Application of metabolomics to assess milk quality and traceability

Milk is a foodstuff widely consumed around the world originating from a variety of different species, animal management and production systems. In recent years, consumers have placed a much greater emphasis on the authenticity and origin of some food products often willing to pay a premium price for such products that is, for example 'Grass-Fed Dairy'. Therefore, it is important to establish methods to assess both quality and authentication of milk and dairy products for increased food security and consumer protection. Accordingly, NMR-based, GC–MS-based, and LC–MS-based metabolomics have been established as useful tools in the analysis of dairy products, such as raw and processed milk. This short-review provides an updated and critical overview on the most useful metabolomics-based platforms and the most useful multivariate statistical tools available for metabolomic data interpretation

Use of systemic and in situ lactoferrin in MRONJ surgical management: proposal for a therapeutic solution

Aim: Lactoferrin (Lf) is an antimicrobial and iron chelator glycoprotein contained in exocrine secretion, including saliva, and in secondary granules of neutrophil granulocytes. Lf performs its antibacterial and antiviral action through two pathways: the first deprives bacteria of the iron they need for their reproduction and for biofilm formation; the second contributes to restore the inflammatory homeostasis which is essential for tissue health modulating the level of cytokines, like IL-6. The study intends to propose the use of systemic and in situ Lf effectiveness in the healing of oral mucosa and bone tissue affected by medication-related ostenecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), after surgical excision or spontaneous elimination of necrotic bone

Amplified Plasmonic Forces from DNA Origami-Scaffolded Single Dyes in Nanogaps

Developing highly enhanced plasmonic nanocavities allows direct observation of light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. With DNA origami, the ability to precisely nanoposition single-quantum emitters in ultranarrow plasmonic gaps enables detailed study of their modified light emission. By developing protocols for creating nanoparticle-on-mirror constructs in which DNA nanostructures act as reliable and customizable spacers for nanoparticle binding, we reveal that the simple picture of Purcell-enhanced molecular dye emission is misleading. Instead, we show that the enhanced dipolar dye polarizability greatly amplifies optical forces acting on the facet Au atoms, leading to their rapid destabilization. Using different dyes, we find that emission spectra are dominated by inelastic (Raman) scattering from molecules and metals, instead of fluorescence, with molecular bleaching also not evident despite the large structural rearrangements. This implies that the competition between recombination pathways demands a rethink of routes to quantum optics using plasmonics

Liquid biopsy in the assessment of microRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Background: The identification of non-invasive biomarkers from biological fluids collected by liquid biopsy provides new horizons for individualized therapeutic strategies and improves clinical decision-making in OSCC patients. Circulating microRNAs have emerged as biomarkers that may reflect not only the existence of cancer, but also the dynamic, malignant potential, and drug resistance of tumors. The aim of the systematic review is to evaluate and summarize the results of the published studies regarding the use of microRNAs as biomarkers for OSCC. Material and methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases till November 2020. A total of 34 studies met the inclusion criteria and were therefore subjected to quality assessment. Each study was subjected to data extraction including; patient characteristics, type of fluid sample (whole blood, plasma, serum, or saliva), molecular analysis method, specific dysregulated microRNA, and microRNA expression pattern. Results: The analysis showed that 57 microRNAs of liquid biopsy samples of four different fluids (whole blood, serum, plasma, and saliva) were analyzed. The prognostic and therapeutic significance of these microRNAs were suggested by several studies; where 41 microRNAs were upregulated while 16 were downregulated. Conclusions: Scientific evidence supports the interest in the use of microRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis in OSCC patients; however, further studies in a larger cohort of patients are mandatory to introduce liquid biopsy in the routine clinical practice for the OSCC management. Key words:Biomarkers, liquid biopsy, microRNA, oral squamous cell carcinoma, systematic review.Background: The identification of non-invasive biomarkers from biological fluids collected by liquid biopsy provides new horizons for individualized therapeutic strategies and improves clinical decision-making in OSCC patients. Circulating microRNAs have emerged as biomarkers that may reflect not only the existence of cancer, but also the dynamic, malignant potential, and drug resistance of tumors. The aim of the systematic review is to evaluate and summarize the results of the published studies regarding the use of microRNAs as biomarkers for OSCC. Material and methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases till November 2020. A total of 34 studies met the inclusion criteria and were therefore subjected to quality assessment. Each study was subjected to data extraction including; patient characteristics, type of fluid sample (whole blood, plasma, serum, or saliva), molecular analysis method, specific dysregulated microRNA, and microRNA expression pattern. Results: The analysis showed that 57 microRNAs of liquid biopsy samples of four different fluids (whole blood, serum, plasma, and saliva) were analyzed. The prognostic and therapeutic significance of these microRNAs were suggested by several studies; where 41 microRNAs were upregulated while 16 were downregulated. Conclusions: Scientific evidence supports the interest in the use of microRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis in OSCC patients; however, further studies in a larger cohort of patients are mandatory to introduce liquid biopsy in the routine clinical practice for the OSCC management. Key words:Biomarkers, liquid biopsy, microRNA, oral squamous cell carcinoma, systematic review

