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Cimoli G, Bagnasco L, Pescarolo MP, Avignolo C, Melchiori A, Pasa S, Biasotti B, Taningher M, Parodi S. Signaling Proteins as Innovative Targets for Antineoplastic Therapy: Our Experience with the Signaling Protein C-myc. Tumori 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/030089160108700636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guido Cimoli
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Bagnasco
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Pescarolo
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Carlo Avignolo
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonella Melchiori
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Pasa
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara Biasotti
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Taningher
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvio Parodi
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa; National Cancer Research Institute of Genoa, Italy
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Sterzi S, Cesario A, Cusumano G, Corbo G, Lococo F, Biasotti B, Lapenna LM, Magrone G, Dall'armi V, Meacci E, Porziella V, Bonassi S, Margaritora S, Granone P. How Best to Assess the Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors After Surgery for NSCLC? Comparison Between Clinical Predictors and Questionnaire Scores. Clin Lung Cancer 2013; 14:78-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2012.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2012] [Revised: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Ponassi R, Biasotti B, Tomati V, Bruno S, Poggi A, Malacarne D, Cimoli G, Salis A, Pozzi S, Miglino M, Damonte G, Cozzini P, Spyrakis F, Campanini B, Bagnasco L, Castagnino N, Tortolina L, Mumot A, Frassoni F, Daga A, Cilli M, Piccardi F, Monfardini I, Perugini M, Zoppoli G, D’Arrigo C, Pesenti R, Parodi S. Erratum to Ponassi R, et al. Cell Cycle Volume 7, Issue 20; pp. 3211-24. Cell Cycle 2012. [PMCID: PMC3478321 DOI: 10.4161/cc.22288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Ponassi
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara Biasotti
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Bruno
- Department of Experimental Medicine; Section of Human Anatomy; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Poggi
- Laboratory of Immunology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Malacarne
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Guido Cimoli
- Tecan Italia S.r.l.; Cernusco Sul Naviglio (MI); Italy
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Department of Experimental Medicine; Biochemistry section c/o Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research; Genoa, Italy
| | - Sarah Pozzi
- Department of Hemato-Oncology; S. Martino Hospital; Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Damonte
- Department of Experimental Medicine; Biochemistry section c/o Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research; Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Cozzini
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Parma; Parma, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Campanini
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Parma; Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Bagnasco
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Castagnino
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tortolina
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Mumot
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Daga
- Laboratory of Genes Transfer; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Michele Cilli
- Animal Facility; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Miriam Perugini
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Pesenti
- Department of Applied Mathematics; Ca’ Foscari University; Venice, Italy
| | - Silvio Parodi
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
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Ceppi M, Biasotti B, Fenech M, Bonassi S. Human population studies with the exfoliated buccal micronucleus assay: Statistical and epidemiological issues. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research 2010; 705:11-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2009.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2009] [Revised: 11/12/2009] [Accepted: 11/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Bonassi S, Biasotti B, Kirsch-Volders M, Knasmueller S, Zeiger E, Burgaz S, Bolognesi C, Holland N, Thomas P, Fenech M. State of the art survey of the buccal micronucleus assay--a first stage in the HUMNXL project initiative. Mutagenesis 2009; 24:295-302. [DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gep019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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Ponassi R, Biasotti B, Tomati V, Bruno S, Poggi A, Malacarne D, Cimoli G, Salis A, Pozzi S, Miglino M, Damonte G, Cozzini P, Spyrakis F, Spyraki F, Campanini B, Bagnasco L, Castagnino N, Tortolina L, Mumot A, Frassoni F, Daga A, Cilli M, Piccardi F, Monfardini I, Perugini M, Zoppoli G, D'Arrigo C, Pesenti R, Parodi S. A novel Bim-BH3-derived Bcl-XL inhibitor: biochemical characterization, in vitro, in vivo and ex-vivo anti-leukemic activity. Cell Cycle 2008; 7:3211-24. [PMID: 18843207 DOI: 10.4161/cc.7.20.6830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BH3-only members of the Bcl-2 family exert a fundamental role in apoptosis induction. This work focuses on the development of a novel peptidic molecule based on the BH3 domain of Bim. The antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-X(L), involved in cancer development/progression and tumour resistance to cytotoxic drugs, is a target for Bim. According to a rational study of the structural interactions between wt Bim-BH3 and Bcl-X(L), we replaced specific residues of Bim-BH3 with natural and non-natural aminoacids and added an internalizing sequence, thus increasing dramatically the inhibitory activity of our modified Bim-BH3 peptide, called 072RB. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry demonstrated cellular uptake and internalization of 072RB, followed by co-localization with mitochondria. Multiparameter flow cytometry demonstrated that the 072RB dose-dependent growth inhibition of leukaemia cell lines was due to apoptotic cell death. No effect was observed when cells were treated with the internalizing vector alone or a mutated control peptide (single aminoacid substitution L94A). Ex-vivo derived leukemic cells from acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients underwent cell death when cultured in vitro in the presence of 072RB. Conversely, no significant cytotoxic effect was observed when 072RB was administered to cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, either resting or PHA-stimulated, and bone marrow cells of normal donors. Xenografts of human AML cells in NOD/SCID mice displayed a significant delay of leukemic cell growth upon treatment with 072RB administered intravenously (15 mg/Kg three times, 48 hours after tumour cell injection). Altogether, these observations support the therapeutic potentials of this novel BH3 mimetic.
