Evaluation of new cholinium-amino acids based room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as immobilization matrix for electrochemical biosensor development: proof-of-concept with trametes versicolor laccase

In this work, we present new cholinium-amino acids room temperature ionic liquids (ChAARTILs) that can be used as an efficient immobilization matrix for electrochemical biosensor development. The ideal immobilization strategy should be able to ensure the highest enzyme loading and a tight enzymatic immobilization, preserving its native structure and biological activity. In this regard, ChAARTILs present different side chains on the amino acids giving rise to van der Waals, π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions. All these interactions can affect the nanomaterial organization onto the electrode surface. To this aim, we have evaluated the main electrochemical parameters, namely electroactive area (AEA) and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k0), showing how both cations and anions of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) can independently affect multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) organization. In particular, [Ch][Phe] showed the best performance in terms of AEA (3.432 cm2) and k0 (4.71·10−3 cm s−1) with a homogeneous distribution of MWCNTs bundles onto the electrodes and a faster electron transfer rate

Myocardial fibrosis as a key determinant of left ventricular remodeling in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic study

In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, there are scarce data on the influence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance on left ventricular (LV) remodeling

Molecular characterization of Babesia and Theileria species in ticks collected in the outskirt of Monte Romano, Lazio Region, Central Italy

In 2012-2013, an investigation was carried out in the Viterbo province, Lazio region, on ticks and tick-borne Apicomplexan protozoa of the Babesia and Theileria genera. This followed the reporting of high density of ticks by soldiers operating in a military shooting range, and the signaling by owners and local veterinary authorities of several cases of babesiosis among cattle. A total of 422 ticks were collected from 35 heads, whereas 96 ticks were collected by dragging. Ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus Say (n=373), Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini & Fanzago (n=63), Rhipicephalus sanguineus/turanicus (n=32), Hyalomma marginatum Koch (n=49) and Dermacentor marginatus Sulzer, 1776 (n=1). A randomly selected sample of ticks (235 from animals and 36 by dragging) was analyzed using molecular methods to detect species of Babesia and Theileria. In total, 11 ticks collected from animals (4.7%) and two ticks (5.5%) collected by dragging were positive. Sequencing of PCR products of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed Babesia caballi (n=2), Babesia bigemina (n=3), Theileria sergenti/buffeli/orientalis (n=7) and Theileria equi (n=1). None of the detected species has been associated with human infection

Detection of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected in the suburban area of Monte Romano, Lazio Region, Central Italy

Background. A study on tick species characterization and tick borne pathogens detection was performed within a survey conducted during 2012 and 2013 in the Viterbo province (Lazio Region, Central Italy). Seven sites were selected for the study investigation, including two farms and a military zone. Methods. A total of 255 ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (n =215), Rhipicephalus bursa (n = 28), and Hyalomma marginatum (n = 12) were screened individually by molecular methods for the tick borne bacterial agents: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group, Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia spp., Francisella spp., and Rickettsia spp. Results and Conclusion. Overall, 182 ticks (71%) were infected with one pathogen but co-infections were also found. Tick borne pathogens identified were C. burnetii, B. burgdorferi s.l.., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Francisella spp., and Ehrlichia spp. In R. bursa and H. marginatum, the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. was positively correlated with that of C. burnetii, Rickettsia spp., and Bartonella spp. and their coinfection probabilities were 29.8%, 22.7% and 11.7%, respectively. The Probability of coinfection for Francisella spp. and Rickettsia spp. and for Francisella spp. and Bartonella spp. was 14.9% and 17.9%, respectively. In R. (Boophilus) annulatus, the probability of coinfection between C. burnetii and B. burgdorferi s.l. was 11.3%, while those between C. burnetii and Bartonella and between B. burgdorferi s.l. and Bartonella were 0.8%. Further studies are needed in order to assess the risk associated with these tick-borne pathogens, somewhat unusual in Central Italy

