Proteomics of Carbon Fixation Energy Sources in Halothiobacillus neapolitanus

Through the use of proteomics, it was uncovered that the autotrophic, aerobic purple sulfur bacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus displays changes in cellular levels of portions of its carbon dioxide uptake and fixation mechanisms upon switch from bicarbonate to CO2(g) as carbon source. This includes an increase in level of a heterodimeric bicarbonate transporter along with a potential switch between form I and form II of RubisCO. Additional changes are seen in several sulfur oxidation pathways, which may indicate a link between sulfur oxidation pathways as an energy source and carbon uptake/fixation mechanisms

Management of functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

: Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are rare and heterogeneous diseases in terms of both clinical and pathological aspects. These tumors secrete hormones or peptides, which may cause a wide variety of symptoms related to a clinical syndrome. The management of functional pNENs is still challenging for clinicians due to the need to control both tumor growth and specific symptoms. Surgery remains the cornerstone in the management of local disease because it can definitively cure the patient. However, when the disease is not resectable, a broad spectrum of therapeutic options, including locoregional therapy, somatostatin analogs (SSAs), targeted therapies, peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), and chemotherapy, are available. The present review summarizes the main key issues regarding the clinical management of these tumors, providing a specific highlight on their therapeutic approach

Type 3 gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms: the rising promise of conservative endoscopic management

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs) are rare tumors arising from the gastric enterochromaffin-like cells. Recent data suggests an increased detection rate, attributed to more frequent esophagogastroduodenoscopies. While type 3 g-NENs were historically deemed aggressive, emerging research indicates potential for conservative management, especially endoscopic resection, in well-differentiated, small tumors. European guidelines now advocate for endoscopic intervention in selected cases, but North American guidelines remain more conservative. Key factors influencing outcomes are tumor size, grading, and depth of gastric wall infiltration. Endoscopic resection has shown promise for tumors confined to submucosal layers without lymphovascular invasion. Given the complexities, a multidisciplinary team approach is essential for management decisions. Current insights are largely based on retrospective studies, underscoring the need for prospective research to optimize endoscopic approaches

Unraveling the relationship between conditions of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of chia mucilage and viscosity

BACKGROUND: The application of chia mucilage still remains restricted due to the difficulty in achieving high extraction yields. The effect of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions (temperature, seed:water ratio and time) on the rheological properties of chia mucilage extracts and the relation to the proportion of translucent phase (TP) and opaque phase (OP) of the mucilage in the extract were evaluated. RESULTS: UAE allowed the efficient extraction of chia mucilage from chia seeds. The desired overall optimal combination to maximize both yield and apparent viscosity was achieved at a seed:water ratio 1:10, a temperature of 25.3 °C and 53.7 min extraction time; the optimal conditions to obtain the maximum yield and minimum apparent viscosity were a seed:water ratio close to 1:20, temperature of 48.8 °C and 208.4 min extraction time. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present work demonstrated that the differences in rheological properties of chia mucilage extracts are due to the extraction methods used. Therefore, it is possible to modulate the extraction conditions in order to obtain different characteristics of the mucilage, maintaining a high extraction yield.Fil: Saporittis, Karen. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos.; ArgentinaFil: Marasco, Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Morales, Rocio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos.; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, María Julia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos.; ArgentinaFil: Pilosof, Ana Maria Renata. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Quimicos.; Argentin

Utility of histopathological revision in the management of gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasia

Background: Histological evaluation and grading assessment are key points in the diagnostic work-up of gastroentero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs). Aim: To analyze the impact of histopathological revision on the clinical management of patients with GEP-NEN. Materials and methods: Patients referred to our Center of Excellence between 2015 and 2021 were included in this study. Immunohistochemical slides at the time of initial diagnosis were reviewed to assess tumor morphology, diagnostic immunohistochemistry, and Ki67. Results: 101 patients were evaluated, with 65 (64.4%) gastrointestinal, 25 (24.7%) pancreatic, and 11 (10.9%) occult neoplastic lesions suspected to be of GEP origin. The main changes resulting from the revision were: first Ki-67 assessment in 15.8% of patients, Ki-67 change in 59.2% of patients and grading modification in 23.5% of patients. An additional immunohistochemical evaluation was performed in 78 (77.2%) patients, leading to a confirmation of GEP origin in 10 of 11 (90.9%) of unknown primary site neoplastic lesions and an exclusion of NEN diagnosis in 2 (2%) patients. After histopathological revision, a significant modification in clinical management was proposed in 42 (41.6%) patients. Conclusions: Histopathological revision in a referral NEN center is strongly advised in newly diagnosed GEP-NENs to properly plan prognostic stratification and therapeutic choice

