Caveolin-1, breast cancer and ionizing radiation

Breast cancer (BC) recovery has increased in recent years thanks to efforts of Omics-based research in this field. However, despite the important results obtained, BC remains a complex multifactorial pathology that is difficult to treat appropriately. Caveolin-1 (CAV1), the basic constituent protein of specialized plasma membrane invaginations called caveolae, is emerging as a potential therapeutic biomarker in BC. This factor may modulate BC response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In addition, recent reports describe the key role of CAV1 during cell response to oxidative stress. The aim of the present review was to describe the biological roles of CAV1 in BC considering its contrasting dual functions as an oncogene and as a tumor suppressor. In addition, we report on how CAV1 may contribute to tumor cell response to ionizing radiation treatment. Finally, new roles of CAV1 in BC both on epithelium and stroma may be useful as prognostic indicators for patient treatment and help clinicians in the selection of the best personalized therapy

Gender-related variations in hemolymph parameters of Carabus lefebvrei (Coleoptera: Carabidae): HPLC analysis and phenoloxidase activity

We characterized the enzymatic activity of basal and total phenoloxidase and HLPC and SDS-PAGE profiles in hemolymph of Carabus lefebvrei males and females at different reproductive status. The phenoloxidase activity was activated by trypsin and inhibited by phenoloxidase activity specific inhibitor phenylthiourea. Our results demonstrated that both in males and females, there were no significant differences in the basal phenoloxidase activity between reproductive and virgin beetles, while the total phenoloxidaseactivity increased significantly in virgin specimens. Thus, resources seem to be invested to increase the humoral response in pre-reproductive phase forming a barrier against pathogens and preserving the fecundity and longevity of both sexes. The hemolymph DOPA-MBTH assay on polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis showed a high activity of monomeric form with an apparent molecular weight of 90 kDa and a dimer of about 170kDa, also multimeric bands were present in both sexes. In the SDS-PAGE general protein pattern, specific bands were evident for reproductive and virgin males and females as biochemical markers of sexual difference in immunocompetence. Reproducible differences in peaks were recorded in HPLC analysisperformed on virgin and reproductive males and females

Fish Welfare in Aquaculture: Physiological and Immunological Activities for Diets, Social and Spatial Stress on Mediterranean Aqua Cultured Species

Welfare assessment currently is less well-characterized for aquatic animals and the clas- sical methodologies used for terrestrial animals are not adequate to improve our knowledge about fish well-being. Among different approaches, the status of organism responses can be carried out using different physiological and biochemical tools. Here, we present the state of the art regarding fish welfare, methodologies, and experimental results with a particular focus on two important Mediterranean aquaculture species, Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax. We introduce an approach using physiological stress-indicators, growth performance and swimming activity to investigate the effects of the implantation of electronic tags to facilitate the application of telemetry for aquaculture purposes. The application of telemetry to research on aquatic organisms has expanded recently, and its utilization needs to be better understood. The mentioned approaches have been discussed for application in different aquaculture methodologies. Moreover, social stress and territoriality are relevant factors in the evaluation of gregarious species that may have consequences on the conditions of animals farmed in captivity. These aspects, that may impair the ability of fish to respond to various stimuli or negatively influence the flesh quality, here are analysed through behavioural observation, flanked by the physiological and immunological approach

Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction after Risk-Reducing Mastectomy in BRCA Mutation Carriers: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Women with BRCA gene mutations have a higher lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Furthermore, cancer is usually diagnosed at a younger age compared to the wild-type counterpart. Strategies for risk management include intensive surveillance or risk-reducing mastectomy. The latter provides a significant reduction of the risk of developing breast cancer, simultaneously ensuring a natural breast appearance due to the preservation of the skin envelope and the nipple-areola complex. Implant-based breast reconstruction is the most common technique after risk-reducing surgery and can be achieved with either a submuscular or a prepectoral approach, in one or multiple stages. This study analyzes the outcomes of the different reconstructive techniques through a retrospective review on 46 breasts of a consecutive, single-center case series. Data analysis was carried out with EpiInfo version 7.2. Results of this study show no significant differences in postoperative complications between two-stage tissue expander/implant reconstruction and direct-to-implant (DTI) reconstruction, with DTI having superior aesthetic outcomes, especially in the prepectoral subgroup. In our experience, the DTI prepectoral approach has proven to be a safe and less time-consuming alternative to the submuscular two-stage technique, providing a pleasant reconstructed breast and overcoming the drawbacks of subpectoral implant placement

