2,339 research outputs found
Spray-drying as a method for microparticulate controlled release systems preparation: advantages and limits. I. Water soluble drugs
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Microencapsulation of semisolid ketoprofen/polymer microspheres
Ketoprofen controlled release microspheres were prepared, by emulsion/solvent evaporation, at 15 degreesC, in order to avoid the formation of semisolid particles. An identical procedure was carried out at 60 degreesC to speed up the solvent evaporation and the formed semisolid microspheres were directly microencapsulated by complex coacervation and spray-dried in order to recover them as free flowing powder. Microspheres and microcapsules were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, in vitro dissolution studies, and then used for the preparation of tablets. During this step, the compressibility of the prepared powders was measured. Microspheres and microcapsules showed compaction abilities by far better than those of the corresponding physical mixtures. In fact, it was impossible to obtain tablets by direct compressing drug and polymer physical mixtures, but microspheres and microcapsules were easily transformed into tablets. Finally, in vitro dissolution studies were performed and the release control of the tablets was pointed out. Microspheres were able to control ketoprofen release only after their transformation into tablets. Tablets containing eudragit RS were the most effective in slowing down drug release
Process design for the production of peptides from whey protein isolate with targeted antimicrobial functionality
Toxic organic contaminants in airborne particles: levels, potential sources and risk assessment
In the last years, many studies have focused on risk assessment of exposure of workers
to airborne particulate matter (PM). Several studies indicate a strong correlation between PM and
adverse health outcomes, as a function of particle size. In the last years, the study of atmospheric
particulate matter has focused more on particles less than 10 m or 2.5 m in diameter; however,
recent studies identify in particles less than 0.1 m the main responsibility for negative cardiovascular
effects. The present paper deals with the determination of 66 organic compounds belonging to six
different classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ultrafine, fine and coarse fractions of
PM (PM < 0.1 m; 0.1 < PM < 2.5 mand 2.5 < PM < 10 m) collected in three outdoor workplaces and
in an urban outdoor area. Data obtained were analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA),
in order to underline possible correlation between sites and classes of pollutants and characteristic
emission sources. Emission source studies are, in fact, a valuable tool for both identifying the type
of emission source and estimating the strength of each contamination source, as useful indicator of
environment healthiness. Moreover, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were determined
in order to estimate human health risk associated to study sites. Risk analysis was carried out
evaluating the contribution of pollutant distribution in PM size fractions for all the sites. The results
highlighted significant differences between the sites and specific sources of pollutants related to work
activities were identified. In all the sites and for all the size fractions of PM both carcinogenic and
non-carcinogenic risk values were below acceptable and safe levels of risks recommended by the
regulatory agencies
Neural correlates of psychodynamic and non-psychodynamic therapies in different clinical populations through fMRI: a meta-analysis and systematic review
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the ongoing crisis in psychiatric and psychological care, contributing to what we have identified as a new psychological and psychiatric pandemic. Psychotherapy is an effective method for easing the psychological suffering experienced also by the various impacts of COVID-19. This treatment can be examined from a neurological perspective, through the application of brain imaging techniques. Specifically, the meta-analysis of imaging studies can aid in expanding researchers' understanding of the many beneficial applications of psychotherapy. OBJECTIVES: We examined the functional brain changes accompanying different mental disorders with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), through a meta-analysis, and systematic review in order to better understand the general neural mechanism involved in psychotherapy and the potential neural difference between psychodynamic and non-psychodynamic approaches. DATA SOURCES: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were employed for our systematic review and meta-analysis. We conducted a computer-based literature search, following the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes (PICO) approach, to retrieve all published articles in English regarding the above-described topics from PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: We combined terms related to psychotherapy and fMRI: (“psychotherapy” [All Fields] OR “psychotherapy” [MeSH Terms] OR “psychotherapy” [All Fields] OR “psychotherapies” [All Fields] OR “psychotherapy s” [All Fields]) AND (“magnetic resonance imaging” [MeSH Terms]) OR (“magnetic”[All Fields] AND “resonance”[All Fields] AND “imaging”[All Fields]) OR (“magnetic resonance imaging”[All Fields] OR “fmri”[All Fields]). We considered (1) whole brain fMRI studies; (2) studies in which participants have been involved in a clinical trial with psychotherapy sessions, with pre/post fMRI; (3) fMRI results presented in coordinate-based (x, y, and z) in MNI or Talairach space; (4) presence of neuropsychiatric patients. The exclusion criteria were: (1) systematic review or meta-analysis; (2) behavioral study; (3) single-case MRI or fMRI study; and (4) other imaging techniques (i.e., PET, SPECT) or EEG. RESULTS: After duplicates removal and assessment of the content of each published study, we included 38 sources. The map including all studies that assessed longitudinal differences in brain activity showed two homogeneous clusters in the left inferior frontal gyrus, and caudally involving the anterior insular cortex (p < 0.0001, corr.). Similarly, studies that assessed psychotherapy-related longitudinal changes using emotional or cognitive tasks (TASK map) showed a left-sided homogeneity in the anterior insula (p < 0.000) extending to Broca's area of the inferior frontal gyrus (p < 0.0001) and the superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.0001). Studies that applied psychodynamic psychotherapy showed Family-Wise Error (FWE) cluster-corrected (p < 0.05) homogeneity values in the right superior and inferior frontal gyri, with a small cluster in the putamen. No FWE-corrected homogeneity foci were observed for Mindful- based and cognitive behavioral therapy psychotherapy. In both pre- and post-therapy results, studies showed two bilateral clusters in the dorsal anterior insulae (p = 0.00001 and p = 0.00003, respectively) and involvement of the medial superior frontal gyrus (p = 0.0002). LIMITATIONS: Subjective experiences, such as an individual's response to therapy, are intrinsically challenging to quantify as objective, factual realities. Brain changes observed both pre- and post-therapy could be related to other factors, not necessary to the specific treatment received. Therapeutic modalities and study designs are generally heterogeneous. Differences exist in sample characteristics, such as the specificity of the disorder and number and duration of sessions. Moreover, the sample size is relatively small, particularly due to the paucity of studies in this field and the little contribution of PDT. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: All psychological interventions seem to influence the brain from a functional point of view, showing their efficacy from a neurological perspective. Frontal, prefrontal regions, insular cortex, superior and inferior frontal gyrus, and putamen seem involved in these neural changes, with the psychodynamic more linked to the latter three regions
The Language of Pain in the Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome: Metaphors as a Key to Understanding the Experience of Pain and as a Rehabilitation Tool
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a heterogeneous group of Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility. Among the different types, the hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is the most frequent and includes generalized joint hypermobility as the major diagnostic criterion. Joint hypermobility in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is often associated with pain that does not always allow the use of effective pain-reducing treatments. Patients with hEDS constantly describe their pain in detail. Eighty-nine patients with hEDS diagnoses were recruited and evaluated. They were asked to describe their pain in writing. The texts were examined through Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. Correlational analyses were conducted between pain perception and language. A comparison of high/low pain perception and the quality of metaphors was carried out. The results showed that language quality varies depending on how much pain is perceived. The greater the pain is perceived, the lesser the positive effects and the greater the negative effects and dehumanizing metaphors are being used. Moreover, a greater pain seems to be related to a verbal experience of greater isolation and less self-care. In conclusion, the use of metaphors is a useful tool for examining illness experience and may help clinicians in the rehabilitation program
Quality traits of saffron produced in Italy: geographical area effect and good practices
