Revisioning, reconnecting and revisiting : facing the aftershock of stroke in the first month post-discharge : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

This study is concerned with the impact of stroke, and in particular, the experiences of patients and carers following the return of the survivor to the home environment.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The disinfection by-products are in the air: Aerosol measurements in the urban area of Venice

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are usually taken to be man-made, regularly determined in drinking water as disinfection by-products; yet they have been demonstrated as a probable photooxidation products from atmospheric halogenated hydrocarbons. Here we determined a total of fourteen HAAs, including for the first time iodinatedHAAs, in aerosol samples collected from April to June 2023 at Parco Bissuola (urbanized area of Venice) and Rio Novo (Venice island). The study provides a first insight and source identification about the anthropogenic or natural origin of HAAs. To fulfil this aim, we improved existing methods with a highly sensitive technique by using high pressure anion exchange chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Five HAAs have been found to be above the detection limits at both sites, and the major source should be attributed to a mixed contribution from atmospheric oxidation of both organic precursor, sea spray and a minor contribution of an external swimming pool located near the Parco Bissuola site. Considering the presence of iodinated HAAs and their cytotoxicity, the present study also provides a basis for the assessment of risks for humans

Exploring the Effects of Lignin Nanoparticles in Different Zebrafish Inflammatory Models

Cinzia Bragato,1 Andrea Persico,1 Guillem Ferreres,2 Tzanko Tzanov,2 Paride Mantecca1 1POLARIS Research Center, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, 20126, Italy; 2Group of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa, 08222, SpainCorrespondence: Cinzia Bragato, Piazza della Scienza 1, Milan, 20126, Italy, Tel +39 0264482928,, Email [email protected]: Lignin is the most abundant source of aromatic biopolymers and has gained interest in industrial and biomedical applications due to the reported biocompatibility and defense provided against bacterial and fungal pathogens, besides antioxidant and UV-blocking properties. Especially in the form of nanoparticles (NPs), lignin may display also antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.Methods: To evaluate these characteristics, sonochemically nano-formulated pristine lignin (LigNPs) and enzymatically-phenolated one (PheLigNPs) were used to expose zebrafish embryos, without chorion, at different concentrations. Furthermore, two different zebrafish inflammation models were generated, by injecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and by provoking a wound injury in the embryo caudal fin. The inflammatory process was investigated in both models by qPCR, analyzing the level of genes as il8, il6, il1β, tnfα, nfkbiaa, nfk2, and ccl34a.4, and by the evaluation of neutrophils recruitment, taking advantage of the Sudan Black staining, in the presence or not of LigNPs and PheLigNPs. Finally, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, related to tissue regeneration, was investigated at the molecular level in embryos wounded and exposed to NPs.Results: The data obtained demonstrated that the lignin-based NPs showed the capacity to induce a positive response during an inflammatory event, increasing the recruitment of cytokines to accelerate their chemotactic function. Moreover, the LigNPs and PheLigNPs have a role in the resolution of wounds, favoring the regeneration process.Conclusion: In this paper, we used zebrafish embryos within 5 days post fertilization (hpf). Despite being an early-stage exemplary, the zebrafish embryos have proven their potential as predicting models. Further long-term experiments in adults will be needed to explore completely the biomedical capabilities of lignin NPs. The results underlined the safety of both NPs tested paved the way for further evaluations to exploit the anti-inflammatory and pro-healing properties of the lignin nanoparticles examined. Keywords: bio-based nanoparticles, zebrafish embryo, inflammation, LPS, woun

A novel PNPLA2 mutation causing total loss of RNA and protein expression in two NLSDM siblings with early onset but slowly progressive severe myopathy

Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy (NLSDM) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, due to an enzymatic error of lipid metabolism. Patients present always with skeletal muscle myopathy and variable cardiac and hepatic involvement. NLSDM is caused by mutations in the PNPLA2 gene, which encodes the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). Here we report the molecular characterization and clinical findings of two NLSDM siblings carrying the novel c.187+1G > C homozygous PNPLA2 mutation, localized in the splice site of intron 2. Molecular analyses revealed that neither aberrant PNPLA2 mRNA isoforms, nor ATGL mutated protein were detectable in patient's cells. Clinically, both patients presented early onset muscle weakness, in particular of proximal upper limb muscles. In almost 15 years, muscle damage affected also distal upper limbs. This is a NLSDM family, displaying a severe PNPLA2 mutation in two siblings with clinical presentation characterized by an early onset, but a slowly evolution of severe myopathy

Renal function impairment predicts mortality in patients with chronic heart failure treated with resynchronization therapy

Background: The use of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for advanced heart failure (HF) is increasing. Renal dysfunction is a common condition in HF which is associated with a worse survival. The study aims at identifying in patients with advanced HF treated with CRT the effect of baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR), GFR improvement and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) change, after 6-months of CRT implant, on survival. Methods: The study population consisted of 375 advanced HF patients who received a CRT between 1999 and 2009, of these 277 received also an ICD implant. Clinical characteristics (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class, ischemic vs. non-ischemic etiology, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hypertension, LVEF, QRS duration and GFR were recorded. The use of common used drugs was evaluated. Cox proportional hazards analysis was calculated in order to evaluate variables associated to mortality. Results: During a median follow-up of 43.0 months, 93 (24.8%) patients died. Patients deceased during the study had at baseline higher NYHA class and lower LVEF and GFR. In Cox regression analysis, GFR predicts long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.983; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.969\u20130.998; p = 0.023) independently from the effect of others covariates. In addition, a positive GFR improvement 6 months after CRT implant is significantly associated with a lower hazard of mortality (for each 10 mL/min of GFR improvement HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.75\u20130.99; p = 0.038). Conclusions: GFR is a significant predictor of mortality in advanced HF patients who received CRT. A GFR improvement 6 months after CRT implant is significantly associated with a lower hazard of mortality

Zebrafish as a Model to Investigate Dynamin 2-Related Diseases

Mutations in the dynamin-2 gene (DNM2) cause autosomal dominant centronuclear myopathy (CNM) and dominant intermediate Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy type B (CMTDIB). As the relation between these DNM2-related diseases is poorly understood, we used zebrafish to investigate the effects of two different DNM2 mutations. First we identified a new alternatively spliced zebrafish dynamin-2a mRNA (dnm2a-v2) with greater similarity to human DNM2 than the deposited sequence. Then we knocked-down the zebrafish dnm2a, producing defects in muscle morphology. Finally, we expressed two mutated DNM2 mRNA by injecting zebrafish embryos with human mRNAs carrying the R522H mutation, causing CNM, or the G537C mutation, causing CMT. Defects arose especially in secondary motor neuron formation, with incorrect branching in embryos injected with CNM-mutated mRNA, and total absence of branching in those injected with CMT-mutated mRNA. Muscle morphology in embryos injected with CMT-mutated mRNA appeared less regularly organized than in those injected with CNM-mutated mRNA. Our results showing, a continuum between CNM and CMTDIB phenotypes in zebrafish, similarly to the human conditions, confirm this animal model to be a powerful tool to investigate mutations of DNM2 in vivo

