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For a long time, the leather industry has considered the chromium tanning process to be the easiest and fastest way to treat raw hides and transform them into valuable products. In the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid to the potential oxidation of the trivalent chromium in tanned leather. This happens for many reasons, such as the quality of the tanning agent or the adoption of good manufacturing practices. Anyway, the main problem, which is difficult to solve, is the sensibility of the free residual chromium tanned leather, which is high enough for possible harmful activity. Given this scenario, this work proposes a solution to decrease hexavalent chromium formation by using antioxidants during the leather tanning process. In this regard, a screening work was started, to find the worst-case scenario for trivalent chromium oxidation. To do this, commercial tanning products were employed, especially fatliquoring agents, which, in some cases, are the main source that could easily react with ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) to drive chromium oxidation. After the determination of conditions, different groups of common antioxidants were tested to analyse the antioxidation performances and their possible use in the chromium-based tanning process. The results underline the efficient action of the antioxidants studied, paving the way for some interesting perspectives to limit the drawbacks of chromium tanned leather.

Nell’itinerario di scoperta dei ruoli e degli spazi femminili, il diritto e la sua storia sono stati interrogati per verificare e suffragare la tesi dei gender studies sulla disuguaglianza di genere e del trattamento ineguale riservato alle donne. Come noto, la valorizzazione sperequata dei sessi ha definito per negazione gli spazi e il ruolo spettanti alle donne, limitandone o annullandone, sotto il profilo giuridico, la capacità di contrattare e di stare in giudizio, di esercitare la potestà sui figli, e così pure di apprendere, come pure di operare nella sfera pubblica e privata. L’esclusione femminile come elemento strutturante la società occidentale ha riguardato anche il lavoro femminile, storicamente costruito intorno alla differenziazione mansionale e alla subordinazione all’uomo, contribuendo così a costruire i modelli del male breadwinner e della female caregiver. A distanza di decenni dalle prime indagini sul lavoro femminile, la condizione delle lavoratrici e il relativo statuto soggettivo hanno conosciuto rinnovato interesse, grazie alla fioritura di ricerche storico giuridiche sugli impieghi delle donne, che hanno codificato lo strumentario giuridico utilizzato nel governo dei processi economico sociali che presiedono alle pratiche del lavoro. Entro il generale processo ricostruttivo del ruolo giocato dal diritto e dai giuristi per configurare lo statuto soggettivo della lavoratrice, un interesse particolare merita il tornante compreso tra l’unificazione nazionale e la fine della dittatura, a cui questo studio si accosta esaminando le intersezioni tra il formante normativo e dottrinale ma anche quello, finora meno studiato, della giurisprudenza.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that can cause significant motor and sensory impairment. Microglia, the central nervous system's immune sentinels, are known to be promising therapeutic targets in both SCI and neurodegenerative diseases. The most effective way to deliver medications and control microglial inflammation is through nanovectors; however, because of the variability in microglial morphology and the lack of standardized techniques, it is still difficult to precisely measure their activation in preclinical models. This problem is especially important in SCI, where the intricacy of the glia response following traumatic events necessitates the use of a sophisticated method to automatically discern between various microglial cell activation states that vary over time and space as the secondary injury progresses. We address this issue by proposing a deep learning-based technique for quantifying microglial activation following drug-loaded nanovector treatment in a preclinical SCI model. Our method uses a convolutional neural network to segment and classify microglia based on morphological characteristics. Our approach's accuracy and efficiency are demonstrated through evaluation on a collection of histology pictures from injured and intact spinal cords. This robust computational technique has potential for analyzing microglial activation across various neuropathologies and demonstrating the usefulness of nanovectors in modifying microglia in SCI and other neurological disorders. It has the ability to speed development in this crucial sector by providing a standardized and objective way to compare therapeutic options.

The historical period between the Italian Liberal era (1865-1919) and the Fascist dictatorship offers a unique perspective for dissecting the argumentative processes and legal frameworks underlying gender pay gap. It is within this timeframe, extending from the decades following National unification to the onset of dictatorship that most disparities in gender-based wage differentials originate. The persistence of these patterns of inequality, particularly in wages, validates the comparison between the contemporary era and the past, by affirmatively addressing two important questions: Do the strategies of inequality used in the past to pay women less reappear in contemporary times? What role has technology played in this resurgence, especially regarding the retribution of flexible labor?

Abstract Periodontitis is a dysbiosis‐driven inflammatory disease affecting the tooth‐supporting tissues, characterized by their progressive resorption, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss. A step‐wise therapeutic approach is employed for periodontitis. After an initial behavioral and non‐surgical phase, intra‐bony or furcation defects may be amenable to regenerative procedures. This review discusses the regenerative technologies employed for periodontal regeneration, highlighting the current limitations and future research areas. The search, performed on the MEDLINE database, has identified the available biomaterials, including biologicals (autologous platelet concentrates, hydrogels), bone grafts (pure or putty), and membranes. Biologicals and bone grafts have been critically analyzed in terms of composition, mechanism of action, and clinical applications. Although a certain degree of periodontal regeneration is predictable in intra‐bony and class II furcation defects, complete defect closure is hardly achieved. Moreover, treating class III furcation defects remains challenging. The key properties required for functional regeneration are discussed, and none of the commercially available biomaterials possess all the ideal characteristics. Therefore, research is needed to promote the advancement of more effective and targeted regenerative therapies for periodontitis. Lastly, improving the design and reporting of clinical studies is suggested by strictly adhering to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 statement.

