Search

Abstract A successful strategy for improving the safety issues of new‐generation lithium‐ion batteries is to replace liquid electrolytes with solid or quasi‐solid membranes, a procedure that ensures adequate ionic conductions and are mechanical strengths.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and an increased risk of postoperative graft failure potentially leading to graft loss. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) emerged as an alternative in high-risk patients. However, data on TAVI in kidney transplant recipients are limited. We performed a retrospective analysis of 40 KTR in which aortic valve replacement was performed at our center between 2005 and 2015. The outcomes and follow-up of TAVI (n=20; 2010-2015) and SAVR (n=20; 2005-2015) were analyzed with respect to patient and graft survival. Baseline characteristics in both groups were comparable. Hospital stay after TAVI was significantly shorter compared to SAVR (19 [11.5-21.75] days vs. 33 [21-62] days, p=0.001). Acute graft failure occurred more frequently after SAVR (45% vs. 89.5%; p=0.006). Thirty-day mortality was 10% in both groups. However, in-hospital mortality reached 25% in the SAVR group (TAVI 10%), indicating a more complicated course after surgery. Moreover, during a median follow-up time of 1928 days in TAVI patients and 2717 days in patients after SAVR, graft loss occurred only in the surgically treated group (n=7). While one-year survival after TAVR was 90% compared to 69% after SAVR, long-term follow-up showed comparable results (at 5 years: TAVI 58% vs. 52% SAVR; log-rank-test: p=0.86). In KTR, TAVI can be performed with good mid- to long-term results. Compared to SAVR, renal outcomes seem to be improved after TAVI, suggesting better graft survival.

Among the newest antiepileptic drugs, brivaracetam (BRV), previously known as “ucb34714”, is one of the most interesting molecules available, increasingly getting the attention of researchers. The clinical efficacy of BRV as adjunctive therapy has been extensively assessed in six randomized, controlled, phase III trials, the results of which demonstrated BRV efficacy in reducing seizures at the dosage of 20–200 mg/day. However, to date, only few data on the pediatric population are available. Here we briefly report the data available on BRV and its usage in the pediatric population suffering from epilepsy to highlight the potential benefits of this drug in this population.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting compound with estrogenic behavior, is of great concern within the scientific community due to its high production levels and increasing concentration in various surface aquifers. While several materials exhibit excellent capacity for the photocatalytic degradation of BPA, their powdered nature and poor chemical stability render them unsuitable for practical application in large-scale water decontamination. In this study, a new class of nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated polyethersulfone (sPES) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles (MWCNTs-TiO2) were investigated as efficient and scalable photocatalysts for the photodegradation of BPA in aqueous solutions. The MWCNTs-TiO2 hybrid material was prepared through a facile and inexpensive hydrothermal method and extensively characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, BET, and TGA. Meanwhile, nanocomposite membranes at different filler loadings were prepared by a simple casting procedure. Swelling tests and PFG NMR analyses provided insights into the impact of filler introduction on membrane hydrophilicity and water molecular dynamics, whereas the effectiveness of the various photocatalysts in BPA removal was monitored using HPLC. Among the different MWCNTs-TiO2 content nanocomposites, the one at 10 wt% loading (sP-MT10) showed the best photoactivity. Under UV irradiation at 254 nm and 365 nm for 240 min, photocatalytic oxidation of 5 mg/L bisphenol A by sP-MT10 resulted in 91% and 82% degradation, respectively. Both the effect of BPA concentration and the membrane regenerability were evaluated, revealing that the sP-MT10 maintained its maximum BPA removal capability over more than 10 cycles. Our findings indicate that sP-MT nanocomposite membranes are versatile, scalable, efficient, and highly reusable photocatalysts for the degradation of BPA, as well as potentially for other endocrine disruptors.

