Membrane Microvesicles as Actors in the Establishment of a Favorable Prostatic Tumoral Niche: A Role for Activated Fibroblasts and CX3CL1-CX3CR1 Axis

Tumor microenvironment is enriched in plasma membrane microvesicles (MV) shed from all cell types that constitute the tumor mass, reflecting the antigenic profile of the cells they originate from. Fibroblasts and tumor cells mutually communicate within tumor microenvironment. Recent evidences suggest that tumor-derived MVs (TMV) exert a broad array of biological functions in cell-to-cell communication. To elucidate their role in cancer-to-fibroblast cell communication, TMV obtained from two prostate carcinoma cell lines with high and weak metastatic potential (PC3 and LnCaP, respectively) have been characterized. TMV exhibit matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and extracellular MMP inducer at their surface, suggesting a role in extracellular matrix degradation. Moreover, TMV not only induce the activation of fibroblasts assessed through extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation and MMP-9 up-regulation, increase motility and resistance to apoptosis but also promote MV shedding from activated fibroblasts able in turn to increase migration and invasion of highly metastatic PC3 cells but not LnCaP cells. PC3 cell chemotaxis seems, at least partially, dependent on membrane-bound CX3CL1/fractalkine ligand for chemokine receptor CX3CR1. The present results highlight a mechanism of mutual communication attributable not only to soluble factors but also to determinants harbored by MV, possibly contributing to the constitution of a favorable niche for cancer development. [Cancer Res 2009;69(3):785–93

Investigating Dementia via a multicompartmental poroelastic model of parenchymal tissue

In this paper, a workflow within the VPH-DARE@IT Clinical Research Platform is presented. This is used to model the biomechanical behaviour of perfused brain tissue. This workflow features a 3D multicompartmental poroelastic framework, patient-specific brain anatomy representations and continuous waveforms of internal carotid and vertebral arteries, which are used as a means of personalizing the boundary conditions that feed the arterial compartment of the in-house poroelastic solver. Results are shown comparing CSF/ISF clearance and accumulation in two males of similar age, both are non-smokers, however one is more active and is diagnosed with MCI and experiences less sleep

Subject-specific multiporoelastic model for exploring the risk factors associated with the early stages of Alzheimer's disease

There is emerging evidence suggesting that Alzheimer’s disease is a vascular disorder, caused by impaired cerebral perfusion, which may be promoted by cardiovascular risk factors that are strongly influenced by lifestyle. In order to develop an understanding of the exact nature of such a hypothesis, a biomechanical understanding of the influence of lifestyle factors is pursued. An extended poroelastic model of perfused parenchymal tissue coupled with separate workflows concerning subject-specific meshes, permeability tensor maps and cerebral blood flow (CBF) variability is utilised. The subject-specific datasets used in the modelling of this paper were collected as part of prospective data collection. Two cases were simulated involving male, non-smokers (control and MCI case) during two states of activity (high and low). Results showed a marginally reduced clearance of CSF/ISF, elevated parenchymal tissue displacement and CSF/ISF accumulation and drainage in the MCI case. Peak perfusion remained at 8 mm/s between the two cases

Thermessaite-(NH4), (NH4)2AlF3(SO4), a new fumarole mineral from la Fossa crater at Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy

Thermessaite-(NH4), ideally (NH4)2AlF3(SO4), is a new mineral found as a medium- to high-temperature (about 250-300°C) fumarole encrustation at the rim of La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. The mineral deposited as aggregates of micrometer-sized sharp prismatic crystals on the surface of a pyroclastic breccia in association with thermessaite, sulfur, arcanite, mascagnite, and intermediate members of the arcanite-mascagnite series. The new mineral is colorless to white, transparent, non-fluorescent, has a vitreous luster, and a white streak. The calculated density is 2.185 g/cm3. Thermessaite-(NH4) is orthorhombic, space group Pbcn, with a = 11.3005(3) Å, b = 8.6125(3) Å, c = 6.8501(2) Å, V = 666.69(4) Å3, Z = 4. The eight strongest reflections in the X-ray powder-diffraction data [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 5.65 (100) (200), 4.84 (89) (111), 6.85 (74) (110), 3.06 (56) (112), 3.06 (53) (221), 3.08 (47) (311), 2.68 (28) (022), 2.78 (26) (130). The average chemical composition, determined by quantitative SEM-EDS (N by difference), is (wt%): K2O 3.38, Al2O325.35, SO336.58, F 26.12, (NH4)2O 22.47, O = F -11.00, total 102.90. The empirical chemical formula, calculated on the basis of 7 anions pfu, is [(NH4)1.85K0.15]Σ2.00Al106F2.94-S0.98O3.06. The crystal structure, determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data [R(F) = 0.0367], is characterized by corner-sharing AlF4O2octahedra which form [001] octahedral chains by sharing two trans fluoride atoms [Al-F2 = 1.8394(6) Å]. Non-bridging Al-F1 distances are shorter [1.756(1) Å]. The two trans oxygen atoms [Al-O = 1.920(2) Å] are from SO4tetrahedra. NH4+ions occur in layers parallel to (100) which alternate regularly with (100) layers containing ribbons of corner-sharing AlF4O2octahedra and associated SO4 groups. The NH4+ions are surrounded by five oxygen atoms and by four fluorine atoms. The mineral is named as the (NH4)-analogue of thermessaite, K2AlF3(SO4), and corresponds to an anthropogenic phase found in the burning Anna I coal dump of the Anna mine, Aachen, Germany. Both mineral and mineral name have been approved by the IMA-CNMNC commission (IMA 2011-077)

L'uso dei traccianti nello studio delle acque sotterranee ed esperienze relative alla Puglia

Si descrivono alcune tecniche di studio basate sull’impiego di traccianti, con particolare riferimento alle esperienze maturate dalla comunità scientifica studiando le quattro unità idrogeologiche pugliesi, prevalentemente costituite da acquiferi rocciosi di natura carbonatica. La sintetica descrizione delle procedure utilizzate è integrata dall'analisi dei principali risultati conseguite in alcune esperienze. Le metodologie di studio basate sull'uso dei traccianti si sono dimostrate utili al fine di caratterizzare l’età delle acque sotterranee e la mobilità delle stesse, le modalità di circolazione idrica sotterranea e il moto degli inquinanti. In particolare, le misure relative al contenuto in radon delle acque di falda hanno evidenziato che negli acquiferi pugliesi a maggiori concentrazioni di radon nelle acque sotterranee corrisponde una maggiore mobilità delle stesse. I traccianti radioattivi utili per lo studio delle correnti verticali sono risultati lo iodio-131 ed il bromo-82, mentre tra i traccianti stabili è stato utilizzato il cloruro di cadmio in soluzione alcolica, anche se, di recente, l’impiego dello ioduro di potassio come tracciante ha mostrato anch’esso buoni risultati. La misura della direzione dei deflussi sotterranei in un pozzo singolo ha consentito di accertare sia l’inversione della direzione di deflusso delle acque dolci di falda in prossimità della costa, a causa delle oscillazioni del livello del mare, sia la direzione del moto delle acque di mare di invasione continentale, che in condizioni di alta marea è orientato verso il continente e che si inverte con la bassa marea

Relationship between spatial ability, visuospatial working memory and self-assessed spatial orientation ability: a study in older adults

This paper describes some novel spatial tasks and questionnaires designed to assess spatial and orientation abilities. The new tasks and questionnaires were administered to a sample of 90 older adults (41 males, age range 57–90), along with some other tests of spatial ability (Minnesota Paper Form Board, Mental Rotations Test, and Embedded Figures Test) and tests of visuospatial working memory (Corsi’s Block Test and Visual Pattern Test). The internal reliability of the new tasks and questionnaires was analyzed, as well as their relationship with the spatial and working memory tests. The results showed that the new spatial tasks are reliable, correlate with working memory and spatial ability tests and, compared with the latters, show stronger correlations with the self-report questionnaires referring to orientation abilities. A model was also tested (with reference to Allen et al. in Intelligence 22:327–355, 1996) in which the new tasks were assumed to relate to spatial ability and predict orientation abilities as assessed by the self-report measures

Virtual environments as memory training devices in navigational tasks for older adults.

Cognitive training approaches using virtual environments (VEs) might counter age-related visuospatial memory decline and associated difficulties in wayfinding. However, the effects of the visual design of a VE in route learning are not fully understood. Therefore, we created a custom-designed VE optimized for route learning, with adjusted levels of realism and highlighted landmark locations (MixedVE). Herein we tested participants' route recall performance in identifying direction of turn at the intersection with this MixedVE against two baseline alternatives (AbstractVE, RealisticVE). An older vs. a younger group solved the tasks in two stages (immediate vs. delayed recall by one week). Our results demonstrate that the MixedVE facilitates better recall accuracy than the other two VEs for both age groups. Importantly, this pattern persists a week later. Additionally, our older participants were mostly overconfident in their route recall performance, but the MixedVE moderated this potentially detrimental overconfidence. Before the experiment, participants clearly preferred the RealisticVE, whereas after the experiment, most of the younger, and many of the older participants, preferred the MixedVE. Taken together, our findings provide insights into the importance of tailoring visualization design in route learning with VEs. Furthermore, we demonstrate the great potential of the MixedVE and by extension, of similar VEs as memory training devices for route learning, especially for older participants