Eco-Zip: Climate-Proofing an International Logistic Hub

One of the most significant challenges in urban design today is the adaptation of industrial and logistical areas to climate change. These vast hubs are sites with a high degree of vulnerability concerning management of stormwater and heat waves. However, local planning struggles to develop appropriate tools for these essential structures. The lack of tools disregards climate influence on the future economy and the quality and safety of workplaces. Moreover, intervening in such large areas can increase green and blue systems. The research described in this article reflects on their possible evolution in a climate change mitigation and adaptation scenario from a global perspective, helping to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (8; 9; 11; 13; 15). The study intends to propose the redefinition of the settlement scheme as an adaptation tool. This strategy takes the Industrial Zone of Padova as a test site, and it is developed to reduce risks related to extreme climate events by favouring the action of green infrastructures and, at the same time, exploiting the social and economic opportunities that may emerge from this urban transformation

Beyond the conflict. Planning a logistics area with an OOO approach

The paper highlights the tension between humans and non-humans spaces in contemporary cities. These conflicts intensify in specific areas, particularly industrial and logistics zones, where the human, green-blue, and machine ecosystems collide. The paper use Object Oriented Ontology as interpretative tool for overcome a conservative approach and embrace conflicts, fostering a non- violent dialectic between ecosystems

Intestinal Surgery for Crohn's Disease: Role of Preoperative Therapy in Postoperative Outcome

Purposes: Patients affected by Crohn's disease (CD) require lifelong medical therapy, but they can also often require abdominal surgery. The effect of CD therapy on postoperative course is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative medical therapy on the outcome of intestinal surgery in these patients. Methods: Data from a consecutive series of 167 patients with CD operated on at the University of Padova Hospital from 2000 to 2013 were retrieved. Data of preoperative therapy during the 6 months before surgery were available for 146 patients who were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical data and surgical details were retrieved and postoperative complications and reoperation were considered outcome measures. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: No significant difference was observed between patients without data about their preoperative therapy and those with them. Eight patients underwent reoperation in the first 30 postoperative days: two of them for anastomotic leak, three for bleeding, one for obstruction and two for abdominal wound dehiscence. At multivariate analysis, preoperative adalimumab and budesonide resulted to be an independent predictor of reoperation (OR = 7.67 (95% CI = 1.49-39.20), p = 0.01 and OR = 6.7749 (95% CI = 0.98-46.48), p = 0.05, respectively). At multivariate analysis neither pharmacological nor clinical variables resulted to predict anastomotic leak. Conclusions: In our series, adalimumab seemed to be associated to early reoperation after intestinal surgery. This may be due to a worst disease severity in patients who needed surgery in spite of biological therapy. Preoperative tapering of budesonide dose seems a safe option before elective abdominal surgery for CD

Intestinal Surgery for Crohn's Disease: Role of Preoperative Therapy in Postoperative Outcome

Purposes: Patients affected by Crohn's disease (CD) require lifelong medical therapy, but they can also often require abdominal surgery. The effect of CD therapy on postoperative course is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative medical therapy on the outcome of intestinal surgery in these patients. Methods: Data from a consecutive series of 167 patients with CD operated on at the University of Padova Hospital from 2000 to 2013 were retrieved. Data of preoperative therapy during the 6 months before surgery were available for 146 patients who were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical data and surgical details were retrieved and postoperative complications and reoperation were considered outcome measures. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: No significant difference was observed between patients without data about their preoperative therapy and those with them. Eight patients underwent reoperation in the first 30 postoperative days: two of them for anastomotic leak, three for bleeding, one for obstruction and two for abdominal wound dehiscence. At multivariate analysis, preoperative adalimumab and budesonide resulted to be an independent predictor of reoperation (OR = 7.67 (95% CI = 1.49-39.20), p = 0.01 and OR = 6.7749 (95% CI = 0.98-46.48), p = 0.05, respectively). At multivariate analysis neither pharmacological nor clinical variables resulted to predict anastomotic leak. Conclusions: In our series, adalimumab seemed to be associated to early reoperation after intestinal surgery. This may be due to a worst disease severity in patients who needed surgery in spite of biological therapy. Preoperative tapering of budesonide dose seems a safe option before elective abdominal surgery for CD

