I Romani nella media valle del Volturno: il santuario del Monte San Nicola a Pietravairano

Sulla base dei risultati delle indagini e delle campagne di scavo archeologico condotte dall'Università del Salento fra il 2002 e il 2015 in loc. Monte San Nicola, presso Pietravairano (Caserta, Italia), l'articolo mira ad analizzare alcuni aspetti connessi alla costruzione del monumentale e scenografico complesso santuariale di età tardo-repubblicana. In particolare, l'attenzione si evidenziano il rapporto intercorrente con le coeve attestazioni dell'architettura santuariale tardo-repubblicana di area campana e laziale, e la relazione, in termini di discontinuità, con la preesistente cinta muraria di età sannitica

San Gregorio Matese (Caserta). La necropoli di Serra Santa Croce

Risultati della campagna di scavo 2010 condotta dall'Università del Salento sul sito di San Gregorio Matese (Ce): dati preliminari dalla necropoli arcaic

Pietravairano (CE): il santuario del Monte San Nicola

Breve presentazione dei risultati delle campagne di scavo archeologico condotte nel monumentale santuario tardo-repubblicano del Monte San Nicola presso Pietravairano (CE). Il santuario è incentrato su un complesso teatro-tempio

La necropoli sannitica di San Gregorio Matese (Ce), loc. Serra Santa Croce

Sulla base dei risultati della campagna di scavo condotta dall’Università del Salento e dalla Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Salerno, Avellino, Benevento e Caserta nell’anno 2010, l’articolo illustra le pratiche funerarie che caratterizzarono nel corso dell’età tardo arcaica il settore esplorato della necropoli sannitica in loc. Serra Santa Croce (San Gregorio Matese, Caserta, Italy). Lo studio dei corredi funerari e l’analisi antropologica dei resti scheletrici evidenziano gli usi funerari e la cultura materiale della locale comunità, così come il ricorrente riscontro di traumi sui resti uman

Discovery of a Potent Dual Inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase with Antioxidant Activity that Alleviates Alzheimer-like Pathology in Old APP/PS1 Mice

International audienc

Discovery of a Potent Dual Inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase with Antioxidant Activity that Alleviates Alzheimer-like Pathology in Old APP/PS1 Mice

Combination of the scaffolds of the cholinesterase inhibitor huprine Y and the antioxidant capsaicin results in compounds with nanomolar potencies toward human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) that retain or improve the antioxidant properties of capsaicin. Crystal structures of their complexes with AChE and BChE revealed the molecular basis for their high potency. Brain penetration was confirmed by biodistribution studies in C57BL6 mice, with one compound (5i) displaying better brain/plasma ratio than donepezil. Chronic treatment of 10 month-old APP/PS1 mice with 5i (2 mg/kg, ip, 3 times per week, 4 weeks) rescued learning and memory impairments, as measured by 3 different behavioral tests, delayed the Alzheimer-like pathology progression, as suggested by a significantly reduced Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio in hippocampus, improved basal synaptic efficacy, and significantly reduced hippocampal oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Compound 5i emerges as an interesting anti-Alzheimer lead with beneficial effects on cognitive symptoms and on some underlying disease mechanisms

The Italian data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in transplanted patients support an organ specific immune response in liver recipients

IntroductionThe study of immune response to SARSCoV-2 infection in different solid organ transplant settings represents an opportunity for clarifying the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system. In our nationwide registry study from Italy, we specifically evaluated, during the first wave pandemic, i.e., in non-vaccinated patients, COVID-19 prevalence of infection, mortality, and lethality in liver transplant recipients (LTRs), using non-liver solid transplant recipients (NL-SOTRs) and the Italian general population (GP) as comparators. MethodsCase collection started from February 21 to June 22, 2020, using the data from the National Institute of Health and National Transplant Center, whereas the data analysis was performed on September 30, 2020.To compare the sex- and age-adjusted distribution of infection, mortality, and lethality in LTRs, NL-SOTRs, and Italian GP we applied an indirect standardization method to determine the standardized rate. ResultsAmong the 43,983 Italian SOTRs with a functioning graft, LTRs accounted for 14,168 patients, of whom 89 were SARS-CoV-2 infected. In the 29,815 NL-SOTRs, 361 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were observed. The geographical distribution of the disease was highly variable across the different Italian regions. The standardized rate of infection, mortality, and lethality rates in LTRs resulted lower compared to NL-SOTRs [1.02 (95%CI 0.81-1.23) vs. 2.01 (95%CI 1.8-2.2); 1.0 (95%CI 0.5-1.5) vs. 4.5 (95%CI 3.6-5.3); 1.6 (95%CI 0.7-2.4) vs. 2.8 (95%CI 2.2-3.3), respectively] and comparable to the Italian GP. DiscussionAccording to the most recent studies on SOTRs and SARS-CoV-2 infection, our data strongly suggest that, in contrast to what was observed in NL-SOTRs receiving a similar immunosuppressive therapy, LTRs have the same risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, mortality, and lethality observed in the general population. These results suggest an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in LTRS that is different from NL-SOTRs, probably related to the ability of the grafted liver to induce immunotolerance

Optimization of Donor-Recipient match and identification of the futile match cutoff. A national italian study on liver transplantation.

Intentional matching of liver transplant donor-recipient risk factors, supported by D-MELD (donor age 7 biochemical MELD), could offer a new therapeutic strategy with effects on survival. As yet, an extensive stratification of cases according to the futile transplant principle using a continous quantitative parameter has not been performed. To stratify the prognosis according to donor-recipient match and assess the predictive role of D-MELD together with covariates, a database detailing 5946 liver transplants performed in 21 Italian Centers (2002\u20132009) was analyzed. Primary endpoint was to evaluate the prognostic power of D-MELD and covariates in terms of 3-year patient survival. The futile-transplant cutoff (life-expectancy <50% at 5 years) was investigated. The database was divided into a training and a validation set. The adequacy of fit for both sets was tested using Hosmer-Lemeshow and C-statistics. Cases were stratified in ten D-MELD deciles. Significant differences among D-MELD deciles allowed regrouping them in three D-MELD classes (A 1628). D-MELD classes were used for regression analyses. At 3 years, the odds ratio (OR) for death is 2.03 (95% CI 1.44\u20132.85) in D-MELD class C versus class B (reference). The OR is 0.40 (95% CI 0.24\u2013 0.66) in D-MELD class A versus class B. Other significant covariates were HCV status (OR = 1.42; 95% CI 1.11\u20131.81), HBV status (OR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.51\u20130.93), re-transplant status (OR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.16\u2013 2.67) and low-volume transplant Center (OR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.11\u2013 1.99). Results were confirmed by Cox regressions. The \u201cfutilematch cutoff\u201d was identified only in HCV patients (D-MELD=1750, p < 0.001).Assuming the same high D-MELD value, an organ from an elderly donor is likely to fail in an old recipient or in an HCV recipient but not in an HBV recipient. The identification of predictive factors (D-MELD class and covariates) and the introduction of the futile cutoff may lead to formulate new organ-allocation policies. The futile matches should be proibited by national allocation rules. Fatal allocation of high-risk organs to high-risk patients should be avoided. Organs from young donors should not be allocated to recipients with a low biochemical MELD without additional risk factors

Ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, plus ribavirin for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 or 4 infection with cirrhosis (ABACUS): a prospective observational study

We ran a compassionate use nationwide programme (ABACUS) to provide access to ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with dasabuvir, plus ribavirin for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection and ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, plus ribavirin for HCV genotype 4 infection in patients with cirrhosis at high risk of decompensation while approval of these regimens was pending in Italy