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The Feline Leukemia Virus Subgroup C Receptor 1a (FLVCR1a) is a transmembrane heme exporter essential for embryonic vascular development. However, the exact role of FLVCR1a during blood vessel development remains largely undefined. Here, we show that FLVCR1a is highly expressed in angiogenic endothelial cells (ECs) compared to quiescent ECs. Consistently, ECs lacking FLVCR1a give rise to structurally and functionally abnormal vascular networks in multiple models of developmental and pathologic angiogenesis. Firstly, zebrafish embryos without FLVCR1a displayed defective intersegmental vessels formation. Furthermore, endothelial-specific Flvcr1a targeting in mice led to a reduced radial expansion of the retinal vasculature associated to decreased EC proliferation. Moreover, Flvcr1a null retinas showed defective vascular organization and loose attachment of pericytes. Finally, adult neo-angiogenesis is severely affected in murine models of tumor angiogenesis. Tumor blood vessels lacking Flvcr1a were disorganized and dysfunctional. Collectively, our results demonstrate the critical role of FLVCR1a as a regulator of developmental and pathological angiogenesis identifying FLVCR1a as a potential therapeutic target in human diseases characterized by aberrant neovascularization.

Objectives Our study aims to determine the trend of the antibody titer and assess the efficacy of the vaccine. Methods It was conducted on 983 healthcare professionals between 27 February 2020 and 22 October 2021 at the Local Health Authority (ASL) of Rieti. Workers voluntarily underwent serological testing before vaccination (T1), at least 15 days after vaccination (T2), and at least 150 days after vaccination (T3). We picked individuals who had received two doses of the vaccine. As for positivity, we assessed incidence – and therefore symptomatology – in three time intervals. We used a contingency tables for the analysis and tested the relation to the chi-square test and ANOVA test. Regarding differentials in terms of antibody capacity, we considered different time intervals: the methodological approach was the same. Results The average value of the dimeric serological testing at T1 was equal to 28.80 AU/mL, which increased to 220.55 AU/mL at T2, and then decreased to 143.62 AU/mL at T3 (P = 0.000). At T2, the number of people with a protective titer was equal to 95.96% of the total; at T3, it was equal to 96.39% (P = 0.019). Before the vaccination campaign, 75 workers tested positive (25 paucisymptoms, 4 severe symptoms). After vaccination, 14 workers tested positive: almost all were asymptomatic. Conclusion Vaccination determines a statistically significant variation of the average value of antibody titer, a statistically significant reduction of positive swab tests and a better prognosis.

COVID-19 has dramatically affected working forces. We aim to report our occupational medicine service's experience in managing suspected COVID-19 cases during the pandemic through a retrospec-tive observational study. We compared the number of days employees were absent from work due to flu-like symptoms from March 2020 to February 2021 to the same period the previous year (2019-2020). Two hundred thirty-four patients (+47.2% compared to the previous year) who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 reported flu-like symp-toms; the number of days of absence from work was 2812 (+190.2% compared to the previous year). On average, employees with flu-like symptoms lost 12.07 working days compared to 6.12 in the previous year (p0.0001). In conclusion, in our sample COVID-19 has increased the number of working day loss. However, our approach proved to be important, especially during the first months of the pandemic, to limit SARS-CoV-2 spread in workplaces.

People experiencing homelessness have peculiar characteristics that make them more vulnerable to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and to more serious forms of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the homeless population assisted by the primary care services of the Eleemosynaria Apostolica, Vatican City.Persons experiencing homelessness and the volunteers assisting them were tested for COVID-19 through PCR and antigen rapid test between October 1st, 2020, and June 5th, 2021, in the clinical facilities of the Eleemosynaria Apostolica.A total of 1665 subjects from 96 different countries in five continents were included in the study; age range was 1-90 years. Overall, 2315 COVID-19 tests through nasopharyngeal swab were performed; 1052 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests and 1263 antigen rapid tests. Nearly 40% of the subjects underwent both tests (n=650, 39.04%), 402 were tested with PCR test only (24.14%) and 613 with antigen test only (36.8%). PCR tests were negative in 966 cases and positive in 86 (8.17%), while antigen tests were negative in 1205 cases and positive in 58 (4.59%). The number of positive cases varied over time, with a drastic increase during the winter months of 2020 and a progressive decrease over 2021. Among positive cases, 24.41% were symptomatic; symptoms included fever, breathing difficulties, anosmia/hyposmia, cough, headache, and diarrhea.This study reported an overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in our sample slightly above 8%. Additional data on viral genome through sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in positive cases are of utmost importance to help identify variants and implement specific infection control measures.

