+874(T→A) single nucleotide gene polymorphism does not represent a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease

In the recent years, several cytokines have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) development and progression and many studies have correlated this risk with polymorphisms in the genes encoding these molecules. Also the type 1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ belongs to a cytokine class that affects the immune function; in fact it plays a major role in defence against viruses and intracellular pathogens but also in the induction of the immune-mediated inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IFN-γ in AD by studying the association of +874T→A IFN-γ gene polymorphism with AD. We included in this study 115 AD patients (70 women, 45 men, mean age 80) and 90 sex and age-matched healthy controls (HC, 51 women, 39 men, mean age 82) from northern Italy. Genomic DNA was extracted with the salting-out method from whole blood of all subjects; the genotyping at IFN-γ loci was assessed with ARMS-PCR. The data obtained from the +874T→A IFN-γ gene polymorphism analysis of AD patients and HC lack of any statistically significant differences also when stratified according to gender. In conclusion these results confirm the previous shown lack of association between +874T→A IFN-γ gene polymorphism and the risk of AD. However, other polymorphisms have been demonstrated to influence IFN-γ transcription and since natural killer cells of AD patients show higher production of the cytokine, further analysis will be necessary to clarify the role of this gene in the pathogenesis of the disease

Il bilancio integrato per le PMI

Accanto ai capitali finanziario e produttivo, ogni impresa fonda il proprio business e il proprio successo anche su risorse intangibili, quali il capitale intellettuale, il capitale umano, il capitale sociale e relazionale ed il capitale naturale. Il tradizionale bilancio economico-finanziario, però, non è adatto a valutare e rappresentare tali risorse, poiché è stato concepito con riferimento ad un’economia industriale fondata pressoché esclusivamente su capitali tangibili; pertanto, anche avuto riguardo alla realtà delle PMI, si rende oggi necessario introdurre nuovi strumenti e nuovi indicatori per la misurazione e la rendicontazione, che siano in grado di cogliere e valorizzare anche le componenti immateriali del capitale aziendale. In questo contesto, il bilancio integrato si pone come una forma evoluta di comunicazione aziendale, finalizzata ad illustrare come strategia, governance, modello di business, rapporti con gli stakeholder, performance passate e prospettive future, rischi e opportunità consentano anche ad un’impresa di piccole e medie dimensioni di creare valore nel breve, medio e lungo termine

Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity in patients with haematological malignancies in Italy: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study

Several small studies on patients with COVID-19 and haematological malignancies are available showing a high mortality in this population. The Italian Hematology Alliance on COVID-19 aimed to collect data from adult patients with haematological malignancies who required hospitalisation for COVID-19

On the development of a facile approach based on the use of ionic liquids: Preparation of PLLA (sc-PLA)/high surface area nano-graphite systems

In this work, a novel method to prepare composite systems based on polylactide (PLA) and high surface area nano-graphite (HSAG) has been developed, consisting of the application of ionic liquids (ILs) as dispersing/exfoliating agents for nanofillers. Indeed, the proposed approach is easy as well as with a low environmental impact, involving neither the use of co-solvents nor the preliminary oxidation of graphite. As a preparatory screening, systems based on either poly(l-lactide) (PLLA), or an equimolar mixture of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(d-lactide) PDLA, and ionic liquids are prepared by melt-blending the polymer matrices with different kinds and amounts of imidazolium-type ILs. Among the tested ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumhexa-fluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]) shows the highest solubility and the lowest tendency to decompose the polymer matrix during the processing. DSC and TGA measurements highlight that the above IL induces a slightly plasticizing effect on PLLA, with a limited decrease - of about 20 \ub0C for the sample with the highest amount of [bmim][PF6] - of the onset degradation temperature. As evidenced by FE-SEM measurements, the chosen IL features a high sonication-assisted capability of dispersing/exfoliating the nano-graphite, thus allowing obtaining a system containing 2% by mass of the nanofiller, organized in aggregates with an average dimension of 300 nm and composed of few layers. Conversely to the direct insertion of the HSAG into the polymer matrix (which produces micrometer-sized aggregates) when the previously-prepared [bmim][PF6]/HSAG system is incorporated, a submicrometric dispersion of the nano-graphite is obtained. The presence of the finely dispersed nanofiller has a nucleating effect on PLLA crystallization, significantly increasing the crystal nucleation density. Moreover, it is of utmost relevance that, in the case of the stereocomplex-PLA-based systems, the HSAG promotes the exclusive formation of stereocomplex crystals over homo-crystals

