Disordering of InGaAs/GaAs strained quantum well structures induced by rare gas ion implantation

In this work we have investigated the effect of various implantation schemes on In(0.2)GaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs Single Quantum Well, where the implanted species are Argon and Helium, with doses in the range 1E12 to 1E14 at cm^2, at energy spanning 270 - 400 KeV and 30 to 50 KeV for Ar and He, respectively. Repetitive annealing processes were carried out between 735 and 870 degree(s)C and the interdiffusion was deduced by photoluminescence measurements. A maximum of 20 nm shift from He ion implanted Quantum Well with an high degree of reconstruction has been recorded, thus allowing the application of this disordering scheme for the realization of optoelectronic devices

miR-16-5p, miR-103-3p, and miR-27b-3p as Early Peripheral Biomarkers of Fetal Growth Restriction

Current tests available to diagnose fetal hypoxia in-utero lack sensitivity thus failing to identify many fetuses at risk. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs derived from the placenta circulate in the maternal blood during pregnancy and may be used as non-invasive biomarkers for pregnancy complications. With the intent to identify putative markers of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and new therapeutic druggable targets, we examined, in maternal blood samples, the expression of a group of microRNAs, known to be regulated by hypoxia. The expression of microRNAs was evaluated in maternal plasma samples collected from (1) women carrying a preterm FGR fetus (FGR group) or (2) women with an appropriately grown fetus matched at the same gestational age (Control group). To discriminate between early- and late-onset FGR, the study population was divided into two subgroups according to the gestational age at delivery. Four microRNAs were identified as possible candidates for the diagnosis of FGR: miR-16-5p, miR-103-3p, miR-107-3p, and miR-27b-3p. All four selected miRNAs, measured by RT-PCR, resulted upregulated in FGR blood samples before the 32nd week of gestation. By contrast, miRNA103-3p and miRNA107-3p, analyzed between the 32nd and 37th week of gestation, showed lower expression in the FGR group compared to aged matched controls. Our results showed that measurement of miRNAs in maternal blood may form the basis for a future diagnostic test to determine the degree of fetal hypoxia in FGR, thus allowing the start of appropriate therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden of this disease

miR-16-5p, miR-103-3p, and miR-27b-3p as Early Peripheral Biomarkers of Fetal Growth Restriction

none9noCurrent tests available to diagnose fetal hypoxia in-utero lack sensitivity thus failing to identify many fetuses at risk. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs derived from the placenta circulate in the maternal blood during pregnancy and may be used as non-invasive biomarkers for pregnancy complications. With the intent to identify putative markers of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and new therapeutic druggable targets, we examined, in maternal blood samples, the expression of a group of microRNAs, known to be regulated by hypoxia. The expression of microRNAs was evaluated in maternal plasma samples collected from (1) women carrying a preterm FGR fetus (FGR group) or (2) women with an appropriately grown fetus matched at the same gestational age (Control group). To discriminate between early- and late-onset FGR, the study population was divided into two subgroups according to the gestational age at delivery. Four microRNAs were identified as possible candidates for the diagnosis of FGR: miR-16-5p, miR-103-3p, miR-107-3p, and miR-27b-3p. All four selected miRNAs, measured by RT-PCR, resulted upregulated in FGR blood samples before the 32nd week of gestation. By contrast, miRNA103-3p and miRNA107-3p, analyzed between the 32nd and 37th week of gestation, showed lower expression in the FGR group compared to aged matched controls. Our results showed that measurement of miRNAs in maternal blood may form the basis for a future diagnostic test to determine the degree of fetal hypoxia in FGR, thus allowing the start of appropriate therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden of this disease.openTagliaferri S.; Cepparulo P.; Vinciguerra A.; Campanile M.; Esposito G.; Maruotti G.M.; Zullo F.; Annunziato L.; Pignataro G.Tagliaferri, S.; Cepparulo, P.; Vinciguerra, A.; Campanile, M.; Esposito, G.; Maruotti, G. M.; Zullo, F.; Annunziato, L.; Pignataro, G

The genetic background and vitamin D supplementation can affect irisin levels in Prader–Willi syndrome