Nazareno Carullo,1 Maria Teresa Zicarelli,1 Alessandro Casarella,2 Ramona Nicotera,1 Alberto Castagna,2 Alessandra Urso,1 Pierangela Presta,1 Michele Andreucci,1 Emilio Russo,2 Davide Bolignano,1 Giuseppe Coppolino1 1Renal Unit, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, Italy; 2Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, ItalyCorrespondence: Giuseppe CoppolinoRenal Unit, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Viale Europa - Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, ItalyTel +39 09613697170Email gcoppolino@unicz.itAbstract: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most frequent single-gene disorder leading to renal failure. Current therapies are aimed to treat renal and extrarenal complications of ADPKD, but improved knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the generation and growth of cysts has permitted the identification of new drug candidates for clinical trials. Among these, in this review, we will examine above all the role of metformin, hypothesized to be able to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and potentially modulate some mechanisms implicated in the onset and the growth of the cysts.Keywords: cystogenesis, renal cells, metformin, chronic renal disease, renal tubule

Abstract Background the interest of clinical reaseach in polymorphisms and epigenetics in migraine has been growing over the years. Due to the new era of preventative migraine treatment opened by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the signaling of the calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP), the present systematic review aims at identifying genetic variants occurring along the CGRP pathway and at verifying whether these can affect the clinical features and the course of disease and the responsiveness of patients to therapy. Methods the literature search has been conducted consulting the most relevant scientific databases, i.e. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, the Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) Published Literature database (Public Health Genomics Knowledge Base) and Clinicaltrials.gov from database inception until April 1, 2021. The process of identification and selection of the studies included in the analysis has followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and the guidance from the Human Genome Epidemiology Network for reporting gene-disease associations. Results the search has retrieved 800 results, among which only 7 studies have met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the analysis. The latter are case-control studies of genetic association and an exploratory analysis and two polymorphisms have been detected as the most recurring: the rs3781719 (T > C) of the CALC A gene encoding CGRP and the rs7590387 of the gene encoding the receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 1 (C > G). Only one study assessing the methylation pattern with regard to CGRP pathway has been found from the search. No genetic association studies investigating the possible effect of genetic variants affecting CGRP signaling on the responsiveness to the most recent pharmacological approaches, i.e. anti-CGRP(R) mAbs, gepants and ditans, have been published. According to the Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) systematic reviews and meta-analyses risk-of-bias score for genetic association studies, the heterogeneity between and across studies and the small sample size do not allow to draw conclusions and prompt future studies. Conclusions adequately powered, good quality genetic association studies are needed to understand the impact of genetic variants affecting the pathway of CGRP on migraine susceptibility and clinical manifestation and to predict the response to therapy in terms of efficacy and safety.

Prematurity represents 10.6% of all births, and although preterm infants usually show adequate neurodevelopmental outcomes, some may develop significant and long-lasting neurological sequelae. Many studies have analyzed predictive factors for developing severe neurodevelopmental impairments (cerebral palsy, other motor and socio-relational disorders such as autism). In this study, 148 preterm infants were enrolled to investigate the neurodevelopmental trajectories in a population of low-risk premature infants using standardized assessment methods. Significant correlations were found between the general movements, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, and the Griffiths Mental and Development Scales. Moreover, this study showed their validity and predictivity for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes even in low-risk infants.

Universities and colleges are increasingly providing internal grants to encourage faculty and staff involvement in community-based research and service-learning projects; however, little attention has been given to the impact of institutional support of these efforts. This qualitative study employed focus group interviews with 17 faculty and staff at one mid-size private research university (high activity) to explore the impact of institutional funding on their professional roles and practice of community-engaged work. Findings revealed that community-based projects energized the participants, helped them make their academic work relevant in communities, created formal and informal university-community partnerships, and elevated the University’s public image. However, a conundrum was evident in the tension between the University’s public expression of the importance of community engagement and participants’ concerns that the traditional academic reward structure could jeopardize their long-term commitment to community work. A framework is offered that may assist institutions that are pondering or have already committed to using institutional dollars to support engaged scholarship.

