On the Compatibility Criteria for Protein Encapsulation inside Mesoporous Materials

The properties of the enzyme pepsin, relevant to its incorporation inside the channels of mesoporous silica materials in the preparation of bioinorganic hybrids, are highlighted by molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous solutions of the protein under conditions optimal for encapsulation in SBA-15. The protein size, shape, flexibility and surface properties are calculated with the aim of deriving general accessibility/compatibility criteria favouring encapsulation inside mesoporous systems

Decellularized diaphragmatic muscle drives a constructive angiogenic response in vivo

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering (TE) aims to efficiently repair large congenital and acquired defects. Biological acellular scaffolds are considered a good tool for TE, as decellularization allows structural preservation of tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) and conservation of its unique cytokine reservoir and the ability to support angiogenesis, cell viability, and proliferation. This represents a major advantage compared to synthetic scaffolds, which can acquire these features only after modification and show limited biocompatibility. In this work, we describe the ability of a skeletal muscle acellular scaffold to promote vascularization both ex vivo and in vivo. Specifically, chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay and protein array confirmed the presence of pro-angiogenic molecules in the decellularized tissue such as HGF, VEGF, and SDF-1\u3b1. The acellular muscle was implanted in BL6/J mice both subcutaneously and ortotopically. In the first condition, the ECM-derived scaffold appeared vascularized 7 days post-implantation. When the decellularized diaphragm was ortotopically applied, newly formed blood vessels containing CD31+, \u3b1SMA+, and vWF+ cells were visible inside the scaffold. Systemic injection of Evans Blue proved function and perfusion of the new vessels, underlying a tissue-regenerative activation. On the contrary, the implantation of a synthetic matrix made of polytetrafluoroethylene used as control was only surrounded by vWF+ cells, with no cell migration inside the scaffold and clear foreign body reaction (giant cells were visible). The molecular profile and the analysis of macrophages confirmed the tendency of the synthetic scaffold to enhance inflammation instead of regeneration. In conclusion, we identified the angiogenic potential of a skeletal muscle-derived acellular scaffold and the pro-regenerative environment activated in vivo, showing clear evidence that the decellularized diaphragm is a suitable candidate for skeletal muscle tissue engineering and regeneration

Transanal irrigation (TAI) in the paediatric population: Literature review and consensus of an Italian multicentre working group

Constipation and fecal incontinence in pediatric patients are conditions due to either functional or organic bowel dysfunction and may represent a challenging situation both for parents, pediatricians, and pediatric surgeons. Different treatments have been proposed throughout the past decades with partial and alternant results and, among all proposed techniques, in the adult population the Transanal Irrigation (TAI) has become popular. However, little is known about its efficacy in children. Therefore, a group of Italian pediatric surgeons from different centers, all experts in bowel management, performed a literature review and discussed the best-practice for the use of TAI in the pediatric population. This article suggests some tips, such as the careful patients’ selection, a structured training with expert in pediatric colorectal diseases, and a continuous follow-up, that are considered crucial for the full success of treatment

Understanding the vibrational and electronic features of Ti (IV) sites in mesoporous silicas by integrated ab initio and spectroscopic investigations

Green open access of the paper:<div>Understanding the Vibrational and Electronic Features of Ti(IV) Sites in Mesoporous Silicas by Integrated Ab Initio and Spectroscopic Investigations<br></div><div>by:</div><div>Gloria Tabacchi, Enrica Gianotti, Ettore Fois, Gianmario Martra, Leonardo Marchese, Salvatore Coluccia, Aldo Gamba<br></div><div><br></div><div>First published: March 13, 2007, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2007, 111, 4946–4955.</div><div>To be cited as:</div><div>J. Phys. Chem. C, 2007, 111, 4946–4955<br></div><div>DOI: 10.1021/jp0665168</div><div><br></div><div>Links to publisher's version and popular summary are reported below<br></div><div><br></div

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab in patients with advanced, untreated, indolent B-cell nonfollicular lymphomas: Phase 2 study of the Italian Lymphoma Foundation

BACKGROUND: Indolent nonfollicular non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas (INFLs) are clonal mature B-cell proliferations for which treatment has not been defined to date. METHODS: In this phase 2 study of patients with advanced INFL, the authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of first-line rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide (FCR) as induction immunochemotherapy (rituximab 375 mg/m 2 intravenously on day 1 of each cycle and on days 1 and 14 of cycles 4 and 5; fludarabine 25 mg/m 2 intravenously on days 2-4, cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m 2 intravenously on Days 2-4) every 28 days for 6 cycles followed by a maintenance phase with 4 infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m 2 intravenously on day 1) every 2 months for responders. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were enrolled. Among 46 evaluable patients (28 men; median age, 59 years), 19 were diagnosed with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, 21 were diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma, and 6 were diagnosed with nodal marginal zone lymphoma. The overall response rate after maintenance was 89.1% with a 67.4% complete remission (CR) rate (CR/unconfirmed CR) and a 21.7% partial response rate. After a median follow-up of 40.9 months, the failure-free survival and progression-free survival rates both were 90.1%, and the overall survival rate was 97.4%. The main toxicity was hematologic, and related grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 55.3% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: FCR induction therapy followed by a short maintenance phase is a highly effective regimen with acceptable toxicity. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society. Indolent nonfollicular non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas are clonal mature B-cell proliferations for which treatment has not been defined to date. The combination of rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide as induction immunochemotherapy followed by a short maintenance phase with rituximab is a highly effective regimen with acceptable toxicity in this subset of lymphomas. Copyright © 2011 American Cancer Society

Decellularized diaphragmatic muscle drives a constructive angiogenic response in vivo

textabstractSkeletal muscle tissue engineering (TE) aims to efficiently repair large congenital and acquired defects. Biological acellular scaffolds are considered a good tool for TE, as decellularization allows structural preservation of tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) and conservation of its unique cytokine reservoir and the ability to support angiogenesis, cell viability, and proliferation. This represents a major advantage compared to synthetic scaffolds, which can acquire these features only after modification and show limited biocompatibility. In this work, we describe the ability of a skeletal muscle acellular scaffold to promote vascularization both ex vivo and in vivo. Specifically, chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay and protein array confirmed the presence of pro-angiogenic molecules in the decellularized tissue such as HGF, VEGF, and SDF-1α. The acellular muscle was implanted in BL6/J mice both subcutaneously and ortotopically. In the first condition, the ECM-derived scaffold appeared vascularized 7 days post-implantation. When the decellularized diaphragm was ortotopically applied, newly formed blood vessels containing CD31+, αSMA+, and vWF+ cells were visible inside the scaffold. Systemic injection of Evans Blue proved function and perfusion of the new vessels, underlying a tissue-regenerative activation. On the contrary, the implantation of a synthetic matrix made of polytetrafluoroethylene used as control was only surrounded by vWF+ cells, with no cell migration inside the scaffold and clear foreign body reaction (giant cells were visible). The molecular profile and the analysis of macrophages confirmed the tendency of the synthetic scaffold to enhance inflammation instead of regeneration. In conclusion, we identified the angiogenic potential of a skeletal muscle-derived acellular scaffold and the pro-regenerative environment activated in vivo, showing clear evidence that the decellularized diaphragm is a suitable candidate for skeletal muscle tissue engineering and regeneration