A Multimodal Scaffold for SDF1 Delivery Improves Cardiac Function in a Rat Subacute Myocardial Infarct Model

Ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The efficient delivery of therapeutic growth factors could counteract the adverse prognosis of post-myocardial infarction (post-MI). In this study, a collagen hydrogel that is able to load and appropriately deliver pro-angiogenic stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) was physically coupled with a compact collagen membrane in order to provide the suture strength required for surgical implantation. This bilayer collagen-on-collagen scaffold (bCS) showed the suitable physicochemical properties that are needed for efficient implantation, and the scaffold was able to deliver therapeutic growth factors after MI. In vitro collagen matrix biodegradation led to a sustained SDF1 release and a lack of cytotoxicity in the relevant cell cultures. In vivo intervention in a rat subacute MI model resulted in the full integration of the scaffold into the heart after implantation and biocompatibility with the tissue, with a prevalence of anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic macrophages, as well as evidence of revascularization and improved cardiac function after 60 days. Moreover, the beneficial effect of the released SDF1 on heart remodeling was confirmed by a significant reduction in cardiac tissue stiffness. Our findings demonstrate that this multimodal scaffold is a desirable matrix that can be used as a drug delivery system and a scaffolding material to promote functional recovery after MI

Selenium, iodine, omega-3 PUFA and natural antioxidant from Melissa officinalis L.: a combination of components from healthier dry fermented sausages formulation.

A new formulation of dry fermented sausage, including ingredients that improve the nutritional and health benefits of this type of product is presented. Se yeast (2g/kg), iodized salt (26g/kg), linseed:algae (3:2) emulsion (62.5g/kg), and lyophilized water extract of Melissa officinalis L. as a source of natural antioxidants (686mg/kg), yielded dry fermented sausages with technological and sensory properties similar to traditional ones. From the nutritional standpoint, a 50g portion of this product would give 100% of the recommended daily intake for Se, 70% of DRI for iodine, and 40% and 100% of the reference intake for alpha-linolenic and EPA+DHA, respectively. The omega-6/omega-3 ratio decreased from 15.7 in the control product to 1.96 in the modified one. Despite the high PUFA content, no oxidation was detected by TBARS (<0.15mgMDA/kg) and volatile compounds, showing the effectiveness of the natural antioxidants from M. officinalis. The modified formulation presented good acceptability for panelists with similar appearance, odor, taste and juiciness as the control products

Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (ESi107-A) from a transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) patient carrying a p.Ser43Asn mutation in the TTR gene

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a life-threatening disease caused by the abnormal production of misfolded TTR protein by liver cells, which is then released systemically. Its amyloid deposition in the heart is linked to cardiac toxicity and progression toward heart failure. A human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line was generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a patient suffering familial transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy carrying a c.128G>A (p.Ser43Asn) mutation in the TTR gene. This iPSC line offers a useful resource to study the disease pathophysiology and a cell-based model for therapeutic discovery

A lyophilized water extract of melissa officinalis L. as an effective natural antioxidant during the storage of dry fermented sausages high in alpha-linolenic acid and DHA

Abstract: A pre-emulsified mixture of linseed and algae oils (15/10) and stabilized with 686 ppm of a lyophilized water extract of Melissa officinalis, was successfully applied in dry fermented sausages to increase the ω-3 PUFA content. The objective of this work was to evaluate the stability of this modified formulation during the storage and to compare it to that of a traditional formulation. Traditional and modified products were stored during 90 days at 4 ºC in aerobic conditions. Fatty acid profiles, TBARS and volatile compounds derived from oxidation were analyzed at 0, 30 and 90 days of storage. The fatty acid profiles did not significantly change along the storage period. The stabilizing effect of the natural antioxidants of M. officinalis could contribute to detect no losses of ω-3 PUFA in Modified (30 days: 2.13 g/100 g of product, 90 days: 2.33 g/100 g of product), whereas in Control products a slightly significant reduction was detected (30 days: 0.34 g/100 g of product, 90 days: 0.29 g/100 g of product). After 90 days, the increases of TBARS and hexanal content were much higher in Control than in Modified (Control: 1.41 mg MDA/kg & 17,915 ng dodecane/kg of dry matter; Modified: 0.48 mg MDA/kg & 2,496 ng dodecane/kg of dry matter). In conclusion, the lyophilized water extract of M. officinalis protected high ω-3 PUFA of dry fermented sausages from oxidation along the storage time, guaranteeing the nutritional improvements achieved with the modified formulation

Use of natural antioxidants from lyophilized water extracts of Borago officinalis in dry fermented sausages enriched in ω-3 PUFA.

