Liver injury by experimental portal bacteremia: histogenetic recovery study in the rat

Abstract - To study the histogenetic recovery of hepatic lesions due to portal bacteremia, a complication of some clinical conditions, an experimental animal model had developed. Portal bacteremia was performed in 8-week rats and the morphological recovery of liver was histologically checked 1 to 6 days after bacteria inoculation. The major injuries, such as acute inflammatory exudate of the portobiliary spaces, piecemeal necrosis of muralium, micro-abscesses and areas of hepatocyte necrosis of the liver parenchyma, and thrombosis in the centrolobular vein were recorded 1 day after inoculation. Minimal signs of vacuolar degeneration, steatosis, necrosis areas, vessel congestion and focal hemosiderosis together with a small hepatocyte proliferative activity was instead appreciable with longer time. The results seem to suggest a role of vascular structures and Kupffer cells in the morphological repair. This experimental model could serve to understand better similar clinical hepatology conditions, such as portal bacteremia.Informazioni util

Advanced European Re-Entry System Based on Inflatable Heat Shields: Detailed Design (EFESTO project)

The European Union H2020 EFESTO project is coordinated by DEIMOS Space with the end goals of improving the European TRL of Inflatable Heat Shields for re-entry vehicles (from 3 to 4/5) and paving the way towards further improvements (TRL 6 with a future In-Orbit Demonstrator, IOD). This paper presents the project objectives and the initial results of the detailed design of atmospheric entry missions based on the applications of advanced thermal protection systems implementing inflatable heat shields (flexible TPS and inflatable structures), according to aerothermodynamics constraints for future in-orbit demonstration. Placing the future IOD mission in the context of ongoing and future efforts in the European context is also one of the project goals. Two key applications, Mars Robotic Exploration and Reusable Small Launchers Upper Stages, have been identified. For the Mars Application, the robotic exploration mission class resulted in a 10 m diameter Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) class, combined with Supersonic Retro-Propulsion (SRP, activated about Mach 2.3) to deliver about 2800 kg of payload at MOLA +2 km. For the Earth Application, the VEGA upper stage (AVUM) has been selected as baseline case study. The current mission foresees a deorbiting from SSO orbit, a controlled entry phase (BC of about 30 kg/m2) and combines the use of a HIAD (4.5m diameter class) with parachutes and parafoil for Mid-Air-Capturing (MAR) with a helicopter. Beyond feasibility of the entry mission phase and system design with an inflated IAD, integration aspects have a key impact in the specific design solutions adopted, due to the nature of an inflatable heatshield. For both considered application cases feasible architectures are developed responding to the challenge of integrating the HIAD into the system in compliance with geometric and functional requirements. While the HIAD in folded state prior to inflation must fit in the available volume, it has limitations with respect to the density imposing a minimum cross section of the stowage volume. Simultaneously requirements with respect to the centre of gravity position during re-entry with an inflated HIAD must be respected for stability and controllability reasons. Other architectural considerations such as payload integration for the application on a launcher upper stage must be considered. Finally, heat loads constraints are considered for the trajectory and TPS deign choices due to important fluid-structure interactions. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821801

Design of a novel bioink suitable for the 3D printing of lymphoid cells

Introduction: For decades, in vitro 2D cell culture techniques have been employed in research, but they fail to recapitulate the complexity of natural tissues. 3D bioprinting could potentially overcome this drawback due to the possibility to control the spatial disposition of living cells and the geometry of the 3D scaffold. Materials and methods: This study reports the design and characterization of a novel bioink for extrusion bioprinting, analyzing different blend formulations composed of alginate, gelatin, and methylcellulose, suitable as cell-laden bioink for lymphoid cells, in particular those isolated from patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). The rheological properties as a function of temperature and the printability of the formulations were investigated to define the optimal printing parameters. In vitro stability of the printed scaffolds was investigated under culture conditions and compression tests were performed on printed and bioprinted scaffolds to compare their mechanical properties with those of fresh lymphoid tissue. Finally,MEC1, aCLL cell line,was bioprinted to investigate cell viability, cell density, and cell capability to be released from the scaffold over time. Results and discussion: Results showed that, for the selected blends, good shape fidelity and printing accuracy were achieved with a limitation on the number of printed layers. Scaffolds withstood culture conditions showing stability for up to 3 weeks and their mechanical properties were similar to those of lymphoid tissues already reported in the literature. High cell viability after 21 days was observed for both MEC1 and primary peripheral mononuclear cells, confirming the possibility to use the selected formulation to successfully bioprint lymphoid cells by possibly mimicking their native lymphoid microenvironment

