10 research outputs found
A New Approach to Enhance the Strategic Impact of Digital Education in Universities and to Foster the Development of a High Performing Common EU Smart Education Ecosystem
In response to the negative COVID-19 impacts, it is urgent to support digital transformation plans at all
levels of educational online activities. Fundamental it is also to support new inclusive digital pedagogical
methods and skills for a resilient free adoption of digital tools for academic teachers (digital integrated
learning, advanced multimedia, but also hybrid and interactive new methodologies, 3D, VR, holographic
tools, etc.) and allow effective use for students, including participants with fewer opportunities: physically
impaired (deaf, blind, paralytic), cognitive impaired and low-income students. This to create the condition
of a more EU integrated strategy to consent the proposal for a Council Recommendation on the enabling
factors for successful digital education by 2022–2025. We are following and improving the
recommendations of OECD and UN, of EU Future Government 2030+, of EU’s strategy for e-Skills in the
21st Century, of KES international network and of FOME - Future of Management Education international
scientific alliance. Also, some new EU Directives will imply a real digital revolution in educational
processes and learning skills. So digital technologies have made this transition possible: surely, there have
been a number of e-learning platforms for some years now, but their role has only in the last months gained
massive relevance concurrently with the pandemic global situation. Only a few EU Universities are already
ready for good quality distance learning, with tools for course management, including live sessions,
interactive teaching and collaborative activities. Most EU Universities had to cope with the emergency
situation that called for a quick organizational and cultural rearrangement and a change of learning
strategies, which perhaps represented the most difficult step for teachers and students. Digital technologies
are becoming very relevant at the EU level for teachers and students. However, the current limitations on
the movement of people and teaching hours may restrict this type of delivery. For this reason, the described
EDU-GATE initiative is providing a detailed European multi-sectoral analysis indicating the comparison
of current situations of teaching digitalization (As-Is and To-Be analysis), together with a transversal
needs’ analysis. Also, a smart innovative curriculum, including the most advanced educational design and
delivering techniques, has been created for the improvement of teachers’ skills. Almost 12 innovative
multimedia e-modules have been prepared, permitting effective learning activities and to share best
practices in the EU
Hydroxyapatite–Silicon Scaffold Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation of CGF Primary Cells s
Simple Summary: The aim of this study was to identify new and innovative strategies to improve the tissue-regeneration process. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) is an autologous biomaterial rich in growth factors and multipotent stem cells. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the
osteogenic differentiation of CGF primary cells in the presence of a hydroxyapatite–silicon scaffold, which represents a very interesting material in the field of bone reconstructive surgery. Our findings showed that the hydroxyapatite–silicon scaffold provided support to primary CGF cells by
enhancing osteogenic differentiation. These data suggest interesting perspectives in the use of CGF together with scaffolds in the field of regenerative medicine.
Abstract: The application of scaffolding materials together with stem cell technologies plays a key role in tissue regeneration. Therefore, in this study, CGF (concentrated growth factor), which represents an autologous and biocompatible blood-derived product rich in growth factors and
multipotent stem cells, was used together with a hydroxyapatite and silicon (HA-Si) scaffold, which represents a very interesting material in the field of bone reconstructive surgery. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential osteogenic differentiation of CGF primary cells induced by HASi scaffolds. The cellular viability of CGF primary cells cultured on HA-Si scaffolds and their structural characterization were performed by MTT assay and SEM analysis, respectively.
