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Garibaldi C, Ferrari M, Colandrea M, Cascio A, Ciocca M, Iannalfi A, D’Ippolito E, Pesente S, Grana C, Jereczek-Fossa B, Cremonesi M. 244. Target volume definition with MRI and 68 Ga-DOTATOC-PET/CT for patients with meningiomas. Phys Med 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2018.04.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Tecame A, Ferrari M, Violante B, Calafiore G, Papalia R, Adravanti P. Are contemporary femoral components sizing and design likely to affect functional results in TKA? A mathematical model of an implanted knee to predict knee forces. Musculoskelet Surg 2018; 102:289-297. [PMID: 29404964 DOI: 10.1007/s12306-018-0533-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study is aimed to investigate the effects of the choice of femoral and tibial components on several mechanical outputs that might be associated with total knee replacement surgery outcomes using a validated computational model: the Kansas knee simulator. METHODS Two models from the same range of implants were taken into account: Model 1, the femoral component fitted the femoral epiphysis, with physiological positioning of the articulating surface using a 10-mm-thick tibial component, and in Model 2, the femoral component was 4 mm smaller than in Model 1, and a 14-mm-thick tibial component was used with a similar tibial resection and the tibio-femoral joint line was 4 mm more proximal to compensate the increased posterior bone resection and maintain proper soft-tissue tension in flexion. Changes in reaction forces and contact pressures between the components, changes in extensor muscle forces and changes in patello-femoral joint kinematics during walking gait have been studied. RESULTS While the computational model predicted that most kinematic and kinetic outputs, including tibio-femoral and patello-femoral joint motions, contact forces, pressures and areas, were similar for Model 1 and Model 2, and a dramatic difference has been found in the extensor muscle forces necessary to flex and extend the knee. To reproduce the same knee motion with a knee reconstructed as in Model 2, a patient would need to generate approximately 40% greater extensor muscle force throughout the gait cycle in order to do so. CONCLUSION As a consequence of such a large increase in the extensor muscle force, the knee motions would probably be compromised and, subsequently, a patient with a knee reconstructed as in Model 2 would be less likely to be able to reproduce normal knee function and therefore more likely to report poor outcome.
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Ferrari M, Lindholm AK, König B. Fitness Consequences of Female Alternative Reproductive Tactics in House Mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Am Nat 2018; 193:106-124. [PMID: 30624110 DOI: 10.1086/700567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are defined as discrete differences in morphological, physiological, and/or behavioral traits associated with reproduction that occur within the same sex and population. House mice provide a rare example of ARTs in females, which can rear their young either solitarily or together with one or several other females in a communal nest. We assessed the fitness consequences of communal and solitary breeding in a wild population to understand how the two tactics can be evolutionarily stable. Females switched between the two tactics (with more than 50% of all females having two or more litters using both tactics), pointing toward communal and solitary breeding being two tactics within a single strategy and not two genetically determined strategies. Communal breeding resulted in reduced pup survival and negatively impacted female reproductive success. Older and likely heavier females more often reared their litters solitarily, indicating that females use a condition-dependent strategy. Solitary breeding seems the more successful tactic, and only younger and likely less competitive females might opt for communal nursing, even at the cost of increased pup mortality. This study emphasizes the importance of analyzing phenotypic plasticity and its role in cooperation in the context of female ARTs.
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Ardelt M, Ferrari M. MASTERY AS A MEDIATOR OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THREE-DIMENSIONAL WISDOM AND SUBJECTIVE HEALTH. Innov Aging 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Weststrate NM, Glück J, Ferrari M. INTERGENERATIONAL STORYTELLING AS A MEDIUM FOR THE SOCIAL TRANSMISSION OF LIVED WISDOM. Innov Aging 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.2173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Landonio G, Baiocchi C, Cattaneo D, Ferrari M, Gottardi O, Majno M, Ghislandi E. Retrospective Analysis of 156 Cases of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Evaluation of Prognostic Factors and Response to Different Treatments. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 80:468-72. [PMID: 7900238 DOI: 10.1177/030089169408000612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a “capricious” tumor. Many prognostic factors have been evaluated, treatment is still controversial, and results are not coincident. Methods We reviewed 156 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Survival from the time of diagnosis was the end point of the study. The influence on survival of age, sex, nephrectomy, disease-free interval, performance status, site and number of metastases was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done. Survival according to different therapies was also evaluated. Results In our study, no nephrectomy, a disease-free interval < 24 months, > 2 metastatic sites and a performance status > 2 proved to be risk factors. According to the number of risk factors, 3 groups of patients were identified (low, intermediate and high risk). We observed 3 kinds of responses to treatments: 1) in untreated patients (n = 48), median overall survival was 6 months, and the 24-month survival rate was 8%; 2) in patients treated with hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy (n = 73), median overall survival was 13 months, and the 24-month survival rate was 24%; 3) in patients treated with interferon and/or interleukin-2 (n = 35), median overall survival was 16 months and the 24-month survival rate was 34%. Conclusions Our results are only partially in accordance with those observed by other authors. Risk factors and treatment must be determined in more defined and selected studies.
