Among various size reduction techniques, high-energy ball milling is one of the most attractive means for plant-based foods. The objectives of the work were to investigate the influence of ball ...diameters (3, 6, and 13 mm) and milling time (2, 4, and 6 h) on particle size and microstructural properties of quinoa flours. Particle size analysis demonstrated that ball-milled particles were mostly in the range of nanoscales (122–295 nm). A longer milling time with larger balls significantly increased the particles to microscale (3.58 μm). The scanning electron microscopy displayed the conversion of quinoa starch granules into flakes after ball milling, however, the X-ray diffraction crystallinity peak observed at a 2θ value of 19–20° did not change. The AFM roughness parameters, arithmetic and squared mean heights of flours increased with increasing ball diameters. These results provided new insights for the application of ball milling, in particular in functional foods and pickering emulsion.
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•High-energy ball milling treatment produced quinoa flours in the nanoscale range.•Increasing milling time agglomerated ground particles, resulting in the production of larger particles.•Ball diameter or time did not affect the crystalline peak of quinoa starch.•The surface roughness and height parameters of flours increased after ball-milling.
For tissue engineering applications, the distribution and growth of cells on a scaffold are key requirements. The potential of biodegradable poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer with different ...microstructures, as scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering was investigated. In this study, an attempt was made to develop porous nanofibrous scaffolds by the electrospinning method. In this process, polymer fibers with diameters in the nanometer range are formed by subjecting a polymer fluid jet to a high electric field. Attempt was also made to develop microbraided and aligned microfiber scaffolds. A polymer film scaffold was made by solvent casting method. C17.2 nerve stem cells were seeded and cultured on all the four different types of scaffolds under static conditions for 3 days. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the nerve stem cells adhered and differentiated on all the scaffolds and supported neurite outgrowth. Interesting observation was seen in the aligned microfiber scaffolds, where the C17.2 nerve stem cells attached and differentiated along the direction of the fibers. The size and shape of the cell-polymer constructs remained intact. The present study suggests that PLGA is a potential scaffold for nerve tissue engineering and predicts the orientation and growth of nerve stem cells on the scaffold.
Objectives
Switching from tenofovir (TDF) to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) affects lipid profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this results in an increased frequency of patients with ...low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) above their cardiovascular‐related target.
Methods
All HIV patients switching from TDF to TAF, with no changes of the anchor drug, and with plasma lipids available within 6 months before and after the switch, were included. Demographic, HIV‐related parameters, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and lipid profile on both TDF and TAF were collected. The CV risk score and the relative target of LDL for each patient were calculated according to 2016 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Modifications in lipid profiles and in the prevalence of patients with LDL above their CV‐related target were evaluated after switch to TAF.
Results
Overall, 221 HIV patients were included, according to CV risk: 55% at low risk, 34% at moderate risk, and 11% at high/very high risk. By analysing lipid profiles according to CV risk, 38% of patients on TDF had LDL above their CV target; this prevalence increases to 60% after switching to TAF (P < 0.0001). The presence of cobicistat in the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimen was associated with an increased risk of LDL above the CV‐related target after switch to TAF adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1–5.1, P = 0.03) and with an increased prescription of lifestyle/therapeutic intervention (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7–5.3, P < 0.0001).
Discussion
Switching from TDF to TAF affects lipid parameters, and data from real life suggest a clinical relevance of this worsening that often leads clinicians to implement lifestyle/therapeutic interventions.
The protease inhibitor (PI) darunavir (DRV) has proven to be highly effective and well tolerated for HIV treatment. The DAD (Data collection on Adverse Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs) cohort showed an ...increased 5-year cumulative cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients given various PIs, including DRV, whereas two other recent studies found no association between DRV and CV diseases.
We performed a post-hoc analysis of CV adverse events (CVAEs) in an Italian cohort, the TMC114-HIV4042 observational study, where 875 patients treated with ritonavir-boosted DRV-based regimens were followed for a total of 1,566 patient-years.
We observed 23 CVAEs of any type, including 17 12 (95%CI, 7-19) per 1,000 patient-years primary; 14 10 (95%CI, 5-17) per 1,000 patient-years were primary Framingham-type general CVAEs, close to what expected according to the Framingham algorithm based on traditional risk factors. Age and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the time of study enrolment were the only relevant (
<0.01) independent predictors of CVAEs in all models; patients with any CVAE were on average 10 years older and had an SBP 14 mmHg higher than patients without CVAEs. When controlling for age and SBP, the association with other traditional factors, including serum lipids, and with HIV-specific factors was not statistically significant (
>0.05). Models that also adjusted for previous ARV exposure showed no statistically significant association between any-type CVAEs and either DRV doses, 1,200 or 800 mg/daily (as also suggested by propensity score stratification), or previous DRV exposure duration.
We found no evidence of a relationship between DRV use and increased CV risk.
The technique of microbraiding with modification was employed as a novel method for the fabrication of fibrous tubular scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering purposes. The biodegradable polymers used ...in this study were poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (10:90) and chitosan. The polymeric fibers were microbraided around a Teflon mandrel to make it as a tubular construct. The conduits were then studied for their surface morphology, swelling behaviour and biocompatibility. The surface morphology was analysed by scanning electron microscope, swelling behaviour by weight increase due to water uptake and biocompatibility by in vitro cytotoxicity assessment in terms of cell morphology and cell viability by the MTT assay of polymer extract treated cells. These conduits may also be used for regeneration of tissues, which require tubular scaffolds such as blood vessel, spinal cord, intestine etc.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of including lateral spine X‐ray in the screening of bone diseases in HIV‐positive patients.
Methods
A total of 194 HIV‐positive ...patients underwent dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA), lateral spine X‐ray and bone biochemical analysis. Vertebral fractures were identified using a morphometric analysis of X‐rays and classified using the semiquantitative scoring system of Genant et al. For each patient, a spine deformity index (SDI) score was calculated by summing the grades of vertebral deformities. Reductions in vertebral body height of > 25% were considered vertebral fractures, and those < 25% were considered vertebral deformities. Risk factors associated with vertebral fractures were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results
Vertebral fractures were detected in 24 patients (12.4%) and vertebral deformities in 17 patients (8.7%); 153 patients (78.9%) did not show any vertebral deformity. Among patients with fractures, only two with SDI > 10 reported lumbar pain; the remaining were asymptomatic. Patients over 50 years old showed a higher prevalence of vertebral fracture 24.4% versus 11.8% in patients 41–50 years old (P = 0.05) and 1.9% in patients ≤ 40 years old (P = 0.04). No significant increase in the prevalence according to bone mineral density (BMD) reduction was observed, and 70% of fractures were diagnosed in nonosteoporotic patients. Older age adjusted odds ratio 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.13; P = 0.001 and steroid use (adjusted odds ratio 3.64; 95% CI 1.29–10.3; P = 0.01) were independently associated with vertebral fracture; no association was found with HIV‐ or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)‐related variables.
Conclusions
A prevalence of vertebral fractures of 12.4% was observed in our HIV‐positive cohort. Given that two‐thirds of fractures occurred in nonosteoporotic patients, spine X‐ray may be considered in patients at increased risk, irrespective of BMD; that is, in elderly patients and/or patients using steroids.
Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate whether HIV diagnosis affected reproductive planning over time and to assess independent predictors of abortion overall and following HIV diagnosis.
...Methods Donne con Infezione da HIV (DIDI) is an Italian multicentre study based on a questionnaire survey carried out in 585 HIV‐positive women between November 2010 and February 2011. The incidence and predictors of abortion were measured by person‐years analysis and Poisson regression.
Results The crude incidence rate of abortion was 18.8 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.5–21.4 per 1000 person‐years of follow‐up (PYFU). Compared with women who terminated their pregnancy before HIV diagnosis, women who terminated their pregnancy after HIV diagnosis but before 1990 showed a 2.56‐fold (95% CI 1.41–4.65) higher risk. During 1990–1999 and 2000–2010, HIV diagnosis was not significantly associated with outcome adjusted rate ratio (ARR) 0.93 (95% CI 0.55–1.59) and ARR 0.69 (95% CI 0.32–1.48), respectively. Age ARR 0.96 (95% CI 0.94–0.99) per 1 year older and injecting drug use ARR 1.38 (95% CI 0.98–1.94) were found to be predictors of abortion overall. After HIV diagnosis, being on combination antiretroviral therapy ARR 0.54 (95% CI 0.28–1.02), monthly income < €800 ARR 1.76 (95% CI 0.99–3.12), younger age ARR 0.95 (95% CI 0.91–1.00) per 1 year older and fear of vertical transmission ARR 1.95 (95% CI 1.04–3.67) were found to be independently associated with abortion.
Conclusions We observed a higher incidence of abortion compared with data available for the general Italian population. Awareness of HIV diagnosis was predictive of abortion only in the 1980s. Women with HIV infection are still worried about vertical HIV transmission. Interventions promoting HIV screening among women who plan to have an abortion and informative counselling on motherhood planning in the setting of HIV care are needed.
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