Realization and Characterization of CNT Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

In questo lavoro di Tesi vengono descritti i metodi innovativi per la creazione e caratterizzazione meccanica di "Scaffolds" compositi a base di CNT (nanotubi di carbonio) utilizzati per l'ingnegnerizzazione del tessuto osseo e la loro possibile applicazione nell'ambito della medicina rigenerativa attraverso prove di crescita e proliferazione cellulare in vitro

Safety assessment of the South oculus, Canterbury catedral (UK)

The South Oculus at Canterbury Cathedral is a wrought iron space frame consisting of two layers (Ferramenta and Grille) connected by tie bars (Pins). It is in very good condition despite its almost 850 years of history. The in situ survey of the Cathedral confirmed that the Ferramenta and the external grille are in general in relative good condition with the exception of some local failures. On the contrary, the pins are the most deteriorated part of the structure. Ambient vibration tests were carried out and the modal response of the structure was identified. In order to assess the safety of the oculus with respect to wind load, a model of the structure was built with the finite element software DIANA and calibrated using the results of the experimental campaign. The non-linear analysis of the existing structure resulted in a safety factor of about ten for the wind load. In addition, parametric studies have highlighted the importance of the external grille for the structure and have provided information of the consequences of further deterioration in terms of the load bearing capacity of the Oculus

Avaliação da estabilidade do oculus sul da catedral de Cantuária

Esta publicação tem por objetivos verificar a estabilidade do oculus sul do transepto da Catedral de Cantuária do Reino Unido quando sujeito ação do vento, e estudar a influência da deterioração e da grelha exterior na sua capacidade de carga. O estudo incluiu a inspeção no local, ensaios de vibração ambiental para identificação das propriedades e a análise numérica. A análise não linear estática permitiu concluir que oculus apresenta um fator de segurança igual a dez quando sujeito à ação do vento

Erythema nodosum associated with Staphylococcus xylosus septicemia.

Staphylococcus xylosus is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus. It is a commensal bacterium associated with skin and mucous membranes and occasionally it can cause human infections. We report the first case of erythema nodosum developed in a young woman with S. xylosus septicemia and specific serum antibody response

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS-RELATED MYOPATHY: FIBROSIS AND MICROANGIOPATHY

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify specific histopathological features of skeletal muscle involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Methods: A total of 35 out of 112 SSc-patients (32%, including 81% female and 68% diffuse scleroderma) presenting clinical, biological and electromyographic (EMG) features of muscle weakness, were included. Patients underwent vastus lateralis biopsy, assessed for individual pathologic features including fibrosis [type I collagen (Coll-I), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)], microangiopathy [cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), anti-angiogenic VEGF-A165b], immune/ inflammatory response [CD4, CD8, CD20, human leucocyte antigens ABC (HLA-ABC)], and membranolytic attack complex (MAC). SSc biopsies were compared with biopsies of (n = 35) idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) and to (n = 35) noninflammatory myopathies (NIMs). Ultrastructural abnormalities of SSc myopathy were also analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Fibrosis in SSc myopathy (81%) is higher compared with IIM (32%, p < 0.05) and with NIM (18%, p < 0.05). Vascular involvement is dominant in SSc muscle (92%), and in IIM (78%) compared with NIM (21%, p < 0.05). In particular, CD31 shows loss of endomysial vessels in SSc myopathy compared with IIM (p < 0.05) and with NIM (p < 0.01). VEGF-A is downregulated in SSc myopathy compared with IIM (p < 0.05) and NIM (p < 0.05). Conversely, VEGF-A165b is upregulated in SSc myopathy. The SSc immune/inflammatory response suggested humoral process with majority (85%) HLA-ABC fibral neoexpression and complement deposits on endomysial capillaries MAC, compared with IIM (p < 0.05), characterized by CD4+/CD8+/B-cell infiltrate, and NIM (p < 0.05). TEM analysis showed SSc vascular alterations consisting of thickening and lamination of basement membrane and endothelial cell ‘swelling’ coupled to endomysial/perimysial fibrosis. Conclusions: Fibrosis, microangiopathy and humoral immunity are predominant in SSc myopathy, even if it is difficult to identify specific histopathological hallmarks of muscle involvement in SSc, since they could be present also in other (IIM/NIM) myopathies. © 2016, © The Author(s), 2016

Human osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF) and therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic fields (TAMMEF) systems: a comparative study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease, characterized by matrix degradation and changes in chondrocyte morphology and metabolism. Literature reported that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can produce benefits in OA patients, even if EMFs mechanism of action is debated. Human osteoarthritic chondrocytes isolated from femoral heads were cultured in vitro in bidimensional (2-D) flasks and in three-dimensional (3-D) alginate beads to mimic closely cartilage environment in vivo. Cells were exposed 30 min/day for 2 weeks to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF) with fixed frequency (100 Hz) and to therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic field (TAMMEF) with variable frequencies, intensities, and waveforms. Cell viability was measured at days 7 and 14, while healthy-cell density, heavily vacuolized (hv) cell density, and cluster density were measured by light microscopy only for 3-D cultures after treatments. Cell morphology was observed for 2-D and 3-D cultures by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chondrocyte exposure to TAMMEF enhances cell viability at days 7 and 14 compared to ELF. Light microscopy analysis showed that TAMMEF enhances healthy-cell density, reduces hv-cell density and clustering, compared to ELF. Furthermore, TEM analysis showed different morphology for 2-D (fibroblast-like) and 3-D (rounded shape) cultures, confirming light microscopy results. In conclusion, EMFs are effective and safe for OA chondrocytes. TAMMEF can positively interfere with OA chondrocytes representing an innovative non-pharmacological approach to treat OA

Care pathways models and clinical outcomes in disorders of consciousness

Objective: Patients with Disorders of consciousness, are persons with extremely low functioning levels and represent a challenge for health care systems due to their high needs of facilitating environmental factors. Despite a common Italian health care path-way for these patients, no studies have analyzed information on how each region have implemented it in its welfare system correlating data with patients’ clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: A multicenter observational pilot study was realized. Clinicians collected data on the care pathways of patients with Disorder of consciousness by ask-ing 90 patients’ caregivers to complete an ad hoc questionnaire through a structured phone interview. Questionnaire consisted of three sections: sociodemographic data, description of the care pathway done by the patient, and caregiver evaluation of health services and information received.Results: Seventy- three patients were analyzed. Length of hospital stay was different across the health care models and it was associated with improvement in clinical diag-nosis. In long- term care units, the diagnosis at admission and the number of caregivers available for each patient (median value=3) showed an indirect relationship with worsening probability in clinical outcome. Caregivers reported that communication with professionals (42%) and the answer to the need of information were the most critical points in the acute phase, whereas presence of Non- Governmental Organizations (25%) and availability of psychologists for caregivers (21%) were often missing during long-term care. The 65% of caregivers reported they did not know the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Conclusion: This study highlights relevant differences in analyzed models, despite a recommended national pathway of care. Future public health considerations and ac-tions are needed to guarantee equity and standardization of the care process in all European countries

Prediction of forming limit diagram using the Marciniak-Kuczynski method for Ti-6Al-4V using different material models

The forming limit diagram (FLD) is a widely used tool to assess the formability of a metal sheet [1]. The current study aims to investigate the influence of strain rate, material anisotropy and hardening on the FLD of Ti-6Al-4V predicted by the well-known Marciniak-Kuczynski (M-K) method. The tensile data of quasi-static (8∙10-5 s-1), intermediate (0.5 s-1) and dynamic experiments (approximately 1000 s-1) on Ti-6Al-4V sheet are available at three different orientations, with respect to the rolling direction: 0°, 45° and 90°. Different hardening models are taken into account. Also, von Mises and Hill yield criterion are considered. The results show that the influence of the hardening law on FLD is significant. In particular, the most conservative limit strains are predicted by the Voce law because of its saturation characteristic. The yield criterion is found to only affect the right part of the FLD. Regarding the strain rate influence, the left part of the FLD is mainly dominated by the amount of uniform elongation, while the right part is strongly dependent on the yield function used. Therefore, for this region the effects of strain rate and yield function are difficult to distinguish. Finally, the effect of material anisotropy on the FLD is significant. Under quasi-static conditions, the Lankford coefficient seems to be the driving factor in uniaxial and equibiaxial deformation. However, in plane strain conditions the effect of the strain hardening exponent is dominant