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Background: IBD management has been significantly affected during the COVID-19 lockdown with potential clinical issues. Aims: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Italian paediatric IBD cohort. Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective, cohort investigation including 21 different Italian IBD referral centres. An electronic data collection was performed among the participating centres including: clinical characteristics of IBD patients, number of COVID-19 cases and clinical outcomes, disease management during the lockdown and the previous 9 weeks. Results: 2291 children affected by IBD were enrolled. We experienced a significant reduction of the hospital admissions [604/2291 (26.3%) vs 1281/2291 (55.9%); p < 0.001]. More specifically, we observed a reduction of hospitalizations for new diagnosis (from n = 44 to n = 27) and endoscopic re-evaluations (from n = 46 to n = 8). Hospitalization for relapses and surgical procedures remained substantially unchanged. Biologic infusions did not significantly vary [393/2291 (17.1%) vs 368/2291 (16%); p = 0.3]. Telemedicine services for children with IBD were activated in 52.3% of the centres. In 42/2291(1.8%) children immunosuppressive therapies were adapted due to the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Due to the several limitations of the lockdown, cares for children with IBD have been kept to minimal standards, giving priorities to the urgencies and to biologics’ infusions and implementing telemedicine services.

Background: Short-term results of renal transplantation have shown a drastic improvement over time mainly due to changes in immunosuppressive therapy. Non-compliance to therapy is one of the causes of graft loss. Tacrolimus is a cornerstone of immunosuppressive therapy: recently became available Tacrolimus once a day formulation (Advagraf) that could improve the compliance of patients to immunosuppressive therapy. Few are published data about its use in clinical practice. We therefore compared the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of once-daily formulation compared to the classic twice-daily dosing tacrolimus in de novo kidney transplant patients. Methods: Retrospectively evaluation of 30 de novo transplant recipients treated with Advagraf in 2009-2012 (on dose daily of 0.2-0.3 mg/kg) and 30 treated with Prograf (2 doses daily of 0.2 mg /kg). Comparison between the two groups regarding drugs dose, blood level and clinical variables. Result: Both Advagraf and Prograf patients reached the drug target level, even if initially with a higher drug dose for Advagraf. Creatinine levels were initially higher in Advagraf group, no differences are detectable two weeks after transplant. There were no differences between groups for rejection episodes, graft loss and adverse events. Lipid metabolism was significantly better in Advagraf patients. Discussion: Advagraf confirm to offer a similar short-term efficacy compared with the twice a day administration in de novo kidney transplant, with a higher drug dose compared to tacrolimus. The safety profile is comparable with twice-daily administration. Interestingly a better lipid metabolism is present in Advagraf group.

SUMMARY i (Marshall McLuhan, 1958) The elastodynamic ‘ray-theoretical’ Green's tensor for general anisotropic and inhomogeneous media (GANIMED) is derived in the far-field high-frequency approximation. This allows the quantification of the amplitude and phase charac-teristics of arbitrary point sources. The displacement field is controlled by the phase velocity and the Gaussian curvature of the wave surface. Exploiting the already existing computer codes for dynamic ray tracing in GANIMED, we demonstrate how one may couple it to source theory in order to calculate displacement-radiation patterns for unipolar and dipolar sources in various earth crustal materials, such as shales, sandstones, and olivine. The existence of a velocity gradient at the source causes asymmetry in the radiation patterns. In contradistinction, anisotropy at the source tends to distort the lobes and in some cases can beam excessive energy in specific directions. Our calculated radiation patterns for shear waves are similar to those observed from some explosions in soil.

New linear diporphyrin arrays and a heteroleptic diad have been synthesized in good yield. 1H NMR, UV-visible and fluorescence studies reveal that the receptors bind to alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions to give a supramolecular complex in which the ion is nestled within the oligooxaethylene framework. The formation of the host–guest complexes promotes a change in the geometry of the system toward a topology in which the two tetrapyrrolic macrocycles tend to face together. This is evidenced by the mutual ring current anisotropy effect exerted by the porphyrinic platforms, and by the blue shift and broadening of the relative UV-visible bands (Soret). In particular, the changes observed allow the complexation process to be monitored at very low concentrations. The association constants lie within the range 25–1 × 105 M−1 (CD3CN–CDCl3 1:1) depending on either the nature of the diporphyrinic receptors or that of the interacting metal ions. The heteroleptic diad shows a very efficient energy transfer process (> 99%) between the two different macrocycles in a variety of solvents that is not altered by complexation with metal ions. The systems reported present interesting properties as switchable biomimetics.

