Pharmacologic approaches against advanced glycation end products (ages) in diabetic cardiovascular disease

Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) are signaling proteins associated to several vascular and neurological complications in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. AGEs proved to be a marker of negative outcome in both diabetes management and surgical procedures in these patients. The reported role of AGEs prompted the development of pharmacological inhibitors of their effects, giving rise to a number of both preclinical and clinical studies. Clinical trials with anti-AGEs drugs have been gradually developed and this review aimed to summarize most relevant reports

Implantation of a poly-L-lactide GCSF-functionalized scaffold in a model of chronic myocardial infarction

A previously developed poly-l-lactide scaffold releasing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PLLA/GCSF) was tested in a rabbit chronic model of myocardial infarction (MI) as a ventricular patch. Control groups were constituted by healthy, chronic MI and nonfunctionalized PLLA scaffold. PLLA-based electrospun scaffold efficiently integrated into a chronic infarcted myocardium. Functionalization of the biopolymer with GCSF led to increased fibroblast-like vimentin-positive cellular colonization and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration within the micrometric fiber mesh in comparison to nonfunctionalized scaffold; PLLA/GCSF polymer induced an angiogenetic process with a statistically significant increase in the number of neovessels compared to the nonfunctionalized scaffold; PLLA/GCSF implanted at the infarcted zone induced a reorganization of the ECM architecture leading to connective tissue deposition and scar remodeling. These findings were coupled with a reduction in end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, indicating a preventive effect of the scaffold on ventricular dilation, and an improvement in cardiac performance

Simulating the ideal geometrical and biomechanical parameters of the pulmonary autograft to prevent failure in the Ross operation

OBJECTIVES: Reinforcements for the pulmonary autograft (PA) in the Ross operation have been introduced to avoid the drawback of conduit expansion and failure. With the aid of an in silico simulation, the biomechanical boundaries applied to a healthy PA during the operation were studied to tailor the best implant technique to prevent reoperation. METHODS: Follow-up echocardiograms of 66 Ross procedures were reviewed. Changes in the dimensions and geometry of reinforced and non-reinforced PAs were evaluated. Miniroot and subcoronary implantation techniques were used in this series. Mechanical stress tests were performed on 36 human pulmonary and aortic roots explanted from donor hearts. Finite element analysis was applied to obtain high-fidelity simulation under static and dynamic conditions of the biomechanical properties and applied stresses on the PA root and leaflet and the similar components of the native aorta. RESULTS: The non-reinforced group showed increases in the percentages of the mean diameter that were significantly higher than those in the reinforced group at the level of the Valsalva sinuses (3.9%) and the annulus (12.1%). The mechanical simulation confirmed geometrical and dimensional changes detected by clinical imaging and demonstrated the non-linear biomechanical behaviour of the PA anastomosed to the aorta, a stiffer behaviour of the aortic root in relation to the PA and similar qualitative and quantitative behaviours of leaflets of the 2 tissues. The annulus was the most significant constraint to dilation and affected the distribution of stress and strain within the entire complex, with particular strain on the sutured regions. The PA was able to evenly absorb mechanical stresses but was less adaptable to circumferential stresses, potentially explaining its known dilatation tendency over time. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of reinforcement leads to a more marked increase in the diameter of the PA. Preservation of the native geometry of the PA root is crucial; the miniroot technique with external reinforcement is the most suitable strategy in this context

Pre-service teachers’ approaches to gender-nonconforming children in preschool and primary school: Clinical and educational implications

Corrective approaches taken by teachers towards gender nonconformity in childhood may increase the gender pressure that children feel, negatively affecting well-being and development. This study was aimed at assessing whether the approaches of 305 pre-service preschool and primary school teachers towards gender nonconformity in childhood are influenced by sexist and homophobic attitudes and feelings. The results indicated that the majority of the sample would adopt a supportive and affirmative approach towards gender nonconformity in childhood. Notwithstanding, the results also showed that sexism influenced the likelihood of adopting corrective approaches only to gender-nonconforming primary school children, whilst homophobia was positively associated with adoption of a corrective approach to gender nonconformity in both preschool and primary school children. Suggestions for educational and clinical practice are discussed

Acne Supplementation: Probiotics, Vitamins, and Diet

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the pilo-sebaceous unit, which mainly affects young adolescents. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, as a combination of genetic predisposition, hormonal production, hyper-seborrhea, inflammation and overgrowth of C. acnes. Moreover, dietinduced hyperinsulinemia can lead to sebocyte stimulation, androgen production, and thus acne lesions. Pharmacological therapeutic approaches are varied and include topical and systemic antibiotics and, in severe cases, systemic retinoids, with several side-effects. However, increasing evidence has shown that adequate vitamin supplementation, use of probiotics, and proper nutrition with low carbohydrates and fats intake, can significantly contribute to the patient’s clinical improvement. In this review, we describe the role of probiotics, vitamins, alimentation, antioxidants, UV exposure, and plants in acne disease

Acne Supplementation: Probiotics, Vitamins, and Diet

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the pilo-sebaceous unit, which mainly affects young adolescents. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, as a combination of genetic predisposition, hormonal production, hyper-seborrhea, inflammation and overgrowth of C. acnes. Moreover, dietinduced hyperinsulinemia can lead to sebocyte stimulation, androgen production, and thus acne lesions. Pharmacological therapeutic approaches are varied and include topical and systemic antibiotics and, in severe cases, systemic retinoids, with several side-effects. However, increasing evidence has shown that adequate vitamin supplementation, use of probiotics, and proper nutrition with low carbohydrates and fats intake, can significantly contribute to the patient’s clinical improvement. In this review, we describe the role of probiotics, vitamins, alimentation, antioxidants, UV exposure, and plants in acne disease

Faire face aux tensions liées à la reconfiguration du système universitaire italien : la voix des professeurs(es)

La reconfiguration du système universitaire est un phénomène international d’actualité. Il est caractérisé par de nombreux changements liés aux pratiques quotidiennes de tous les acteurs qui vivent dans ce contexte (professeurs, étudiants, personnel technique-administratif, etc.). Parmi ces changements, l'article se concentre sur les transformations de l’agir professionnel des professeurs universitaires – avec une attention particulière aux activités de recherche, d’enseignement et de gouvernance – à travers l'analyse des résultats d'une recherche menée à l'université Suor Orsola Benincasa de Naples. Réalisée à partir d’une posture épistémologique et méthodologique de type compréhensive, la recherche s’est articulée en deux phases successives. Une première phase exploratoire a permis de préciser les questions de recherche, de choisir le terrain d’investigation, d’élaborer des hypothèses ancrées et de construire les outils méthodologiques pour l’enquête empirique. La deuxième phase, faisant usage de l’entretien semi-structuré, a visé à faire émerger et à déconstruire les représentations dominantes de l’agir professionnel. Les résultats montrent que, pour faire face aux tensions liées à la reconfiguration du système universitaire italien, les professeurs d’UNISOB oscillent entre différentes grammaires actionnelles.The reconfiguration of University system is an international phenomenon of profound relevance. This is composed by several changes relating to everyday practices acted by the actors (professors, students, technical-administrative staff, etc.) who inhabit this context. Among these changes, the paper focuses on the transformations of professional agency of university professors – with particular attention to activities of research, teaching and governance – through the analysis of the results of a research conducted at Suor Orsola Benicasa University of Naples. Based on a comprehensive epistemological and methodological posture, the research was articulated in two successive phases. A first exploratory phase aimed to specify the research questions, to choose the field of investigation, to elaborate anchored hypotheses and to construct the methodological tools for the empirical investigation. The second phase, making use of semi-structured interviews, aimed to bring out and deconstruct the dominant representations of professional action. The results show that, in order to face with the tensions associated with the reconfiguration of the Italian university system, professors switch between different action grammars

A randomised control trial of atorvastatin in bronchiectasis patients infected with <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>- a proof of concept study

Introduction: There are no randomised control trials of statin therapy in patients with severe bronchiectasis, chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Methods: 32 patients chronically infected with P. aeruginosa were recruited in this double blind cross over RCT. 16 patients were recruited in each arm, given atorvastatin 80mg or placebo for 3months, followed by a washout period for 6weeks, crossed over and administered the alternative therapy for 3months.Results: 27 patients completed the study. Atorvastatin did not significantly improve the primary endpoint of cough as measured by Leicester Cough Questionnaire [mean difference=1.92, 95% CI for difference (-0.57, 4.41), p=0.12]. However, atorvastatin treatment resulted in improved St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (-5.62points, p=0.016), reduced serum CXCL8 (p=0.04), TNF (p=0.01) and ICAM1 (p=0.04). There was a trend towards improvement in serum CRP and serum neutrophil counts (p=0.07 and p=0.06 respectively). In vitro, we demonstrated that atorvastatin 10μM reduced fMLF induced upregulation of CD11b expression and changes in calcium flux reflecting an ability to decrease neutrophil activation.Conclusion: We demonstrated that atorvastatin reduced systemic inflammation and improved quality of life in bronchiectasis patients infected with P. aeruginosa. These effects may be due to an ability of atorvastatin to modulate neutrophil activation.</p