Bijels are a peculiar type of Pickering emulsion that have a bicontinuous morphology and are stabilised by a jammed layer of nanoparticles (NPs). Due to their double nature, their usage has increased in recent years in various fields, such as biological and food applications. In fact, they can release both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds simultaneously. An improvement to this structure is the use of a hydrophobic monomer like polycaprolactone as the organic phase, which is able to polymerise during the formation of the structure. Unfortunately, the structures formed in this way always have some drawbacks, such as their thermal stability or degradation when submerged in an aqueous medium. A number of studies have been carried out in which some parameters, such as the NPs or the monomer, were changed and their effect on the final product evaluated. In this work, the effect of modifying the aqueous phase was studied. In particular, the effect of adding alginate, a biopolymer capable of forming a stable hydrogel in the presence of divalent cations, was analysed, as was the difference between soaking or not in CaCl2, the final system. Specific attention was paid to their swelling behaviour (150% vs. 25% of the blank sample), rheological properties (G′ 100 kPa vs. 20 kPa of the blank sample) and their release performances. In this framework, complete release of hydrophilic drug vs. 20% in the blank sample was observed together with improved release of the hydrophobic one with 35% in 8 h vs. 5% in the case of the blank sample. This strategy has been proven to influence bijels’ properties, opening the doors to many different uses

Sommario: 1. Premessa – 2. I diritti (costituzionali) dei migranti che attraversano il Mediterraneo – 3. Viaggi e diritti nella storia: ovvero della negazione dell’altro (specie se migrante) – 4. Riflessioni conclusive. La tutela dei diritti del migrante

Abstract Aerosol and pollutants, in form of particulates 5–8 μm in main size face every day our respiratory system as natural suspension in air or forced to be inhaled as a coadjutant in a medical therapy for respiratory diseases. This inhalation happens in children to elderly, women and men, healthy or sick and disable people. In this paper we analyzed the inhalation of aerosol in conditions assimilable to the thermal therapy. We use a computational fluid dynamic 3D model to compute and visualize the trajectories of aerosol (3–7–10–25 µm) down to the sixth generation of bronchi, in a steady and dynamic condition (7 µm) set as breath cycle at rest. Results, compared to a set of milestone experimental studies published in literature, allow the comprehension of particles behavior during the inhalation from mouth to bronchi sixth generation, the visualization of jet at larynx constriction and vortices, in an averaged characteristic rigorous geometrical model including tracheal rings. Results on trajectories and deposition show the importance of the including transient physiological breath cycle on aerosol deposition analyses. Numerical and graphical results, may enable the design of medical devices and protocols to make the inhalations more effective in all the users’ population.

Abstract Musculoskeletal defects are an enormous healthcare burden and source of pain and disability for individuals. With an aging population, the proportion of individuals living with these medical indications will increase. Simultaneously, there is pressure on healthcare providers to source efficient solutions, which are cheaper and less invasive than conventional technology. This has led to an increased research focus on hydrogels as highly biocompatible biomaterials that can be delivered through minimally invasive procedures. This review will discuss how hydrogels can be designed for clinical translation, particularly in the context of the new European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). We will then do a deep dive into the clinically used hydrogel solutions that have been commercially approved or have undergone clinical trials in Europe or the United States. We will discuss the therapeutic mechanism and limitations of these products. Due to the vast application areas of hydrogels, this work focuses only on treatments of cartilage, bone, and the nucleus pulposus. Lastly, the main steps toward clinical translation of hydrogels as medical devices are outlined. We suggest a framework for how academics can assist small and medium MedTech enterprises conducting the initial clinical investigation and post‐market clinical follow‐up required in the MDR. It is evident that the successful translation of hydrogels is governed by acquiring high‐quality pre‐clinical and clinical data confirming the device mechanism of action and safety.

One of the most persistent issues affecting people worldwide is water contamination due to the indiscriminate disposal of pollutants, causing severe environmental problems. Dyes are among the most harmful contaminants because of their high chemical stability and consequently difficult degradation. To remove contaminants from water, adsorption is the most widely used and effective method. In this work, we recall the results already published about the synthesis, the characterization and the use of porous graphene-oxide–chitosan aerogels as a sorbent material. Those systems, prepared by mixing GO sheets and CS chains, using APS as a cross-linking agent, and by further lyophilization, were further characterized using nano-computed tomography, supplying more understanding about their micro and nano-structure. Their sorbent ability has been investigated also by the study of their isotherm of adsorption of two different anionic dyes: Indigo Carmine and Cibacron Brilliant Yellow. Those analyses confirmed the potentialities of the aerogels and their affinity for those anionic dyes. Moreover, the possibility of regenerating and reusing the material was evaluated as a key aspect for applications of this kind. The treatment with NaOH, to promote the desorption of adsorbed dyes, and subsequent washing with HCl, to re-protonate the system, ensured the regeneration of the gels and their use in multiple cycles of adsorption with the selected water contaminants.

In recent decades, the rise of nanotechnology has led to the design of innovative nano-biomaterials which are used to improve pharmacological therapies and assist with disease diagnosis [...]

Targeted drug delivery from untethered microrobots is a topic of major interest in current biomedical research. The possibility to load smart materials able to administer active principles on remotely in vivo guidable microdevices constitutes one of the most attractive opportunities to overcome the drawbacks of classical untargeted delivery methodologies. Hydrogels, in particular, are ideal candidates as drug-carrying materials due to their biocompatibility, low cost, and ease of manufacturing. On the other hand, these polymers suffer from poor control over release rate and overall released amount. Starting from these premises, the present article demonstrates the possibility to tune the release of hydrogels applied on magnetically steerable microrobots by fabricating microsystems via layer-by-layer self-assembly. By doing this, the diffusion of chemicals from the hydrogel layers to the external environment can be optimized and the phenomenon of burst release can be strongly limited. The microrobotic platforms employed to transport the hydrogel active material are fabricated by employing 3D printing in combination with wet metallization and present a gold layer on their surface to enhance biocompatibility. The maneuverability of microdevices coated with both thin and thick multilayers is investigated, individuating optimized parameters for efficient actuation.