Cardiac arrest (CA) is not a uniform condition and its pathophysiology strongly depends on its cause. In this work we have used a metabolomics approach to study the dynamic metabolic changes occurring in the plasma samples of a swine model following two different causes of CA, namely asphyxia (ACA) and ventricular fibrillation (VFCA). Plasma samples were collected at baseline and every minute during the experimental phases. In order to identify the metabolomics profiles characterizing the two pathological entities, all samples were analysed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS/MS spectrometry.The metabolomics fingerprints of ACA and VFCA significantly differed during the peri-arrest period and the resuscitation phase. Major alterations were observed in plasma concentrations of metabolites related to tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, urea cycle, and anaplerotic replenishing of TCA. ACA animals showed significant metabolic disturbances during the asphyxial and CA phases, while for VFCA animals this phenomenon resulted shifted at the resuscitation phase. Interestingly, starting from the asphyxial phase, the ACA animals were stratified in two groups based on their metabolomics profiles that resulted to be correlated with the clinical outcome. Succinate overproduction was observed in the animals with the worse outcome, suggesting a potential prognostic role for this metabolite. © 2017 The Author(s).

Several clinical forms of mucormycosis are recognized. The tendency of mucoraceous zygomycetes to invade the blood vessels often produces a disseminated infection. A case of a disseminated mucormycosis complicated by a haemophagocytic syndrome (HS) in a 32-year-old Caucasian male is reported in this article. Few cases of infection-associated HS (IAHS), involving infections caused by fungi, have been reported. In all the recorded cases, the fungal infection coexists with malignant lymphoma, immunodeficiency and a long-term steroid therapy for renal transplant or Crohn's disease. This is the second described case of the HS due to mucormycosis.

Hydrocarbon inhalation is seldom chosen as a means to commit suicide. This practice is exclusively a prerogative of the prison population; it is, however, only exceptionally found in this environment. The two cases of lethal inhalation of propane/butane gas observed by us over a very short time occurred in this context. Toxicologic analyses were performed by means of gas chromatography (head space) and revealed a propane/butane mixture in all specimens (heart blood, bile, and urine) except vitreous humor. Although fatal arrhythmia posthydrocarbon gas abuse is well known, the concentrations of the two hydrocarbons were sufficient to induce death by asphyxiation and were distributed (fairly) homogeneously in all biological fluids and organs examined, a parameter permitting one to assume that death occurred within a relatively short period of time. The absence of finding in vitreous humor and the trace amount in urine suggests that both men died very quickly.

A four-step methodology for the valorization of polysaccharide-based materials into bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts, active in the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates, is presented. The synthesis protocol consists of (i) pyrolysis of the starting material to produce biochar; (ii) oxidation to increase the number of -OH and -COOH functionalities; (iii) anchoring of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) on the surface of the oxidized biochar; (iv) quaternarization of the amine groups into alkylammonium iodide salts. The versatility of the method was demonstrated by applying the same protocol to six different polysaccharidic materials and wastes: six catalysts with no appreciable differences in terms of chemical composition and catalytic activity were obtained. The bifunctionality given by -OH and ammonium iodide groups was confirmed by several analyses performed on the catalysts. An extensive characterization (elemental analysis composition, FTIR, Raman, SEM, XPS and porosimetry) was done on all the functionalized biochars for every synthetic step. The catalysts were widely investigated in their activity for the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates, demonstrating to be effective under mild conditions (3 bar of CO2; 70 degrees C; 7 h). TONs and TOFs were calculated for each catalyst and condition. Yields up to 96%, with >99% selectivity, were obtained for terminal epoxides. The recyclability of the bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts was also confirmed over five cycles.