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Mattu C, Brachi G, Menichetti L, Flori A, Armanetti P, Ranzato E, Martinotti S, Nizzero S, Ferrari M, Ciardelli G. Alternating block copolymer-based nanoparticles as tools to modulate the loading of multiple chemotherapeutics and imaging probes. Acta Biomater 2018; 80:341-351. [PMID: 30236799 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer therapy often relies on the combined action of different molecules to overcome drug resistance and enhance patient outcome. Combined strategies relying on molecules with different pharmacokinetics often fail due to the lack of concomitant tumor accumulation and, thus, to the loss of synergistic effect. Due to their ability to enhance treatment efficiency, improve drug pharmacokinetics, and reduce adverse effects, polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) have been widely investigated as co-delivery vehicles for cancer therapies. However, co-encapsulation of different drugs and probes in PNPs requires a flexible polymer platform and a tailored particle design, in which both the bulk and surface properties of the carriers are carefully controlled. In this work, we propose a core-shell PNP design based on a polyurethane (PUR) core and a phospholipid external surface. The modulation of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the PUR core enhanced the encapsulation of two chemotherapeutics with dramatically different water solubility (Doxorubicin hydrochloride, DOXO and Docetaxel, DCTXL) and of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for MRI imaging. The outer shell remained unchanged among the platforms, resulting in un-modified cellular uptake and in vivo biodistribution. We demonstrate that the choice of PUR core allowed a high entrapment efficiency of all drugs, superior or comparable to previously reported results, and that higher core hydrophilicity enhances the loading efficiency of the hydrophilic DOXO and the MRI contrast effect. Moreover, we show that changing the PUR core did not alter the surface properties of the carriers, since all particles showed a similar behavior in terms of cell internalization and in vivo biodistribution. We also show that PUR PNPs have high passive tumor accumulation and that they can efficient co-deliver the two drugs to the tumor, reaching an 11-fold higher DOXO/DCTXL ratio in tumor as compared to free drugs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Exploiting the synergistic action of multiple chemotherapeutics is a promising strategy to improve the outcome of cancer patients, as different agents can simultaneously engage different features of tumor cells and/or their microenvironment. Unfortunately, the choice is limited to drugs with similar pharmacokinetics that can concomitantly accumulate in tumors. To expand the spectrum of agents that can be delivered in combination, we propose a multi-compartmental core-shell nanoparticles approach, in which the core is made of biomaterials with high affinity for drugs of different physical properties. We successfully co-encapsulated Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Docetaxel, and contrast agents and achieved a significantly higher concomitant accumulation in tumor versus free drugs, demonstrating that nanoparticles can improve synergistic cancer chemotherapy.