Generation of a Functioning and Self-Renewing Diaphragmatic Muscle Construct

Surgical repair of large muscular defects requires the use of autologous graft transfer or prosthetic material. Naturally derived matrices are biocompatible materials obtained by tissue decellularization and are commonly used in clinical practice. Despite promising applications described in the literature, the use of acellular matrices to repair large defects has been only partially successful, highlighting the need for more efficient constructs. Scaffold recellularization by means of tissue engineering may improve not only the structure of the matrix, but also its ability to functionally interact with the host. The development of such a complex construct is challenging, due to the complexity of the native organ architecture and the difficulties in recreating the cellular niche with both proliferative and differentiating potential during growth or after damage. In this study, we tested a mouse decellularized diaphragmatic extracellular matrix (ECM) previously described by our group, for the generation of a cellular skeletal muscle construct with functional features. The decellularized matrix was stored using different conditions to mimic the off-the-shelf clinical need. Pediatric human muscle precursors were seeded into the decellularized scaffold, demonstrating proliferation and differentiation capability, giving rise to a functioning three-dimensional skeletal muscle structure. Furthermore, we exposed the engineered construct to cardiotoxin injury and demonstrated its ability to activate a regenerative response in vitro promoting cell self-renewal and a positive ECM remodeling. Functional reconstruction of an engineered skeletal muscle with maintenance of a stem cell pool makes this a promising tool toward future clinical applications in diaphragmatic regeneration. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019

A collaborative translational research framework to study the association between the alteration of the vaginal microbiota and preterm birth: Preliminary results

Preterm birth (PTB) constitutes a major health problem in our country. There is a variety of potential etiological mechanisms for spontaneous PTB, including infectious and inflammatory pathways, stress-related influences and genetic predispositions. Uncovering the multifactorial processes and the interplay of risk factors that lead to spontaneous birth is necessary to identify effective strategies for preventing PTB. Our study analyzes the possible association between the vaginal microbiota and preterm birth. We conducted a prospective cohort study on 163 pregnant women treated in Hospital Dr. Penna Bahia Blanca (October, 2017- August, 2019), to analyze the alteration of vaginal microbiota by Nugent score (dysbacteriosis/ vaginosis), the assessment of Candida spp. and other pathogenic microorganisms at weeks 24/28 of pregnancy. Follow-up until delivery, with identification and recording of PTB or premature membrane rupture (PMR) events. The average age was 26 ± 6.1. Sixty seven % of women had a vaginal microbiota alteration: 35 % dysbacteriosis-vaginosis, 27 % candidiasis, and 41 % a sexual transmitted pathogen like Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium or Trichomonas vaginalis. Mixed infections were detected in 33 % of women and 28 % were positive for HPV. Sixty nine % concluded the follow-up until delivery and 14 % presented at least one of the outcomes of interest: 7 % PTB; 6 % PMR and 1 % PTB and PMR. The frequency of PTB was higher in the presence of some types of infections, however, a higher number of cases is still required for a statistical significance analysis. These results are of clinical and public health relevance due to high rates of vaginal microbiota alteration found in the analyzed population of pregnant women. In addition, the implementation of a translational research represented a huge challenge that impacted positively on public health by improving the systematizing care processes in and between hospital units as well as on primary health care attention.Fil: Esandi, María del Carmen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Bergé, Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: German, Olga Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Bruzzone, Ariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: Oresti, Gerardo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Benvenutti, Maria Luz. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: López Ullán, Paula. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Galavotti, Jimena. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Laura. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Natalia. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: Mendoza, Sergio. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: Gardellini, Adriana. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Municipalidad de Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Serralunga, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Luis. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaFil: Esandi, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Economía; ArgentinaFil: Bouzat, Cecilia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Bertin, Marta. Hospital Municipal General de Agudos Doctor José Penna; ArgentinaReunión Anual de Sociedades de BiocienciaMar del PlataArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Investigación ClínicaAsociación Argentina de Farmacología ExperimentalSociedad Argentina de BiologíaSociedad Argentina de ProtozoologíaAsociación Argentina de NanomedicinasAsociación Argentina de Ciencia y Tecnología de Animales de LaboratorioThe Histochemical Societ