Wnt3a neutralization enhances T-cell responses through indirect mechanisms and restrains tumor growth

The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway regulates T-cell functions, including the repression of effector functions to the advantage of memory development via Tcf1. In a companion study, we demonstrate that, in human cancers, Wnt3a/beta-catenin signaling maintains tumor-infiltrating T cells in a partially exhausted status. Here, we have investigated the effects of Wnt3a neutralization in vivo in a mouse tumor model. Abundant Wnt3a was released, mostly by stromal cells, in the tumor microenvironment. We tested whether Wnt3a neutralization in vivo could rescue the effector capacity of tumor-infiltrating T cells, by administering an antibody to Wnt3a to tumor-bearing mice. This therapy restrained tumor growth and favored the expansion of tumor antigen-specific CD8(+) effector memory T cells with increased expression of Tbet and IFN gamma and reduced expression of Tcf1. However, the effect was not attributable to the interruption of T-cell-intrinsic beta-catenin signaling, because Wnt3a/beta-catenin activation correlated with enhanced, not reduced, T-cell effector functions both ex vivo and in vitro. Adoptively transferred CD8(+) T cells, not directly exposed to the anti-Wnt3a antibody but infiltrating previously Wnt3a-neutralized tumors, also showed improved functions. The rescue of T-cell response was thus secondary to T-cell-extrinsic changes that likely involved dendritic cells. Indeed, tumor-derived Wnt3a strongly suppressed dendritic cell maturation in vitro, and anti-Wnt3a treatment rescued dendritic cell activities in vivo. Our results clarify the function of the Wnt3a/beta-catenin pathway in antitumor effector T cells and suggest that Wnt3a neutralization might be a promising immunotherapy for rescuing dendritic cell activities. (C) 2018 AACR

Step-by-step regeneration of tentacles after injury in anemonia viridis—morphological and structural cell analyses

Benthic marine invertebrates, such as corals, are often subjected to injury caused by several sources. Here, the differences and characteristics in injured and health tissues in terms of cellular components are shown through a histological investigation of the soft coral Anemonia viridis at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 7 days after injury caused by tentacle amputation. In addition, a new tool was used for the first time in invertebrates, positron emission tomography, in order to investigate the events that occur during regeneration within a longer time period (0 h, 24 h, and 14 days after the tentacles were cut). Higher integrated density values were measured through a densitometric analysis in sections stained with Fontana-Masson at 24 h after the tentacles were cut. This suggests an increase in melanin-like containing cells and a subsequent increase in fibroblast-like cells differentiated by amoebocytes that converge to the lesion site in the early stages of inflammation and regeneration. This work provides, for the first time, an elucidation of the events that occur during wound-healing and regeneration in basal metazoan, focusing on the characterisation of immune cells and their role. Our results indicate that Mediterranean anthozoan proves to be a valuable model for studying regeneration. Many events highlighted in this research occur in different phyla, suggesting that they are highly conserved

Marine organisms as source of bioactive molecules applied in restoration projects

