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Elseweidy MM, Ali AEM, Hassanin SM, Mahmoud YK. Empagliflozin ameliorates liver fibrosis in NASH rat model via targeting hepatic NF-κB/SOX9/OPN signaling and osteocalcin level. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:3449-3459. [PMID: 37962587 PMCID: PMC11074015 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02826-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may be associated with tissue fibrotic changes and can be treated via different therapeutic tools which may however either initiate weak or long-term side effects that minimize its use. Empagliflozin (EMPA) is an oral anti-diabetic drug which has characteristic effects during hepatic steatosis regarding lipid accumulation and insulin resistance. In this study, we aimed to investigate an additional mechanism through which EMPA can exert and potentiate its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in NASH rat model. Male Wistar albino rats fed on high fat diet (HFD) and 20% fructose in drinking water for 18 weeks and received EMPA (30 mg/kg/day, orally) starting from week 11. Body and liver weights, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, liver function tests, other biochemical and histological parameters were determined. HFD joined with fructose intake significantly increased body and liver weights, HOMA-IR value, hepatic inflammatory and fibrotic markers, liver transaminases, hepatic expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), sex determining region Y box 9 (SOX 9), and osteopontin (OPN) with significant decrease in hepatic osteocalcin (OCN). Intense hepatic lesions with severe microsteatosis and deposition of collagen fibers were clearly observed. Effectively, EMPA restored the normal liver functions, downregulated hepatic inflammatory cytokines, NF-κB, SOX 9, OPN, and increased OCN level. These results highlight another pathway illustrated the anti-fibrotic effects of EMPA against liver fibrosis probably through downregulation of NF-κB/SOX 9/OPN signaling along with upregulation of hepatic OCN which may potentiate the valuable anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of EMPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M Elseweidy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Abd El-Monem Ali
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Sara M Hassanin
- Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Yasmin K Mahmoud
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
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Kalantari E, Zolbanin NM, Ghasemnejad-Berenji M. Protective effects of empagliflozin on methotrexate induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:115953. [PMID: 38064971 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist, is commonly prescribed as a cytotoxic drug to treat several conditions such as leukemia and inflammation-related diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. However, its use in clinical practice has been limited due to its fatal side effects, especially hepatotoxicity. Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that has recently been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Empagliflozin on liver injury induced by MTX in rats. The rats were divided into five groups as control, MTX (20 mg/kg; i.p.), Empagliflozin (30 mg/kg/day; i.p.), MTX and Empagliflozin (10 and 30 mg/kg/day; i.p.). Histopathologic alterations were examined for assessment of the liver injury. Furthermore, the levels of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of anti-oxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase, as well as serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were evaluated. Our results revealed that treatment with Empagliflozin significantly improved histopathologic alterations, and elevated levels of AST and ALT induced by MTX administration. Additionally, altered activities of SOD, GPx, and catalase were significantly improved followed by Empagliflozin treatment. However, the higher dose of Empagliflozin was observed to have several benefits compared to the lower dose. Our data suggest that Empagliflozin might possess a protective role against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress in liver tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Kalantari
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Naime Majidi Zolbanin
- Experimental and Applied Pharmaceutical Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Morteza Ghasemnejad-Berenji
- Experimental and Applied Pharmaceutical Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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Niknejad A, Hosseini Y, Shamsnia HS, Kashani AS, Rostamian F, Momtaz S, Abdolghaffari AH. Sodium Glucose Transporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2Is)-TLRs Axis Modulates Diabetes. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023; 81:599-613. [PMID: 37658280 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01164-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide and is mainly associated with impaired insulin function. To date, various oral anti-diabetic drugs have been developed, of which, the sodium glucose transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) are of the most recent classes that have been introduced. They differ from other classes in terms of their novel mechanism of actions and unique beneficial effects rather than just lowering glucose levels. SGLT2Is can protect body against cardiovascular events and kidney diseases even in non-diabetic individuals. SGLT2Is participate in immune cell activation, oxidative stress reduction, and inflammation mediation, thereby, moderating diabetic complications. In addition, toll like receptors (TLRs) are the intermediators of the immune system and inflammatory process, thus it's believed to play crucial roles in diabetic complications, particularly the ones that are related to inflammatory reactions. SGLT2Is are also effective against diabetic complications via their anti-inflammatory and oxidative properties. Given the anti-inflammatory properties of TLRs and SGLT2Is, this review investigates how SGLT2Is can affect the TLR pathway, and whether this could be favorable toward diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Niknejad
- Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasamin Hosseini
- Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hedieh Sadat Shamsnia
- Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Ayeh Sabbagh Kashani
- Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rostamian
- Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeideh Momtaz
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran.
