Towards 3d multi-layer scaffolds for periodontal tissue engineering applications: Addressing manufacturing and architectural challenges

Reduced periodontal support, deriving from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as periodontitis, is one of the main causes of tooth loss. The use of dental implants for the replacement of missing teeth has attracted growing interest as a standard procedure in clinical practice. However, adequate bone volume and soft tissue augmentation at the site of the implant are important prerequisites for successful implant positioning as well as proper functional and aesthetic reconstruction of patients. Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds have greatly contributed to solve most of the challenges that traditional solutions (i.e., autografts, allografts and xenografts) posed. Nevertheless, mimicking the complex architecture and functionality of the periodontal tissue represents still a great challenge. In this study, a porous poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and Sr-doped nano hydroxyapatite (Sr-nHA) with a multi-layer structure was produced via a single-step additive manufacturing (AM) process, as a potential strategy for hard periodontal tissue regeneration. Physicochemical characterization was conducted in order to evaluate the overall scaffold architecture, topography, as well as porosity with respect to the original CAD model. Furthermore, compressive tests were performed to assess the mechanical properties of the resulting multi-layer structure. Finally, in vitro biological performance, in terms of biocompatibility and osteogenic potential, was evaluated by using human osteosarcoma cells. The manufacturing route used in this work revealed a highly versatile method to fabricate 3D multi-layer scaffolds with porosity levels as well as mechanical properties within the range of dentoalveolar bone tissue. Moreover, the single step process allowed the achievement of an excellent integrity among the different layers of the scaffold. In vitro tests suggested the promising role of the ceramic phase within the polymeric matrix towards bone mineralization processes. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that the approach undertaken may serve as a platform for future advances in 3D multi-layer and patient-specific strategies that may better address complex periodontal tissue defects

Sex differences in brain homotopic co-activations: a meta-analytic study

An element of great interest in functional connectivity is ‘homotopic connectivity’ (HC), namely the connectivity between two mirrored areas of the two hemispheres, mainly mediated by the fibers of the corpus callosum. Despite a long tradition of studying sexual dimorphism in the human brain, to our knowledge only one study has addressed the influence of sex on HC. We investigated the issue of homotopic co-activations in women and men using a coordinate-based meta-analytic method and data from the BrainMap database. A first unexpected observation was that the database was affected by a sex bias: women-only groups are investigated less often than men-only ones, and they are more often studied in certain domains such as emotion compared to men, and less in cognition. Implementing a series of sampling procedures to equalize the size and proportion of the datasets, our results indicated that females exhibit stronger interhemispheric co-activation than males, suggesting that the female brain is less lateralized and more integrated than that of males. In addition, males appear to show less intense but more extensive co-activation than females. Some local differences also appeared. In particular, it appears that primary motor and perceptual areas are more co-activated in males, in contrast to the opposite trend in the rest of the brain. This argues for a multidimensional view of sex brain differences and suggests that the issue should be approached with more complex models than previously thought. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00429-022-02572-0

Hospitalizations for tuberculosis in Sicily over the years 2009–2021: Clinical features, comorbidities, and predictors of mortality

Background: Very few data are available in the literature regarding tuberculosis (TB) hospitalization, and few studies have reported the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of admitted patients and burden and cost of hospitalization. In our study, we described the occurrence of TB hospital admissions in the southern Italian region of Sicily over 13 years (2009–2021), explored the characteristics of patients with TB, and determined the comorbidities associated with mortality. Method: Data on the hospital discharge of all patients with TB hospitalized in all Sicilian hospitals were retrospectively collected from hospital standard discharge forms. Age, sex, nationality, length of hospital stay, comorbidities, and TB localization were evaluated using univariate analysis according to in-hospital mortality. The factors associated with mortality were included in the logistic regression model. Results: In Sicily, 3745 people were hospitalized for TB, with 5239 admissions and 166 deaths from 2009 to 2021. Most hospitalizations involved Italian-born people (46.3%), followed by African-born people (32.8%) and Eastern European-born people (14.1%). The average hospitalization cost was EUR 5259 ± 2592, with a median length of stay of 16 days (interquartile range, 8–30) days. Multivariate analysis showed that the development of acute kidney failure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=7.2, p < 0.001), alcohol consumption (aOR=8.9, p = 0.001), malignant tumors (aOR=2.1, p = 0.022), human immunodeficiency virus infection (aOR=3.4, p < 0.001), sepsis (aOR=15.2, p < 0.001), central nervous system involvement (aOR=9.9, p < 0.001), and miliary TB (aOR=2.5, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion: TB in Sicily remains an important cause of hospitalization. HIV infection and comorbidities may complicate patient management and worsen patient outcomes

