Search Results (3)

The accessibility of nature trails for people with motor disabilities and impairments stands as a significant challenge for inclusive tourism. In the present study, we would like to present a review of research, approaches, and solutions to enable people with motor impairments to enjoy nature trails independently or with assistance. The study is conducted from the perspective of public bodies that aim to reduce the accessibility barriers for People with Disabilities (PwDs) by adapting and improving the conditions of the trails and by providing clear and comprehensive information about the difficulties that hikers may encounter on a trail while using a specific aid. The paper initially presents the wide variety of aids for outdoor mobility, including both those to be used independently (i.e., self-propelled wheelchairs that can be equipped with additional small wheels, off-road wheels and/or auxiliary drives) and those that require assistance (e.g., single-wheeled wheelchairs). Then, we shift focus onto the difficulty classification of trails for PwDs, analysing papers and guidelines that tried to define objective evaluation criteria such as the slope, the trail surface, and the length of the sloping sections. Starting from these studies, the paper proposes a synthesis of the different classifications that consider, for the first time, all the aids available on the market, thus filling the gaps of the single studies. In the last sections, we present some national and international guidelines with tailored and practical solutions to improve the accessibility of nature trails and some studies about the inclusive planning that directly involves PwDs, as well as on the need for a better training of tourism service providers. The present work aims to stimulate a debate on the barriers and opportunities related to the accessibility of hiking trails, contributing to making nature a truly accessible experience for all. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively compromises cognitive functions. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), a proinflammatory cytokine belonging to the TNF superfamily, appears to be a key player in the inflammatory/immune orchestra of the AD brain. Despite the ability of an anti-TRAIL monoclonal antibody to reach the brain producing beneficial effects in AD mice, we attempted to develop such a TRAIL-neutralizing monoclonal antibody adsorbed on lipid and polymeric nanocarriers, for intranasal administration, in a valid approach to overcome issues related to both high dose and drug transport across the blood–brain barrier. The two types of nanomedicines produced showed physico-chemical characteristics appropriate for intranasal administration. As confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), both nanomedicines were able to form a complex with the antibody with an encapsulation efficiency of ≈99%. After testing in vitro the immunoneutralizing properties of the nanomedicines, the latter were intranasally administered in AD mice. The antibody–nanocarrier complexes were detectable in the brain in substantial amounts at concentrations significantly higher compared to the free form of the anti-TRAIL antibody. These data support the use of nanomedicine as an optimal method for the delivery of the TRAIL neutralizing antibody to the brain through the nose-to-brain route, aiming to improve the biological attributes of anti-TRAIL-based therapy for AD treatment. Full article

The blood–brain barrier acts as a physical barrier that prevents free entry of blood-derived substances, including those intended for therapeutic applications. The development of molecular Trojan horses is a promising drug targeting technology that allows for non-invasive delivery of therapeutics into the brain. This concept relies on the application of natural or genetically engineered proteins or small peptides, capable of specifically ferrying a drug-payload that is either directly coupled or encapsulated in an appropriate nanocarrier, across the blood–brain barrier via receptor-mediated transcytosis. Specifically, in this process the nanocarrier–drug system (“Trojan horse complex”) is transported transcellularly across the brain endothelium, from the blood to the brain interface, essentially trailed by a native receptor. Naturally, only certain properties would favor a receptor to serve as a transporter for nanocarriers, coated with appropriate ligands. Here we briefly discuss brain microvascular endothelial receptors that have been explored until now, highlighting molecular features that govern the efficiency of nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery into the brain. Full article