Objective: Mitochondrial “retrograde” signaling may stimulate organelle biogenesis as a compensatory adaptation to aberrant activity of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. To maintain energy-consuming processes in OXPHOS deficient cells, alternative metabolic pathways are functionally coupled to the degradation, recycling and redistribution of biomolecules across distinct intracellular compartments. While transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial network expansion has been the focus of many studies, the molecular mechanisms promoting mitochondrial maintenance in energy-deprived cells remain poorly investigated. Methods: We performed transcriptomics, quantitative proteomics and lifespan assays to identify pathways that are mechanistically linked to mitochondrial network expansion and homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans lacking the mitochondrial calcium uptake protein 1 (MICU-1/MICU1). To support our findings, we carried out biochemical and image analyses in mammalian cells and mouse-derived tissues. Results: We report that micu-1(null) mutations impair the OXPHOS system and promote C. elegans longevity through a transcriptional program that is independent of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter MCU-1/MCU and the essential MCU regulator EMRE-1/EMRE. We identify sphingosine phosphate lyase SPL-1/SGPL1 and the ATFS-1-target HOPS complex subunit VPS-39/VPS39 as critical lifespan modulators of micu-1(null) mutant animals. Cross-species investigation indicates that SGPL1 upregulation stimulates VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria, thereby enhancing mitochondria-lysosome contacts. Consistently, VPS39 downregulation compromises mitochondrial network maintenance and basal autophagic flux in MICU1 deficient cells. In mouse-derived muscles, we show that VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria may represent a common signature associated with altered OXPHOS system. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized SGPL1/VPS39 axis that stimulates intracellular organelle interactions and sustains autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis in OXPHOS deficient cells.

To date, the phenotypic significance of EEG abnormalities in patients with ASD is unclear. In a population affected by ASD we aimed to evaluate: the phenotypic characteristics; the prevalence of EEG abnormalities; the potential correlations between EEG abnormalities and behavioral and cognitive variables. Sixty-nine patients with ASD underwent cognitive or developmental testing, language assessment, and adaptive behavior skills evaluation as well as sleep/wake EEG recording. EEG abnormalities were found in 39.13% of patients. EEG abnormalities correlated with autism severity, hyperactivity, anger outbursts, aggression, negative or destructive behavior, motor stereotypies, intellectual disability, language impairment and self-harm. Our findings confirmed that EEG abnormalities are present in the ASD population and correlate with several associated phenotypic features.

This article addresses the challenge of understanding the meaning and pedagogical application of social justice in social work by presenting and applying the circle of insight framework I created and proposing a social work definition of social justice. In particular, the circle of insight is presented as a tool and a process for critically examining learnings from social justice courses, transforming social justice social work pedagogy, and defining social justice in social work. In the fierce urgency of now, consistent with research findings and the social work profession's ethical codes and statements, social workers are invited to use the circle of insight process and proposed definition of social justice to engage in social justice-infused social work curricular transformation.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a set of conditions resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). FASD is estimated to affect between 2% and 5% of people in the United States and Western Europe. The exact teratogenic mechanism of alcohol on fetal development is still unclear. Ethanol (EtOH) contributes to the malfunctioning of the neurological system in children exposed in utero by decreasing glutathione peroxidase action, with an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes oxidative stress. We report a case of a mother with declared alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking during pregnancy. By analyzing the ethyl glucuronide (EtG, a metabolite of alcohol) and the nicotine/cotinine in the mother’s hair and meconium, we confirmed the alcohol and smoking abuse magnitude. We also found that the mother during pregnancy was a cocaine abuser. As a result, her newborn was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). At the time of the delivery, the mother, but not the newborn, had an elevation in oxidative stress. However, the infant, a few days later, displayed marked potentiation in oxidative stress. The clinical complexity of the events involving the infant was presented and discussed, underlining also the importance that for cases of FASD, it is crucial to have more intensive hospital monitoring and controls during the initial days.

Some 14% of global prevalence, based on high-income country populations, suffers from migraine. Chronic migraine is very disabling, being characterized by at least 15 headache days per month of which at least 8 days present the features of migraine. Onabotulinumtoxin A, targeting the machinery for exocytosis of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, has been approved for use in chronic migraine since 2010. This systematic review and meta-analysis appraises the safety of onabotulinumtoxin A treatment for chronic migraine and the occurrence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in randomized, clinical studies in comparison with placebo or other comparators and preventative treatments according to the most updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations. The search retrieved 888 total records. Nine studies are included and seven were eligible for meta-analysis. The present study demonstrates that toxin produces more TRAEs than placebo, but less than oral topiramate, supporting the safety of onabotulinumtoxin A, and highlights the heterogeneity of the studies present in the literature (I2 = 96%; p < 0.00001). This points to the need for further, adequately powered, randomized clinical trials assessing the safety of onabotulinumtoxin A in combination with the newest treatment options.