Moreover, the matrix mineralization of CGF primary cells on the HA-Si scaffold was evaluated through Alizarin red staining. The expression of osteogenic differentiation markers was investigated through mRNA quantification by real-time PCR. We found that the HA-Si scaffold was
not cytotoxic for CGF primary cells, allowing their growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the HASi scaffold was able to induce increased levels of osteogenic markers, decreased levels of stemness markers in these cells, and the formation of a mineralized matrix. In conclusion, our results suggest
that HA-Si scaffolds can be used as a biomaterial support for CGF application in the field of tissue regeneration
Innovative approaches to active and healthy ageing: Campania experience to improve the adoption of innovative good practices
The demographic projections on the
European population predict that people aged over
60 will increase by about two million/year in the next
decades. Since 2012, the Campania Reference Site of
the European Innovation Partnership on Active and
Healthy Ageing supports the innovation of the
Regional Health System, to face up demographic
changes and sustainability. Campania Reference Site
provides the opportunity to connect loco-regional
stakeholders in social and health care services
(universities, healthcare providers, social services,
local communities and municipalities), with
international organizations, in order to adopt and
scale up innovative solutions and approaches. This
paper describes the building process of Campania
Reference Site and the main results achieved, that
have been allowing it to become a hub for open
innovation in the field of active and healthy aging at
regional, national and international level
LA NECESSITÀ DI UN APPROCCIO MANAGERIALE STRATEGICO AL CONTENIMENTO DELLA SPESA NELL’AZIENDA SANITARIA: UN FOCUS SUI FARMACI BIOSIMILARI
High levels of serum ubiquitin and proteasome in a case of HLA-B27 uveitis
In this paper, the authors describe a case of high serum levels of ubiquitin and proteasome in a woman under an acute attack of autoimmune uveitis. The woman was 52 years old, diagnosed as positive for the Human leukocyte antigen-B27 gene, and came to our observation in January 2013 claiming a severe uveitis attack that involved the right eye. During the acute attack of uveitis, this woman had normal serum biochemical parameters but higher levels of serum ubiquitin and proteasome 20S subunit, with respect to a healthy volunteer matched for age and sex. These levels correlated well with the clinical score attributed to uveitis. After the patient was admitted to therapy, she received oral prednisone in a de-escalation protocol (doses from 50 to 5 mg/day) for four weeks. Following this therapy, she had an expected reduction of clinical signs and score for uveitis, but concomitantly she had a reduction of the serum levels of ubiquitin, poliubiquitinated proteins (MAb-FK1) and proteasome 20S activity. Therefore, a role for ubiquitin and proteasome in the development of human autoimmune uveitis has been hypothesized.In this paper, the authors describe a case of high serum levels of ubiquitin and proteasome in a woman under an acute attack of autoimmune uveitis. The woman was 52 years old, diagnosed as positive for the Human leukocyte antigen-B27 gene, and came to our observation in January 2013 claiming a severe uveitis attack that involved the right eye. During the acute attack of uveitis, this woman had normal serum biochemical parameters but higher levels of serum ubiquitin and proteasome 20S subunit, with respect to a healthy volunteer matched for age and sex. These levels correlated well with the clinical score attributed to uveitis. After the patient was admitted to therapy, she received oral prednisone in a de-escalation protocol (doses from 50 to 5 mg/day) for four weeks. Following this therapy, she had an expected reduction of clinical signs and score for uveitis, but concomitantly she had a reduction of the serum levels of ubiquitin, poliubiquitinated proteins (MAb-FK1) and proteasome 20S activity. Therefore, a role for ubiquitin and proteasome in the development of human autoimmune uveitis has been hypothesized
Progress in Regenerative Medicine: Exploring Autologous Platelet Concentrates and Their Clinical Applications
The goal of regenerative medicine is to achieve tissue regeneration. In the past, commonly used techniques included autologous or allogeneic transplantation and stem cell therapy, which have limitations, such as a lack of donor sites in the case of autologous transplantation and the invasiveness of stem cell harvesting. In recent years, research has, therefore, focused on new and less invasive strategies to achieve tissue regeneration. A step forward in this direction has been made with the development of autologous platelet concentrates (APCs), which are derived from the patient’s own blood. They can be classified into three generations: platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and concentrated growth factors (CGFs). These APCs have different structural characteristics, depending on the distinctive preparation method, and contain platelets, leukocytes, and multiple growth factors, including those most involved in regenerative processes. The purpose of this review is to clarify the most used techniques in the field of regenerative medicine in recent years, comparing the different types of APCs and analyzing the preparation protocols, the composition of the growth factors, the level of characterization achieved, and their clinical applications to date
