Loco-regional treatment with temozolomide-loaded thermogels prevents glioblastoma recurrences in orthotopic human xenograft models

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary tumor of the central nervous system and the diagnosis is often dismal. GBM pharmacological treatment is strongly limited by its intracranial location beyond the blood–brain barrier (BBB). While Temozolomide (TMZ) exhibits the best clinical performance, still less than 20% crosses the BBB, therefore requiring administration of very high doses with resulting unnecessary systemic side efects. Here, we aimed at designing new negative temperature‐responsive gel formulations able to locally release TMZ beyond the BBB. The biocompatibility of a chitosan‐β‐glycerophosphate‐based thermogel (THG)‐containing mesoporous SiO2 nanoparticles (THG@SiO2) or polycaprolactone microparticles (THG@PCL) was ascertained in vitro and in vivo by cell counting and histological examination. Next, we loaded TMZ into such matrices (THG@SiO2‐TMZ and THG@PCL‐TMZ) and tested their therapeutic potential both in vitro and in vivo, in a glioblastoma resection and recurrence mouse model based on orthotopic growth of human cancer cells. The two newly designed anticancer formulations, consisting in TMZ‐silica (SiO2@TMZ) dispersed in the thermogel matrix (THG@SiO2‐TMZ) and TMZ, spray‐dried on PLC and incorporated into the thermogel (THG@PCL‐TMZ), induced cell death in vitro. When applied intracranially to a resected U87‐MG‐Red‐FLuc human GBM model, THG@SiO2‐TMZ and THG@PCL‐ TMZ caused a signifcant reduction in the growth of tumor recurrences, when compared to untreated controls. THG@SiO2‐TMZ and THG@PCL‐TMZ are therefore new promising gel‐based local therapy candidates for the treatment of GBM

Prevalence of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in acromegalic patients

Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) stimulate proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix production in osteoblastic cells. GH and IGF-1 also stimulate recruitment and bone resorption activity in osteoclastic cells. A chronic systemic GH and IGF-1 excess produces an increased bone turn over in acromegalic patients (pts). Osteoporosis, joint alterations and bone deformities have a great clinical relevance in acromegalic pts and favour mortality and morbility. In the present study we evaluate the still unclear GH/IGF-1 activity on bone, Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and risk of osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures (VF), in relation to gender and gonadal status in acromegalic pts

Seminario sulla poesia.

Il volume raccoglie gli atti di un seminario sulla poesia, svlto presso l'Isitituto filosofico di Reggio Emilia dedicato ad Antonio Banfi, al quale hanno partecipato quattro poeti di quattro diverse generazioni e tre critici. Nel libro si trovano riflessioni sulla poesia (poetica esplicita), indicazioni metodologiche su come leggere la poesia e considerazioni teoriche sulla definizione della poesia