An evaluation of the capacity of a lyophilized water extract of borage leaves to delay the lipid oxidation process in dry fermented sausages enriched with ω-3 PUFAs has been performed. Lyophilized extract (340ppm) showed an antioxidant capacity equivalent to 200ppm of a butylhydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) mixture. Two batches of dry fermented sausages enriched in ω-3 PUFA were developed. One of them was supplemented with a synthetic antioxidants mixture (200ppm of BHA+BHT) and the other one with natural antioxidants (340ppm of lyophilized water extract of borage leaves). Furthermore, a traditional formulation of this type of dry fermented sausage (Control), was also manufactured. The natural extract gave rise to lower amount of volatile compounds (including hexanal), than the mixture of synthetic antioxidants (2202 and 2713ng dodecane/g dry matter, respectively). TBARS and Cholesterol Oxidation Products (COPs) did not show significant differences between products with different antioxidants. The sensorial analysis showed that lyophilized water extracts of borage leaves did not affect the sensorial properties of the products. From the economical and safety standpoints, the use of a by-product (borage leaves) and water as extracting solvent are valuable alternatives for obtaining natural antioxidants to be added to dry fermented sausages enriched in ω-3 PUF

Preclinical Evaluation of the Safety and Immunological Action of Allogeneic ADSC-Collagen Scaffolds in the Treatment of Chronic Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

The use of allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (alloADSCs) represents an attractive approach for treating myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, adding a natural support improves alloADSCs engraftment and survival in heart tissues, leading to a greater therapeutic effect. We aimed to examine the safety and immunological reaction induced by epicardial implantation of a clinical-grade collagen scaffold (CS) seeded with alloADSCs for its future application in humans. Thus, cellularized scaffolds were myocardially or subcutaneously implanted in immunosuppressed rodent models. The toxicological parameters were not significantly altered, and tumor formation was not found over the short or long term. Furthermore, biodistribution analyses in the infarcted immunocompetent rats displayed cell engraftment in the myocardium but no migration to other organs. The immunogenicity of alloADSC-CS was also evaluated in a preclinical porcine model of chronic MI; no significant humoral or cellular alloreactive responses were found. Moreover, CS cellularized with human ADSCs cocultured with human allogeneic immune cells produced no alloreactive response. Interestingly, alloADSC-CS significantly inhibited lymphocyte responses, confirming its immunomodulatory action. Thus, alloADSC-CS is likely safe and does not elicit any alloreactive immunological response in the host. Moreover, it exerts an immunomodulatory action, which supports its translation to a clinical setting

CHANADY, Amaryll Beatrice. Magical Realism and The Fantastic. Resolved Versus Unresolved Antinomy, New York, Garland Publishing Inc., 1985. [RECENSIÓN]

L&rsquo;articolo propone una riflessione sulla possibile nascita di nuovi sistemi funzionali urbani creati dalla attivazione delle linee TAV fra grandi citt&agrave; italiane. Attraverso il richiamo dell&rsquo;interpretazione sistemica della citt&agrave; si propone una tassonomia delle possibili relazioni che potrebbero instaurarsi fra i sistemi urbani connessi ed in particolare fra i poli di Roma e Napoli che originano una nuova &ldquo;Joint city&rdquo;: RoNa. Infine si analizza la possibilit&agrave; della creazione di attivit&agrave; urbane &ldquo;ponte&rdquo; in grado di funzionare in entrambi i centri urbani anche grazie a protocolli amministrativi comuni e condivisi.The new connections, that high speed railway allows to activate among the metropolitan systems, seem to be able to give life to new urban macro-structures for which the transfer time, among the main poles of the railway segment, it becomes comparable to an inside moving into the city and therefore considered as a interfunctional mobility. The tunnel effect generated by the high speed connection seems to be able to allow a new temporal and functional joint among the metropolitan systems consequently supporting the possibility, for the users, to move themselves among the different urban functions belonging to the different cities. The birth of these urban aggregations seems to conduct toward new megalopolis, which we can define for the first time with the term: joint-city. For this new metropolitan settlement it appears of great interest to investigate the constitutive peculiarities, the systemic articulation, its relationl structures, the evolutionary sceneries, and so on. When new connections are created among functional systems, previously separated, supported by the realization of physical infrastructures (like the HST) it is possible to envisage the birth of new multi-urban organizations, of new macrofunctional urban systems, of joint-cities, whose characteristics and articulations are all to deepen and they offer an interesting mind field to the town planning research