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Ziemys A, Yokoi K, Kai M, Liu YT, Kojic M, Simic V, Milosevic M, Holder A, Ferrari M. Progression-dependent transport heterogeneity of breast cancer liver metastases as a factor in therapeutic resistance. J Control Release 2018; 291:99-105. [PMID: 30332610 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic disease is a major cause of mortality in cancer patients. While many drug delivery strategies for anticancer therapeutics have been developed in preclinical studies of primary tumors, the drug delivery properties of metastatic tumors have not been sufficiently investigated. Therapeutic efficacy hinges on efficient drug permeation into the tumor microenvironment, which is known to be heterogeneous thus potentially making drug permeation heterogeneous, also. In this study, we have identified that 4 T1 liver metastases, treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, have unfavorable and heterogeneous transport of doxorubicin. Our drug extravasation results differ greatly from analogous studies with 4 T1 tumors growing in the primary site. A probabilistic tumor population model was developed to estimate drug permeation efficiency and drug kinetics of liver metastases by integrating the transport and structural properties of tumors and delivered drugs. The results demonstrate significant heterogeneity in metastases with regard to transport properties of doxorubicin within the same animal model, and even within the same organ. These results also suggest that the degree of heterogeneity depends on the stage of tumor progression and that differences in transport properties can define transport-based tumor phenotypes. These findings may have valuable clinical implications by illustrating that therapeutic agents can permeate and eliminate metastases of "less resistant" transport phenotypes, while sparing tumors with more "resistant" transport properties. We anticipate that these results could challenge the current paradigm of drug delivery into metastases, highlight potential caveats for therapies that may alter tumor perfusion, and deepen our understanding of the emergence of drug transport-based therapeutic resistance.
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De Angelis S, Ferrari M, De Sanctis MC, Biondi D, Boccaccini A, Morbidini A, Formisano M, Ammannito E, Di Iorio T. Design, development, and testing of an environmental P-T cell for infrared spectroscopy measurements. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:103107. [PMID: 30399656 DOI: 10.1063/1.5047038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Water absorption bands due to superficially adsorbed molecules often dominate the near-infrared spectra of particulate minerals and rocks, when measured in the laboratory in the reflectance mode. In order to remove this, the spectral effect is thus necessary to acquire spectra of samples in vacuum and at higher temperatures. With the aim to accomplish this task, we developed an environmental cell to perform infrared spectroscopic measurements at controlled pressure-temperature conditions. Currently the cell allows one to measure reflectance spectra in the temperature range from room values up to 300 °C (573 K), in the pressure range of 103-10-6 mbar. The acquisition of spectra continuously in two distinct phases, namely, during a preliminary pumping stage (at room T) and subsequently during a heating stage (in vacuum), permits to highlight and characterize separately the effect of pressure and temperature on infrared spectra.
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Milosevic M, Simic V, Milicevic B, Koay E, Ferrari M, Ziemys A, Kojic M. Correction function for accuracy improvement of the Composite Smeared Finite Element for diffusive transport in biological tissue systems. COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING 2018; 338:97-116. [PMID: 30555187 PMCID: PMC6292687 DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Modeling of drug transport within capillaries and tissue remains a challenge, especially in tumors and cancers where the capillary network exhibits extremely irregular geometry. Recently introduced Composite Smeared Finite Element (CSFE) provides a new methodology of modeling complex convective and diffusive transport in the capillary-tissue system. The basic idea in the formulation of CSFE is in dividing the FE into capillary and tissue domain, coupled by 1D connectivity elements at each node. Mass transport in capillaries is smeared into continuous fields of pressure and concentration by introducing the corresponding Darcy and diffusion tensors. Despite theoretically correct foundation, there are still differences in the overall mass transport to (and from) tissue when comparing smeared model and a true 3D model. The differences arise from the fact that the smeared model cannot take into account the detailed non-uniform pressure and concentration distribution in the vicinity of capillaries. We introduced a field of correction function for diffusivity through the capillary walls of smeared models, in order to have the same mass accumulation in tissue as in case of true 3D models. The parameters of the numerically determined correction function are: ratio of thickness and diameter of capillary wall, ratio of diffusion coefficient in capillary wall and surrounding tissue; and volume fraction of capillaries within tissue domain. Partitioning at the capillary wall - blood interface can also be included. It was shown that the correction function is applicable to complex configurations of capillary networks, providing improved accuracy of our robust smeared models in computer simulations of real transport problems, such as in tumors or human organs.