Abstract Aims Systemic inflammatory response, identified by increased total leucocyte counts, was shown to be a strong predictor of mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Yet the mechanisms of inflammation‐associated poor outcome after TAVI are unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating individual inflammatory signatures and functional heterogeneity of circulating myeloid and T‐lymphocyte subsets and their impact on 1 year survival in a single‐centre cohort of patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI. Methods and results One hundred twenty‐nine consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis admitted for transfemoral TAVI were included. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, immediately after, and 24 h and 3 days after TAVI, and these were analysed for inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers. Myeloid and T‐lymphocyte subsets were measured using flow cytometry. The inflammatory parameters were first analysed as continuous variables; and in case of association with outcome and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) ≥ 0.6, the values were dichotomized using optimal cut‐off points. Several baseline inflammatory parameters, including high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP; HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.15–1.63; P

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent primary heart valve disease and the third most prevalent cardiovascular disease in the world, having a severe and slowly progressive evolution. The implementation of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is necessary because the population is constantly ageing, and most elderly people have various comorbidities, which places them among patients with high surgical risk. The aim was to report immediate and 9 months follow-up results of first TAVI implantations in the Republic of Moldova. Material and methods: Three patients with severe symptomatic AS and high surgical risk underwent TAVI implantation using Portico valves. Results: The mean age was 76.7 ± 1.2 years, 2 women and 1 man. The mean Logistic EuroSCORE II was 5.68 ± 0.67%. Procedural success was achieved in all (100%) patients. After the intervention, it was shown that the GP mean decreased by an average of 20.27±1.61 mmHg, the Vmax of the jet through AoV decreased on average by 2.05±0.19 m/s, and they were maintained all over the nine months follow-up period. Quality of life, using the TASQ (Toronto Aortic Stenosis Quality of Life) questionnaire, was improved by 62.3 ± 2.2 points. Conclusions: TAVI, as a new minimally invasive method of treatment for aortic valve stenosis appears to be safe, with a low rate of early and late complications in elderly patients at high surgical risk, with good clinical outcomes at 9 months. Its implementation in the Republic of Moldova is welcome in the conditions of continuously ageing population and the prevalence of associated comorbidities.

The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview of known and new results concerning the structure of groups in which all subgroups‎, ‎except those having a given property‎, ‎are either self-centralizing or self-normalizing‎.

Analysis of synonymous mutations established that although the primary amino acid sequence remains unchanged, alterations in transcription and translation can result in significant phenotypic consequences. We report the novel observation that a series of nonsynonymous mutations in an unconserved stretch of amino acids found in the yeast multidrug efflux pump Pdr5 increases expression, thus enhancing multidrug resistance. Cycloheximide chase experiments ruled out the possibility that the increased steady-state level of Pdr5 was caused by increased protein stability. Quantitative-RT PCR experiments demonstrated that the mutants had levels of PDR5 transcript that were two to three times as high as in the isogenic wild-type strain. Further experiments employing metabolic labeling of mRNA with 4-thiouracil followed by uracil chasing showed that the half-life of PDR5 transcripts was specifically increased in these mutants. Our data demonstrate that the nucleotides encoding unconserved amino acids may be used to regulate expression and suggest that Pdr5 has a newly discovered RNA stability element within its coding region.

The proper connection between the pre- and post-synaptic nervous cells depends on any element constituting the synapse: the pre- and post-synaptic membranes, the synaptic cleft, and the surrounding glial cells and extracellular matrix. An alteration of the mechanisms regulating the physiological synergy among these synaptic components is defined as “synaptopathy.” Mutations in the genes encoding for proteins involved in neuronal transmission are associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders, but only some of them are associated with Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEEs). These conditions include a heterogeneous group of epilepsy syndromes associated with cognitive disturbances/intellectual disability, autistic features, and movement disorders. This review aims to elucidate the pathogenesis of these conditions, focusing on mechanisms affecting the neuronal pre-synaptic terminal and its role in the onset of DEEs, including potential therapeutic approaches.

