Direct recording of action potentials of cardiomyocytes through solution processed planar electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors

To achieve intracellular recording of action potentials by using simple devices that can be easily fabricated and processed is crucial in cardiology and neuroscience. Present tools and technology include invasive patch clamp technique, 3D nanostructures often combined with electro/opto poration methods and nanodevices such as nanowire field-effect transistors. However, these approaches mostly require complex manufacturing processes or are invasive. In this work, we report the spontaneous intracellular-like recording of cardiac cells using a cost-effective, planar Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistor (EGFET) based on solution-processed polymer-wrapped monochiral semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). By simply turning on the transistor, spontaneous recordings of intracellular-like action potentials of human induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes are enabled. In addition, we demonstrate that the same planar EGFET can also be employed as a platform for electroporation with significant device performance and cell viability. The simplicity of the device combined with the high signal to noise ratio opens up new opportunities for low-cost, reliable, and flexible biosensors and arrays for high quality parallel recording of cellular action potentials

Tremelimumab and durvalumab combination for the non-operative management (Nom) of microsatellite instability (msi)-high resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer: The multicentre, single-arm, multi-cohort, phase ii infinity study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The status of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC) patients eligible for radical surgery proved to be prognostic for an improved survival outcome and predictive for poor/no benefit from the combination of adjuvant/peri-operative chemotherapy. MSI-H tumors display a high sensitivity to immunotherapy and exploratory studies showed that a pre-operative treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors may achieve elevated rates of pathological complete responses. The ongoing proof-of-concept INFINITY study is aimed at investigating the role of the combo-immunotherapy durvalumab plus tremelimumab as a neoadjuvant or potentially definitive treatment (avoiding surgery in case of complete clinical response) for MSI-H resectable GC/GEJC patients. ABSTRACT: In resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC), the powerful positive prognostic effect and the potential predictive value for a lack of benefit from the combination of adjuvant/peri-operative chemotherapy for the MSI-high status was demonstrated. Given the high sensitivity of MSI-high tumors for immunotherapy, exploratory trials showed that combination immunotherapy induces a high rate of complete pathological response (pCR), potentially achieving cancer cure without surgery. INFINITY is an ongoing phase II, multicentre, single-arm, multi-cohort trial investigating the activity and safety of tremelimumab and durvalumab as neoadjuvant (Cohort 1) or potentially definitive (Cohort 2) treatment for MSI-high/dMMR/EBV-negative, resectable GC/GEJC. About 310 patients will be pre-screened, to enroll a total of 31 patients, 18 and 13 in Cohort 1 and 2, at 25 Italian Centres. The primary endpoint of Cohort 1 is rate of pCR (ypT0N0) and negative ctDNA after neoadjuvant immunotherapy, of Cohort 2 is 2-year complete response rate, defined as absence of macroscopic or microscopic residual disease (locally/regionally/distantly) at radiological examinations, tissue and liquid biopsy, during non-operative management without salvage gastrectomy. The ongoing INFINITY proof-of-concept study may provide evidence on immunotherapy and the potential omission of surgery in localized/locally advanced GC/GEJC patients selected for dMMR/MSI-high status eligible for radical resection

Annual collection and storage of solar energy for the heating of buildings. Report No. 2. Annual progress report, May 1976--July 1977

A new system for year-round collection and storage of solar heated water for heating of buildings has been designed and constructed at the University of Virginia. The system is composed of an energy storage sub-system which stores hot water in an underground pool and of a solar collector sub-system which acts not only to collect solar energy throughout the year but also to limit the evaporative and convective heat losses from the storage system. The annual collection and storage system began operation in late February 1977. Data are presented which illustrates the transient heat transfer which occurs during the start-up phase of operation. Thermal performance results are presented illustrating the efficiency of the solar collector and the variation of solar energy input to storage during a typical day's operation in May. Data are also presented which show the transient build-up of energy storage in the earth which surrounds the storage pool. An analog model has been developed to analyze the transient energy phenomena which occur within the earth surrounding the pool. These include transient heat losses from the pool to the earth and energy storage within the earth. Results of the analog model for idealized conditions are confirmed by exact mathematical solutions and by numerical analysis using a digital computer

