Petrography and Geochemistry of the Leucocratic Rocks in the Ophiolites from the Pollino Massif (Southern Italy)

In the Tethyan realm, leucocratic rocks were recognized as dikes and layers outcropping in the ophiolitic rocks of the Western Alps, in Corsica, and in the Northern Apennines. Several authors have suggested that the origin of leucocratic rocks is associated with partial melting of cumulate gabbro. Major and trace elements composition and paragenesis provided information about the leucocratic rocks genetic processes. This research aims at disclosing, for the first time, the petrographical and geochemical features of Timpa delle Murge leucocratic rocks, Pollino Massif (southern Italy), in order to discuss their origin and geodynamic significance through a comparison with other Tethyan leucocratic rocks. These rocks are characterized by high amounts of silica with moderate alumina and iron-magnesium contents showing higher potassium contents than plagiogranites, due to plagioclase alteration to sericite. Plagioclase fractionation reflects negative Eu anomalies indicating its derivation from gabbroic crystal mushes. The chondrite normalized REEs patterns suggest the participation of partial melts derived from a metasomatized mantle in a subduction environment. The results reveal some similarities in composition with other Tethyan leucocratic rocks, especially those concerning Corsica and the Northern Alps. These new data provide further clues on the origin of these leucocratic rocks and the Tethyan area geodynamic evolutio

Transcriptome Meta-Analysis Confirms the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Pathogenic Triad: Upregulated Inflammation, Altered Epithelial Organization, and Dysregulated Metabolic Signaling

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin condition clinically characterized by recurrent painful deep-seated nodules, abscesses, and sinus tracks in areas bearing apocrine glands, such as axillae, breasts, groins, and buttocks. Despite many recent advances, the pathophysiological landscape of HS still demands further clarification. To elucidate HS pathogenesis, we performed a meta-analysis, set analysis, and a variant calling on selected RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) studies on HS skin. Our findings corroborate the HS triad composed of upregulated inflammation, altered epithelial differentiation, and dysregulated metabolism signaling. Upregulation of specific genes, such as KRT6, KRT16, serpin-family genes, and SPRR3 confirms the early involvement of hair follicles and the impairment of barrier function in HS lesioned skin. In addition, our results suggest that adipokines could be regarded as biomarkers of HS and metabolic-related disorders. Finally, the RNA-Seq variant calling identified several mutations in HS patients, suggesting potential new HS-related genes associated with the sporadic form of this disease. Overall, this study provides insights into the molecular pathways involved in HS and identifies potential HS-related biomarkers.This work was supported by “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)”—Finance Code 001, Fondation René Touraine, “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)” (311415/2020-2 and 430353/2018-9), and EraPerMed 2018-17 European Community funds. L.A.C.B. is supported by CNPq (311415/2020-2). This work was also supported by the Italian Ministry of Health, through the contribution given to the Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy for the Starting Grant (SG-2019-12369421) and for RC03/2020

Demonstration of a gastric bioptic specimen mix-up by laser capture microdissection (LCM) and DNA fingerprinting

We demonstrate here the successful use of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and DNA fingerprinting in the identification of a case of gastric bioptic specimen mix-up. A 70-year-old man, suffering from chronic atrophic gastritis, underwent to a gastric biopsy and received a diagnosis of gastric cancer. In the absence of any clinical evidence of gastric cancer, a specimen mix-up was suspected. LCM was used to retrieve gastric cells from the histologic slide, classified as gastric carcinoma, and suspected to be mislabelled. DNA was extracted from microdissected cells, and a total of 16 different genetic loci were analyzed, using an identity test. Comparison of the results with those obtained using DNA extracted from a control slide, and from patient's saliva, demonstrated a distinct DNA fingerprint pattern in all genetic markers examined, clearly indicating the occurrence of a specimen mix-up. The combined use of LCM and DNA fingerprinting represents the most accurate and sophisticated method available for the identification of specimen mix-up, especially when only the tissue on the suspected slide is available

Geochemistry and petrology of plagiogranites in the ophiolites from the Pollino Massif (Southern Italy): Origin and tectonic significance. 90° Congresso della Società Geologica Italiana, Trieste 14 - 16 Settembre 2021