Aerogels are commonly regarded as soft and versatile materials for multiple applications thanks to their features such as elastic behavior, swelling ability and responsive characteristics. In the last decades these qualities have ensured them multiple uses in biomedical field as controlled drug delivery systems and scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Recently their employment as sensors has attracted great interest especially thanks to their tunability and the possibility to be used as soft material instead of conventional and many times unreliable sensors in multiple sensing applications. In this work we synthetized graphene oxide/polyaniline aerogels by in situ chemical polymerization of aniline monomer in aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide sheets. We characterized the system through chemical and mechanical analysis, and we its responsivity as gas sensing device was verified. Moreover, we investigated the influence of the encapsulation of graphene nanoplatelets on the responsive ability of the device. The addition of the graphene moieties improves the conductivity of the system, its compressive mechanical resistance and the applicability of these devices as gas sensors.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an injurious process that begins with immediate physical damage to the spinal cord and associated tissues during an acute traumatic event. However, the tissue damage expands in both intensity and volume in the subsequent subacute phase. At this stage, numerous events exacerbate the pathological condition, and therein lies the main cause of post-traumatic neural degeneration, which then ends with the chronic phase. In recent years, therapeutic interventions addressing different neurodegenerative mechanisms have been proposed, but have met with limited success when translated into clinical settings. The underlying reasons for this are that the pathogenesis of SCI is a continued multifactorial disease, and the treatment of only one factor is not sufficient to curb neural degeneration and resulting paralysis. Recent advances have led to the development of biomaterials aiming to promote in situ combinatorial strategies using drugs/biomolecules to achieve a maximized multitarget approach. This review provides an overview of single and combinatorial regenerative-factor-based treatments as well as potential delivery options to treat SCIs.

Abstract The oral cavity and oropharynx are complex environments that are susceptible to physical, chemical, and microbiological insults. They are also common sites for pathological and cancerous changes. The effectiveness of conventional locally‐administered medications against diseases affecting these oral milieus may be compromised by constant salivary flow. For systemically‐administered medications, drug resistance and adverse side‐effects are issues that need to be resolved. New strategies for drug delivery have been investigated over the last decade to overcome these obstacles. Synthesis of nanoparticle‐containing agents that promote healing represents a quantum leap in ensuring safe, efficient drug delivery to the affected tissues. Micro/nanoencapsulants with unique structures and properties function as more favorable drug‐release platforms than conventional treatment approaches. The present review provides an overview of newly‐developed nanocarriers and discusses their potential applications and limitations in various fields of dentistry and oral medicine.

Targeted drug delivery is currently emerging as a promising approach to overcome the limits of currently employed administration techniques. The most convenient methodology to control drug delivery is the application of stimuli-responsive materials, which can release drugs only when required, to remotely controlled microdevices able to navigate human body. Thanks to this synergy, release can be controlled both spatially and temporally. Spatial control is guaranteed by the maneuverability of the devices, which can be precisely guided to release in targeted locations. Temporal control, conversely, is guaranteed by the functionalization introduced in the stimuli-responsive material. In this context, the present work describes the coating of magnetically controlled microdevices with functionalized alginate-based hydrogels able to release drugs at pH values lower than 4.5. Hydrogels are functionalized binding the drug with either an azidoethyl ester bond or an amidic bond, following an innovative synthesis route. After fabrication, release from hydrogel coated microdevices as a function of the environmental pH is characterized. Finally, devices are magnetically actuated and the possibility to achieve spatially and temporally controlled release is demonstrated. The functional microtransporters described in the present work are particularly promising for in-vivo applications in environments where pH differences are present, like the digestive apparatus.

Complice l’attuale battaglia con il Covid-19, il rinnovato interesse per le malattie contagiose e per il modo di affrontarle può indurre a cercare nella ‘gestione’ dell’influenza ‘spagnola’ risposte e soluzioni agli interrogativi che agitano la società di oggi di fronte all’infuriare della pandemia: è possibile conciliare libertà dell’uomo e tutela della salute? L’opinione pubblica deve concorrere al governo dell’emergenza sanitaria? Fino a che punto è consigliabile informare la popolazione (e quindi spaventarla)? Sebbene l’analisi delle strategie giuridiche adottate dal governo italiano nel fronteggiare l’avanzata del ‘morbo crudele’ riveli stupefacenti somiglianze tra ieri e oggi (quarantene, misure sanitarie, reazioni collettive e paure non sembrano infatti essere affatto mutate), la ricerca di linee generali di condotta, di per sé ammissibile e utile, non deve suggerire pericolose comparazioni: l’assetto istituzionale, gli apparati di gestione e di controllo e il rapporto tra autorità e società di un secolo fa marcano profonde cesure tra l’Italia della ‘spagnola’ e quella del coronavirus. A fronte di un comune incremento del potere normativo dell’esecutivo, la ‘torsione autoritativa’ della tarda età liberale e la legislazione di guerra determinarono una vera e propria crisi delle istituzioni rappresentative, attribuendo al Ministero dell’Interno (allora rappresentato da Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, che era anche alla guida del Consiglio dei Ministri) amplissimi poteri in campo sanitario, di pubblica sicurezza e di controllo delle informazioni riservate, lasciando alla stampa il difficile compito di rapportarsi con un’opinione pubblica volutamente esclusa dalla politica del diritto. Nel gettare un ponte tra due ‘mondi’ simili eppure lontani, le pagine che seguono tracciano una ‘micro-storia’ all’interno della ‘macro-storia’ sulla pandemia del 1918 e del‘laboratorio giuridico’ italiano sulla ‘spagnola’, per dimostrare come spesso (allora) ma non sempre (oggi) sia lecito ritenere che l’allarme sanitario si traduca in vero e proprio stato d’emergenza, determinando la violazione dei diritti e l’annullamento delle libertà dell’uomo.

