Microencapsulate Aspergillus niger peptidases from agroindustrial waste wheat bran: spray process evaluation and stability.

The aim of this work was to obtain microencapsulated stable Aspergillus niger peptidases by post fermentation spray drying. The enzymatic extract was evaluated before and after spray drying microencapsulation to verify the effects of five different process parameters on the extract enzymatic activity, i.e. air flow, extract feed rate, drying temperature, homogenising time and weight ratio of extract to encapsulation material. The optimal conditions were determined by desirability functions and experimentally confirmed. Additionally, the stability of the microparticles was assessed during 60 days at 4 °C, 25 °C and 40 °C. The results revealed that the microparticles stored at 4 °C retained approximately 100% of their proteolytic activity at nine days of storage. Considering the industrial adaptation of the bioprocess and the prospect of commercial application of the proteases, the evaluation of different parameters for drying enzymes is required as a valuable alternative to obtain biotechnological products with high added value.

Optofluidic integrated cell sorter fabricated by femtosecond lasers.

The main trend in optofluidics is currently towards full integration of the devices, thus improving automation, compactness and portability. In this respect femtosecond laser microfabrication is a very powerful technology given its capability of producing both optical waveguides and microfluidic channels. The current challenge in biology is the possibility to perform bioassays at the single cell level to unravel the hidden complexity in nominally homogeneous populations. Here we report on a new device implementing a fully integrated fluorescence-activated cell sorter. This non-invasive device is specifically designed to operate with a limited amount of cells but with a very high selectivity in the sorting process. Characterization of the device with beads and validation with human cells are presented.

Femtosecond laser fabricated monolithic chip for optical trapping and stretching of single cells.

We report on the fabrication by a femtosecond laser of an optofluidic device for optical trapping and stretching of single cells. Versatility and three-dimensional capabilities of this fabrication technology provide straightforward and extremely accurate alignment between the optical and fluidic components. Optical trapping and stretching of single red blood cells are demonstrated, thus proving the effectiveness of the proposed device as a monolithic optical stretcher. Our results pave the way for a new class of optofluidic devices for single cell analysis, in which, taking advantage of the flexibility of femtosecond laser micromachining, it is possible to further integrate sensing and sorting functions.

[The use of intestinal enema in labor preparation: analysis of advantages and disadvantages]. / O uso do enteroclisma no preparo para o parto: análise de suas vantagens e desvantagens.

This study aimed at investigating the effects of intestinal cleansers on fecal contamination during labor and delivery amongst women assisted in a university hospital. The subjects were 90 pregnant women (43 normal births, 27 forceps and 20 caesarean sections). The population was divided in two randomized groups: with and without the use of intestinal cleansers. It was possible to conclude that intestinal cleansers did not provide faster labor and did not reduce fecal contamination. However, the women who had used an intestinal cleanser tended to regard it as positive.

[Renal oncocytoma: its differential diagnosis and the indications for surgical treatment]. / Oncocitoma renale: diagnosi differenziale ed indicazioni al trattamento chirurgico.

The authors report an uncommon renal oncocytoma rate stressing difficulties that modern diagnostic modalities meet in a correct preoperative differential diagnosis with nephrocarcinoma. Oncocytoma is a low multifocal involvement. Surgical treatment is the primary choice, nephrectomy about localized monofocal lesions in advisable, with short and long term positive outcomes. In ambilateral involvement case without malignancy evident signs (scarce likelihood to infiltrate nephritic capsule, without lymphoadenopathy) conservative operations with partial resections are suggested with a five years survival from 84 to 96%.

[A rare case of gastric bleeding due to left-sided portal hypertension]. / Un raro caso di sanguinamento gastrico da ipertensione settoriale.

The authors report an uncommon gastric bleeding rate due to splenic hilum compression by a pancreatic cyst. The syndrome to be brought back to some sectorial portal hypertension form (left-sided portal hypertension) is difficult to diagnose because of absence of esophageal varices and other portal hypertension signs in an unchanged liver functionality patient. To put a correct diagnosis about gastric bottom bleeding varices without hepatic origin, the authors recommend to use arteriography and CT. Surgical treatment is proved to be the election one because of useless attempt of bleeding control through hepatic artery endoscopic sclerosis or embolization.

[Simplifies case record in emergency surgery]. / Scheda clinica semplificata per l'urgenza chirurgica.

The Authors present an original case record simplified for urgency and emergency, with the aim to allow a quick and exact framing of the "acute" and consequently with a great saving of time. This is possible also thanks to the simple but efficacious graphic representation of the human body and his main districts. Moreover, it is possible to report data in a computerized system.

[Renal injury in childhood]. / Il trauma renale in età pediatrica.

The Authors report a case of blunt renal trauma in a nine-year-old boy. Clinical and therapeutic approaches are discussed in the light of a wide review of the literature.

[Aorto-enteric fistula: current information on diagnostic and therapeutic procedures]. / Le fistole aorto-enteriche: recenti acquisizioni sulle procedure diagnostiche e terapeutiche.

The Authors point out how AEFs represent a serious complication of aortic vascular surgery. Special attention is given to the diagnostic and therapeutic approach, also supported by a wide review of the literature.

[Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the colon (signet ring carcinoma): is it really a rare neoplasm?]. / L'adenocarcinoma del colon a cellule ad anello con castone (signet ring carcinoma): è veramente una neoplasia rara?