Oleuropein-Laded Ufasomes Improve the Nutraceutical Efficacy

Ufasomes are unsaturated fatty acid liposomes made up of oleic and linoleic acids, natural components required in various biological processes. This kind of nanocarrier is characterized by a simple and dynamic structure and is able to improve the bioavailability of unsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate ufasomes as natural compound delivery systems to deliver oleuropein and improve its antioxidant activity. Oleuropein is a phenolic compound mainly present in olives and olive oil, with several biological properties, such as the antioxidant activity. However, to improve their biological activity, antioxidant compounds should be able to cross cell membranes and uniformly incorporate in cells. Because of the great similarity between their constituents and cell membranes, ufasomes could be advantageous carriers for oleuropein delivery. The physico-chemical characteristics of ufasomes were investigated. A regular shape was shown by transmission electron microscopy studies, while the mean sizes were dependent on the ufasomes composition. In vitro studies highlighted that empty ufasomes did not lead to cell mortality at the tested concentrations and a good carrier internalization in CaCo-2 cells, further studies in vitro studies demonstrated that oleuropein-loaded ufasomes were able to enhance the antioxidant activity of the free active substance making this carrier a suitable one for nutraceutical application

Artrosis vertebral anterior en una población contemporánea (La Plata, Argentina)

Las denominadas patologías artrósicas engloban un conjunto de procesos crónicos, inflamatorios y degenerativos, muy frecuentes en poblaciones contemporáneas, para las cuales han sido propuestas como desencadenantes la edad, el sexo, la predisposición genética, los traumas, la obesidad, y las actividades laborales/deportivas. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue establecer la prevalencia de la artrosis vertebral anterior (AVA) en una población urbana contemporánea y su relación con la edad y el sexo de los individuos. Se analizaron 95 esqueletos (45 masculinos, 50 femeninos), pertenecientes a la Colección Lambre (La Plata, Argentina). Para el diagnóstico de la patología se relevaron: a) labiación, b) generación de tejido óseo, c) porosidad en las superficies articulares, d) osteofitos verticales mayores a 2 mm y e) eburnación. Los resultados mostraron un 84,21% de individuos afectados sin diferencias entre sexos. Un 60% presentó AVA en la zona cervical, 76,8% en el área torácica, y 74,7% en la zona lumbar. En menores de 50 años fue afectado un 53,85%, porcentaje significativamente menor a los hallados en los rangos 51-70 y mayores de 70 (93,02% y 100% respectivamente). Con el envejecimiento, la severidad de las lesiones aumenta de manera significativa. Estos resultados confirman la alta prevalencia de la patología en nuestra población, la baja implicancia del sexo como factor desencadenante y la relación directa entre la afección y el proceso de envejecimiento

Are circulating Mg2+ levels associated with glucose tolerance profiles and incident type 2 diabetes?

Magnesium (Mg2+) is an enzyme co-factor that plays a key role in many biochemical reactions, as well as in glucose metabolism. Clinical evidences have demonstrated that depletion of serum Mg2+ increases exponentially with the duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Diabetes is associated with low Mg2+, and hypomagnesemia is associated with insulin resistance, inflammation, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In subjects at high risk of inflammation and insulin resistance, supplementation of Mg2+ alone ameliorates both phenotypes, slowing the development and progression of hepatic steatosis. We analyze the relationship between serum Mg2+ levels and the onset of T2DM in a large cohort of well-characterized adult white individuals participating in the CATAMERI study, who were reexamined after a mean follow-up of 5.6 ± 0.9 years. In our analysis we acquired a significant negative correlation between Mg2+ levels, fasting glucose, and 2h-post load glucose in subjects who underwent an OGTT. Moreover, Mg2+ levels correlated negatively with fasting insulin levels, and positively with the lipid profile. As for the detrimental effect of lower circulating Mg2+ levels, our data revealed a significant reduction of T2DM risk of about 20% for each 1 mg/dL increase of circulating Mg2+. The present results are consistent with the theory that Mg2+ supplementation could ameliorate insulin sensitivity reducing the risk to develop T2DM

