Characterization and energy performance of a slurry PCM-based solar thermal collector: a numerical analysis

Flat plate solar thermal collector is the most common technology for solar energy conversion at the building scale. This technology has been established since long time and continuous developments have been achieved as time passed by; significant improvements of flat plate solar thermal collectors are thus now limited. A novel approach to increase further the performance of this technology is based on the exploitation of the latent heat of the heat carrier fluid. In order to assess this strategy, a previously developed numerical model of flat plate solar thermal collector with slurry PCM as heat carrier is herewith used to simulate the technology. The characterization and energy performance of such a system are herewith presented, based on the outcome of the numerical analysis. The results demonstrate that the novel approach is able to improve the performance of the system under different boundary conditions and in different climates: the improvement in the instantaneous efficiency is in the range 5-10%, while during the winter season the converted heat by the slurry PCM-based system is 20-40% higher than that of a conventional water based solar collector, depending on the climates – the colder the climate, the larger the improvement

Long-Term Retention Rate of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Italian Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Tofacitinib (TOFA) was the first Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) to be approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, data on the retention rate of TOFA therapy are still far from definitive. Objective: The goal of this study is to add new real-world data on the TOFA retention rate in a cohort of RA patients followed for a long period of time. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study of RA subjects treated with TOFA as monotherapy or in combination with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) was conducted in 23 Italian tertiary rheumatology centers. The study considered a treatment period of up to 48 months for all included patients. The TOFA retention rate was assessed with the Kaplan–Meier method. Hazard ratios (HRs) for TOFA discontinuation were obtained using Cox regression analysis. Results: We enrolled a total of 213 patients. Data analysis revealed that the TOFA retention rate was 86.5% (95% CI: 81.8–91.5%) at month 12, 78.8% (95% CI: 78.8–85.2%) at month 24, 63.8% (95% CI: 55.1–73.8%) at month 36, and 59.9% (95% CI: 55.1–73.8%) at month 48 after starting treatment. None of the factors analyzed, including the number of previous treatments received, disease activity or duration, presence of rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibody, and presence of comorbidities, were predictive of the TOFA retention rate. Safety data were comparable to those reported in the registration studies. Conclusions: TOFA demonstrated a long retention rate in RA in a real-world setting. This result, together with the safety data obtained, underscores that TOFA is a viable alternative for patients who have failed treatment with csDMARD and/or biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs). Further large, long-term observational studies are urgently needed to confirm these results

Development and First Validation of a Disease Activity Score for Gout

Objective: To develop a new composite disease activity score for gout and provide its first validation. Methods: Disease activity has been defined as the ongoing presence of urate deposits that lead to acute arthritis and joint damage. Every measure for each Outcome Measures in Rheumatology core domain was considered. A 3-step approach (factor analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and linear regression) was applied to derive the Gout Activity Score (GAS). Decision to change treatment or 6-month flare count were used as the surrogate criteria of high disease activity. Baseline and 12-month followup data of 446 patients included in the Kick-Off of the Italian Network for Gout cohort were used. Construct- and criterion-related validity were tested. External validation on an independent sample is reported. Results: Factor analysis identified 5 factors: patient-reported outcomes, joint examination, flares, tophi, and serum uric acid (sUA). Discriminant function analysis resulted in a correct classification of 79%. Linear regression analysis identified a first candidate GAS including 12-month flare count, sUA, visual analog scale (VAS) of pain, VAS global activity assessment, swollen and tender joint counts, and a cumulative measure of tophi. Alternative scores were also developed. The developed GAS demonstrated a good correlation with functional disability (criterion validity) and discrimination between patient- and physician-reported measures of active disease (construct validity). The results were reproduced in the external sample. Conclusion: This study developed and validated a composite measure of disease activity in gout. Further testing is required to confirm its generalizability, responsiveness, and usefulness in assisting with clinical decisions

Extent and features of liver steatosis in vitro pave the way to endothelial dysfunction without physical cell-to-cell contact

Background and aims: Several chronic multifactorial diseases originate from energy unbalance between food intake and body energy expenditure, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Vascular endothelium plays a central role in body homeostasis, and NAFLD is often associated with endothelial dysfunction (ED), the first step in atherosclerosis. Both sugars and fatty acids (FAs) are fuel sources for energy production, but their excess leads to liver steatosis which may trigger ED through a network of mechanisms which need to be clarified. Here, we investigated the crosstalk pathways between in vitro cultured steatotic hepatocytes (FaO) and endothelial cells (HECV) being mediated by soluble factors. Methods and results: We employed the conditioned medium approach to test how different extent and features of hepatic steatosis distinctively affect endothelium leading to ED. The steatogenic media collected from steatotic hepatocytes were characterized by high triglyceride content and led to lipid accumulation and fat-dependent dysfunction in HECV cells. We found a parallelism between (i) extent of hepatocyte steatosis and level of lipid accumulation in HECV cells; (ii) type of hepatocyte steatosis (with macro- or microvesicular LDs) and extent of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide release and expression of ED markers in HECV cells. Conclusions: The present findings seem to suggest that, in addition to triglycerides, other soluble mediators should be released by steatotic hepatocytes and may influence lipid accumulation and function of HECV cells. Further studies need to depict the exact profile of soluble factors involved in steatotic hepatocyte-endothelium crosstalk

