"Mi Fuma il Cervello" self-portrait series of Alighiero Boetti: Evaluation of a conservation and maintenance strategy based on sacrificial coatings

"Mi Fuma il Cervello" ("steaming brain") is the iconic self-portrait of Alighiero Boetti, in which the artist is represented standing up while a copper hose lets water flow on his head. A hidden electric resistance heats the sculpture's head so that the splashing water forms a dense vapour mist as it comes in contact with the hot metal surface. Such system is normally active only during museum exhibitions and determines critical conservation issues due to the inevitable formation of a thick and adherent calcareous deposit. Recently, the Fonderia Artistica Battaglia (Milan, Italy) conducted an extensive conservative intervention aimed at retrieving the original aesthetic features of the bronze surface and its artificial patina finishing. A conservation strategy was proposed based on the use of a superficial coating, to protect the surface and to ease the removal of the calcareous deposits in view of future cleaning operations. Three siliconic commercial paints were selected and preliminarily applied to specimens that simulate the actual alloy. The efficacy, compatibility and durability of the treatments were tested by accelerated ageing test based on combined thermal and wetting cycles, representative of the real working conditions. A multi-analytical diagnostic approach was followed for the evaluation of the coatings characteristics and performances before and after aging: stereomicroscopy, ESEM-EDX, VIS-Light spectrophotometry, micro-FTIR, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The research showed that from the aesthetic point of view all coatings induce only limited and rather comparable initial colour variations. The permanence of the treatments upon ageing, used as durability indicator, was assessed in all cases but the protective layers appeared damaged and no longer continuous over the metal surface. The best performing treatment was identified and further tested with respect to re-treatability. The results provide indications for the general conservation and maintenance protocol

La evaluación del Servicio de Ayuda a Domicilio en Cataluña: un análisis con métodos mixtos

El objetivo del artículo es presentar la evaluación del Servicio de Ayuda a Domicilio (SAD) en Cataluña, una política pública compleja en la que intervienen diversos agentes y esferas de gobierno y que tiene por finalidad dar apoyo personal en el hogar a personas con dificultades de autonomía o situaciones de vulnerabilidad social. El SAD adquiere una relevancia estratégica ante los cambios sociales y, especialmente, el proceso de envejecimiento de la población. La evaluación analiza tres aspectos clave de la política desde su diseño e implementación y se ha realizado con métodos mixtos, cuantitativos y cualitativos. En primer lugar, analiza la coherencia del discurso y de la política; en segundo lugar, se centra en su implementación, con un enfoque en la variabilidad local de la cobertura e intensidad de servicio y las causas de ésta; y, en tercer lugar, analiza los cambios en los usos del SAD Social a raíz de la Ley de la Dependencia. El estudio pone de relieve la complejidad de las políticas sociales que se despliegan en diferentes ámbitos territoriales y las dificultades para abordar su diseño, aplicación y, especialmente, su evaluación

Study of molecular mechanisms of pro-apoptotic activity of NCX 4040, a novel nitric oxide-releasing aspirin, in colon cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite numerous studies aimed at verifying the antitumor activity of nitric oxide-releasing nonsteroidal antiflammatory drugs (NO-NSAIDs), little is known about the molecular targets responsible for their antineoplastic properties. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxicity of NCX 4040, a novel NO-aspirin with promising antineoplastic action, in <it>in vitro </it>human colon cancer models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effect on tumor growth was evaluated in four human colon cancer cell lines (LoVo, LRWZ, WiDr and LoVo Dx) by sulforhodamine B assay, oxidative stress by immunohistochemistry, apoptosis by laddering assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) by flow cytometry, and apoptosis- and chemoresistance-related markers by western-blot and real-time method, respectively. Prostaglandin E₂levels were determined by ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>NCX 4040 produced a higher cytotoxic effect in all the cell lines than that produced by other NO donors tested. In particular, in LoVo and LRWZ cells, NCX 4040 induced a cytocidal effect and apoptosis through p53 and NAG-1 expression, an early ΔΨ_mcollapse, and a sequential release of cytoplasmatic cytochrome c and caspase -9 and -3 active forms. 8-hydroxyguanine lesions, indicative of oxidative stress, were also observed. Conversely, in WiDr line, the drug caused a cytocidal effect, albeit not through apoptosis, and a concomitant increase in COX-2 activity. In LoVo Dx line, characterized by high levels drug resistance and DNA repair-related markers, only a cytostatic effect was observed, again in concomitance with the increase in COX-2 enzyme activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study highlights the multiplicity of mechanisms involved in sensitivity or resistance to NCX 4040 and could provide useful indications for tailored therapy by identifying potentially drug-responsive tumors.</p

