Enhanced lipid extraction from unbroken microalgal cells using enzymes

The marine microalga Nannochloropsis sp. was chosen as a model organism to investigate the feasibility of using cell wall-degrading enzymes to enhance the recovery of intracellular lipids. An enzyme cocktail containing galactomannanase, 1,4-β-cellobiosidase and β-glucosidase as main components was prepared from commercial enzyme preparations. The effects of pretreatment time (P), enzyme dosage (D), pH and temperature (T) on the amount of extracted lipids were investigated using response surface methodology. Under the best conditions (P = 90 min, D = 1.3 mg g–1, pH = 5, T = 36°C) over 70% of the lipids present in the microalga were recovered. SEM and TEM characterization of enzyme-treated microalgae showed extensive cell damage with significant disruption of the cell wall and release of algal material. Overall, the results of this study strongly support the use of commercial enzyme preparations to improve lipid recovery from microalgae and provide useful information on the influence of process conditions on the treatment efficiency

Aggressive gastric carcinoma producing alpha-fetoprotein: a case report and review of the literature.

A 65-year-old man presented to our hospital with abdominal pain, dyspepsia and anorexia. Laboratory tests showed an altered liver function and abdomen ultrasonography revealed multiple liver nodules, suspected to be metastatic lesions. Serous tumor markers were elevated and a very high level of alpha-fetoprotein was found. Computer tomography confirmed the hepatic lesions and disclosed a thickening of the lesser curvature of the gastric wall. A subsequent endoscopy showed an ulcer on the lesser curvature. Biopsies taken from the gastric ulcer and the liver nodule revealed an adenocarcinoma, both of gastric origin. Shortly after the diagnosis, the patient's condition worsened and he died only 15 days later. This case report illustrates how alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric adenocarcinomas have a high incidence of venous and lymphatic invasion and a rapid hepatic spread with a very poor prognosis

Rumination and emotional profile in children with specific learning disorders and their parents

Rumination, namely a cognitive process characterized by a repetitive thinking focused on negative feelings and thoughts, is a significant predictor for the onset of internalizing symptoms and has also been found to run in families. Rumination has never been studied in children with specific learning disorders (SLD), a population that, due to its condition, might encounter more difficulties in daily life and is at risk of increased psychological distress, compared to typically developing (TD) peers. The present study covers this gap by examining whether children with SLD, and their parents, tend to use rumination more than TD peers and their parents. The study also explores associations between rumination and both children’s and parents’ emotional profile. Results on 25 children with SLD and 25 TD peers and their parents (n = 150), showed higher levels of rumination in children with SLD when referring to a negative social situation, as well as higher levels of rumination in both mothers and fathers of children with SLD. Modest correlations between parents’ and children’s rumination traits were also found. This study offers evidence on rumination as a possible risk factor for children with SLD, particularly considering when they deal with social contexts

Use of tranexamic acid in total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE: different strategies have been developed to reduce blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The efficacy of both systemic and local tranexamic acid (TXA) administration is demonstrated in the literature. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of systemic, local and combined (systemic + local) administration of TXA in reducing blood loss after TKA. METHODS: we enrolled all patients submitted to a primary TKA in our department between November 2014 and August 2015. They were divided into three groups corresponding to the method of TXA administration used: intravenous (IV), intra-articular (IA), and a combination of the two. Demographic data, as well as preoperative hemoglobin and platelet levels, were collected. The primary outcome was the maximum hemoglobin loss, while the secondary outcomes were the amount of blood in the drain (cc/hour) and the rate of transfusions; postoperative pain was also assessed. Student’s t-test or a χ(2) test was used to evaluate between-group differences, using p<0.05 as the cut-off for statistically significant differences. RESULTS: the sample comprised 34 patients: IV, 10 cases; IA, 15 cases, and combined (IV + IA), 9 cases. The average age of the patients was 71.1±6.4 years. No significant differences in the outcome measures were found between the groups, with the exception of a significantly lower maximum hemoglobin loss in the combined versus the IV group (p=0.02). There were no differences between the groups in the amount of blood in the drain or the rate of transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: the data from this preliminary study, as well as data from the literature, confirm that TXA administration is safe and effective in reducing total blood loss in TKA, and no administration protocol seems to be superior to the others. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparative study

A methodology hazard-based for the mitigation of the radon risk in the urban planning

A type of significant impact is the risk from radon gas in indoor settings, which is not been yet listed among the types of risk canonically considered in planning, such as the hydrogeological, seismic and volcanic risk, by fires and relevant accident risk (Castelluccio et al, 2012). The radon is a radioactive gas, that was classified since 1988 by the WHO as a carcinogen of the Group I (IARC-WHO, 1988), i.e. an oncogenic factor proved on humans. The European Union, transposing these indications, requires to the Member States, through the EU Directive, 59, 2013, the identification of areas particularly prone to radon, known as radon prone areas in the literature. However, currently there is still no international standard for the mapping of these areas. Moreover, this Directive defers the mitigation of the phenomenon to the building regulations. This research shows a methodology to build the risk maps of radon at the urban scale, as you can regulate and specify mitigation actions only at this spatial level

A methodology hazard-based for the mitigation of the radon risk in the urban planning

A type of significant impact is the risk from radon gas in indoor settings, which is not been yet listed among the types of risk canonically considered in planning, such as the hydrogeological, seismic and volcanic risk, by fires and relevant accident risk (Castelluccio et al, 2012). The radon is a radioactive gas, that was classified since 1988 by the WHO as a carcinogen of the Group I (IARC-WHO, 1988), i.e. an oncogenic factor proved on humans. The European Union, transposing these indications, requires to the Member States, through the EU Directive, 59, 2013, the identification of areas particularly prone to radon, known as radon prone areas in the literature. However, currently there is still no international standard for the mapping of these areas. Moreover, this Directive defers the mitigation of the phenomenon to the building regulations. This research shows a methodology to build the risk maps of radon at the urban scale, as you can regulate and specify mitigation actions only at this spatial level

A methodology hazard-based for the mitigation of the radon risk in the urban planning

A type of significant impact is the risk from radon gas in indoor settings, which is not been yet listed among the types of risk canonically considered in planning, such as the hydrogeological, seismic and volcanic risk, by fires and relevant accident risk (Castelluccio et al, 2012). The radon is a radioactive gas, that was classified since 1988 by the WHO as a carcinogen of the Group I (IARC-WHO, 1988), i.e. an oncogenic factor proved on humans.The European Union, transposing these indications, requires to the Member States, through the EU Directive, 59, 2013, the identification of areas particularly prone to radon, known as radon prone areas in the literature. However, currently there is still no international standard for the mapping of these areas. Moreover, this Directive defers the mitigation of the phenomenon to the building regulations.This research shows a methodology to build the risk maps of radon at the urban scale, as you can regulate and specify mitigation actions only at this spatial level

Non-invasive assessment of fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in Western countries, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. It currently affects approximately 30% of adults and 10% of children and adolescents. The resulting increase in the number of patients with NAFLD is expected to translate into increased numbers of patients with liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this context, it is particularly important to identify patients at risk for progressive chronic liver disease. Currently, liver biopsy is the gold standard to diagnose non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and to establish the presence and stage of fibrosis. Due to the remarkable increase in the prevalence of NAFLD and the concomitant efforts in developing novel therapies for patients with NASH, non-invasive, simple, reproducible, and reliable noninvasive methodologies are needed. This paper provides a concise overview of the role of non-invasive diagnostic tools for the determination of presence and extent of fibrosis in NAFLD patients, with particular emphasis on the methods currently available in clinical practice