Protective effects of extracts from Ephedra foeminea Forssk fruits against oxidative injury in human endothelial cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ephedra foeminea is a member of the Ephedraceae family which is widespread in the eastern Mediterranean area. In Lebanon, Ephedra is a popular remedy in traditional medicine to prevent and/or counteract many stress oxidative-related diseases like inflammation and bacterial infections. Aim of the study: Oxidative stress leads to endothelial cell dysfunction, and is a major factor contributing to etiology of atherosclerosis and related diseases. This study aims to investigate the antioxidant and cytoprotective potential of extracts from E. foeminea fruits on human endothelial cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to mimic in vitro vascular endothelium dysfunction. Materials and methods: Different extracts of E. foeminea fruits were prepared using pure ethanol (EE), methanol/water (EMW), pure hexane (Ehex) or ethyl acetate/water (Epoly) as extraction solvents. The phenolome profile of each extract was characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Total phenolic and flavonoid content, and radical scavenging properties of the extracts were assessed spectrophotometrically. Then, the effects on human endothelial cells HECV were evaluated. Results: Epoly extract showed the highest phenol and flavonoid content, and the highest radical scavenging capacity. On H2O2-insulted HECV cells Epoly was able: (i) to counteract the ROS/RNS production and lipid peroxidation; (ii) to rescue the ROS-dependent decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential; (iii) to counteract the apoptosis induction; (iv) to restore endothelial cell viability and migration. Conclusions: The findings indicated that the polyphenol-enriched extract Epoly from E. foeminea fruits is endowed with in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects and might be used as nutraceutical for treating ROS-related endothelium dysfunction and inflammation

working dogs in a contaminatd environment, problems and possible work solutions in safety

use of working dog during emergencie

abstract: working dogs in a contaminatd environment, problems and possible work solutions in safety

Purpose: Identification of vulnerabilities and complications in the use of Search&Rescue Dogs; the analysis starts from events, endemic in Italy, like asbestos in the rubble, especially if the threat is discovered too late, until analyzing scenarios of terrorism and C.B.R.N.e. Background: Each event requires a coordinated response of the entire rescue’s system, standardized interforce protocols, highly qualified and periodically trained personnel. The current Italian rescue’s system is very fragmented and it can easily put the operators involved in scenario at risk Method and materials: Study and analysis of rescue’s operations in Italy. Analysis of procedures and protocols of agencies, institutions, and auxiliary and voluntary organizations on events involving Hazardous Materials (Hazmat). Finding: The cases analyzed, and the absence of interforce procedures, make it clear that working dogs and/or search dogs and their operators (handlers) are highly exposed to the risks from Hazmat, C.B.R.N.e. and Terrorism. Furthermore, there are no effective and certified decontamination’s procedures for animals, and it is necessary to provide suitable health’s surveillance for dogs and their operators (handlers). Conclusions: Delays in response adjustment can now be a significant cause of loss among rescuers and their dogs

Aquaporin-9 is involved in the lipid-lowering activity of the nutraceutical silybin on hepatocytes through modulation of autophagy and lipid droplets composition

Hepatic steatosis is the hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance with potential evolution towards non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Key roles of autophagy and oxidative stress in hepatic lipid accumulation and NAFLD progression are recognized. Here, we employed a rat hepatoma cell model of NAFLD progression made of FaO cells exposed to oleate/palmitate followed or not by TNF\u3b1 treatment to investigate the molecular mechanisms through which silybin, a lipid-lowering nutraceutical, may improve hepatic lipid dyshomeostasis. The beneficial effect of silybin was found to involve amelioration of the fatty acids profile of lipid droplets, stimulation of the mitochondrial oxidation and upregulation of a microRNA of pivotal relevance in hepatic fat metabolism, miR-122. Silybin was also found to restore the levels of Aquaporin-9 (AQP9) and glycerol permeability while reducing the activation of the oxidative stress-dependent transcription factor NF-\u3baB, and autophagy turnover. In conclusion, silybin was shown to have molecular effects on signaling pathways that were previously unknown and potentially protect the hepatocyte. These actions intersect TG metabolism, fat-induced autophagy and AQP9-mediated glycerol transport in hepatocytes