Search

The formation of beta-lactoglobulin (BLG)/sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) complexes decelerates the change in the surface properties of the mixed solutions with the surface age and increases the steady-state dilational surface elasticity in a narrow PSS concentration range. At the same time, the changes in the surface properties are accelerated in the dispersions of BLG fibrils with and without PSS due to the influence of small peptides coexisting with fibrils. A decrease in the peptide concentration as a result of the dispersion purification leads to slower changes in the surface properties at low PSS concentrations. The increase in the polyelectrolyte concentration results in an increase in the steady-state surface elasticity due to the fibril/PSS complex formation and in very slow changes in the surface properties if the polyelectrolyte exceeds a certain critical value. The latter effect is a consequence of the formation of large aggregates and of an increase in the electrostatic adsorption barrier. The consecutive adsorption of BLG fibrils and PSS leads to the formation of regular multilayers at the liquid–gas interface. The multilayer properties change noticeably with an increase in the number of layers from four to six in agreement with previous results on the multilayers of PSS with an oppositely charged synthetic polyelectrolyte, presumably due to the heterogeneity of the first PSS layer. The dynamic elasticity of the multilayers approaches 250 mN/m, indicating that they can effectively stabilize foams and emulsions.

We describe a rare case of polyserositis with chylous ascites following nivolumab therapy, highlighting the challenges in recognizing and managing immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs).

The formation of beta-lactoglobulin (BLG)/sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) complexes decelerates the change in the surface properties of the mixed solutions with the surface age and increases the steady-state dilational surface elasticity in a narrow PSS concentration range. At the same time, the changes in the surface properties are accelerated in the dispersions of BLG fibrils with and without PSS due to the influence of small peptides coexisting with fibrils. A decrease in the peptide concentration as a result of the dispersion purification leads to slower changes in the surface properties at low PSS concentrations. The increase in the polyelectrolyte concentration results in an increase in the steady-state surface elasticity due to the fibril/PSS complex formation and in very slow changes in the surface properties if the polyelectrolyte exceeds a certain critical value. The latter effect is a consequence of the formation of large aggregates and of an increase in the electrostatic adsorption barrier. The consecutive adsorption of BLG fibrils and PSS leads to the formation of regular multilayers at the liquid–gas interface. The multilayer properties change noticeably with an increase in the number of layers from four to six in agreement with previous results on the multilayers of PSS with an oppositely charged synthetic polyelectrolyte, presumably due to the heterogeneity of the first PSS layer. The dynamic elasticity of the multilayers approaches 250 mN/m, indicating that they can effectively stabilize foams and emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates and recipients are a fragile population, in which the presence of a pre-transplant disease leading to organ insufficiency and the post-transplant immunosuppressive treatment expose them to an increased risk of infectious diseases. The best intervention to guarantee efficient prevention of infections, with optimal cost–benefit ratio, is represented by vaccination programs; however, the response to vaccines needs that the immune system maintains a good function. This is even more relevant at paediatric age, when specific immunological conditions make transplant candidates and recipients particularly vulnerable. Paediatric patients may be naïve to most infections and may have incomplete immunization status at the time of transplant listing due to their age. Moreover, the unaccomplished development of a mature immune system and the immunosuppressive regimen adopted after transplant might affect the efficacy of post-transplant vaccinations. Therefore, every effort should be made to obtain the widest vaccination coverage before the transplantation, whenever possible. This review reports the most relevant literature, providing information on the current approach to the vaccinations in paediatric SOT candidates and recipients.

In this communication, the single-element version of the fractional Maxwell model (single FMM) is adopted to quantify the observed behaviour of the interfacial dilational viscoelasticity. This mathematical tool is applied to the results obtained by the oscillating drop method for aqueous solutions of ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE). The single FMM adequately fits the experimental results, fairly well characterizing the frequency dependence of the modulus and the inherent phase-shift angle of the complex physical quantity, i.e., the interfacial dilational viscoelasticity. Further speculations are envisaged to apply the FMM to step perturbations in the time domain, allowing for the same parameter set as in the frequency domain.

Warning Does justice have a face? And what personal story exists behind those who commit a crime? And, again, how does justice intervene on the biography of a defendant? How, in the event of loss of personal freedom, does justice change the physiognomy of the condemned? In the section Physiognomy and biography, the reports of the jurists who participated in the Ventotene conference in 2022 were accepted: not refereed essays, but important contributions for the dissemination of legal culture that introduce necessary reflections on the application of precautionary measures (Antinori), on functions of punishment (Santinelli), on defensive instances (Sgroi), on procedural guarantees (Truppa). With this section, enriched by a reflection on Dante and the ethical responsibility of literature in the face of evil (Anselmi), we hope to contribute to the public communication of justice and, to quote Camporesi, of the government of the body, because every individual choice, from crime to judgment to punishment, it affects flesh and blood individuals, whether they are guilty or innocent.

Solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates and recipients are a fragile population, in which the presence of a pre-transplant disease leading to organ insufficiency and the post-transplant immunosuppressive treatment expose them to an increased risk of infectious diseases. The best intervention to guarantee efficient prevention of infections, with optimal cost–benefit ratio, is represented by vaccination programs; however, the response to vaccines needs that the immune system maintains a good function. This is even more relevant at paediatric age, when specific immunological conditions make transplant candidates and recipients particularly vulnerable. Paediatric patients may be naïve to most infections and may have incomplete immunization status at the time of transplant listing due to their age. Moreover, the unaccomplished development of a mature immune system and the immunosuppressive regimen adopted after transplant might affect the efficacy of post-transplant vaccinations. Therefore, every effort should be made to obtain the widest vaccination coverage before the transplantation, whenever possible. This review reports the most relevant literature, providing information on the current approach to the vaccinations in paediatric SOT candidates and recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two open issues on the measurement of the dilational modulus (E) for an adsorbed protein film during the adsorption process have been unacknowledged: how E varies during the adsorption and the length of time needed to attain a stable E value. A new approach for detecting the E variation from a clean air–water interface to saturated film and estimating the time needed to reach a saturated state was proposed. A pendant bubble tensiometer was utilized for measuring the relaxations of surface tension (ST) and surface area (SA), and the E was evaluated from the relaxation data of minute distinct perturbances. The data showed a clear variation in E during the BSA adsorption: E sharply decreased to a minimum at the early stage of BSA adsorption; then, it rose from this minimum and oscillated for a while before reaching an E corresponding to a saturated BSA film after a significant duration. The adsorbed BSA film took ~35 h to reach its saturated state, which was much longer than the reported lifetime of the adsorbed film in the literature. A rapid surface perturbation (forced bubble expansion/compression) could change the E, causing a significant drop in E followed by a slow increase to the original stable value.