Abstract
Background
Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging phenomenon in European countries and leads to decreasing trends in infant vaccine coverage. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of ...confidence and correct awareness about immunizations, which are crucial for the success of vaccination programmes.
Methods
As part of the NAVIDAD multicentre study, we examined vaccination confidence and complacency among a sample of 1820 pregnant women from 14 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's knowledge, beliefs and misconceptions, as well as their socioeconomic status, information sources about vaccines and confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service.
Results
Only 9% of women completely believed to the efficacy, necessity and safety of vaccinations. Almost 20% of them had misconceptions on most of the themes. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge considering educational level: women with a high educational level have less probability of obtaining a low knowledge score (odds ratio (OR) 0.43 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.54). The level of knowledge was also influenced by the sources of information: women who received information from their general practitioner (GP) and from institutional websites had a significantly lower chance of having misconceptions (OR 0.74 95% CI 0.58–0.96; OR 0.59 95% CI 0.46–0.74). Finally, the results underlined the influence of trust in healthcare professional information on the likelihood of having misconceptions (OR 0.49 95% CI 0.27–0.89).
Conclusions
The data suggest the efficacy of GPs and institutional websites as a source of information to contrast misconceptions and underline the importance of confidence in the healthcare system to increase complacency and confidence in vaccines.
In the last decade, the application of dynamic covalent chemistry in the field of polymeric materials has become the subject of an increasing number of studies, gaining applicative relevance. This is ...due to the fact that polymers containing dynamic functions possess a structure that affords reprocessability, recyclability and peculiar self-healing properties inconceivable for "classic" polymer networks. Consequently, the synthesis of a dynamic covalent chemistry-based polymer and its chemical, thermal, and mechanical characterizations are reported in the present research. In particular, oleic acid has been used as starting material to follow the founding principles of the circular economy system and, thanks to the aromatic disulfide component, which is the foundation of the material dynamic characteristics, the obtained polymer resulted as being reprocessable and self-healable. Moreover, the polymer can strongly interact with copper surfaces through the formation of stable Cu-S bonds. Then, the application of the polymer as a solvent-free reusable adhesive for copper was investigated by lap joint shear tests and comparisons with the properties of an analogous material, devoid of the disulfide bonds, were conducted.
Background
A rapid immune response is critical to ensure effective protection against COVID‐19. Platelets are first‐line sentinels of the vascular system able to rapidly alert and stimulate the ...immune system. However, their role in the immune response to vaccines is not known.
Objective
To identify features of the platelet‐immune crosstalk that would provide an early readout of vaccine efficacy in adults who received the mRNA‐based COVID‐19 vaccine (BNT162b2).
Methods
We prospectively enrolled 11 young healthy volunteers (54% females, median age: 28 years) who received two doses of BNT162b2, 21 days apart, and we studied their platelet and immune response before and after each dose of the vaccine (3 and 10 ± 2 days post‐injection), in relation to the kinetics of the humoral response.
Results
Participants achieving an effective level of neutralizing antibodies before the second dose of the vaccine (fast responders) had a higher leukocyte count, mounted a rapid cytokine response that incremented further after the second dose, and an elevated platelet turnover that ensured platelet count stability. Their circulating platelets were not more reactive but expressed lower surface levels of the immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibitory motif (ITIM)‐coupled receptor CD31 (PECAM‐1) compared to slow responders, and formed specific platelet‐leukocyte aggregates, with B cells, just 3 days after the first dose, and with non‐classical monocytes and eosinophils.
Conclusion
We identified features of the platelet‐immune crosstalk that are associated with the development of a rapid humoral response to an mRNA‐based vaccine (BNT162b2) and that could be exploited as early biomarkers of vaccine efficacy.
As part of an International consortium aiming at the characterization by NMR of the proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, we have obtained the virtually complete assignment of the backbone atoms of the ...non-structural protein nsp9. This small (12 kDa) protein is encoded by ORF1a, binds to RNA and seems to be essential for viral RNA synthesis. The crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 protein and other homologues suggest that the protein is dimeric as also confirmed by analytical ultracentrifugation and dynamic light scattering. Our data constitute the prerequisite for further NMR-based characterization, and provide the starting point for the identification of small molecule lead compounds that could interfere with RNA binding and prevent viral replication.
Background
Although discontinuation of antiplatelet agents at least 5 days before kidney biopsy is commonly recommended, the evidence behind this practice is of low level. Indeed, few non-randomized ...studies previously showed an equivalent risk of bleeding in patients receiving aspirin therapy.
Methods
We conducted a single center retrospective study comparing the risk of complications after percutaneous native kidney biopsy in patients who received low-dose aspirin (ASA) within 5 days from biopsy and those who did not. The main outcome was the difference in the incidence of major complications (red blood cell transfusion, need for selective arterial embolization, surgery, nephrectomy). Secondary outcomes included difference in minor complications, comparison between patients who received ASA within 48 h or within 3–5 days, identification of independent factors predictive of major complications.
Results
We analyzed data on 750 patients, of whom 94 received ASA within 5 days from biopsy. There were no significant differences in the proportion of major complications in patients receiving or not receiving ASA (2.59% and 3.19%, respectively, percentage point difference 1%, 95% CI − 3 to 4%,
p
= 0.74). Groups were also comparable for minor complications; among patients receiving ASA, there were no differences in major bleeding between those who received ASA within 48 h or 3–5 days from biopsy. Significant baseline predictors of major bleeding in our cohort were platelet count lower than 120*10
3
/microliter, higher diastolic blood pressure and higher blood urea.
Conclusions
Treatment with low-dose ASA within 5 days from kidney biopsy did not increase the risk of complications after the procedure.
Graphical abstract
The full exploitation of Composite Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) in so-called
design is still limited by the lack of adequate quality assurance procedures for checking the adhesive bonding ...assembly, especially in load-critical primary structures. In this respect, contamination of the CFRP panel surface is of significant concern since it may severely affect the bonding and the mechanical properties of the joint. During the last years, the authors have developed and tested an electronic nose as a non-destructive tool for pre-bonding surface inspection for contaminants detection, identification and quantification. Several sensors and sampling architectures have been screened in view of the high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scenarios requirements. Ad-hoc pattern recognition systems have also been devised to ensure a fast and reliable assessment of the contamination status, by combining real time classifiers and the implementation of a suitable rejection option. Results show that e-noses could be used as first line low cost Non Destructive Test (NDT) tool in aerospace CFRP assembly and maintenance scenarios.
Recent literature works focused on the analysis of laser irradiation on the strength of adhesive joints under quasi-static loading conditions. It has been demonstrated that laser surface preparation ...allows to remove impurity and weak boundary layers from the mating substrates and, depending on the energy density, it is also able to modify surface morphology promoting mechanical interlocking. In previous works, the authors assessed the effect of Yb-fiber laser ablation over the quasi-static strength and toughness, of aluminum and stainless steel adhesively bonded joints. The experimental results demonstrated the ability of laser irradiation to improve the mechanical properties of the joints. The aim of this work is to extend the scope of previous investigations to fatigue loading. Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) samples with laser treated aluminum substrates have been bonded with a two component epoxy adhesive. For comparison standard degreasing and grit blasting have been also deployed for samples preparation. The results have been compared in terms of cycles to failure and the fracture surfaces have been analyzed by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in order to investigate the mechanism of failure.
Background
Data on exercise activities in place, and on the interest for developing them in Nephrology Services in Italy is limited. To address this gap, we carried out this cross-sectional study to ...investigate the status of physical activity and exercise programs available in Italian Nephrology Centres. Additionally, research priorities on this topic were examined.
Methods
We developed a 14-item electronic survey, which consisted of multiple-choice questions covering exercise training programs, physical assessment, barriers to exercise practice and to exercise programs, exercise and physical activity counselling practices, perceived exercise benefits, literature evidence, and research priorities. Data on the characteristics of the centres were also collected.
Results
Sixty-two responses from Italian nephrology centres were collected. Ninety-three percent of the respondents were aware of the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of regular exercise programs for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Additionally, in 75% of centres the nephrologists believed that physical activity counselling should be performed by the nephrologists. However, only 26% of centres provided exercise programs, mainly for dialysis patients, and 63% never or infrequently assessed physical activity in the context of patient management. Eighty-nine percent of centres reported barriers to implementing exercise programs, including lack of funding, institutional disinterest, patient refusal, and negative attitudes of the healthcare personnel. Forty-six research priorities related to exercise in CKD patients were suggested, with the majority focusing on impact of exercise programs and physical activity on cardiovascular, nutritional, and psychosocial outcomes.
Conclusion
This survey highlights the limited availability of exercise programs and physical activity evaluation in clinical practice in Italian Nephrology Centres. However, the survey also revealed a strong interest for counselling CKD patients on physical activity and implementing exercise prescriptions and interventions.
Graphical Abstract
Two female patients (18 and 30 y old, body mass indexes 14.1 and 13.2 kg/m
2) with severe, restrictive anorexia nervosa developed sudden severe liver damage. In addition to overt protein-energy ...malnutrition, they showed marked hypotension, bradycardia, dry skin, acrocyanosis, and hypothermia. Most common causes of liver failure, such as hepatotropic viruses, hepatotoxic drugs, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine abuse, were excluded.
Therapeutic intervention consisted of immediate plasma volume support, progressive parenteral or oral nutritional rehabilitation, and parenteral potassium and phosphorus supplements to avoid the refeeding syndrome.
Improvement of initial clinical symptoms and rapid recovery of liver enzymes after this type of treatment suggest that severe liver damage in anorexia nervosa may be secondary to acute hypoperfusion.
Adhesive bonding is currently employed by automotive manufacturers to complement (or replace) welding in joining dissimilar materials. In order to reduce the impact on the existing manufacturing ...infrastructures, structural adhesives are deployed in the body shop but hardening is accomplished in the paint cure oven. Various adhesive formulations have been specifically developed for the implementation in the automotive manufacturing chain. However, it is very important to assess the mechanical behaviour of the joints which results from the peculiar curing strategy. In the present work, automotive grade single component epoxy and two component epoxy modified acrylic adhesives were evaluated. T-joints were fabricated using a cold rolled galvanized steel (FeP04) employed in the production of car body parts. The fracture toughness of the joints was determined using the test protocol proposed by the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS). Optical microscopy was employed to ascertain the mechanisms of failure. The results indicated that both adhesives were able to provide a fairly good mechanical response with minimum preparation of the mating substrates. Moreover, the obtained values of fracture toughness were shown to be essentially independent of the adhesive layer thickness.
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