La investigación en el área de materiales en estado sólido ofrece la posibilidad de desarrollar tecnologías alternativas, eficientes y de bajo costo para la captura selectiva de CO2 en corrientes gaseosas. El presente trabajo reporta los resultados del estudio de adsorción reversible de dióxido de carbono (CO2) sobre sólidos inorgánicos: zeolitas tipo ST5-H y ST5-Na, y geles de sílice funcionalizados APG-2EX y MM1-M mediante el análisis por desorción a temperatura programada (DTP). Los sólidos APG-2EX, ST5-Na, y MM1-M, mostraron capacidades de adsorción de CO2 de: 0,33; 0,30; y 0,20 mmol CO2/g respectivamente, bajo condiciones estándar de temperatura y presión (25°C, 1 atmósfera) mientras que la zeolita ST5-H no presentó capacidad adsorbente. Estas capacidades son cercanas a las reportadas para el sólido ADSUB con valores entre 0,39 – 0,57 mmol CO2/g y superiores a los valores reportados para los sólidos APG-1, APG-2, APG-3 y APG-4 los cuales se encuentran en el rango entre: 0,14 – 0,19 mmol CO2/g., The research in solid materials could provide efficient and low cost alternatives for the selective capture of CO2 from gas streams. This paper shows the results of reversible adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) followed by thermal programmed desorption (TPD) over inorganic solids: zeolite-type materials (ST5H and ST5-Na) and functionalized silica gels (APG-2EX and MM1-M). The CO2 adsorption capacity of APG-2EX, ST5-Na, and MM1-M, under standard conditions (25°C, 1 atm) was respectively 0,33, 0,30, and 0,20 mmol CO2/g, whereas the ST5-H zeolite showed no adsorption capacity. These CO2 adsorption values are close to those reported for the solid ADSUB whose values ranging from 0,39 to 0,57 mmol CO2/g and are higher than the values reported for solids APG-1, APG-2, APG-3 and APG-4 ranging between 0,14 to 0,19 mmol CO2/g ., {"references":["1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Physical Science, IPCC (2007). 2. R. Steeneveldt, B.Berger. Trans IChem E. Part A. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 84 (A9) (2006) 739-763. 3. O. Leal, C. Bolívar, C. Ovalles, J.J. Garcia, Y.Espidel.. Inorg. Chim. Acta 240 (1995) 183-189. 4. O. Leal, C. Bolívar, G. Sepúlveda, G. Molleja, G. Martínez, L. Esparragoza. \"Carbon dioxide adsorbent and method for producing the adsorbent\". U.S.Patent N°: 5087597. (Febrero, 1992). 5. G. Gonzalez, V. de Gouveia, J.C. Rodríguez. \"Estudio comparativo de dos adsorbentes para la adsorción de CO2\". PDVSA Intevep. Archivo Técnico. INT-03013,95. (1995). 6. D. Bonenfant, M. Kharoune, P. Niquette, M. Mimeault, R. Hauster. Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. 9 (2008). 7. D.M. Levan, M.B. Abney, K.S. Walton. Microp. Mesop. Mat. 91 (2006) 78-84. 8. R. Harner, X.A. Galindo, O. Leal Pinto, J. López, A.G. Sena, C. Pazo, M. Olivo, J. Quiroz. Informe técnico INT-12512,2008. 9. Y. Guillen. \"Metodología de preparación de ST5 con diferente relación Si/Al\". PDVSA, Intevep. Archivo Técnico. INT-12001, 2008. 10. N.P. Martínez, J.A. Lujano, N. Alvarez, F. Machado, C.M. López. \"Zeolitic catalyst MFI type, ist preparation and use\" U.S Patent N° 5254327. 11. J. Carraza, J.R. Córdova, J. Lujano, J.M. Cruz. \"Syntetic material with high void volume associated with mesoporous tortuous channels having a narrow size distribution\" U.S Patent N° 5840271. 12. K. Yogo, T. Yashima, N. Hiyoshi. Microp. Mesop. Mat. 84 (2005) 357-365."]}

We develop asymptotic expressions and outline a procedure to perform Kirchhoff migration in anisotropic media. This technique is based on a new Green’s tensor representation for azimuthally isotropic media obtained by using analytical forms for the ray amplitudes and traveltimes. Since in real applications the usage of general anisotropy in a migration scheme will be limited by the availability and reliability of the velocity model considered, we also develop a new anisotropic velocity analysis scheme to generate realistic anisotropic models for migration in azimuthally isotropic media for nonconverted and converted qP-qSV waves. This velocity analysis technique is based on nonhyperbolic traveltime‐offset formulas explicitly given in terms of the five elastic constants of azimuthal isotropy. The imaging technique is applied to nonconverted‐as well as converted‐wave surface seismic data. In both cases the method provides accurate images of the subsurface. Even with a weak to moderate percentage of anisotropy, we show that an isotropic migration algorithm cannot properly image the subsurface. This paper provides new nonconventional techniques for the velocity analysis and migration in anisotropic media and shows the feasibility of exploiting converted and nonconverted waves.

Nerve growth factor and its receptor(s) are present in several parts of the hippocampus (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus) but nothing is known about their function in this area which plays a fundamental role in learning and memory processes. NGF delivered exogenously to hippocampal slices causes a concentration-dependent, marked reduction in the expression (but not the induction) of long term potentiation (LTP) without altering basal synaptic transmission. The effect is already half maximal at 0.05-0.1 ng ml-1 NGF, is reversible after removal of this growth factor, and is also detectable with a modified version of NGF which has lost its neurite outgrowth promoting activity in PC12 cells. These findings point to a role for hippocampal NGF as a possible modulator of learning and memory processes. Such modulation would be mediated by high-affinity receptors functionally distinct from those promoting morphological differentiation of PC12 cells and other NGF target cells.