Mesoangioblasts of inclusion-body myositis: a twofold tool to study pathogenic mechanisms and enhance defective muscle regeneration

Mesoangioblasts are a class of adult stem cells of mesoderm origin, potentially useful for the treatment of primitive myopathies of different etiology. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies in animal models of muscular dystrophy have demonstrated the ability of mesoangioblast to repair skeletal muscle when injected intra-arterially. In a previous work we demonstrated that mesoangioblasts obtained from diagnostic muscle biopsies of IBM patients display a defective differentiation down skeletal muscle and this block can be corrected in vitro by transient MyoD transfection. We are currently investigating different pathways involved in mesoangioblasts skeletal muscle differentiation and exploring alternative stimulatory approaches not requiring extensive cell manipulation. This will allow to obtain safe, easy and efficient molecular or pharmacological modulation of pro-myogenic pathways in IBM mesoangioblasts. It is of crucial importance to identify factors (ie. cytokines, growth factors) produced by muscle or inflammatory cells and released in the surrounding milieu that are able to regulate the differentiation ability of IBM mesoangioblasts. To promote myogenic differentiation of endogenous mesoangioblasts in IBM muscle, the modulation of such target molecules selectively dysregulated would be a more handy approach to enhance muscle regeneration compared to transplantation techniques

Stressed caregivers. An observational study in a rehabilitation care home in western Sicily

Introduction: Caregiver is the person who takes care of the patient from the practical point of view, helping him in managing the disease and carrying out daily activities, but also supporting him on an emotional level. Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. The aim of the study was to understand what factors were associated with having panic attacks or crying crises in the caregivers of our study population. Materials and methods: The study design is observational. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to caregivers of the patients of a hospital for the intensive post-acute rehabilitation from April 2016 to December 2018. The statistical significance level chosen for the entire analysis was 0.05. The covariates to be included were selected using a stepwise backward selection process, with a univariate p-value <0.25 as the main criterion. Results are expressed as adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Results: The sample consists of 302 caregivers (60.93% was females and 39.07% was males). The mean age of the sample is 53.42 years old (SD ± 12.19). The multivariable logistic regression model shows that the risk to have panic or crying crisis is significantly associated with the following indipendent variables: female gender (aOR 27.06); living with the patient (aOR 4.38); had claimed that the problems related to the illness of their family member is a source of stress (aOR 23.54), smoking cigarettes (aOR 14.68); had claimed that taking care of their client affected their personal financial statement/career (aOR 5.95), having free time (aOR 7.68). Conclusions: In our study we found a greater probability of having panic attacks or crying crises in female subjects, smokers, who think they have sacrificed their careers to take care of the person they follow from a welfare point of view. Certainly in the light of what has emerged it is necessary to dedicate and pay close attention to the psychological and social aspects of the caregiver

Side-chain Poly[2]pseudorotaxanes containing β-cyclodextrin for more sustainable tanning process

Sustainability of leather lies in how the hide, a sustainable, naturally renewable, raw material, is processed. Tanning chemistry has been a limiting factor for leather sustainability. In this study, a host-guest synthesis strategy was selected to modify one of the most widely used tanning polymer, MIDA DD, and obtain a new hybrid tanning system containing fl-cyclodextrin, and leather drastically less impactful on the earth and people. Poly[2] pseudorotaxane Side-Chain Complexes (PSCCs) have been obtained by threading fl-cyclodextrin units onto the side-chains of the commercial MIDA DD. The formation of PSCCs in aqueous solution was investigated by using 1D NMR, ATR-FTIR and TGA experiments. The ability of PSCCs to stabilize the collagen matrix was tested at laboratory and industrial pilot scale by micro-DSC, ATR-FTIR and solid-state NMR techniques. The physical and mechanical performance of the obtained crust leather was determined by standard tests used in tanning industry. Side-chain poly[2]pseudorotaxanes showed better tanning performances than the fossil-based MIDA DD, the most effective supramolecular tannins being obtained by mixing fl-CD and MIDA DD in ratios close to 1/1 (w/w). The new tanning mixtures allow for significantly reducing both the amount of fossil-based MIDA-DD polymer in the current tanning processes (by 45%) and the free bisphenol content in leather crust (by more than 80%) due to the presence of bio-based fl-CD in the composition of the new supramolecular tanning agents. The findings disclosed here pave the way for the CDs' employment in improving the sustainability of tanning processes