Abstract Background Animal studies show that high fat (HF) diet-induced gut microbiota contributes to the development of obesity. Oil composition of high-fat diet affects metabolic inflammation differently with deleterious effects by saturated fat. The aim of the present study was to examine the diversity and metabolic capacity of the cecal bacterial community in C57BL/6 N mice administered two different diets, enriched respectively with coconut oil (HFC, high in saturated fat) or soy oil (HFS, high in polyunsaturated fat). The relative impact of each hypercaloric diet was evaluated after 2 and 8 weeks of feeding, and compared with that of a low-fat, control diet (LF). Results The HFC diet induced the same body weight gain and fat storage as the HFS diet, but produced higher plasma cholesterol levels after 8 weeks of treatment. At the same time point, the cecal microbiota of HFC diet-fed mice was characterized by an increased relative abundance of Allobaculum, Anaerofustis, F16, Lactobacillus reuteri and Deltaproteobacteria, and a decreased relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila compared to HFS mice. Comparison of cecal microbiota of high-fat fed mice versus control mice indicated major changes that were shared between the HFC and the HFS diet, including the increase in Lactobacillus plantarum, Lutispora, and Syntrophomonas, while some other shifts were specifically associated to either coconut or soy oil. Prediction of bacterial gene functions showed that the cecal microbiota of HFC mice was depleted of pathways involved in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, xenobiotic degradation and metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides compared to mice on HFS diet. Correlation analysis revealed remarkable relationships between compositional changes in the cecal microbiota and alterations in the metabolic and transcriptomic phenotypes of high-fat fed mice. Conclusions The study highlights significant differences in cecal microbiota composition and predictive functions of mice consuming a diet enriched in coconut vs soy oil. The correlations established between specific bacterial taxa and various traits linked to host lipid metabolism and energy storage give insights into the role and functioning of the gut microbiota that may contribute to diet-induced metabolic disorders.

Porous aerogels, formed by subjecting precursor hydrogels using a freeze-drying process, are certainly one of the most studied and synthetized soft materials, thanks to their important features such as elasticity, swelling behavior, softness, and micro and nanosized pores, which guarantee their applicability in various fields. Typically, these systems are synthetized working with natural or synthetic polymers, but in the last years great interest has been given to proper formulated aerogels able to combine polymeric structures with other moieties such as graphene or graphene oxide. This working strategy can be pivotal in many cases to tune important properties of the final system such as toughness, porosity, elasticity, electrical conductivity, or responsive behavior. In this work we propose the synthesis of chitosan graphene oxide aerogels obtained through self-assembly of graphene oxide sheets and chitosan chains. These three-dimensional systems were chemically characterized with IR and XRD technique and their inner structure was investigated through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, we mechanically characterized the material through dynamic mechanical analysis, showing the stability of these systems. Finally, the adsorption ability of these soft materials has been demonstrated using model molecules to simulate water contaminants showing the efficacy of those graphene-based systems even for the removal of anionic dyes. Complete removal of contaminants was obtained at low concentration of dyes in solution (100 mg/L), while with a higher amount of pollutant in the solution (350 mg/L) high sorption capacity (q > 200 mg/g) was observed.

In the last few decades, the introduction of microrobotics has drastically changed the way medicine will be approached in the future. The development of untethered steerable microdevices able to operate in vivo inside the human body allows a high localization of the therapeutical action, thus limiting invasiveness and possible medical complications. This approach results are particularly useful in drug delivery, where it is highly beneficial to administer the drug of choice exclusively to the target organ to avoid overdosage and side effects. In this context, drug releasing layers can be loaded on magnetically moveable platforms that can be guided toward the target organ to perform highly targeted release. In the present paper, we evaluate the possible application of alginate hydrogel layers on moveable platforms manufactured by coupling additive manufacturing with wet metallization. Such alginate layers are reticulated using three different physical crosslinkers: Ca, Zn or Mn. Their effect on drug release kinetics and on device functionality is evaluated. In the case of alginate reticulated using Mn, the strongly pH dependent behavior of the resulting hydrogel is evaluated as a possible way to introduce a triggered release functionality on the devices.

Ruminant production has been an essential part of human activities worldwide since ancient times. The expected increase in world population and per capita income, with an increase in the amount and prevalence of animal products in human diet, urbanisation, with a concentration of population in urban areas and an increase in losses in the supply chain, and the growing concern over the environmental impact of animal farming require a long-term global strategy for a more intensive and sustainable ruminant production. Therefore, solutions to increase the supply of high-quality products of ruminant origin, without harming human health, animal welfare, and environment, should consider the following interconnected issues discussed in this review: (a) effects of meat, milk and dairy products consumption on human health, focussing on the imbalance caused by their insufficient consumption, and the alleged increased incidence of certain diseases due to their consumption; (b) importance of the sustainable intensification of ruminant production systems (e.g. better feed conversion and higher production output per unit of input introduced into the farming system); (c) environmental impact of ruminant production; (d) improvement of animal performance by improving animal welfare; (e) adaptation of ruminants to climate change; (f) sustainable ruminant feeding (e.g. precision feeding techniques, optimisation of grazing systems, and use of unconventional feeds); (g) challenges posed by production intensification to animal breeding and conservation of animal biodiversity; and (h) strategies to increase ruminant production in developing countries, thus achieving food security in vast areas of the planet affected by fast growth of human population.

