IBA analyses and lead concentration measurements of AMS-C dated bones from two medieval sites in Italy

AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dated human bone samples recovered in the deserted medieval village of Quattro Macine, Lecce, in Southern Italy, were analyzed by PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) and PIGE (particle induced gamma ray emission). The optimization of the PIXE-PIGE experimental set-up in term of beam energy and detection geometry resulted in the possibility to obtain information about major, minor and trace elements of the samples. Unexpectedly, all the analyzed samples showed a Pb concentration higher than 50 ppm. Two possible explanations of the measured high Pb concentration are discussed in the paper: the pre-mortem intake associated with the use of Pb-rich glazed pottery and the post-mortem intake from soil as the result of diagenetic processes.     

Biohybrid Bovine Bone Matrix for Controlled Release of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Lyosecretome: A Device for Bone Regeneration

SmartBone^® (SB) is a biohybrid bone substitute advantageously proposed as a class III medical device for bone regeneration in reconstructive surgeries (oral, maxillofacial, orthopedic, and oncology). In the present study, a new strategy to improve SB osteoinductivity was developed. SB scaffolds were loaded with lyosecretome, a freeze-dried formulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-secretome, containing proteins and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Lyosecretome-loaded SB scaffolds (SBlyo) were prepared using an absorption method. A burst release of proteins and EVs (38% and 50% after 30 min, respectively) was observed, and then proteins were released more slowly with respect to EVs, most likely because they more strongly adsorbed onto the SB surface. In vitro tests were conducted using adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) plated on SB or SBlyo. After 14 days, significant cell proliferation improvement was observed on SBlyo with respect to SB, where cells filled the cavities between the native trabeculae. On SB, on the other hand, the process was still present, but tissue formation was less organized at 60 days. On both scaffolds, cells differentiated into osteoblasts and were able to mineralize after 60 days. Nonetheless, SBlyo showed a higher expression of osteoblast markers and a higher quantity of newly formed trabeculae than SB alone. The quantification analysis of the newly formed mineralized tissue and the immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that SBlyo induces bone formation more effectively. This osteoinductive effect is likely due to the osteogenic factors present in the lyosecretome, such as fibronectin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A, and TGF-β.     

Hereditary Prostate Cancer: Genes Related,Target Therapy and Prevention

Prostate cancer (PCa) is globally the second most diagnosed cancer type and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Family history of PCa, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and Lynch syndromes (LS), are among the most important risk factors compared to age, race, ethnicity and environmental factors for PCa development. Hereditary prostate cancer (HPCa) has the highest heritability of any major cancer in men. The proportion of PCa attributable to hereditary factors has been estimated in the range of 5–15%. To date, the genes more consistently associated to HPCa susceptibility include mismatch repair (MMR) genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) and homologous recombination genes (BRCA1/2, ATM, PALB2, CHEK2). Additional genes are also recommended to be integrated into specific research, including HOXB13, BRP1 and NSB1. Importantly, BRCA1/BRCA2 and ATM mutated patients potentially benefit from Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase PARP inhibitors, through a mechanism of synthetic lethality, causing selective tumor cell cytotoxicity in cell lines. Moreover, the detection of germline alterations in MMR genes has therapeutic implications, as it may help to predict immunotherapy benefits. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the genetic basis for inherited predisposition to PCa, the potential target therapy, and the role of active surveillance as a management strategy for patients with low-risk PCa. Finally, the current PCa guideline recommendations are reviewed.     

Chiral Mechanical Metamaterials for Tunable Optical Transmittance

Flexible metamaterials have been increasingly harnessed to create functionality through their tunable and unconventional response. Herein, chiral unit cells based on Archimedean spirals are employed to transform a linear displacement into twisting. First, the effect of geometry on such extension-twisting coupling is investigated. This unravels a wide range of highly nonlinear behaviors that can be programmed. Additionally, it is demonstrated that by combining the spirals with polarizing films one can create mechanical pixels capable of modulating the transmission of light through deformation. Guided by experiments and numerical analyses, pixels are arranged in 2D arrays to realize black and white and color displays, which reveal distinct images at different states of deformation. As such, the study puts forward a methodology for the design of an emerging class of flexible devices that can convert nonlinear elastic deformation to tunable optical transmittance.     

Are Fifth-Degree Equations over GF(5m) Solvable by Radicals?

Irreducible quintics over finite fields are solvable in closed form with the possible exception of characteristic 5 fields. It is shown that this is equally true for fifth-degree equations over GF(5 ^m). The result follows from an Artin-Schreier theorem that yields explicit expressions for the roots of x ⁵- x- a. In addition to what at present is known for all other finite fields, any quintic can be solved in closed form.     

Periurethral collagen implant: ultrasound assessment and prediction of outcome

Nesidioblastosis is the most common cause of neonatal hypoglycemia. Although medical therapy has been attempted, it is generally accepted that these infants should undergo a subtotal to near total pancreatectomy with splenic preservation. Complications from this procedure have been few, most commonly those associated with decreased insulin production (diabetes). We describe a case of a young, white male who presented with complaints of hematemesis and melena 18 years following subtotal pancreatectomy for nesidioblastosis.     

Tumor cells cultured in vivo in diffusion chambers induce hematological alterations

We have studied in BALB/c mice the hematological alterations of the host induced by the growth of tumor cells in diffusion chambers (DC) In this model, host-tumor interactions are only mediated by soluble factors. Tumor cells proliferate and grow in DC up to 15 days after implant. Our results show a reversal of the granulocyte-lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood, with lymphopenia and a relative increase of myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow of mice bearing DC with M3 tumor cells (M3TC).