Identità femminile e generazionale in In principio erano le mutande di Rossana Campo

Le profonde trasformazioni che si sono prodotte nella società italiana a partire dagli anni ’80 e i noti rovesciamenti politici verificatisi a cavallo tra la fine dello stesso decennio e l’inizio del successivo hanno non solo messo in crisi alcune certezze ideologiche dei decenni precedenti, ma hanno anche – e non poteva essere altrimenti – inciso sul rapporto tra i due sessi. Il presente contributo è dedicato ad una scrittrice che si è affermata soltanto dopo i mutamenti suddetti: si tratta ..

Nonlinear optical response of photochromic azobenzene-functionalized self- assembled monolayers

The combination of photochromic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) constitutes an intriguing step towards novel photonic and optoelectronic devices. By utilizing the second-order NLO process of second harmonic generation (SHG), supported by density-functional theory and correlated wave function method calculations, we demonstrate that the photochromic interface provides the necessary prerequisites en route towards possible future technical applications: we find a high NLO contrast on the order of 16% between the switching states. These are furthermore accessible reversibly and with high efficiencies in terms of cross sections on the order of 10−18 cm2 for both photoisomerization reactions, i.e., drivable by means of low-power LED light sources. Finally, both photostationary states (PSSs) are thermally stable at ambient conditions

Quality of life in high-risk patients: comparison of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with surgical aortic valve replacement†

OBJECTIVES To compare health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation via transapical access (TA TAVI) with patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS One hundred and forty-four high-risk patients referred for aortic valve replacement underwent TAVI screening and were assigned to either TA TAVI (n=51, age 79.7±9.2 years, logistic EuroSCORE 26.5±16.1%, 51% males) or SAVR (n=93, age 81.1±5.3 years, logistic EuroSCORE 12.1±9.3%, 42% males) by the interdisciplinary heart team. QoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Furthermore, current living conditions and the degree of independence at home were evaluated. RESULTS Patients undergoing TA TAVI were at higher risk as assessed by EuroSCORE (26.5±16 vs. 12.1±9, P<0.001) and STS score (6.7±4 vs. 4.4±3, P<0.001) compared with SAVR patients. At the 30-day follow-up, the rate of mortality was similar and amounted to 7.8% for TA TAVI and 7.5% for SAVR patients and raised to 25.5% in TA TAVI and 18.3% in SAVR patients after a follow-up period of 15±10 months. Assessment of QoL revealed no differences in terms of anxiety and depression between TA TAVI and SAVR patients. The SF-36 mental health metascore was similar in both groups (65.6±19 vs. 68.8±22, P=0.29), while a significant difference was observed in the physical health metascore (49.7±21 vs. 62.0±21, P=0.015). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, this difference disappeared. However, every added point in the preoperative risk assessment with the STS score decreased the SF-36 physical health dimension by two raw points at the follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS Selected high-risk patients undergoing TAVI by using a transapical access achieve similar clinical outcomes and QoL compared with patients undergoing SAVR. Increased STS scores predict worse QoL outcome

Primary rat LSECs preserve their characteristic phenotype after cryopreservation

Liver disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, the liver non-parenchymal cells have gained increasing attention for their potential role in the development of liver disease. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), a specialized type of endothelial cells that have unique morphology and function, play a fundamental role in maintaining liver homeostasis. Current protocols for LSEC isolation and cultivation rely on freshly isolated cells which can only be maintained differentiated in culture for a few days. This creates a limitation in the use of LSECs for research and a need for a consistent and reliable source of these cells. To date, no LSEC cryopreservation protocols have been reported that enable LSECs to retain their functional and morphological characteristics upon thawing and culturing. Here, we report a protocol to cryopreserve rat LSECs that, upon thawing, maintain full LSEC-signature features: fenestrations, scavenger receptor expression and endocytic function on par with freshly isolated cells. We have confirmed these features by a combination of biochemical and functional techniques, and super-resolution microscopy. Our findings offer a means to standardize research using LSECs, opening the prospects for designing pharmacological strategies for various liver diseases, and considering LSECs as a therapeutic target

Primary rat LSECs preserve their characteristic phenotype after cryopreservation

Mönkemöller V, Mao H, Hübner W, et al. Primary rat LSECs preserve their characteristic phenotype after cryopreservation. Scientific Reports. 2018;8(1): 14657.Liver disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, the liver nonparenchymal cells have gained increasing attention for their potential role in the development of liver disease. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), a specialized type of endothelial cells that have unique morphology and function, play a fundamental role in maintaining liver homeostasis. Current protocols for LSEC isolation and cultivation rely on freshly isolated cells which can only be maintained differentiated in culture for a few days. This creates a limitation in the use of LSECs for research and a need for a consistent and reliable source of these cells. To date, no LSEC cryopreservation protocols have been reported that enable LSECs to retain their functional and morphological characteristics upon thawing and culturing. Here, we report a protocol to cryopreserve rat LSECs that, upon thawing, maintain full LSEC-signature features: fenestrations, scavenger receptor expression and endocytic function on par with freshly isolated cells. We have confirmed these features by a combination of biochemical and functional techniques, and super-resolution microscopy. Our findings offer a means to standardize research using LSECs, opening the prospects for designing pharmacological strategies for various liver diseases, and considering LSECs as a therapeutic target