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Hadden JP, Bharadwaj V, Sotillo B, Rampini S, Osellame R, Witmer JD, Jayakumar H, Fernandez TT, Chiappini A, Armellini C, Ferrari M, Ramponi R, Barclay PE, Eaton SM. Integrated waveguides and deterministically positioned nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond created by femtosecond laser writing. OPTICS LETTERS 2018; 43:3586-3589. [PMID: 30067630 DOI: 10.1364/ol.43.003586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Diamond's nitrogen vacancy (NV) center is an optically active defect with long spin coherence times, showing great potential for both efficient nanoscale magnetometry and quantum information processing schemes. Recently, both the formation of buried 3D optical waveguides and high-quality single NVs in diamond were demonstrated using the versatile femtosecond laser-writing technique. However, until now, combining these technologies has been an outstanding challenge. In this Letter, we fabricate laser-written photonic waveguides in quantum grade diamond which are aligned to within micron resolution to single laser-written NVs, enabling an integrated platform providing deterministically positioned waveguide-coupled NVs. This fabrication technology opens the way toward on-chip optical routing of single photons between NVs and optically integrated spin-based sensing.
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Peretto G, Di Resta C, Perversi J, Forleo C, Maggi L, Previtali S, Politano L, Manzi RC, D'Amico A, Limongelli G, Ambrosi A, Ferrari M, Della Bella P, Sala S, Benedetti S. P3170Innovative approach for risk stratification of LMNA-related cardiomyopathy: results from an integrated cardiological and neurological 10-year follow-up multicentre study. Eur Heart J 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy563.p3170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Pietrabissa A, Ciaramella A, Carmellini M, Massimetti G, Giulianotti P, Ferrari M, Corradi I, Mosca F. Effect of kidney transplantation on quality of life measures. Transpl Int 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/tri.1992.5.s1.708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Beaudreuil J, Ferrari M, Lellouche H, Roulot E, Yelnik A, Bardin T, Orcel P, Richette P. Iterative percutaneous needle aponeurotomy for Dupuytren's disease: Functional results at 5-year follow-up. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2018.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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90
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Sampietro M, Camerino G, Romano M, Cappellini MD, Fiorelli G, Brambati B, Guerneri S, Ferrari M, Travi M, Krachmalnicoff A, Mannucci PM. Combined Use of DNA Probes in First-Trimester Prenatal Diagnosis of Hemophilia A. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryFirst-trimester prenatal diagnoses of hemophilia A were heretofore obtained by using either intragenic factor VIII markers or linked cxtragcnic polymorphic markers. Postulating that the combined use of all the available intragenic and extragenic markers can render such diagnoses more frequently feasible and more reliable, we carried out ten first-trimester prenatal diagnoses in male fetuses at risk for hemophilia A by DNA analysis of chorionic villus employing in combination the intragenic Bcl I polymorphism and the St 14 (DXS 52) or DX 13 (DXS 15) extragenic probes. A diagnosis of hemophilia was obtained in three fetuses, with a diagnosis of normal fetus obtained in the remaining seven. Seven diagnoses are confirmed by factor VIII assays carried out at the time of abortion, in the mid-Trimester or at birth. A factor VIII probe recognizing Bcl I polymorphism was useful in 4 of 6 diagnoses; St 14, in 5 of 6; and DX 13 in 3 of 5. In two cases, St 14 was the only useful probe for diagnosis. Even though no recombination between extragenic probes and factor VIII gene was detected in this study, when only extragenic markers were informative we advised diagnostic confirmation on fetal plasma obtained by fetoscopy. Hence, first-trimester prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A is feasible for the great majority of fetuses at risk through combined use of all the available intragenic and extragenic probes, providing key family members are available.
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Ferrari M, Flora N, Anderson KK, Haughton A, Tuck A, Archie S, Kidd S, McKenzie K. Gender differences in pathways to care for early psychosis. Early Interv Psychiatry 2018; 12:355-361. [PMID: 27017924 DOI: 10.1111/eip.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2015] [Revised: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Gender is a critical demographic determinant in first-episode psychosis research. We used data from the ACE Pathways to Care Project, which examined pathways to care in African-origin, Caribbean-origin and European-origin participants, to investigate the role of gender in pathways to early intervention programmes. METHOD A qualitative approach was used to examine gender differences in the routes to care. We conducted four focus groups and four individual in-depth interviews with 25 service users of early intervention services from African-origin, Caribbean-origin and European-origin populations. RESULTS Gender stereotypes negatively influence the first service contact for women, and the early phase of the help seeking process for men. Women reported trying to seek care. However, family members and service providers often questioned their calls for help. Men described having difficulties in talking about their symptoms, as the act of seeking help was perceived as a sign of weakness by peers. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study suggest that gender stereotypes shape the journey to specialized care in different ways for men and women. Awareness of the impact that gender stereotypes have when a young person is seeking care for psychosis could help to promote a shift in attitudes among health-care providers and the provision of more compassionate and patient-centred care during this critical time.