The role of the LISTANet Consortium in the European DEDIPAC-KH project

Aim:To improve understanding of the determinants of dietary, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behaviours, the European multi-disciplinary consortium on “Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity Knowledge Hub” (DEDIPAC-KH) includes 46 consortia and organisations supported by joint programming grants from 12 countries across Europe (Lakerveld et al., 2014). Six Italian Universities (e.g., Cassino, Chieti-Pescara, Palermo, Roma Foro Italico, Roma Sapienza, and UCSC) participating in the LISTANet consortium supported by MIUR (B84G14000040008) contributed to the Thematic Area2 “Determinants of dietary, PA, and sedentary behaviours across the life course and in vulnerable groups”. In particular, the coordinator of LISTANet Prof Capranica and Prof. MacDonncha from the Irish Physical Activity and Health Consortium act as Work Package (WP) Leaders of PA determinants (WP2.2). Methods: A mix of methods has been used in identifying PA determinants by developing PA taxonomy and a European framework (EU-PAD), seven umbrella systematic literature reviews (e.g., behavioural, biological, economic, physical, policy, psychological, and socio-cultural), and identifying ongoing/recently completed European-funded projects and data sets for secondary data analyses. Results: LISTANet participated in DEDIPAC-KH meetings/seminars/courses/conferences, and organized two workshops dedicated to the EU-PAD framework and umbrella SLRs. Outcomes included internal reports, presentations to international conferences, and scientific papers submitted for publications. Conclusions: The DEDIPAC-KH project represents an excellent start in setting up a complex, cross-country, organisational structure to: 1) guide a European strategic plan for novel and multi-disciplinary research addressing the complexity of determinants of PA behaviours across the life course; and 2) identify key aspects for potential strategies and intervention programmes to implement multi-sectoral European policies in PA. Finally, the cumulated experience of LISTANet could be valuable to fully exploit effective research and actions to increase PA levels of Italian citizens

Dielectric properties of thermo-reversible hydrogels: the case of a dextran copolymer grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

We investigated the dielectric properties of aqueous solutions of a grafted copolymer, consisting of a polysaccharide, Dextran, grafted with a thermo-sensitive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), [pNIPAAM], over broad temperature and frequency ranges. The graft copolymers, prepared by atom-transfer radical polymerization [ATRP], form temperature-responsive materials that represent a class of self-assembled structures in water of great interest because of their potential use as drug delivery formulations and in diverse biotechnological applications. In these systems, in the dilute regime and below the lower critical solution temperature, relaxation modes corresponding to two different length-scales have been observed and analyzed in terms of ion fluctuation dielectric models specifically developed to describe the dielectric relaxation in highly charged polyion aqueous solutions. Regardless of whether the ions were produced by the ionization of the polymer chain, as in polyelectrolyte solutions, or not, as in the present case, they represent a probe at a microscopic level that is expected to reveal the structural characteristics of the system at different scales. We have identified a characteristic length associated with the size of the polymer coil in the dilute regime and a length due to fixed cross-links, where ions are partially localized by the local profile of the Coulombic field. These lengths are in reasonable agreement with analogous lengths derived from structural information and from the hydrodynamic radius of the polymer coils, measured by means of a dynamic light-scattering technique

ATRP synthesis and association properties of thermo responsive anionic block copolymers

Thermosensitive anionic block copolymers of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate (AMPS) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) with different block lengths were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Controlled polymerization was achieved by using ethyl 2-chloropropionate (ECP) as initiator and CuCl/CuCl2/tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine (Me6TREN) catalytic system in DMF:water 50:50 (v/v) mixtures at 20 °C. Blocks lengths ranging from 36 to 98 repeating units were obtained. The association properties in aqueous solutions at different NaCl ionic strengths were studied as a function of temperature and polymer concentration by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy. The block copolymers with a higher pNIPAAM/pAMPS ratio formed spherical core-shell type micelles independently of the ionic strength. The block copolymers with lower pNIPAAM/pAMPS ratio formed core-shell type micelles at high ionic strength. Larger particles were observed at low ionic strength which could be due to the formation of vesicles or compound micelles/micellar clusters