Self-Assembly of Homo- and Hetero-Chiral Cyclodipeptides into Supramolecular Polymers towards Antimicrobial Gels

There is an increasing interest towards the development of new antimicrobial coatings, especially in light of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) towards common antibiotics. Cyclodipeptides (CDPs) or diketopiperazines (DKPs) are attractive candidates for their ability to self-assemble into supramolecular polymers and yield gel coatings that do not persist in the environment. In this work, we compare the antimicrobial cyclo(Leu-Phe) with its heterochiral analogs cyclo(D-Leu-L-Phe) and cyclo(L-Leu-D-Phe), as well as cyclo(L-Phe-D-Phe), for their ability to gel. The compounds were synthesized, purified by HPLC, and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and ESI-MS. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed details of the intermolecular interactions within the supramolecular polymers. The DKPs were then tested for their cytocompatibility on fibroblast cells and for their antimicrobial activity on S. aureus. Overall, DKPs displayed good cytocompatibility and very mild antimicrobial activity, which requires improvement towards applications

Validity and reliability of the kiddie schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia present and lifetime version DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL-5) Spanish version

Background: There are various language adaptations of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). In order to comply with the changes in DSM classification, the Spanish edition of the interview was in need of update and evaluation. Methods: K-SADS-PL was adapted to correspond to DSM-5 categories. All clinicians received training, and a 90% agreement was reached. Patients and their parents or guardians were interviewed and videotaped, and the videos were exchanged between raters. Factor analysis was performed and inter-rater reliability was calculated only in the case of diagnoses in which there were more than five patients. Results: A total of 74 subjects were included. The Factor Analysis yielded six factors (Depressive, Stress Hyperarousal, Disruptive Behavioral, Irritable Explosive, Obsessive Repetitive and Encopresis), representing 72% of the variance. Kappa values for inter-rater agreement were larger than 0.7 for over half of the disorders. Conclusions: The factor structure of diagnoses, made with the instrument was found to correspond to the DSM-5 disorder organization. The instrument showed good construct validity and inter-rater reliability, which makes it a useful tool for clinical research studies in children and adolescents

Exploring changes in children’s well-being due to COVID-19 restrictions: the Italian EpaS-ISS study

BackgroundWhile existing research has explored changes in health behaviours among adults and adolescents due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the impact of quarantine on young children's well-being is still less clear. Moreover, most of the published studies were carried out on small and non-representative samples. The aim of the EpaS-ISS study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the habits and behaviours of a representative sample of school children aged mainly 8-9 years and their families living in Italy, exploring the changes in children's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the immediately preceding time period.MethodsData were collected using a web questionnaire. The target population was parents of children attending third-grade primary schools and living in Italy. A cluster sample design was adopted. A Well-Being Score (WBS) was calculated by summing the scores from 10 items concerning the children's well-being. Associations between WBS and socio-demographic variables and other variables were analysed.ResultsA total of 4863 families participated. The children's WBS decreased during COVID-19 (median value from 31 to 25; p = 0.000). The most statistically significant variables related to a worsening children's WBS were: time of school closure, female gender, living in a house with only a small and unliveable outdoor area, high parents' educational level and worsening financial situation.ConclusionsAccording to parents ' perception, changes in daily routine during COVID-19 negatively affected children's well-being. This study has identified some personal and contextual variables associated with the worsening of children's WBS, which should be considered in case of similar events

Meta-analysis to implement alpha-synuclein in extracellular vesicles as a potential biomarker for parkinson’s disease

Background: In Parkinson’s disease (PD), exosomes carry α-synuclein (α-syn), a fibrillar protein aggregates with potential value as a biomarker. Objective: Evidence on blood levels of exosomal α-syn in PD patients and controls was reviewed for their consistency. Methods: Thirty-six studies on exosomal α-syn concentrations in PD were identified in a systematic literature search and meta-analysis. Results: Both raw and ratio-adjusted blood exosomal α-syn levels were consistently higher in PD patients than in controls. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was 1.54 (0.18-2.90, CI95%, p < 0.01) and 1.53 (0.23-2.83, CI95%, p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that exosomal α-syn concentrations could be a useful biomarker for PD