Polylactic acid (PLA)—based polymers are ubiquitous in the biomedical field thanks to their combination of attractive peculiarities: biocompatibility (degradation products do not elicit critical responses and are easily metabolized by the body), hydrolytic degradation in situ, tailorable properties, and well-established processing technologies. This led to the development of several applications, such as bone fixation screws, bioresorbable suture threads, and stent coating, just to name a few. Nanomedicine could not be unconcerned by PLA-based materials as well, where their use for the synthesis of nanocarriers for the targeted delivery of hydrophobic drugs emerged as a new promising application. The purpose of the here presented review is two-fold: on one side, it aims at providing a broad overview of PLA-based materials and their properties, which allow them gaining a leading role in the biomedical field; on the other side, it offers a specific focus on their recent use in nanomedicine, highlighting opportunities and perspectives.

L’inadempimento del contratto – soprattutto bilaterale – ha conosciuto una storia travagliata. Per meglio comprendere le vicissitudini dell’istituto, e in particolar modo la sua complessa genesi, una valida chiave di lettura può consistere nell’analisi dei codici e dei progetti di codice sudamericani dell’Ottocento. Nello specifico, nuove riflessioni sui rimedi per sanzionare l’inadempimento contrattuale sono fornite dal Brasile del XIX secolo, grazie alle grandi opere di Augusto Teixeria de Freitas: la Consolidação das Leis Civis e l’Esboço de Código Civil. PAROLE CHIAVE: Diritto privato (storia). Diritto delle obbligazioni e dei contratti. Inadempimento dei contratti. Europa e America Latina. Storia della comparazione giuridica.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon is the most common malignant neoplasia of the gastrointestinal tract and is a major contributor to mortality worldwide. Invasiveness and metastatic behavior are typical of malignant tumors and, because of its portal drainage, the liver is the closest capillary bed available in this case, hence the common site of metastatic dissemination. Current therapies forecast total resection of primary tumor when possible and partial liver resection at advanced stages, along with systemic intravenous therapies consisting of chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil. These cures are definitely not exempt from drawbacks and heavy side effects. Biocompatible polymeric networks, both in colloids and bulk forms, able to absorb large quantities of water and load a variety of molecules-belong to the class of innovative drug delivery systems, thus suitable for the purpose and tunable on each patient can represent a promising alternative. Indeed, the implantation of polymeric scaffolds easy to synthesize can substitute chemotherapy and combination therapies scheduling, shortening side effects. Moreover, they do not require a surgical removal thanks to spontaneous degradation and guarantees an extended and regional cargo release, maintaining high drug concentrations. In this review, we focus our attention on the key role of polymeric networks as drug delivery systems potentially able to counteract this dramatic disease.

As a side eect of food production, mycotoxins have always accompanied humanity, even if the danger posed by these molecules has only recently been understood and new research has begun to identify and study ways to reduce their presence in food. [...]

Drug delivery is a fascinating research field with several development opportunities. Great attention is now focused on colloidal systems, nanoparticles, and nanogels and on the possibility of modifying them in order to obtain precise targeted drug delivery systems. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the main available surface functionalization and coating strategies that can be adopted in order to modify the selectivity of the nanoparticles in the delivery process and obtain a final system with great targeted drug delivery ability. We also highlight the most important fields of application of these kinds of delivery systems and we propose a comparison between the advantages and disadvantages of the described functionalization strategies.

Considering nanogels, we have focused our attention on hybrid nanosystems for drug delivery and biomedical purposes. The distinctive strength of these structures is the capability to join the properties of nanosystems with the polymeric structures, where versatility is strongly demanded for biomedical applications. Alongside with the therapeutic effect, a non-secondary requirement of the nanosystem is indeed its biocompatibility. The importance to fulfill this aim is not only driven by the priority to reduce, as much as possible, the inflammatory or the immune response of the organism, but also by the need to improve circulation lifetime, biodistribution, and bioavailability of the carried drugs. In this framework, we have therefore gathered the hybrid nanogels specifically designed to increase their biocompatibility, evade the recognition by the immune system, and overcome the self-defense mechanisms present in the bloodstream of the host organism. The works have been essentially organized according to the hybrid morphologies and to the strategies adopted to fulfill these aims: Nanogels combined with nanoparticles or with liposomes, and involving polyethylene glycol chains or zwitterionic polymers.

Disease-associated malnutrition, also defined as cachexia, is a complex syndrome characterised by the progressive deterioration of nutritional status resulting from the combined effects of reduced appetite and food intake, and profound changes in host metabolism. Cachexia has been repeatedly demonstrated to represent a negative prognostic factor for patients suffering from acute and chronic diseases, including cancer. In oncology patients, early diagnosis of cachexia and timely nutritional intervention have been demonstrated not only to prevent further deterioration of nutritional status, but also to increase quality of life and survival when integrated in a multiprofessional and multidisciplinary approach. However, nutritional therapy is associated to the possible development of complications, which may be fatal. Therefore, nutritional therapy in severely malnourished patients should be cautiously prescribed by experts in the field, who should develop a monitoring program to early detect complications and to maximise the clinical efficacy. Here we describe a cancer patient affected by refeeding syndrome, who was fortunately early diagnosed and properly treated.