Background: T-lymphocyte activation within atherosclerotic plaque, and widespread to the myocardium, has been shown in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Objective: To investigate the presence of T-lymphocyte infiltrate at different stages of acute coronary syndromes by studying patients with sudden coronary death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and healed infarction, in comparison with patients with myocarditis and patients with non-ischaemic heart failure. Methods: 72 cases were studied at autopsy: 12 dying of sudden coronary death (group 1), 12 dying 4 months after AMI (group 3), 12 with active lymphocytic myocarditis (group 4), 12 with hypertensive heart disease (group 5), and 12 control subjects (group 6). Light microscopy was performed to measure the number of activated T-lymphocytes (CD3+/DR+) in the myocardium and coronary artery wall, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in the myocardium. Results: Activated T-lymphocyte infiltrates and ICAM-1 myocardial expression in both remote and peri-infarction regions and activated T-lymphocytes within the epicardial coronary artery wall of both the infarct- and non-infarct-related arteries were found in groups 1, 2 and 3, whereas myocardial, but not coronary, infiltrates were found in groups 4 (p

Lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12, LTO) is an attractive negative electrode for the development of safe—next-generation—lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). LTO can find specific applications complementary to existing alternatives for LIBs thanks to its good rate capability at high C-rates, fast lithium intercalation, and high cycling stability. Furthermore, LIBs featuring LTO electrodes are inherently safer owing to the LTO’s operating potential of 1.55 V vs. Li+/Li where the commonly used organic-based electrolytes are thermodynamically stable. Herein, we report the combined use of water-soluble sodium alginate (SA) binder and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)-tetraglyme (1m-T) electrolyte and we demonstrate the improvement of the electrochemical performance of LTO-based electrodes with respect to those operating in conventional electrolyte 1M LiPF6-ethylene carbonate: dimethyl carbonate (LP30). We also tackle the analysis of the impact of combining the binder/electrolyte on the long-term cycling performance of LTO electrodes featuring SA or conventional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) as binders. Therefore, to assess the impact of the combination of binder/electrolyte on performance, we performed post-mortem characterization by ex situ synchrotron diffraction experiments of LTO electrodes after cycling in LP30 and 1m-T electrolytes.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Correlating Structure and Properties of Super-concentrated Electrolyte Solutions: 17O NMR and Electrochemical Characterization, Irene Ruggeri, Andrea La Monaca, Francesca De Giorgio, Francesca Soavi, Catia Arbizzani, Vittorio Berbenni, Chiara Ferrara, Piercarlo Mustarelli, ChemElectroChem 2019, 6, 4002–4009, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.201900829. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. &nbsp

Aim: We examined evidence on infective and non-infective endocarditis obtained from a database of 50,403 clinical autopsies performed at an Italian general hospital between January 1983 and December 2006. Materials and Methods: Out of 814 endocarditis cases, 409 were of infective endocarditis (IE) and 405 non-infective (NIE). The median age at the time of death was 78 years for those with IE and 83 for those with NIE. Data were collected on gender, clinical history, comorbidities, kind of affected valve (non-prosthetic/mechanical/biological), pathological features of endocarditis, endocarditis complications and microbiological agents. Results: The diagnosis of IE was frequently missed and these conditions were often complicated by cardiovascular events. IE was more common among patients with prior valve infection or cardiovascular surgery, while malignancies were frequent comorbidities of NIE. Conclusion: In general, we found several data that differ from those generally present in the scientific literature, and this could be explained by the fact that data on IE and NIE are generally obtained from surgical and clinical databases, while we analysed only autoptic cases.

Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by Sequencing (CITE-seq) is a recently established multimodal single cell analysis technique combining the immunophenotyping capabilities of antibody labeling and cell sorting with the resolution of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). By simply adding a 12-bp nucleotide barcode to antibodies (cell hashing), CITE-seq can be used to sequence antibody-bound tags alongside the cellular mRNA, thus reducing costs of scRNA-seq by performing it at the same time on multiple barcoded samples in a single run. Here, we illustrate an ideal CITE-seq data analysis workflow by characterizing the transcriptome of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line, a widely used model to study neuronal function and differentiation. We obtained transcriptomes from a total of 2879 single cells, measuring an average of 1600 genes/cell. Along with standard scRNA-seq data handling procedures, such as quality checks and cell filtering procedures, we performed exploratory analyses to identify most stable genes to be possibly used as reference housekeeping genes in qPCR experiments. We also illustrate how to use some popular R packages to investigate cell heterogeneity in scRNA-seq data, namely Seurat, Monocle, and slalom. Both the CITE-seq dataset and the code used to analyze it are freely shared and fully reusable for future research.

