The complementary role of imaging and tumor biomarkers in gynecological cancers: an update of the literature

Gynecological tumors, including endometrial, cervical and ovarian cancer, have increased in incidence over time. The widespread introduction of screening programs and advances in diagnostic imaging methods has lead to a progressive increase in gynecological cancer detection. Accurate diagnosis and proper monitoring of disease remain the primary target for a successful treatment. In the last years, knowledge about cancer biomarkers has considerably increased providing great opportunities for improving cancer detection and treatment. In addition, in the last few years there has been an important development of imaging techniques. Nowadays, a multimodal approach including the evaluation of serum tumor biomarkers combined with imaging techniques, seems to be the best strategy for assessing tumor presence, spread, recurrence, and/or the response to treatment in female cancer patients In this review we provide an overview of the application of biomarkers combined with novel imaging methods and highlight their roles in female cancer diagnosis and follow-up

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Profiles of Spent Coffee Ground Extracts for the Treatment of Neurodegeneration

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), waste products of coffee beverage production, are rich in organic compounds such as phenols. Different studies have demonstrated phenol beneficial effects in counteracting neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases are associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, which initiates the degeneration of neurons by overactivating microglia. Unfortunately, to date, there are no pharmacological therapies to treat these pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic content of 4 different SCG extracts and their ability to counteract oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Caffeine and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid were the most abundant compounds in all extracts, followed by 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid. The four extracts demonstrated a different ability to counteract oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in vitro. In particular, the methanol extract was the most effective in protecting neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress by upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as thioredoxin reductase, heme oxygenase 1, NADPH quinone oxidoreductase, and glutathione reductase. The water extract was the most effective in counteracting lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation in microglial BV-2 cells by strongly reducing the expression of proinflammatory mediators through the modulation of the TLR4/NF-kappa B pathway. On these bases, SCG extracts could represent valuable nutraceutical sources for the treatment of neurodegeneratio

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Marine Algae in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neuroinflammation is one of the main contributors to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Microglial and astrocyte activation is a brain defense mechanism to counteract harmful pathogens and damaged tissues, while their prolonged activation induces neuroinflammation that can trigger or exacerbate neurodegeneration. Unfortunately, to date there are no pharmacological therapies able to slow down or stop the progression of neurodegeneration. For this reason, research is turning to the identification of natural compounds with protective action against these diseases. Considering the important role of neuroinflammation in the onset and development of neurodegenerative pathologies, natural compounds with anti-inflammatory activity could be good candidates for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Marine organisms represent a huge source of natural compounds, and among them, algae are appreciated sources of important bioactive components such as antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, minerals, soluble dietary fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, sterols, carotenoids, tocopherols, terpenes, phycobilins, phycocolloids, and phycocyanins. Recently, numerous anti-inflammatory compounds have been isolated from marine algae with potential protective efficacy against neuroinflammation. This review highlights the key inflammatory processes involved in neurodegeneration and the potential of specific compounds from marine algae to counteract neuroinflammation in the CNS

Quantitative evaluation of CFTR pre-mRNA splicing dependent on the (TG)mTn poly-variant tract

Genetic analysis in cystic fibrosis (CF) is a difficult task. Within the many causes of variability and uncertainty, a major determinant is poor knowledge of the functional effect of most DNA variants of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. In turn, knowledge of the effect of a CFTR variant has dramatic diagnostic, prognostic and, in the era of CF precision medicine, also therapeutic consequences. One of the most challenging CFTR variants is the (TG)mTn haplotype, which has variable functional effect and controversial clinical consequences. The exact quantification of the anomalous splicing of CFTR exon 10 (in the HGVS name; exon 9 in the legacy name) and, consequently, of the residual wild-type functional CFTR mRNA, should be mandatory in clinical assessment of patients with potentially pathological haplotype of this tract. Here, we present a real time-based assay for the quantification of the proportion of exon 10+/exon 10- CFTR mRNA, starting from nasal brushing. Our assay proved rapid, economic and easy to perform. Specific primers used for this assay are either disclosed or commercially available, allowing any laboratory to easily perform it. A simplified analysis of the data is provided, facilitating the interpretation of the results. This method helps to enhance the comprehension of the genotype- phenotype relationship in CF and CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RD), crucial for the diagnosis, prognosis and personalized therapy of CF

Relaxation of Vibrational Excitons in Molecular-Ionic Crystal s Measured by Picosecond Time-Resolved CARS