In the injured spinal cord, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are the principal responsible of axon growth inhibition and they contribute to regenerative failure, promoting glial scar formation. Chondroitinase ABC (chABC) is known for being able to digest proteoglycans, thus degrading glial scar and favoring axonal regrowth. However, its classic administration is invasive, infection-prone and clinically problematic. An agarose-carbomer (AC1) hydrogel, already used in SCI repair strategies, was here investigated as a delivery system capable of an effective chABC administration: the material ability to include chABC within its pores and the possibility to be injected into the target tissue were firstly proved. Subsequently, release kinetic and the maintenance of enzymatic activity were positively assessed: AC1 hydrogel was thus confirmed to be a feasible tool for chABC delivery and a promising device for spinal cord injury topic repair strategies.

Milano, 1827. Il processo penale per abuso d’ufficio contro il conte Giuseppe Brebbia, alto funzionario del Lombardo-Veneto, offre l’occasione per tracciare un resoconto sul rapporto fra classi sociali e amministrazione della cosa pubblica negli anni ’20 del XIX secolo. In questi anni, in Lombardia, si assiste infatti alle avvisaglie della crisi del governo locale da parte dell’Adelstand. Per comprendere le ragioni che condussero all’affermazione di un modello di amministrazione a-cetuale, è necessario spingersi nei meandri di una vicenda attorno alla quale ruotano interessi politici e sociali.

Biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by nanoprecipitation with controlled dimension and with different electric charges, as monitored by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Then NPs were loaded within hydrogels (HG) developed for biomedical applications in the central nervous system, with different pore sizes (30 and 90 nm). The characteristics of the resulting composite hydrogel-NPs system were firstly studied in terms of ability to control the release of small steric hindrance drug mimetic. Then, diffusion-controlled release of different charged NPs from different entangled hydrogels was studied in vitro and correlated with NPs electric charges and hydrogel mean mesh size. These studies showed different trends, that depend on NPs superficial charge and HG mesh size. Release experiments and diffusion studies, then rationalized by mathematical modeling, allowed us to build different drug delivery devices that can satisfy different medical needs.

Although bone has a high potential to regenerate itself after damage and injury, the efficacious repair of large bone defects resulting from resection, trauma or non-union fractures still requires the implantation of bone grafts. Materials science, in conjunction with biotechnology, can satisfy these needs by developing artificial bones, synthetic substitutes and organ implants. In particular, recent advances in materials science have provided several innovations, underlying the increasing importance of biomaterials in this field. To address the increasing need for improved bone substitutes, tissue engineering seeks to create synthetic, three-dimensional scaffolds made from organic or inorganic materials, incorporating drugs and growth factors, to induce new bone tissue formation. This review emphasizes recent progress in materials science that allows reliable scaffolds to be synthesized for targeted drug delivery in bone regeneration, also with respect to past directions no longer considered promising. A general overview concerning modeling approaches suitable for the discussed systems is also provided.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a gluco-oligosaccharide (GOS), as an alternative to growth promoters in piglets, on: growth performance, blood parameters and morphological characteristics of the intestinal tract. Four week old weaned piglets (n=128) (7.2 ± 1.04 kg l.w.) were divided into four groups and fed for 77 days on different diets as follows: 1.- Basal diet (CTR); 2.- Basal diet supplemented with a 2% GOS; 3.- Basal diet supplemented with chlortetracycline and spiramicine at 1000 and 400 mg/ kg, respectively, for 14 days and then fed the CTR basal diet (CTRM); or 4.-a GOS diet supplemented and administered as in group 3 (GOSM). Animals were individually weighed 5 times, on days 0, 14, 35, 56 and 77. At the same time, the feed intake and average daily gains (ADG) were recorded and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. On days 0 and 77, plasma was sampled from 6 piglets/treatment group, whereas on 77th day, 4 piglets/treatment were slaughtered to assess the morphological characteristics of parts of their gastro-intestinal tracts (ileum and caecum). The results showed no effects of the medications on the ADG in all the experimental periods. However, from days 57 to 77 of the trial period, the ADG was found to be higher in the GOS-fed animals (P=0.0747). During the first 14 days of the trial, the piglets on the medicated diets showed a higher intake than the animals in the normal diet groups, but no differences were detectable in the FCR. The globulin concentration and the albumin/globulin ratio was found to be reduced by GOS treatment (P

An assessment was made of the effect that different treatments (toasting, expansion, extrusion) have on the nutritionalvalue of protein plants (pea, faba bean, lupin). In a randomized block design, feeds were screened for enzymaticdigestibility of starch and protein, N solubility and in vitro protein degradability. Expansion and extrusion cause increasedstarch enzymatic degradability while toasting produced virtually no effects. In peas this value increased from 11.80% inmeal to 39.70% in the extruded product; 85.37% is the percentage for the expanded product, while 10.90% is the starchdigestibility value for toasted peas. In faba beans the extrusion process increased starch digestibility from 11.39% to85.05%, while in extruded lupins a complete starch hydrolysis was obtained, while in the meal the polysaccharide digestionwas 54.48%.The expansion and extrusion processes significantly decreased rumen degradability during the first 8 hours of incubation.Toasted peas had lower degradability if compared with controls but not with the other treatments. The onlypotentially alternative source to soybean is the extruded faba bean. In spite of its lower protein content, this feed ischaracterized by a considerably lower in vitro protein degradability than soybean. This implies that the digestible foodprotein content is comparable (124.90 g/kg DM) to that of soybean (109.78 g/kg DM) and definitely higher than thatof all other protein plants.