The adhesion between electrode and separator is a key feature in cell assembly. Nafion&trade, coated separators for water-processed LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) electrodes are here proposed as an alternative to the polyolefin separators. Specifically, polyolefin separators are modified with Nafion&trade, solutions and their adhesion to high-potential LNMO electrodes is investigated. The physicochemical properties of the Nafion&trade, coated separator and its electrochemical performance in Li/LNMO cells are discussed and compared to those obtained with polyolefin Celgard&reg, (Charlotte, NC, USA) PP2075 separator. Improved adhesion and cycling stability, which could be further enhanced by a mild lamination process, were demonstrated with a thin layer of Nafion&trade, (0.1 mg cm&minus, 2).

Lithium/sulfur batteries are one of the most promising technologies for the next-generation batteries. However, this technology suffers from several problems mainly related to the instability of metallic lithium and to the polysulfides (PS) shuttle. An approach to address such issues is the design of new separators or the modification of existing commercial ones. The use of hybrid membranes is here proposed to improve the performance of Li metal anode and sulfur cathode. Composite separators are obtained by electrospinning or drop-casting a polymer solution of polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) containing graphene oxide (GO) on a polyolefin commercial Celgard 2300 separator. This is the first time that a thin layer of electrospun PVdF/GO composite is applied to a polyolefin separator for the use in Li metal-based batteries. We demonstrate that electrospinning is an effective method to obtain a thin polymer layer of PVdF/GO. The electrospun layer improves the wettability of the separator; it is beneficial to the growth of “soft” dendrite on Li anode and has a positive effect on the PS shuttle process. The casted layer featuring a higher GO content is also effective in increasing the separator wettability, although with a minor effect on Li interphase.

Methiopropamine (MPA) is a structural analogue of methamphetamine and belongs to the category of the novel psychoactive substances. To the best of our knowledge, no experimental study has been performed to evaluate the organ damage evoked by MPA administration in an animal model. Therefore, the main purpose of the present study was to investigate the histological changes in CD-1 male mice following the chronic administration of MPA. MPA-chronically treated mice showed myocardial damage with features consistent with repeated episodes of ischemia and a pattern of kidney damage and gastrointestinal ischemia, with ischemic-necrotic lesions of variable extent. In agreement with the analogies between MPA and methamphetamine, we link organ damage secondary to MPA administration to the vasoconstrictive effect exhibited by both compounds. Chronically MPA-treated mice did not show changes in body weight, food intake, thermoregulation, muscular strength and motor coordination in the accelerod test. However, acute MPA administration significantly increased their heart rate and promoted vasoconstriction, which were associated with the sudden death of a subset of animals (40% of all chronically treated mice). In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that MPA consumption could induce health hazards, highlighting the risk of sudden catastrophic events; therefore, clinicians should be aware of these data and consider MPA screening when no other drug is identified by a urine drug screen.

One of the main challenges in the development of lithium-ion batteries is to increase their specific energy by the use of high-voltage and high-capacity cathode materials. LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) is one of the most promising materials with a theoretical specific capacity of 147 mAh/g and a Li+ deinsertion/insertion potential of 4.7-4.8 V vs Li+/Li. However, the use of LNMO raises the question of electrolyte decomposition at such a high potential with the consequent formation of a surface layer that affects the cathode and, hence, the cell performance. Interface stability issues are overcome by LiMxM1-xPO4 (LMP, with M=Fe, Mn) and Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) olivines, with Li+ deinsertion/insertion at potential ranging from 3.4 V to 4.5 V vs Li+/Li, that are widely investigated for their high specific capacity, near 170 mAh/g, and their intrinsic safety and environmental compatibility. However, the electronic and ionic conductivity of olivines need improvements. We explored the effect of partially reduced graphene oxide on LNMO performance in conventional electrolyte [1] and here we investigate the role of modified graphene in LNMO- and LMP/LVP-composite materials. Morphological and structural characterization of the cathode materials and electrochemical tests of the corresponding electrodes will be reported and discussed. [1] S. Monaco, F. De Giorgio, L. Da Col, M. Riché, C. Arbizzani, M. Mastragostino, J. Power Sources, submitted Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank ENEA and Italy’s Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico for financial support under the Program 2013 “Ricerca di sistema elettrico, Materiali catodici per batterie litio ione ad elevata energia”.

