Preparation and Properties of PTFE-PMMA Core-Shell Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites

he preparation of polytetrafluoroethylene-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PTFE-PMMA) core-shell particles was described, featuring controlled size and narrow size distribution over a wide compositional range, through a seeded emulsion polymerization starting from a PTFE seed of 26 nanometers. Over the entire MMA/PTFE range, the particle size increases as the MMA/PTFE ratio increases. A very precise control over the particle size can be exerted by properly adjusting the ratio between the monomer and the PTFE seed. Particles in the 80240 nm range can be prepared with uniformity indexes suited to build 2D and 3D colloidal crystals. These core-shell particles were employed to prepare nanocomposites with different compositions, through an annealing procedure at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the shell forming polymer. A perfect dispersion of the PTFE particles within the PMMA matrix was obtained and optically transparent nanocomposites were prepared containing a very high PTFE amount

The first experience with a mini-rating scale for the assessment of sexual dysfunction and life-satisfaction in depressed patients in the practice

Even though many scales for the assessment of sexual dysfunction have been recently developed, most of them are suitable rather for the research purpose in clinical trials than to routine interviews in a daily, private practice. We report here the first experience with a simple, semi-quantitative scale for parallel assessment of sexual dysfunction and life-satisfaction (considered to globally reflect the quality of life), which was tested in depressed patients treated in the psychiatric, private practice setting. A combined Sexual Dysfunction(SD-S) and Life-Satisfaction Scale (LS-S), was constructed based on previous interviews with patients. Both consisted of 4-items, assumed to represent core elements of sexual function and individual well-being. The scales were applied to depressed patients treated with any of the SSRIs or with moclobemide, a reversible and selective MAO-A inhibitor. These two treatments were selected for testing the scales because it is known that SSRIs can induce or exacerbate them and moclobemide does not seem to affect them. The selection of treatment modality in this study was, however, entirely at the discretion of the physician. The assessments were done during 3 visits (at baseline, after 2 months and after 4 months). The results of this exploratory trial, testing the applicability, acceptance and utility of a combined mini- SD-S- and LS-S- scale, in 62 depressed patients, showed that the scale: a) was simple to use and well accepted by physicians and patients, b) was a suitable instrument for the practicing physician to control the success of the treatment and c) was sensitively assessing the presence and severity of sexual dysfunction

On the rehydration of organic layered double hydroxides to form low-ordered carbon/LDH nanocomposites

Low-ordered carbon/layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites were prepared by rehydration of the oxides produced by calcination of an organic LDH. While the memory effect is a widely recognized effect on oxides produced by inorganic LDH, it is unprecedented from the calcination/rehydration of organic ones. Different temperatures (400, 600, and 1100 °C) were tested on the basis of thermogravimetric data. Water, instead of a carbonate solution, was used for the rehydration, with CO2 available from water itself and/or air to induce a slower process with an easier and better intercalation of the carbonaceous species. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), infrared in reflection mode (IR), and Raman spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRPD indicated the presence of carbonate LDH, and of residuals of unreacted oxides. IR confirmed that the prevailing anion is carbonate, coming from the water used for the rehydration and/or air. Raman data indicated the presence of low-ordered carbonaceous species moieties and SEM and XRPD the absence of separated bulky graphitic sheets, suggesting an intimate mixing of the low ordered carbonaceous phase with reconstructed LDH. Organic LDH gave better memory effect after calcination at 400 °C. Conversely, the carbonaceous species are observed after rehydration of the sample calcined at 600 °C with a reduced memory effect, demonstrating the interference of the carbonaceous phase with LDH reconstruction and the bonding with LDH layers to form a low-ordered carbon/LDH nanocomposite

Immunohistochemical evaluation of bone metastases

  Introduction. Metastases are the most common type of malignancy involving the bone, while bone is the third most frequent site for metastases, after the lung and liver. In some patients, medical history, physical and laboratory exami­nation are not conclusive to identify the primary tumor site. In such cases a bone biopsy and immunohistochemical analysis may contribute to the diagnosis, determination of appropriate treatment and evaluation of prognosis. In this study, we tried to evaluate the imunochistochemical expression in bone metastases. Material and methods. We reviewed 125 patients, with a mean age of 63 years, treated for bone metastases in our institution. All patients received palliative orthopaedic surgery for bone metastatic carcinoma. Fifty-eight patients had already an established diagnosis of the primary tumor, while 67 patients presented metastases with an unknown primary tumor origin. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to intra-operative bone biopsy specimens. The expression of cytokeratine 7, cytokeratin 20 and the expression of a panel of other organ-specific markers were re­corded. In patients with a known primary tumor, we examined the relationship between the origin of metastases, as suggested by the cytokeratin phenotype, compared with the one indicated by the initial histological diagnosis. We also recorded the efficacy of organ-specific markers to identify the primary tumor origin in epithelial bone metastases and we evaluated the prognosis between patients with a immunohistologically determined primary tumor origin, with those with an undetermined one. Results. Associations of cytokeratine 7 and cytokeratine 20 expression confirmed diagnosis in 51 out of the 58 patients (88%) with a known primary tumor (Cohen’s K test 0.79 SE 0.80, P < 0.0005). Immunohistochemical analysis also contributed to establish the diagnosis of patients with an unknown primary tumor, yielding diagnosis in 35 out of the 67 cases (52%). Patients with an immunochistologically undetermined primary tumor site presented a statisti­cally significant poorer prognosis. Conclusions. Cytokeratine 7 and cytokeratine20 are useful immunochistochemical markers in determining a pre­liminary evaluation of bone metastases. Organ-specific immunohistochemical markers have a reliable role in either suggesting or confirming the possible origin of metastases. An indeterminate immunohistochemical phenotype seems to relate to a less differentiated lesion, with a worse prognosis

High Levels of β-Amyloid, Tau, and Phospho-Tau in Red Blood Cells as Biomarkers of Neuropathology in Senescence-Accelerated Mouse

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common Neurodegenerative Disease (ND), primarily characterised by neuroinflammation, neuronal plaques of β-amyloid (Aβ), and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. α-Synuclein (α-syn) and its heteroaggregates with Aβ and tau have been recently included among the neuropathological elements of NDs. These pathological traits are not restricted to the brain, but they reach peripheral fluids as well. In this sense, Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are emerging as a good model to investigate the biochemical alterations of aging and NDs. Herein, the levels of homo- and heteroaggregates of ND-related proteins were analysed at different stages of disease progression. In particular, a validated animal model of AD, the SAMP8 (Senescence-Accelerated Mouse-Prone) and its control strain SAMR1 (Senescence-Accelerated Mouse-Resistant) were used in parallel experiments. The levels of the aforementioned proteins and of the inflammatory marker interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were examined in both brain and RBCs of SAMP8 and SAMR1 at 6 and 8 months. Brain Aβ, tau, and phospho-tau (p-tau) were higher in SAMP8 mice than in control mice and increased with AD progression. Similar accumulation kinetics were found in RBCs, even if slower. By contrast, α-syn and its heterocomplexes (α-syn-Aβ and α-syn-tau) displayed different accumulation kinetics between brain tissue and RBCs. Both brain and peripheral IL-1β levels were higher in SAMP8 mice, but increased sooner in RBCs, suggesting that inflammation might initiate at a peripheral level before affecting the brain. In conclusion, these results confirm RBCs as a valuable model for monitoring neurodegeneration, suggesting peripheral Aβ, tau, and p-tau as potential early biomarkers of AD