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Avignolo C, Bagnasco L, Biasotti B, Melchiori A, Tomati V, Bauer I, Salis A, Chiossone L, Mingari MC, Orecchia P, Carnemolla B, Neri D, Zardi L, Parodi S. Internalization via Antennapedia protein transduction domain of an scFv antibody toward c-Myc protein. FASEB J 2007; 22:1237-45. [PMID: 18048579 DOI: 10.1096/fj.07-8865com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We constructed a single-chain variable fragment miniantibody (G11-scFv) directed toward the transactivation domain of c-Myc, which is fused with the internalization domain Int of Antennapedia at its carboxyl terminus (a cargo-carrier construct). In ELISA experiments, an EC(50) for binding saturation was achieved at concentrations of G11-scFv-Int(-) of approximately 10(-8) M. Internalization of a fluoresceinated Fl-G11-scFv-Int(+) construct was observed in intact human cultured cells with confocal microscopy. After 5 h of incubation in medium containing 1 microM Fl-G11-scFv-Int(+) or Fl-G11-scFv-Int(-), fluorescence intensity was determined in individual cells, both for cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments: concentration levels of Fl-G11-scFv-Int(+), relative to the extracellular culture medium concentration, were 4-5 times higher in the cytoplasm, 7-8 times higher in the nucleus, and 10 times higher in the nucleoli. In the same experimental conditions, the Fl-G11-scFv-Int(-) construct was 3-4 times more concentrated outside of the cells than inside. Cell membranes kept their integrity after 5 h of incubation. The antiproliferative activity of our miniantibody was studied on HCT116 cells. Incubation with 4 microM G11-scFv-Int(+) for 4 days induced very significant statistical and biological growth inhibition, whereas Int alone was completely inactive. Miniantibodies capable of penetrating cell membranes dramatically broaden the potential for innovative therapeutic agents and attack of new targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Avignolo
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa, L. go R. Benzi 10, Genoa 16132, Italy
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Fardin P, Moretti S, Biasotti B, Ricciardi A, Bonassi S, Varesio L. Normalization of low-density microarray using external spike-in controls: analysis of macrophage cell lines expression profile. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:17. [PMID: 17229315 PMCID: PMC1797020 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2006] [Accepted: 01/17/2007] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The normalization of DNA microarrays allows comparison among samples by adjusting for individual hybridization intensities. The approaches most commonly used are global normalization methods that are based on the expression of all genes on the slide and on the modulation of a small proportion of genes. Alternative approaches must be developed for microarrays where the proportion of modulated genes and their distribution are unknown and they may be biased towards up- or down-modulated trends. Results The aim of the work is to study the use of spike-in controls to normalize low-density microarrays. Our test-array was designed to analyze gene modulation in response to hypoxia (a condition of low oxygen tension) in a macrophage cell line. RNA was extracted from controls and cells exposed to hypoxia, mixed with spike RNA, labeled and hybridized to our test-array. We used eight bacterial RNAs as source of spikes. The test-array contained the oligonucleotides specific for 178 mouse genes and those specific for the eight spikes. We assessed the quality of the spike signals, the reproducibility of the results and, in general, the nature of the variability. The small values of the coefficients of variation revealed high reproducibility of our platform either in replicated spots or in technical replicates. We demonstrated that the spike-in system was suitable for normalizing our platform and determining the threshold for discriminating the hypoxia modulated genes. We assessed the application of the spike-in normalization method to microarrays in which the distribution of the expression values was symmetric or asymmetric. We found that this system is accurate, reproducible and comparable to other normalization methods when the distribution of the expression values is symmetric. In contrast, we found that the use of the spike-in normalization method is superior and necessary when the distribution of the gene expression is asymmetric and biased towards up-regulated genes. Conclusion We demonstrate that spike-in controls based normalization is a reliable and reproducible method that has the major advantage to be applicable also to biased platform where the distribution of the up- and down-regulated genes is asymmetric as it may occur in diagnostic chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Fardin
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, G. Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefano Moretti
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara Biasotti
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Bonassi
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luigi Varesio
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, G. Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
