Numerical modeling of the abdominal wall biomechanics and experimental analysis for model validation.

The evaluation of the biomechanics of the abdominal wall is particularly important to understand the onset of pathological conditions related to weakening and injury of the abdominal muscles. A better understanding of the biomechanics of the abdominal wall could be a breakthrough in the development of new therapeutic approaches. For this purpose, several studies in the literature propose finite element models of the human abdomen, based on the geometry of the abdominal wall from medical images and on constitutive formulations describing the mechanical behavior of fascial and muscular tissues.

The role of the extracellular matrix in the reduction of lateral force transmission in muscle bundles: A finite element analysis.

Background And Objective: Aging is associated with a reduction in muscle performance, but muscle weakness is characterized by a much greater loss of force loss compared to mass loss. The aim of this work is to assess the contribution of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to the lateral transmission of force in humans and the loss of transmitted force due to age-related modifications.

Methods: Finite element models of muscle bundles are developed for young and elderly human subjects, by considering a few fibers connected through an ECM layer.

Prediction of the Long-Term Performance of an Existing Warm Recycled Motorway Pavement.

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies allow the production, lay-down and compaction of asphalt mixtures at reduced temperatures and the use of higher amounts of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) with respect to conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA), leading to significant environmental benefits and energy savings. However, limited data is available on the long-term performance of such pavements. The objective of this study was to predict the long-term performance of an existing warm recycled motorway pavement (made with WMA mixtures containing RAP) constructed in 2016 in central Italy, along with the corresponding hot recycled pavement (made with HMA mixtures containing RAP).

[Medication reconciliation on admission: One year of practice in health care institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic].

Objectives: Medication reconciliation is a key point of the v2020 certification. The main objective of this study was to evaluate this activity over one year, including the first epidemic wave at COVID-19. The secondary objectives were to identify the obstacles and levers and to evaluate doctor satisfaction.

Compressive Mechanical Behavior of Partially Oxidized Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels for Cartilage Tissue Repair.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels are extensively used as scaffolds for tissue engineering, although their biodegradation properties have not been optimized yet. To overcome this limitation, partially oxidized PVA has been developed by means of different oxidizing agents, obtaining scaffolds with improved biodegradability. The oxidation reaction also allows tuning the mechanical properties, which are essential for effective use in vivo.

Development of detailed finite element models for in silico analyses of brain impact dynamics.

Background And Objective: In the last few decades, several studies have been performed to investigate traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and to understand the biomechanical response of brain tissues, by using experimental and computational approaches. As part of computational approaches, human head finite element (FE) models show to be important tools in the analysis of TBIs, making it possible to estimate local mechanical effects on brain tissue for different accident scenarios. The present study aims to contribute to the computational approach by means of the development of three advanced FE head models for accurately describing the head tissue dynamics, the first step to predict TBIs.

Influence of Geocomposite Properties on the Crack Propagation and Interlayer Bonding of Asphalt Pavements.

The application of geocomposites as reinforcement in asphalt pavements is a promising solution for the maintenance/rehabilitation of existing pavements and for the construction of new pavements, whose effectiveness strongly depends on the physical and mechanical properties of the geocomposite. This study aims at assessing the influence of four different geocomposites, obtained by combining a reinforcing geosynthetic with a bituminous membrane, on the crack propagation and interlayer bonding of asphalt pavements. First, a laboratory investigation was carried out on double-layered asphalt specimens.

Association between new markers of cardiovascular risk and hepatic insulin resistance in those at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Aim/hypothesis: Hepatic insulin resistance (HIR) is considered to be an independent predictor of metabolic disorders and plays an important role in systemic inflammation, which contributes to abnormalities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HIR and new markers of cardiovascular risks, including leptin/adiponectin ratio (L/A), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), at comparable whole body insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic individuals with or without CVD and at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The HIR index, L/A, Lp(a), and TNF-α were measured in 50 participants with CVD and in 200 without CVD (1:4 ratio).

Long lasting protective effects of early l-arginine treatment on endothelium in an in vitro study.

Background & Aims: Excess nutrient supply, such as high fat and high glucose intake, promotes oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products accumulation. Oxidative stress and AGE accumulation cause pathological elevation of arginase activity and pro-inflammatory signaling implicated in endothelial dysfunction. Several studies showed positive effects of l-arginine supplementation in endothelial function but little is currently known about the role of l-arginine as prevention of endothelial dysfunction caused by excessive nutrient supply (overfeeding).

Basal insulin therapy is associated with beneficial effects on postoperative infective complications, independently from circulating glucose levels in patients admitted for cardiac surgery.

Background: Although hyperglycemia is a strong predictor of postoperative infective complications (PIC), little is known about the effect of basal insulin therapy (BIT) on PIC.

Aim: To evaluate if there is an association between BIT, independent of glucose levels, and a possible improvement of PIC during the perioperative cardiosurgery period (PCP).

Methods: In 812 patients admitted for cardiac intervention and treated with a continuous intravenous insulin infusion (CIII) for hyperglycemic levels (>130 mg/dl), a retrospective analysis was performed during the PCP (January 2009-December 2011).

Decreased diabetes risk over 9 year after 18-month oral L-arginine treatment in middle-aged subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and metabolic syndrome (extension evaluation of L-arginine study).

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether L-arginine supplementation lasting for 18 months maintained long-lasting effects on diabetes incidence, insulin secretion and sensitivity, oxidative stress, and endothelial function during 108 months among subjects at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Methods: One hundred and forty-four middle-aged subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and metabolic syndrome were randomized in 2006 to an L-arginine supplementation (6.4 g orally/day) or placebo therapy lasting 18 months.

Pharmacogenetic influence of eNOS gene variant on endothelial and glucose metabolism responses to L-arginine supplementation: Post hoc analysis of the L-arginine trial.

Objective: To evaluate whether variants of the eNOS gene are associated with endothelial and metabolic responses to L-arginine (L-arg) supplementation.

Material And Methods: We examined a single nucleotide polymorphism of the eNOS gene (rs753482-A>C) to investigate the effects of this variant on endothelial function (EF), colony-forming unit-endothelial cell (CFU-EC) number, asymmetric-dimethylarginine (ADMA) level, insulin sensitivity index (ISI), and insulin secretion (IS) in a post hoc analysis of the L-arg trial. The L-arg trial (6.

[Nasal administration of fentanyl: prevention of medication-related errors by using REMED-method].

REMED stands for a "MEDication Errors Review". The REMED method aims at implementing and monitoring actions to improve patient medical care. This approach is part of the continuing healthcare quality and safety improvement and professional practice evaluation.

[Scabies: A world plague].

Scabies is a ubiquitous contagious disease, and its prevalence is growing. Diagnostic difficulties vary according to the patient's age and health. Benzyl benzoate and ivermectin are the reference drugs in France.

Multicenter evaluation of the LightCycler MRSA advanced test, the Xpert MRSA Assay, and MRSASelect directly plated culture with simulated workflow comparison for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nasal swabs.

Rapid detection of nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) followed by appropriate infection control procedures reduces MRSA infection and transmission. We compared the performance and workflow of two Food and Drug Administration-approved nucleic acid amplification assays, the LightCycler MRSA Advanced Test and the Xpert MRSA test, with those of directly plated culture (MRSASelect) using 1202 nasal swabs collected at three U.S.

[FAV-Africa: a polyvalent antivenom serum used in Africa and Europe].

FAV-Afrique is a polyvalent snake antivenom, elaborated by immunisation of horses with venom from 10 different snake species among the most dangerous in Africa and belonging to Elapidae and Viperidea families. Only F(ab')2 fragments are kept and purified. This serum is able to decrease the quantity of circulating venom and therefore its toxicity.

[Lethal aortic endocarditis due to Gemella morbillorum in a Djiboutian khat user].

We report a 22-year-old man who presented in January 2009 in Djibouti for an aortic-abscessed endocarditis due to Gemella morbillorum (G. morbillorum). A voluminous aortic abscess that extended to the perimembranous ventricular septum was fistulized into the right atrium.

Identification by 2-D DIGE of apoplastic proteins regulated by oligogalacturonides in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Oligogalacturonides (OGs) are elicitors of plant defence responses released from the homogalacturonan of the plant cell wall during the attack by pathogenic micro-organisms. The signalling pathway mediated by OGs remains poorly understood, and no proteins involved in their signal perception and transduction have yet been identified. In order to shed light into the molecular pathways regulated by OGs, a differential proteomic analysis has been carried out in Arabidopsis.

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein interacts with pectin through a binding site formed by four clustered residues of arginine and lysine.

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) is a cell wall protein that inhibits fungal polygalacturonases (PGs) and retards the invasion of plant tissues by phytopathogenic fungi. Here, we report the interaction of two PGIP isoforms from Phaseolus vulgaris (PvPGIP1 and PvPGIP2) with both polygalacturonic acid and cell wall fractions containing uronic acids. We identify in the three-dimensional structure of PvPGIP2 a motif of four clustered arginine and lysine residues (R183, R206, K230, and R252) responsible for this binding.

C(6)-oxidation followed by C(5)-epimerization of guar gum studied by high field NMR.

Guar gum, a beta-D-(1-->4)-linked D-mannan with alpha-D-galactopyranosyl units attached as side groups, was treated with alpha-galactosidase, an enzyme that splits off the alpha-D-galactosyl units to obtain a galactomannan with a low galactose content. The galactose-depleted polysaccharide was then selectively oxidized in C(6) position and epimerized using mannuronan C(5)-epimerases, namely AlgE1, AlgE4, AlgE6, and their mixtures, obtaining new pseudo-alginates. In this paper, we report a full high field 1D and 2D NMR study of guar gum as such and of the galactose-depleted, oxidized and epimerized compounds, respectively.

Effects of dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid on platelet and renal function in patients with cirrhosis.

Advanced cirrhosis is associated with reduced platelet function and altered renal function and sodium handling. Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites contribute to platelet aggregation and to maintain the response to diuretics in advanced cirrhosis. In the present study, we tested the effects of a dietary supplementation for 8 weeks with a triacylglycerol (triglyceride) enriched in AA (ARASCO; 4 g/day) or oleic acid (OA) on plasma and membrane fatty acid composition, platelet aggregation and renal prostaglandin (PG) metabolism.

Effects of supplementation with unsaturated fatty acids on plasma and membrane lipid composition and platelet function in patients with cirrhosis and defective aggregation.

Background/aims: Defective platelet aggregation and reduced platelet production of thromboxane A2, a metabolite of arachidonic acid, are common findings in patients with cirrhosis. We evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with two combinations of unsaturated fatty acids on platelet function and plasma and membrane fatty acids in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: In a double-blind study, 15 patients with cirrhosis and defective aggregation were randomized to receive a 6-week supplementation with gamma-linolenic and linoleic acid (1 g/day of each fatty acid) or with oleic acid and linoleic acid (groups GLA and OA, respectively).