Aqueous electrolytes confined within functionalized silica nanopores

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to investigate structural and dynamical characteristics of NaCl aqueous solutions confined within silica nanopores in contact with a “bulk-like” reservoir. Two types of pores, with diameters intermediate between 20 Å and 37.5 Å, were investigated: The first one corresponded to hydrophobic cavities, in which the prevailing wall-solution interactions were of the Lennard-Jones type. In addition, we also examined the behavior of solutions trapped within hydrophilic cavities, in which a set of unsaturated O-sites at the wall were transformed in polar silanol Si–OH groups. In all cases, the overall concentrations of the trapped electrolytes exhibited important reductions that, in the case of the narrowest pores, attained 50% of the bulk value. Local concentrations within the pores also showed important fluctuations. In hydrophobic cavities, the close vicinity of the pore wall was coated exclusively by the solvent, whereas in hydrophilic pores, selective adsorption of Na+ ions was also observed. Mass and charge transport were also investigated. Individual diffusion coefficients did not present large codifications from what is perceived in the bulk; contrasting, the electrical conductivity exhibited important reductions. The qualitative differences are rationalized in terms of simple geometrical considerations.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Effect of Polarization and Chronic Inflammation on Macrophage Expression of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans and Biosynthesis Enzymes

Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans on immune cells have the ability to bind to and regulate the bioactivity more than 400 bioactive protein ligands, including many chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors. This makes them important regulators of the phenotype and behavior of immune cells. Here we review how HS biosynthesis in macrophages is regulated during polarization and in chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity, by analyzing published micro-array data and mechanistic studies in this area. We describe that macrophage expression of many HS biosynthesis and core proteins is strongly regulated by macrophage polarization, and that these expression patterns are recapitulated in chronic inflammation. Such changes in HS biosynthetic enzyme expression are likely to have a significant impact on the phenotype of macrophages in chronic inflammatory diseases by altering their interactions with chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors

Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders in COVID-19 patients: preliminary results

Purpose: Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders such as dizziness and vertigo have been reported by patients with COVID-19; however, they have been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of subjective tinnitus and dizziness in a sample of COVID-19 patients using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire. Methods: A multicentric study that included 15 Italian hospitals in different regions was conducted using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire developed to identify the presence of tinnitus and balance disorders in patients with COVID-19 between May 5 and June 10, 2020. The questionnaire was administered to 185 patients in a period of > 30 – < 60 days after diagnosis of COVID-19; responses were recorded in an online Excel spreadsheet. The questionnaire was composed of three sections: (1) demographic information; (2) presence and characteristics of tinnitus and dizziness after COVID-19 diagnosis; (3) possible association with migraine. Results: Thirty-four patients (18.4%) reported equilibrium disorders after COVID-19 diagnosis. Of these, 32 patients reported dizziness (94.1%) and 2 (5.9%) reported acute vertigo attacks. Forty-three patients (23.2%) reported tinnitus; 14 (7.6%) reported both tinnitus and equilibrium disorders. Conclusion: This study suggests that the presence of subjective otoneurological symptoms such as tinnitus and balance disorders can affect COVID-19 patients; further studies are necessary to investigate the prevalence and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these subjective symptoms in COVID-19 patients

Sudden olfactory loss as an early marker of COVID-19: a nationwide Italian survey

Purpose: The presence of many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases may increase the risks of disease dissemination, mainly for physicians. There are numerous reports on the frequent findings of sudden anosmia or hyposmia, before or at the same time of the typical COVID-19 symptoms onset. The aim of this study was to verify the association of olfactory impairment and COVID-19, providing a basis for subsequent research in the field of COVID-19 clinical heterogeneity. Methods: We developed a 15-item online questionnaire on “Sudden Olfactory Loss (SOL) and COVID-19” that was administered during March 2020 to Italian general practitioners registered to a social media group. Results: One hundred and eighty responses were received. SOL was identified as a significant sign of infection in COVID-19 patients, mainly aged between 30 and 40 years, even in the absence of other symptoms. SOL was present as an initial symptom in 46.7% of subjects, and in 16.7%, it was the only symptom. Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases, SOL occurred as the only symptom in 19.2% of patients. Conclusion: SOL could represent a possible early symptom in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects. Subjects affected by SOL should be considered as potential COVID-19 cases. Level of evidence: 4

Decreased morbidity following long saphenous vein harvesting using a minimally invasive technique: a randomised controlled trial comparing two techniques for long saphenous vein harvest

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the morbidity associated with long saphenous vein harvesting using the traditional open technique (A) against a minimally invasive technique using the Mayo vein stripper (B) that involves multiple short incisions. DESIGN: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study in 80 patients undergoing first time coronary artery bypass grafting. Pain and healing was assessed on each postoperative day. Rings of long saphenous vein were subjected to organ-bath evaluation of endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation. RESULTS: Three patients were excluded from the study, leaving 38 patients in Group A and 39 in Group B. With respect to operative procedure, Group A had a greater length of vein harvested than Group B. There was no statistical difference in pain scores and endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent relaxation between the two groups. However there were significantly more infections in Group A compared with Group B. CONCLUSION: Harvesting vein through multiple incisions using the Mayo vein stripper is quicker, results in fewer infections and has no deleterious effect on endothelial function compared to open technique

Early and Late Response and Glucocorticoid-Sparing Effect of Belimumab in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Joint and Skin Manifestations: Results from the Belimumab in Real Life Setting Study—Joint and Skin (BeRLiSS-JS)

Aim. To assess the efficacy of belimumab in joint and skin manifestations in a nationwide cohort of patients with SLE. Methods. All patients with skin and joint involvement enrolled in the BeRLiSS cohort were considered. Belimumab (intravenous, 10 mg/kg) effectiveness in joint and skin manifestations was assessed by DAS28 and CLASI, respectively. Attainment and predictors of DAS28 remission (&lt;2.6) and LDA (≥2.6, ≤3.2), CLASI = 0, 1, and improvement in DAS28 and CLASI indices ≥20%, ≥50%, and ≥70% were evaluated at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Results. DAS28 &lt; 2.6 was achieved by 46%, 57%, and 71% of patients at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. CLASI = 0 was achieved by 36%, 48%, and 62% of patients at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Belimumab showed a glucocorticoid-sparing effect, being glucocorticoid-free at 8.5%, 15.4%, 25.6%, and 31.6% of patients at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Patients achieving DAS-LDA and CLASI-50 at 6 months had a higher probability of remission at 12 months compared with those who did not (p = 0.034 and p = 0.028, respectively). Conclusions. Belimumab led to clinical improvement in a significant proportion of patients with joint or skin involvement in a real-life setting and was associated with a glucocorticoid-sparing effect. A significant proportion of patients with a partial response at 6 months achieved remission later on during follow-up

Structure and dynamics of liquid methanol confined within functionalized silica nanopores

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to investigate the structure and dynamics of liquid methanol confined in 3.3 nm diameter cylindrical silica pores. Three cavities differing in the characteristics of the functional groups at their walls have been examined: (i) smooth hydrophobic pores in which dispersive forces prevail, (ii) hydrophilic cavities with surfaces covered by polar silanol groups, and (iii) a much more rugged pore in which 60% of the previous interfacial hydroxyl groups were replaced by the bulkier trimethylsilyl ones. Confinement promotes a considerable structure at the vicinity of the pore walls which is enhanced in the case of hydroxylated surfaces. Moreover, in the presence of the trimethylsilyl groups, the propagation of this interface-induced spatial ordering extends down to the central region of the pore. Concerning the dynamical modes, we observed an overall slowdown in both the translational and rotational motions. An analysis of these mobilities from a local perspective shows that the largest retardations operate at the vicinity of the interfaces. The gross features of the rotational dynamics were analyzed in terms of contributions arising from bulk and surface states. Compared to the bulk dynamical behavior, the characteristic timescales associated with the rotational motions show the most dramatic increments. A dynamical analysis of hydrogen bond formation and breaking processes is also included. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.Fil:Elola, M.D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Rodriguez, J. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Laria, D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina