Metal free bi dimensional catalysts for selective oxidation reactions

openThe thesis reports the synthesis, the characterization, and the study of the catalytic properties of a metal- free graphene-based material, specifically its ability to oxidize thioethers. The material, Graphene Aceto Acid (GAA), represents a novel catalyst capable of selectively oxidizing thioethers with a high conversion rate. When combined with green synthesis methods and ambient reaction conditions, it yields an efficient and cost-effective catalyst with the potential to reduce the reliance on metals in catalysis. The study research covers two major reactions. Firstly, the selective oxidation of thioethers to sulfides was investigated, wherein the catalyst demonstrates good selectivity across various thioether compounds. Furthermore, it maintains its activity over multiple reaction cycles. Secondly, the catalase-like activity of GAA was explored. Unfortunately, the material did not exhibit the desired catalytic performance with a promising yield, prompting us to discontinue this line of research. Ultimately, GAA has been found to be an efficient and greener alternative to conventional metal-based materials.The thesis reports the synthesis, the characterization, and the study of the catalytic properties of a metal- free graphene-based material, specifically its ability to oxidize thioethers. The material, Graphene Aceto Acid (GAA), represents a novel catalyst capable of selectively oxidizing thioethers with a high conversion rate. When combined with green synthesis methods and ambient reaction conditions, it yields an efficient and cost-effective catalyst with the potential to reduce the reliance on metals in catalysis. The study research covers two major reactions. Firstly, the selective oxidation of thioethers to sulfides was investigated, wherein the catalyst demonstrates good selectivity across various thioether compounds. Furthermore, it maintains its activity over multiple reaction cycles. Secondly, the catalase-like activity of GAA was explored. Unfortunately, the material did not exhibit the desired catalytic performance with a promising yield, prompting us to discontinue this line of research. Ultimately, GAA has been found to be an efficient and greener alternative to conventional metal-based materials

A surveillance system of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in North-Eastern Italy

Background From 2007, in the Veneto Region (Italy), a surveillance system for invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) was implemented to estimate the regional epidemiology of IPD and to evaluate the impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) vaccination. Methods Data were collected from 2007 to 2014 and the total, annual and age-specific IPD notification rates were calculated. A Poisson regression model was used to identify the possible risk factors for developing IPD. Results A total of 713 IPD cases were notified and the overall IPD notification rate was equal to 2.0 cases per 100,000 population (95% CI: 1.7-2.1), with an increasing trend between 2007 and 2014. The pneumococcal serotypes were identified in 608 (85.3%) isolates from biological specimens, and the most distributed serotypes were those contained in PCV13. Children < 5 year-old and the adults over 65 year-old showed the highest PCV13 vaccine-type IPD notification rate, equal to 2.7/100,000 and 2.8/100,000, respectively. The risk to develop IPD was greater in children aged 65 years (RR = 4.3, 95% CI: 2.7-6.9; p 65 years of age (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.0-2.8; p = 0.042). The invasive pneumococcal disease was mainly caused by the PCV13 serotypes (RR = 2.9, 95%CI: 2.3-3.9; p<0.0001), principally after the PCV13 introduction (RR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.4-3.8; p<0.001). In spite of that, a significant reduction of the overall IPD incidence is evident in the period following the PCV13 vaccine introduction (RR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3-0.5; p<0.0001), particularly in children aged <5 years (RR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7; p = 0.002), demonstrating the real efficacy of PCV13 immunization for children. Conclusions In the Veneto Region, the surveillance system has allowed to describe the detailed epidemiological profile of invasive pneumococcal disease, pointing out that the most circulating pneumococcal serotypes were those contained in the PCV13 vaccine

Tricyclic pyrazoles: synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 4,5-dihydrobenzo-1h-6-oxa-cyclohepta[1,2-c] pyrazole-based analogues of the cannabinoid antagonist ness 0327

We report in this poster the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel 4,5- dihydrobenzo-1H-6-oxa-cyclohepta[1,2-c]pyrazoles 1Cb-l variously substituted in position 3

Collezioni malacologiche e monitoraggi delle comunità di molluschi terrestri del Delta del Po e della Pianura Padana orientale: il Progetto CoSMoS – Collecting Snails, Monitoring Snails

