64 research outputs found
Sodium hyaluronate and chondroitin sulfate replenishment therapy can improve nocturia in men with post-radiation cystitis: results of a prospective pilot study
Autophagy and Inflammasome Activation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Background: The clinical outcome of patients affected by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is heterogeneous, since its pathophysiology is only partially understood. Interleukin 1 beta levels could predict the mortality and necessity of cardiac transplantation of DCM patients. Objective: To investigate mechanisms triggering sterile inflammation in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods: Hearts explanted from 62 DCM patients were compared with 30 controls, employing immunohistochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, as well as metabolomics studies. Results: Although misfolded protein accumulation and aggresome formation characterize DCM hearts, aggresomes failed to trigger the autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP), with consequent accumulation of both p62(SQSTM1) and dysfunctional mitochondria. In line, DCM hearts are characterized by accumulation of lipoperoxidation products and activation of both redox responsive pathways and inflammasome. Consistently with the fact that mTOR signaling may impair ALP, we observed, an increase in DCM activation, together with a reduction in the nuclear localization of Transcription Factor EB -TFEB- (a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis). These alterations were coupled with metabolomic alterations, including accumulation of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), known mTOR activators. Consistently, reduced levels of PP2Cm, a phosphatase that regulates the key catabolic step of BCAAs, coupled with increased levels of miR-22, a regulator of PP2Cm levels that triggers senescence, characterize DCM hearts. The same molecular defects were present in clinically relevant cells isolated from DCM hearts, but they could be reverted by downregulating miR-22. Conclusion: We identified, in human DCM, a complex series of events whose key players are miR-22, PP2Cm, BCAA, mTOR, and ALP, linking loss of proteostasis with inflammasome activation. These potential therapeutic targets deserve to be further investigated
Intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate (Ialuril™) replenishment therapy for postradiation cystitis of prostate cancer: Results of a prospective pilot study
Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical
attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced
colorectal cancers at diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced
oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all
17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December
31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period),
in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was
30 days from surgery.
EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery,
palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer
at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as
cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding,
lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery,
and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes
was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster
variable.
RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years)
underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142
(56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was
significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR],
1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic
lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients
undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for
these patients
'Formidável contágio': epidemias, trabalho e recrutamento na Amazônia colonial (1660-1750)
Specific inhibition of binding to benzodiazepine receptors by 1,2,3-triazole derivatives.
Certain 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were prepared and tested for their ability to displace [3H]diazepam that was bound to bovine brain membrane protein. All the tested compounds are essentially lacking in this ability, except for B.1, which inhibited binding of [3H]diazepam in 50% of the trials at 2.5 microM. The structure of B.1, with a 1,2,3-triazole ring with acidic properties, supports the hypothesis proposed for binding to the benzodiazepine receptor site. Comparison of B.1 with 1,2,3-triazole derivatives bearing a bicyclic substituent in position 1 of the heterocyclic ring suggests that a high steric hindrance increases the affinity of a compound for the benzodiazepine receptor
Epoxidized Ionic Liquids as Processing Auxiliaries of Poly(Lactic Acid) Matrix: Influence on the Manufacture, Structural and Physical Properties
In this study, we set out to modify poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by incorporating epoxidized ionic liquids (ILs) that were specifically designed with imidazolium-NTf2 moieties. First, we synthesized di-, tri- and tetra-epoxidized ILs, which were incorporated into a PLA matrix at 3, 5, and 10 wt% through a melt extrusion process. We investigated the relationship between the structure and properties of the resulting materials in terms of thermal, mechanical, rheological, and surface properties. The results showed the potential of ILs to impact these properties. Notably, the tri- and tetra-epoxidized ILs enhanced the thermal stability of the PLA matrix as well as the crystallinity while reducing the glass transition temperature and melting point, which is promising for reactive extrusion processing. Overall, this research opens new routes for using reactive ILs to improve the processing and properties of PLA polymers
N(6)-substituted 2-phenyl-9-benzyl-8-azaadenines. Affinity for adenosine A1 and A2 receptors. A comparison with 2-N-butyl analogous derivatives.5.
The title compounds were prepared to evaluate their affinity towards adenosine A1 and A2 receptors. Some 2-phenyl-N(6)-substituted-8-azadenines showed good binding properties and good A1 selectivity. The biological results allow us to confirm the presence in A1 receptors of a third lipophilic pocket, able to receive the substituent on N(9), and to evince increased affinity when a phenyl group on C(2) substitutes an n-butyl group. These affinity differences between analogous 2-n-butyl and 2-phenyl derivatives indicate that they arrange themselves within A1 receptors in a similar manner and suggest that this receptor is able to arrange 8-azaadenines, bearing three lipophilic substituents, in two different ways
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