Role of the Metal Center in the Modulation of the Aggregation Process of Amyloid Model Systems by Square Planar Complexes Bearing 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole Ligands

The effect of analogue Pd(II)-, Pt(II)-, and Au(III) compounds featuring 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole on the aggregation propensity of amyloid-like peptides derived from Aβ and from the C-terminal domain of nucleophosmin 1 was investigated. Kinetic profiles of aggregation were evaluated using thioflavin binding assays, whereas the interactions of the compounds with the peptides were studied by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the compounds modulate the aggregation of the investigated peptides using different mechanisms, suggesting that the reactivity of the metal center and the physicochemical properties of the metals (rather than those of the ligands and the geometry of the metal compounds) play a crucial role in determining the anti-aggregation properties

Pathophysiology and Clinical Management of Bile Acid Diarrhea

Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) represents a common cause of chronic diarrhea whose prevalence is under-investigated. We reviewed the evidence available regarding the pathophysiology and clinical management of bile acid diarrhea (BAD). BAD results from dysregulation of the enterohepatic recirculation of bile acids. It has been estimated that 25-33% of patients with functional diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea have BAM. Currently, the selenium homotaurocholic acid test is the gold standard for BAD diagnosis and severity assessment. However, it is an expensive method and not widely available. The validation of the utility in the clinical practice of several other serum markers, such as 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) and the fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) is ongoing. The first-line treatment of patients with BAD is bile acid sequestrants. Patients that are refractory to first-line therapy should undergo further diagnostics to confirm the diagnosis and to treat the underlying cause of BAD. An early and correct diagnosis of BAD would improve patient's quality of life, avoiding additional diagnostic tests that burden health care systems. Considering the limited availability and tolerability of specific medications for BAD treatment, future research is awaited to identify other therapeutic approaches, such as gut microbiota modulating therapies

Epigenetic Variability across Human Populations: A Focus on DNA Methylation Profiles of the KRTCAP3, MAD1L1 and BRSK2 Genes

Natural epigenetic diversity has been suggested as a key mechanism in microevolutionary processes due to its capability to create phenotypic variability within individuals and populations. It constitutes an important reservoir of variation potentially useful for rapid adaptation in response to environmental stimuli. The analysis of population epigenetic structure represents a possible tool to study human adaptation and to identify external factors that are able to naturally shape human DNA methylation variability. The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamics that create epigenetic diversity between and within different human groups. To this end, we first used publicly available epigenome-wide data to explore population-specific DNA methylation changes that occur at macro-geographic scales. Results from this analysis suggest that nutrients, UVA exposure and pathogens load might represent the main environmental factors able to shape DNA methylation profiles. Then, we evaluated DNA methylation of candidate genes (KRTCAP3, MAD1L1, and BRSK2), emerged from the previous analysis, in individuals belonging to different populations from Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, China, and Italy, but living in the same Italian city. DNA methylation of the BRSK2 gene is significantly different between Moroccans and Nigerians (pairwise t-test: CpG 6 P-value = 5.2*10 (-) (3); CpG 9 P-value = 2.6*10 (-) (3); CpG 10 P-value = 3.1*10 (-) (3); CpG 11 P-value = 2.8*10 (-) (3)). Comprehensively, these results suggest that DNA methylation diversity is a source of variability in human groups at macro and microgeographical scales and that population demographic and adaptive histories, as well as the individual ancestry, actually influence DNA methylation profiles

Ruthenium complexes bearing glucosyl ligands are able to inhibit the amyloid aggregation of short Histidine-peptides

Neurodegenerative diseases are often characterized by the formation of aggregates of amyloidogenic peptides and proteins, facilitating the formation of neurofibrillary plaques. In this study, we investigate a series of Ru-complexes sharing three-legged piano-stool structures based on the arene ring and glucosylated carbene ligands. The ability of these complexes to bind amyloid His-peptides was evaluated by ESI-MS, and their effects on the aggregation process were investigated through ThT and Tyr fluorescence emission. The complexes were demonstrated to bind the amyloidogenic peptides even with different mechanisms and kinetics depending on the chemical nature of the ligands around the Ru(II) ion. TEM analysis detected the disaggregation of typical fibers caused by the presence of Ru-compounds. Overall, our results show that the Ru-complexes can modulate the aggregation of His-amyloids and can be conceived as good lead compounds in the field of novel anti-aggregating agents in neurodegeneration