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most expensive spice in the world and is used in food, cosmetic and dyeing industries. Considering that the production of saffron is increasingly widespread in medium-small Italian farms as well as the scarceness of information and studies regarding the quality of the saffron produced in Italy, the principal aim of this study was to investigate the quality of Italian saffron. Qualitative analysis was conducted in accordance with ISO 3632 1,2:2010-2011 considering 484 samples collected over four years (2015-2018). In particular, moisture content, aroma strength (safranal), colouring strength (crocin) and flavour strength (picrocrocin) were assessed for each sample, and whether spice quality varied according to the geographical area where the spice was produced was also investigated. Qualitative analysis showed that the majority (84-93%) of the samples analysed are of the first quality category, regardless of the year of production. Moisture content and colouring strength are the factors that influence the quality of the spice most. Principal component analysis showed that quality is not influenced by the geographical area where the spice was produced. Finally, some best agricultural practices to obtain a high quality saffron spice are reported
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Glycoconjugated LDH Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents
Conjugation of known biologically active molecules to carbohydrate frameworks represents a valuable option for the preparation of hybrid, structurally-related families of compounds with the aim of modulating their biological response. Therefore, we present here a study on the preparation of d-galacto, d-manno, d-gluco, and d-lactose glycoconjugates of an established N-hydroxyindole-based (NHI) inhibitor of lactated dehydrogenase (LDH). Structural variations involved the sugar stereochemistry and size as well as the anchoring point of the NHI on the carbohydrate frame (either C-1 or C-6). In the case of the galactose anomeric glycoconjugate (C-1), intriguing solvent-dependent eects were observed in the glycosylation stereochemical outcome. The biological activity of the deprotected glycoconjugates in contrasting lactate formation and cancer cell proliferation are described
Determination of the main bioaerosol components using chemical markers by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
This work is part of an extensive research project aimed at the determination and characterization of bioaerosol with a
multidisciplinary approach. In this context, one of the main objectives of the project has been the development of a
comprehensive analytical method for the determination of different chemical biomarkers of the bioaerosol, by liquid
chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The following biomarkers have been considered, and
correlated to specific components of bioaerosol as unambiguous indicators: • ergosterol fungal components •
chlorophylls, phytosterols (stigmasterol and b-sitosterol), -tocoferol vegetable cells and algae • cholesterol animal
cells, vegetable cells and algae. • dipicolinic acid bacterial spores • muramic and meso-2,6-diaminopimelic acid
bacterial cells To verify the method, to find diagnostic ratios and to calculate the appropriate conversion factors, fungal
spores, bacterial cells and spores, and algae of known species, commonly airborne, were analysed. The material was
subjected to freezing and de-freezing cycles, followed by extraction, hydrolysis and purification of the biomarkers. The
chromatographic separation of the bacterial biomarkers was achieved by using a polymeric column, based on
Hydrophilic Liquid Interaction with the electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection, whereas sterols and
chlorophylls were separated by a reversed phase column, coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization –
tandem mass spectrometer. The optimized method was applied to environmental particulate matter sampled in an
outdoor site. Bacterial and fungal content was compared to the results obtained from the classical direct viable
counting method in the sampled particulate matte
EUROTROPISM AND NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19
Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Beyond the most common clinical features of COVID-19, mainly represented by
respiratory symptoms, other systems may be interested by the infection. Among these, through a neurotropic pathway, the central
nervous system (CNS) may be affected by the virus, leading to developing neuropsychiatric symptoms. Particularly, this study
focuses on neurological symptoms determined by the Sars-CoV-2 infection, as well as on the underlying pathogenetic processes.
Methods: For the present review, we followed a narrative approach. A literature search was carried out concerning the
neurological consequences of COVID-19. Papers were screened, focusing on the clinical manifestations interesting the CNS and on
their possible role in the early diagnosis of the disease.
Results: We display the most significant neurological clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Common neurological manifestations
(ageusia, anosmia, and encephalitis) are first described. Subsequently, we provide a focus on delirium and its possible pathoge netic
and clinical correlates. Delirium is not only a possible resultant of the COVID-19 neurotropism, but it may also be precipitated by a
number of environmental factors that assume further relevance during the pandemic.
Conclusions: Neuropsychiatric symptoms, and particularly delirium, can help identifying the infection at an early stage. Tailored
treatments should be identified in order to prevent complications
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