Artificial Intelligence for Mobile Health Data Analysis and Processing

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The impact of specialty settings on the perceived quality of medical ultrasound video

Health care professionals are increasingly viewing medical images and videos in a variety of environments. The perception of medical visual information across all specialties, career stages, and practice settings are critical to patient care and patient safety. Visual signal distortions, such as various types of noise and artifacts arising in medical imaging, affect the perceptual quality of visual content and potentially impact diagnoses. To optimize clinical practice, it is of fundamental importance to understand the way medical experts perceive visual quality. Psychophysical studies have been undertaken to evaluate the impact of visual distortions on the perceived quality of medical images and videos. However, very little research has been conducted on how speciality settings affect the perception of visual quality. In this paper, we investigate whether and how radiologists and sonographers differently perceive the quality of compressed ultrasound videos, via a dedicated subjective experiment. The findings can be used to develop useful solutions for improved visual experience and better image-based diagnoses

Effect of extracellular matrix components on the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers in cultured human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a step-wise process leading to the phenotypic switch of epithelial to mesenchymal cells, providing these cells with a metastatic phenotype. During EMT epithelial cells loose adhesion by down regulation of E-cadherin and express N-cadherin, display cytoskeleton reorganization by expressing vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), acquire motile properties and become invasive by secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Cancer cell phenotype is influenced by the tumor microenvironment in relation to tumor progression, as well as to cell proliferation and invasion. The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the microenvironment is particularly relevant in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) since this carcinoma is characterized by an intense desmoplastic reaction, representing the environment where the complex interplay between tumor cells, stromal fibroblasts and ECM components occurs. We aimed at analyzing in vitro the effect of the crosstalk between PDAC cells and their microenvironment by characterizing PDAC cell phenotype in cells cultured on different ECM proteins used as a substrate, in order to better understand the relationship between cancer cell behaviour and the proteins occurring in the desmoplastic tissue. We analyzed by immunofluorescence the expression of the main EMT markers such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, αSMA, vimentin and collagen type I (COL-I) in PDAC cells cultured on laminin, fibronectin, COL-I and without coating (NC). Moreover, we investigated cell proliferation and MMPs activity in cell culture supernatants by SDS-zymography. Cell morphology was similar in PDAC cells cultured on laminin, fibronectin, COL-I, and in NC, as well as the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex, αSMA and COLI expression; by contrast, vimentin was undetectable in all the experimental conditions. N-cadherin was slightly detectable in cells cultured on fibronectin, COL-I, and laminin, and at lower extent in NC cells. Cell proliferation resulted similar in NC and in cells cultured on fibronectin, decreased on laminin and increased on COL-I. MMP-9 activity exhibited a similar trend, resulting similar on fibronectin, decreased on laminin and stimulated on COL-I. These preliminary results provide new insights in the characterization of the mutual effects elicited by the tumor-stroma interplay on the cancer cell, and will contribute to better understand the influence of the stroma on PDAC cancer cell phenotype, in order to develop new therapeutic strategies

The p50 NF-\u3baB subunit is a prognostic regulator of colorectal cancer-associated inflammation

In most tumors, tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) express an M2-skewed phenotype and are therefore associated with unfavorable prognosis. However, the impact of TAMs in colorectal cancer (CRC) development and outcome is still controversial. We first demonstrate, by parallel studies in colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and in genetically driven ApcMin mouse models, that p50 NF-\u3baB is essential for CRC development by restraining M1-dependent antitumor response. In absence of p50 mice developed fewer and smaller CRC lesions which express enhanced levels of M1/Th1 cytokines/chemokines including IL-12 and CXCL10, whose administration restrained CAC development in vivo. Moreover colons from p50-/- tumor bearers showed a reduced number of TAMs, as opposed to increased NK, NKT, CD8+ T cells and apoptotic cancer cells. Consistently, in CRC patients, high burden of p50+ TAMs was associated with decreased M1/Th1 inflammation and worse outcome indicating p50 as a new candidate for prognostic and target therapeutic intervention

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in pancreas adenocarcinoma cells: effect of 2D versus 3D arrangement

It was shown that three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures allow mimicking the functions of living tissues and provide pivotal information encoded in the tissue architecture [1]. Considered the primary role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in carcinoma progression [2], we aimed at investigating the effect of the 3D arrangement on the expression of some key markers of EMT in cultured human pancreas adenocarcinoma cells (PDAC). HPAC cells were cultured in both two-dimensional (2D) monolayers and in 3D spheroids, and were analyzed by morphological and molecular approaches. Immunofluorescence analysis for E-cadherin, β-catenin, actin, vimentin and collagen type I was performed on cells grown on 12 mm coverslips or on free-floating spheroids after 4% paraformaldehyde fixation. E-cadherin gene expression was assessed by real time PCR. Fluorescence and confocal microscopy analysis revealed that the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex was similarly expressed at the cell boundaries on the plasma membrane in 2D monolayers as well as in the 3D spheroids. Phalloidin-stained F-actin was mainly arranged into cortical actin filaments while vimentin was undetectable, suggesting an epithelial-like phenotype for HPAC cells in 2D and 3D arrangement. Interestingly, after 3D arrangement decreased E-cadherin mRNA levels and some cells expressing collagen type I were observed in spheroids. Our findings suggest that the 3D arrangement induced the expression of mesenchymal phenotype-related markers in HPAC cells, providing a model to better understand the biology of PDAC

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 12

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. materia

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material

Tumor budding as a potential histopathological biomarker in colorectal cancer: hype or hope?

none4Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in men and women worldwide is recognized as a complex multi-pathway disease, an observation sustained by the fact that histologically identical tumors may have different outcome, including various response to therapy. Therefore, particularly in early and intermediate stage (stages II and III, respectively) CRC, there is a compelling need for biomarkers helpful of selecting patients with aggressive disease that might benefit from adjuvant and targeted therapy. Histopathological examination shows that likely other solid tumors the development and progression of human CRC is not only determined by genetically abnormal cells, but also by intricate interactions between malignant cells and the surrounding microenvironment. This has led to reconsider the features of tumor microenvironment as potential predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Among the histopathological biomarkers, tumor budding (i.e., the presence of individual cells and small clusters of tumor cells at the tumor invasive front) has received much recent attention, particularly in the setting of CRC. Although its acceptance as a reportable factor has been held back by a lack of uniformity with respect to qualitative and quantitative aspects, tumor budding is now considered as an independent adverse prognostic factor in CRC that may allow for stratification of patients into risk categories more meaningful than those defined by tumor-node-metastasis staging alone, and also potentially guide treatment decisions, especially in T2-T3 N0 (stage II) CRCs.noneGrizzi F;Celesti G;Basso G;Laghi LGrizzi, F; Celesti, G; Basso, Giuseppe; Laghi, L

Prunus serotina in Italy. A challenging candidate for the national list of priority invasive alien species

In accordance with the European regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), the black cherry tree (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) has recently been indicated as one of the 96 species proposed for the development of the national list of priority invasive alien species in Italy. The species, native to North America, is recognised as one of the most harmful IAS in Europe, given its high spread potential and the associated ecological and economic impacts reported in its alien range. Although P. serotina is recognised as a pest within the EU, plants are still available on the market, confirming intentional introduction as a current potential pathway for this species arrival into new areas. Since a comprehensive overview of the main features characterizing the invasive potential of this species is still lacking, we aim to underpin the high priority status of P. serotina as a IAS of main concern in Italy by outlining the main biological features, pathways and impacts of the black cherry in its secondary range. Management measures to be potentially included in specific action plans are also summarised