Microstructures of negative and positive azeotropes

Azeotropes famously impose fundamental restrictions on distillation processes, yet their special thermodynamic properties make them highly desirable for a diverse range of industrial and technological applications. Using neutron diffraction, we investigate the structures of two prototypical azeotropes, the negative acetone–chloroform and the positive benzene–methanol azeotrope. C–H⋯O hydrogen bonding is the dominating interaction in the negative azeotrope but C–Cl⋯O halogen bonding contributes as well. Hydrogen-bonded chains of methanol molecules, which are on average longer than in pure methanol, are the defining structural feature of the positive azeotrope illustrating the fundamentally different local mixing in the two kinds of azeotropes. The emerging trend for both azeotropes is that the more volatile components experience the more pronounced structural changes in their local environments as the azeotropes form. The mixing of the acetone–chloroform azeotrope is essentially random above 20 Å, where the running Kirkwood–Buff integrals of our structural model converge closely to the ones expected from thermodynamic data. The benzene–methanol azeotrope on the other hand displays extended methanol-rich regions and consequently the running Kirkwood–Buff integrals oscillate up to at least 60 Å. Our study provides the first experimental insights into the microstructures of azeotropes and a direct link with their thermodynamic properties. Ultimately, this will provide a route for creating tailored molecular environments in azeotropes to improve and fine-tune their performances

How promising is phototherapy for cancer?

Oncological phototherapy, including current photodynamic therapy (PDT), developmental photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), shows promising photo-efficacy for superficial and internal tumours. The dual application of light and photochemotherapeutic agents allows accurate cancer targeting, low invasiveness and novel mechanisms of action. Current advances in new light sources and photoactive agents are encouraging for future development

A Novel Strategy to Enhance Mesenchymal Stem Cell Migration Capacity and Promote Tissue Repair in an Injury Specific Fashion

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NEUTRON DIFFRACTION IN ARCHAEOMETRY: THE ITALIAN NEUTRON EXPERIMENTAL STATION INES@ISIS

The Italian Neutron Experimental Station INES, located at the pulsed neutron source ISIS (U.K.), is equipped with a general-purpose neutron diffractometer that was built with a special care aiming to focus its use on archaeometric measurements. In fact, the large sample volume allows to accommodate non standard samples in the neutron beam, the diffraction banks cover an angle of almost 180°, allowing to detect the presence of texture, and the high instrument resolution enables a detailed analysis of the peak shape, to obtain information on the casting process and/or the working techniques applied during the production phase. Thanks to the high penetration power of thermal neutrons, archaeometric measurements performed through neutron diffraction allow to determine bulk properties of the sample. Here, we describe the instrument structure and present some preliminary test measurements, on standard samples, to show the high level quality of the machine. In particular, we will show some results of interest in archaeometallurgy like, for example, multiphase analysis of bronzes and quantitative detection of impurities

Drug management of atrial fibrillation in light of guidelines and current evidence: an Italian Survey on behalf of Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing

AimAtrial fibrillation is a multifaceted disease requiring personalized treatment, in accordance with current ESC guidelines. Despite a wide range of literature, we still have various aspects dividing the opinion of the experts in rate control, rhythm control and thromboembolic prophylaxis. The aim of this survey was to provide a country-wide picture of current practice regarding atrial fibrillation pharmacological management according to a patient's characteristics.MethodsData were collected using an in-person survey that was administered to members of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing.ResultsWe collected data from 106 physicians, working in 72 Italian hospitals from 15 of 21 regions. Our work evidenced a high inhomogeneity in atrial fibrillation management regarding rhythm control, rate control and thromboembolic prophylaxis in both acute and chronic patients. This element was more pronounced in settings in which literature shows a lack of evidence and, consequently, the indications provided by the guidelines are weak or absent.ConclusionThis National survey evidenced a high inhomogeneity in current approaches adopted for atrial fibrillation management by a sample of Italian cardiologist experts in arrhythmia management. Further studies are needed to explore if these divergences are associated with different long-term outcomes

Percutaneous pericardiocentesis for pericardial effusion: predictors of mortality and outcomes

Pericardial effusion can dangerously precipitate patient’s hemodynamic stability and requires prompt intervention in case of tamponade. We investigated potential predictors of in-hospital mortality, a composite outcome of in-hospital mortality, pericardiocentesis-related complications, and the need for emergency cardiac surgery and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous pericardiocentesis. This is an observational, retrospective, single-center study on patients undergoing percutaneous pericardiocentesis (2010–2019). We enrolled 81 consecutive patients. Median age was 71.4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 58.1–78.1 years) and 51 (63%) were male. Most of the pericardiocentesis were performed in an urgency setting (76.5%) for cardiac tamponade (77.8%). The most common etiology was idiopathic (33.3%) followed by neoplastic (22.2%). In-hospital mortality was 14.8% while mortality during follow-up (mean 17.1 months) was 44.4%. Only hemodynamic instability (i.e., cardiogenic shock, hypotension refractory to fluid challenge therapy and inotropes) was associated with in-hospital mortality at the univariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76–29.4). Non-neoplastic/non-idiopathic etiology and hemodynamic instability were associated with the composite outcome of in-hospital mortality, need for emergency cardiac surgery, or pericardiocentesis-related complications (OR 5.75, 95% CI 1.65–20.01, and OR 5.81, 95% CI 2.11–15.97, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for possible confounding variables (age, coronary artery disease, and hemodynamic instability) showed that neoplastic etiology was independently associated with medium-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 4.05, 95% CI 1.45–11.36). In a real-world population treated with pericardiocentesis for pericardial effusion, in-hospital adverse outcomes and medium-term mortality are consistent, in particular for patients presenting with hemodynamic instability or neoplastic pericardial effusion