Quantitative localized proton-promoted dissolution kinetics of calcite using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been used to determine quantitatively the kinetics of proton-promoted dissolution of the calcite (101̅4) cleavage surface (from natural “Iceland Spar”) at the microscopic scale. By working under conditions where the probe size is much less than the characteristic dislocation spacing (as revealed from etching), it has been possible to measure kinetics mainly in regions of the surface which are free from dislocations, for the first time. To clearly reveal the locations of measurements, studies focused on cleaved “mirror” surfaces, where one of the two faces produced by cleavage was etched freely to reveal defects intersecting the surface, while the other (mirror) face was etched locally (and quantitatively) using SECM to generate high proton fluxes with a 25 μm diameter Pt disk ultramicroelectrode (UME) positioned at a defined (known) distance from a crystal surface. The etch pits formed at various etch times were measured using white light interferometry to ascertain pit dimensions. To determine quantitative dissolution kinetics, a moving boundary finite element model was formulated in which experimental time-dependent pit expansion data formed the input for simulations, from which solution and interfacial concentrations of key chemical species, and interfacial fluxes, could then be determined and visualized. This novel analysis allowed the rate constant for proton attack on calcite, and the order of the reaction with respect to the interfacial proton concentration, to be determined unambiguously. The process was found to be first order in terms of interfacial proton concentration with a rate constant k = 6.3 (± 1.3) × 10–4 m s–1. Significantly, this value is similar to previous macroscopic rate measurements of calcite dissolution which averaged over large areas and many dislocation sites, and where such sites provided a continuous source of steps for dissolution. Since the local measurements reported herein are mainly made in regions without dislocations, this study demonstrates that dislocations and steps that arise from such sites are not needed for fast proton-promoted calcite dissolution. Other sites, such as point defects, which are naturally abundant in calcite, are likely to be key reaction sites

Ultrasonography of the distal limbs in Nellore and Girolando calves 8 to 12 months of age

Submitted by Franciele Moreira ([email protected]) on 2018-01-08T13:43:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Artigo - Pryscilla Vanessa Rodrigues Gonçalves - 2014.pdf: 738775 bytes, checksum: 17c42f29f233f408ef568a5c45b1b787 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira ([email protected]) on 2018-01-08T14:49:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Artigo - Pryscilla Vanessa Rodrigues Gonçalves - 2014.pdf: 738775 bytes, checksum: 17c42f29f233f408ef568a5c45b1b787 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-08T14:49:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Artigo - Pryscilla Vanessa Rodrigues Gonçalves - 2014.pdf: 738775 bytes, checksum: 17c42f29f233f408ef568a5c45b1b787 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Background: Ultrasonography can be used anywhere and allows rapid, noninvasive differentiation of soft tissue structures of the musculoskeletal system. The objectives of this study were to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the structures of the metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal and the interphalangeal joints, the appearance of the growth plates of the distal metacarpus/metatarsus and of the proximal phalanx and to measure the cross-sectional dimensions of the DDFT and SDFT in Nellore and Girolando calves eight to 12 months of age. Results: In the longitudinal dorsal view the common digital extensor tendon and the digital extensor tendon were depicted as echogenic parallel fiber bundles located directly under the skin. The joint spaces appeared as anechoic interruptions of the hyperechogenic bone surfaces. The normal amount of synovial fluid could not be depicted. The growth plates were seen as anechoic interruptions of the bone surface proximal and distal to the fetlock joint space. In transverse sonograms of the distal palmar/plantar regions, the flexor tendons and branchs of the suspensory ligament were imaged as echogenic structures. The lumen of the digital flexor tendon sheath could not be imaged in these normal cattle. The thin digital distal annular ligament and the reversal of positions of the DDFT and SDFT could be appreciated. No significant differences were found between the cross-sectional measurements of the DDFT and the SDFT from Nellore and Girolando in any age, thoracic/pelvic limbs, right/left sides and lateral/medial digits. Conclusions: The results of this study establish important ultrasonographic reference data of the normal structures of the distal limbs and the normal dimensions of the flexor tendons in Nellore and Girolando calves for use in clinical practice

Erratum to: Seismic waves in 3-D: from mantle asymmetries to reliable seismic hazard assessment

Acknowledgments This paper is strongly relying upon the work of many colleagues and collaborators to whom we are greatly thankful, in particular: Carlo Doglioni, Gillian Foulger, Vahid Gholami, Hossein Hamzehloo, Volodya Kossobokov, Cristina La Mura, Anatoly Levshin, Andrea Magrin, Antonella Peresan, Federica Riguzzi, Franco Vaccari, Peter Varga, Tatiana Yanovskaya. Financial support from PRIN 2010-2011 and RITMARE projects, funded by Italian Ministry of University and Research, is gratefully acknowledged. In addition, Fig. 3 should be updated by new one as below