Weak intrinsic charge transfer complexes: A new route for developing wide spectrum organic photovoltaic cells

Solar emission extends in the near IR and one of the main issues in designing organic solar cells resides in extending the response into the near IR. Here we show that this may be achieved by making intimate interpenetrated networks of C60 and Zn-phthalocyanine (Zn-Pc) in the solid. Various spectroscopic investigations of co-sublimated thin films of C60 and Zn-phthalocyanine give indeed ample evidence of the existence of a weak charge transfer (CT) state at 1.4 eV, which quenches the photoluminescence of both molecules. The films produced by co-sublimation undergo to a spinodal decomposition producing domains prevalently constituted by Zn-Pc in contact with domain prevalently of C60. The domains size depends on the deposition conditions (rate, stoichiometry, and substrate temperature) forming a percolating 3D network. The separation in different domains is confirmed by the observation of two overlapping peaks, in the resonant Raman spectrum, that correspond to the Ag(2) pinch mode (C=C double bond stretching) for pristine C60 and for a partially (~0.25e) doped one. This indicates that only those donor molecules at the grain boundary, which are in contact with C60, give rise to a renormalized new CT ground state. Photocurrent measurements of interpenetrated networks of C60 and Zn-Pc show a linear dependence with respect to the incident light as a consequence of direct absorption within the CT state. The CT state favors the charge separation between the two components, when it is inserted as interface in the organic photovoltaic p - n junction thus increasing the efficiency of the device

Occurrence of Blastocystis-subtypes in patients from Italy revealed association of ST3 with a healthy gut microbiota

An epidemiological survey on Blastocystis was carried out enrolling a total of 2524 subjects referred to the Umberto I Academic Hospital in Rome, for the routine parasitological exams, during 2017–2018. The studied population included a sample of immunocompromised individuals (N = 130) followed at the same hospital. DNA sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene (SSU rDNA) locus was performed on samples positive to the coproparasitological analysis to molecular characterize the Blastocystis-subtypes. Microscopical analysis detected Blastocystis in 192/2524 (7.6%) of the enrolled subjects. It was the organism most frequently identified in the analysed faecal samples diagnosed in single infection (5.6%) or in co-infection with other enteric protozoa (2%). Furthermore, it was found mainly in immunocompromised patients (22.3%) compared to immunocompetent ones (6.8%). As expected, ST3 was the most occurring subtype identified in 40% of the subjects, followed by ST1 (29%), ST2 (16%), ST4 (12%), and ST7 (3%). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rDNA was performed on a sub-sample of Blastocystis-ST3-carriers, homogenous by age and gender, as well as on Blastocystis-free subjects, to profile and compare their gut bacterial composition. A higher bacterial diversity was found in ST3-Blastocystis-carriers, which exhibited a high abundance of Prevotella, Methanobrevibacter and Ruminococcus while, a high percentage of Bacteroides was found in Blastocystis-free subjects. This study evidenced the presence of Blastocystis in 7.6% of faecal samples in Italy and a high circulation of the protist among immunocompromised patients (22.3%). Molecular characterization of positive samples evidenced the occurrence of five different subtypes, including zoonotic ST such as the ST7, highlighting the risk of transmission from animals. Study of the gut microbiota composition confirms previous evidences according to which, the colonisation by Blastocystis would be linked with an eubiotic gut characterized by potentially beneficial species such as Prevotella and Ruminococcus, rather than with a dysbiotic state, with a high abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, and corroborated the role of the protist as “an old friend” of the human gut

Exploiting the indole scaffold to design compounds binding to different pharmacological targets

Several indole derivatives have been disclosed by our research groups that have been collaborating for nearly 25 years. The results of our investigations led to a variety of molecules binding selectively to different pharmacological targets, specifically the type A γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) chloride channel, the translocator protein (TSPO), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein, the A2B adenosine receptor (A2B AR) and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Herein, we describe how these works were conceived and carried out thanks to the versatility of indole nucleus to be exploited in the design and synthesis of drug-like molecules

Risk of Seven-Day Worsening and Death: A New Clinically Derived COVID-19 Score

This monocentric, retrospective, two-stage observational study aimed to recognize the risk factors for a poor outcome in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to develop and validate a risk score that identifies subjects at risk of worsening, death, or both. The data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of the pandemic were collected and analyzed as a derivation cohort. Variables with predictive properties were used to construct a prognostic score, which was tried out on a validation cohort enrolled during the second wave. The derivation cohort included 494 patients; the median age was 62 and the overall fatality rate was 22.3%. In a multivariable analysis, age, oxygen saturation, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase were independent predictors of death and composed the score. A cutoff value of 3 demonstrated a sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 93.5%, 68.5%, 47.4% and 97.2% for death, and 84.9%, 84.5%, 79.6% and 87.9% for worsening, respectively. The validation cohort included 415 subjects. The score application showed a Se, Sp, PPV and NPV of 93.4%, 61.6%, 29.5% and 98.1% for death, and 81%, 76.3%, 72.1% and 84.1% for worsening, respectively. We propose a new clinical, easy and reliable score to predict the outcome in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients

Motion artefacts in cone beam CT: an in vitro study about the effects on the images

OBJECTIVE: In cone beam CT (CBCT), imperfect patient immobility, caused by involuntary movements, is one of the most important causes of artefacts and image quality degradation. Various works in literature address this topic, but seldom is the nature of the movement correlated with the type of artefact and the image degradation in a systematic manner, and the correlation analyzed and explained. METHODS: All three types of movements that can occur during a scan—nodding, tilting and rolling—were applied to a dry skull, in various manners from abrupt to gradual through the entire scan, at different times and angles, over a wide range of displacements. 84 scans were performed, with different skull movements, and the resulting images examined by two skilled radiologists, rated in a four-point scale and statistically analyzed. A commercial CBCT machine was used, featuring supine patient positioning. RESULTS: Different types of movements induce different artefacts, in different parts of the anatomy. In general, movement of short duration may lead to double contours (bilateral or monolateral depending upon the angle of the scan at which they occur), whereas gradual movements result into blurring. CONCLUSION: Not all movements cause motion artefacts that equally jeopardize the image. Rolling is the type of movement that most severely affects the image diagnostic value. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: These findings may help practitioners to identify the causes of motion artefacts and the resulting image degradation, and remediate them, and manufacturers to improve the patient-positioning devices

High prevalence of anti-hepatitis e virus antibodies among blood donors in central Italy, february to march 2014

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies is highly variable in developed countries, which seems partly due to differences in assay sensitivity. Using validated sensitive assays, we tested 313 blood donors attending a hospital transfusion unit in central Italy in January and February 2014 for anti-HEV IgG and IgM and HEV RNA. Data on HEV exposure were collected from all donors. Overall anti-HEV IgG prevalence was 49% (153/313). Eating raw dried pig-liver sausage was the only independent predictor of HEV infection (adjusted prevalence rate ratio = 2.14; 95% confidence interval: 1.23–3.74). Three donors were positive for either anti-HEV IgM (n = 2; 0.6%) or HEV RNA (n = 2; 0.6%); they were completely asymptomatic, without alanine aminotransferase (ALT) abnormalities. Of the two HEV RNA-positive donors (both harbouring genotype 3), one was anti-HEV IgG- and IgM-positive, the other was anti-HEV IgG- and IgM-negative. The third donor was positive for anti-HEV IgG and IgM but HEV RNA-negative. HEV infection is therefore hyperendemic among blood donors (80% men 18–64 years-old) from central Italy and associated with local dietary habits. Nearly 1% of donors have acute or recent infection, implying potential transmission to blood recipients. Neither ALT nor anti-HEV IgM testing seems useful to prevent transfusion-transmitted HEV infection. © 2016, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

The added value of operator’s judgement in thyroid nodule ultrasound classification arising from histologically based comparison of different risk stratification systems.

Objective: Several ultrasound classifications for thyroid nodules were proposed but their accuracy is still debated, since mainly estimated on cytology and not on histology. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic accuracy and the inter-classification agreement of AACE/ACE-AME, American Thyroid Association (ATA), British Thyroid Association (BTA), and Modena Ultrasound Thyroid Classification (MUT) that stratifies malignancy risk considering also the clinician subjective impression. Methods: A prospective study collecting thyroid nodule features at ultrasound and histological diagnosis was conducted. Ultrasound features were collected following a preformed checklist in candidates for surgery because of indeterminate, suspicious, or malignant cytology. All the nodules, besides the cytologically suspicious one, were blinded analyzed. MUT score was applied prospectively, and the others retrospectively. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic cut-off value, and accuracy of each classification were calculated. The overall agreement between classifications was tested by Bland-Altman, and agreement between single nodule analysis by different classifications by Weighted Cohen's Kappa. Results: In classifying a total of 457 nodules, MUT has the highest accuracy (AUC 0.808) and specificity (89%), followed by ATA and BTA, and finally by AACE/ACE-AME. ATA, BTA, and MUT are highly interchangeable. Considering agreement between single nodule analyses, ATA and BTA had the best (κ = 0.723); AACE/ACE-AME showed slight agreement with BTA (κ = 0.177) and MUT (κ = 0.183), and fair agreement with ATA (κ = 0.282); MUT had fair agreement with both ATA (κ = 0.291) and BTA (κ = 0.271). Conclusion: Classifications have an acceptable overall diagnostic accuracy, improved using a less rigid system that takes into consideration operator subjective impression