Yield of diagnosis and risk of stroke with screening strategies for atrial fibrillation: a comprehensive review of current evidence

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia worldwide. The presence of AF is associated with increased risk of systemic thromboembolism, but with the uptake of oral anticoagulant (OAC) and implementation of a holistic and integrated care management, this risk is substantially reduced. The diagnosis of AF requires a 30-s-long electrocardiographic (ECG) trace, irrespective of the presence of symptoms, which may represent the main indication for an ECG tracing. However, almost half patients are asymptomatic at the time of incidental AF diagnosis, with similar risk of stroke of those with clinical AF. This has led to a crucial role of screening for AF, to increase the diagnosis of population at risk of clinical events. The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive overview about the epidemiology of asymptomatic AF, the different screening technologies, the yield of diagnosis in asymptomatic population, and the benefit derived from screening in terms of reduction of clinical adverse events, such as stroke, cardiovascular, and all-cause death. We aim to underline the importance of implementing AF screening programmes and reporting about the debate between scientific societies’ clinical guidelines recommendations and the concerns expressed by the regulatory authorities, which still do not recommend population-wide screening. This review summarizes data on the ongoing trials specifically designed to investigate the benefit of screening in terms of risk of adverse events which will further elucidate the importance of screening in reducing risk of outcomes and influence and inform clinical practice in the next future

Utilization of TREC and KREC quantification for the monitoring of early T- and B-cell neogenesis in adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) T- and B-cell reconstitution from primary lymphoid organs are a prerequisite for an effective early lymphocyte reconstitution and a long-term survival for adult patients suffering from acute leukemia. Here, we asked whether quantification of T cell receptor excision circle, (TREC) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circle (KREC) before and within six month after allogeneic HSCT could be used to measure the thymic and bone marrow outputs in such patients. METHODS: We used a duplex real time PCR assay to quantify the absolute copy counts of TREC and KREC, and correlated the data with absolute cell counts of CD3+CD4+ T-cell and CD19+ B-cell subsets determined by flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: By comparing two recently proposed naive T cell subsets, CD31+ naive and CD31- naive T cells, we found a better correlation for the CD31+ subset with TREC level post alloHSCT, in line with the assumption that it contained T cells recently derived from the thymus, indicating that TREC levels reflected real thymic de novo production. Transitional as well as naive B cells highly correlated with KREC levels, which suggested an association of KREC levels with ongoing bone marrow B cell output. CD45RO+ memory T cells and CD27+ memory B cells were significantly less correlated with TREC and KREC recovery, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that simultaneous TREC/ KREC quantification is as a suitable and practicable method to monitor thymic and bone marrow output post alloHSCT in adult patients diagnosed with acute leukemia

Trichphyton violaceum and T. soudanese: re-emerging pathogens in Italy, 2005-2013

Dermatomycoses due to Trichophyton violaceum are described in Mediterranean Countries, North Africa and in the Horn of Africa where T. soudanense is present too, but it was rare until few years ago in Italy. Aim of the present study was to evaluate an Italian multicenter 9 year (2005-2013) experience concerning these re-emerging pathogens. Fifty three fungal strains were sent from clinical laboratories to the Medical Mycology Committee (CoSM) - Italian Association of Clinical Microbiology (AMCLI) for mycological confirmation. Strains were identified as T. violaceum (23) and T. soudanense (30) by phenotypic and genotypic methods. These dermatophytes present epidemiological (high rate of inter-human transmission, high risk among adopted children coming from countries of either the Horn of Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa also in outbreaks of tinea capitis) and clinical peculiarities (reduced alopecia, presence of exudative lesions) confirming the originality of these \u201cimported\u201d dermatophyte infection

Quantification of Myocardial Contraction Fraction with Three-Dimensional Automated, Machine-Learning-Based Left-Heart-Chamber Metrics: Diagnostic Utility in Hypertrophic Phenotypes and Normal Ejection Fraction

Aims: The differentiation of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophic phenotypes is challenging in patients with normal ejection fraction (EF). The myocardial contraction fraction (MCF) is a simple dimensionless index useful for specifically identifying cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) when calculated by cardiac magnetic resonance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of MCF measured by three-dimensional automated, machine-learning-based LV chamber metrics (dynamic heart model [DHM]) for the discrimination of different forms of hypertrophic phenotypes. Methods and Results: We analyzed the DHM LV metrics of patients with CA (n = 10), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 36), isolated hypertension (IH, n = 87), and 54 healthy controls. MCF was calculated by dividing LV stroke volume by LV myocardial volume. Compared with controls (median 61.95%, interquartile range 55.43–67.79%), mean values for MCF were significantly reduced in HCM—48.55% (43.46–54.86% p < 0.001)—and CA—40.92% (36.68–46.84% p < 0.002)—but not in IH—59.35% (53.22–64.93% p < 0.7). MCF showed a weak correlation with EF in the overall cohort (R2 = 0.136) and the four study subgroups (healthy adults, R2 = 0.039 IH, R2 = 0.089; HCM, R2 = 0.225; CA, R2 = 0.102). ROC analyses showed that MCF could differentiate between healthy adults and HCM (sensitivity 75.9%, specificity 77.8%, AUC 0.814) and between healthy adults and CA (sensitivity 87.0%, specificity 100%, AUC 0.959). The best cut-off values were 55.3% and 52.8%. Conclusions: The easily derived quantification of MCF by DHM can refine our echocardiographic discrimination capacity in patients with hypertrophic phenotype and normal EF. It should be added to the diagnostic workup of these patients