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Bagnasco L, Tortolina L, Biasotti B, Castagnino N, Ponassi R, Tomati V, Nieddu E, Stier G, Malacarne D, Parodi S. Inhibition of a protein‐protein interaction between INI1 and c‐Myc by small peptidomimetic molecules inspired by Helix‐1 of c‐Myc: identification of a new target of potential antineoplastic interest. FASEB J 2007; 21:1256-63. [PMID: 17215484 DOI: 10.1096/fj.06-7082com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
c-Myc is a transcription modulator proto-oncogene. When overexpressed, it becomes an important contributor to the multi-hit process of malignant transformation. In two earlier papers in this journal (see refs. 19 , 20) we reported that retro-inverso peptidomimetic molecules inspired by the Helix-1 of c-Myc motif could be sequence-specific antiproliferative agents active in the low micromolar range. We also found that our peptides were not opening the four-alpha-helix Myc:Max bundle. Their antiproliferative activity in cancer cell lines needs the presence of side chains projecting outside of the bundle in the corresponding native H1 motif. This observation suggested interference with an external partner. In this study we investigated the INI1:Myc interaction. INI1 is a subunit of the SWI/SNF complex (component of the enhanceosome surrounding Myc:Max heterodimer). The INI1:Myc interaction was confirmed via pull down, ELISA, and fluorescence anisotropy assays. According to the length of INI1 fragments used, we calculated Kds ranging between 1.3x10(-6) and 4.8x10(-7) M. The three different techniques applied showed that the INI1:Myc interaction was also the target of our retro-inverso peptidomimetic molecules, which seem to bind specifically at INI1. A Myc binding, 21aa INI1 fragment (minimum interacting sequence), could inspire the synthesis of a new class of more selective c-Myc inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Bagnasco
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa, L. go R. Benzi 10, Genoa 16132, Italy.
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Nieddu E, Melchiori A, Pescarolo MP, Bagnasco L, Biasotti B, Licheri B, Malacarne D, Tortolina L, Castagnino N, Pasa S, Cimoli G, Avignolo C, Ponassi R, Balbi C, Patrone E, D'arrigo C, Barboro P, Vasile F, Orecchia P, Carnemolla B, Damonte G, Millo E, Palomba D, Fassina G, Mazzei M, Parodi S. Sequence specific peptidomimetic molecules inhibitors of a protein–protein interaction at the helix 1 level of c‐Myc. FASEB J 2005; 19:632-4. [PMID: 15671156 DOI: 10.1096/fj.04-2369fje] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Our work is focused in the broad area of strategies and efforts to inhibit protein-protein interactions. The possible strategies in this field are definitely much more varied than in the case of ATP-pocket inhibitors. In our previous work (10), we reported that a retro-inverso (RI) form of Helix1 (H1) of c-Myc, linked to an RI-internalization sequence arising from the third alpha-helix of Antennapedia (Int) was endowed with an antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity toward the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HCT-116. The activity apparently was dependent upon the presence of the Myc motif. In this work, by ala-scan mapping of the H1 portion of our molecules with D-aa, we found two amino acids necessary for antiproliferative activity: D-Lys in 4 and D-Arg in 5 (numbers refer to L-forms). In the natural hetero-dimer, these two side chains project to the outside of the four alpha-helix bundle. Moreover, we were able to obtain three peptides more active than the original lead. They strongly reduced cell proliferation and survival (RI-Int-VV-H1-E2A,S6A,F8A; RI-Int-VV-H1-S6A,F8A,R11A; RI-Int-VV-H1-S6A,F8A,Q13A): after 8 days at 10 muM total cell number was approximately 1% of the number of cells initially seeded. In these more potent molecules, the ablated side chains project to the inside in the corresponding natural four alpha-helix bundle. In the present work, we also investigated the behavior of our molecules at the biochemical level. Using both a circular dichroism (CD) and a fluorescence anisotropy approach, we noted that side chains projecting at the interior of the four alpha-helix bundle are needed for inducing the partial unfolding of Myc-H2, without an opening of the leucine zipper. Side chains projecting at the outside are not required for this biochemical effect. However, antiproliferative activity had the opposite requirements: side chains projecting at the outside of the bundle were essential, and, on the contrary, ablation of one side chain at a time projecting at the inside increased rather than decreased biological activity. We conclude that our active molecules probably interfere at the level of a protein-protein interaction between Myc-Max and a third protein of the transcription complex. Finally, CD and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, plus dynamic simulations, suggest a prevalent random coil conformation of the H1 portion of our molecules, at least in diluted solutions. The introduction of a kink (substitution with proline in positions 5 or 7) led to an important reduction of biological activity. We have also synthesized a longer peptido-mimetic molecule (RI-Int-H1-S6A,F8A-loop-H2) with the intent of obtaining a wider zone of interaction and a stronger interference at the level of the higher-order structure (enhanceosome). RI-Int-H1-S6A,F8A-loop-H2 was less active rather than more active in respect to RI-Int-VV-H1-S6A,F8A, apparently because it has a clear bent to form a beta-sheet (CD and NMR data).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Nieddu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, Genoa 16132, Italy.
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Aggazzotti G, Righi E, Fantuzzi G, Biasotti B, Ravera G, Kanitz S, Barbone F, Sansebastiano G, Battaglia MA, Leoni V, Fabiani L, Triassi M, Sciacca S. Chlorination by-products (CBPs) in drinking water and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Italy. J Water Health 2004; 2:233-247. [PMID: 15666965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Chlorination by-products (CBPs) in drinking water have been associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including small for gestational age at term (term-SGA) and preterm delivery. Epidemiological evidence is weakened by a generally inaccurate exposure assessment, often at an ecological level. A case control study with incident cases was performed in nine Italian towns between October 1999 and September 2000. A total of 1,194 subjects were enrolled: 343 preterm births (26th-37th not completed week of pregnancy), 239 term-SGA (from 37th completed week, and weight less than the lowest 10th percentile) and 612 controls. Exposure was assessed both by applying a questionnaire on mothers' personal habits during pregnancy and by water sampling directly at mothers' homes. Levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) were low (median: 1.10 microg l(-1)), while chlorite and chlorate concentrations were relatively high (median: 216.5 microg l(-1) for chlorites and 76.5 microg l(-1) for chlorates). Preterm birth showed no association with CBPs, while term-SGA, when chlorite levels > or =200 microg l(-1) combined with low and high levels of inhalation exposure are considered, suggested a dose-response relationship (adjusted-Odds Ratios (ORs): 1.52, 95%CI: 0.91-2.54 and 1.70, 95%CI: 0.97-3.0, respectively). A weak association with high exposure levels of either THMs (> or =30 microg l(-1)), or chlorite or chlorate (> or =200 microg l(-1)) was also found (adjusted-OR: 1.38, 95%CI: 0.92-2.07). Chlorine dioxide treatment is widespread in Italy; therefore, chlorite levels should be regularly and carefully monitored and their potential effects on pregnancy further evaluated and better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Aggazzotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Igienistiche, Microbiologiche e Biostatistiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287. 41100 Modena, Italy.