Polyvinylidenedifluoride (PVdF) and polyethyleneoxide (PEO) are blended and electrospun in order to obtain membranes suitable as Li-ion battery separators. The separators are characterized, and their properties investigated and compared with those of PVdF and commercial separators. The PVdF-PEO based separators ensure increased conductivities, greater electrolyte uptake and higher porosities than commercial polyolefines, all factors that improve cell performance. They are also safer than PVdF separators thanks to lower shutdown temperature, even if their mechanical properties are not yet comparable with those of the latter.

The diagnosis of pain nature is a troublesome task and a wrong attribution often leads to an increase of costs and to avoidable pharmaceutical adverse reactions. An objective and specific approach to achieve this diagnosis is highly desirable. The aim of this work was to investigate urine samples collected from patients suffering from pain of different nature by a metabolomics approach based on (1)H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis. We performed a prospective study on 74 subjects: 37 suffering from pain (12 with nociceptive and 25 with neuropathic pain), and 37 controls not suffering from any kind of chronic pain. The application of discriminant analysis on the urine spectral profiles allowed us to classify these two types of pain with high sensibility and specificity. Although the classification relies on the global urine metabolic profile, the individual contribution in discriminating neuropathic pain patients of metabolites such as choline and phosphocholine, taurine and alanine, suggests potential lesions to the nervous system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a urine metabolomics profile is used to classify these two kinds of pain. This methodology, although based on a limited sample, may constitute the basis for a new helpful tool in the clinical diagnosis.

While not electrochemically active, the binder still remains a component of great importance in the electrodes for lithium-ion batteries, as it has a strong influence on their performance. Polyvinilydene fluoride (PVdF) is the most employed binder, thanks to its electrochemical stability and good adhesive properties. However, PVdF is expensive, not readily disposable, and requires the use of organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), which is also very expensive as well as harmful to health and environment [1]. The use of water-soluble binders could lower production costs and grant an easier and more environment-friendly processing. Although carboxy-methyl-cellulose (CMC) is the most investigated aqueous binder for lithium-ion batteries, many other promising materials are under study [2]. This work investigates the use of two water-soluble binders, namely poly vinyl acetate (PVAc) and sodium alginate, for high-voltage cathode electrodes in Li-ion batteries. PVAc, commercially available under the Vinavil trademark, is an inexpensive synthetic polymer, employed in a wide variety of industrial applications [3]; it was previously investigated by P. Prosini et al. as binder for Li-ion batteries [4, 5], and the published results encouraged further studies. Sodium alginate is a high-modulus, natural polysaccharide commonly extracted from brown algae. It has a peculiar composition since it contains carboxylic groups in each polymer’s monomeric unit. It was also extensively studied as binder for both anodes and cathodes with very promising results [6, 7]. We focused our work on the use of sustainable binders for cathodes based on LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO), a commercially available material with a very high Li+ deinsertion/insertion potential of 4.7-4.75 V versus Li+/Li and a theoretical specific capacity of 147 mAh/g. These properties account for the highest energy density of any material currently available on the market [8]. The present study reports the morphological and structural characterizations carried out on the LNMO-based composite materials and the electrochemical tests at 30°C on the corresponding electrodes assembled in half-cells versus Li/Li+ in conventional electrolyte (EC/DMC – LiPF6). The electrochemical performance of cathodes with PVAc and alginate binders are compared with those obtained with PVdF-based electrodes. While the results obtained for PVAc-based composite material should be improved, the alginate-based material shows very promising electrochemical results, comparable or even better than those of PVdF-based materials. Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank ENEA and Italy’s Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico for financial support under the Program “Electric System Research”, Cathode Materials for High Energy Lithium Ion Batteries. References [1] G.T. Kim, S.S. Jeong, M. Joost, E. Rocca, M. Winter, S. Passerini and A. Balducci, J. Power Sources 2011, 196, 2187–2194. [2] S.-L. Chou, Y. Pan, J.-Z. Wang, H.-K. Liu and S.-X. Dou, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2014, 16, 20347–20359. [3] F. Abbà, M. Cerra, F. Chiozza, I. Fuso Nerini, T. Zanetta and F. Pignataro, La Chimica e l’Industria 2015, 97 48-51. [4] P.P. Prosini, M. Carewska, C. Cento and A. Masci, Electrochimica Acta 2014, 150, 129–135. [5] P.P. Prosini, M. Carewska and A. Masci Solid State Ionics, 2015, 274, 88–93. [6] I. Kovalenko, B. Zdyrko, A. Magasinski, B. Hertzberg, Z. Milicev, R. Burtovyy, I. Luzinov, G. Yushin, Science 2011, 334, 75–79. [7] J. Xu, S.-L. Chou, Q.-f. Gu, H.-K. Liu and S.-X. Dou, J. Power Sources 2013, 225, 172–178. [8] C. M. Julien and A. Mauger, Ionics 2013, 19, 951–988.

Acutemyocarditisisanin flammatorydisorderoftheheartmuscleinwhichtheseverityofinjurydependsbothonthenatureoftheoffendingagent(i.e.virus)andontheensuinginflammatoryresponse.Thede fini-tion excludes, however, the response to ischemic or toxic injury. Theheart, however, like other organs, may provide a stereotyped responsetoinjury.Followingischemicinjury,theformationoftheinfl ammasomein the heart promotes heart failure [1].Theinflammasome is a macro-molecular structure activated during injury that amplifies the responseby processing Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18, and promotion of celldeath [2]. Viral infections may lead to either death of the virus and thecell (pyroptosis), or survival of both cell and virus with persistence ofthe infection through inhibition of the inflammasome (evasion) [3].Therearenoreportsoftheinflammasomeinacutemyocarditis.Wehy-pothesize that the viral infection or the ensuing cellular destructionleads to the formation of the inflammasome, providing an opportunityto explore inflammasome-related markers for diagnostic or prognosticpurposes. Furthermore at present day, there are no specific treatmentsfor acute myocarditis, and thus inhibitors of the inflammasome couldrepresent a new therapeutic approach.We studied samples obtainedthrough endomyocardialbiopsy in11patients with acute lymphocytic myocarditis (b4 weeks of symptomsonset) in Trieste, Italy. The diagnosis was based upon pathology exam-ination and clinical scenario (Table 1). As a comparison group westudied autopsy samples of 11 patients with acute myocarditis diag-nosed post mortem, and 5 control subjects who had died withoutacute myocarditis or other acute cardiac conditions.Weemployedimmunofluorescencestainingtodetectin flammasomeaggregatesusingantibodiesraisedagainstthescaffoldprotein,ApoptosisSpeck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruiting domain (ASC), and/or the effector protein, caspase-1, as previously described [1].Tocharac-terizethetypeofcell,weusedadoublestainingtechniquewithantibod-ies against cardiac actin to identify cardiomyocytes, S100A4 to identifyfibroblasts, andCD31 forendothelialcells. To overcomefor the auto fluo-rescence of sarcomeric proteins, we used a solution of 1% Sudan black in70% ethanol for 5 min. Images of samples were acquired with an IX70microscope and cellSens Dimension di gital imaging software (Olympus,Central Valley, PA) using a 40× objective (400× magnification). Filtersets for each separate fluorescence-conjugated antibody were layeredtorenderacompositeimage.Theinflammasome “specks” were countedby cell type (cardiomyocyte, leukocytes, fibroblasts and endothelialcells) per high power field of view (40×). Data are presented as medianand interquartile range and non-parametric Mann–Whitney test wasused.Intracellularaggregates of ASC and/ or caspase-1 indicative of the for-mation of the inflammasome were seen in leukocytes, cardiomyocytes,fibroblasts and endothelial cells in heart biopsy samples of all 11 cases(100%), and in heart samples of 10 of 11 post-mortem cases (91%), andin none of the controls (0%, P b 0.002)(Fig. 1). ASC aggregates co-localized with caspase-1 aggregates in virtually all cases. The numberof inflammasomes was variable across cases ranging between 3 and 14specks in biopsies, and between 0 and 45 specks per field in autopsies,without statistically significant differences (data not shown). Some

Tumours metastatic to the heart (cardiac metastases) are among the least known and highly debated issues in oncology, and few systematic studies are devoted to this topic. Although primary cardiac tumours are extremely uncommon (various postmortem studies report rates between 0.001% and 0.28%), secondary tumours are not, and at least in theory, the heart can be metastasised by any malignant neoplasm able to spread to distant sites. In general, cardiac metastases are considered to be rare; however, when sought for, the incidence seems to be not as low as expected, ranging from 2.3% and 18.3%. Although no malignant tumours are known that diffuse preferentially to the heart, some do involve the heart more often than others--for example, melanoma and mediastinal primary tumours. This paper attempts to review the pathophysiology of cardiac metastatic disease, epidemiology and clinical presentation of cardiac metastases, and pathological characterisation of the lesions.

Power generation and storage in electronics require flexible, thin micro-electrochemical energy storage/conversion systems. Micro-supercapacitors (μSCs) with double-layer capacitance carbon electrodes are attracting much attention for their capability of delivering short power pulses with high stability over repeated charge/discharge cycling. Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition (SCBD) is an effective strategy for the development of nanostructured, binder-free porous carbon electrodes on temperature sensitive substrates including polymers. We exploited SCBD for the development of a flexible, planar μSC featuring nanostructured carbon (ns-C) electrodes deposited on a plastic Mylar substrate and N-trimethyl-N-propyl-ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (N 1113 TFSI) ionic liquid electrolyte. The electrochemical performance at different temperatures of the μSC which operates at 3 V above RT up to 80 °C with a capacitance density approaching 10 F cm −3 and delivering maximum specific energy and power densities of 10 mWh cm −3 and 8-10 W cm −3 with long cycling stability over 2 × 10 4 cycles is here reported and discussed.

LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) composite electrodes having the same formulation as to percentage of active material mass, binder and carbons, including reduced graphene oxide, were characterized in EC: DMC – 1M LiPF 6 by cyclic voltammetry, charge/discharge cycles and impedance spectroscopy. The results demonstrate the beneficial effect on the electrode cycling stability in increasing C-rate to 1C, in limiting the charge voltage at 4.8 V and in covering the LNMO by partially reduced graphene oxide. The paper also discusses the evaluation of lithium diffusion coefficient in LNMO from cyclic voltammetry data in regard to the discrepancies reported in literature on this matter.

This chapter discusses the evaluation of the key parameters of lithium-ion batteries for power assist and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle applications on the basis of reference tests set up by the US Advanced Battery Consortium–Department of Energy; a battery case study is used to highlight the analysis procedure. The chapter then briefly summarizes the main characteristics of lithium-ion batteries already on the market and under development, with emphasis also given to the safety of each battery-chemistry. The use of supercapacitors (ultracapacitors) in parallel with the batteries to increase both performance and battery life is also discussed, and limits and future developments of lithium-ion batteries and of supercapacitors are included. Finally, a short discussion is provided about the on-road transportation of the future.

Innovative separators able to improve the performance and safety of Li-ion batteries are under investigation to meet the growing demand for large-size and high energy density electrochemical cells. In this work, highly porous nanofibrous Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) separators loaded with oxide nanoparticles were produced by electrospinning. Silicon oxide and tin oxide nanoparticles were added to PVdF and membranes were characterized by SEM-EDS and TGA. The effect of nanoparticle addition on electrolyte uptake, mechanical properties and conductivity was investigated and such properties were compared to those of a commercial separator (Celgard 2400). Results showed that a small amount of additive can significantly improve the properties of PVdF electrospun membranes and that the different nanoparticles investigated in this work have different effect on membrane performances. In particular, the addition of SiO2 increases the rate of electrolyte uptake and the toughness of the electrospun membrane, while the addition of SnO2 decreases the rate of electrolyte uptake and increases the stiffness of the electrospun membrane. When loaded with nanoparticles, PVdF membranes maintain their insulating character also at high temperature. Preliminary electrochemical results on half-cell vs Li with LiFePO4 and electrospun separators showed good cycling performance, highlighting interesting features of this technology. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: oa@electrochem.org. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0421506jes] All rights reserved.