Background Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is associated to distinctive clinical symptoms, including obesity, cognitive and behavioral disorders, and bone impairment. Irisin is a myokine that acts on several target organs including brain adipose tissue and bone. The present study was finalized to explore circulating levels of irisin in children and adult PWS patients. Methods Seventy-eight subjects with PWS, 26 children (15 females, mean age 9.48 ± 3.6 years) and 52 adults (30 females, mean age 30.6 ± 10.7) were enrolled. Irisin serum levels were measured in patients and controls. Its levels were related with anthropometric and metabolic parameters, cognitive performance and bone mineral density either in pediatric or adult PWS. Multiple regression analysis was also performed. Results Irisin serum levels in PWS patients did not show different compared with controls. A more in-depth analysis showed that both pediatric and adult PWS with DEL15 displayed significantly reduced irisin levels compared to controls. Otherwise, no differences in irisin concentration were found in UPD15 patients with respect to controls. Our study revealed that in pediatric PWS the 25(OH) vitamin-D levels affected irisin serum concentration. Indeed, patients who were not supplemented with vitamin D showed lower irisin levels than controls and patients performing the supplementation. Multiple regression analysis showed that irisin levels in pediatric and adult PWS were predicted by the genetic background and 25(OH)-vitamin D levels, whereas in a group of 29 adult PWS also by intelligent Quotient. Conclusion We demonstrated the possible role of genetic background and vitamin-D supplementation on irisin serum levels in PWS patients

Insight into GEBR-32a: Chiral Resolution, Absolute Configuration and Enantiopreference in PDE4D Inhibition

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide. One of its main consequences is memory loss, which is related to downstream effectors of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). A well-established strategy to avoid cAMP degradation is the inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE). In recent years, GEBR-32a has been shown to possess selective inhibitory properties against PDE type 4 family members, resulting in an improvement in spatial memory processes without the typical side effects that are usually correlated with this mechanism of action. In this work, we performed the HPLC chiral resolution and absolute configuration assignment of GEBR-32a. We developed an efficient analytical and semipreparative chromatographic method exploiting an amylose-based stationary phase, we studied the chiroptical properties of both enantiomers and we assigned their absolute configuration by 1H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). Lastly, we measured the IC50 values of both enantiomers against both the PDE4D catalytic domain and the long PDE4D3 isoform. Results strongly support the notion that GEBR-32a inhibits the PDE4D enzyme by interacting with both the catalytic pocket and the regulatory domains

Supervised nasal saline irrigations in otitis-prone children

Objectives: To retrospectively investigate the impact of supervised daily nasal saline irrigations (NSI) with 0. 9% saline solution in children with a history of recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM). Methods: A retrospective pilot study was planned to evaluate the possible effect of supervised NSI in reducing the number of acute otitis media (AOM) episodes in otitis-prone children aged 1-5 years, compared to children not instructed to correct NSI performance. Results: Analysis was based on the data contained in 173 charts (57.3% males, mean age of 30.9 \ub1 7.3 months). 52.0% of children had not been instructed to perform NSI, while the remaining (48.0%) patients had received supervised NSI. At the 4-months follow-up visit a significant reduced number of AOM episodes (1.03 \ub1 0.14 vs. 2.08 \ub1 0.16; p < 0.001) as well as antibiotic treatments (1.48 \ub1 0.17 vs. 2.59 \ub1 0.18; p < 0.001) was documented in children receiving supervised NSI compared to those not instructed for NSI performance. Conclusions: These data suggest that NSI should be considered in the therapeutic management of children with RAOM, and should be routinely prescribed as a daily adjunctive treatment to reduce acute infectious exacerbations in otitis-prone patients. Accurate parents training is crucial in order to improve children compliance and treatment effectiveness

Tyr682 in the Aβ-precursor protein intracellular domain regulates synaptic connectivity, cholinergic function, and cognitive performance.

