The Series on "How to Deal with Early Stage Lung Cancer: Sublobar Resections as A Possible Choice (Report of the 2019 Spring Meeting of Italian Society of Thoracic Surgery)?"

This series is the result of the work of different specialists from all around Italy and from Fudan University in Shanghai, who gathered in Milan on April 2019, to attend the Spring Meeting of Italian Society of Thoracic Surgery (SICT). The meeting discussed new evidences suggesting sublobar resection as the elective surgical treatment of early stage lung cancer

Effects of different levels of dietary biotin on the performance and bone structure of broilers

We evaluated the effects of different levels of biotin on broilers performances and bone growth. Biotin was added at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 μg/Kg to a corn and soybean diet for yellow skin broiler production during the whole production cycle. Biotin at dosages of 200, 300, 400 μg/Kg increased growth rate, and, regardless of dosage, feed conversion rate in the second and third period of growth. Femur and tibiotarsus volume was slightly reduced while the bone mineral content of the same bones showed an increase as a result of biotin supplementation. Any particular dose-response effect was recorded with regard to plasma mineral content and ALP activity

Synthesis, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of two new chicoric acid analogs

Two conformationally constrained compounds similar to chicoric acid but lacking the catechol and carboxyl groups were prepared. In these analogues, the single bond between the two caffeoyl fragments has been replaced with a chiral oxirane ring and both aromatic residues modified protecting completely or partially the catechol moiety as methyl ether. Preliminary molecular modelling studies carried out on the two analogues showed interactions near the active site of HIV integrase; however, in comparison with raltegravir, the biological evaluation confirmed that CAA-1 and CAA-2 were unable to inhibit infection at lower concentration

Multigate Quality Doppler Profiles Technology in Vascular, Obstetrics and Cardiology Applications

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A comparative study on the functionality of S- and P-based lubricant additives by combined first principles and experimental analysis

Sulfur and phosphorus are key elements for the functionality of lubricant additives used in extreme pressure applications, such as synchronizer systems in cars. To understand their mechanism of action we combine first principles calculations and gas phase lubrication experiments. The surface spectroscopy analysis performed in situ after the tribological test indicates that iron sulfide (phosphide) is formed by rubbing steel-on-steel in the presence of organo-sulfur (-phosphorus) molecules. We, thus, study the effects of elemental sulfur and phosphorus on the interfacial properties of iron by spin-polarized density functional theory calculations. The results show that both the elements are very effective in reducing the adhesion and shear strength of iron. Sulfur is predicted to be more effective than phosphorus, especially at high pressure. Gas phase lubrication experiments confirm these results, indicating that the friction coefficient of iron-sulphide is lower than that of iron-phosphide and both S and P dramatically reduce the friction of steel-on-steel. These results indicate that the release of elemental sulfur and phosphorus may be the key mechanism to controlling the tribological properties of the metal interface and elucidate that the underling microscopic phenomenon is metal passivation. © 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Sulfur and phosphorus are key elements for the functionality of lubricant additives used in extreme pressure applications, such as synchronizer systems in cars. To understand their mechanism of action we combine first principles calculations and gas phase lubrication experiments. The surface spectroscopy analysis performed in situ after the tribological test indicates that iron sulfide (phosphide) is formed by rubbing steel-on-steel in the presence of organo-sulfur (-phosphorus) molecules. We, thus, study the effects of elemental sulfur and phosphorus on the interfacial properties of iron by spin-polarized density functional theory calculations. The results show that both the elements are very effective in reducing the adhesion and shear strength of iron. Sulfur is predicted to be more effective than phosphorus, especially at high pressure. Gas phase lubrication experiments confirm these results, indicating that the friction coefficient of iron-sulphide is lower than that of iron-phosphide and both S and P dramatically reduce the friction of steel-on-steel. These results indicate that the release of elemental sulfur and phosphorus may be the key mechanism to controlling the tribological properties of the metal interface and elucidate that the underling microscopic phenomenon is metal passivation

Tribochemistry of phosphorus additives: Experiments and first-principles calculations

Organophosphorus compounds are common additives included in liquid lubricants for many applications, in particular automotive applications. Typically, organic phosphites function as friction-modifiers whereas phosphates as anti-wear additives. While the antiwear action of phosphates is now well understood, the mechanism by which phosphites reduce friction is still not clear. Here we study the tribochemistry of both phosphites and phosphates using gas phase lubrication (GPL) and elucidate the microscopic mechanisms that lead to the better frictional properties of phosphites. In particular, by in situ spectroscopic analysis we show that the friction reduction is connected to the presence of iron phosphide, which is formed by tribochemical reactions involving phosphites. The functionality of elemental phosphorus in reducing the friction of iron-based interfaces is elucidated by first principle calculations. In particular, we show that the work of separation and shear strength of iron dramatically decrease by increasing the phosphorus concentration at the interface. These results suggest that the functionality of phosphites as friction modifiers may be related to the amount of elemental phosphorus that they can release at the tribological interface

Micro-RNA-215 and -375 regulate thymidylate synthase protein expression in pleural mesothelioma and mediate epithelial to mesenchymal transition

The standard front-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma (PM) is pemetrexed-based chemotherapy, whose major target is thymidylate synthase (TS). In several cancer models, miR-215 and miR-375 have been shown to target TS, while information on these miRNAs in PM are still limited although suggest their role in epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Seventy-one consecutive PM tissues (4 biphasic, 7 sarcomatoid, and 60 epithelioid types) and 16 commercial and patient-derived PM cell lines were screened for TS, miR-215, and miR-375 expression. REN and 570B cells were selected for miR-215 and miR-375 transient transfections to test TS modulation. ZEB1 protein expression in tumor samples was also tested. Moreover, genetic profile was investigated by means of BAP1 and p53 immunohistochemistry. Expression of both miR-215 and miR-375 was significantly higher in epithelioid histotype. Furthermore, inverse correlation between TS protein and both miR-215 and miR-375 expression was found. Efficiently transfected REN and 570B cell lines overexpressing miR-215 and miR-375 showed decreased TS protein levels. Epithelioid PM with a mesenchymal component highlighted by reticulin stain showed significantly higher TS and ZEB1 protein and lower miRNA expression. A better survival was recorded for BAP1 lost/TS low cases. Our data indicate that miR-215 and miR-375 are involved in TS regulation as well as in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in PM. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00428-022-03321-8

Stenosis of bronchus intermedius: an unusual complication after transplantation and its treatment

Complications related to ischemia are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Ischemia suffered by large bronchi during topical cooling and transplantation of the graft is considered the possible pathogenic noxa for late stenosis as well as a possible cause of anastomotic leak or ulceration of the mucosa. It seems to emerge from the literature that the bronchus intermedius may be particularly prone to ischemia and may undergo stenosis late after transplantation