In the ophiolitic sequences, are widespread low potassium albite-rich granite, trondhjemite, tonalite and granodiorite (e.g. Koepke et al., 2007). Concerning the Tethyan realm, plagiogranites have been recognized as dikes and beds in the ophiolithic rocks of the western Alps, in Corsica, and in the northern Apennines (Castelli et al., 2002; Montanini et al., 2006). Also if the oceanic plagiogranites are volumetrically minor in the ophiolitic sequences, their origin has been largely debated due to importance of these rocks to understand the Earth’s continental lithosphere evolution of (Marien et al., 2019). Several authors (Berndt et al., 2005) proposed that the plagiogranites are the products of fractional crystallization of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magma at low pressures conditions including, for instance, those exposed in the Oman, Cyprus, Serbia and Turkey ophiolitic sequences (Milovanovic et al., 2012; Kocsal et al., 2017; Marien et al., 2019). Others Authors (Koepke et al., 2007) have suggested an origin by partial melting (i.e. anatexis) of cumulate gabbro (Brophy, 2009; Brophy & Pu, 2012). A further model suggests that plagiogranites formed through the interaction of immiscible liquids with mafic solutions (Kiliç, 2009). Geochemical studies (Koepke et al., 2007; Brophy 2009) stated that the distribution of some elements, including SiO2, TiO2, and REE, can be used in order to distinguish among these different processes. The aim of this research is to characterize for the first time, with a petrological and geochemical study, the plagiogranites from the ophiolitic rocks of the North Calabria Unit of Pollino Massif and to discuss their origin and geodynamic significance. We also compare the geochemical data of these plagiogranites with those of Western Alps (Castelli and Lombardo, 2007) and Northern Apennines (Borsi et al., 1996; Montanini et al., 2006) and with further Mediterranean plagiogranites such as Turkey (Koksal et al., 2017), Cyprus (Marien et al., 2019), Serbia (Milovanovic et al., 2012) and Oman (Dylek & Furnes, 2009). The results of this work will provide new contributions and constaints about the geodynamic evolution of the Tethyan realm

Biocompatible PBS-based copolymer for soft tissue engineering: Introduction of disulfide bonds as winning tool to tune the final properties

Thanks to the continuous progress of tissue engineering, the opportunity to overcome the main limits of traditional medicine is becoming more and more concrete. By a targeted study of biomaterials and their properties, it is possible to find ad hoc solutions for the fabrication of tissue engineered scaffolds. More in details, poly(butylene succinate) PBS is a biocompatible synthetic polymer already investigated for biomedical applications, but characterized by a high degree of crystallinity, which leads to long degradation times and mechanical properties often not suitable in the field of soft tissue engineering. In the present study, a PBS-based copolymer containing 30 mol% of dithiodipropionic co-units, P(BSBDTDP), was synthesized by two-step melt polycondensation. The comonomeric unit is characterized by the presence of -S-S- bond, potentially capable of improving both biocompatibility and biodegradability with respect to the homopolymer. After synthesis, 3D-mats and films were obtained by electrospinning and compression moulding, respectively, and then subjected to molecular, thermal and mechanical characterization. In addition, in view of a possible application in soft tissue engineering, enzymatic biodegradation studies and in vitro biocompatibility tests, using NIH-3T3 cell line, were also carried out. The results obtained show that through copolymerization solid-state properties could be nicely tailored. More in details, compared to PBS, P(BSBDTDP) is characterized by a lower crystallinity degree and mechanical properties typical of soft tissues, maintaining at the same time the good thermal stability of the parent homopolymer. In addition, copolymeric scaffold better supports cell adhesion and proliferation, undergoing degradation in biological environment slightly faster than its PBS homologous

Surface Properties of a Biocompatible Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Its Anti-Adhesive Effect against E. coli and S. aureus

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a polymer used in a variety of fields, including medical applications. Here, we aimed to verify if the brush and bar coater deposition techniques did not alter TPU properties. The topography of the TPU-modified surfaces was studied via AFM demonstrating no significant differences between brush and bar coater-modified surfaces, compared to the un-modified TPU (TPU Film). The effect of the surfaces on planktonic bacteria, evaluated by MTT assay, demonstrated their anti-adhesive effect on E. coli, while the bar coater significantly reduced staphylococcal planktonic adhesion and both bacterial biofilms compared to other samples. Interestingly, Pearson's R coefficient analysis showed that Ra roughness and Haralick's correlation feature were trend predictors for planktonic bacterial cells adhesion. The surface adhesion property was evaluated against NIH-3T3 murine fibroblasts by MTT and against human fibrinogen and human platelet-rich plasma by ELISA and LDH assay, respectively. An indirect cytotoxicity experiment against NIH-3T3 confirmed the biocompatibility of the TPUs. Overall, the results indicated that the deposition techniques did not alter the antibacterial and anti-adhesive surface properties of modified TPU compared to un-modified TPU, nor its bio- and hemocompatibility, confirming the suitability of TPU brush and bar coater films in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields

Early Osteogenic Marker Expression in hMSCs Cultured onto Acid Etching-Derived Micro- and Nanotopography 3D-Printed Titanium Surfaces