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, and Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Amir Hossein Abdolghaffari
- Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
- GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
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Ya J, Bayraktutan U. Vascular Ageing: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Treatment Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11538. [PMID: 37511296 PMCID: PMC10380571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ageing constitutes the biggest risk factor for poor health and adversely affects the integrity and function of all the cells, tissues, and organs in the human body. Vascular ageing, characterised by vascular stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, and early-stage atherosclerosis, may trigger or exacerbate the development of age-related vascular diseases, which each year contribute to more than 3.8 million deaths in Europe alone and necessitate a better understanding of the mechanisms involved. To this end, a large number of recent preclinical and clinical studies have focused on the exponential accumulation of senescent cells in the vascular system and paid particular attention to the specific roles of senescence-associated secretory phenotype, proteostasis dysfunction, age-mediated modulation of certain microRNA (miRNAs), and the contribution of other major vascular risk factors, notably diabetes, hypertension, or smoking, to vascular ageing in the elderly. The data generated paved the way for the development of various senotherapeutic interventions, ranging from the application of synthetic or natural senolytics and senomorphics to attempt to modify lifestyle, control diet, and restrict calorie intake. However, specific guidelines, considering the severity and characteristics of vascular ageing, need to be established before widespread use of these agents. This review briefly discusses the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vascular ageing and summarises the efficacy of widely studied senotherapeutics in the context of vascular ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Ya
- Academic Unit of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, Nottingham University, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Ulvi Bayraktutan
- Academic Unit of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, Nottingham University, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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Neto J, Jantsch J, Rodrigues F, Squizani S, Eller S, Oliveira TF, Silveira AK, Moreira JCF, Giovenardi M, Porawski M, Guedes RP. Impact of cafeteria diet and n3 supplementation on the intestinal microbiota, fatty acids levels, neuroinflammatory markers and social memory in male rats. Physiol Behav 2023; 260:114068. [PMID: 36567032 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of omega-3 (n3) supplementation on intestinal microbiota, fatty acids profile, neuroinflammation, and social memory of cafeteria diet (CAF)-fed rats. METHODS Male Wistar rats were fed with CAF for 20 weeks. Omega-3 (500 mg/kg/day) was supplemented between the 16th and 20th week. Colon morphology, intestinal microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma, fatty acids profile, TLR-4 and claudin-5 expressions in the brain, and social memory were investigated. RESULTS CAF reduced colon length, crypts' depth, and microbiota diversity, while n3 increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. CAF increased SCFA plasma levels, but n3 reduced butyrate and isobutyrate in obese rats. LPS was increased in CAF-fed rats, and n3 decreased its levels. In the cerebral cortex, n3 increased caprylic, palmitic, stearic, tricosanoic, lignoceric, myristoleic, and linoleic acids. CAF increased palmitic acid and TLR-4 expression in the cerebral cortex while decreasing claudin-5 in the hippocampus. In the social memory test, CAF-fed animals showed greater social interaction with no effect of n3. CONCLUSIONS The lack of n3 effect in some of the evaluated parameters may be due to the severity of the obesity caused by CAF. However, n3 reduced LPS levels, suggesting its ability to reverse endotoxemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Neto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Jantsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Samia Squizani
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Sarah Eller
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Tiago Franco Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - José Cláudio Fonseca Moreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil
| | - Marcia Giovenardi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene Porawski
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Hepatologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Renata Padilha Guedes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Sun Z, Zhang M, Wei Y, Li M, Wu X, Xin M. A simple but novel glycymicelle ophthalmic solution based on two approved drugs empagliflozin and glycyrrhizin: in vitro/ in vivo experimental evaluation for the treatment of corneal alkali burns. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2531-2542. [PMID: 36779571 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01957d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
A simple but novel ophthalmic solution based on two approved drugs was developed to reposition existing drugs to treat new diseases. This nanoformulation was developed using the phytochemical drug glycyrrhizin as an amphiphilic nanocarrier to micellarly solubilize empagliflozin (EMP), an oral drug that is widely used to control high blood glucose but has poor water solubility. This novel nanoformulation, which we designated the EMP@glycymicelle ophthalmic solution, was obtained using a simple preparation process. The resulting solution was a clear solution with an EMP encapsulation efficiency of 97.91 ± 0.50%, a small glycymicelle size of 6.659 ± 0.196 nm, and a narrow polydispersity index of 0.226 ± 0.059. The optimized formulation demonstrated that EMP was soluble in water up to 18 mg ml-1 because of its encapsulation within glycymicelles. The EMP@glycymicelle ophthalmic solution exhibited excellent characteristics, including good storage stability, fast in vitro release profiles, improved in vitro antioxidant activity, and no ocular irritation. Ocular permeation evaluation showed that the EMP@glycymicelle ophthalmic solution had strong ocular permeation of EMP, and it reached the posterior segment of mouse eyes after ocular topical administration. The treatment efficacy evaluation showed that the EMP@glycymicelle ophthalmic solution had a significant effect against corneal alkali burns in mice, prompting corneal wound healing, recovering corneal sensitivity, reducing corneal haze, and relieving corneal NV invasion. The mechanism of inhibiting HMGB1 signaling was involved in this strong treatment effect. These results indicated that the EMP@glycymicelle ophthalmic solution provided a new concept of drug repurposing and a promising ocular system for the nano-delivery of EMP with significantly improved in vivo profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongjian Sun
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
| | - Mingxin Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
| | - Yanjun Wei
- Viwit Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Zaozhuang, Shandong, China
| | - Mengshuang Li
- Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Xianggen Wu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
| | - Meng Xin
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
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Mone P, Varzideh F, Jankauskas SS, Pansini A, Lombardi A, Frullone S, Santulli G. SGLT2 Inhibition via Empagliflozin Improves Endothelial Function and Reduces Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress: Insights From Frail Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients. Hypertension 2022; 79:1633-1643. [PMID: 35703100 PMCID: PMC9642044 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.19586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frailty is a multidimensional condition often diagnosed in older adults with hypertension and diabetes, and both these conditions are associated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. We investigated the functional role of the SGLT2 (sodium glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitor empagliflozin in frail diabetic and hypertensive older adults. METHODS We studied the effects of empagliflozin in consecutive hypertensive and diabetic older patients with frailty presenting at the ASL (local health unit of the Italian Ministry of Health) of Avellino, Italy, from March 2021 to January 2022. Moreover, we performed in vitro experiments in human endothelial cells to measure cell viability, permeability, mitochondrial Ca2+, and oxidative stress. RESULTS We evaluated 407 patients; 325 frail elders with diabetes successfully completed the study. We propensity-score matched 75 patients treated with empagliflozin and 75 with no empagliflozin. We observed a correlation between glycemia and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score and between glycemia and 5-meter gait speed (5mGS). At 3-month follow-up, we detected a significant improvement in the MoCA score and in the 5mGS in patients receiving empagliflozin compared with non-treated subjects. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that empagliflozin significantly reduces mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and reactive oxygen species production triggered by high glucose in human endothelial cells, attenuates cellular permeability, and improves cell viability in response to oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data indicate that empagliflozin reduces frailty in diabetic and hypertensive patients, most likely by decreasing the mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Mone
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY,Asl Avellino,Corresponding Author: Prof. Gaetano Santulli, MD, PhD () or Dr. Pasquale Mone, MD () Address: 1300 Morris PARK AVENUE, 10461 New York, NY
| | - Fahimeh Varzideh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY.,Corresponding Author: Prof. Gaetano Santulli, MD, PhD () or Dr. Pasquale Mone, MD () Address: 1300 Morris PARK AVENUE, 10461 New York, NY
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