Analysis of CGF Biomolecules, Structure and Cell Population: Characterization of the Stemness Features of CGF Cells and Osteogenic Potential
Concentrated Growth Factors (CGF) represent new autologous (blood-derived biomaterial), attracting growing interest in the field of regenerative medicine. In this study, the chemical, structural, and biological characterization of CGF was carried out. CGF molecular characterization was performed by GC/MS to quantify small metabolites and by ELISA to measure growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) release; structural CGF characterization was carried out by SEM analysis and immunohistochemistry; CGF has been cultured, and its primary cells were isolated for the identification of their surface markers by flow cytometry, Western blot, and real-time PCR; finally, the osteogenic differentiation of CGF primary cells was evaluated through matrix mineralization by alizarin red staining and through mRNA quantification of osteogenic differentiation markers by real-time PCR. We found that CGF has a complex inner structure capable of influencing the release of growth factors, metabolites, and cells. These cells, which could regulate the production and release of the CGF growth factors, show stem features and are able to differentiate into osteoblasts producing a mineralized matrix. These data, taken together, highlight interesting new perspectives for the use of CGF in regenerative medicine
Use of CGF in Oral and Implant Surgery: From Laboratory Evidence to Clinical Evaluation
Edentulism is the condition of having lost natural teeth, and has serious social, psychological, and emotional consequences. The need for implant services in edentulous patients has dramatically increased during the last decades. In this study, the effects of concentrated growth factor (CGF), an autologous blood-derived biomaterial, in improving the process of osseointegration of dental implants have been evaluated. Here, permeation of dental implants with CGF has been obtained by using a Round up device. These CGF-coated dental implants retained a complex internal structure capable of releasing growth factors (VEGF, TGF-β1, and BMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) over time. The CGF-permeated implants induced the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSC) as confirmed by matrix mineralization and the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers. Moreover, CGF provided dental implants with a biocompatible and biologically active surface that significantly improved adhesion of endothelial cells on CGF-coated implants compared to control implants (without CGF). Finally, data obtained from surgical interventions with CGF-permeated dental implants presented better results in terms of optimal osseointegration and reduced post-surgical complications. These data, taken together, highlight new and interesting perspectives in the use of CGF in the dental implantology field to improve osseointegration and promote the healing process
Cardiac myosin activation with omecamtiv mecarbil in systolic heart failure
BACKGROUND The selective cardiac myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil has been shown to improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. Its effect on cardiovascular outcomes is unknown. METHODS We randomly assigned 8256 patients (inpatients and outpatients) with symptomatic chronic heart failure and an ejection fraction of 35% or less to receive omecamtiv mecarbil (using pharmacokinetic-guided doses of 25 mg, 37.5 mg, or 50 mg twice daily) or placebo, in addition to standard heart-failure therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of a first heart-failure event (hospitalization or urgent visit for heart failure) or death from cardiovascular causes. RESULTS During a median of 21.8 months, a primary-outcome event occurred in 1523 of 4120 patients (37.0%) in the omecamtiv mecarbil group and in 1607 of 4112 patients (39.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 0.99; P = 0.03). A total of 808 patients (19.6%) and 798 patients (19.4%), respectively, died from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.11). There was no significant difference between groups in the change from baseline on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score. At week 24, the change from baseline for the median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level was 10% lower in the omecamtiv mecarbil group than in the placebo group; the median cardiac troponin I level was 4 ng per liter higher. The frequency of cardiac ischemic and ventricular arrhythmia events was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection, those who received omecamtiv mecarbil had a lower incidence of a composite of a heart-failure event or death from cardiovascular causes than those who received placebo. (Funded by Amgen and others; GALACTIC-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02929329; EudraCT number, 2016 -002299-28.)