ANALISI E STIMA DEL TRASPORTO SOLIDO FLUVIALE NEI BACINI CALABRESI

Over recent decades, Soil Erosion by Water (WSE) has become a severe issue worldwide, especially in European Mediterranean countries because they are subject to prolonged dry periods followed by heavy erosive rains. All this is very important in the case of river basins characterized by steep slopes and erodible soils. The paper analyzed and quantified river transport in Calabrian basins. Calabria is a region of Southern Italy that represents an interesting case study due to its geomorphological peculiarities for which it is generally subject to WSE. The analysis was carried out by applying the Erosion Potential Method (EPM), particularly reliable for rivers such as most of the Calabrian ones where most of the sediment transport is linked to the WSE and is divided into four main phases: morphometric characterization, estimate of average yearly precipitation and temperature, estimate of EPM coefficient, and estimate of river transport. The main result is that Calabrian rivers are characterized by a high river transport, especially in those with torrential and irregular hydrological regime

An update on lateral flow immunoassay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Over the last three years, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of novel diagnostic tests have been developed. Assays to evaluate the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 have been widely considered as part of the control strategy. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), to detect both IgM and IgG against SARS-CoV-2, has been widely studied as a point-of-care (POC) test. Compared to laboratory tests, LFIAs are faster, cheaper and user-friendly, thus available also in areas with low economic resources. Soon after the onset of the pandemic, numerous kits for rapid antibody detection were put on the market with an emergency use authorization. However, since then, scientists have tried to better define the accuracy of these tests and their usefulness in different contexts. In fact, while during the first phase of the pandemic LFIAs for antibody detection were auxiliary to molecular tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19, successively these tests became a tool of seroprevalence surveillance to address infection control policies. When in 2021 a massive vaccination campaign was implemented worldwide, the interest in LFIA reemerged due to the need to establish the extent and the longevity of immunization in the vaccinated population and to establish priorities to guide health policies in low-income countries with limited access to vaccines. Here, we summarize the accuracy, the advantages and limits of LFIAs as POC tests for antibody detection, highlighting the efforts that have been made to improve this technology over the last few years

Clostridioides difficile Infection in an Italian Tertiary Care University Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, mostly in frail patients. Notification is not mandatory in Italy, and data on incidence, risk of death, and recurrence are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine CDI incidence and risk factors for mortality and recurrence. The "ICD-9 00845" code in hospital-standardized discharged forms (H-SDF) and microbiology datasets were used to retrieve CDI cases at Policlinico Hospital, Palermo between 2013 and 2022. Incidence, ward distribution, recurrence rate, mortality, and coding rate were considered. The risk of death and recurrence was predicted through multivariable analysis. There were 275 CDIs, 75% hospital-acquired, the median time between admission and diagnosis was 13 days, and the median stay was 21 days. Incidence increased from 0.3 to 5.6% (an 18.7-fold increase) throughout the decade. Only 48.1% of cases were coded in H-SDF. The rate of severe/severe-complicated cases increased 1.9 times. Fidaxomicin was used in 17.1% and 24.7% of cases overall and since 2019. Overall and attributable mortalities were 11.3% and 4.7%, respectively. Median time between diagnosis and death was 11 days, and recurrence rate was 4%. Bezlotoxumab was administered in 64% of recurrences. Multivariable analysis revealed that only hemodialysis was associated with mortality. No statistically significant association in predicting recurrence risk emerged. We advocate for CDI notification to become mandatory and recommend coding CDI diagnosis in H-SDF to aid in infection rate monitoring. Maximum attention should be paid to preventing people on hemodialysis from getting CDI