A Microwave‐Enhanced,Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,3‐Dioxolanes and Oxazolines from Epoxides

A fast and highly regio‐ and stereoselective transformation of non‐conventional β‐lactam‐containing epoxides into the corresponding cyclic 1,3‐dioxolanes and oxazolines is herein reported, using microwave irradiation as an efficient source of energy, in the presence of stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of Lewis acids, without an additional solvent. These cyclic compounds are the protected forms of diols and amino alcohols.     

A Rapid and Specific Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of Clinically Relevant Mucorales Species

Infections triggered by filamentous fungi placed in the order Mucorales, phylum Zygomycota, can cause serious harm to immunocompromised patients. Since there is lack of a standardized PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assay for early diagnosis of this fungal infection, this work was aimed to develop a new PCR assay able to detect the presence of Mucorales genera in clinical specimens. Here, we describe a novel diagnostic TaqMan MGB probe assay for precise and rapid detection of the most common clinical species of Mucorales. Zygomycete-specific oligonucleotides were designed to specifically amplify and bind highly conserved sequences of fungal 28S rRNA gene. Additionally, we succeeded in differentiating Mucorales species (i.e., Rhizopus, Lichtheimia, Mucor, and Rhizomucor) in artificially infected serum samples, suggesting that the quantitative capability of this real-time PCR assay could potentially optimize the diagnosis of mucormycosis.     

The Role of the Coagulation System in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Interactions with the Arterial Wall and Its Vascular Microenvironment and Implications for Rational Therapies

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic disease with a large-scale impact on the economy and global health. Despite the role played by platelets in the process of atherogenesis being well recognized, evidence has been increasing on the contribution of the coagulation system to the atherosclerosis formation and PAD development, with important repercussions for the therapeutic approach. Histopathological analysis and some clinical studies conducted on atherosclerotic plaques testify to the existence of different types of plaques. Likely, the role of coagulation in each specific type of plaque can be an important determinant in the histopathological composition of atherosclerosis and in its future stability. In this review, we analyze the molecular contribution of inflammation and the coagulation system on PAD pathogenesis, focusing on molecular similarities and differences between atherogenesis in PAD and coronary artery disease (CAD) and discussing the possible implications for current therapeutic strategies and future perspectives accounting for molecular inflammatory and coagulation targets. Understanding the role of cross-talking between coagulation and inflammation in atherosclerosis genesis and progression could help in choosing the right patients for future dual pathway inhibition strategies, where an antiplatelet agent is combined with an anticoagulant, whose role, despite pathophysiological premises and trials’ results, is still under debate.     

Morphostructural and immunohistochemical study for evaluation of nano‐TiO2 toxicity in Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Invertebrates are precious organisms in order to study environmental pollution. In particular, they appear to be suitable as a bioindicator species for pioneer ecotoxicity studies on new xenobiotics such as nanoparticles. In fact, they are able to absorb nanomaterials scattered in the environment in different ways and it's known the compartmentalization of nano‐sized contaminants in selected tissues and intracellular organelles. Titanium dioxide represents the most used nanoparticulate, destined to become probably ubiquitous in the environment. Recently, some research has been published on the toxic potential of nano‐TiO₂ in several animal species. Among all invertebrates, Oniscidean Isopods are the only taxon of Crustaceans that has become completely terrestrial, known as excellent bioindicators and bioaccumulators. They have a digestive gland, the hepatopancreas, which is the location of election for the accumulation of pollutants. For this reason, they are considered efficient animal models to ecological studies. For this study, we collected Armadillo officinalis from Natural Oriented Reserve of “Vendicari” (Sicily, Italy), to evaluate the toxicity of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on their hepatopancreas, after a short period of exposure. We conducted morphostructural and immunohistochemistry assays. The results suggested a great capacity of the species of bioaccumulation of nanoparticles in the hepatopancreas, where a strong positivity to the metallothioneins was highlighted. Our study confirms that Oniscidean Isopods, in particular Armadillo officinalis, proved to be an appropriate indicator of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems from nanoparticles.     