Fiemmeite Cu2(C2O4)(OH)22H2O, a New Mineral from Val di Fiemme, Trentino, Italy

The new mineral species fiemmeite, Cu2(C2O4)(OH)2\u20222H2O, was found NE of the Passo di San Lugano, Val di Fiemme, Carano, Trento, Italy (latitude 46.312\ub0N, longitude 11.406\ub0E). It occurs in coalified woods at the base of the Val Gardena Sandstone (upper Permian) which were permeated by mineralizing solutions containing Cu, U, As, Pb and Zn. The oxalate anions have originated from diagenesis of the plant remains included in sandstones. The mineral forms aggregate up to 1 mm across of sky blue platelets with single crystals reaching maximum dimensions of about 50\u3bcm. Associated minerals are: baryte, olivenite, middlebackite, moolooite, brochantite, cuprite, devilline, malachite, azurite, zeunerite/metazeunerite, tennantite, chalcocite, galena. Fiemmeite is monoclinic, space group: P21/c with a = 3.4245(6), b = 10.141(2), c = 19.397(3) \uc5, \u3b2= 90.71(1) \ub0, V = 673.6(2) \uc53, Z = 4. The calculated density is 2.802 g/cm3 while the observed density is 2.78(1) g/cm3. The six strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are: [dobs in \uc5 (I)(hkl)] 5.079(100)(020), 3.072(58)(112), 9.71(55)(002), 4.501(50)(022), 7.02(28)(012), 2.686(25)(114). The crystal structure was refined from single-crystal data to a final R1 = 0.0386 for 1942 observed reflections [I > 2\u3c3(I)] with all the hydrogen atoms located from a Difference\u2013Fourier map. The asymmetric unit contains two independent Cu2+ cations that display a distorted square-bipyramidal (4+2) coordination, one oxalate anion, two hydroxyl anions and two water molecules. The coordination polyhedra of the two copper atoms share common edges to form polymeric rows running along [100] with composition [Cu2(C2O4)(OH)2\u20222H2O]n. These rows are held together by a well-established pattern of hydrogen bonds between the oxalate oxygens not involved in the coordination to copper, the hydrogen atoms of the water molecules and the hydroxyl anions

Indoor Radon Surveying and Mitigation in the Case-Study of Celleno Town (Central Italy) Located in a Medium Geogenic Radon Potential Area

Indoor radon surveying and remediation were implemented in a single-family home affected by high levels of indoor radon in the Celleno municipality (central Italy) with the aim of identifying the contribution of radon sources, evaluating the factors affecting radon entry into the building, and reducing radon risk. Average radon levels were relatively low at the ground floor (286 ± 202 Bq m−3) and first floor (167 ± 84 Bq m−3) in autumn when the temperature was still warm and the windows were open, but increased up to 2776 ± 1768 Bq m−3 and 970 ± 202 Bq m−3 in the first half of December, when the heating system was on and the windows were closed. The inner walls of the pilot room at the ground floor, semi buried on one side, were then treated with a waterproof product (a silane terminated polymer) and the average radon was halved (1475 ± 1092 Bq m−3) in the following month, which was still characterised by winter conditions. Radon entry in the room was identified and sealed with the same product, and a radon accumulation space behind a NE-SW oriented wall was naturally ventilated, reducing radon below the reference level in April with northerly winds conditions

Safety and Efficacy of Dronedarone in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter

Dronedarone is an amiodarone analog but differs structurally from amiodarone in that the iodine moiety was removed and a methane-sulfonyl group was added. These modifications reduced thyroid and other end-organ adverse effects and makes dronedarone less lipophilic, shortening its half-life. Dronedarone has been shown to prevent atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFl) recurrences in several multi-center trials. In addition to its rhythm control properties, dronedarone has rate control properties and slows the ventricular response during AF. Dronedarone is approved in Europe for rhythm and rate control indications. In patients with decompensated heart failure, dronedarone treatment increased mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations. However, when dronedarone was used in elderly high risk AF/AFl patients excluding such high risk heart failure, cardiovascular hospitalizations were significantly reduced and the drug was approved in the USA for this indication in 2009 by the Food and Drug Administration. Updated guidelines suggest dronedarone as a front-line antiarrhythmic in many patients with AF/Fl but caution that the drug should not be used in patients with advanced heart failure. In addition, the recent results of the PALLAS trial suggest that dronedarone should not be used in the long-term treatment of patients with permanent AF