Grafting of the 2,8-dithia-5-aza-2,6-pyridinophane macrocycle on SBA-15 mesoporous silica for the removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions: synthesis, adsorption, and complex stability studies

Silica-based mesoporous materials have received growing attention in metal recovery from industrial processes, although, in general, the adsorption of metal ions by silanols is rather poor. Nevertheless, a great improvement of metal ion removal from aqueous solutions can be achieved by grafting metal-chelators on the particles’ surface. Combining the metal-chelating properties of organic ligands with the high surface area of mesoporous silica particles makes these hybrid nanostructured materials a new horizon in metal recovery, sensing and controlled storage of metal ions in industrial and mining processes. Here, the 2,8-dithia-5-aza-2,6-pyridinophane (L) macrocycle was grafted on SBA-15 mesoporous silica to obtain the SBA-L mesoporous adsorbent for the removal and controlled recovery of Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions from aqueous solution in a broad pH range (4-11). By grafting about 0.3 mmol g−1 of L on SBA-15 a maximum loading capacity of 20.9 mg g−1 and 31.8 mg g−1 was obtained for Cu2+ and Cd2+, respectively. The adsorption kinetics can be described with the pseudo-second order model, while the adsorption isotherm (298 K) followed the Langmuir model. The latter, together with potentiometric studies, suggests that the adsorption mechanism is based on metal chelation by the grafted macrocycle. In summary, SBA-L is an effective copper(ii) and cadmium(ii) chelator for possible applications where metal removal, storage and recovery are of basic importance

Impact of different chemotherapy regimens on intestinal mucosal injury assessed with bedside ultrasound: a study in 213 AML patients

IntroductionNeutropenic enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening complication reported in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following chemotherapy (CHT). Intensive induction and consolidation CHT may damage intestinal mucosa leading to a NEC episode (NECe). NEC reported mortality may be up to 30-60%. Early US-guided bed-side diagnosis and prompt treatment may substantially improve the survival. An emerging worldwide concern is the intestinal colonization by multi-drug-resistant bacteria especially when patients are exposed to chemotherapy regimens potentially correlated to mucosal damage. MethodsIn our study we prospectively enrolled all AML patients admitted in our leukemia unit to receive intensive induction and consolidation chemotherapy and experiencing chemotherapy-induced-neutropenia (CHTN). Results and discussionOverall, we enrolled N=213 patients from 2007 to March 2023. We recorded N=465 CHTN, and N=42 NECe (9.0% incidence). The aim of our study was to assess which chemotherapy regimens are more associated with NEC. We found that ALM1310, followed by 7 + 3 (daunorubicin), 7 + 3 (idarubicin), 5 + 3 + 3 (cytarabine, etoposide, idarubicin), and AML1310 (consolidation) were associated with a statistically higher incidence of NEC. We did not detect NEC episodes in patients treated with CPX-351, 5 + 2 (cytarabine, idarubicine), and high-dose cytarabine. Thus, we found that cytarabine could determine mucosal damage when associated with an anthracycline but not if delivered either alone or as dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of daunorubicin/cytarabine. We also describe NEC mortality, symptoms at diagnosis, intestinal sites involvement, and prognostic significance of bowel wall thickening

Characteristics and patterns of care of endometrial cancer before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has correlated with the disruption of screening activities and diagnostic assessments. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and it is often detected at an early stage, because it frequently produces symptoms. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 54 centers in Italy. We evaluated patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients before (period 1: March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and during (period 2: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: Medical records of 5,164 EC patients have been retrieved: 2,718 and 2,446 women treated in period 1 and period 2, respectively. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment in both periods (p=0.356). Nodal assessment was omitted in 689 (27.3%) and 484 (21.2%) patients treated in period 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). While, the prevalence of patients undergoing sentinel node mapping (with or without backup lymphadenectomy) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (46.7% in period 1 vs. 52.8% in period 2; p<0.001). Overall, 1,280 (50.4%) and 1,021 (44.7%) patients had no adjuvant therapy in period 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). Adjuvant therapy use has increased during COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the characteristics and patterns of care of EC patients. These findings highlight the need to implement healthcare services during the pandemic

Practice patterns and 90-day treatment-related morbidity in early-stage cervical cancer

To evaluate the impact of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer (LACC) Trial on patterns of care and surgery-related morbidity in early-stage cervical cancer

Gortina, Mitropolis e il suo episcopato nel VII e nell'VIII secolo. Ricerche preliminari

Studio preliminare sull'evoluzione dell'episcopato di Gortina (Creta), nel contesto delle trasformazioni della città tra VII e VIII secol

Copper perturbation in 2 monozygotic twins discordant for degree of cognitive impairment

