Ni(0) catalysed homo-coupling reactions: a novel route towards the synthesis of multinuclear ruthenium polypyridine complexes featuring made-to-order properties.

A new synthetic procedure for the efficient preparation of dinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes is reported. The compounds synthesised are [(bpy)2Ru(BPBT)Ru(bpy)2](PF6)2 and [(bpy)2Ru(BPZBT)Ru(bpy)2](PF6)2 (bpys2,29-bipyridine; H2BPBTs5,59- bis(pyridin-2-yl)-3,39-bis(1,2,4-triazole); H2BPZBTs5,59-bis(pyrazin-2-yl)-3,39-bis(1,2,4-triazole). Electrochemical experiments show that the two dinuclear systems investigated exhibit pH switchable intercomponent interactions

Metastases risk in thin cutaneous melanoma: Prognostic value of clinical-pathologic characteristics and mutation profile

Background: A high percentage of patients with thin melanoma (TM), defined as lesions with Breslow thickness ≤1 mm, presents excellent long-term survival, however, some patients develop metastases. Existing prognostic factors cannot reliably differentiate TM patients at risk for metastases. Objective: We aimed at characterizing the clinical-pathologic and mutation profile of metastatic and not-metastatic TM in order to distinguish lesions at risk of metastases. Methods: Clinical-pathologic characteristics were recorded for the TM cases analyzed. We used a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) multi-gene panel to characterize TM for multiple somatic mutations. Results: A statistically significant association emerged between the presence of metastases and Breslow thickness ≥0.6 mm (p=0.003). None of TM with lymph-node involvement had Breslow thickness < 0.6 mm. Somatic mutations were identified in 19 of 21 TM analyzed (90.5%). No mutations were observed in two not-metastatic cases with the lowest Breslow thickness (≤0.4 mm), whereas mutations in more than one gene were detected in one metastatic case with the highest Breslow thickness (1.00 mm). Conclusion: Our study indicates Breslow thickness ≥0.6 mm as a valid prognostic factor to distinguish TM at risk for metastases

Diagnostic Accuracy of a New Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 Detection

Background and aims: Quick and reliable diagnostic tools play an important role in controlling the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new cyto-salivary antigen test aimed at detecting the presence of antigens for SARS-CoV-2, as compared by the gold standard RT-PCR and a lateral flow test. Methods: A total of 433 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study and the sensitivity and specificity of the new cyto-salivary antigen test were calculated, as compared to the RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab and to the lateral flow test. Results: A total of 433 samples were collected and tested at the Mediterranean Fair in Palermo from February 2021 until April 2021. The new cyto-salivary antigen had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.2%. The sensitivity and the specificity of the lateral flow test were 55% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: The new cyto-salivary antigen test detected more positive cases than the RT-PCR in a sample of asymptomatic subjects, demonstrating to be a promising tool for a more sensitive diagnosis of COVID-19. Further studies are warranted to better characterize its diagnostic accuracy

Molecular profiling of follicular fluid microRNAs in young women affected by Hodgkin lymphoma.

Research question Treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma have improved but one of their common effects is gonadal toxicity, which contributes to fertility damage of patients and induces temporary or irreversible loss of fertility. Could micro-RNA (miRNA) expression profiles in follicular fluid be influenced by Hodgkin lymphoma? Could their alteration affect molecular pathways involved in follicle growth and oocyte maturation? Design miRNA expression profile was investigated in follicular fluid samples from young women affected by Hodgkin lymphoma compared with healthy controls by NanoString technology. Bioinformatic analysis was used to verify miRNA involvement in follicle development and miRNA deregulation with Hodgkin lymphoma in a larger cohort of follicular fluid samples was confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Thirteen miRNAs are deregulated in Hodgkin lymphoma samples compared with controls and are involved in molecular pathways related to cancer, gametogenesis and embryogenesis. Among them, let-7b-5p, miR-423-5p, miR-503-5p, miR-574-5p and miR-1303 are implicated in biological processes related to follicle development and oocyte maturation. Let-7b-5p holds the central position in the regulatory network of miRNA-mRNA interactions, has the highest number of mRNA target genes shared with the other differentially expressed miRNAs and is significantly downregulated in Hodgkin lymphoma follicular fluid samples. Conclusions These data led us to question the potential influence of miRNA deregulation on oocyte quality. Further studies are needed to verify the reproductive potential of young patients with Hodgkin lymphoma before starting chemotherapy protocols and an adequate protocol of fertility preservation needs to be guaranteed