The decay times of the internal vibrations in K2S04, KCl04, NaN03 and CaC03 single crystals have been measured at different temperature s by picosecond time-resolved CARS. The low temperature experimental data and their temperature dependence are interpreted on the basis of an energy relaxation mechanism, involving two-phonon and higher order decay processes

Sex-disaggregated data confirm serum ferritin as an independent predictor of disease severity both in male and female COVID-19 patients

Sex-disaggregated data confirm serum ferritin as an independent predictor of disease severity both in male and female COVID-19 patients

Serum ferritin is an independent risk factor for acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19

Increased ferritin levels could be indicative of a strong inflammatory reaction in COVID-19 and recent studies suggest that increased levels of circulating ferritin levels play a critical role by contributing to the development of a cytokine storm. In this regard, ferritin evaluation could be an early, available and easy to use screening tool to assess the disease severity at the first admission in the emergency department. This test might be of crucial importance for the timely identification of patients at higher risk of an adverse outcome

The halo+cluster system of the Galactic globular cluster NGC1851

NGC1851 is surrounded by a stellar component that extends more than ten times beyond the tidal radius. Although the nature of this stellar structure is not known, it has been suggested to be a sparse halo of stars or associated with a stellar stream. We analyse the nature of this intriguing stellar component surrounding NGC1851 by investigating its radial velocities and chemical composition, in particular in comparison with those of the central cluster analysed in a homogeneous manner. In total we observed 23 stars in the halo with radial velocities consistent with NGC1851, and for 15 of them we infer [Fe/H] abundances. Our results show that: (i) stars dynamically linked to NGC1851 are present at least up to ~2.5 tidal radii, supporting the presence of a halo of stars surrounding the cluster; (ii) apart from the NGC1851 radial velocity-like stars, our observed velocity distribution agrees with that expected from Galactic models, suggesting that no other sub-structure (such as a stream) at different radial velocities is present in our field; (iii) the chemical abundances for the s-process elements Sr and Ba are consistent with the s-normal stars observed in NGC1851; (iv) all halo stars have metallicities, and abundances for the other studied elements Ca, Mg and Cr, consistent with those exhibited by the cluster. The complexity of the whole NGC1851 cluster+halo system may agree with the scenario of a tidally-disrupted dwarf galaxy in which NGC1851 was originally embedded.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Long-term bond strength and endogenous enzymatic activity of a chlorhexidine-containing commercially available adhesive

10siObjectives: The aim of this study was to investigate, by the means of microtensile bond strength (μTBS) test, gelatin and in situ zymography, the influence of 0.2% CHX contained within a commercially available adhesive on long-term bond strength and endogenous enzymatic activity. Methods: Non-carious teeth were subjected to μTBS test (N = 15 for each group) and stressed until failure. μTBS was evaluated immediately and after 12-month storage in artificial saliva at 37 °C. Dentin powder was obtained from additional teeth (N = 7) for gelatin zymography, while for in situ zymography, 3 teeth for each group were selected. Gelatin and in situ zymography were performed in dentin powder and slices of dentin, respectively, to assess the ability of 0.2% CHX blended within the adhesive to inhibit endogenous enzymatic activity. Results: μTBS bond strength was higher in the CHX-containing groups, immediately as well as after aging. The bond strength significantly decreased after 12-month aging. The activation of endogenous MMPs was found to be related to the presence of CHX within the adhesive system and the bonding strategy employed. Conclusions: Under this perspective 0.2% CHX blended within Peak Universal adhesive monomer seems to in- crease immediate bond strength, to preserve bond strength over time and to efficiently inhibit endogenous enzymatic activity in dentin. Hence, blending the CHX in low concentrations within the adhesive could be recommended as a feasible technique in every-day clinical practice. Clinical significance: Using CHX-containing adhesives could be recommended due to several benefits: it seems to increase the longevity of the hybrid layer; the inhibitor appears to be efficiently delivered to the dentinal substrate and to inhibit endogenous enzymatic activity, without prolonging chair time.openopenMaravić, Tatjana; Comba, Allegra; Cunha, Sandra Ribeiro; Angeloni, Valeria; Cadenaro, Milena; Visinitini, Erika; Navarra, Chiara Ottavia; Salgarello, Stefano; Breschi, Lorenzo*; Mazzoni, AnnalisaMaravić, Tatjana; Comba, Allegra; Cunha, Sandra Ribeiro; Angeloni, Valeria; Cadenaro, Milena; Visinitini, Erika; Navarra, Chiara Ottavia; Salgarello, Stefano; Breschi, Lorenzo; Mazzoni, Annalis