Antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of Inula viscosa extract on Burkitt lymphoma cell line.

Burkitt lymphoma is a very aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although remarkable progress has been made in the therapeutic scenario for patients with Burkitt lymphoma, search and development of new effective anticancer agents to improve patient outcome and minimize toxicity has become an urgent issue. In this study, the antitumoral activity of Inula viscosa, a traditional herb obtained from plants collected on the Asinara Island, Italy, was evaluated in order to explore potential antineoplastic effects of its metabolites on Burkitt lymphoma. Raji human cell line was treated with increasing Inula viscosa extract concentration for cytotoxicity screening and subsequent establishment of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, gene expression profiles were performed to identify molecular mechanisms involved in the anticancer activities of this medical plant. The Inula viscosa extract exhibited powerful antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities on Raji cell line, showing a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, obtained by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and an increase in cell apoptosis. The treatment with Inula viscosa caused downregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and proliferation (c-MYC, CCND1) and inhibition of cell apoptosis (BCL2, BCL2L1, BCL11A). The Inula viscosa extract causes strong anticancer effects on Burkitt lymphoma cell line. The molecular mechanisms underlying such antineoplastic activity are based on targeting and downregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis. Our data suggest that Inula viscosa natural metabolites should be further exploited as potential antineoplastic agents against Burkitt lymphoma

New onset of Susac syndrome after mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: a case report

Susac syndrome (SuS) is a rare immune-mediated disorder, affecting microvessels in the brain, retina and inner ear, leading to central nervous system dysfunction, visual disturbances and sensorineural hearing loss. These events may occur simultaneously or in succession. Since its first description in 1979 by John Susac, about 400 cases have been described; however, SuS is probably underdiagnosed. SuS usually affects young adults between 20 and 40 years (female-to-male ratio of 3.5/1) [1, 2]. Occlusive microvascular endotheliopathy/basement membranopathy represents a disease hallmark, but the pathogenesis is still debated. Infections, diet or medications have been described as possible triggers of autoimmunity [1]. In 2006, a case of SuS after smallpox vaccination was reported. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected over 260 million people and different neurological disorders have been related to both Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and vaccination [3]. Six cases of SuS related to SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination have been described: two following SARS-CoV2 infection, one related to ChAdOx1 vaccine, and three after Coronavac vaccine [4]. Here we report the first case of SuS after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty®)

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance for the assessment of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Before trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), assessment of cardiac function and accurate measurement of the aortic root are key to determine the correct size and type of the prosthesis. The aim of this study was to compare cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the assessment of aortic valve measurements and left ventricular function in high-risk elderly patients submitted to TAVI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis and contraindications for surgical aortic valve replacement were screened from April 2009 to January 2011 and imaged with TTE and CMR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients who underwent both TTE and CMR (n = 49) had a mean age of 80.8 ± 4.8 years and a mean logistic EuroSCORE of 14.9 ± 9.3%. There was a good correlation between TTE and CMR in terms of annulus size (R²= 0.48, p < 0.001), left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter (R²= 0.62, p < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (R²= 0.47, p < 0.001) and a moderate correlation in terms of aortic valve area (AVA) (R²= 0.24, p < 0.001). CMR generally tended to report larger values than TTE for all measurements. The Bland-Altman test indicated that the 95% limits of agreement between TTE and CMR ranged from -5.6 mm to + 1.0 mm for annulus size, from -0.45 mm to + 0.25 mm for LVOT, from -0.45 mm²to + 0.25 mm²for AVA and from -29.2% to 13.2% for LVEF.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In elderly patients candidates to TAVI, CMR represents a viable complement to transthoracic echocardiography.</p

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p &lt; .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p &lt; .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Caratterizzazione meccanica di compositi a base cementizia con fibre di vetro, di polipropilene rinforzato (GRP) e nanotubi in carbonio ad elevate velocità di deformazione

La ricerca sul calcestruzzo ha portato allo studio del comportamento degli elementi strutturali in condizioni di sollecitazione severe, come quelle provocate dagli urti. La resistenza alle sollecitazioni impulsive è in genere conseguita utilizzando materiali cementizi caratterizzati da elevate caratteristiche meccaniche e, soprattutto, duttilità. Il lavoro sperimentale è orientato al miglioramento della duttilità delle malte cementizie sostituendo parte dell’aggregato con vetroresina (GRP). Inoltre, è stato valutato l’effetto dell’aggiunta di fibra di vetro (GF) per migliorare la tenacità e di nanotubi di carbonio (CNT) per incrementare la resistenza a trazione. Sono state condotte prove quasi-statiche e dinamiche per valutare il ruolo delle varie tipologie di fibra introdotte. L'aggiunta di fibre non produce un aumento significativo delle proprietà meccaniche, tuttavia, l'aggiunta di CNTs e GRP produce un deciso miglioramento in condizioni di sollecitazione di tipo impulsivo, incrementando l’energia di frattura e, conseguentemente, la tenacità del composito. Un aumento della percentuale di nanotubi in composizione provoca un incremento notevole dell’energia di frattura del materiale

Performance of multi-scale fiber reinforced cement composites at high strain rate

Advanced researches on concrete are directed toward investigating the behavior of reinforced concrete structures in severe conditions such as those promoted by impact loads. Some particular structures (protective shelters, nuclear reactor containment, offshore structures, military structures, and chemical or energy production plant) may be subjected to loading at very high rate of stress or strain caused by impact of missiles or flying objects, also by vehicle collisions or impulses due to explosions and earthquakes. Resistance to impact loads is guaranteed by using cementitious materials having both high strength and ductility. In order to improve ductility, cementitious mortars with Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP) replacing partially the natural sand were manufactured. Moreover, glass fiber (GF) reinforced mortars were produced to enhance toughness. For this scope two types of glass fibers different in length and diameter were used. Since the use of GRP and GF doesn’t produce any increase in strength of the mortars Carbon Nanotubes were added in the cement matrix to enhance tensile strength of the ce-mentitious composite. Flexural, compressive and Hopkinson bar tests were carried out to evaluate the role of the different materials used. Replacing partially the natural sand with Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP), compressive and flexural strength decrease (about 20%) with respect those of the reference mortar both on static and dynamic condition as a consequence of an anomalous air entrapment. Adding glass fibers (GF), GRP or/and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) no substantial improvement in terms of mechanical properties under static condition occurred. The Dynamic Increase Factor of the reference mortar was higher than that of the reinforced mixtures, but fracture energy was lower. In particular, combined addition of carbon nanotubes and GRP determines an increase in the energy fracture. The higher the carbon nanotubes content, the higher both fracture energy and tensile strength because nanoparticles oppose to wave and crack propagation, increasing the high strain rate strength. GRP and CNTs reinforced mortars need more fracture energy to failure at 150 s-1 strain rate

Effective Cardiac Index and Systemic-Pulmonary Collaterals Evaluated by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Late After Fontan Palliation

The regulation of cardiac output in the Fontan circuit is not completely understood. Systemic-pulmonary collaterals (SPCs) are frequent in patients with univentricular heart, and their clinical significance and management remain controversial. The aims of our study were to identify factors associated with SPCs' flow at late follow-up after Fontan and evaluate the relation between SPCs flow (QSPCs) and the effective cardiac index (CI). From our cardiac magnetic resonance database, we identified all Fontan patients with a complete set of flow measurements allowing calculation of QSPCs and effective CI. QSPCs was calculated as (left pulmonary veins flow + right pulmonary veins flow) â (right pulmonary artery flow + left pulmonary artery flow). Effective CI was calculated as (Aortic flow (QAo) â QSPCs)/BSA. Medical, surgical history, and clinical status were recorded. Sixty-four post-Fontan patients (36 male; mean age 19 ± 10 years) were included in the study. Median QSPCs was 0.7 L/min/m2 (interquartile [IQ] range 0.386â0.983) accounting for a median of 21% (IQ range 13â28) of aortic flow. The effective CI in our population was 2.4 ± 0.6 L/min/m2. QSPCs inversely correlate with left pulmonary artery area (r = â0.37, p = 0.004) and total antegrade pulmonary flow (r = â0.32, p = 0.01). QSPCs correlate with indexed aortic flow (r = 0.6, p <0.001) and inversely correlate with effective CI (r = â0.39, p = 0.002). Effective CI inversely correlates with age at study and age at the Fontan palliation (r = â0.35, p = 0.005, and r = â0.29, p = 0.02, respectively) and positively with ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.3, p = 0.01). In conclusion, SPCs are common in Fontan patients, correlate inversely with effective CI, and are associated with a reduced antegrade pulmonary flow. In cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation of post-Fontan patients, effective CI should be taken into account rather than the total CI

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Diet Quality in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single-Center, Observational, Case-Control Study

The nutritional status in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often impaired, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) remains under-investigated. The aim of this study was to assess diet quality (DQ) and adherence to MedDiet in a cohort of Sardinian IBD patients. We conducted a case-control study in which 50 Crohn’s disease (CD) and 50 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were matched with 100 healthy controls each. The Diet Quality Index (DQI-I) and Medi-Lite were used to assess DQ and adherence to MedDiet, respectively. Subgroup analysis by disease characteristics and use of advanced therapies were also carried out. DQI-I scored significantly lower in IBD, independently of disease localization and behavior (CD) and disease extent (UC): [DQI-I: CD 34.5 (IQR 33–37) vs. CTRL 40 (IQR 38.5–43) p p p = 0.0379]; [UC 8 (IQR7–10) vs. CTRL 9 (IQR 8–10.5) p = 0.0046]. IBD patients had a low DQ independently of disease type and phenotype. Patients with ileo-colonic stenosing CD or extensive UC had lower MedDiet adherence, suggesting that its benefits may be mitigated by low acceptance in specific subgroups

Platelet Dynamics in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Investigating the Role of Platelets in Neurological Pathology

Background: Neurological disorders, particularly those associated with aging, pose significant challenges in early diagnosis and treatment. The identification of specific biomarkers, such as platelets (PLTs), has emerged as a promising strategy for early detection and intervention in neurological health. This systematic review aims to explore the intricate relationship between PLT dynamics and neurological health, focusing on their potential role in cognitive functions and the pathogenesis of cognitive disorders. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search strategy was employed in the PubMed and Scholar databases to identify studies on the role of PLTs in neurological disorders published from 2013 to 2023. The search criteria included studies focusing on PLTs as biomarkers in neurological disorders, their dynamics, and their potential in monitoring disease progression and therapy effectiveness. Results: The systematic review included 104 studies, revealing PLTs as crucial biomarkers in neurocognitive disorders, acting as inflammatory mediators. The findings suggest that PLTs share common features with altered neurons, which could be utilised for monitoring disease progression and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. PLTs are identified as significant biomarkers for detecting neurological disorders in their early stages and understanding the pathological events leading to neuronal death. Conclusions: The systematic review underscores the critical role of PLTs in neurological disorders, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of disease progression. However, it also emphasises the need for further research to solidify the use of PLTs in neurological disorders, aiming to enhance early diagnosis and intervention strategies

Mass spectrometric discrimination of phospholipid patterns in cisplatin-resistant and -sensitive cancer cells

RATIONALE Development of therapy-resistant cancer is a major problem in clinical oncology, and there is an urgent need for novel markers identifying development of the resistant phenotype. Lipidomics represents a promising approach to discriminate lipid profiles of malignant phenotype cells. Alterations in phospholipid distribution or chemical composition were reported in various pathologies including cancer. Here we were curious whether quantitative differences in phospholipid composition between cisplatin resistant and sensitive model cancer cell lines could be revealed by mass spectrometry means. METHODS The phospholipid content of cell membranes of cancer cell lines CCRF-CEM and A2780, both responsive and resistant to cisplatin, was analysed by solid phase extraction (SPE) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS and tandem MS-MS). Extracts were obtained by disruption of cells with a dounce tissue grinder set followed by centrifugation. To minimize the enzymatic activity, phospholipids were extracted from cell extracts by SPE immediately after the cell lysis and analysed by MS. Both supernatant and pellet fractions of cell extracts were analysed. RESULTS A phospholipid profile specific for cell lines and their phenotypes was revealed. We have documented by quantitative analysis that phosphocholines PC P-34:0, PC 34:1, PC 20:2_16:0, LPC 18:1 and LPC 16:0 PLs were present in 200 - 400 μM concentration range in CCRF-CEM cisplatin-responsive cells, but absent in their cisplatin-resistant cells. Similarly, PC 34:1, LPC 18:1 and LPC 16:0 were increased in cisplatin responsive A2780 cells, and PC 20:2_16:0 was downregulated in cisplatinresistant A2780 cells. CONCLUSIONS In this work we showed that the ESI-MS analysis of the lipid content of the therapy-resistant and sensitive cells can clearly distinguish the phenotypic pattern and determine the potential tumor response to cytotoxic therapy. Lipid entities revealed by mass spectrometry and associated with development of therapy resistance can thus support molecular diagnosis and provide a potential complementary cancer biomarker