MicroRNAs are stored in human MII oocyte and their expression profile changes in reproductive aging

Maternal RNAs are synthesized by the oocyte during its growth; some of them are utilized for oocyte-specific processes and metabolism, others are stored and used during early development before embryonic genome activation. The appropriate expression of complex sets of genes is needed for oocyte maturation and early embryo development. In spite of the basic role of noncoding RNAs in the regulation of gene expression, few studies have analyzed their role in human oocytes. In this study, we identified the microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in human metaphase II stage oocytes, and found that some of them are able to control pluripotency, chromatin remodeling, and early embryo development. We demonstrated that 12 miRNAs are differentially expressed in women of advanced reproductive age and, by bioinformatics analysis, we identified their mRNA targets, expressed in human oocytes and involved in the regulation of pathways altered in reproductive aging. Finally, we found the upregulation of miR-29a-3p, miR-203a-3p, and miR-494-3p, evolutionarily conserved miRNAs, also in aged mouse oocytes, and demonstrated that their overexpression is antithetically correlated with the downregulation of DNA methyltransferase 3A (Dnmt3a), DNA methyltransferase 3B (Dnmt3b), phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam). We propose that oocyte miRNAs perform an important regulatory function in human female germ cells, and their altered regulation could explain the changes occurring in oocyte aging

Retinal and Circulating miRNAs in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An In vivo Animal and Human Study

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among people aged 50 and over. Retinal deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates in AMD patients has suggested a potential link between AMD and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have evaluated the differential retinal expression profile of miRNAs in a rat model of AMD elicited by Aβ. A serum profile of miRNAs in AMD patients has been also assessed using single TaqMan assay. Analysis of retina from rats intravitreally injected with Aβ revealed that miR-27a, miR-146a, and miR-155 were up-regulated in comparison to control rats. Seven miRNA (miR-9, miR-23a, miR-27a, miR-34a, miR-126, miR-146a, and miR-155) have been found to be dysregulated in serum of AMD patients in comparison to control group. Analysis of pathways has revealed that dysregulated miRNAs, both in the AMD animal model and in AMD patients, can target genes regulating pathways linked to neurodegeneration and inflammation, reinforcing the hypothesis that AMD is a protein misfolding disease similar to AD. In fact, miR-9, miR-23a, miR-27a, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155 have been found to be dysregulated both in AMD and AD. In conclusion, we suggest that miR-9, miR-23a, miR-27a, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155 represent potential biomarkers and new pharmacological targets for AMD

RNA-RNA competitive interactions: a molecular civil war ruling cell physiology and diseases

The idea that proteins are the main determining factors in the functioning of cells and organisms, and their dysfunctions are the first cause of pathologies, has been predominant in biology and biomedicine until recently. This protein-centered view was too simplistic and failed to explain the physiological and pathological complexity of the cell. About 80% of the human genome is dynamically and pervasively transcribed, mostly as non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which competitively interact with each other and with coding RNAs generating a complex RNA network regulating RNA processing, stability, and translation and, accordingly, fine-tuning the gene expression of the cells. Qualitative and quantitative dysregulations of RNA-RNA interaction networks are strongly involved in the onset and progression of many pathologies, including cancers and degenerative diseases. This review will summarize the RNA species involved in the competitive endogenous RNA network, their mechanisms of action, and involvement in pathological phenotypes. Moreover, it will give an overview of the most advanced experimental and computational methods to dissect and rebuild RNA networks

Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Photoacoustic Sensor for Trace Detection of Formaldehyde Gas

We report on the development of a photoacoustic sensor for the detection of formaldehyde (CH2O) using a thermoelectrically cooled distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser operating in pulsed mode at 5.6 μm. A resonant photoacoustic cell, equipped with four electret microphones, is excited in its first longitudinal mode at 1,380 Hz. The absorption line at 1,778.9 cm−1 is selected for CH2O detection. A detection limit of 150 parts per billion in volume in nitrogen is achieved using a 10 seconds time constant and 4 mW laser power. Measurements in ambient air will require water vapour filters