Background Musclin is an activity‐stimulated and cardioprotective myokine that attenuates pathological cardiac remodeling. Musclin deficiency, in turn, results in reduced physical endurance. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of circulating musclin as a novel, putative biomarker to identify patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) who are at a higher risk of death. Methods and Results In this study, we measured systemic musclin levels in 368 patients undergoing TAVI who were at low to intermediate clinical risk (median EuroSCORE [European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation] II: 3.5; quartile 1–quartile, 2.2%–5.3%), whereby 209 (56.8%) patients were at low and 159 (43.2%) were at intermediate risk. Median preprocedural musclin levels were 2.7 ng/mL (quartile 1–quartile 3, 1.5–4.6 ng/mL). Musclin levels were dichotomized in low (

Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Subfamily Q Member 2 (KCNQ2) gene has been initially associated with “Benign familial neonatal epilepsy” (BFNE). Amounting evidence arising by next-generation sequencing techniques have led to the definition of new phenotypes, such as neonatal epileptic encephalopathy (NEE), expanding the spectrum of KCNQ2-related epilepsies. Pyridoxine (PN) dependent epilepsies (PDE) are a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders associated with neonatal-onset seizures responsive to treatment with vitamin B6 (VitB6). Few cases of neonatal seizures due to KCNQ2 pathogenic variants have been reported as successfully responding to VitB6. We reported two cases of KCNQ2-related neonatal epilepsies involving a 5-year-old male with a paternally inherited heterozygous mutation (c.1639C>T; p.Arg547Trp), and a 10-year-old female with a de novo heterozygous mutation (c.740C>T; p.Ser247Leu). Both children benefited from VitB6 treatment. Although the mechanisms explaining the efficacy of VitB6 in such patients remain unclear, this treatment option in neonatal-onset seizures is easily taken into account in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Further studies should be conducted to better define clinical guidelines and treatment protocols.

BackgroundStroke is one of the most frequent causes of death and disability worldwide. It is accompanied by the impaired motor function of the upper extremities in over 69% of patients up to hemiplegia in the following 5 years in 56% of cases. This condition often is characterized by chronic poststroke pain, difficult to manage, further worsening quality of life. Poststroke pain occurs within 3–6 months. Robot-assisted neurorehabilitation using the Automatic Recovery Arm Motility Integrated System (ARAMIS) has proven efficacy in motor function recovery exploiting the movements and the strength of the unaffected arm. The rationale of the ROBOCOP (ROBOtic Care of Poststroke pain) randomized trial is the assessment of the impact of robot-assisted functional and motor recovery on the prevention of poststroke pain.MethodsA total of 118 patients with hemiplegic arms due to stroke will be enrolled and randomly allocated with a 1:1 ratio to ARAMIS or conventional neurorehabilitation group. After a baseline screening at hospital discharge, ARAMIS or conventional rehabilitation will be performed for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint is the prevention of the development of poststroke pain and the secondary endpoints are prevention of spasticity and efficacy in clinical motor rehabilitation. The primary outcome measures consist in the visual analog scale and the doleur neuropatique 4 and the secondary outcome measures include: the Modified Ashworth Scale, the Resistance to Passive movement Scale; the Upper Extremity Subscale of the Fugl–Meyer Motor Assessment; the Action Research Arm Test; the Barthel Index for activities of daily living; and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) recovery-related parameters. After baseline, both primary and secondary outcome measures will be performed in the following time points: 1 month after stroke (t1, half of the rehabilitation); 2 months after stroke (t2, after rehabilitation); and 3 months (t3) and 6 months (t4) after stroke, critical for poststroke pain development.DiscussionThis is the first clinical trial investigating the efficacy of robot-assisted neurorehabilitation using ARAMIS on poststroke pain prevention. This study could remarkably improve the quality of life of stroke survivors.

An experimental investigation on the durability of Lightweight Cemented Soils (LWCS) after wetting and drying cycles was developed, focusing on the evolution of their mechanical response. Wetting and drying cycles were performed in climatic chamber to test their mechanical performance as function of number of cycles and the environmental conditions (50% and 90% of Relative Humidity). Unconfined compression tests and triaxial tests were performed on treated specimens after cycles in dry state. Suction of LWCS samples was measured after mechanical tests. Test results show that the wetting-drying cycles and the variations of suction are responsible for the evolution of LWCS mechanical behaviour. Moreover, strength and stiffness of the treated samples are related to the suction level induced by environmental conditions. The degradation of mechanical behaviour is linked to the number of cycles and to the amplitude of suction variation induced, being the latter responsible for mechanical cement bonding destructuration.