The Authors report two cases of primary carcinoma of the colon-rectum largely invasive, characterized signet ring cells. This is an uncommon neoplasm representing only 2% of primary carcinoma of the colon-rectum. The Authors discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic approach through a wide review of the literature.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to kidney injuries]. / Approccio diagnostico e terapeutico ai traumi del rene.

The Authors report a wide review of the literature on open and blunt renal traumas. All the problems related to this pathology as well as all the instrumental and laboratory tests currently available for the correct diagnosis are illustrated. Both conservative and surgical management are also discussed.

[Surgical treatment of spontaneous rupture of the esophagus: case report]. / Trattamento chirurgico della rottura spontanea dell'esofago: descrizione di un caso clinico.

Boerhaave's syndrome is a rare and severe syndrome, with a mortality rate around 40%. The Authors report a case recently observed and through a Literature review stress the importance of an early diagnosis and quick surgical treatment as far as quoad vitam prognosis is concerned.

[Mechanical endarterectomy: review of the literature and description of an original device]. / Endoarterectomia meccanica: revisione della letteratura e descrizione di un apparecchio originale.

The Authors, after a Literature review on endovascular invasive procedures used for inferior limbs obstructive arteriopathy, describe the use of a new device for mechanical endarterectomy. Through the latest acquired experience the importance of dissecting progressively the single layers of the atheroma plaque without arriving to a complete denudation of the arterial wall, so avoiding the risk of myointimal hyperplasia reactions, is outlined. The possibility of using endoarterial stents in case of more indaginous recanalization is also stressed.

[Treatment of peripheral arterial embolisms. Our case series and review of the literature]. / II trattamento delle embolie arteriose periferiche. Nostra casistica e revisione della letteratura.

Acute arterial obstruction of the limbs represents one of the most frequent events in Emergency Surgery. In 95% of the cases, the cause has to be searched in embolus parting from the heart in patients with rheumatic or fibrillary disease. Currently the two therapeutic methods used for peripheral arterial obstruction are thrombolytic therapy and surgical dysobstruction using Fogarty's catheter. The Authors compare the two methods on the basis of their experience in 129 cases underlying how the thrombolytic therapy (Urokinase, Streptokinase) should be instituted in the early hours from presentation of symptoms, otherwise, the possibility of revascularization will heavily drop. Better results are obtained by positioning a catheter under radiologic guide for intra-arterial infusion. The Authors also believe that up-to-date the surgical approach with Fogarty's catheter represents one of the best procedures, either for its feasibility of for the costs of the thrombolytic therapy. Furthermore, the thrombolysis may be not complete, and account for possible haemorrhagic complications.

[Septic complications in emergency surgery: our experience and a review of the literature]. / Le complicanze settiche in chirurgia d'urgenza: nostra esperienza e revisione della letteratura.

Surgical infections represent one of the main causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality, especially in emergency surgery, with negative consequences on health costs. The Authors examined 2002 cases of emergency admission for surgical pathologies at the I Surgical Department of the University of Rome ¿La Sapienza¿ from 1987 to 1992. Overall septic complications were 13,7%, with a mortality rate of 1,2%. The Authors underline the lack in Italy of either an accurate system for monitoring septic complications or a useful method for data collection. At last the attention is focused on the main causes of septic complications, their diagnosis and treatment.

[Aneurysm of the celiac trunk: review of the literature and report of a clinical case]. / Aneurismi del tronco celiaco: revisione della letteratura e descrizione di un caso clinico.

After reviewing current and past medical Literature regarding celiac axis aneurysms the case of a 70 year-old emphysematous patient with an aneurysm of the celiac axis measuring 6 cm in diameter is reported. The patient's pulmonary function testing status strongly precluded a surgical option. Angiographic embolization of the aneurysm was then performed. The Authors observed that embolization with immediate occlusion of all afferent vessels of the celiac axis leads to no serious short or long-term consequences as long as an adequate collateral hepatic circulation is maintained through the gastroduodenal and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. This case would appear to be the first described in the Literature and the Authors hold this technique to be a valid alternative whenever a surgical procedure would be difficult or impossible to perform.

[The diagnostic-therapeutic picture in liver injuries: a review of the literature and clinical cases]. / Inquadramento diagnostico-terapeutico nei traumi epatici: revisione della letteratura e casistica clinica.

Approximately 80% of liver trauma cases have a good prognosis and do not create decision-making problems for the surgeon, while in the remaining 20% the correct choice still represents a problem. Recently there has been a trend toward more conservative surgical management with emphasis on hemostasis and debridement, as well as a move toward a non-surgical alternative (surgical abstention) where feasible, relying in such cases on first-line CT scans for trauma evaluation. We report 51 cases of liver trauma observed in the period 1985-1993 graded according to the AAST Liver Injury Scale as follows: 12 grade I lesions (23.5%), 7 grade II lesions (13.7%), 19 grade III lesions (37.3%), 7 grade IV lesions (13.7%), and 6 grade V lesions (11.8%). In managing these cases we relied on two first-line diagnostic procedures: diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and CT scans. DPL, performed on 10 blunt trauma victims with unstable vital signs, was positive in 7 who thus underwent immediate surgery, and negative in 3 who subsequently underwent CT scan. Another 14 blunt trauma victims with stable vital signs underwent first-line CT scanning. In the event of a CT grade III or IV lesion patients underwent surgery, while patients with a CT grade I or II lesion were followed expectantly. Deaths (14) occurred only among patients with grade III or IV lesions (including 9 multiple trauma victims) who underwent surgery.