Four hybrids of class FAO 700: EA6601 and Simeto (Monsanto), Eleonora (Pioneer), Pampero (Syngenta), grown under identical conditions, underwent analysis to determine their analytical and botanical composition and DM (IVDMD) and NDF (IVNDFD) in vitrodigestibility. The content of fibrous fractions increased with maturity. For stalks there was an increase from an average value of 47.72% (V8) up to over 61% during the dough stage of the grain (R4) reaching over 73% during the phase of physiological maturation (R6). At the eighth-leaf vegetative stage in hybrids the stalk represent- ed 61.59% of the DM of the plant and reached 40.35% in the dough stage, while the leaf apparatus fall from 38.41% of the eighth-leaf stage DM to 18.19% during the dough stage of the grain and only 9.17% during physiological maturation. The ear, which represented only 12.93% of DM plant at the silking stage, increased to 41.47% and 53.01 respectively at the dough and physiological phases. At the dough stage (R4) the hybrids Simeto and Pampero, had a stalk percentage significantly higher (41.67% and 42.34% respectively; P< 0.01) compared with Eleonora (38.97%) and EA6601 (38.44%). Eleonora hybrid had a leaf proportion of 19.80% - higher than Pampero (17.93%), Simeto (17.60%), EA6601 (17.43%). This greater leafiness occurred with a lower incidence of the stalk, which has the highest loss of digestibility during maturing. The grain percentage of EA6601 was significantly higher than Pampero (26.46%), Simeto (27.33%) and Eleonora (27.88%). In the R4 phase the hybrid EA6601 had a higher stalk fibre content (ADF 41.38%; P< 0.05) compared to Pampero (37.61%) Simeto (38.14%) and Eleonora (39.16%). The effect of the phenological stage on the fiber content of the leaves was less evident, only the ADL increased from values of about 5% in the first period, to 8% and more in the final three stages. Even here, in dough stage, EA6601 differed (P< 0.01) from the others for its higher levels of ADL (9.35%) and ADF (35.05%), while the hybrids Eleonora and Pampero presented lower values of ADL (P 0.01) and ADF (7.90%). Simeto had the lowest ADF content (31.39%; P< 0.01). In the dough stage there was no significant differ- ences for in vitrodigestibility of DM and NDF between the hybrids - for all the botanical parts. In the whole plant, as maturity advanced, the differences of in vitrodigestibility of stalks, were counterbal- anced by the increasing proportion of grain.

Inflammation characterizes the course of acute and chronic diseases and is largely responsible for the metabolic and behavioral changes occurring during the clinical journey of patients. Robust data indicate that, during cancer, functional modifications within brain areas regulating energy homeostasis contribute to the onset of anorexia, reduced food intake, and increased catabolism of muscle mass and adipose tissue. In particular, functional changes are associated with increased hypothalamic concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, which suggests that neuroinflammation may represent the adaptive response of the brain to peripheral challenges, including tumor growth. Within this conceptual framework, the vagus nerve appears to be involved in conveying alert signals to the hypothalamus, whereas hypothalamic serotonin appears to contribute to triggering catabolic signals.

Objectives: We report a case of a frail older adult affected by Chilaiditi syndrome complicating transthoracic lung biopsy, which has never been presented before in the literature. Materials and methods: After illustration of our case, we review the available literature about Chilaiditi syndrome. Results: Chilaiditi syndrome is a rare disease characterised by the interposition of colonic segments between the liver and diaphragm associated with mild to severe clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Although it is uncommon, Chilaiditi syndrome is a clinical condition that should be recognized early and differentiated from other diseases since it may significantly impair a patient’s prognosis.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers are considered healthy factors due to their anticarcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic and lipolytic effect. A recommended daily intake from 0.8 to 3 g CLA/day/person has been proposed to obtain biological effects in humans. The aim of this work was to provide data on cis9,trans11 (c9,t11 CLA) and trans10,cis12 (t10,c12 CLA) contents in meats collected from Italian largescale retail trade and completing a food CLA database. In a first trial, beef loin meats were characterised for label information available for consumers: origin (i.e., Ireland, France- Italy, Piedmont) and sex of animals. No differences were observed for c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA contents (mg/g fat) of loin meat from male or female. Piedmontese meat showed lower (Pc9,t11 CLA level (mg/g fat) than Irish and French-Italian meats, whereas similar t10,c12 CLA contents were measured in Piedmontese, Irish and French-Italian meats. Successively, meat samples from different animal species (male and female beef, veal, suckling lamb, belly beef, canned beef meat, pork and horse) were characterised for their contents in c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA. Lamb meat had the highest (Pc9,t11 CLA content (mg/g fat). The c9,t11 CLA was lower than 2 mg/g fat in veal, pork and horse meats. Low t10,c12 CLA amounts were found in all analysed meat samples. These data provided information to estimate the average daily intake of CLA from meats in an Italian cohort, which can be used in epidemiological studies.

Protein-energy wasting is frequently found in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Anorexia and hypophagia contribute to malnutrition, increased morbidity and mortality, but the clinical impact of correcting hypophagia remains uncertain. We evaluated whether correction of hypophagia influences morbidity and mortality in anorexic HD patients. Thirty-four HD patients were enrolled in a 2-year follow-up programme including regular nutritional assessment. Patients not meeting nutritional requirements during the follow-up, received nutritional counselling, consisting of advice, individually tailored diet and, in case of failure of dietary intervention, artificial nutrition. Biochemical, anthropometric, body composition parameters, morbidity and mortality were recorded in all patients at 12 and 24 months. At baseline, 14 patients (41%) were anorexic, and 20 patients (59%) non-anorexic. Anorexic patients were hypophagic and presented with reduced fat-free mass. After 12 and 24 months, cholesterol, albumin, lymphocyte count and BMI did not differ among groups, while FFM (%) in supplemented anorexic patients significantly improved, being not different any more vs non-anorexic (65.8±4.4 vs 65.4±8.9, respectively; p=n.s.; 65.8±4.4 vs 66.7±10.78, respectively; p=n.s.). Morbidity and mortality were not different among the two groups. In conclusion, in HD patients, nutritional counselling and nutritional support positively affect nutritional status in hypophagic patients and make the risk of morbidity and mortality in anorexic patients comparable to non-anorexic.