In recent decades research in the conservation and restoration field has provided sustainable alternatives to traditional procedures for cleaning or controlling the microbial colonization of works of art. In the present study, for the first time novel bioactive molecules extracted from marine invertebrate organisms (Anthozoa) were tested instead of chemical compounds for removing protein layers or as a biocide for controlling fungal or bacterial colonization. In particular, Bioactive Molecules with Protease activity (BMP), acting in a temperature range of 4- 30\ub0C, were tested for the hydrolysis of protein layers on laboratory specimens. The cleaning protocol provides a selective procedure to avoid damage to the original materials constituting the heritage object. Concurrently, enzymatic cleaning was also performed using commercial Protease from Aspergillus sojae (Type XIX), in order to compare their hydrolytic activities. Bioactive Molecules with Antimicrobial activity (BMA1, BMA2) were tested to control bacterial (Bacillus, Micrococcus) or fungal (Aspergillus, Penicillium) growth, previously isolated from colonized canvas samples and characterized by an integrated approach based on in vitro culture, microscopy and molecular investigations. These molecules were tested to define the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal/ Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC). Specifically, BMAs were used to control fungal growth during the relining of the painting (laboratory specimens), carried out using a canvas support, and glue paste as binder. In our hypothesis, these molecules provide an important contribution to the development of innovative protocols for biocleaning or microbial growth control, based on fast and easy application, operator friendly and environmentally sustainable molecules

Data of postoperative complications related to fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio in pancreatic resections

Pancreatic surgery is one of the surgeries burdened with the highest mortality and morbidity rate. This is due both to the aggressive biological nature of the pathology affecting the organ and to the technical difficulties associated with surgery. A further aspect on which research is focusing is represented by inflammation related to oncological pathology. Inflammation plays an important role in tumor progression, and growing evidence has confirmed that the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is an important prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in malignant tumors. Inflammatory markers had demonstrated also a role in the prediction of postoperative complication after pancreatic surgery. We speculate that FAR, as an easily available, cost-effective, and non-invasive prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer patients, could help to identify patients at increased risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). We therefore retrospectively analyzed the data relating to 117 pancreatic resections relating direct and indirect markers of inflammation with the incidence of post-operative complications. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

FACIT collagen (1alpha-chain) is expressed by hemocytes and epidermis during the inflammatory response of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

Based on previous cloning and sequencing study, real-time PCR and in situ hybridization assays of the inflamed body wall of LPS-injected Ciona intestinalis showed the enhanced gene expression of a collagen with FACIT structural features (Ci-type IX-Col 1a-chain). By using specific antibodies raised against an opportunely chosen Ci-type IX-Col synthetic peptide, the fibroblast property of hemocytes challenged in vitro with LPS (at 4 h) was displayed by flow cytometry, while immunocytochemistry identified hemocytes with large granules (morula cells) as collagen-producing cells. Hemocyte lysate supernatant analyzed in immunoblotting contained a 60 kDa band identifiable as 1a-chain-Ci-type IX-Col. Observations of body wall sections (immunohistochemistry method) supported the role of hemocytes and showed that epidermis expressed Ci-type IX-Col 1a-chain in the time course of the inflammatory reaction (within 24 h). Transcript and protein were mainly found in the epidermis that outlined the proximal side of the tunic matrix (at 24 h after LPS injection), in cells associated with the epidermis at 4 and 192 h. In conclusion, the C. intestinalis inflammatory response to LPS challenge appeared to be composed of a complex reaction set, and for the first time we showed in ascidians a granulation tissue with FACIT-collagen production that could participate in inflammation and wound healing. Like in vertebrates, C. intestinalis acute inflammatory reactions result in a regulated pattern of tissue repair with collagen expression during remodelling. Ci-type IX-Col could be involved in a network of non-fibril-forming collagens that participates in the organization of extracellular matrix and defense responses

Magnetic Core Loss of Ultrahigh Strength FeCo Alloys

Hiperco® 50 alloy heat treated between 450 and 650 °C exhibits superior mechanical properties. We report the measurements of the ac core loss at various frequencies up to 4500 Hz of the Hiperco® 50 alloy samples annealed at 450 and 650 °C. The 650 °C annealed specimens have lower ac core loss than the 450 °C annealed ones. The total core loss, consisting of contributions from hysteresis core loss and eddy-current core loss, depends on the frequency f as af+bf2. The eddy current loss of a single laminate is minor compared to the hysteresis loss