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The present study investigated if new biocomposite materials, polyurethanes (PURs) added with functionalized cellulose fibers, produce potential toxic effects on two target organisms currently used in biomonitoring the quality of two different environmental compartments. Natural fibers were extracted from the species Spartium junceum L., a shrub commonly found in the southern region of the Mediterranean having a high cellulose content. All PURs produced were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and their structure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. We measured the effects of exposure to aromatic and aliphatic PUR composites (containing or not cellulose fibers) on the aquatic model organism Daphnia magna Straus, a freshwater crustacean (Cladocera), and a biomonitor of air quality, the fruticose epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf. Leachates from aliphatic PUR composite not containing cellulose are more toxic to D. magna than all others, showing a slight acute toxicity in the case of the shortest exposure (24 h) and a moderate acute toxicity in the longer one (48 h). This effect is most likely due to the presence of free organic ammines and amides, which, in their turn, are immobilized in composites containing cellulosic fibers because of the considerable amount of chemical functional groups. Regarding lichens, both types of aliphatic PURs resulted in a toxic effect. Formulate not added with cellulose strongly promoted fungal peroxidation, whereas that which was functionalized affected the pigment concentration of the algal partner. Our results suggest that the use of cellulose in PUR production, in general, can limit the ecotoxicological effects on both test organisms and reduce the potential environmental impact due to this type of polymer. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;00:1-16. © 2022 SETAC.

Aim Inflammation and fibrosis are present in both colonic diverticulitis and Crohn's disease (CD). The molecular pattern of basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) and syndecan 1 (SD1) expression is altered in stenosing CD, but their expression in resected complicated colonic diverticulitis (ACD) is unknown. Method The expression of bFGF, SD1 and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in 20 patients after resection of ACD was compared with 15 patients having a resection for CD. Analysis was conducted using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in biopsy samples. Results Lymphocytic and neutrophil inflammation scores were similar in both groups (P = 0.771 and P = 0.562). TNF-α and bFGF expression was significantly higher in ACD than in CD (P

Aim Inflammation occurs in diverticular disease (DD),but there is little information on inflammatory cytokinessuch as tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-a). The aim of thisstudy was to assess TNF-a expression in DD and to seewhether it is related to the severity of the disease.Method Twenty-four patients with symptomatic DDwere divided into those with acute uncomplicated diver-ticulitis (AUD) (12 patients) and those with symptomaticuncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) (12 patients).Twelve further patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis(AD), six with segmental colitis associated with divertic-ulosis(SCAD),withulcerativecolitis(UC)andsixhealthyindividuals (HC) were enrolled as controls. TNF-aexpression in the colonic mucosa was assessed by theamount of mRNA codifying for the synthesis of TNF-a.Results TNF-a expression was significantly higher inAUD than in HC (P = 0.0007), in AD (P = 0.0001) andin SUDD (P = 0.0179). It was significantly higher also inSUDD than in HC (P = 0.0007) and in AD(P = 0.0001). TNF-a expression in AUD did not differsignificantly from that in UC (P = 0.0678) and SCAD(P = 0.0610). It was significantly higher in UC, SCADand AUD than in SUDD (P = 0.0007, P = 0.0001,P = 0.0179).Conclusion TNF-a expression in DD seems to be relatedto the severity of the disease. In particular, it appears tobe overexpressed in DD with inflammation (AUD andSUDD) compared with DD without (AD).Keywords Diverticular disease, diverticulitis, segmentalcolitis associated with diverticulosis, tumour necrosisfactor aWhat is new in this paper?The paper reports for the first time that tumour necrosisfactor a expression may be increased in diverticulardisease. The results indicate that tumour necrosis factora expression is related to the severity of disease.

1. Koff RS. Review article: the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir, a novel, oral nucleotide NS5B polymerase inhibitor, in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2014; 39: 478–874. 2. Hoofnagle JH, Sherker AH. Therapy for hepatitis C–the costs of success. N Engl J Med 2014; 370: 1552–3. 3. Bennett WG, Inoue Y, Beck JR, Wong JB, Pauker SG, Davis GL. Estimates of the cost-effectiveness of a single course of interferon-alpha 2b in patients with histologically mild chronic hepatitis C. Ann Intern Med 1997; 127: 855–65. 4. Shepherd J, Brodin H, Cave C, Waugh N, Price A, Gabbay J. Pegylated interferon alpha-2a and -2b in combination with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 2004; 8: iii–iv; 1–125. 5. Shepherd J, Jones J, Hartwell D, Davidson P, Price A, Waugh N. Interferon alpha (pegylated and non-pegylated) and ribavirin for the treatment of mild chronic hepatitis C: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 2007; 11: 1–205. 6. Hartwell D, Jones J, Baxter L, Shepherd J. Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in patients eligible for shortened treatment, re-treatment or in HCV/HIV co-infection: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 2011; 15: 1–210. 7. Camm a C, Petta S, Enea M, et al. WEF Study Group. Costeffectiveness of boceprevir or telaprevir for untreated patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 2012; 56: 850–60. 8. Petta S, Cabibbo G, Enea M, et al. WEF Study Group. Costeffectiveness of sofosbuvir-based triple therapy for untreated patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 2014; 59: 1692–705. 9. Messori A, Fadda V, Maratea D, Trippoli S. Effect of discounting on estimation of benefits determined by hepatitis C treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2012; 18: 3032–4. 10. Mennini FS. Costi e burden delle patologie HCV-correlate in Italia. Quotidiano Sanit a, published 9 December 2013. Available at: http://www.quotidianosanita.it/allegati/create_pdf.php? all=1145451.pdf. Accessed May 12, 2014.

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 358–365 Summary Background Ulcerative colitis with diverticulosis (UCD), segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) and acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) may affect the same colonic regions, but the real incidence of these entities in clinical practice is unknown. Aim To assess the incidence and the endoscopic findings of UCD, SCAD and AUD. Methods From January 2004 to June 2009, 8525 consecutive colonoscopies were performed. Diagnosis of the diseases was based on specific endoscopic and histological (UCD and SCAD), and on endoscopic and radiological (AUD) patterns. Results Ulcerative colitis with diverticulosis was diagnosed in 25 patients (0.3%), SCAD was diagnosed in 129 patients (2%) and AUD was diagnosed in 130 patients (2%). In UCD, the inflammation in colonic area harbouring diverticula always affects the overall colonic mucosa in all cases, involving also diverticular orifices. The endoscopic characteristic of SCAD is that inflammation is mainly detected within the inter-diverticular mucosa without involvement of the diverticular orifices. In AUD, the inflammation affects primarily diverticular orifice and peri-diverticular mucosa. Conclusions In clinical practice, the incidence of mucosal inflammation in the presence of colonic diverticular disease is low and endoscopy is the mainstay of differential diagnosis.

The digital has revolutionised the notion of space that was formulated on the two-dimensional page in the Renaissance with the discovery of perspective and the printing press. Derrick de Kerckhove and Antonio Tursi explore how our ideas about space have been overturned since the onset of the computer and the many different ways that architects are reinterpreting them. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aim : To evaluate and compare two 1-week low-dose triple therapies based on lansoprazole, amoxycillin and a macrolide in eradicating Helicobacter pylori. Methods : Seventy consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms with H. pylori infection, were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups : (A) (LAC ; n = 35) lansoprazole 30 mg once daily, amoxycillin 1000 mg b.d., clarithromycin 250 mg b.d., all for 7 days ; and (B) (LAA ; n = 35) lansoprazole 30 mg once daily and amoxycillin 1000 mg b.d., both for 7 days, plus azithromycin 500 mg once daily for only 3 days. The H. pylori status was evaluated by means of histology and rapid urease test at entry and 8 weeks after treatment. Results : Three patients did not complete the treatment : one in the LAC group was withdrawn owing to severe side-effects ; two patients in the LAA group stopped the treatment prematurely. H. pylori eradication was obtained in 28 of 34 (82% ; 95% CI = 66-93%) patients in the LAC group and in 20 of 33 (61% ; 95% CI = 42-77%) patients in the LAA group. The difference is significant (P < 0.029). On intention-to-treat analysis, the rates of eradication were (28 of 35 patients, 80% in the LAC group and 20 of 35 patients, 57% in the LAA group. Side-effects occurred in nine (26%) and six (18%) patients in the LAC and LAA groups, respectively. Conclusions : Low-dose lansoprazole plus amoxycillin and clarithromycin is more effective than low-dose lansoprazole plus amoxycillin and azithromycin, but it gave a greater incidence of side-effects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to compare two 1-week, low-dose triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms with H. pylori infection, were randomly allocated to 7 days of treatment with omeprazole 20 mg o.m. plus clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and either tinidazole 500 mg b.d. (group A: n = 50, 19 with peptic ulcer) or amoxycillin 1000 mg b.d. (group B: n = 50, 20 with peptic ulcer). H. pylori-status was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Three patients did not complete the treatment. H. pylori eradication was obtained in 35 patients from group A (73%) (95% CI, 55-82%) and in 40 patients from group B (82%) (95% CI, 66-90%). On intention-to-treat analysis, the rates of eradication were similar. Side-effects occurred in seven patients from group A (14.58%) and in four patients from group B (8.33%), but none discontinued therapy because of side-effects. CONCLUSION: Both triple 1-week, low-dose omeprazole therapies gave good eradication rates with infrequent side-effects.

Background Inflammation may be detected in diverticular disease (DD), and fibrosis may also develop. We assessed the mucosal expression of bFGF, SD1, and TNF-α in DD according to the severity of the disease. Moreover, we assessed the response to therapy of these cytokines in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD). Methods Fifteen patients affected by AUD and seven patients affected by symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) were enrolled. Patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis (AD), segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and healthy subjects (HC) served as control groups. Key Results The expression of bFGF, SD1, and TNF-α was significantly higher in diverticulitis than in healthy controls, in diverticulosis, and in uncomplicated diverticular disease. Cytokines were significantly higher in uncomplicated diverticular disease than in healthy controls. Cytokine expression in diverticulitis did not differ significantly from that of ulcerative colitis. After treatment, TNF-α expression dropped significantly. Conclusions & Inferences Mucosal TNF-α is overexpressed only in symptomatic DD, while SD1 and bFGF are already overexpressed in AD. Finally, TNF-α but not SD1 or bFGF expression seems to be influenced by the treatment in AUD.