Histochemistry of Equine Damaged Tendons, Ligaments and Articular Cartilage

Background: The injury repair process in tendons and ligaments includes different phases such as inflammation, neovascularization, fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis. Collagen type and tissue characteristics of tendon and ligament repair are described such as type collagen differentiation and properties of the scars tissue. The degeneration of articular cartilage when, characterized by loss of the articular layers associated of the decreased of proteoglycans. The aim of this study is to describe by histochemistry techniques the characteristics of tissue scar, collagen type in the repair process of tendons and ligaments, as well as articular cartilage degeneration.Materials, Methods & Results: Tissue samples of equine tendons, ligaments and articular cartilage of the metacarpophalangeal joint region were evaluated by ultrasonography, macroscopically and prepared for routine histopathology (H&E staining). The inclusion criterion of the samples in this study was based on the presence of lesions characterized in H&E stain as fibroplasia, neovascularization, collagenolysis, chondroid metaplasia in tendons and ligaments and fibrillation and cartilaginous eburnation lesions in the articular cartilage samples. The Masson’s trichrome, Picrosirius red and Alcian blue staining techniques were also performed in addition to H&E. Pathologic findings in the tendons and ligaments included fibroplasia, collagenolysis, chondroid metaplasia and lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammation. Tendons and ligaments scars were composed of type III collagen but there was also some type I collagen. Fiber alignment of tendons and ligaments in the reorganization tissue was not flawless and the fiber appearance was characterized by a lack of the fiber crimp and parallelism. The fibroplasia was characterized by endotendinous tickening areas associated with the presence of loose connective tissue. In the areas of loose connective tissue substitution, collagen type fibers are intercalated to a lesser extent by type-III collagen fibers. In the Alcian blue stained samples of articular cartilage observed the surface layer and the matrix zone of calcified cartilage were weakly stained in blue.Discussion: Three special stains were utilized in this study along with the H&E evaluation elucidating the behavior tendons, ligaments and articular cartilage injury. The important observation in this study was fibroplasia in tendons and ligaments seems to be composed by abundant of loose connective tissue, chondrocytes and intermingled collagen type I and III fibers associated with lack of crimps alignment of the fibers. The fragile structure suggested by the Masson’s trichrome stain results (presence of the loose connective tissue) in this study perhaps make the tendons and ligaments receptive to other lesions. The characteristic blue discoloration of collagen fibers was only observed in the loose connective tissue may be because the dye penetration becomes easier when compared to the dense connective tissue (stained in red). The Masson’s trichrome made possible the differentiated the dense connective tissue of the loose connective tissue. The combined histochemistry staining technics allowed an improved characterization of fiber alignment, collagen type, inflammatory cell infiltration and neovascularization, which happens during the repair process of tendons and ligaments. The fibrillation and eburnation of the articular cartilage were associated with the decrease Alcian Blue staining characterized by degeneration process of articular cartilage

Habitare la Via Emilia. Presenze e luoghi di rifondazione insediativa = Presences and spaces of a settlement rebirth

Il saggio espone gli esiti della ricerca "HABITARE LA VIA EMILIA: Presenze e luoghi di rifondazione insediativa". Lo studio si compone di diversi saggi autorali che esaminano in sequenza la via Emilia come susseguirsi di luoghi-spazio che mostrano la permanenza di antichi luoghi e recenti caratteri insediativi. La ricerca tenta di svelare il valore identitario di componenti ormai dimenticate del passato e di più recente formazione da reinvestire in un processo che ridia significato e rappresentatività abitativa alla strada consolare

Quadriceps muscle thickness assessed by ultrasound is independently associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estimation of muscle mass is an integral part of nutritional assessment in End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). In this respect, muscle ultrasound (US) is a valid and reliable tool but has not been previously related to outcomes in this population. Aims of this study were to assess the relationship between quadriceps muscle thickness as assessed by US and outcomes in ESKD patients on HD; we also compared US with anthropometry and malnutrition inflammation score (MIS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this prospective study, 181 prevalent patients on HD were included. Thickness of the quadriceps rectus femoris and vastus intermedius (VIT) were assessed separately using ultrasonography, and were indexed for height squared. Mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and area (MAMA) were assessed by anthropometry. MIS was evaluated. In the absence of predetermined cut-offs, values below the median of the distribution of VIT index were considered low. Instead, cut-off for anthropometric values such as MAMC and MAMA were set at ≥90% of agreement with the 50th percentile of the sex- and age-specific normal distribution. Cox-regression analysis was used to assess the association of US, MIS, and anthropometric parameters with mortality. RESULTS: Patients were followed for a median of 35 months. During this period 36% of patients died. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis (adjusted for demographic, biochemical and clinical variables), demonstrated that higher VIT distal index values were independently associated with lower mortality risk (HR: 0.76 (0.59-0.99); P = 0.040), whilst higher MIS values were independently associated with higher (HR 1.22 (1.10-1.35); P < 0.001) mortality risk. When assessing muscle parameters as categorical variables, both low VIT distal index (HR: 1.71 (1.01-2.89); 0.045) and MAMC (HR: 1.74 (1.02-2.96); 0.042) were independently associated with increased risk of death. CONCLUSION: Indexed distal VIT was independently associated with mortality both as continuous and as a categorical variable. Muscle US is a simple practical tool that adds prognostic information to the bedside nutritional assessment in ESKD patients on maintenance HD

Quadriceps muscle thickness assessed by ultrasound is independently associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients

Background/Objectives Estimation of muscle mass is an integral part of nutritional assessment in End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). In this respect, muscle ultrasound (US) is a valid and reliable tool but has not been previously related to outcomes in this population. Aims of this study were to assess the relationship between quadriceps muscle thickness as assessed by US and outcomes in ESKD patients on HD; we also compared US with anthropometry and malnutrition inflammation score (MIS). Subjects/Methods In this prospective study, 181 prevalent patients on HD were included. Thickness of the quadriceps rectus femoris and vastus intermedius (VIT) were assessed separately using ultrasonography, and were indexed for height squared. Mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and area (MAMA) were assessed by anthropometry. MIS was evaluated. In the absence of predetermined cut-offs, values below the median of the distribution of VIT index were considered low. Instead, cut-off for anthropometric values such as MAMC and MAMA were set at &gt;= 90% of agreement with the 50th percentile of the sex- and age-specific normal distribution. Cox-regression analysis was used to assess the association of US, MIS, and anthropometric parameters with mortality. Results Patients were followed for a median of 35 months. During this period 36% of patients died. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis (adjusted for demographic, biochemical and clinical variables), demonstrated that higher VIT distal index values were independently associated with lower mortality risk (HR: 0.76 (0.59-0.99); P = 0.040), whilst higher MIS values were independently associated with higher (HR 1.22 (1.10-1.35); P &lt; 0.001) mortality risk. When assessing muscle parameters as categorical variables, both low VIT distal index (HR: 1.71 (1.01-2.89); 0.045) and MAMC (HR: 1.74 (1.02-2.96); 0.042) were independently associated with increased risk of death. Conclusion Indexed distal VIT was independently associated with mortality both as continuous and as a categorical variable. Muscle US is a simple practical tool that adds prognostic information to the bedside nutritional assessment in ESKD patients on maintenance HD

Platelet gel in the treatment of cutaneous ulcers: the experience of the Immunohaematology and Transfusion Centre of Parma

Background. Platelet gel is being ever more frequently used to promote healing of cutaneous ulcers. However, the factors that determine the often variable clinical outcome of this procedure are still incompletely understood. Aims. The aims of this study were to demonstrate that platelet gel, even when obtained under strictly controlled conditions, produces highly variable outcomes in patients with cutaneous ulcers and to propose a method for in vitro standardisation of the biological properties of platelet gel.Material and methods. Patients were enrolled on the basis of a pre-defined protocol. Platelet concentrate was produced with standard methods, with a variability in platelet count among the different samples of less than 10%. The platelet gel for clinical use was obtained, under strictly standardized conditions, by adding thrombin and calcium gluconate to the concentrates. For instudies, platelet gel, obtained from platelet-rich plasma from four donors, was frozen and vitro thawed twice so as to increase gel contraction. The supernatant was used to modify cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and the expression of selected genes in cultures of human diploid fibroblasts.Results. Seventeen patients (aged 44-78 years) with ulcers (4 diabetic, 11 vascular, 1 posttraumatic, 1 decubitus) were treated with platelet gel (4 autologous, 13 homologous). Complete re-epithelialisation of four ulcers (1 diabetic, 1 post-traumatic, 2 vascular) was obtained after applications of platelet gel (2 autologous, 2 homologous); in 11 other cases there was a greater than 50% reduction in the size of the ulcer. Two patients had no benefit. The supernatant of the platelet gel was able to promote dose-dependent proliferation and changes in gene expression as well as in metabolic activities related to protein synthesis. Conclusions. Although the use of platelet gel in the treatment of cutaneous ulcers is increasing, and conditions for its production are better standardised, very considerable variability of clinicaloutcomes is still observed, even within single centres, suggesting that there are differences in biological properties of platelet concentrates from individual patients which cannot be readily controlled with current techniques. The biological effects of the platelet gel supernatant described in this article may provide the basis for a simple biological validation of platelet preparations before their clinical use, so as to reduce this potentially important source of variability.Key words: platelet gel, fibroblasts, ulcers, cell proliferation

