Characterization of Er in porous Si

The fabrication of porous Si-based Er-doped light emitting devices is a very promising developing field for all-silicon light emitters. However, while luminescence of Er-doped porous silicon devices has been demonstrated, very little attention has been devoted to the doping process itself. We have undertaken a detailed study of this process examining the porous silicon matrix from several points of view, during and after the doping. In particular, we have found that the Er doping process shows a threshold level which, as evidenced by the cross correlation of the various techniques used, does depend on the sample thickness and on the doping parameters

Controlling the Er content of porous silicon using the doping current intensity

The results of an investigation on the Er doping of porous silicon are presented. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, optical reflectivity, and spatially resolved energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) coupled to scanning electron microscopy measurements were used to investigate on the transient during the first stages of constant current Er doping. Depending on the applied current intensity, the voltage transient displays two very different behaviors, signature of two different chemical processes. The measurements show that, for equal transferred charge and identical porous silicon (PSi) layers, the applied current intensity also influences the final Er content. An interpretative model is proposed in order to describe the two distinct chemical processes. The results can be useful for a better control over the doping process

Thyroid autoimmune disorders and cancer

In the last decades, many studies conducted in vitro, and in vivo, have shown that thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid cancer (TC) (mainly papillary TC) can be concomitant, even if the exact mechanisms at the basis of this association are still not clear. Growing incidence of TC coincides with increased registration of autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) suggesting an association between those pathologies. Elevated TSH levels and thyroid autoimmunity were defined as independent risk factors for TC. However a lot of evidence suggests that autoimmunity and inflammation, per se, are risk factors for TC. The link between inflammation and TC involves multiple components of the immune system, extracellular matrix, stroma, and adipose tissue, with pro-tumoral activity of inflammation being opposed to anti-inflammatory effects, favoring protection against cancer progression. Within the tumor microenvironment, inflammatory cells, belonging both to innate (macrophages) and adaptive (lymphocytes) immune responses, are interconnected with fibroblasts, endothelial cells, adipocytes, and extracellular matrix through cytokines, chemokines and adipocytokines. Under the influence of transcriptional regulators (such as Nuclear Factor-kappa B, mitogen-activated protein kinases, or Phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase-B), oncogenes connected to the different subtypes of TC promote their farthermost proliferative effect on the tumor microenvironment. Future studies will be necessary to understand the connections between thyroid autoimmunity and cancer, also in order to design a tailored therapy for TC patients with AITD

Impaired sense of smell in a Drosophila Parkinson's model.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the clinical triad: tremor, akinesia and rigidity. Several studies have suggested that PD patients show disturbances in olfaction at the earliest onset of the disease. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster 32 is becoming a powerful model organism to study neurodegenerative diseases. We sought to use this system to explore olfactory dysfunction, if any, in PINK1 mutants, which is a model for PD. PINK1 mutants display many important diagnostic symptoms of the disease such as akinetic motor behavior. In the present study, we describe for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, neurophysiological and neuroanatomical results concerning the olfactory function in PINK1 mutant flies. Electroantennograms were recorded in response to synthetic and natural volatiles (essential oils) from groups of PINK1 mutant adults at three different time points in their life cycle: one from 3-5 day-old flies, from 15-20 and from 27-30 days. The results obtained were compared with the same age-groups of wild type flies. We found that mutant adults showed a decrease in the olfactory response to 1-hexanol, α-pinene and essential oil volatiles. This olfactory response in mutant adults decreased even more as the flies aged. Immunohistological analysis of the antennal lobes in these mutants revealed structural abnormalities, especially in the expression of Bruchpilot protein, a marker for synaptic active zones. The combination of electrophysiological and morphological results suggests that the altered synaptic organization may be due to a neurodegenerative process. Our results indicate that this model can be used as a tool for understanding PD pathogensis and pathophysiology. These results help to explore the potential of using olfaction as a means of monitoring PD progression and developing new treatments

Chemokines in hyperthyroidism

The term “hyperthyroidism” indicates a condition due to an exaggerate production of thyroid hormone; the most frequent cause is Graves’ disease (GD). We review cytokines and chemokines in hyperthyroidism, with a special focus in GD. In GD, recruited Th1 lymphocytes are responsible for enhanced IFN-γ and TNF-α production, which in turn stimulates Th1 chemokines release from thyrocytes, initiating and perpetuating the autoimmune process. Circulating levels of these chemokines are associated with the active phase of GD. Additional studies are necessary to investigate whether Th1 chemokines could be a novel therapeutic target in this disease

Immune and inflammatory cells in thyroid cancer microenvironment

A hallmark of cancer is the ability of tumor cells to avoid immune destruction. Activated immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) secrete proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines which foster the proliferation of tumor cells. Specific antigens expressed by cancer cells are recognized by the main actors of immune response that are involved in their elimination (immunosurveillance). By the recruitment of immunosuppressive cells, decreasing the tumor immunogenicity, or through other immunosuppressive mechanisms, tumors can impair the host immune cells within the TME and escape their surveillance. Within the TME, cells of the innate (e.g., macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils) and the adaptive (e.g., lymphocytes) immune responses are interconnected with epithelial cancer cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells via cytokines, chemokines, and adipocytokines. The molecular pattern of cytokines and chemokines has a key role and could explain the involvement of the immune system in tumor initiation and progression. Thyroid cancer-related inflammation is an important target for diagnostic procedures and novel therapeutic strategies. Anticancer immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, unleashes the immune system and activates cytotoxic lymphocytes to kill cancer cells. A better knowledge of the molecular and immunological characteristics of TME will allow novel and more effective immunotherapeutic strategies in advanced thyroid cancer

Molecular testing in the diagnosis of differentiated thyroid carcinomas

Different genetic mutations and other molecular alterations in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) can be detected in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules, and can be used successfully to ameliorate cancer diagnosis and management of patients with thyroid nodules. The greatest experience has been obtained with the diagnostic use of BRAF mutation that is strongly specific for malignancy when detected using well-validated techniques. The strongest diagnostic result can be obtained testing FNA samples for a panel of mutations that typically involve TERT, BRAF, PAX8/PPARγ, RAS, and RET/PTC. Finding any of these mutations in a thyroid nodule provides strong indication for malignancy and helps to refine clinical management for a significant proportion of patients with indeterminate cytology. The use of molecular markers, as TERT, BRAF, PAX8/PPARγ, RAS, and RET/PTC, may be considered for patients with indeterminate FNA cytology (FNAC) to help guide management. In patients with indeterminate TIR3 FNA, the combination of precise molecular marker expression analysis with molecular mutations evaluations could ameliorate significantly the accuracy of cancer diagnosis. However other prospective studies are needed to identify more accurate molecular markers. Finally, the knowledge of these molecular pathways has permitted the development of new targeted therapies for aggressive TC

Relationship of Demoralization With Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life: a Southern European Study of Italian and Portuguese Cancer Patients

Background: Demoralization syndrome is a significant condition that has not been greatly studied in Southern European countries. Aims: To extend the knowledge of demoralization in Southern Europe by examining its prevalence according to different methods of assessment, its relationship with anxiety and depression, and its impact on quality of life (QoL) among cancer patients. Methods: A convenience sample of 195 cancer outpatients from two oncology centers (102 from Lisbon, Portugal, and 93 from Ferrara, Italy) participated in an observational, cross-sectional study using the Diagnostic Criteria of Psychosomatic Research-Demoralization interview (DCPR/D) and psychometric tools (Demoralization scale-DS; Patient Health Questionnaire-9/PHQ-9; Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale-HADS; and European Quality of Life-5-EQ-5D). Results: A 25.1% prevalence (CI 95%, 0.19-0.31) of clinically relevant demoralization was reported on the DCPR/D interview. A total demoralization score cutoff score ≥ 25 maximized sensitivity (81.6%), and specificity (72.6%) in identifying DCPR/D demoralized patients. The DCPR/D and DS were associated with poorer levels of QoL. About half of the patients who were demoralized were not clinically depressed (PHQ-9). Self-reported suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9) was found in a minority of patients (8.2%), most of whom (77%) were cases of depression (PHQ-9), but one-quarter (23%) were not depressed, yet moderately/severely demoralized (DCPR/D and DS). Conclusions: This Southern European study confirms the importance of demoralization in cancer patients as a different condition with respect to depression and its relationship with poor QoL and suicidal ideation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Total knee replacements using rotating hinge implants in polio patients: clinical and functional outcomes

Little evidences are available in the literature concerning the outcomes of total knee replacement (TKR) in poliomyelitis patients with severe knee deformities or degeneration. Encouraging results have been reported concerning the use of constrained implants, i.e., rotating hinge knee prosthesis (RHK), compared to less constrained ones. The purpose of this paper is to report our experience with rotating hinge total knee replacement, using only RHK prosthesis, to determine functional results, complications, and survival of TKR in poliomyelitis patients. We performed a retrospective chart review of 14 patients with a history of knee osteoarthritis following poliomyelitis that underwent primary TKR, for a total of 15 surgical procedure (one bilateral case). Preoperative and postoperative clinical measurements have been conducted for all patients using the Knee Society Score (KSS). Hip-knee angle, recurvatum knee angle, and Insall-Salvati index were evaluated with full weight-bearing panoramic view X-ray preoperatively and postoperatively. The 2-year postoperative clinical KSS significantly improved from the preoperative scores. The average clinical KSS improved from 32,9 (range 3-48) preoperatively to 77,4 (range 60-88) postoperatively (P value < 0.005). The average functional KSS improved from 32,5 (range 10-60) preoperatively to 59,4 (range 30-95) postoperatively (P value < 0.005). TKR is a successful treatment in improving knee function and patient's quality of life. Using constrained implants, especially rotating hinge implants in polio patients with a quadriceps muscle weakness, could be a good alternative to maintain a physiological kinematics and reducing the revision rate due to knee instability

Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) Rescues Motor, Olfactory, Mitochondrial and Synaptic Impairment in PINK1(B9) Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Model of Parkinson's Disease

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) mutant for PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1B9) gene is a powerful tool to investigate physiopathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using PINK1B9 mutant Dm we sought to explore the effects of Mucuna pruriens methanolic extract (Mpe), a L-Dopa-containing herbal remedy of PD. The effects of Mpe on PINK1B9 mutants, supplied with standard diet to larvae and adults, were assayed on 3–6 (I), 10–15 (II) and 20–25 (III) days old flies. Mpe 0.1% significantly extended lifespan of PINK1B9 and fully rescued olfactory response to 1-hexanol and improved climbing behavior of PINK1B9 of all ages; in contrast, L-Dopa (0.01%, percentage at which it is present in Mpe 0.1%) ameliorated climbing of only PINK1B9 flies of age step II. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of antennal lobes and thoracic ganglia of PINK1B9 revealed that Mpe restored to wild type (WT) levels both T-bars and damaged mitochondria. Western blot analysis of whole brain showed that Mpe, but not L-Dopa on its own, restored bruchpilot (BRP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression to age-matched WT control levels. These results highlight multiple sites of action of Mpe, suggesting that its effects cannot only depend upon its L-Dopa content and support the clinical observation of Mpe as an effective medication with intrinsic ability of delaying the onset of chronic L-Dopa-induced long-term motor complications. Overall, this study strengthens the relevance of using PINK1B9 Dm as a translational model to study the properties of Mucuna pruriens for PD treatment