Role of the polygalacturonate network on the iron (III) reduction by caffeic acid

This communication reports the role of polygalacturonate network on the Fe(III) reduction by caffeic acid. The effect of phosphate ions on the redox reaction is also considered

Desarrollo de un modelo de cultivo organotípico de neurorretina porcina suplementado con células de epitelio pigmentado de la retina

Se pretende desarrollar un modelo de cultivo organotípico de retina neural porcina suplementado con células del epitelio pigmentario de la retina (EPR) que simule las modificaciones celulares y estructurales asociadas al desprendimiento de retina. Material y método: A partir de 11 ojos de cerdo, se aislaron células del EPR y se prepararon explantes de neurorretina, procedentes de la región del area centralis, de modo que se obtuvieron explantes control y experimento de cada ojo. Se realizaron 6 cultivos control (cultivo organotípico de neurorretina de cerdo) y 6 experimento (cultivo organotípico de neurorretina de cerdo suplementado con EPR) durante 9 días. A la finalización del cultivo, los explantes fueron procesados y evaluados histológicamente, tinción con Azul de Toluidina, y mediante técnicas de inmunohistoquímica, anticuerpos frente a GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), CRALBP (cellular retinaldehide binding protein), calbindina y sinaptofisina. Resultados: las muestras procedentes de los cultivos experimento presentaron un menor grado de degeneración, menores alteraciones estructurales y mayor espesor respecto a los controles. Además, se observó una expresión contenida de GFAP, mientras que la expresión de calbindina y de sinaptofisina fue superior en los experimentos respecto a los controles. Conclusiones: se ha puesto a punto un modelo de cultivo organotípico de neurorretina de cerdo con células del EPR que simula las modificaciones celulares asociadas con los procesos de degeneración retiniana de una manera más cercana al desarrollo in vivo, con respecto a los modelos in vitro previos. La presencia de las células del EPR influye positivamente en la ralentización de los procesos de degeneración retiniana durante el cultivo.otroMáster en Investigación en Ciencias de la Visió

iOCT in PVR Surgical Management

Recent advances in optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology have allowed the introduction of OCT into the operating room. Intraoperative OCT (iOCT) has been utilized to visualize the retinal architecture prior, during, and following several retinal surgical technics. The identification of epiretinal, subretinal, and intraretinal changes is one of the crucial points in PVR management. The iOCT can identify intraretinal changes and/or subretinal PVR membranes which cannot be easily peeled as epiretinal membranes. Intraretinal forms are especially difficult to identify preoperatively but their presence may be crucial in surgical management because the attempt to remove the presumed membrane may result in severe retinal tissue damage and iatrogenic tears. Therefore, surgical technique and even tamponade choice may be seriously affected by OCT imaging results

Partial least squares path modelling for the evaluation of patients' satisfaction after thoracic surgical procedures☆

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The influence of subsurface geology on the distribution of earthquakes during the 2016‐-2017 Central Italy seismic sequence

Abstract In 2016–2017, a destructive sequence of earthquakes affected a wide portion of Central Italy, activating a complex, 80-km long system of SW-dipping normal faults and causing impressive surface faulting and widespread damage. Former studies providing reconstructions of the fault systems activated during this sequence, are mostly based on high-resolution seismological and geodetic data. In this paper, we integrate surface and subsurface geological data with the ones obtained by an irregular network of seismic reflection profiles, aimed at providing a comprehensive reconstruction of the subsurface lithologies and structures in this area. We have constructed a set of five geological cross-sections, passing through the mainshock epicentral areas (Mw > 5.5) of the seismic sequence. The cross-sections are extrapolated down to a depth of ca. 12 km, along which we have plotted relocated seismicity. Combined geological and seismological data support a new 3D seismotectonic model, illustrating the propagation through time and space of the seismic ruptures during the sequence. Our results show that the litho-mechanical stratigraphy exerted a primary control on the distribution of seismicity, as it is mostly hosted in the more competent lithologies (i.e. the Late Triassic-Paleogene succession, consisting of carbonates and evaporites). In addition, we illustrate the crucial role played by the inherited compressional structures in determining the lateral and vertical variations of the rheological properties of the upper crust and, eventually, the overall geometry and segmentation of the seismogenic extensional system. The workflow proposed here can be applied to other seismogenic zones throughout the world, since reliable seismotectonic models require an accurate reconstruction of the subsurface geological setting, based on a close integration of geological, geophysical and seismological data

A Hypothetical New Challenging Use for Indocyanine Green Fluorescence during Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A Mini-Series of Our Experience and Literary Review

Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is a well-standardized surgical procedure, but there are still controversies about the different devices to be used for the appendiceal stump closure and the related postoperative complications. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography (FA) has already been shown to be helpful in elective and emergency surgery, providing intraoperative information on tissue and organ perfusion, thus guiding the surgical decisions and the technical strategies. According to these two aspects, we report a mini-series of the first five patients affected by gangrenous and flegmonous acute appendicitis intraoperatively evaluated with ICG-FA during LA. The patients were admitted to the Emergency Department with an usual range of symptoms for acute appendicitis. The patients were successfully managed by fully LA with the help of a new hypothetical challenging use of ICG-FA

Optic Coherence Tomography Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a progressive microvascular disease considerer as the most important cause of acquired vision loss in the world. OCT angiography (OCT-A) has drastically improved the diagnosis and follow-up of DR showing alterations before changes in the fundus will be visible. With OCT-A, it is possible to quantify several parameters such as the macular vascular density (MVD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ). This new technique will be important for early detection, follow- up, and monitoring treatment response. OCTA is a very promising image technique that is continually improving and offers numerous advantages over FA in DR management; nevertheless, there are technical limitations that must be improved

Insights on the association between thyroid diseases and colorectal cancer

Benign and malignant thyroid diseases (TDs) have been associated with the occurrence of extrathyroidal malignancies (EMs), including colorectal cancers (CRCs). Such associations have generated a major interest, as their characterization may provide useful clues regarding diseases’ etiology and/or progression, with the possible identification of shared congenital and environmental elements. On the other hand, elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanism(s) could lead to an improved and tailored clinical management of these patients and stimulate an increased surveillance of TD patients at higher threat of developing EMs. Here, we will examine the epidemiological, clinical, and molecular findings connecting TD and CRC, with the aim to identify possible molecular mechanism(s) responsible for such diseases’ relationship

Surface unmanned multipurpose research marine vehicle: SUNMARE Project

This paper presents the preliminary activities undertaken for the research project SUNMARE (Surface UNmanned multipurpose research MARine vEhicle), which aims at the development of an innovative autonomous platform for marine, oceanographic, lacustrine, and submerged/semi-submerged cultural heritage monitoring/measurements. SUNMARE is a modular ship comprising of a mother unmanned ship and a smaller autonomous vehicle. Through an innovative fully autonomous launch and recovery system (LARS), the Unmanned surface vehicle (USV) can detach and reconnect to the mother ship. The architecture of the LARS and the on-purposely designed control algorithms are here presented together with statistical recovery success analysis concerning the autonomous dynamic connection of the vehicles, so to assess the reliability of the system