Volume 38, no. 12, December 2025. Tribulus Terrestris, pilot project concluded: no effect on increased testosterone and sports performance. The bacterial toxin CNF1 improves the molecular and cellular alterations in fibroblasts from patients with RTT. Scientific Innovation and ethical research: an in vitro study on the skin absorption of nanomaterials for public health protection. RarISS Insert. Hippocrates and the birth of rational medical arts

Abstracts:
Tribulus Terrestris, pilot project concluded: no effect on increased testosterone and sports performance
The pilot project titled “Use and misuse of supplements, health products, self-medication, and non-prohibited substances aimed at enhancing sports performance”, conducted by the National Centre for Addiction and Doping of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health in Italy, ISS) in collaboration with the Università Politecnica delle Marche, has concluded. Running from January 2024 to July 2025, the project aimed to assess, through the analysis of urine samples, any potential alterations in the hormonal profiles of the participating athletes. Preliminary investigations did not reveal significant changes in steroid metabolism; however, further studies are required to confirm these findings. As part of the initiative, a communication campaign was also launched to promote a key message: always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before taking any kind of supplement.

The bacterial toxin CNF1 improves the molecular and cellular alterations in fibroblasts from patients with Rett syndrome
Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects girls, leading to a regression of acquired skills and severe cognitive and motor deficits. Recent studies on Rett animal models have highlighted alteration of mitochondria, organelles involved in cellular energy production. The study conducted by the authors of this article confirms the beneficial effects on mitochondria by CNF1, a bacterial toxin that restores energy alterations and improves the cognitive and motor symptoms in Rett animal models, and demonstrates that its beneficial effects are also detectable in human cells obtained from Rett patients. This study paves the way for similar studies in other neurological disorders with mitochondrial dysfunctions.

Scientific Innovation and ethical research: an in vitro study on the skin absorption of nanomaterials for public health protection and in support of animal-free research
The project “Evaluation of Skin Absorption of nanomaterials: use of in vitro methods as alternatives to animal testing,” supported by the Lega Antivivisezione (LAV) and coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (the National Institute of Health in Italy, ISS) in collaboration with the Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS) and the Italian Platform on Alternative Methods (IPAM), is a significant example of how in vitro methods can advance scientific research in line with European regulations promoting non-animal approaches. The in vitro experiments conducted allowed the study of human exposure to emerging nanomaterials, particularly metallic and plastic ones, which are still rarely investigated in Italy, especially regarding skin absorption from everyday products and their environmental release. In addition to advantages such as high reproducibility, speed of execution, and cost-effectiveness, the absence of animal testing gives this research strong ethical value, further enhancing its scientific relevance for public health and the environment.