Serosurveillance after a COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign in a Swiss Police Cohort

Introduction: To assess the risk for COVID-19 of police officers, we are studying the seroprevalence in a cohort. The baseline cross-sectional investigation was performed prior to a vaccination campaign in January/February 2021, and demonstrated a seroprevalence of 12.9%. Here, we demonstrate serosurveillance results after a vaccination campaign. Methods: The cohort consists of 1022 study participants. The 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits were performed in April/May and September 2021. Data on infection and vaccination rates were obtained via measuring antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein and spike protein and online questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the population was 41 (SD 8.8) years, 72% were male and 76% had no comorbidity. Seroconversion was identified in 1.05% of the study population at the 3-month visit and in 0.73% at the 6-month visit, resulting in an infection rate of 1.8% over a time period of 6 months. In comparison, the infection rate in the general population over the same time period was higher (3.18%, P=0.018). At the 6-month visit, 77.8% of participants reported being vaccinated once and 70.5% twice; 81% had an anti-S antibody titer of >250 U/mL and 87.1% of ≥2 U/mL. No significant association between infection and job role within the department, working region, or years of experience in the job was found. Anti-spike antibody titers of vaccinated study participants showed a calculated decreasing trend 150 to 200 days after the second vaccine dose. Conclusion: These data confirm the value of the vaccination campaign in an exposed group other than healthcare professionals

Clinical Relevance of Troponin T Profile Following Cardiac Surgery

Background: Peak post-operative cardiac troponin T (cTnT) independently predicts mid- and long-term outcome of cardiac surgery patients. A few studies however have reported two peaks of cTnT over the first 48–72 h following myocardial reperfusion. The aim of the current study was to better understand underlying reasons of these different cTnT profiles and their possible relevance in terms of clinical outcome.Methods: All consecutive adult cardiac surgical procedures performed with an extra-corporeal circulation during a &gt;6 years period were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with a myocardial infarction (MI) &lt; 8 days were excluded. cTnT profile of patients with at least one value ≥1 ng/mL value were categorized according to the time occurrence of the peak value. Univariable and multivariable analysis were performed to identify factors influencing early vs. late increase of cTnT values, and to verify the correlation of early vs. late increase with clinical outcome.Results: Data of 5,146 patients were retrieved from our prospectively managed registry. From 953 with at least one cTnT value ≥1 ng/mL, peak occurred ≤ 6 h (n = 22), &gt;6 to ≤ 12 h (n = 366), &gt;12 to ≤ 18 h (n = 176), &gt;18 to ≤ 24 h (171), &gt;24 h (218). Age (OR: 1.023; CI: 1.016–1.030) and isolated CABG (OR: 1.779; CI: 1.114–2.839) were independent predictors of a late increase of cTnT over a limit of 1 ng/ml (p &lt; 0.05), whereas isolated valve procedures (OR: 0.685; CI: 0.471–0.998) and cross-clamp duration (OR: 0.993; CI: 0.990–0.997) independently predicted an early elevation (p &lt; 0.05). Delayed elevation as opposed to early elevation correlated with a higher rate of post-operative complications including MI (19.8 vs. 7.2%), new renal insufficiency (16.3 vs. 6.7%), MACCE (32.0 vs. 15.5%), or death (7.4 vs. 4.4%).Conclusion: Profile of cTnT elevation following cardiac surgery depends on patients' intrinsic factors, type of surgery and duration of cross-clamp time. Delayed increase is of higher clinically relevance than prompt post-operative elevation

The case for open science: rare diseases.

The premise of Open Science is that research and medical management will progress faster if data and knowledge are openly shared. The value of Open Science is nowhere more important and appreciated than in the rare disease (RD) community. Research into RDs has been limited by insufficient patient data and resources, a paucity of trained disease experts, and lack of therapeutics, leading to long delays in diagnosis and treatment. These issues can be ameliorated by following the principles and practices of sharing that are intrinsic to Open Science. Here, we describe how the RD community has adopted the core pillars of Open Science, adding new initiatives to promote care and research for RD patients and, ultimately, for all of medicine. We also present recommendations that can advance Open Science more globally