Aggregation-Induced Enhanced Emission of Tetraphenylethene-phenylalanine Hybrids: Synthesis and Characterization.

Aggregation-induced emitting (AIE) luminophores are sensitive and easy-to-handle types of probes that allow driving a stimulus-responsive off/on optical tool through the manipulation of the aggregation behavior. In this work, tetraphenylethene (TPE)-phenylalanine derivatives, characterized by strong aggregation-induced luminescence, were obtained through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The reaction proved to be straightforwardly applicable in the single amino acid synthesis as well as in the late-stage peptide functionalization by means of both the classical solution-phase reaction and solid-phase synthesis. A comprehensive structural and analytical investigation highlighted the features driving the self-assembly process and its relationship to AIE efficiency. In particular, we showed that the simple slight (asymmetric) extension of the TPE π-systems results in more efficient and brighter emissions, with respect to the simple TPE system itself.

Yet another in vitro evidence that natural compounds introduced by diet have anti-amyloidogenic activities and can counteract neurodegenerative disease depending on aging.

A major issue in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is to find some new therapeutic drug which decrease Amyloid-beta (Aß) aggregation. From a therapeutic point of view the major question is whether pharmacological inhibition of inflammation pathways will be able to safely reverse or slow the course of disease. Natural compounds are capable of binding to different targets implicated in AD and exert neuroprotective effects. Aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro inhibition of Aß1-42 fibrillogenesis in presence of Gallic acid, Rutin, Melatonin and ProvinolsTM . We performed the analysis with Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy, and with X-ray microanalysis. Samples treated with Rutin, that arises from phenylalanine via the phenylpropanoid pathway, show the best effective result obtained because a significantly fibril inhibition activity is detectable compared to the other compounds. Melatonin shows a better inhibitory activity than ProvinolsTM and Gallic acid at the considered concentrations.

Trend of emergency general surgery procedures during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: In early 2020, the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spread rapidly throughout the whole world, causing a massive response in terms of health resource disposal. Moreover, lockdowns were imposed in entire countries. This study aims to assess whether there was a downward trend in emergency general surgery (EGS) procedures accomplished throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine patients' and diseases' characteristics. METHODS: This is a multicentric retrospective observational cohort analysis conducted on patients who underwent EGS procedures during the lockdown and the same period of the previous year in the three Third Level Hospitals of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. RESULTS: During the study period, 138 patients underwent EGS procedures versus the 197 patients operated on in 2019, meaning a 30.0% decrease in the number of surgeries performed. The incidence rate for EGS procedures was 2.5 surgeries per day during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 3.5 surgeries per day in 2019 (P<0.001). The characteristics of patients operated on in 2020 were comparable to those of patients who underwent EGS in 2019, except for the higher prevalence of male patients during the COVID-19 pandemic (76.8 vs. 55.8; P<0.001). No difference was recorded in disease severity between the two study periods. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant reduction in EGS procedures carried out was recorded. However, no clear explanation can be given to elucidate this fact.

Short-term cyclosporine therapy and cotransplantation of donor splenocytes: effects on graft rejection and survival rates in pigs subjected to renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Donor-specific allogeneic loading can prolong the survival of solid organ transplants by inducing a state known as acceptance. Several populations of cells are known to be involved in this process, but their exact roles have yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of portal-vein transfusion of donor-specific splenocytes (DST) after short-term cyclosporine A (CyA) therapy in pigs subjected to renal transplantation. METHODS: Four groups of unrelated swine underwent renal transplantation with removal of the native kidneys. Antirejection protocols consisted in portal-vein DST (3 x 10(8) cells/kg) (Group 2, n = 7); intravenous CyA (9 mg/kg/d) on postoperative days 1-12 (Group 3, n = 14); and DST + CyA (as described above) (Group 4, n = 13). Results (through postoperative day 90) were compared with those obtained in untreated control recipients (Group 1, n = 7). RESULTS: Compared with animals of Groups 1, 2, and 3, Group 4 recipients presented significantly longer survival (mean: 90 days, P < 0.01 in Kaplan-Meier analysis) and better renal function (P < 0.05). Graft histology revealed preserved parenchyma. CONCLUSION: The role of spleen cells in the immune response has probably been underestimated. Cotransplantation of donor splenocytes seems to induce a certain degree of acceptance toward the renal allograft. The route of administration (portal-vein infusion in this study) may be crucial for developing favorable mechanisms of recognition.