Background: Multivessel coronary disease after myocardial infarction is a major risk factor for unfavorable cardiac remodeling and death due to pump failure, but underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms are still uncompletely established. Post-infarction myocardial apoptosis has been recently implicated as a cause of ongoing cell loss leading to cardiac failure. Our aim was to assess the role of post-infarction myocardial apoptosis and pro-apoptotic factor expression in the non-infarcted remote myocardium of subjects with multivessel coronary disease. Methods: Twenty-one males dying after recent myocardial infarction with permanent occlusion of the infarct-related artery were selected at autopsy. Apoptosis was assessed at viable myocardial regions remote from infarction by co-staining for in situ end-labeling of DNA fragmentation and cleaved caspase-3. Expression of pro-apoptotic factor bax and hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: Subjects with multivessel disease (N = 11) showed a significantly two-fold higher myocardial apoptosis in comparison to subjects with single vessel disease (N = 10) (0.9% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.013). Similarly, myocardial bax expression was increased in patients with multivessel disease (3.0% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.029). Stratification for the number of diseased coronary vessels confirmed the association between extent of coronary disease and apoptotic rates (p = 0.022). Even in subjects dying over 30 days after infarction multivessel disease remained predictive of enhanced myocardiocyte apoptosis at remote regions (p = 0.033). Conclusions: Post-infarction myocardial apoptosis and bax expression in remote left ventricular regions are significantly increased in male patients with multivessel coronary disease in comparison to those with isolated infarct-related artery occlusion. These findings suggest that apoptotic cell loss in the viable non-infarcted myocardium, possibly due ongoing ischemia, may play a relevant role in the unfavorable clinical course typical of multivessel disease after myocardial infarction. © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that impaired coronary and myocardial blood flow are linked with increased myocyte apoptosis, thus establishing a link between pressure overload and left ventricular (LV) remodelling. Methods and results: Peak diastolic coronary blood flow velocity (CBFV) was evaluated at transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and signal intensity (SI) and the rate of SI rise (β) were measured at myocardial contrast echocardiography in 11 patients with severe aortic stenosis and LV hypertrophy. In the same patients, biopsies were obtained from the anterolateral LV free wall during surgery and analysed for cardiomyocyte apoptosis. LV mass corrected CBFV (CBFVI) was significantly lower in patients than in controls (median 0.100 cm·g/s (interquartile range 0.07–0.115) v 0.130 cm·g/s (0.130–0.160), p = 0.002). Similarly, SI*β was significantly lower in patients than in controls (11 1/s (8–66) v 83 1/s (73–95), p = 0.001). Apoptotic rate was increased in aortic stenosis more than 100-fold versus controls (1.2% (0.8–1.4) v 0.01% (0.01–0.01), p r = −0.77, p = 0.001 for both). Conclusions: Patients with severe aortic stenosis and LV hypertrophy have impaired myocardial perfusion, which is associated with enhanced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Impaired myocardial perfusion and the ensuing oxygen demand–supply imbalance may, at least partially, be responsible for increased apoptosis and possible transition to heart failure, thus establishing a link between pressure overload, LV remodelling, and heart failure.

Aims: Unfavourable cardiac remodelling often complicates acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as a result of increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis. It is currently unclear whether ongoing or recurrent ischaemia is an independent determinant for increased apoptosis in peri-infarct viable myocardium. Methods and results: In order to assess the link between infarct-related artery (IRA) occlusion, ischaemia, and apoptosis, 30 subjects dying 7-120 days after AMI (16 with IRA occlusion and 14 with patent IRA) and five control subjects were selected at autopsy. Cardiomyocytes were defined as apoptotic if co-expressing TUNEL and activated caspase-3. Expression of both hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and cyclo-oxygenase-2 was assessed in the peri-infarct myocardium and considered as tissue markers of ischaemia. Evidence of ischaemia was significantly more frequent in cases with IRA occlusion (53%) than in cases with patent IRA (15%) or control hearts (0%, P = 0.026). The finding of IRA occlusion and markers of ischaemia identified cases with higher apoptotic rates (ARs) in the peri-infarct viable myocardium [12.2% (8.2-14.0), P < 0.001 vs. others], whereas IRA occlusion without ischaemia was associated with lower AR, not significantly different from patent IRA [3.0% (1.0-7.9) vs. 2.2% (1.0-5.8), respectively, P = 0.42] Conclusion: Ischaemia in the peri-infarct viable myocardium is present in over 50% of subjects dying late after AMI with IRA occlusion, and it is associated with increased apoptosis. Relief of ischaemia after AMI may prove of benefit in preventing apoptosis and its consequences. © The European Society of Cardiology 2005. All rights reserved.