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Kojic M, Milosevic M, Simic V, Koay EJ, Kojic N, Ziemys A, Ferrari M. Multiscale smeared finite element model for mass transport in biological tissue: From blood vessels to cells and cellular organelles. Comput Biol Med 2018; 99:7-23. [PMID: 29807251 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2018.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
One of the basic and vital processes in living organisms is mass exchange, which occurs on several levels: it goes from blood vessels to cells and organelles within cells. On that path, molecules, as oxygen, metabolic products, drugs, etc. Traverse different macro and micro environments - blood, extracellular/intracellular space, and interior of organelles; and also biological barriers such as walls of blood vessels and membranes of cells and organelles. Many aspects of this mass transport remain unknown, particularly the biophysical mechanisms governing drug delivery. The main research approach relies on laboratory and clinical investigations. In parallel, considerable efforts have been directed to develop computational tools for additional insight into the intricate process of mass exchange and transport. Along these lines, we have recently formulated a composite smeared finite element (CSFE) which is composed of the smeared continuum pressure and concentration fields of the capillary and lymphatic system, and of these fields within tissue. The element offers an elegant and simple procedure which opens up new lines of inquiry and can be applied to large systems such as organs and tumors models. Here, we extend this concept to a multiscale scheme which concurrently couples domains that span from large blood vessels, capillaries and lymph, to cell cytosol and further to organelles of nanometer size. These spatial physical domains are coupled by the appropriate connectivity elements representing biological barriers. The composite finite element has "degrees of freedom" which include pressures and concentrations of all compartments of the vessels-tissue assemblage. The overall model uses the standard, measurable material properties of the continuum biological environments and biological barriers. It can be considered as a framework into which we can incorporate various additional effects (such as electrical or biochemical) for transport through membranes or within cells. This concept and the developed FE software within our package PAK offers a computational tool that can be applied to whole-organ systems, while also including specific domains such as tumors. The solved examples demonstrate the accuracy of this model and its applicability to large biological systems.
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Baiocchi C, Landonio G, Balzarini G, Cacioppo C, Calgaro M, Ferrari M, Gottardi O, Majno M, Scanzi F, Ghislandi E. Possible Correlation between Some Biologic Effects and the Clinical Course in Patiens Treated with Continuous Infusion of Interleukin-2 plus Alpha-2 Interferon for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 80:348-52. [PMID: 7839464 DOI: 10.1177/030089169408000507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Interleukin-2 therapy is known to cause many biologic effects, which are enhanced by the administration of interferon prior to or immediately after interleukin-2 infusion. Some of these effects could be related to the clinical response. Methods Sixteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with continuous infusion of interleukin-2 plus alpha-2 interferon. Differential leukocyte count and lymphocyte subset evaluation were performed every 3 days during interleukin-2 treatment. At each cycle, the presence of the following antibodies was tested: antithyroid, antinuclear, antiplatelet and antierythrocyte. Results Fifteen patients were evaluable for response. No complete response was observed. Five patients obtained partial response (33%) and 3 stable disease (20%): 2 of them underwent surgical resection of metastases and obtained complete response. Some of our patients showed a significant increase in eosinophils, CD25+ lymphocytes and antithyroid antibodies. The association of these parameters, calculated with a “score” system, was also related to a better clinical response. Conclusions Eosinophils, CD25+ lymphocytes and antithyroid antibodies could have a predictive value for the efficacy of interleukin-2 and alpha-2 interferon therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
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Valbonesi M, Valente U, Pellicci R, Piri C, Ferrari M, Frisoni R, Zia S, Quaratino S, Fella M. Thrombotic Microangiopathy of the Miscellaneous Secondary Type Responding to Plasma Exchange in a Liver Transplant Recipient. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139888801100214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A thrombotic microangiopathy syndrome, clinically and pathologically similar to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has been reported in recipients of tissue transplants, including renal and bone marrow allografts. The diagnosis is made only after other causes of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia have been excluded. In this case report we present the outcome of the combination of plasma exchange, dipyridamole and aspirin in the management of a TTP-like syndrome that complicated the post-operative course of liver transplantation.
