Cross-Linking Reaction of Bio-Based Epoxy Systems: An Investigation into Cure Kinetics.

The cure kinetics of various epoxy resin mixtures, comprising a bisphenol epoxy, two epoxy modifiers, and two hardening agents derived from cardanol technology, were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The development of these mixtures aimed to achieve epoxy materials with a substantial bio-content up to 50% for potential automotive applications, aligning with the 2019 European Regulation on climate neutrality and CO emission. The Friedman isoconversional method was employed to determine key kinetic parameters, such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor, providing insights into the cross-linking process and the Kamal-Sourour model was used to describe and predict the kinetics of the chemical reactions.

Sleep fragmentation affects glymphatic system through the different expression of AQP4 in wild type and 5xFAD mouse models.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by genetic and multifactorial risk factors. Many studies correlate AD to sleep disorders. In this study, we performed and validated a mouse model of AD and sleep fragmentation, which properly mimics a real condition of intermittent awakening.

Assessing REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder: From Machine Learning Classification to the Definition of a Continuous Dissociation Index.

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) is regarded as a prodrome of neurodegeneration, with a high conversion rate to α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's Disease (PD). The clinical diagnosis of RBD co-exists with evidence of REM Sleep Without Atonia (RSWA), a parasomnia that features loss of physiological muscular atonia during REM sleep. The objectives of this study are to implement an automatic detection of RSWA from polysomnographic traces, and to propose a continuous index (the Dissociation Index) to assess the level of dissociation between REM sleep stage and atonia.

Sleep on a high heat capacity mattress increases conductive body heat loss and slow wave sleep.

Environmental temperature can strongly affect sleep. The habitual sleep phase is usually located between evening decline and morning rise of the circadian rhythm of core body temperature (CBT). However, the thermophysiological mechanisms promoting or disturbing sleep are not yet fully understood.

Patients on renal replacement therapy for 20 or more years: a clinical profile.

Background: Long-term survivors are living evidence of the goals and limits of renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on all cases (188 patients) with RRT follow-up >/=20 years in Piemonte, northern Italy (4 350 000 inhabitants, 22 dialysis centres). Study included revision of clinical charts and assessment of functional (Karnofsky scale, Ks) and nutritional status (subjective global assessment, SGA).

[Daily dialysis: evaluation of the first year of experience at home and in a limited care center].

Background: Among self dialysis treatments, daily dialysis is encountering a growing interest. Aim of this study was to evaluate results of the first year of daily dialysis in our Center.

Methods: Since November 1998, twelve patients started daily dialysis.

Daily dialysis Kt/V and flexible schedules: is it possible to control efficiency, when and how?

Background: Daily hemodialysis is a promising treatment schedule but uniform criteria for defining efficiency are lacking.

Methods: On our daily dialysis (DD) schedule, duration is flexible (2-3 hours, patients are free to add up to 30 min/session), Qb 250-350 mL/min; dialyser 1.6-1.

[The status of peritoneal dialysis in Piedmont by 12/31/1997].

Background: The aim of the study is to examine the situation of chronic uremia substitutive treatment by means of peritoneal dialysis in Piedmont on December 31, 1997 using data from the Piedmont regional dialysis and transplant register.

Methods: Starting from the year 1981, data are reported (absolute, per million population, and according to different patient's anagraphic ages) about peritoneal dialysis prevalence and incidence; about basic nephropathies; drop-out from treatment; patient's rehabilitation; complications incidence, particularly peritonitis; patient's survival compared with survival of patients treated, during the same years with extracorporeal techniques.

Results: The data demonstrate, during these years, an increase of peritoneal dialysis incidence and prevalence; patients' survival curves, compared with those of patients treated with extracorporeal techniques, are very similar during the first years of treatment and worse afterwards, but never reaching statistical significance.

Modelling the "ideal" self care--limited care dialysis center.

Limited care dialysis is an interesting option, which has gained attention in several settings because of the aging of the uremic cohort. The aim of this study was to assess its potential in the Piedmont region in northern Italy, evaluating patients' and care-givers' preferences and testing them in a mathematical model of organisation. The study was conducted in the satellite unit of a university hospital (200-210 dialysis patients), following 35 patients (15 at home, 20 in the center, 10 on daily dialysis).

[Epidemiologic analysis of the incidence of new diabetic patients on dialysis as a basis for a clinical study].

Background: Aim of this study is to analyse the incidence of diabetic patients starting dialysis in Piedmont (Italy) during the period 1981-1996 and to evaluate, in a subgroup of patients, the causes of uremia (diabetic nephropathy or other), and the type and seriousness of comorbid factors, in order to define the clinical conditions and try to explain the causes incidence increase.

Methods: Data are taken from the RPDT (Regional Registry of Dialysis and Transplantation of Piedmont).

Results: Total incidence of new patients starting dialysis in this Region increased from 65 pmp in 1981-1982 to 116 pmp in 1995-1996 and the mean age increased from 55.

[Research potential of a regional registry].

Background: The need for data bank gathering information in dialysis patients is as old as dialysis. Dialysis Registries presently active are characterized by different policies of data gathering (large vs small number of information) and of use (research vs economical or clinical purposes). Aim of the work was a discussion on the use of a Regional Registry (RPDT, Regional Registry of Dialysis and Transplantation of Piedmont, Italy), gathering since 1981 a wide set of information (about 80 items) on all patients treated in a relatively small area (about 4,300,000 inhabitants).

Education as a clinical tool for self-dialysis.

Therapeutic compliance and patient education are presently considered crucial parts of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) therapy. In the center where Italian home and self-care dialysis treatment started, an education program was designed as multi-step pathway--following patients from chronic renal failure to dialysis and eventual graft--employing lessons, booklets, and books. Each step was validated in various subsets of patients.

Why Our Patients Like Daily Hemodialysis.

The option of daily hemodialysis (HD) was discussed in November 1998 with a group of 35 HD patients on home or self-care/limited-care HD in a single, freestanding unit. After the meeting, 3 patients on home HD chose to switch to daily HD. The clinical success of the first patient and the immediate followers was one of the main reasons for further extension of this experience.

[Cachexia during dialysis].

In the Italian language, the term cachexia is a rather picturesque synonym of "marasma senile", "senile marasmus", an old definition involving not only old-age, but specifically senility, the end of the ageing process and marasmus, a stagnant and hopeless situation in which all superior organised functions have disappeared. The problem of cachexia during dialysis is complex and several discordant opinions exist at this regard, partly accounted by different definitions of this sluggish entity (or non entity). Actually, the basic question is very simple: is cachexia the cause or the effect of failure of dialysis treatment? The aim of this study was an evaluation of epidemiological data from the Dialysis and Transplantation Registry of Piedmont, a northern Italian Region with about 4,350,000 inhabitants, 22 public dialysis Centers, open acceptance to dialysis since the mid seventies, a multiple choice dialysis system developed in the eighties.