Interactions between Primary Neurons and Graphene Films with Different Structure and Electrical Conductivity

Graphene-based materials represent a useful tool for the realization of novel neural interfaces. Several studies have demonstrated the biocompatibility of graphene-based supports, but the biological interactions between graphene and neurons still pose open questions. In this work, the influence of graphene films with different characteristics on the growth and maturation of primary cortical neurons is investigated. Graphene films are grown by chemical vapor deposition progressively lowering the temperature range from 1070 to 650 °C to change the lattice structure and corresponding electrical conductivity. Two graphene-based films with different electrical properties are selected and used as substrate for growing primary cortical neurons: i) highly crystalline and conductive (grown at 1070 °C) and ii) highly disordered and 140-times less conductive (grown at 790 °C). Electron and fluorescence microscopy imaging reveal an excellent neuronal viability and the development of a mature, structured, and excitable network onto both substrates, regardless of their microstructure and electrical conductivity. The results underline that high electrical conductivity by itself is not fundamental for graphene-based neuronal interfaces, while other physico–chemical characteristics, including the atomic structure, should be also considered in the design of functional, bio-friendly templates. This finding widens the spectrum of carbon-based materials suitable for neuroscience applications.     

Polymer blends of steam-explosion lignin and poly(ε-caprolactone) by high-energy ball milling

Lignin powder, obtained from an abundant and low-cost source, straw, through a low-environmental-impact process, steam explosion, was used for the preparation of blends with a biodegradable polyester, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), with an innovative technique, high-energy ball milling. Lignin strongly stabilized PCL against UV radiation. The modulus of the blends increased with the addition of lignin; nevertheless, the elongation at breaking decreased. Through thermal characterization (differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis), lignin and PCL were found to be immiscible. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Prebiotic effects of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius Poepp. & Endl), a source of fructooligosaccharides and phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity

Montepulciano is one of the most famous and important red-berried grapes of Italy. This article presents and discusses a comparative study of aroma profile and phenolic content of the Montepulciano wine from the Marches and the Abruzzo regions. The volatile composition of wines was determined by using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The PDMS fibre was chosen. The dominating esters in Montepulciano wines were ethyl hexanoate, ethyl decanoate, and ethyl octanoate, whereas phenyl ethanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were dominating alcohols.Phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, caffeic acid, trans-resveratrol, (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin, were examined using HPLC-MS with direct injection of wine samples. The total phenolic content of the analysed wines was in the range of 30.4-61.9 mg l⁻¹. The presence of high amounts of esters seems to characterise the volatiles of Montepulciano wines from the Marches, whereas a high level of alcohols was found in Montepulciano wines from Abruzzo. Moreover, multivariate chemometric techniques, such as cluster analysis and principal component analysis, supported this thesis. Headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to analyse 20 commercial wine samples (Montepulciano monovarietal red wines) from the Marches (10 samples) and Abruzzo (10 samples).     

Structural organization and transport properties of iPP/LLDPE blends solidified at controlled cooling rates

The structural organization of blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE), with different compositions, was studied and correlated with the thermal history followed by the samples during solidification from the molten state. The materials were cooled at two extreme controlled rates: 0.1 and 500°C/s. The resulting structure was investigated both in the crystalline and the amorphous phases. In particular, attention was focused toward the analysis of the diffusion parameters of dichloromethane vapors, and the morphological organization of the amorphous phases was interpreted using models that consider them (in terms of resistance to diffusion) combined in series and in parallel. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2237–2244, 2001     

Highly Regio‐ and Diastereoselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution. Synthesis of 3‐(2‐Aminobutylidene)‐ 4‐arylazetidin‐2‐ones

The palladium‐catalyzed benzylamine attack to a particular allylic moiety, the 3‐alkenyl‐3‐bromoazetidin‐2‐one is herein reported. This reaction shows interesting mechanistic aspects and allows us to introduce in one step and under high regio‐ and stereocontrol the amino function in the C3 side chain of non‐conventional β‐lactams, thus offering the opportunity for designing new potential glutamine syntethase inhibitors, such as Tabtoxin analogues.     

Cadmium in roadside grapes

The concentration of cadmium in unwashed wine grapes and leaves is considered as a function of the distance from the suspected source, an isolated straight road. Cadmium levels were determined by a.a.s. with electrothermal atomisation in a graphite furnace. The grape and leaf samples display an asymptotic decrease in cadmium concentration (c) according to the distance (d) from the edge of the road. The observed data can be fitted with the exponential function c=A+B exp (-Cd), the parameters being estimated by least-squares non-linear regression. The simple model allows the determination of the cadmium level at d→∞ (A) and at d=0 (A+B). The results obtained indicate that the effect of the presence of the road is not detectable beyond a distance of 50 m.