Effect of different lignocellulosic fibres on poly(ε-caprolactone)-based composites for potential applications in orthotics

This work compares the mechanical and thermal behaviour of fully biodegradable biocomposites based on polycaprolactone reinforced with three different natural fibres, namely hemp, sisal and coir, for potential applications in the field of orthoses. The same properties were further compared to those of two commercially available materials commonly used in the same prospective field. The results confirmed that the addition of natural fibres, irrespective of the origin of the fibres (leaf, bast or fruit) to a biodegradable matrix allows for significant improvement of the mechanical behaviour of the ensuing composites compared to traditional thermoplastic materials used in orthotics

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and SAR study of novel pyrazole analogues as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Part 2. Synthesis of rigid pyrazolones

Two series of novel rigid pyrazolone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis. Two of these compounds showed a high activity against MTB (MIC = 4 μg/mL). The newly synthesized pyrazolones were also computationally investigated to analyze if their properties fit the pharmacophoric model for antitubercular compounds previously built by us. The results are in agreement with those reported by us previously for a class of pyrazole analogues and confirm the fundamental role of the p-chlorophenyl moiety at C4 in the antimycobacterial activity

Synthesis, biological evaluation and SAR study of novel pyrazole analogues as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

As a continuation of our previous work that turned toward the identification of antimycobacterial compounds with innovative structures, two series of pyrazole derivatives were synthesized by parallel solution-phase synthesis and were assayed as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), which is the causative agent of tuberculosis. One of these compounds showed high activity against MTB (MIC = 4 μg/mL). The newly synthesized pyrazoles were also computationally investigated to analyze their fit properties to the pharmacophoric model for antitubercular compounds previously built by us and to refine structure–activity relationship analysis

Evaluation of the Photocatalytic Activity of a Cordierite-Honeycomb-Supported TiO2 Film with a Liquid–Solid Photoreactor

Anatase nanoparticles in suspension have demonstrated high photoactivity that can be exploited for pollutant removal in water phases. The main drawback of this system is the difficulty of recovering (and eventually reusing) the nanoparticles after their use, and the possible interference of inorganic salts (e.g., sulfates) that can reduce the performance of the photocatalyst. The present work describes the development of a cordierite-honeycomb-supported TiO2 film to eliminate the problems of catalyst recovery. The catalyst was then tested against phenol in the presence of increasing concentrations of sulfates in a specially developed recirculating modular photoreactor, able to accommodate the supported catalyst and scalable for application at industrial level. The effect of SO42− was evaluated at different concentrations, showing a slight deactivation only at very high sulfate concentration (≥3 g L−1). Lastly, in the framework of the EU project Project Ô, the catalyst was tested in the treatment of real wastewater from a textile company containing a relevant concentration of sulfates, highlighting the stability of the photocatalyst

Phase I/II trial of gemcitabine plus cisplatin and etoposide in patients with small-cell lung cancer

Objective: The objectives of this phase 1/11 study were to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, and activity of cisplatin, etoposide, and gemcitabine (PEG) in the treatment of previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients and Methods: Chemonaive patients received fixed doses of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) on days I and 8) and cisplatin (70 mg/m(2) on day 2) and escalating doses of etoposide (starting dose of 50 mg/m(2) on days 3,4, and 5) every 3 weeks. No prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors were used. Results: From September 1998 to April 2000, 56 patients with limited- or extensive-stage SCLC were enrolled and received a total of 235 cycles. Two different etoposide doses were tested in eight patients. At the second level (75 mg/m(2)), two out of two patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) and no further dose-escalation was attempted, thus an etoposide dose of 50 mg/m 2 was defined as the MTD. In the subsequent phase 11 evaluation, 48 additional patients were enrolled, for a total of 54 patients treated at the MTD. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 66.7 and 53.7%,, of patients, respectively. Non-hematologic toxicity was mild, with grade 3 diarrhea and fatigue as the main side effects. Two patients died of neutropenic sepsis (one at 75 mg/m(2) and the other at So I n g/In 2 etoposide). Ten complete and 29 partial responses were reported, for an overall response rate of 72.2% (95% confidence interval, 56.6-85.0%). The median duration of response and median survival were 8.0 and 10 months, respectively, with a 1-year survival probability of 37.5%. Conclusions: he combination of PEG is feasible and well tolerated as front-line chemotherapy in SCLC. A randomized comparison of this triplet is underway. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

EASL-ERN position paper on liver involvement in patients with Fontan-type circulation