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of Bt corn and isogenic corn on the growth of weaned piglets. One hundred twenty-eight weaned piglets weighing 8.8 ±1.27 kg live weight were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 32 animals each (16 castrated males and 16 females). Bt corn (line MON810) and isogenic corn were produced at two farms located in the Lodi and Venezia provinces (northern Italy). Bt corn had the same chemical composition as the isogenic corn but a lower content of fumonisin B1 (FB1). The experimental period (35 days) was divided into two phases: 0-14 d and 15-35 d. There was no significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) among groups during the first feeding phase. Compared to animals fed isogenic corn, the piglets fed Bt maize gained more weight during the second feeding phase (Bt: 464.1 g/d, isogenic: 429.1 g/d; P < 0.05). Also, the ADG over the entire trial was higher in piglets fed Bt corn versus piglets fed isogenic corn (Bt: 396.4 g/d, isogenic: 374.1 g/d; P < 0.05). The ADG of the whole period decreased linearly (P

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of Bt corn and isogenic corn on the growth of weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty-eight weaned piglets weighing 8.8±1.27 kg live weight were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 32 animals each (16 castrated males and 16 females). Bt corn (line MON810) and isogenic corn were produced at two farms located in the provinces of Lodi and Venice (northern Italy). The Bt corn had the same chemical composition as the isogenic corn but a lower content of fumonisin B1 (FB1). The experimental period (35 days) was in 2 phases, 0-14 d and 15-35 d. There was no significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) among groups during the first feeding phase. Compared to animals fed isogenic corn, the piglets fed Bt maize gained more weight during the second feeding phase (Bt: 464.1 g/d, isogenic: 429.1 g/d; P

Six pregnant heifers, coming from a herd with a history of high concentration of polychlorobifenyls (PCB) into the milk, were fed with a very low-PCB diet starting from the 6th month of pregnancy. After parturition cows were milked for at least 190 d with a maximum of 270 d. Diet was made of: corn silage (31.7% of DMI), dehydrated alfalfa (13.3% of DMI), grass hay (3.7% of DMI) and concentrate (51.3% of DMI). The average DMI was 23.12 kg/d. Milk production was recorded and samples of milk and blood were taken and analyzed for PCB (18, 28, 31, 52, 44, 101, 149, 118, 153, 138, 180 and 194 congeners) content using a GC-MS technique. The average milk yield (kg/d) of the 6 cows was 26.0, 22.5, 23.2, 24.5, 28.9, 29.3. The maximum PCB concentration of 100 ng/g of fat allowed by the Italian law was reached after 144-209 d of lactation. One animal after 204 days had a PCB concentration of 102 ng/g fat. If log10 of PCB concentration (ppb) in milk fat is regressed against days in milking (DIM) the following significant equation was obtained: log10 PCB (ng/g of milk fat)= 2.796 -0.00474 DIM; r2 0.72; P

ObjectiveTo test the performance of appetite assessment tools among patients receiving hemodialysis (HD).DesignCross-sectional.SubjectsTwo hundred twenty-one patients receiving HD enrolled in seven dialysis facilities in Northern California.InterventionWe assessed 5 appetite assessment tools (self-assessment of appetite, subjective assessment of appetite, visual analog scale [VAS], Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy [FAACT] score, and the Anorexia Questionnaire [AQ]).Main outcome measuresReported food intake, normalized protein catabolic rate, and change in body weight were used as criterion measures, and we assessed associations among the appetite tools and biomarkers associated with nutrition and inflammation. Patients were asked to report their appetite and the percentage of food eaten (from 0% to 100%) during the last meal compared to usual intake.ResultsFifty-eight (26%) patients reported food intake ≤ 50% (defined as poor appetite). The prevalence of anorexia was 12% by self-assessment of appetite, 6% by subjective assessment of appetite, 24% by VAS, 17% by FAACT score, and 12% by AQ. All the tools were significantly associated with food intake ≤ 50% (P < .001), except self-assessment of appetite. The FAACT score and the VAS had the strongest association with food intake ≤ 50% (C-statistic 0.80 and 0.76). Patients with food intake ≤ 50% reported weight loss more frequently than patients without low intake (36% vs 22%) and weight gain less frequently (19% vs 35%; P = .03). Normalized protein catabolic rate was lower among anorexic patients based on the VAS (1.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.2 ± 0.3, P = .03). Ln interleukin-6 correlated inversely with food intake (P = .03), but neither interleukin-6 nor C-reactive protein correlated with any of the appetite tools. Furthermore, only the self-assessment of appetite was significantly associated with serum albumin (P = .02), prealbumin (P = .02) and adiponectin concentrations (P = .03).ConclusionsAlternative appetite assessment tools yielded widely different estimates of the prevalence of anorexia in HD. When considering self-reported food intake as the criterion standard for anorexia, the FAACT score and VAS discriminated patients reasonably well.

The Society for Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disease convened an expert panel to develop nutritional recommendations for prevention and management of sarcopenia. Exercise (both resistance and aerobic) in combination with adequate protein and energy intake is the key component of the prevention and management of sarcopenia. Adequate protein supplementation alone only slows loss of muscle mass. Adequate protein intake (leucine-enriched balanced amino acids and possibly creatine) may enhance muscle strength. Low 25(OH) vitamin D levels require vitamin D replacement.