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) titanium composite (PTC) is a novel interbody fusion device that combines a PEEK core with titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) endplates. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro biological reactivity of human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) to micro- and nanotopographies produced by an acid-etching process on the surface of 3D-printed PTC endplates. Optical profilometer and scanning electron microscopy were used to assess the surface roughness and identify the nano-features of etched or unetched PTC endplates, respectively. The viability, morphology and the expression of specific osteogenic markers were examined after 7 days of culture in the seeded cells. Haralick texture analysis was carried out on the unseeded endplates to correlate surface texture features to the biological data. The acid-etching process modified the surface roughness of the 3D-printed PTC endplates, creating micro- and nano-scale structures that significantly contributed to sustaining the viability of hBM-MSCs and triggering the expression of early osteogenic markers, such as alkaline phosphatase activity and bone-ECM protein production. Finally, the topography of 3D-printed PTC endplates influenced Haralick’s features, which in turn correlated with the expression of two osteogenic markers, osteopontin and osteocalcin. Overall, these data demonstrate that the acid-etching process of PTC endplates created a favourable environment for osteogenic differentiation of hBM-MSCs and may potentially have clinical benefit

Copper-containing mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles as multifunctional agent for bone regeneration

none10sihe application of mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) containing controllable amount of different ions, with the aim to impart antibacterial activity, as well as stimulation of osteogenesis and angiogenesis, is attracting an increasing interest. In this contribution, in order to endow nano-sized MBG with additional biological functions, the framework of a binary SiO2-CaO mesoporous glass was modified with different concentrations of copper ions (2 and 5% mol.), through a one-pot ultrasound-assisted sol-gel procedure. The Cu-containing MBG (2% mol.) showed high exposed surface area (550 m2 g-1), uniform mesoporous channels (2.6 nm), remarkable in vitro bioactive behaviour and sustained release of Cu2+ ions. Cu-MBG nanoparticles and their ionic dissolution extracts exhibited antibacterial effect against three different bacteria strains, E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and the ability to inhibit and disperse the biofilm produced by S. epidermidis. The obtained results suggest that the developed material, which combines in single multifunctional agent excellent bioactivity and antimicrobial ability, offers promising opportunities for the prevention of infectious diseases and the effective treatment of bone defects. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In order to endow mesoporous bioactive glass, characterized by excellent bioactive properties, with additional biological functions, Cu-doped mesoporous SiO2-CaO glass (Cu-MBG) in the form of nanoparticles was prepared by an ultra-sound assisted one pot synthesis. The analysis of the bacterial viability, using different bacterial strains, and the morphological observation of the biofilm produced by the Staphylococcus epidermidis, revealed the antimicrobial effectiveness of the Cu-MBG and the relative ionic extracts against both the bacterial growth and the biofilm formation/dispersion, providing a true alternative to traditional antibiotic systemic therapies. The proposed multifunctional agent represents a promising and versatile platform for bone and soft tissues regeneration.noneBari, A; Bloise, N; Fiorilli, S; Novajra, G; Vallet-Regí, M; Bruni, G; Torres-Pardo, A; González-Calbet, Jm; Visai, L; Vitale-Brovarone, CBari, A; Bloise, Nora; Fiorilli, S; Novajra, G; Vallet Regí, M; Bruni, Giovanna; Torres Pardo, A; González Calbet, Jm; Visai, Livia; Vitale Brovarone, C

Facing Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases: The Role of Disease Activity and Parental Emotion Regulation Strategy in Parents’ and Children’s Psychological Adjustment

Background: Pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs) are a group of chronic disorders that start in childhood and are characterized by periodic exacerbations and remissions of symptoms, with limitations in family, school, and social activities. The aim of this study was to detect differences in parents’ psychological adjustment and emotion regulation strategies, and parent-reported children’s adjustments in families of children with active and inactive PRDs. Methods: Fifty-four parents (38 mothers and 16 fathers) of children with PRD were recruited from a pediatric unit. Disease activity was evaluated by their pediatric rheumatologist, while parents’ depressive and anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation strategies, and children’s emotional difficulties and hyperactivity–inattention symptoms were assessed through a web-based survey. Results: Parents of children with active PRDs reported higher levels of their child’s emotional difficulties and hyperactivity–inattention symptoms. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that having a child in the active phases of PRD and lower use of cognitive reappraisal lead to higher children’s emotional symptoms, while active disease, low use of cognitive reappraisal, and greater expressive suppression were associated with higher hyperactivity–inattention symptoms. Our study highlights that children with PRDs and their parents may be at increased risk for psychological problems, especially during the active disease phase, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach