This paper presents the results obtained from the thermal analysis of a set of geomaterials (clays, pyroclastic materials, and industrial recycled materials) to be used as raw materials for the ...synthesis of geopolymers, specifically designed for the conservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) buildings, particularly in seismic hazard zones such as Sicily. X-ray diffraction and gas volumetric analysis (calcimetry) were applied to this set of raw materials in order to characterize the materials from the chemical and structural point of view. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), TG coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize their thermal behavior. The statistical treatment of the thermogravimetric data by principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis highlights the direct relation between the thermal data and the material composition that will be exploited for the selection of the best materials to obtain geopolymers specifically designed for the conservation of CH buildings.
Microplastics generated by plastics waste degradation are ubiquitous in marine and freshwater basins, posing serious environmental concerns. Raman and FTIR spectroscopies, along with techniques such ...as pyrolysis-GC/MS, are typically used for their identification. We present a procedure based on gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with fluorescence detection for semi-quantitative selective determination of the most common microplastics found in marine shoreline sediments: poly(styrene) (PS) and partially degraded polyolefins (LDPEox). By operating the detector at either 260/280 or 370/420 nm excitation/emission wavelengths PS can be distinguished from LDPEox upon GPC separation. Semi-quantitative determination of microplastics contents is also possible: dichloromethane extracts of PS and LDPEox yield linear plots of fluorescence peak area vs concentration (0–5.0 mg/mL range) and were used as reference materials for quantification of the microplastics content in sand samples collected in the winter berm and dune sectors of a Tuscany beach in Italy.
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•Microplastics accumulation ashore is largely based on low density hydrocarbon polymers•Quantitative determination of microplastics from marine sediments requires suitable analytical protocols•Chromatographic separation with spectrofluorometric detection allows selective semi-quantitative analysis of poly(styrene) and degraded polyolefins•Unprecedented semi-quantitative and selective determination of microplastics from shoreline sand sediments is achieved
Abstract Geopolymers have been recently proposed for restoration of built heritage to substitute traditional mortars. Local materials and industrial wastes from the Italian region Sicily showed their ...potential as low-cost aluminosilicate sources for the preparation of geopolymers. Here, a set of Sicilian clays was studied by Thermogravimetry (TG) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and its mineralogical composition was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The raw materials were used to prepare geopolymers by alkaline activation with or without the addition of silicate. The thermal degradation profile of the final materials was studied by TGA and compared with that of the precursors, and the energetics of dehydration were investigated by DSC. Two statistical analyses (made by Principal Component Analysis) were performed on the TG data of raw materials and geopolymers and on the TG data of geopolymers and their mineralogical composition, respectively. The last analysis in particular showed a correlation between the mineralogical composition of the materials and the samples' thermal properties. Additional studies of samples subject to accelerated aging by UV irradiation and exposure to acetic acid vapors highlighted the different effects of these two agents on the samples’ stability. Graphical abstract
The interaction of lithium perfluoroheptanoate (LiPFHep) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of different molecular weights (300 < MW < 20 000 Da) was investigated in water at 298.15 and 308.15 K by the ...isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Density and sound velocity measurements were also performed at 288.15, 298.15, and 308.15 K, while viscosity and conductivity data were only collected at 298.15 K. The aggregation process of this surfactant on the PEG polymeric chain was found to be very similar to the process exhibited by the two homologous perfluorooctanoate and perfluorononanoate. Viscosity and ITC data indicated that the formation of polymer−surfactant complexes between PEG and LiPFHep also leads to a conformational change in the polymer. The aggregation of micelles of the lithium perfluoro surfactants on the PEG polymeric chain is characterized by a comparable thermodynamic stability, which results from a balance of enthalpy and entropy contributions, which both increase with the length of the surfactant hydrophobic chain.
Specific heats of aqueous solutions of lithium perfluoroalkanoates, from C
6
to C
9
, were determined at 298.15 K at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration. Infinite ...dilution apparent molar heat capacities are compared with literature data for corresponding salts with different counterions. Heat capacities of micellization of these surfactants in water were calculated from the specific heat data and also by measurements of the heat of micellization at two temperatures, 298.15 K and 308.15 K. The data were treated under the assumption of the pseudo-phase separation model. The two series of data agree in the case of perfluorononanoate but diverge for perfluorosurfactants with shorter hydrophobic chains. The results are interpreted in terms of the extent of the applicability of the adopted chemical model. Heat capacities of the micellization process obtained from experimental specific heats compare well with literature values relative to the sodium salts of the examined anions.
Abstract
Context
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a global health emergency, and infected patients with chronic diseases often present with a severe impairment. Adrenal insufficiency ...(AI) is supposed to be associated with an increased infection risk, which could trigger an adrenal crisis.
Objective
Our primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 symptoms and complications in AI patients.
Design and Setting
We conducted a retrospective case-control study. All patients were on active follow-up and lived in Lombardy, Italy, one of the most affected areas.
Patients
We enrolled 279 patients with primary and secondary AI and 112 controls (patients with benign pituitary lesions without hormonal alterations). All AI patients had been previously trained to modify their replacement therapy on stress doses.
Intervention
By administering a standardized questionnaire by phone, we collected data on COVID-19 suggestive symptoms and consequences.
Results
In February through April 2020, the prevalence of symptomatic patients (complaining at least 1 symptom of viral infection) was similar between the 2 groups (24% in AI and 22.3% in controls, P = 0.79). Highly suggestive COVID-19 symptoms (at least 2 including fever and/or cough) also occurred equally in AI and controls (12.5% in both groups). No patient required hospitalization and no adrenal crisis was reported. Few nasopharyngeal swabs were performed (n = 12), as indicated by sanitary regulations, limiting conclusions on the exact infection rate (2 positive results in AI and none in controls, P = 0.52).
Conclusions
AI patients who are adequately treated and trained seem to display the same incidence of COVID-19-suggestive symptoms and disease severity as controls.
Although most cases of low grade (G1) endometrial cancer (EC) do not behave aggressively, in rare instances, can progress in a highly aggressive manner. In this study we analyzed formalin-fixed, ...paraffin-embedded (FFPE) EC tissues to find novel clinical and biological features to help diagnosis and treatment of G1 ECs s in order to better stratify patient risk of recurrence. A retrospective cohort of FFPE specimens from patients with EC (n=87) and benign tissue specimens (NE) from patients who underwent a hysterectomy to treat other benign disease (n = 13) were collected. Total RNA and proteins were extracted and analyzed, respectively, by quantitative PCR and western blotting. NF-YAs is expressed and lamin A is down-modulated in all high grade (G2 and G3) ECs. In G1 ECs, NF-YAs expression is heterogeneous being expressed only in a subset of these tumours. Interestingly, the G1 ECs that express NF-YAs display low levels of lamin A similar to those present in G2 and G3 ECs. Of note, this pattern of NF-YAs and lamin A expression correlates with tumor aggressiveness assessed by comparative analysis with estrogen receptor (ER) status and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers thus suggesting its potential role as biomarker of tumour aggressiveness in G1 EC. In all grade ECs, lamin A is strongly downmodulated, being its expression inversely correlated with tumor aggressiveness and its loss of expression. We identified NF-YAs and lamin A expression levels as novel potential biomarkers useful to identify G1 ECs patients with risk of recurrence.
Patients with endometrial cancer (EC) and presumably with good prognosis may develop a recurrence indicating that the classification of this tumor is still not definitive and that new markers are ...needed to identify a subgroup at risk of relapse. The cell adhesion molecule L1CAM is highly expressed in several human carcinomas and has recently been described as a new marker for endometrial and ovarian carcinomas. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of L1CAM in recurrent EC.
In this work we have analyzed, by immunohistochemical and RT-qPCR analysis, the expression of L1CAM in a cohort of 113 endometrial cancers at different stages, which 50% have relapsed. As a predictor of good outcome, the tumors were also analyzed for the expression of miR-34a, a post-transcriptional regulator of L1CAM.
Among metastatic EC, the highest levels (60%) and the median level (24%) of L1CAM in tumors correlate with the progression, suggesting that the expression of this molecule is linked to the tumor component most involved in metastatic processes. We also found an inverse correlation between miR-34a and L1CAM protein expression, suggesting that miR-34a is a positive prognostic marker of EC.
Our results demonstrate the expression of L1CAM and miR-34a in EC as prognostic factors that identify subgroup of patients at high risk of recurrence suggesting for them more aggressive schedules of treatment.
Objective
primary empty sella (PES) represents a frequent finding, but data on hormonal alterations are heterogeneous, and its natural history is still unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the pituitary ...function of patients with PES over a long follow-up.
Design
multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolling patients referred between 1984-2020 to five Pituitary Units, with neuroradiological confirmed PES and a complete hormonal assessment.
Methods
we analyzed hormonal (including basal and dynamic evaluations), clinical and neuroradiological data collected at diagnosis and at the last visit (at least 6 months of follow-up).
Results
we recruited 402 patients (females=63%, mean age=51.5 ± 16 years) with PES (partial, total, undefined in 66%, 13% and 21%, respectively). Hypopituitarism was present in 40.5% (hypogonadism=20.4%, hypoadrenalism=14.7%, growth hormone deficiency=14.7%, hypothyroidism=10.2%, diabetes insipidus=1.5%; multiple deficiencies=11.4%) and hypeprolactinemia in 6.5%. Interestingly, hormonal alterations were diagnosed in 29% of incidental PES. Hypopituitarism was associated with male sex (
p
=0.02), suspected endocrinopathy (
p
<0.001), traumatic brain injury (
p
=0.003) and not with age, BMI, number of pregnancies and neuroradiological grade. A longitudinal assessment was possible in 166/402 (median follow-up=58 months). In 5/166 (3%), new deficiencies occurred, whereas 14/166 (8.4%) showed a hormonal recovery. A progression from partial to total PES, which was found in 6/98 patients assessed with a second imaging, was the only parameter significantly related to the hormonal deterioration (
p
=0.006).
Conclusions
this is the largest cohort of patients with PES reported. Hypopituitarism is frequent (40%) but hormonal deterioration seems uncommon (3%). Patients need to be carefully evaluated at diagnosis, even if PES is incidentally discovered.
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