Evaluation of in vivo response of three biphasic scaffolds for osteochondral tissue regeneration in a sheep model

Osteochondral defects are a common problem in both human medicine and veterinary practice although with important limits concerning the cartilaginous tissue regeneration. Interest in the subchondral bone has grown, as it is now considered a key element in the osteochondral defect healing. The aim of this work was to generate and to evaluate the architecture of three cell-free scaffolds made of collagen, magnesium/hydroxyapatite and collagen hydroxyapatite/wollastonite to be implanted in a sheep animal model. Scaffolds were designed in a bilayer configuration and a novel "Honey" configuration, where columns of hydroxyapatite were inserted within the collagen matrix. The use of different types of scaffolds allowed us to identify the best scaffold in terms of integration and tissue regeneration. The animals included were divided into four groups: three were treated using different types of scaffold while one was left untreated and represented the control group. Evaluations were made at 3 months through CT analysis. The novel "Honey" configuration of the scaffold with hydroxyapatite seems to allow for a better reparative process, although we are still far from obtaining a complete restoration of the defect at this time point of follow-up

Genomic profiling distinguishes familial multiple and sporadic multiple meningiomas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Meningiomas may occur either as familial tumors in two distinct disorders, familial multiple meningioma and neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), or sporadically, as either single or multiple tumors in individuals with no family history. Meningiomas in NF2 and approximately 60% of sporadic meningiomas involve inactivation of the <it>NF2 </it>locus, encoding the tumor suppressor merlin on chromosome 22q. This study was undertaken to establish whether genomic profiling could distinguish familial multiple meningiomas from sporadic solitary and sporadic multiple meningiomas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared 73 meningiomas presenting as sporadic solitary (64), sporadic multiple (5) and familial multiple (4) tumors using genomic profiling by array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sporadic solitary meningiomas revealed genomic rearrangements consistent with at least two mechanisms of tumor initiation, as unsupervised cluster analysis readily distinguished tumors with chromosome 22 deletion (associated with loss of the <it>NF2 </it>tumor suppressor) from those without chromosome 22 deletion. Whereas sporadic meningiomas without chromosome 22 loss exhibited fewer chromosomal imbalance events overall, tumors with chromosome 22 deletion further clustered into two major groups that largely, though not perfectly, matched with their benign (WHO Grade I) or advanced (WHO Grades II and III) histological grade, with the latter exhibiting a significantly greater degree of genomic imbalance (P < 0.001). Sporadic multiple meningiomas showed a frequency of genomic imbalance events comparable to the atypical grade solitary tumors. By contrast, familial multiple meningiomas displayed no imbalances, supporting a distinct mechanism for the origin for these tumors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Genomic profiling can provide an unbiased adjunct to traditional meningioma classification and provides a basis for exploring the different genetic underpinnings of tumor initiation and progression. Most importantly, the striking difference observed between sporadic and familial multiple meningiomas indicates that genomic profiling can provide valuable information for differential diagnosis of subjects with multiple meningiomas and for considering the risk for tumor occurrence in their family members.</p

Progetto di allestimento e direzione lavori della Mostra "Filosofi Università Regime". Catalogo della Mostra: "Filosofi Università Regime. La scuola di Filosofia di Roma negli anni Trenta. Mostra storico-documentaria", Roma, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, 1985.

Progetto di allestimento e direzione lavori della mostra storico-documentaria "Filosofi Università Regime. La scuola di Filosofia di Roma negli anni Trenta", tenuta a Roma presso l'Istituto di Filosofia de "La Sapienza" a Villa Mirafiori, nei mesi ottobre-novembre 1995, e a Napoli nella sede di Palazzo Reale, nei mesi marzo-maggio 1986

An Exploration Tool for Concept Design: the Seakeeping Performance Evaluation of Patrol and Frigate Ships

At an early stage of naval ship acquisition and design process, it is necessary to perform, in a reasonable time, trade-off studies assessing different ship solutions, often identified by very few parameters. A significant topic during this analysis is the dynamic behavior in waves, dependant on both ship features and sea state. Unfortunately evaluation tools, able to efficiently tackle with the typical lack of details during the ship design concept phase are not so many. In this paper an investigation tool, based on a semi-analytical approach, has been developed for the vertical motions evaluation of a mono-hull ship. For the necessary tuning activity, performed with both analytical and numerical procedures, available experimental data have been exploited. The tool is assumed to be suitable for frigate and offshore patrol vessel typology. It is based on a modular approach and built with a very user-friendly graphic interface; it assures an easy exchange of input data and results with other interfaces. Besides the vertical motions, the code is able to predict other basic seakeeping properties i.e. slamming, green water, propeller emergence, accelerations and comfort characteristics. An operability index is defined combining the above mentioned factors, in order to allow a comprehensive fast evaluation of ship behavior, through a single parameter. With reference to this index, the influence of main ship dimensions on global seakeeping performances is analyzed together with the influence of some operational parameters (e.g. speed or sea state)

Progetto di allestimento e direzione lavori della Mostra "Filosofi Università Regime". Catalogo della Mostra: "Filosofi Università Regime. La scuola di Filosofia di Roma negli anni Trenta. Mostra storico-documentaria", Roma, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, 1985.

Progetto di allestimento e direzione lavori della mostra storico-documentaria "Filosofi Università Regime. La scuola di Filosofia di Roma negli anni Trenta", tenuta a Roma presso l'Istituto di Filosofia de "La Sapienza" a Villa Mirafiori, nei mesi ottobre-novembre 1995, e a Napoli nella sede di Palazzo Reale, nei mesi marzo-maggio 1986

Local triangle choice for impact computation in the tactile exploration of a virtual surface

Evaluating the intersection of the trajectory of the exploring finger, with the virtual surface representing the scene, is a key problem in the VIDET project of an aid for the visually impaired. A substitute for Delaunay triangulation, which permits of local computation for that goal, is proposed