Enteral bleeding in a former preterm girl with short bowel syndrome: Do not miss the diagnosis

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New Insights into the Role of Ferroptosis in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the principal cause of disease burden and death worldwide. Ferroptosis is a new formof regulated cell deathmainly characterized by altered ironmetabolism, increased polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species, depletion of glutathione and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4. Recently, a series of studies have indicated that ferroptosis is involved in the death of cardiac and vascular cells and has a key impact on the mechanisms leading to CVDs such as ischemic heart disease, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathies, and heart failure. In this article, we reviewed the molecular mechanism of ferroptosis and the current understanding of the pathophysiological role of ferroptosis in ischemic heart disease and in some cardiomyopathies. Moreover, the comprehension of the machinery governing ferroptosis in vascular cells and cardiomyocytes may provide new insights into preventive and therapeutic strategies in CVDs

Psychological adjustment and heart rate variability in ovarian cancer survivors

Introduction: Body image, posttraumatic growth, quality of life, coping, and social support are relevant concepts to ovarian cancer survivors. This study aimed to examine the associations among these concepts as well as their relationships with heart rate variability (HRV), which is an index of vagal tone. Methods: an exploratory and correlational study was conducted on 25 ovarian cancer survivors. We used self-report measures to assess psychological variables. HRV parameters recorded for this study were analyzed in the time domain and in the frequency domain. Spearman correlations were performed. Results: Positive attitude coping strategy was associated with psychological and physical distress related to problems of appearance (Rho = -.57, p < .01), emotional functioning (Rho = .53, p < .01), and global health (Rho = .47, p < .05). Problem solving coping strategy was correlated with a higher posttraumatic growth, namely greater personal strength (Rho = .44, p < .05) and better relationships with others (Rho = .40, p < .05). Seeking social support was associated with growth in relationships with others (Rho = .40, p < .05). Higher HRV parameters were associated with higher physical functioning (SDNN: Rho = .59, p < .01; RMSSD: Rho = .54; p < .01; pNN50: Rho = .56, p < .01; HF: Rho = .58, p < .01). The ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power (LF/HF) was negatively associated with posttraumatic growth (i.e., personal strength: Rho = .51, p < .05; new possibilities: Rho = -.54, p < .01). Discussion: Positive attitude and problem solving coping strategies may facilitate psychological adjustment to ovarian cancer. The strong association between markers of vagal tone and physical functioning offers insights on the possible role of vagus nerve in ovarian cancer survivors. These findings should be further investigated by future studies with larger samples and longitudinal designs

geomorphological mineralogical and geochemical evidence of pleistocene weathering conditions in the southern italian apennines

Geomorphological, mineralogical, and geochemical evidence of Pleistocene weathering conditions in the southern Italian Apennines Pleistocene weathering, uplift rates, and mass movements have been studied and correlated in a key-area of the Italian southern Apennines. The study area is the Melandro River valley, developed in a tectonically-controlled Quaternary intermontane basin of the axial zone of the chain. The goal of this paper is to assess ages and geomorphic features of two paleo-landslides and to relate them to values of uplift rates and the climate conditions in the axial zone of the chain during the Pleistocene. Uplift rates have been estimated using elevation and age of flat erosional land surfaces. In the southern area of the basin, the landscape features a wide paleo-landslide which can be ascribed to the upper part of the Lower Pleistocene on the basis of relationships with Quaternary deposits and land surfaces. Another paleo-landslide, in the northern sector of the basin, can be referred to the beginning of the Upper Pleistocene. The correlation between the ages of the two landslides and the temporal trend of the uplift rates allowed us to hypothesize that mass movements occurred in response to uplift peaks that destabilized slopes. Additionally, deciphering weathering conditions by means of the analysis of mineralogical and geochemical signals from landslide deposits and weathered horizons allowed assessment of changes in paleoclimate scenarios during the Pleistocene. The deep weathering was probably caused by the onset of warm-humid climate conditions, which may have acted as a further factor triggering landslide movements in an area already destabilized by the rapid uplift

Polymer Encapsulated Liposomes for Oral Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Hydroxytyrosol

Curcumin (Cur) is a hydrophobic polyphenol from the rhizome of Curcuma spp., while hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a water-soluble polyphenol from Olea europaea. Both show outstanding antioxidant properties but suffer from scarce bioavailability and low stability in biological fluids. In this work, the co-encapsulation of Cur and HT into liposomes was realized, and the liposomal formulation was improved using polymers to increase their survival in the gastrointestinal tract. Liposomes with different compositions were formulated: Type 1, composed of phospholipids and cholesterol; Type 2, also with a PEG coating; and Type 3 providing an additional shell of Eudragit® S100, a gastro-resistant polymer. Samples were characterized in terms of size, morphology, ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiency, and loading capacity. All samples were subjected to a simulated in vitro digestion and their stability was investigated. The Eudragit®S100 coating demonstrated prevention of early releases of HT in the mouth and gastric phases, while the PEG shell reduced bile salts and pancreatin effects during the intestinal digestion. In vitro antioxidant activity showed a cumulative effect for Cur and HT loaded in vesicles. Finally, liposomes with HT concentrations up to 40 μM and Cur up to 4.7 μM, alone or in combination, did not show cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells

Use of the ultrasound-based total malignancy score in the management of thyroid nodules

Purpose The purpose of this study was to validate the role of the total malignancy score (TMS) in identifying thyroid nodules suspicious for malignancy through the sum of their ultrasound features. Methods The local ethical committee approved this prospective observational study. We examined 231 nodules in 231 consecutive patients (164 females and 67 males; age range, 20 to 87 years; median age, 59 years; interquartile range, 48 to 70 years) who underwent ultrasound followed by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The nodules were further classified using the TMS, which considers ultrasound features (number, echogenicity, structure, halo, margins, Doppler signal, calcifications, and growth), and the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC), which considers cytological features. Patients with non-negative nodules (TBSRTC categories III to VI) underwent histological analysis, repeated FNAC, or 2 years of regular ultrasound follow-up. The associations between the final diagnosis, each of the ultrasound features, and the TMS were estimated using the chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariate logistic regression. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the TMS. Results On ultrasound, 47% of the nodules (108 of 231) had a TMS 3. The FNAC results of 85% of the nodules (196 of 231) were benign, while 15% (35 of 231) had non-negative results. Hypoechogenicity, solid structure, the presence of microcalcifications, and the number of nodules were independent predictors of the final diagnosis, and the diagnostic accuracy of the TMS was good (area under the ROC curve, 0.82). Conclusion The TMS system is simple to use, reliable, easily reproducible, and closely reflects malignancy risk. Based on our results, FNAC could be limited to nodules with a TMS ≥3 without missing any cases of carcinoma

Phase Diagram of a Strained Ferroelectric Nanowire

Ferroelectric materials manifest unique dielectric, ferroelastic, and piezoelectric properties. A targeted design of ferroelectrics at the nanoscale is not only of fundamental appeal but holds the highest potential for applications. Compared to two-dimensional nanostructures such as thin films and superlattices, one-dimensional ferroelectric nanowires are investigated to a much lesser extent. Here, we reveal a variety of the topological polarization states, particularly the vortex and helical chiral phases, in loaded ferroelectric nanowires, which enable us to complete the strain–temperature phase diagram of the one-dimensional ferroelectrics. These phases are of prime importance for optoelectronics and quantum communication technologie