NURSES\u2019 INTERVENTIONS TO PROMOTE CANCER PATIENT ENGAGEMENT AND RELATED OUTCOMES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS PROTOCOL

Background and aim of the work. Due to the ageing of cancer patients, new approaches that require a more active participation in the self-management of cancer treatment at home are needed. Nurses are strategic in improving the patient\u2019s engagement capability in this regard. Knowing which interventions are more effective for the promotion of patient engagement could be useful to improve the effectiveness of the care provided. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review nursing interventions or programs that promote patient engagement in oncological nursing care and summarizing the main evidence related to their impact on relevant clinical and psychosocial outcomes. Method. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol based on Cochrane Handbook for the systematic review of interventions. We will search the most important electronic databases (PUBMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane library) to find out which patient engagement interventions (active adult patient involvement) are implemented in oncological settings and understand what is the effectiveness of these interventions on the outcomes reported in the literature. The GRADE methodology will be used to synthetize the evidence. If possible, also a meta-analysis will be performed. We registered the study protocol on the PROSPERO database (N\ub0 CRD42020146189). Discussion and Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to address this clinical question in the field of oncology. This review will offer health professionals indications on the most frequently adopted patient engagement interventions and verify their clinical effectiveness. Furthermore, any gaps in the scientific literature will be highlighted

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer: Evaluation of the Impact on Surgical Outcomes and Prognosis

Simple Summary Neoadjuvant treatment is an increasingly used treatment option for patients with both advanced and early-stage breast cancer to achieve downstaging and to improve prognosis. Therefore, it is important to evaluate its role in the multidisciplinary management of breast cancer patients and its effects on surgical outcomes and disease-free and overall survival. Achieving a pathologic complete response seems to improve disease-free and overall survival and even a partial response can be useful as an in-vivo chemosensitivity test for tailored adjuvant therapy. Clinical features, histology, and immunohistochemical findings play a role in achieving a pathological response. Therefore, they should be thoroughly investigated beforehand to better evaluate the treatment burden-benefits ratio and to predict the response. Abstract The correlation between TNM staging and histology variations in a sample of patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy demonstrates a positive impact on both increasing conservative surgery and achieving pCR, resulting in better outcomes in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and the risk of relapse. Benefits have also been highlighted in terms of cosmetic outcomes, postoperative complications, and psychological benefits. However, the overall outcomes must be evaluated according to the subtype and individual characteristics of the patients

Burnout precursors in oncology nurses: A preliminary cross-sectional study with a systemic organizational analysis

Burnout negatively affects nurses' health and performance. Healthcare managers have an ethical duty to create healthy organizations that reduce burnout, especially within critical settings such as oncology. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to measure the presence of nurses' burnout to formulate organizational strategies to prevent the syndrome onset, and (2) to evaluate the effect of recent organizational changes on the burnout phenomenon. A descriptive, cross-sectional design supported by a systemic organizational analysis was conducted in a Swiss Oncology Institute in 2013. Of 103 nurses working in the Institute, 52 (51.4%) completed the Burnout Potential Inventory (BPI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Burnout risk levels were low to moderate. Only 2 nurses out of the 52 showed moderate burnout risk levels. Inpatient nurses showed a higher risk of burnout than outpatient nurses, particularly due to ambiguity and feelings of powerlessness. Nurses with post-basic education showed a higher risk when considering poor teamwork values and ambiguity in the workplace. Poor middle-management was found to negatively influence worker wellbeing. The working environment set by management resulted in low burnout risk levels. Managers must carefully select middle-management because inappropriate leadership might promote the onset of burnout

Glutamine-Enriched Nutrition Does Not Reduce Mucosal Morbidity or Complications After Stem-Cell Transplantation for Childhood Malignancies: A Prospective Randomized Study

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Flavonoids: Antioxidants Against Atherosclerosis

Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or reactive nitrogen species and limited antioxidant defences. Endothelium and nitric oxide (NO) are key regulators of vascular health. NO bioavailability is modulated by ROS that degrade NO, uncouple NO synthase, and inhibit synthesis. Cardiovascular risk conditions contribute to oxidative stress, causing an imbalance between NO and ROS, with a relative decrease in NO bioavailability. Dietary flavonoids represent a range of polyphenolic compounds naturally occurring in plant foods. Flavonoids are potentially involved in cardiovascular prevention mainly by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing NO bioavailability