Impact on mental health, disease management, and socioeconomic modifications in hematological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

Background: Hematological patients are a highly vulnerable population with an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms due to their immunocompromised status. COVID-19 has proven to cause serious mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, and depression in the general population. However, data on the psycho-social impact of COVID-19 on hematological patients are lacking. Objectives: This study aims to examine the psychological well-being of hematological patients in Italy during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it seeks to explore the association between modifications in the management of hematological diseases and employment status of these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting mental health outcomes. Design and Methods: A survey using the DASS-21 questionnaire was administered to 1105 hematological patients. Data analysis was conducted using the R software, and logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the association between hematological patient/general population and employment status with DASS scores. Results: The hematological patient population reported significantly higher levels of depression (OR 0.947, 95% CI 0.966–0.982, p  < 0.001), anxiety (OR 0.948, 95% CI 0.939–0.958, p  < 0.001), and stress (OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.977–0.992, p  < 0.001) compared with the general population. A significant relationship has been found in stress between employed and unemployed patients (OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.000–1.030, p  = 0.044), as well as in the control group (OR 1.024, 95% CI 1.010–1.039, p  = 0.001). In addition, employment status is significantly related to depression, anxiety, and stress in both the hematological patient group and the general population. Conclusion: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, hematological patients had elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared with the general population. The delay in their treatment and employment status played a role in their mental health outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of further research to gain deeper insight into the long-term psychological effects and explore effective strategies for managing mental health in similar crises

La medicina narrativa e le buone pratiche nei contesti della cura. Metodologie, Strumenti, Linguaggi

Il volume, incentrato sulle pratiche narrative nei contesti della cura, si pone l’obiettivo di mettere a confronto pensieri, studi, interessi di ricerca ed interventi formativi di un gruppo di ricercatori e professionisti che da anni operano nell’ambito socio-educativo e sanitario secondo un orientamento umanistico alla cura, restituita nella complessità e profondità esistenziale e dentro la più ampia cornice delle Medical Humanities. Il lavoro intende, quindi, sollevare interrogativi e riflessioni attraverso cui interpellare criticamente il pensare e l’agire della cura nei vari ambiti (in particolare, quello medico-sanitario) in una prospettiva pedagogica di ampio respiro, che possa essere in grado di rimettere al centro le nozioni di narrazione e di narratività. Attraverso l’utilizzo di differenti dispositivi formativi – l’arte, il cinema, il teatro, la letteratura e i new media – il testo evidenzia sia l’importanza di una formazione degli operatori dal punto di vista relazionale sia la potenza trasformativa che il raccontarsi e il raccontare possono avere su quanti – come i pazienti di una struttura ospedaliera – attraversano particolari momenti di difficoltà e di disagio

Microtubule defects in mesenchymal stromal cells distinguish patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Abstract Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease whose etiopathogenesis remains elusive. The intraneuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau, a pivotal protein in regulating microtubules (MT), leads to include PSP into tauopathies. Pathological hallmarks are well known in neural cells but no word yet if PSP‐linked dysfunctions occur also in other cell types. We focused on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that have recently gained attention for therapeutic interventions due to their anti‐inflammatory, antiapoptotic and trophic properties. Here, we aimed to investigate MSCs biology and to disclose if any disease‐linked defect occurs in this non‐neuronal compartment. First, we found that cells obtained from patients showed altered morphology and growth. Next, Western blotting analysis unravelled the imbalance in α‐tubulin post‐translational modifications and in MT stability. Interestingly, MT mass is significantly decreased in patient cells at baseline and differently changes overtime compared to controls, suggesting their inability to efficiently remodel MT cytoskeleton during ageing in culture. Thus, our results provide the first evidence that defects in MT regulation and stability occur and are detectable in a non‐neuronal compartment in patients with PSP. We suggest that MSCs could be a novel model system for unravelling cellular processes implicated in this neurodegenerative disorder