Harnessing Nitric Oxide-Donating Benzofuroxans for Targeted Inhibition of Carbonic Anhydrase IX in Cancer.

We describe here the design and antitumor evaluation of benzofuroxan-based nitric oxide (NO)-donor hybrid derivatives targeting human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) IX and XII. The most effective compounds, and , demonstrated potent dual action, exhibiting low nanomolar inhibition constants against hCA IX and significant NO release. Notably, compound showed significant antiproliferative effects against various cancer cell lines, particularly renal carcinoma A-498 cells.

Severe and fatal measles-associated pneumonia during an outbreak in Italy: data from the heart of the epidemic.

Introduction: Measles is a contagious disease that re-emerged among young adults as a consequence of suboptimal vaccination coverage. Since in the pre-vaccination era measles affected mainly children, little is known about measles-associated respiratory complications in adults. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and radiological findings in adults affected by measles who developed respiratory complications during a recent measles outbreak.

Persisting long term benefits of smoking abstinence and reduction in asthmatic smokers who have switched to electronic cigarettes.

Background: Improvements in asthma outcomes have been recently reported in asthmatic smokers who have substantially reduced their tobacco consumption by switching to ECs. Confirmation of these preliminary findings is necessary to reassure patients, healthcare professionals and policy makers. Here, we present findings from long term prospective assessment of objective and subjective asthma outcomes as well as safety and tolerability in this group of EC users with asthma.

A Nanostructured PLGA System for Cell Delivery of a Tetrathiahelicene as a Model for Helical DNA Intercalators.

A novel nanoconstruct based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles loaded with a tetrathiahelicene molecule conjugated to a fluorescent rhodamine probe was prepared and characterized. Because helicenes are known to be very promising DNA intercalators, the tetrathiahelicene was selected for this study as a model therapeutic cytotoxic molecule. The ability of the nanoconstruct to internalize the tetrathiahelicene and deliver it intracellularly in a safe manner has been investigated by means of cytotoxicity and cell uptake tests on Balb/3T3 clone A31 fibroblasts.

Kinetics of Schottky defect formation and annihilation in single crystal TlBr.

The kinetics for Schottky defect (Tl and Br vacancy pair) formation and annihilation in ionically conducting TlBr are characterized through a temperature induced conductivity relaxation technique. Near room temperature, defect generation-annihilation was found to take on the order of hours before equilibrium was reached after a step change in temperature, and that mechanical damage imparted on the sample rapidly increases this rate. The rate limiting step to Schottky defect formation-annihilation is identified as being the migration of lower mobility Tl (versus Br), with an estimate for source-sink density derived from calculated diffusion lengths.

The defect and transport properties of acceptor doped TlBr: role of dopant exsolution and association.

The role of acceptor dopants (S and Se) in controlling the ionic conductivity of single crystal TlBr, grown by the vertical Bridgman method, was examined as a function of temperature with the aid of impedance spectroscopy. Several features in the conductivity were identified and related to acceptor dopant-Br vacancy association, acceptor dopant exsolution, and Br vacancy mobility. The corresponding enthalpies for these processes were extracted from the data and were found to be equal to H(a) = 0.

[The control of drugs consumption in occupational contexts: management of the test results].

From November 2008 to July 2010 we made 8300 drug tests to verify the absence of drug addiction or drugs/psychotropic substances consumption. We found 101 positive subjects (1.2%) at the first screening test; for fifty-five of them (54.

[Mobile phone use while driving in Florence health district area].

The practice of driving while using hand-held mobile phones is diffused in numerous countries, even though it has been demonstrated that they increase the risk of traffic accidents, and such use has consequently been prohibited. Because of the lack of Italian data on the spread of this behaviour a study was done in June 2004 on drivers' use of hand-held mobile phones in the Florence Health Authority area. The study was performed by direct observation from 4 watching-points (1 for each zone) which allowed for observation of several types of vehicles, on varying road conditions, in 5 hour time bands.

[Methods of qualitative detection of proteinuria in mass surveys].

In a survey of the qualitative methods of research into proteinuria, the Authors recall, apart from later modifications, the old techniques based on the occurrence of turbidity from precipitation of proteins obtained with heat and/or by the use of various anionic reagents. Particular attention is given to the rapid tests with paper strip based on the phenomenon of error made by indicators in the presence of protein solutions. Their sensitivity, their specificity and above all the fact that their use is unbeatably practical are discussed, both on the basis of data derived from other studies and on the basis of various personal observations.

[Gas-chromatographic method for determination of plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity].

A method is described for the determination of plasma lecythin-cholesterol acyl-transferase activity (LCAT), based on the measuring ot the free cholesterol concentration decrement in incubated plasma, with the aid of gas-liquid chromatography. Precision evaluation showed a sufficient reliability of the method, which is considered to be proposable for practical puopose. After verifying normal values in a group of healthy adults, plasma LCAT reduction in liver diseases, specially in the chronic hepatic disease, was confirmed.