Chitosan aerogel: a recyclable, heterogeneous organocatalyst for the asymmetric direct aldol reaction in water.

Aerogel microspheres of chitosan, an abundant biopolymer obtained from marine crustaceans, have been successfully applied to catalyze the asymmetric aldol reaction in water, providing the products in high yields and with good stereoselectivity (up to 93% ee) and recyclability (up to 4 runs). Yields were favourably affected by additives such as DNP and stearic acid.

The immunity of upper airways.

A specialized immune system, called the nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT), is located on the mucosal surface of upper airways and is composed of both innate and specific immunity elements, closely related to each other and to the systemic defence, and spread over the nasopharynx, the nose and the middle ear. The NALT has a major role as regards to the infectious diseases of this area, which are the most common in children. It is also an interesting field of experimentation for new vaccine strategies in the future.

Osteoprotegerin serum levels in Kawasaki disease: an additional potential marker in predicting children with coronary artery involvement.

Objective: Emerging evidence from in vitro studies and mouse genetics attributes to osteoprotegerin (OPG), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, an important role in vascular biology. We evaluated serum levels of OPG in a group of children with Kawasaki disease (KD), before immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion and at 3-month followup.

Methods: Fifty patients (38 boys, 20 girls, median age 3.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/RANK-L system in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: is there a potential modulating role for OPG/RANK-L in bone injury?

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kB-ligand (RANK-L) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA); to correlate these values with disease activity variables, radiological bone damage, and bone mass; and to correlate OPG gene polymorphisms with bone mass.

Methods: Eighty-four patients (66 girls and 18 boys) with JIA and 40 sex and age-matched controls were enrolled. Serum OPG and RANK-L were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.