Modified carboxymethylcellulose‐based scaffolds as new potential ecofriendly superplasticizers with a retardant effect for mortar: From the synthesis to the application

This article is focused on the research and development of new cellulose ether derivatives as innovative superplasticizers for mortar systems. Several synthetic strategies have been pursued to obtain new compounds to study their properties on cementitious systems as new bio‐based additives. The new water‐soluble admixtures were synthesized using a complex carboxymethylcellulose‐based backbone that was first hydrolyzed and then sulfo‐ethylated in the presence of sodium vinyl sulphonate. Starting with a complex biopolymer that is widely known as a thickening agent was very challenging. Only by varying the hydrolysis times and temperatures of the reactions was achieved the aimed goal. The obtained derivatives showed different molecular weight (Mw) and anionic charges on their backbones. An improvement in shear stress and dynamic viscosity values of CEM II 42.5R cement was observed with the samples obtained with a longer time of higher temperature hydrolysis and sulfo‐ethylation. Investigations into the chemical nature of the pore solution, calorimetric studies and adsorption experiments clearly showed the ability of carboxymethyl cellulose superplasticizer (CMC SP) to interact with cement grains and influence hydration processes within a 48‐h time window, causing a delay in hydration reactions in the samples. The fluidity of the cementitious matrices was ascertained through slump test and preliminary studies of mechanical and flexural strength of the hardened mortar formulated with the new ecological additives yielded values in terms of mechanical properties. Finally, the computed tomography (CT) images completed the investigation of the pore network structure of hardened specimens, highlighting their promising structure porosity

Bis(phenoxyimine)zirconium and -titanium Catalysts Affording Prevailingly Syndiotactic Polypropylenes via Opposite Modes of Monomer Insertion.

A zirconium(IV) complex bearing two N-(3-methylsalicylidene)-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoroaniline and two Cl ligands has been synthesized (1). X-ray analysis indicates that 1 adopts a distorted octahedral structure with a trans-O, cis-N, and cis-Cl arrangement, similarly to previously reported complexes of this class. Polymerization of propene at room temperature in the presence of 1 activated by methylaluminoxane results in the production of poorly stereoregular, prevailingly syndiotactic polypropylene. The polymer microstructure is in agreement with a “chain-end” mechanism of steric control, with Pr ) 0.67 (where Pr is the probability of a syndiotactic placement). End group analysis, also using deuterium labeling techniques, and NMR analysis of a copolymer of propene with trace amounts of [1-13C]-ethylene, indicate a prevailing primary insertion mode in both initiation and propagation, in contrast to the prevailingly secondary regiochemistry established for related bis(phenoxyimine) titanium catalysts. To discriminate the role played by the nature of the metal from any ligand effect, a titanium complex bearing the same phenoxyimine ligands has been also tested, resulting in the production of a polypropylene having a very similar structure, with Pr ) 0.71. Investigation of the regiochemistry shows that propagation prevailingly occurs via secondary insertion of propene. Thus, zirconium and titanium complexes bearing the same ligands afford prevailingly syndiotactic polypropylenes having very similar structures, but via opposite regiochemistries

Chikungunya fever in the Emilia Romagna region: What is the public health message?

[No abstract available

Dispersing and retarding properties of water-Soluble tetrasulfonate resorcin[4]arene and pyrogallol[4]arene macrocycles in cement-Based mortar

Water-soluble tetrasulfonate resorcin[4]arene (1a and 1c) and pyrogallol[4]arene (1b) macrocycles were synthesized and investigated for their dispersing properties in cement-based mortars. Mortar tests clearly show that these polyhydroxylated macrocycles (nonpolymeric) work as cement dispersants. Setting time determinations indicate that the macrocycles 1a and 1b show a retarding effect that is reminiscent of the behavior of superplasticizers (SPs) functionalized with polyhydroxylated β-CDs. Finally, the addition of sulfate anions to the cement paste does not affect the dispersing abilities of 1b, probably due to the sulfate anion capture by H-bonding interactions with its OH groups at the upper rim