I siti WebGis degli Enti Locali:usabilità e servizi ai cittadini

Il paper propone alcune riflessioni sui siti webgis degli enti locali italiani in riferimento alle best practices in riferimento all'offerta di servi ai cittadini ed al governo del territori

Valutazione dell’esposizione personale ad idrocarburi policiclici aromatici ed a benzene, toluene e xileni di lavoratori di una centrale termoelettrica che utilizza olio combustibile denso

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been demonstrated in many industrial sectors. However, up to date there are few studies in the literature on PAH exposure in thermoelectric power plants. The study was aimed at the evaluation of personal exposure to PAHs in workers or a power plant fuelled with heavy oil. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) was evaluated on powerplant workers exposed to heavy fuel oil; the control group consisted of office workers of the same power plant. Altogether 39 subjects were studied, for a total of 84 days of monitoring. Personal environmental exposure, cutaneous exposure and urinary concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), trans, trans-muconic acid (TTMA) and nicotine were measured. Personal environmental exposure to PAHs was very low; only maintenance workers showed exposure to total carcinogenic PAHs significantly higher than controls (median levels 3.05 and 0.88 ng/m3 respectively). All workers showed very low levels of dermal exposure to PAHs (less than 1 ng). The median 1-OHP urinary concentrations were 0.16, 0.11 and 0.08 \u3bcmol/mol creatinine in the groups of exposed workers and 0.08m \u3bcmol/mol creatinine in the control group. Neither the exposed workers nor the controls showed a significant increase in 1-OHP urinary concentrations across the shift. The regression analysis showed a significant effect of cigarette smoking on urinary 1-OHP, while no association was observed between occupational exposure and diet. Personal environmental exposure levels to BTX were very low. TTMA urinary concentrations of the exposed subjects were similar to those of the controls. No significant increase in the TTMA urinary concentrations was observed across the shift and, as expected, smokers showed higher values than non-smokers. The study did not show a measurable intake of PAHs and BTX in power plant workers that could be ascribed to occupational exposure, thus confirming the efficacy of the protective measures in force

Prognostic value of Dworak grade of regression (GR) in patients with rectal carcinoma treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy

Preoperative radiochemotherapy improves local control in locally advanced rectal cancer; however, its role in prolonging survival is still controversial. In order to better define the subset in patients who might benefit from this multimodal treatment, we have evaluated the correlation between grade of regression (GR) to preoperative treatment and disease-free survival (DFS). METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the surgical specimens of 106 patients with locally advanced T3/T4 N0/ M0 rectal cancer. All patients were treated preoperatively with radiotherapy and 5-fluorouracil-based regimen chemotherapy. We evaluated ypTNM stage, and tumor regression was graded using the Dworak system that varies from GR 0 (absence of regression) to GR 4 (complete regression). RESULTS: GR was as follows: GR 4, 16 patients (15%); GR 3, 25 patients (23.6%), GR 2, 30 patients (28.4%), GR 1, 32 patients (30.2%) and GR 0, 3 patients (2.8%). A significant correlation was found between GR and DFS. Three-year DFS was 100, 85, 82, 66 and 33% in GR 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0, respectively (p=0.01). DFS was significantly lower in patients with advanced stages at diagnosis and in patients without down-staging. Moreover, in postoperative stage II and III cases, GR 3 correlated with a better DFS than GR 2-0 (p=0.2 and p=0.4, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The GR was a significant prognostic factor in locally advanced rectal carcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. The pathological stage and down-staging also have prognostic value. The use of a standardized system to evaluate GR in rectal cancer can allow for comparisons between different institutions and can identify patients at worse prognosis to be treated with adjuvant therap

[Acquired rectourethral fistula: case report]

Rectourethral fistulas are an uncommon complication of urinary or rectal surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease, radiation therapy for prostate cancer; they represent an unique challenge for the surgeon. Although closure can occure spontaneously, most cases of acquired rectourethral fistula need surgical repair. Despite a century of surgical experience, no single approach has been universally accepted. We report a case of a rectourethral fistula occurred in a 73 year-old man after a radical retropubic prostatectomy and external beam irradiation for prostate cancer, successfully treated with perineal approach