In 2001, the University of Denver included language in its vision statement that committed the institution to becoming "a great private university dedicated to the public good." This essay (1) explains how the development of an institutional visioning statement led to the implementation of a series of campus dialogues and action steps designed to forward public good work at the university; (2) presents campus conversations and current literature to offer a theory of public good work within private research universities; and (3) documents challenges and lessons learned through institutional efforts to embrace a culture of engagement. (Contains 6 endnotes.)

Background:. Oncological breast surgeries, classified as breast conserving surgery, oncoplastic surgery, and mastectomies (standard or with tissue sparing and reconstruction), are burdened with an overall complication rate up to 33%. Aquacel Ag Surgical is a combined hydrofiber-hydrocolloids dressing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of surgical site complications in patients presenting with three or more risk factors (or two, of which at least one classified as “high risk”), undergoing breast cancer surgery with/without reconstruction, comparing advanced (Aquacel Ag Surgical) with traditional dressing. Methods:. This is a retrospective, monocentric, case-control study based at the breast unit of the Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital of Turin, Italy. Forty-two patients who underwent breast surgeries and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled, from February 1 to July 31, 2018. The primary endpoint was comparing the incidence of surgical site complications (skin alterations, infection, and wound dehiscence) in the two groups. The secondary endpoints were evaluating patient’s quality of life, aesthetic outcomes, and compliance to the dressings. Results:. The distribution of risk factors at the baseline between the two groups was balanced, without statistically significant differences. Wound complications’ incidence at 1 week was lower in the advanced dressing group (P = 0.015). On the bivariate descriptive analysis, advanced dressing proved to be easier to remove for the operator (P = 0.026). The aesthetic outcomes vouched for better scores in the advanced dressing group. Conclusion:. In the presented study Aquacel Ag Surgical dressing reduces surgical site complications in the first week after surgery in patients affected by three or more risk factors (or two with at least one classified as “high risk”).

Objective: Emerging adulthood is an important phase in the transition to adulthood. Emerging adults experience minimal social control and incomplete development of executive functioning leaving this age-group at risk for misusing this newfound independence. Hence, it is important to understand pathways to support positive development (PD) outcomes. In this study, we examined the relationship between participation in civically engaged learning and PD among first-year college students. Participants: First-year college students (N = 225) were surveyed during the 2012-2013 academic year. Methods: Students were surveyed on measures of PD and engaged learning prior to the beginning (initial survey) and at the end of the first year (final survey) of their undergraduate education. Stepwise linear regression was used to examine the influence of engaged learning on PD outcomes. Results: Engaged learning during the academic year predicted flourishing and students' civic frequency. Also, faith-affiliation and parents' civic frequency contributed to students' civic frequency. Conclusions: Our interpretation of the findings suggests that engaged learning and family role modeling may promote PD among first-year undergraduate students.

The Circle of Insight is a dialectical, open, purposeful, and enlightening process that moves those engaged toward deeper, liberating insight. It is a pedagogical construct I created over the past 15 years that I have used in teaching and developing my social justice social work classes. It integrates a see, reflect, act cyclical process that is at once personal and social. In this article, I present the Circle of Insight as a teaching tool, a creative, transformative pedagogical process for explicitly advancing Competency 3, Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice, of the Council on Social Work Education's "Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards" for baccalaureate and master's social work programs.

Recessive mutations in the POLR3A gene cause POLR3-HLD (the second-most-common form of childhood-onset hypomyelinating leukodystrophy), a neurodegenerative disorder featuring deficient cerebral myelin formation. To date, more than 140 POLR3A (NM_007055.3) missense mutations are related to the pathogenesis of POLR3-related leukodystrophy and spastic ataxia. Herein, in a cohort of five families from Sicily (Italy), we detected two cases of patients affected by POLR3-related leukodystrophy, one due to a compound heterozygous mutation in the POLR3A gene, including a previously undescribed missense mutation (c.328A > G (p.Lys110Glu)). Our study used an in-house NGS gene panel comprising 41 known leukodystrophy genes. Successively, we used a predictive test supporting the missense mutation as causative of disease, thus this mutation can be considered “Likely Pathogenic” and could be as a new pathogenetic mutation of the POLR3A gene causing a severe form of POLR3-HLD.