Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongbiao Cui, Qiuya Wang, Xue Zhang, Shiwen Zhang, Jing Zhou, Dongmei Zhou, Jun Zhou
Summary: The study found that dry-wet and freeze-thaw aging both affect the adsorption capacity of biochar for copper and cadmium, resulting in decreased bioavailability of Cu and increased bioavailability of Cd. Different biochars have different adsorption capacities, leading to varied effects on Cu and Cd. Careful assessment of biochar dosage and environmental risk is necessary before large-scale application.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rocco Mollace, Micaela Gliozzi, Roberta Macri, Annamaria Tavernese, Vincenzo Musolino, Cristina Carresi, Jessica Maiuolo, Carolina Muscoli, Carlo Tomino, Giuseppe Maria Rosano, Massimo Fini, Maurizio Volterrani, Bruno Silvestrini, Vincenzo Mollace
Summary: This study investigated the safety profile of a new sublingual aspirin formulation in healthy volunteers. The results showed that this formulation had a better safety profile compared to standard aspirin, especially in reducing gastric mucosal lesions.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jianping Liu, Xiaowei Ge, Peng Liu, Ge Song, Ziyang Hu
Summary: Studies have shown that iron tailings (IOT) can be activated and used as a substitute for cement in cementitious materials. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different activation methods, activation time, and activator types on the properties of IOT cementitious materials. Various activation times and activator contents were used, and the compressive strength, flexural strength, frost resistance, and sulfate resistance of the activated IOT cementitious materials were analyzed. The results showed that the performance of the cementitious materials significantly improved when 10% metakaolin was activated by mechanical-chemical coupling for 1.5 hours. Moreover, under mechanochemical coupling activation, IOT increased its specific surface area, improved surface energy and activity, promoted the formation of acicular ettringite (AFt) and hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) gels, and improved the pore structure of hydration products, resulting in a denser microstructure and improved mechanical properties.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yin Xiao, Tingyu Jin, Xuerong Geng, Xingyi Zhu
Summary: The study shows that the AZL-NA cocrystal prepared by mechanical ball milling has effectively improved the water solubility and bioavailability of azilsartan. The preparation of the cocrystal requires specific ball milling conditions and demonstrates significant dissolution improvement in different dissolution media. Furthermore, the AZL-NA cocrystal exhibits good chemical stability and significantly enhanced bioavailability.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Agnieszka Garlicka, Katarzyna Umiejewska, Per Halkjaer Nielsen, Adam Muszynski
Summary: The aim of this project was to increase methane production by combining feedstock pretreatment and co-digestion of maize silage with thickened excess sludge. Results showed that pretreatment of sludge alone increased methane production from 0.192 Nml/gVS (sludge + maize silage) to 0.220 Nml/gVS (pretreated sludge + maize silage). However, the energy balance indicated that the additional energy generated was not enough to cover the energy expenditure for the mechanical pretreatment. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed the composition of the microbial community, with Chloroflexi, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota being the most abundant bacteria phyla.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Nina Obradovic, Lun Feng, Suzana Filipovic, Miljana Mirkovic, Darko Kosanovic, Jelena Rogan, William G. Fahrenholtz
Summary: Zirconium carbide ceramics with reduced particle size and small grain size of less than 2 μm were successfully prepared by mixing ZrO2 and C via high-energy ball milling for 15 minutes. This milling time achieved the best balance of densification and impurity reduction.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gehua Zhen, Qiaoyue Guo, Yusheng Li, Chuanlong Wu, Shouan Zhu, Ruomei Wang, X. Edward Guo, Byoung Choul Kim, Jessie Huang, Yizhong Hu, Yang Dan, Mei Wan, Taekjip Ha, Steven An, Xu Cao
Summary: Research shows that the subchondral bone structure affects the distribution of mechanical stress on articular cartilage, which in turn influences the distribution of transforming growth factor beta activity in the cartilage, regulating chondrocyte metabolism and homeostasis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mario Grassi, Italo Colombo, Davide Manca, Alice Biasin, Lucia Grassi, Gabriele Grassi, Michela Abrami
Summary: Drug activation by grinding or co-grinding has evolved considerably since the 1980s, leading to improved drug bioavailability. This study successfully interpreted and described experimental data by developing a mathematical model to establish the relationship between mill settings and milled drug properties.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bin Liang, Yuhuan Deng, Xingtang Liang, Xiunan Cai, Yanjuan Zhang, Yanzhen Yin, Huayu Hu, Zuqiang Huang, Yuben Qin
Summary: In this study, the combination of MA + FeCl3 method was used to pretreat chitin, enhancing the degree of hydrothermal carbonization. The resulting hydrochar exhibited abundant oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, with a specific surface area of 128 m(2) g(-1), making it a promising carbon material.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Taskeen Iqbal Janjua, Yuxue Cao, Chengzhong Yu, Amirali Popat
Summary: Silica nanoparticles have shown promising safety, efficacy, and viability in clinical trials for various biomedical applications such as oral drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapy, indicating their potential in the field.
NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Francesco Bianco, Marco Race, Stefano Papirio, Patryk Oleszczuk, Giovanni Esposito
Summary: Biochar is proposed as an innovative and sustainable technology for remediation of PAH-contaminated sediments, mainly through sorption mechanisms. The use of biochar can significantly improve the efficiency of PAH removal from sediments, especially when used in combination with multi-PAH systems and high dosages. Additionally, biochar has shown to decrease PAH degradation during bioaugmentation and phytoremediation of sediments, but can increase degradation when used with nitrate as an electron acceptor in low-temperature conditions.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad Hasan Sadeghi, Mohsen Nasr Esfahany
Summary: The research aims to develop a variable surface reactivity kinetics model for leaching of activated particles. The results show that the structural distortion has a more substantial effect on the leaching kinetics.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ivan Dmitrenko, Kamaludin Abdulvakhidov, Alexander Soldatov, Antonina Kravtsova, Zhengyou Li, Marina Sirota, Pavel Plyaka, Bashir Abdulvakhidov
Summary: This study is the first to investigate the influence of crystallite sizes and structural defects on the crystal structure and physical properties of bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 (BFO). The findings show that different pressures result in changes in crystal structure, relaxation characteristics, crystal lattice dynamics, and magnetic properties.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maohui Li, Youjun Lu, Shaolin Yang, Jingjun Chu, Yajuan Liu
Summary: The change law of alkaline steel slag cementitious activity was investigated using mechanical excitation, alkaline excitation, and salt excitation methods. The effects of grinding time, chemical activators, and steel slag content on the properties of cement replaced by steel slag were studied. The hydration products of cement replaced by steel slag were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results showed that mechanical excitation effectively improved the particle size distribution and cementitious activity of steel slag. The best mechanical properties were achieved with a grinding time of 20 min and a steel slag content of 10%. Chemical excitation further enhanced the cementitious activity of steel slag when combined with mechanical stimulation. Optimal mechanical properties were obtained with a dosage of 1.0% sodium hydroxide, 2.0% early strength agent, and 25% steel slag. The main hydration products of cement replaced by steel slag were calcite (CaCO3), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)), dicalcium silicate (Ca2SiO4), and C-S-H gel. The microstructure exhibited a fibrous network structure, laying the foundation for improved mechanical properties.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Chee Lok Yong, Kim Hung Mo, Suhana Koting
Summary: This paper comprehensively reviews the potential factors and activation methods of phosphorus slag as binder in concrete and precursor in alkali activated materials, summarizes the approaches to improve early-age performance and highlights the optimal PS replacement level.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Tilen Kopac, Michela Abrami, Mario Grassi, Ales Rucigaj, Matjaz Krajnc
Summary: A simple relation between pendant groups of polymers in hydrogels is introduced to determine the crosslink density of complex hydrogel systems. Furthermore, the rheological properties and their potential connection to design complex hydrogel systems with desired properties have been thoroughly investigated. The article also presents a new mathematical model for determining the crosslink density of crosslinked hydrogels and develops a combined use of rheology and low field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the characterization of hydrogel networks.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Tommasina Coviello, Franco Alhaique, Chiara Di Meo, Pietro Matricardi, Elita Montanari, Nicole Zoratto, Mario Grassi, Michela Abrami
Summary: This study investigates the effects of the addition of borax on a mixed system of Scleroglucan and guar gum. It reveals synergistic effects in terms of critical time, mesh size, and crosslinking density. The study also finds that the flexible chains of guar gum contribute to the self-healing properties of the mixed gel system.
EXPRESS POLYMER LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Trinh Van Le, Ngoc Bao Thi Dinh, Minh Thanh Dang, Nhan Chinh Lu Phan, Loan Tung Thi Dang, Gabriele Grassi, Ai Xuan Le Holterman, Huy Minh Le, Nhung Hai Truong
Summary: Chloroquine attenuates acute liver damage induced by CCl4 in mice by reducing liver enlargement and necrosis, as well as inhibiting HSC activation and autophagy. This protective effect may provide a potential novel therapeutic approach for hepatic fibrosis.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Davide Porrelli, Michela Abrami, Patrizia Pelizzo, Cristina Formentin, Chiara Ratti, Gianluca Turco, Mario Grassi, Gianluca Canton, Gabriele Grassi, Luigi Murena
Summary: The study of bone morphology is essential for understanding bone diseases and mechanical properties, and traditional diagnostic techniques lack qualitative and quantitative information. In recent years, new technologies like CT and MRI have been used to study bone structure and porosity. Unlike micro-CT, LF-NMR is able to detect significant differences in trabecular bone porosity between osteoporotic and osteoarthritic patients.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Serena Bertoni, Dritan Hasa, Beatrice Albertini, Beatrice Perissutti, Mario Grassi, Dario Voinovich, Nadia Passerini