The CoSMoS project is an initiative of Citizen Science with teaching and educational modules for students and citizens. The project examines the terrestrial molluscs (gastropods) in seven sites in the Po Delta and in the Eastern Po Valley (3 in the province of Ravenna and 4 in the province of Ferrara) and considers the monitoring and the comparison of current and historical faunal data. The latter can be derived from the malacological collection “Giorgio Lazzari” of the Natural History Museum of Ferrara. 51 species were collectively assessed, 44 of which were present in the historical surveys. Almost all species found are indigenous: only three are alien. From an ecological point of view, species closely linked to forest environments prevail, but there are also typical entities of other environments or very adaptable entities. From the biogeographical point of view, the most interesting result is the discovery, south of the Po, of two entities (Fruticicola fruticum and Monachoides incarnatus) which have a European distribution and in our country usually occur in Alpine and pre-Alpine area

332 Clinical and prognostic significance of junctional late gadolinium enhancement in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Aims Pulmonary hypertension (PH) carries a poor prognosis in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDC). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) evaluation can identify myocardial abnormalities. In particular, junctional LGE is already an established marker of adverse right ventricular (RV) remodelling in patients with pre-capillary PH. This study sought to assess the prevalence of junctional LGE by CMR in NIDC, its relationship with hemodynamic parameters and, moreover, its prognostic significance. Methods and results Patients with NIDC who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) and CMR within 3 months in a tertiary hospital were enrolled. Patients with acute heart failure were excluded. Among others, RV and left ventricular (LV) volumes, junctional LGE at CMR, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) at RHC were tabulated. Pulmonary hypertension was defined accordingly to current Guidelines (median PAP at RHC ≥ 25 mmHg). The primary endpoint consisted of heart failure (HF) hospitalization during follow-up. A total of 188 patients [median age 49 (SD 15), 71% males] were evaluated. At morpho-functional CMR evaluation, most subjects (76%) had important systolic dysfunction (LV EF ≤ 35%). Junctional LGE was observed in 83 (44%) patients. Among patients with junctional LGE, 21 had LGE confined only to the junctional region, while 61 had also mid-wall interventricular septal stria and 21 a mid-wall stria in the lateral free LV wall. Patients with junctional LGE had lower RV EF (49% vs. 56%, P &lt; 0.001) and LV EF (27% vs. 30%, P = 0.012) when compared to those without junctional LGE although no differences in LV and RV dimensions were found. RHC showed PH in 83 patients (44%). Patients with junctional LGE showed a worse hemodynamic profile in terms of PH (55% vs. 36%; P = 0.011) and increase in PCWP (PCWP &gt; 15 mmHg in 60% vs. 42%; P = 0.015) compared to subjects without junctional LGE. Among 79 patients with PH and PCWP &gt; 15 mmHg, 75 (95%) had a combined post capillary and pre-capillary PH (diastolic pressure gradient ≥7 mmHg). Univariate analysis showed that junctional LGE was associated with a worse hemodynamic profile; on multivariable model, RV EF was significantly associated with the presence of junctional LGE (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.87–0.96, P &lt; 0.001). During a median follow-up of 58 months, 33 patients (18%) died or underwent heart transplantation/ventricular assist device implantation, 17% in the junctional LGE group vs. 18% among those without junctional LGE. Thirty-eight patients (20%) had at least one episode of HF, 22 among junctional LGE group and 16 in control group (27% vs. 15%, P = 0.056). When adjusted for age, junctional LGE resulted a significant determinant of HF hospitalization (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.02–4.44, P = 0.044). Conclusions Junctional LGE is detectable in almost half of NIDC patients and it is related to a worse haemodynamic profile, characterized by PH and elevated PCWP. Moreover, after adjustment for age, it was a significant determinant of HF hospitalization during follow-up in our population. Junctional LGE can therefore represent a useful prognostic tool, as marker of adverse ventricular remodelling likely related to ventricular interdependence