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Vignolo M, Brignone A, Mascagni A, Ravera G, Biasotti B, Aicardi G. Influence of age, sex, and growth variables on phalangeal quantitative ultrasound measures: a study in healthy children and adolescents. Calcif Tissue Int 2003; 72:681-8. [PMID: 14562996 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-002-2028-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal status by phalangeal quantitative osteosonography (DBM Sonic BP-IGEA) was examined in 1227 healthy children (641 boys and 586 girls) aged 3-16 years. Aims of the study were to evaluate some physical parameters pertaining to the ultrasound transmission crossing the phalanx in a school-age population and to relate these values to age, sex, and growth variables. A correlation was found between AD-SoS (amplitude-dependent speed of sound) and BTT (bone transmission time) and, age, height, weight, and pubertal stage, respectively. No correlation existed between FWA (fast wave amplitude) and SDy (dynamics of the ultrasound signal) and age, height, weight, pubertal stage, and BMI, respectively. AD-SoS increased in boys until 7-8 years of age. Thereafter a plateau was reached up to age 12-13 years, when a rapid increase was observed corresponding to pubertal growth rate acceleration. In girls, AD-SoS increased with age up to 10-11 years with a steeper increase at the time of puberty starting about 2 years earlier than in boys. BTT presented a similar trend. Mean AD-SoS values increased from Tanner pubertal stages 1 to 2 and from stage 3 to 4 in both sexes. Significantly higher mean AD-SoS values in stages 2, 3, and 4 were observed in girls as compared to boys. Mean BTT values increased significantly from stage 1 to 5 in girls and from 1 to 4 in boys. QUS technology showed the ability to assess bone changes in the growing bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vignolo
- I Clinica Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università di Genova, Istituto G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
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Biasotti B, Dallavalle S, Merlini L, Farina C, Gagliardi S, Parini C, Belfiore P. Synthesis of photoactivable inhibitors of osteoclast vacuolar ATPase. Bioorg Med Chem 2003; 11:2247-54. [PMID: 12713834 DOI: 10.1016/s0968-0896(03)00106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Amides of (2Z,4E)-5-[(5,6-dichloroindol-2-yl)]-2-methoxy-N-[3-[4-[3-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl)] piperazin-1-yl]propyl]-2,4-pentadienamide (1) and of 5-(5,6-dichloro-2-indolyl)-2-methoxy-2,4-pentadienoic acid (2) are strong inhibitors of the vacuolar ATPase located on the plasma membrane of osteoclasts. In order to understand which V-ATPase subunit is involved in the interaction with these novel inhibitors, analogues containing a photoactivable group and an iodine atom were designed. A series of alcohols or amines containing the photoactivable trifluoroaziridinophenyl or benzophenone moiety and an iodine atom were linked to the above acids via an ester or amide group. These compounds could be thereafter used as a radioactive photoprobe to label the protein. Whereas the compounds containing the photoactivable groups maintained good inhibitory activity, the introduction of the bulky iodine atom was generally detrimental, decreasing potency significantly. Better results were obtained by linking 3-(4-aminopiperidinomethyl)-3'-iodobenzophenone to 3-ethoxy-4-(2-(5,6-dichlorobenzimidazolyl))benzoic acid to give the corresponding amide 27, that inhibited vacuolar ATP-ase with a IC(50)=140 nM. The feasibility of introducing a radioactive 125I atom was ascertained by exchanging the iodine with a tributylstannyl group, that was again substituted by iodine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Biasotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari Agroalimentari, Università di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Ferrero S, Gotta G, Melica G, Biasotti B, Ravera G, Bentivoglio G. 162 HIV-1 infected pregnant women and vertical transmission. Results of a prospective study. Minerva Ginecol 2002; 54:373-85. [PMID: 12364883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aim of this paper is to describe the changes over a 16-year period of the characteristics and management of HIV infected pregnant women. METHODS Prospective study: analysis of data obtained from 162 women and 176 infants. Factors evaluated included: maternal socio-demographic level, immunological and virological parameters, antiretroviral therapy, mode of delivery, pregnancy outcome and babies follow-up. RESULTS The proportion of women with heterosexual acquisition of infection has increased significantly from 13.5% in 1985-1989 to 47.1% in 1996-2001 (p<0.0005, Fisher's exact test), while the proportion acquiring HIV through injecting drugs has declined. Mean CD4 cell count at delivery was 535 x 106/l (+/-522.3 x 106/l). In 1990, 50% of mothers received antiretroviral therapy, rising significantly to 87.5% in 2000. The elective cesarean section was introduced in 1998 and its rate has increased to 75% in 2000. The vertical transmission rate changed from 9.5% in 1985-1989 to 14.3% in 1996-2000 (this difference was not statistically significant, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS Social characteristics of the HIV-infected women have changed since the mid-1980s: in recent times women are having children at increasingly older ages and are more likely to know that they are HIV infected when they become pregnant. Antiretroviral therapy, elective caesarean delivery and avoidance of breastfeeding can reduce transmission of HIV, but the vertical transmission rate was unaffected by their use in our study and it remains high in comparison with rates reported from other studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ferrero
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Section of Biostatistics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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15
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Secco GB, Cataletti M, Bonfante P, Baldi E, Davini MD, Biasotti B, Ravera G, Ferraris R. [Laparoscopic versus mini-cholecystectomy: analysis of hospital costs and social costs in a prospective randomized study]. Chir Ital 2002; 54:685-92. [PMID: 12469466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to calculate the hospital and social costs in relation to efficacy of clinical outcome, hospital stay and time off work in two groups of patients randomly treated with laparoscopic or mini-cholecystectomy. One hundred and eighty-one patients with simple, symptomatic gallstone disease were included in the study; of these, 9 cases were excluded because of conversion to conventional cholecystectomy. Eighty-six cases underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 86 mini-cholecystectomy. Operative time (median time: 35 minutes) and hospital stay (median stay: 3 days) were the same for both surgical procedures. The median time off work was 10 days for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 20 days for mini-cholecystectomy (P = 0.007). Hospital expenses showed a saving of 820.48 euros for each patient undergoing mini-cholecystectomy. Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a shorter period off work, it seems to be cheaper with a daily saving of 164.96 and 146.51 Euros per patient, according to cost/effectiveness and cost/utility analyses, respectively. Consequently, although laparoscopic cholecystectomy shows a better outcome in terms of socioeconomic aspects and patient compliance, in an attempt to rationalize hospital expenditure, we would advocate mini-cholecystectomy for those patients who do not need to return to work early.