Summary: Green Chemistry has gained widespread attention in the pharmaceutical field. This review focuses on spray congealing and mechanochemical activation, two technologies that address challenges related to transforming poorly watersoluble drugs into bioavailable solid dosage forms. The article provides an overview of the principles, equipment, and applications of these particle-engineering technologies, with specific attention to case studies from Italian Universities.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandra Bosutti, Barbara Dapas, Gabriele Grassi, Rossana Bussani, Fabrizio Zanconati, Fabiola Giudici, Cristina Bottin, Nicola Pavan, Carlo Trombetta, Bruna Scaggiante
Summary: The expression of eEF1A1 is higher in high-grade prostate cancer tissues compared with low-grade tissues, and high expression of eEF1A1 is associated with worse clinical outcome. The DNA aptamer GT75, which targets eEF1A1, can impair cell viability and induce autophagy and cell detachment in the aggressive CRPC cancer cells PC-3. The eEF1A1-actin complexes are critical for the viability of PC-3 cells, suggesting that eEF1A1 may be a potential target for therapeutic strategies in advanced forms of prostate cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Domenico Tierno, Gabriele Grassi, Fabrizio Zanconati, Marina Bortul, Bruna Scaggiante
Summary: This review summarizes the potential of circulating tumor nucleic acids (ctNAs) analysis in aiding the diagnosis and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Mutations and copy number variations of TP53 and PIK3CA/AKT genes in plasma may serve as important markers for TNBC onset, progression, metastasis, and clinical follow-up. The expression profile of circulating tumor non-coding RNAs (ctncRNAs) can predict molecular subtypes of breast cancer and aid in the identification of TNBC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Domenico Tierno, Gabriele Grassi, Serena Scomersi, Marina Bortul, Daniele Generali, Fabrizio Zanconati, Bruna Scaggiante
Summary: The poor survival of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is attributed to its aggressive behavior, large heterogeneity, and high risk of recurrence. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used to investigate the molecular characteristics of TNBC, revealing recurrent pathogenic alterations in TP53, immunocheckpoint response genes, and PIK3CA and DNA repair pathways. NGS has also identified potential personalized treatments and novel biomarkers such as AURKA, MYC, and JARID2 mutations. Additionally, NGS studies have identified ethnicity-specific alterations in African and African American TNBC, including EZH2 overexpression, BRCA1 alterations, and a BRCA2-delaAAGA mutation. The development of long-read sequencing methods and their combination with optimized short-read techniques hold promise for improving the efficiency of NGS approaches in future clinical use.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Tonon, Gabriele Grassi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Domenico Tierno, Eros Azzalini, Rossella Farra, Sara Drioli, Fulvia Felluga, Marco Lazzarino, Gabriele Grassi, Barbara Dapas, Serena Bonin
Summary: Epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors with different molecular and clinical features. Few improvements have been achieved in terms of EOC management and treatment efficacy, and the 5-year survival rate of patients remained almost unchanged. A better characterization of EOCs' heterogeneity is needed to identify vulnerabilities, stratify patients, and adopt proper therapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Trinh Van Le, Hong-Thuy Phan-Thi, My-Xuan Huynh-Thi, Thanh Minh Dang, Ai Xuan Le Holterman, Gabriele Grassi, Thao-Uyen Nguyen-Luu, Nhung Hai Truong
Summary: Chloroquine (CQ) treatment has been shown to prevent hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and autophagy, leading to a reduction in liver fibrogenesis. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, CQ inhibited HSC activation, improved liver function, and reduced liver injury.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tanja Jesenko, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Maja Cemazar, Alice Biasin, Domenico Tierno, Bruna Scaggiante, Mario Grassi, Chiara Grassi, Barbara Dapas, Nhung Hai Truong, Michela Abrami, Fabrizio Zanconati, Deborah Bonazza, Flavio Rizzolio, Salvatore Parisi, Giorgia Pastorin, Gabriele Grassi
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health challenge, ranking third in cancer deaths worldwide. Despite recent therapeutic advances, prognosis remains poor, necessitating the development of novel strategies. This study focuses on targeting molecules with aberrant expression confined to tumor cells, particularly non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. These ncRNAs play a significant role in regulating various aspects of HCC, including proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. The review provides the latest state-of-the-art approaches, highlighting key trends and opportunities for advanced and efficacious HCC treatments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Bortul, Fabiola Giudici, Domenico Tierno, Daniele Generali, Serena Scomersi, Gabriele Grassi, Cristina Bottin, Maria Rosa Cappelletti, Fabrizio Zanconati, Bruna Scaggiante
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Western countries. Early detection is crucial for improving survival and reducing costs. Analyzing the quantity, mutations, and integrity of circulating cell-free DNA could be a potential tool for early diagnosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Claps, Nicola Pavan, Luca Ongaro, Domenico Tierno, Gabriele Grassi, Carlo Trombetta, Gabriele Tulone, Alchiede Simonato, Riccardo Bartoletti, Laura S. Mertens, Bas W. G. van Rhijn, Maria Carmen Mir, Bruna Scaggiante
Summary: Urothelial carcinoma is a common type of cancer, with bladder carcinoma being the most prevalent form. For non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that does not respond to BCG treatment, radical cystectomy is currently the standard treatment. However, this surgery carries high risks and impacts the patient's quality of life, highlighting the need for alternative bladder-preserving therapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)