Fontan-type surgery is the final step in the sequential palliative surgical treatment of infants born with a univentricular heart. The resulting long-term haemodynamic changes promote liver damage, leading to Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD), in virtually all patients with Fontan circulation. Owing to the lack of a uniform definition of FALD and the competitive risk of other complications developed by Fontan patients, the impact of FALD on the prognosis of these patients is currently debatable. However, based on the increasing number of adult Fontan patients and recent research interest, the European Association for The Study of the Liver and the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Diseases thought a position paper timely. The aims of the current paper are: (1) to provide a clear definition and description of FALD, including clinical, analytical, radiological, haemodynamic, and histological features; (2) to facilitate guidance for staging the liver disease; and (3) to provide evidence- and experience-based recommendations for the management of different clinical scenarios.</p

PMN-MDSC frequency discriminates active versus latent tuberculosis and could play a role in counteracting the immune-mediated lung damage in active disease

: Tuberculosis (TB), due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, is still the principal cause of death caused by a single infectious agent. The balance between the bacillus and host defense mechanisms reflects the different manifestations of the pathology. Factors defining this variety are unclear and likely involve both mycobacterial and immunological components. Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been shown to be expanded during TB, but their role in human TB pathogenesis is not clear. We evaluated the frequency of circulating MDSC by flow-cytometry in 19 patients with active TB, 18 with latent TB infection (LTBI), and 12 healthy donors (HD) as control. Moreover, we investigated the capacity of MDSC to modulate the mycobactericidal activity of monocytes. The association between MDSC level and TB chest X-ray severity score was analyzed. We observed that, unlike active TB, polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC are not expanded in LTBI patients, and, by performing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, we found that PMN-MDSC frequency supported the discrimination between active disease and LTBI. Interestingly, we observed an association between PMN-MDSC levels and the severity of TB disease evaluated by chest X-ray. Specifically, PMN-MDSC frequency was higher in those classified with a low/mild severity score compared to those classified with a high severity score. Moreover, PMN-MDSC can impact mycobacterial growth by inducing ROS production in Bacillus Calmette et Guerin (BCG)-infected monocytes. This effect was lost when tested with M. tuberculosis (MTB), In conclusion, our data indicate that the elevated frequency of PMN-MDSC in IGRA-positive individuals is associated with active TB. Our findings also pointed out a beneficial role of PMN-MDSC during human active TB, most likely associated with the limitation of inflammation-induced tissue damage

Cancer incidence in Priolo, Sicily: a spatial approach for estimation of industrial air pollution impact

The territory around the industrial Sicilian area of Priolo, Italy, has been defined as a contaminated site (CS) of national priority for remediation because of diffuse environmental contamination caused by large industrial settlements. The present study investigates the spatial distribution of cancer into the CS territory (period 1999-2006). Different geographical methods used for the evaluation of the impact of industrial air pollutants were adopted. Using the database of Syracuse Province Cancer Registry, gender-specific standardised incidence ratios were calculated for 35 tumour sites for the CS overall and for each municipality included in the CS. A cluster analysis for 17 selected neoplasms was performed at micro-geographical level. The identification of the priority index contaminants (PICs) present in environmental matrices and a review of their carcinogenicity have been performed and applied in the interpretation of the findings. The area has a higher cancer incidence with respect to the provincial population, in particular excess is registered among both genders of lung, bladder and breast cancers as well as skin melanoma and pleural mesothelioma and there is an a priori evidence of association with the exposure to PICs. The study highlights the need to provide different approaches in CSs where several exposure pathways might be relevant for the population. The presence of potential sources of asbestos exposure deserves specific concern

Understanding Tumor-Stroma Interplays for Targeted Therapies by Armed Mesenchymal Stromal Progenitors: The Mesenkillers.

Tumor represents a complex structure containing malignant cells strictly coupled with a large variety of surroundingcells constituting the tumor stroma (TS). In recent years, the importance of TS for cancer initiation, development,local invasion and metastases became increasingly clear allowing the identification of TS as one of the possibleways to indirectly target tumors. Inside the heterogeneous stromal cell population, tumor associated fibroblasts(TAF) play a crucial role providing both functional and supportive environments. During both tumor and stroma development,several findings suggest that TAF could be recruited from different sources such as locally derived host fibroblasts,via epithelial/endothelial mesenchymal transitions or from circulating pools of fibroblasts deriving form mesenchymalprogenitors, namely mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC). These insights prompted scientists to identifymultimodal approaches to target TS by biomolecules, monoclonal antibodies and, more recently, via cell basedstrategies. These latter appear extremely promising, although associated with still debated and unclear findings. Thisreview discusses on crosstalk between cancers and their stroma, dissecting specific tumor types, such as sarcoma,pancreatic and breast carcinoma where stroma plays distinct paradigmatic roles. The recognition of these distinctstromal functions may help in planning effective and safer approaches aimed either to eradicate or to substitute TSby novel compounds and/or MSC having specific killing activitie