A novel process for the complete recycling of exhausted coffee capsules with a fully circular approach: Design of the industrial plant and Techno-Economic analysis of the process.

The objective of this paper is to present the technical and feasibility analysis of an innovative mechanical recycling system for exhausted coffee capsules. This recycling process involved the sorting of spent coffee grounds (SGC) and the subsequent drying and melt-mixing of a portion of these grounds with the remaining capsule components, mainly composed of polypropylene (PP), along with optional virgin PP. These newly developed composite materials exhibited mechanical and rheological properties comparable or even surpassing those of virgin PP. They were also successfully utilized for the injection of new capsule shells, thus alignin with the principles of the circular economy. In addition to the technical aspects, this paper present a comprehensive Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) of the proposed recycling processes, considering the inclusion of virgin PP (0-20 %) and the initial moisture content (MSGC) of SGC(5-55 %) as varying factors. An industrial plant, designed to handle up to 190 million exhausted coffee capsules and produce up to 1500 tons of recycled compund was appropriately sized. The analysis revealed that processes are profitable across all examined scenarios and that the Net Present Value ranged between 800 k€ (for vPP = 20 % and MSGC = 55 %) and 2000 k€ (for vPP = 0 % and MSGC = 5 %).

Homocysteine plasma levels in psoriasis patients: our experience and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: People with psoriasis are at higher cardiovascular risk. Plasma levels of homocysteine over the normal range have been recognized as marker of cardiovascular risk. Psoriasis patients express higher levels of plasma homocysteine than healthy people. OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to investigate the correlation between homocysteinaemia, severity and duration of psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis, and to evaluate the effect of a 12-week administration of a target therapy for psoriasis on homocysteinaemia. METHODS: Fifty-two psoriasis patients (study group) submitted to different kind of therapy for psoriasis (biological, systemic not biological and topical) and 24 healthy Italian subject (control group) were evaluated for their plasmatic homocysteine levels, both at baseline (T0) and 12 weeks after they a specific therapy for psoriasis. RESULTS: A significant difference between the homocysteinaemia of psoriasis patients (mean 19.71 ± 11.16) and control group (13.90 ± 11.18), P < 0.05 (Fig. 1), was found at baseline (T0). The mean plasma levels of homocysteine were directly correlated with disease severity (P = 0.0401), but not with disease duration (P = 0.6018) or presence of arthritis (P = 0.6221) at baseline. None among the treatments administered to psoriasis patients caused a significant reduction in homocysteinaemia after 12 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that psoriasis patients with more severe disease, can have hyperhomocysteinaemia, without regard to disease duration or joint involvement. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is not influenced by a target therapy for psoriasis and it is as greater as psoriasis severity. However, limitation of our study is the relatively small number of cases. Homocysteine plasmatic levels should be advisable as a further independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in psoriasis patients.

Oxidative stress and psoriasis: the effect of antitumour necrosis factor-α inhibitor treatment.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition associated with a high frequency of cardiovascular events. Modifications of plasma lipids, and an increase in the levels of biochemical markers of inflammation and lipid peroxidation have been reported in subjects with psoriasis, suggesting a relationship between psoriasis, inflammation and oxidative damage. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether modulation of inflammatory activity by tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors in patients with psoriasis is associated with modification of lipid profiles, oxidative stress and paraoxonase (PON)1 activity. METHODS: The levels of plasma lipids and lipoprotein(a), and the levels of the markers of inflammation and lipid peroxidation were evaluated in subjects with psoriasis (n=23) before and after 24 weeks of treatment with etanercept. In the same subjects plasma total antioxidant capacity and the activity of PON1, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzyme associated with the high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), were investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that clinical improvement in patients with psoriasis treated with etanercept is associated with a reduction in the levels of inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP)] and lipid peroxidation, and also with increased antioxidant capacity in the serum of patients with psoriasis. These modifications are associated with a significant increase in the activity of PON1. A significant increase in the PON1/CRP ratio has also been observed in patients with psoriasis after treatment. The significant inverse correlation between CRP and PON1 activity suggests a relationship between PON1 activity and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with etanercept is associated with a reduction in lipid peroxidation and an improvement in HDL antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Correlation between lipoprotein(a) and lipid peroxidation in psoriasis: role of the enzyme paraoxonase-1.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease associated with abnormal plasma lipid metabolism and with a high frequency of cardiovascular events. Modifications of plasma lipids and an increase in the levels of biochemical markers of lipid peroxidation have been reported in subjects with psoriasis, suggesting a relationship between psoriasis, lipoproteins and oxidative damage. OBJECTIVES: To investigate further the relationship between lipoproteins and oxidative stress in psoriasis. METHOD: The levels of plasma lipids, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and markers of lipid peroxidation were evaluated in subjects with psoriasis (n=23) and in controls (n=25). In the same subjects, the activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON1), an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory enzyme associated with high-density lipoproteins, was investigated. RESULTS: The results showed higher levels of Lp(a) in the serum of patients with psoriasis compared with controls (P<0·001). Higher levels of lipid hydroperoxides (P<0·001) and lower PON1 activity were observed in the serum of patients compared with healthy subjects, confirming that psoriasis is associated with oxidative stress. The imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes, and the increase of Lp(a) serum levels was related to the extent and severity of psoriasis. Finally, our results demonstrated that Lp(a) levels were positively correlated with markers of lipid peroxidation and negatively related to PON1 activity, suggesting that subjects with higher levels of Lp(a) are more exposed to oxidative damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide further evidence that oxidative stress and impairment of the antioxidant system in the plasma of patients may play a role in pathogenesis and progression of psoriasis and related complications.