Il luogo e la memoria del paesaggio /The place and memory of the landscape

Contributi e immagini della IV edizione (2007-2008) del Festival dell'Architettura di Parma - Reggio Emilia - Modena "Pubblico Paesaggio

First-episode psychosis in the Ferrara Mental Health Department: Incidence and clinical course within the first 2 years

none52noAim: To examine the incidence of with first-episode psychosis (FEP) in the Integrated Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions in Ferrara, Italy, and to examine the association between the Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) and the clinical course. Methods: Participants recruited in 2013–2019 were assessed with the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) every 6 months for 24 months. Hierarchical growth models analysed changes of global severity (HoNOS total scores) and symptom dimensions. Regression modelled factors associated with remission (HoNOS &lt; 8) and clinical improvement (&lt;12). Results: The incidence of FEP was 21.5 (95%CI: 21.2–21.9) cases per 100 000 person year. Among participants (n = 86, mean age 23, 76% males), baseline HoNOS scores were higher for those with a longer DUP. More than half subjects reached clinical remission (61.6%) or improvement (82.6%), while very few (2.3%) were re-hospitalized. HoNOS total scores decayed with a mixed linear/quadratic trend, with a slower decay among migrants. A longer DUP was associated with reduced improvements of positive symptoms and lower likelihood of clinical improvement (OR: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.73–0.96). Conclusions: Patients from the FEP program of Ferrara reached good clinical outcomes. Nonetheless, individuals with a longer DUP may need additional clinical attention. Systematic monitoring of clinical outcomes may be an optimal strategy to improve the outcomes of FEP in the real world.mixedBelvederi Murri M.; Bertelli R.; Carozza P.; Berardi L.; Cantarelli L.; Croce E.; Antenora F.; Curtarello E.M.A.; Simonelli G.; Recla E.; Girotto B.; Grassi L.; Callegari V.; Cardelli R.; Emanuelli F.; Garofani L.; Marangoni C.; Mazzoni P.; Nappi G.; Rossi G.; Sacco M.; Turilli P.D.; Vanni A.; Baglini G.; Bandiera A.; Baruffa R.; Beltrami D.; Bongiovanni L.; Canetti E.; Cocchi B.; Di Domizio C.; Guadagnino C.; Laghi G.; Lamponi C.; Marzola G.; Meloncelli A.; Morelli L.; Pavanati M.; Piccolo E.; Polmonari A.; Reali S.; Rizzo F.; Roccati V.; Roncagli M.; Sarela A.I.; Tome S.; Zotos S.; Caracciolo S.; Caruso R.; Nanni M.G.; Negrelli L.; Zerbinati L.Belvederi Murri, M.; Bertelli, R.; Carozza, P.; Berardi, L.; Cantarelli, L.; Croce, E.; Antenora, F.; Curtarello, E. M. A.; Simonelli, G.; Recla, E.; Girotto, B.; Grassi, L.; Callegari, V.; Cardelli, R.; Emanuelli, F.; Garofani, L.; Marangoni, C.; Mazzoni, P.; Nappi, G.; Rossi, G.; Sacco, M.; Turilli, P. D.; Vanni, A.; Baglini, G.; Bandiera, A.; Baruffa, R.; Beltrami, D.; Bongiovanni, L.; Canetti, E.; Cocchi, B.; Di Domizio, C.; Guadagnino, C.; Laghi, G.; Lamponi, C.; Marzola, G.; Meloncelli, A.; Morelli, L.; Pavanati, M.; Piccolo, E.; Polmonari, A.; Reali, S.; Rizzo, F.; Roccati, V.; Roncagli, M.; Sarela, A. I.; Tome, S.; Zotos, S.; Caracciolo, S.; Caruso, R.; Nanni, M. G.; Negrelli, L.; Zerbinati, L

Biobanking for COVID-19 research

Biobanks are imperative infrastructures, particularly during outbreaks, when there is an obligation to acquire and share knowledge as quick as possible to allow for implementation of science-based preventive, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies