Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from Fat Tissue of Breast Cancer Microenvironment Present Altered Adipogenic Differentiation Capabilities

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells able to differentiate into multiple cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. The role of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in cancers is significantly relevant. They seem to be involved in the promotion of tumour development and progression and relapse processes. For this reason, investigating the effects of breast cancer microenvironment on ADSCs is of high importance in order to understand the relationship between tumour cells and the surrounding stromal cells. With the current study, we aimed to investigate the specific characteristics of human ADSCs isolated from the adipose tissue of breast tumour patients. We compared ADSCs obtained from periumbilical fat (PF) of controls with ADSCs obtained from adipose tissue of breast cancer- (BC-) bearing patients. We analysed the surface antigens and the adipogenic differentiation ability of both ADSC populations. C/EBP\u3b4 expression was increased in PF and BC ADSCs induced to differentiate compared to the control while PPAR\u3b3 and FABP4 expressions were enhanced only in PF ADSCs. Conversely, adiponectin expression was reduced in PF-differentiated ADSCs while it was slightly increased in differentiated BC ADSCs. By means of Oil Red O staining, we further observed an impaired differentiation capability of BC ADSCs. To investigate this aspect more in depth, we evaluated the effect of selective PPAR\u3b3 activation and nutritional supplementation on the differentiation efficiency of BC ADSCs, noting that it was only with strong differentiation stimuli that the process took place. Furthermore, we observed no response in BC ADSCs to the PPAR\u3b3 inhibitor T0070907, showing an impaired activation of this receptor in adipose cells surrounding the breast cancer microenvironment. In conclusion, our study shows an impaired adipogenic differentiation capability in BC ADSCs. This suggests that the tumour microenvironment plays a key role in the modulation of the adipose microenvironment located in the surrounding tissue

The femorofemoral bypass graft. Report of a 11-year experience

A series of 62 femorofemoral bypass grafts (FFBG) is reported. The indication for this operation was unilateral iliofemoral occlusion with severe ischemia of the lower limb in poor-risk patients. Severe ischemia presented as rest pain and/or minor necrotic lesions to the foot fingers, while patients were defined poor-risk for aging and concomitant diseases advising major surgical procedures and general anaesthesia. Claudication was not considered as an indication for this operation, and this statement is discussed in detail reviewing the literature. Operative death rate was approximately 6.4% (4 subjects), due to acute renal failure, revascularization syndrome, cardiac arrest and pulmonary oedema. Twenty subjects had had a total of 33 previous vascular reconstructive procedures; this occurrence did not reveal any statistically significant consequences on long-term patency rate, although a difference was seen in favour of the patients who had not undergone previous vascular reconstructive procedures. In the group of patients who underwent FFBG as the first vascular procedure, five early occlusions occurred: three Fogarty catheter thrombectomies were successful. Cumulative patency rate was then 77% at 36 months in the series of 58 survivors. Rest pain was relieved in any instances and a satisfactory improvement of claudication was obtained

Influenza di precedenti ricostruzioni dell'asse iliacofemorale sulla pervietà del by pass femorofemorale.

A series of 40 femoro-femoral by-pass grafts (FFBG) is presented; these operations were performed from 1978 to 1987 and the follow-up ranged between 6 and 36 months. The subjects were divided retrospectively into two groups, to evaluate the effect of prior iliofemoral reconstructive operations on the long-term patency of the FFBGs. Thirty-four patients (group A) had no previous surgery and 15 (group B) had 23 previous femoral surgical reconstructions. At operation, 34 recipient deep femoral arteries underwent adjunctive TEA (24 out of group A; 10 out of group B) as well as 9 donor limb deep femoral arteries (all out of group A). No donor limb steal phenomenon was recorded in both groups. FFBG occlusion occurred without any statistically significant differences in the groups (A 12%, B 20%) and only in one case a thigh amputation was needed (group B)

Extendible Formulas in Two Variables in Intuitionistic Logic

We give alternative characterizations of exact, extendible and projective formulas in intuitionistic propositional calculus IPC in terms of n-universal models. From these characterizations we derive a new syntactic description of all extendible formulas of IPC in two variables. For the formulas in two variables we also give an alternative proof of Ghilardi’s theorem that every extendible formula is projective

Enhanced brain release of erythropoietin, cytokines and NO during carotid clamping

Although effective and safe, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) implies a reduced blood flow to the brain and likely an ischemia/reperfusion event. The high rate of uneventful outcomes associated with CEA suggests the activation of brain endogenous protection mechanisms aimed at limiting the possible ischemia/reperfusion damage. This study aims at assessing whether CEA triggers protective mechanismssuch as brain release of erythropoietin and nitric oxide. CEA was performed in 12 patients; blood samples were withdrawn simultaneously from the surgically exposed ipsilateral jugular and leg veins before, during (2 and 40 min) and after clamp removal (2 min). Plasma antioxidant capacity, carbonylated proteins, erythropoietin, nitrates and nitrites (NOx) were determined. No changes in intraoperative EEG, peripheral and transcranial blood oxygen saturation were detectable, and no patients showed any neurologic sign after the intervention. Antioxidant capacity and protein carbonylation in plasma were unaffected. Differently, erythropoietin, VEGF, TNF-\u3b1 and NOx increased during clamping in the jugular blood (2 and 40 min), while no changes were observed in the peripheral circulation. These results show that blood erythropoietin, VEGF, TNF-\u3b1, and NOx increased in the brain during uncomplicated CEA. This may represent an endogenous self-activated neuroprotective mechanism aimed at the prevention of ischemia/reperfusion damage