Engineered EVs for Oxidative Stress Protection

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly studied as vectors for drug delivery because they can transfer a variety of molecules across biological barriers. SerpinB3 is a serine protease inhibitor that has shown a protective anti-apoptotic function in a variety of stressful conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate protection from oxidative stress-induced damage, using extracellular vesicles that overexpress SerpinB3 (EVs-SB3) in order to enhance the effect of extracellular vesicles on cellular homeostasis. EVs-SB3s were obtained from HepG2 cells engineered to overexpress SerpinB3 and they revealed significant proteomic changes, mostly characterized by a reduced expression of other proteins compared with EVs from non-engineered cells. These EV preparations showed a significantly higher protection from H2O2 induced oxidative stress in both the hepatoma cell line and in primary cardiomyocytes, compared to cells treated with naïve EVs or SerpinB3 alone, used at the same concentration. In conclusion, the induction of SerpinB3 transgene expression results in the secretion of EVs enriched with the protein product that exhibits enhanced cytoprotective activity, compared with naïve EVs or the nude SerpinB3 protein.Fil: Tolomeo, Anna Maria. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Quarta, Santina. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Biasiolo, Alessandra. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Ruvoletto, Mariagrazia. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Pozzobon, Michela. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: De Lazzari, Giada. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Malvicini, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Turato, Cristian. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Arrigoni, Giorgio. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Pontisso, Patrizia. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Muraca, Maurizio. Università di Padova; Itali

Nonischemic left ventricular scar as a substrate of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes

Background\u2014The clinical profile and arrhythmic outcome of competitive athletes with isolated nonischemic left ventricular (LV) scar as evidenced by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance remain to be elucidated. Methods and Results\u2014We compared 35 athletes (80% men, age: 14\u201348 years) with ventricular arrhythmias and isolated LV subepicardial/midmyocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (group A) with 38 athletes with ventricular arrhythmias and no LGE (group B) and 40 healthy control athletes (group C). A stria LGE pattern with subepicardial/midmyocardial distribution, mostly involving the lateral LV wall, was found in 27 (77%) of group A versus 0 controls (group C; P<0.001), whereas a spotty pattern of LGE localized at the junction of the right ventricle to the septum was respectively observed in 11 (31%) versus 10 (25%; P=0.52). All athletes with stria pattern showed ventricular arrhythmias with a predominant right bundle branch block morphology, 13 of 27 (48%) showed ECG repolarization abnormalities, and 5 of 27 (19%) showed echocardiographic hypokinesis of the lateral LV wall. The majority of athletes with no or spotty LGE pattern had ventricular arrhythmias with a predominant left bundle branch block morphology and no ECG or echocardiographic abnormalities. During a follow-up of 38\ub125 months, 6 of 27 (22%) athletes with stria pattern experienced malignant arrhythmic events such as appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator shock (n=4), sustained ventricular tachycardia (n=1), or sudden death (n=1), compared with none of athletes with no or LGE spotty pattern and controls. Conclusions\u2014Isolated nonischemic LV LGE with a stria pattern may be associated with life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death in the athlete. Because of its subepicardial/midmyocardial location, LV scar is often not detected by echocardiography

Risk factors for postoperative cervical haematoma in patients undergoing thyroidectomy: a retrospective, multicenter, international analysis (REDHOT study)

Background Postoperative cervical haematoma represents an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication of thyroidectomy. Since this complication is uncommon, the assessment of risk factors associated with its development is challenging. The main aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for its occurrence.Methods Patients undergoing thyroidectomy in seven high-volume thyroid surgery centers in Europe, between January 2020 and December 2022, were retrospectively analysed. Based on the onset of cervical haematoma, two groups were identified: Cervical Haematoma (CH) Group and No Cervical Haematoma (NoCH) Group. Univariate analysis was performed to compare these two groups. Moreover, employing multivariate analysis, all potential independent risk factors for the development of this complication were assessed.Results Eight thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine patients were enrolled: 8,561 were included in NoCH Group and 278 in CH Group. Surgical revision of haemostasis was performed in 70 (25.18%) patients. The overall incidence of postoperative cervical haematoma was 3.15% (0.79% for cervical haematomas requiring surgical revision of haemostasis, and 2.35% for those managed conservatively). The timing of onset of cervical haematomas requiring surgical revision of haemostasis was within six hours after the end of the operation in 52 (74.28%) patients. Readmission was necessary in 3 (1.08%) cases. At multivariate analysis, male sex (P &lt; 0.001), older age (P &lt; 0.001), higher BMI (P = 0.021), unilateral lateral neck dissection (P &lt; 0.001), drain placement (P = 0.007), and shorter operative times (P &lt; 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors for cervical haematoma.Conclusions Based on our findings, we believe that patients with the identified risk factors should be closely monitored in the postoperative period, particularly during the first six hours after the operation, and excluded from outpatient surgery

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London