Gout and related morbid conditions: pharmacological and SPA therapy.

Gouty arthritis is estimated to be the most frequent manifestation of inflammatory arthritis in men aged over 40. Hyperuricemia occurs because of both exogenous and genetic factors, which are particularly influential in some populations such as Taiwan aborigines. Current understanding of the disease etiopathogenesis, its clinical manifestations and the stages of its progression are presented here. The criteria for a correct diagnosis of the disease are also reported, pointing out how to distinguish gout from clinical events of different origin but with a very similar symptomatology. A distinction is made between the agents used to relieve the acute attack (colchicine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids) and those used with the purpose of correcting hyperuricemia and preventing recurrences and complications (allopurinol, uricosurics). Mecha-nisms of action, administration routes, doses, side effects and contraindications of every drug are described. Besides pharmacological therapy, the importance and the efficacy of spa therapy is underlined. Finally, perspectives opened by gene therapy are mentioned.

[Meta-analytical study of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)]. / Studio metanalitico dei tumori stromali gastrointestinali (GIST).

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gut wall. GIST have still today controversial aspects of their histogenesis that are reflected on the classification, clinical behaviour and prognosis. The authors analyzed 14 studies observed between 2000 and 2001; also the tumors early classified as leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas and schwannomas were included in these studies because, on the basis of immunohistochemical analysis, their cells were c-Kit positive. The GIST occurred in 728 patients with the age range of 12 days-96 years with a male predominance (59.3%). The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (25.4%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (23.4%). CT scan was the most important diagnostic technique. Surgery was the only useful treatment; in this study completeness of resection predicted for longer survival. Overall survival was between 21.4% and 88.8%; the percentage of deaths was between 11.1% and 78.5%. Distant metastases, localised in liver and lungs, and locoregional recurrences developed in a percentage between 9% and 68%.

[MDR (multidrug resistance) in hepatocarcinoma clinical-therapeutic implications]. / MDR (multidrug resistance) nell'epatocarcinoma: implicazioni clinico-terapeutiche.

Our purpose was to summarize current knowledge on "multidrug resistance", or MDR, an intrinsic or acquired cross resistance to a variety of structurally and functionally unrelated drugs, still representing one of the major problems in the therapy of cancer and other diseases. MDR depends on various mechanisms, the best known being the activity of ABC transport proteins, mainly Pgp, MDR1 gene product,and MRPs; but also other transporters can cause resistance, for example TAP, a peptide transporter, CFTR, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, ABCG2, or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and LRP, lung resistance protein. MDR has been detected in nearly all types of cancer, because it affects many organs and can occur against a wide number of drugs; it is frequent even in other diseases, such as epilepsy and HIV. We focused on MDR phenomenon in HCC, one of the commonest tumors in the world, and one of the most resistant to pharmacological treatment. This characteristic might be partly determined by a link between MDR and angiogenic phenotypes. The relationship between MDR in hepatocellular carcinoma and the effectiveness of therapeutic treatments has been particularly examined. Finally, the importance to overcome the strong chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma with methods alternative to drugs, namely gene therapy, which makes use of antisense oligonucleotides and anti-MDR1 ribozymes, has been pointed out.

[Collection, survey and interpretation of pH-metry data]. / Rilievo, acquisizione ed elaborazione del dato pH-metrico.

24-hour oesophageal pH monitoring is a necessary tool to diagnose Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease. The technical characteristics of the available equipments have been improved and standard criteria to identify reflux episodes have been defined, increasing the sensitivity and specificity of the test. The state of the art on the technical features of prolonged pHmetry will be reviewed in this paper.