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Valbonesi M, Ferrari M, Zia S, Fella M, Malfanti L, Lamparelli E. Intraoperative Blood Salvage: A new Trend in Blood Transfusion Medicine. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139889001300102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Garibaldi C, Ferrari M, Colandrea M, Cascio A, Ciocca M, Iannalfi A, D'Ippolito E, Pesente S, Grana C, Cremonesi M. EP-2110: Target volume definition with MRI and 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET/CT for patients with meningiomas. Radiother Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(18)32419-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Camposilvan E, Leone R, Gremillard L, Sorrentino R, Zarone F, Ferrari M, Chevalier J. Aging resistance, mechanical properties and translucency of different yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics for monolithic dental crown applications. Dent Mater 2018; 34:879-890. [PMID: 29598882 DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The dental market moves towards high-translucency monolithic zirconia dental crowns, which are usually placed either with - or without - a thin glaze layer. The microstructural features and the mechanical performances of these materials are still controversial, as well as their susceptibility to aging. This paper aims at studying these aspects in the current generation of zirconia dental crowns showing different degrees of translucency. METHODS Four different commercial zirconia materials were investigated, including one standard 'full-strength' 3Y-TZP and three grades with improved translucency. The microstructural features (phase composition and assemblage, grain size) were carefully studied, as well as mechanical properties (biaxial bending strength and indentation toughness), translucency and aging behavior (in autoclave at 134°C). Aging was conducted on crowns with and without glaze to better represent clinical uses. RESULTS Important differences are found in terms of microstructures among the materials in terms of cubic phase content and yttria in the tetragonal phase, leading to different optical, mechanical and aging resistance properties. We show that higher cubic phase content leads to better translucency and stability in water steam, but at the expense of strength and toughness. A compromise is always inevitable between translucency and aging resistance on one side and mechanical properties on the other side. SIGNIFICANCE
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Ferrari M, Zia S, Valbonesi M, Henriquet F, Venere G, Spagnolo S, Grasso M, Panzani I. A new technique for hemodilution, preparation of autologous platelet-rich plasma and intraoperative blood salvage in cardiac surgery. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139888701000111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a new system for the production of autologous platelet-rich plasma and red blood cell concentrates to be used in autologous transfusion support of cardiac surgery patients. In 15 operations no homologous blood products were required. Costs were diminished since with the same harness it was possible to carry out the intraoperative blood salvage and concentrate the erythrocytes contained in the oxygenator and its lines. Indirect costs were also reduced since no infective complication was observed due to homologous blood products.
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Valbonesi M, Bigi L, Ferrari M, Florio G. Cascade Filtration for Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139889101401201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Ferrari M, Zanette E, Sideri G, Giannini I, Fieschi C, Carpi A. Effects of Carotid Compression, as Assessed by near Infrared Spectroscopy, upon Cerebral Blood Volume and Haemoglobin Oxygen Saturation. J R Soc Med 2018; 80:83-7. [PMID: 3560151 PMCID: PMC1290676 DOI: 10.1177/014107688708000208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Near infrared spectroscopy, a recently developed optoelectronic technique, has been studied as a possible method of monitoring the adequacy of cerebral perfusion in 22 patients who were candidates for carotid endarterectomy. Using this technique, changes in haemoglobin volume, haemoglobin oxygen saturation and redox level of cytochrome-coxidase were recorded from the frontoparietal region during routine carotid compression tests performed under continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring. A highly significant association was found between EEG slowing, indicating impaired cerebral function, and a fall in haemoglobin volume and oxygen saturation, indicating a reduced blood and oxygen supply to the brain (Fisher exact test, P < 10−5). In a few tests haemoglobin volume and oxygen saturation were reduced without changes in the EEG recording. This study raises new issues concerning the compensatory mechanisms taking place during carotid occlusion and suggests that near infrared spectroscopy might be useful in monitoring the blood and oxygen supply to the brain during carotid endarterectomy.
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