testing these alternative positions and distances of the remote electrode provided an additional way to assess data quality, confirming the robustness of the Polo-Dipole setup and its ability to increase investigation depth without significantly affecting acquisition time.Overall, the integration of high-quality multi-channel instruments, light steel-net electrodes, and optimized acquisition strategies enhances model sensitivity and data-quality assessment while improving operational efficiency. This approach enables the rapid acquisition of multiple transects within a single field campaign and supports the development of quasi-3D resistivity models of rock glacier structures.ReferencesBinley, A., Ramirez, A., & Daily, W. (1995, April). Regularised image reconstruction of noisy electrical resistance tomography data. In Proceedings of the 4th Workshop of the European Concerted Action on Process Tomography, Bergen, Norway (pp. 6-8).Hauck, C., and Kneisel, C.: Applied Geophysics in Periglacial Environments, Cambridge University Press., 2008.Pavoni, M., Peruzzo, L., Boaga, J., Carrera, A., Barone, I., & Bast, A. (2025). Brief communication: Use of lightweight and low-cost steel net electrodes for electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys performed on coarse-blocky surface environments. The Cryosphere, 19(10), 4141-4148.White, R. M. S., Collins, S., & Loke, M. H. (2003). Resistivity and IP arrays, optimised for data collection and inversion. ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2003(2), 1-4.

Understanding geomorphological processes and landscape evolution is fundamental for UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGPs), particularly those located in high-altitude, climate-sensitive areas. Concurrently, UGGPs require effective tools for the conservation, promotion, and management of geodiversity and geoheritage. This paper presents the digital Geomorphological Database (GDB) for the Adamello Brenta UGGp in the European Alps, a GIS-based framework documenting geomorphological processes and landforms across the entire protected area (approx. 1,100 km²). We adopted a consolidated and standardised GDB structure based on the guidelines for the Official Geomorphological Map of Italy at a 1:50,000 scale. Although not specifically designed for mountain areas, this database has proven to be a robust and transferable tool, suitable for documenting the complex Alpine geomorphology of the Geopark. It includes over 20,000 landforms, providing a quantitative knowledge base of the area’s geomorphological diversity. As a dynamic tool, the GDB can be updated with new data and is suitable for future multi-temporal analyses. It provides key support for crucial Geopark tasks, including geodiversity assessment, geoheritage promotion, territorial planning, and educational or geotourism activities. Its utility was successfully tested in the production of high-quality geomorphological maps, the planning of educational activities, land-use planning, and raising geohazard awareness. The GDB of the Adamello Brenta UGGp represents a fundamental scientific and management asset, bridging research with the practical needs of geoheritage protection, education, and sustainable development.

Introduction: Recurrent hypoglycemia occurring prior to the initiation of insulin therapy is an uncommon finding at the onset of pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Aim: The aim of this study was to describe an unusual presentation of T1D onset characterized by recurrent hypoglycemia in a pediatric patient and to provide an updated review of the literature on hypoglycemic episodes occurring before insulin initiation in children with new-onset T1D. Case report: We present the case of a child who exhibited recurrent fasting hypoglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia at the onset of T1D. Clinical findings also included persistently elevated glucagon levels (66–93 pmol/L; normal values [n.v.] 3–60); markedly elevated glycated hemoglobin (98 mmol/moL); low C-peptide levels (0.05 nmol/L); and a slight positivity for antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (38.3 KUI/L; n.v. < 10). Review of the literature: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed (MEDLINE) database to identify studies reporting hypoglycemia at the onset of T1D in pediatric patients prior to insulin initiation. The search included combinations of the terms hypoglycemia, new-onset, type 1 diabetes, child, and adolescent, with an exclusion of insulin-treated cases. We also explore potential pathogenetic mechanisms underlying this unusual presentation, including alpha-cell acute damage or dysregulation and loss of intra-islet paracrine signaling. Conclusions: Among individuals with T1D onset, episodes of recurrent hypoglycemia before the initiation of insulin therapy have been reported in a few studies. The presented case expands the clinical spectrum of early T1D and suggests that early alpha-cell dysfunction may contribute to atypical glycemic patterns during disease onset.

A new orchid species Ponerorchis milinensis, from Milin County, Xizang of China is described here on the basis of morphological characters and molecular phylogenetics. Ponerorchis milinensis is morphologically close to P. nana but readily distinguished from it by a set of vegetative and reproductive characters, including its plant size, the number of leaves per stem, size of flowers, lip features, and spur shape. Molecular phylogenetic study using two nuclear markers (nrITS and Xdh) and three plastid markers (matK, psbA-trnH, and trnL-F) showed that P. milinensis formed a clade with P. tibetica and P. farreri. Ponerorchis milinensis differs from the latter two species by having a 3-lobed lip, two calli at the entrance of spur and 3-lobed stigma.