Background: Recent evidence indicates that peripheral tissue markers can provide information regarding changes affecting cellular metabolism in Alzheimer disease (AD). We previously reported that serum copper levels can discriminate subjects with AD from normal control subjects (with 60% sensitivity and 95% specificity) and from patients with vascular dementia (with 63% sensitivity and 85% specificity). Objective: To study the correlation between AD and serum levels of transition metals and markers of peripheral oxidative stress. Design: Case study. Setting: General hospital inpatient wards and outpatient clinics. Patients: A pair of elderly monozygotic female twins discordant for AD. Main Outcome Measures: Biochemical analyses of peripheral-blood transition metals and indicators of oxidative stress and neurologic and neuropsychological assessments of clinical status for presence of cognitive impairment and AD. Results: Serum copper and total peroxide levels were both 44% higher in the twin with greater cognitive impairment and a diagnosis of AD. Conclusions: The cases reported support the hypothesis of a major involvement of copper and oxidative abnormalities in AD

Il progetto Digital WHOmanities: buone pratiche per la pedagogia digitale nell'era della pandemia

This paper aims to enter the ongoing debate about the criticalities of digital pedagogy through the presentation of Digital WHOmanities, a series of online conferences and workshops held at the University of Bologna. Distance learning has become one of the most discussed topics in educational institutions during the spread of Covid-19, revealing a discrepancy between the rapid development of technology and the ability of learning environments to adapt to this turn. In view of this ongoing debate, Digital WHOmanities tried to define the complex and multifaceted figure of the digital humanist and to provide a methodological framework that could foster further online academic initiatives. Specifically, the accurate organization of timing and contents and the adoption of synchronous and asynchronous approaches have highlighted the effectiveness of a flexible digital didactic.Questo contributo si propone di entrare nel dibattito in corso sulle criticità della pedagogia digitale attraverso la presentazione di Digital WHOmanities, una serie di conferenze e workshop online tenuti presso l'Università di Bologna. L'apprendimento a distanza è diventato uno degli argomenti più discussi nelle istituzioni educative durante la diffusione del Covid-19, rivelando una discrepanza tra il rapido sviluppo della tecnologia e la capacità degli ambienti di apprendimento di adattarsi a questa svolta. In vista di questo dibattito in corso, Digital WHOmanities ha cercato di definire la figura complessa e sfaccettata dell'umanista digitale e di fornire un quadro metodologico che potesse favorire ulteriori iniziative accademiche online. In particolare, l'accurata organizzazione dei tempi e dei contenuti e l'adozione di approcci sincroni e asincroni hanno evidenziato l'efficacia di una didattica digitale flessibile

Antibacterial activity of amidodithiophosphonato nickel(II) complexes: an experimental and theoretical approach

The reactions of 2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dithio-2,4-diphosphetane-2,4-disulfide (Lawesson’s Reagent, LR) with benzylamine (BzNH2) and 4-phenylbutylamine (PhBuNH2) yield benzylammonium P-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-benzyl-amidodithiophosphonate (BzNH3)(BzNH-adtp) and 4-phenylbutylammonium P-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-(4-phenylbutyl)-amidodithiophosphonate (PhBuNH3)(PhBuNH-adtp). The relevant nickel complexes [Ni(BzNH-adtp)2] and [Ni(PhBuNH-adtp)2] and the corresponding hydrolysed derivatives (BzNH3)2[Ni(dtp)2] and (PhBuNH3)2[Ni(dtp)2] were prepared and fully characterized. The antimicrobial activity of the aforementioned amidodithiophosphonates against a set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogen bacteria was evaluated, and [Ni(BzNH-adtp)2] and [Ni(PhBuNH-adtp)2] showed antiproliferative activity towards Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains. density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to shed some light on the activity of reported compounds related to their tendency towards P–N bond cleavage.</p

Morpholine- and Thiomorpholine-based amidodithiophosphonato nickel complexes: synthesis, characterization, P–N cleavage, antibacterial activity and silica nano-dispersion

The reactivity of thiomorpholinium P-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-thiomorpholin-amidodithiophosphonate (S-MorH+ 2)(S-Mor-adtp−) and morpholinium P-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-morpholin-amidodithiophosphonate (O-MorH+ 2)(O-Mor-adtp−) towards nickel (II) dichloride hexahydrated is presented and the hydrolysis of the relevant metal complexes investigated. The hydrolytic products (S-MorH+ 2)2 [Ni(dtp)2]2− and (O-MorH+ 2)2[Ni(dtp)2]2− were characterized by means of FT-IR, 1H, and 31P NMR and XRD and the experimented P–N cleavage investigated and elucidated by means of DFT calculations. The antimicrobial activity of the neutral nickel complex [Ni(S-Mor-adtp)2] was tested against a set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria alongside with its nanodispersion in a silica matrix. The complex [Ni(S-Mor-adtp)2] did not show antibacterial activity, whilst the nano-dispersed sample [Ni(S-Mor-adtp)2]_SiO2 demonstrated inhibition to growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The nanocomposites were fully characterized by means of XRPD, TGA, SEM and dinitrogen sorption techniques