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16
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Ferrero S, Arena E, De Masi E, Biasotti B, Fulcheri E, Bentivoglio G. Screening and treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in HIV-infected women. Minerva Ginecol 2002; 54:297-307. [PMID: 12114862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine: 1) whether the pathology correlates with the degree of immunosuppression, 2) whether there is a relation between pathology and antiretroviral therapies, 3) whether Papanicolau (Pap) smears correlate with colposcopic and histologic findings, 4) whether there is rapid genital disease progression after standard gynaecologic care. METHODS Retrospective study. Immunologic, gynaecologic and virologic data were extracted either from patients charts or from laboratory testing. RESULTS At first visit Pap smears resulted normal in 43.7% of the women, 8.4% of the patients had reactive and reparative changes, 2.8% atypical cells of undetermined significance, 33.8% low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and 11.3% high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Patients with a normal PAP smear had higher CD4 cell count (318+/-191 cells/mL) compared to patients with squamous intraepithelial lesions (297+/-116 cells/mL) but the difference was not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney test). The distribution of cervical dysplasia was found to be similar regardless of antiretroviral therapy (chi(2) test). The sensitivity and specificity of Pap tests for detecting CIN were 94 and 80%. Twenty-two per cent of surgically treated women had persistent or recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS Lower CD4+ cell counts are not predictive of the presence of cervical dysplasia. All HIV-infected women, independently from their immunological and clinical conditions, need regular Pap smears with appropriate follow-up for abnormal cervicovaginal cytology, this could prevent nearly all deaths from cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ferrero
- Department of Obstetrics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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17
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Cimoli G, Bagnasco L, Pescarolo MP, Avignolo C, Melchiori A, Pasa S, Biasotti B, Taningher M, Parodi S. Signaling proteins as innovative targets for antineoplastic therapy: our experience with the signaling protein c-myc. Tumori 2001; 87:S20-3. [PMID: 11989613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G Cimoli
- Department of Oncology Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Italy
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18
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Dallavalle S, Ferrari A, Biasotti B, Merlini L, Penco S, Gallo G, Marzi M, Tinti MO, Martinelli R, Pisano C, Carminati P, Carenini N, Beretta G, Perego P, De Cesare M, Pratesi G, Zunino F. Novel 7-oxyiminomethyl derivatives of camptothecin with potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. J Med Chem 2001; 44:3264-74. [PMID: 11563925 DOI: 10.1021/jm0108092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In an attempt to synthesize potential anticancer agents acting by inhibition of topoisomerase I (Topo I) a new series of oxyiminomethyl derivatives in position 7 of camptothecin (CPT) was prepared. The synthesis relied on the condensation of 20S-CPT-7-aldehyde or 20S-CPT-7-ketones with alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, and heteroarylalkyl O-substituted hydroxylamines. The compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against H460 non-small lung carcinoma cell line, the activity being for 24 out of 37 compounds in the 0.01-0.3 microM range. A QSAR analysis indicated that lipophilicity is the main parameter correlated with cytotoxicity. Investigation of the DNA-Topo I-drug cleavable complex showed a rough parallelism between cytotoxicity and inhibition of Topo I. Persistence of the DNA cleavage after NaCl-mediated disruption of the ternary complex suggests that for the most potent compounds, e.g., 15, the cytotoxicity was at least in part related to stabilization of the complex, as also supported by the persistence of the DNA-enzyme complex in drug-treated cells. The in vivo antitumor efficacy of the most potent analogue (15) was evaluated in direct comparison with topotecan using human lung tumor xenograft models. In the range of optimal doses (2-3 mg/kg), the improved efficacy of 15 was documented in terms of inhibition of tumor growth and rate of complete response.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Dallavalle
- Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari Agroalimentari, Sezione di Chimica, Università di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
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