Alberto Pellegatta (Milán, 1978)

Alberto Pellegatta trabaja como periodista y crítico de arte. Ha publicado Mattinata larga (Lietocolle, 2000) y L?ombra della salute (Mondadori, 2011). Licenciado en Filosofía por la Università degli Studi di Milano, en 1999 estudió con una beca en la Universidad de Barcelona (España). Sus textos se han recogido en antologías como I poeti di vent?anni (Stampa, 2000), Nuovissima poesía italiana (Mondadori, 2004) y en Almanacco dello Specchio (Mondadori, 2006). Obtuvo el Premio Nazionale di Meda y el Premio Amici di Milano. Traduce del español y escribe sobre arte (L?artista, il poeta, Skira, 2010). En 2005 fue ganador del prestigioso Premio Cetonaverde. Dirige la colección Poesía di ricerca y colabora con diferentes revistas y periódicos

A novel method to medicate local cv flaps in nipple reconstruction

Besides surgical technique related variables, post-operative care after nipple reconstruction with CV flaps is important for an satisfactory final result. We present a novel method to prepare a protective and sealing medication in order to minimize traumas to the new nipple. We found the silicone cap plunger of a 50cc syringe suitable for our purpose. It was applied over a non-adherent dressing and TNT gauze to avoid decubitus and fixed it with a steri-strip before covering with a sticking plaster. Analyzing 118 nipples casistic, reconstructed with a CV flaps technique, between January 2011 and June 2012 and medicated with the presented technique in the last six months considered, we noticed a reduction in partial loss of flap vitality and nipple reabsorption. The main advantages of the dressing technique we propose are the ease and rapidity in the preparation and availability of all materials used in every operation room or outpatient clinic. We believe that our technique of medication may reduce traumas to delicate vascularization of the new nipple, avoiding the partial or total loss of vitality and reabsorption of the flaps

A Case of Facial Lipoatrophy Secondary to Lupus Profundus Managed with Lipofilling Technique

Facial lipoatrophy is one of the most difficult complication in the patients with lupus profundus. In this paper, we present a case of a 55-year-old woman affected by lupus profundus, with a grade V lipoatrophy, treated with lipofilling technique. No complications were observed and results at 12 months were stable, natural, and symmetric

Reconstructive management of degloving trauma of male external genitalia using dermal regeneration template: A case report

Traumatic injuries of male external genitalia are rare and not usually life threatening; however, they can have psychological repercussions. The reconstructive management of these lesions is challenging and articulated. We report the case of a 38-year-old farmer suffering from a degloving wound on the external genitalia. The first reconstructive step used to treat the wound was the incorporation of a dermal regeneration template (Integra (R)) and accordingly partial-thickness skin grafts and local flaps. The follow-up 16 months after the first treatment was satisfying; sexual function had been restored. (C) 2013 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon

The Complex Work of Proteases and Secretases in Wallerian Degeneration: Beyond Neuregulin-1

After damage, axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) regenerate and regrow following a process termed Wallerian degeneration, but the regenerative process is often incomplete and usually the system does not reach full recovery. Key steps to the creation of a permissive environment for axonal regrowth are the trans-differentiation of Schwann cells and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this review article, we will discuss how proteases and secretases promote effective regeneration and remyelination. We will detail how they control neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) activity at the post-translational level, as the concerted action of alpha, beta and gamma secretases cooperates to balance activating and inhibitory signals necessary for physiological myelination and remyelination. In addition, we will discuss the role of other proteases in nerve repair, among which A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinases (ADAMs) and gamma-secretases substrates. Moreover, we will present how matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and proteases of the blood coagulation cascade participate in forming newly synthetized myelin and in regulating axonal regeneration. Overall, we will highlight how a deeper comprehension of secretases and proteases mechanism of action in Wallerian degeneration might be useful to develop new therapies with the potential of readily and efficiently improve the regenerative process

Resonant micro-opto-mechanical modulators fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining

Integrated modulators of optical phase or intensity are essential elements to reconfigure dynamically the operation of a complex waveguide circuit, or to achieve convenient optical switching within a fiber network. Thermo-optic effects are commonly exploited to achieve dynamic phase modulation in glass-based devices, since nonlinear optical effects are weak in such substrates. Thermo-optic modulators rely on electric resistive heaters patterned on top of the waveguides: they are reliable and easy to fabricate, but they suffer from slow response, dictated by the thermal diffusion dynamics. On the other hand, optically-coupled microstructures in glass, driven at their mechanical resonances, may provide interesting possibilities to achieve modulation of the optical signals in the kilohertz range and higher. In this work, we demonstrate integrated-optics intensity modulators based on micro-cantilevers with resonant oscillation frequencies in the tens-of-kilohertz range. The mechanical structures are realized in alumino-borosilicate glass substrate by water-assisted femtosecond-laser ablation. With the same femtosecond laser an optical waveguide is inscribed within the oscillating beam; a waveguide also continues in the substrate beyond the cantilever's tip. Since the entire device, with all its optical and mechanical parts, is realized in a single fabrication process, relative alignment is guaranteed. If the cantilever is at rest, light propagating in the internal waveguide yields maximum coupling to the remaining part of the waveguide. When the device is excited at resonance by means of a piezo-electric actuator, the cantilever oscillation produces periodical variations of the coupling efficiency, with an observed contrast higher than 10 dB

Massive de-gloving thigh injury treated by vacuum therapy, dermal regeneration matrix and lipografting

Frequently lower limb injuries are caused by road and work accidents. The young age of those affected coupled with the anatomical and functional peculiarities of this part of the body with regards to social life during adolescence make the treatment of the leg wound complex and challenging. We present two cases of young girls, victims of serious road accidents who were treated initially with frequent wound washings, vacuum therapy to stimulate granulation tissue, then dermal regeneration matrix (INTEGRA ® ) and split-thickness skin grafts. After one year, both patients treated with lipofilling have shown improved cosmetic results allowing a new social life

Photocatalytic Reduction of Nitrates and Combined Photodegradation with Ammonium

Bare titania and metal-promoted TiO2 catalysts were employed in the treatment of nitrates, which are ubiquitous pollutants of wastewater. The results show that the process can be carried out under visible light (from a white light LED lamp) and, in the best case, 23.5% conversion of nitrate was obtained over 4 h with full selectivity towards N2 by employing 0.1 mol% Ag/TiO2 prepared by flame spray pyrolysis. Moreover, the performance was worse when testing the same catalysts with tap water (11.3% conversion), due to the more complex composition of the matrix. Finally, it was found that photoreduction of nitrate can be effectively performed in combination with photo-oxidation of ammonium without loss in the activity, opening up the possibility of treating highly polluted wastewater with a single process. The latter treatment employs the two contaminants simultaneously as electron and holes scavengers, with very good selectivity, in a completely new process that we may call Photo-Selective Catalytic Reduction (Photo-SCR)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Ledderhose Disease: A Case Report

Ledderhose disease is disorder of the plantar aponeurosis. This disease is not so common and can be tackled with a surgical or conservative approach. A case of a 73-year-old man came to our attention who had a 26-year history of painless bilateral plantar nodules coalescing into an indurated mass. An ulcerative nodule had been noted in the last 16 months on the right foot, in the absence of trauma, not responsive to conservative treatment, so we decided to perform a biopsy. The histopatologic examination showed squamous cell carcinoma, with warty, well-differentiated, low-grade malignancy. Surgical treatment was suggested, so, in pneumoischemia, we made a surgical incision including the skin lesion. Then we proceeded to sculpture the anterolateral thigh fasciacutaneous flap to obtain adequate soft tissue coverage. The tumor was completely removed. Current reconstructive possibilities comprise a good anatomofunctional recovery even in the case of large demolition requests for the therapy of advanced cases of the disease described in this article. Correlation between Ledderhose disease and the formation of malignant tumors has not been made as yet, but perhaps an element that could unite these pathologies can be researched in the lively cell proliferation that characterizes both. It would be interesting to analyze the biological substrate, as well as the systemic and local levels, in patients where both diseases are manifested