Processing of Aβ-precursor protein (APP) plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. The APP intracellular domain contains residues important in regulating APP function and processing, in particular the 682YENPTY687 motif. To dissect the functions of this sequence in vivo, we created an APP knock-in allele mutating Y682 to Gly (APP(YG/YG) mice). This mutation alters the processing of APP and TrkA signaling and leads to postnatal lethality and neuromuscular synapse defects when expressed on an APP-like protein 2 KO background. This evidence prompted us to characterize further the APP(YG/YG) mice. Here, we show that APP(YG/YG) mice develop aging-dependent decline in cognitive and neuromuscular functions, a progressive reduction in dendritic spines, cholinergic tone, and TrkA levels in brain regions governing cognitive and motor functions. These data are consistent with our previous findings linking NGF and APP signaling and suggest a causal relationship between altered synaptic connectivity, cholinergic tone depression and TrkA signaling deficit, and cognitive and neuromuscular decline in APP(YG/YG) mice. The profound deficits caused by the Y682 mutation underscore the biological importance of APP and indicate that APP(YG/YG) are a valuable mouse model to study APP functions in physiological and pathological processes

Exploring the role of respiratory microbiome in lung cancer: A systematic review

Giving the potential contribute in cancer initiation and progression, lung microbiota represents a promising topic in cancer research, although still unexplored. We performed a systematic literature search to identify clinical studies evaluating lung microbiota composition, its correlation with lung cancer patients’ clinico-pathological features and prognosis. Of the identified 370 studies, 21 were eligible and included. Although studies were heterogeneous, lung cancer resulted to be enriched in peculiar microbial communities, with differences in composition and diversity according to clinico-pathological parameters. Few studies explored how lung microbiota influences cancer outcome. In light of these findings and borrowing the suggestions coming from gut microbiota, we speculate that respiratory microbiome may influence pathogenesis, progression and outcome of lung cancer. Taking advantage of the experience of chronical lung diseases, prospective studies should be designed to evaluate lung microbiota changes throughout any phase of lung cancer course, particularly with the advent of immunotherapy as pivotal treatment

Interventional sialendoscopy for radioiodine-induced sialadenitis: quo vadis?

La tossicità delle ghiandole salivari rappresenta un noto effetto indesiderato dello iodio radioattivo (I) utilizzato per il trattamento di neoplasie tiroidee, con una prevalenza che varia dal 2% al 67% della popolazione esposta. Recentemente, la scialoendoscopia è stata introdotta come un interessante strumento diagnostico e terapeutico per la gestione dei pazienti affetti da scialoadenite radioiodio-indotta non responsiva ai trattamenti medici standard. Lobiettivo della presente revisione è stato valutare linfluenza di questa procedura sulla storia clinica di pazienti affetti da scialoadenite conseguente a trattamento con radioiodio. Complessivamente, la revisione ha incluso 8 studi, 122 pazienti e 264 scialoendoscopie. Le stenosi duttali ed i tappi mucosi hanno rappresentato l85.7% dei reperti endoscopici, sostenendo il ruolo dellostruzione duttale nella fisiopatologia della scialoadenite da radioiodio. Circa l89.3% dei pazienti riportarono una risoluzione parziale o completa degli episodi di scialoadenite ricorrente, senza complicanze post-operatorie maggiori. Un solo caso è stato sottoposto a parotidectomia per fallimento del trattamento scialoendoscopico e persistenza dei sintomi. Tuttavia, i risultati della letteratura riguardarono principalmente valutazioni soggettive e solamente in due esperienze cliniche furono prese in considerazione misure oggettive con risultati discordanti. La xerostomia fu analizzata in pochi studi, con benefici differenti rispetto ai sintomi ostruttivi. La tempistica ideale per la videoendoscopia delle ghiandole salivari necessita di ulteriori analisi, al fine di definire la miglior gestione delle scialoadeniti ostruttive radioiodio-indotte

Should we stop performing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is still one of the most frequently performed procedures for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in adults, with unsatisfactory results. In the era of the mini-invasive/conservative surgery, considering the increasing attention to the disregulation of the peripheral neuromuscular control of the upper airway contributing to pharyngeal collapse in OSAS, with the development of sophisticated treatments such as the neural stimulation of the upper-airway, which role should be reserved to a muscular resective procedure such as UPPP? Being aware of the uncertain results and the high postoperative morbidity of UPPP, we believe that we should re-evaluate the role of these procedures involving the resection of palatal/pharyngeal muscles and uvula