Electrospinning of Poly[acrylonitrile‐co‐(glycidyl methacrylate)] Nanofibrous Mats for the Immobilization of Candida Antarctica Lipase B

PANGMA nanofibers and nanomats with fiber diameters of 200–300 nanometers were fabricated by electrospinning. Cal‐B was covalently immobilized onto the PANGMA nanomats via three different immobilization routes. The properties of the Cal‐B‐immobilized PANGMA nanomats were assayed and compared with the free Cal‐B. The observed Cal‐B loading on these nanomats is up to ≈50 mg · g^?1, and their hydrolytic activity is up to ≈2 500 nmol · min^?1 · mg^?1, much higher than free enzyme powder and also slightly higher than Novozyme 435. Cal‐B immobilized PANGMA nanomats have better reusability, thermal stability, and storage ability than free Cal‐B. They retain over 50% of their initial activity after 15 cycles, over 65% after 10 h heat incubation, and over 75% after 30 d storage.

     

Optimum loading for maximizing muscle power output: the effect of training history

Although the effect of external load on the mechanical output of individual muscle has been well documented, the literature still provides conflicting evidence regarding whether the optimum loading (L_opt) for exerting the maximum muscle power output (MPO) could be different for individuals with different levels of strength and power. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of training history on L_opt that maximizes MPO during the 6-s maximal cycling sprint test. Forty healthy young males (strength-and speed-trained athletes, and physically active and sedentary non-athletes) were tested on maximum strength, and on peak MPO when loaded 5–12% of body weight (BW). As expected, the strength trained and sedentary participants, respectively, revealed the highest and lowest strengths and MPO (p < 0.001). However, the main finding was a significant across-group difference in L_opt (p < 0.001) revealing the values 9.7% (for strength trained), 9.2% (speed trained), 8.7% (active), and 8.0% of BW (sedentary individuals). This suggests that the effects of external loading on maximum MPO in complex functional movements could be training history dependent. In addition to revealing a sensitivity of the 6-s maximal cycling sprint tests (and, perhaps, other maximum cycling tests), the results suggest that the external loading in routine MPO tests should not be solely adjusted to a fixed percentage of subject’s BW (as routinely done in standard tests), but also to their training history. The same phenomenon remains to be evaluated in a number of other routine tests of MPO and other maximum performance tasks.     

Safety and efficacy of an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor in systemic‐onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Objective

The current treatment options for systemic‐onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are methotrexate, steroids, and biologic agents. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of the orally active histone deacetylase inhibitor givinostat (ITF2357) and its ability to affect the disease.

Methods

Givinostat was administered orally, for up to 12 weeks at a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg/day, to 17 patients with systemic‐onset JIA who had had active disease for ≥1 month. Disease activity was clinically assessed using the American College of Rheumatology Pediatric 30 (ACR Pedi 30), ACR Pedi 50, or ACR Pedi 70 criteria for improvement and a systemic feature score. The primary goal was safety and the primary efficacy end point was the number of patients completing 12 weeks of treatment who were responders.

Results

Givinostat was safe and well tolerated, with adverse events (AEs) being mild or moderate, of short duration, and self‐limited. The 17 patients from the intent‐to‐treat population reported a total of 44 AEs, and the 9 patients in the per‐protocol population reported a total of 25. Six AEs in 3 patients (nausea, vomiting, and fatigue) were related to the study drug, but each resolved spontaneously and no patient was withdrawn from the study due to drug‐related AEs. In the per‐protocol population at week 4, the improvement as measured by the ACR Pedi 30, ACR Pedi 50, and ACR Pedi 70, respectively, was 77.8%, 55.6%, and 22.2%, and this increased further to 77.8%, 77.8%, and 66.7% at week 12. The most consistent finding was the reduction in the number of joints with active disease or with limited range of motion.

Conclusion

After 12 weeks, givinostat exhibited significant therapeutic benefit in patients with systemic‐onset JIA, particularly with regard to the arthritic component of the disease, and showed an excellent safety profile.

     

Transorbital hybrid approach for endovascular occlusion of indirect carotid-cavernous fistulas–Case report and systematic literature review

Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCF) are vascular malformations characterized by an aberrant shunt between one or more sources of arterial inflow and the cavernous sinus (CS). They are subdivided into direct and indirect fistulas. This last one, called dural CCF involve dural fistulous connections between branches of the internal carotid artery or the external carotid artery. When conventional routes are not eligible, surgical exposure of the vein is the only access to the fistula. We present the case of a patient successfully treated for right sided dural CCF, by a hybrid approach. Furthermore, through a literature review, we analyze the possible risks and benefits associated with this approach.