Safety and Immunogenicity of Conventional Subunit and MF59-adjuvanted Influenza Vaccines in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-seropositive Patients

In this study of influenza vaccination, 37 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-seropositive patients were randomized to receive either a vaccine with a conventional subunit or one adjuvanted with MF59. Blood samples were collected at the time of vaccination, and then 30 and 180 days later, to evaluate immunogenicity, CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and HIV-1 RNA levels. Seroconversion rates against the three viral strains included in the vaccine ranged between 44% and 72% and 53% and 68% for the adjuvanted vaccine and the subunit vaccine, respectively. Other criteria of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency were also met. Vaccination was not associated with serious adverse events. Local and systemic effects were mild and of short duration. CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and viraemia levels were not negatively affected by vaccination. These results confirmed the safety and immunogenicity of these currently available vaccines in HIV-1-seropositive patients, thus supporting the recommendation for influenza immunization in this high-risk category

Enhanced follicular delivery of finasteride to human scalp skin using heat and chemical penetration enhancers

© The Author(s) 2020. This article is an open access publication. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.Purpose The aim of this work was to evaluate whether improved topical delivery of finasteride, focussed to the hair follicles of human scalp skin could be achieved with application of short durations of heat and use of specific chemical penetration enhancers. Methods Franz cell experiments with human scalp skin were performed with a range of chemical penetration enhancers at 32°C and 45°C to simulate normal and heated conditions. Selected chemical penetration enhancers were taken forward for finite dose Franz cell studies which examined the effect of heat produced by a prototype external heating system that supplied either 20 or 30 min of additional heat over both a 24 h and a 1 h time period. Results Short durations of externally applied heat significantly increased finasteride penetration into human scalp skin after 24 h. Analysis of drug distribution in the skin after 1 h and 24 h indicated that both heat and chemical penetration enhancer selection influenced drug delivery to the hair follicles. Conclusion The use of short durations of heat in combination with specific chemical penetration enhancers was able to increase the delivery of finasteride to human scalp skin and provide focussed drug delivery to the hair follicles.Peer reviewe

Soil organic carbon pool's contribution to climate change mitigation on marginal land of a Mediterranean montane area in Italy

To evaluate the mitigation potential provided by the SOC pool, we investigated the impact of woody encroachment in the 0–30 cm depth of mineral soil across a natural succession from abandoned pastures and croplands to broadleaves forests on the central Apennine in Italy. In parallel, to assess the effect of the land use change (LUC) from cropland to pasture, a series of pastures established on former agricultural sites, abandoned at different time in the past, were also investigated. Our results show that woody encroachment on former pastures and croplands contributes largely to mitigate climate change, with an increase of the original SOC stock of 45% (40.5 Mg C ha−1) and 120% (66.5 Mg C ha−1), respectively. Also the LUC from croplands to pastures, greatly contributes to climate change mitigation trough a SOC increase of about 80% of the original SOC (45.9 Mg C ha−1). The management of abandoned lands represent a crucial point in the mitigation potential of agriculture and forestry activities, and particularly the role of the SOC pool. A policy effort should focus on minimizing the risk of speculative management options, particularly when the value of woody biomass become convenient to supply new energy systems allowing monetizing a long term forests productivity. In conclusion, despite both the land abandonment and the LUC can have a different impact on the SOC pool under different climatic conditions, these results can be useful to improve the SOC estimates in the National greenhouse gases Inventory at country level. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Soil organic carbon pool's contribution to climate change mitigation on marginal land of a Mediterranean montane area in Italy

To evaluate the mitigation potential provided by the SOC pool, we investigated the impact of woody encroachment in the 0–30 cm depth of mineral soil across a natural succession from abandoned pastures and croplands to broadleaves forests on the central Apennine in Italy. In parallel, to assess the effect of the land use change (LUC) from cropland to pasture, a series of pastures established on former agricultural sites, abandoned at different time in the past, were also investigated. Our results show that woody encroachment on former pastures and croplands contributes largely to mitigate climate change, with an increase of the original SOC stock of 45% (40.5 Mg C ha−1) and 120% (66.5 Mg C ha−1), respectively. Also the LUC from croplands to pastures, greatly contributes to climate change mitigation trough a SOC increase of about 80% of the original SOC (45.9 Mg C ha−1). The management of abandoned lands represent a crucial point in the mitigation potential of agriculture and forestry activities, and particularly the role of the SOC pool. A policy effort should focus on minimizing the risk of speculative management options, particularly when the value of woody biomass become convenient to supply new energy systems allowing monetizing a long term forests productivity. In conclusion, despite both the land abandonment and the LUC can have a different impact on the SOC pool under different climatic conditions, these results can be useful to improve the SOC estimates in the National greenhouse gases Inventory at country level. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

131I-META-BENZYLGUANIDINE IN DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP OF NEUROBLASTOMA

not availabl