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Insero G, Fusi F, Romano G. The safe use of lasers in biomedicine: Principles of laser-matter interaction. J Public Health Res 2023; 12:22799036231187077. [PMID: 37539442 PMCID: PMC10395181 DOI: 10.1177/22799036231187077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Optical radiation sources, and in particular lasers, find an ever-increasing number of applications in the medical field. It is essential that personnel who are in the presence of an optical radiation source, whether operator, patient or researcher, know precisely the risks inherent in the exposure of the human body to radiation. In order to reduce the risk of biological damage, beyond the provisions of the law on safety regulations, the precise information and accurate preparation of personnel are the main guarantee for the correct use of these sources. In all the application fields, the possibility of a biological damage cannot be completely eliminated, assuming the connotation of occupational risks. In order to understand the risks and operate their effective mitigation, the basic knowledge of the fundamental concepts at the basis of laser-matter interaction will be presented and discussed, with a focus on the physical parameters needed to efficiently estimate and mitigate the related occupational risks, in both a laboratory and clinical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Insero
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences ‘Mario Serio’, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences ‘Mario Serio’, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Probiomedica srl, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences ‘Mario Serio’, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Probiomedica srl, Florence, Italy
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Fusi F, Romano G, Speranza G, Agati G. Photon- and Singlet-Oxygen-Induced Cis-Trans Isomerization of the Water-Soluble Carotenoid Crocin. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10783. [PMID: 37445961 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying the cis-trans isomerization process in crocin (CR), one of the few water-soluble carotenoids extracted from saffron, is important to better understand the physiological role of cis-carotenoids in vivo and their potential as antioxidants in therapeutic applications. For that, cis-trans isomerization of both methanol- and water-dissolved CR was induced by light or thermally generated singlet oxygen (1O2). The kinetics of molecular concentrations were monitored by both high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and non-destructive spectrophotometric methods. These last made it possible to simultaneously follow the cis-trans isomerization, the possible bleaching of compounds and the amount of thermally generated 1O2. Our results were in accordance with a comprehensive model where the cis-trans isomerization occurs as relaxation from the triplet state of all-trans- or 13-cis-CR, whatever is the way to populate the CR triplet state, either by photon or 1O2 energy transfer. The process is much more (1.9 to 10-fold) efficient from cis to trans than vice versa. In H2O, a 1O2-induced bleaching effect on the starting CR was not negligible. However, the CR "flip-flop" isomerization reaction could still occur, suggesting that this process can represent an efficient mechanism for quenching of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo, with a limited need of carotenoid regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanna Speranza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Agati
- "Nello Carrara" Institute of Applied Physics (IFAC), National Research Council (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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3
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Pisaturo V, Scaravelli G, Levi Setti P, Ubaldi F, Livi C, Borini A, Greco E, Villani M, Coccia M, Revelli A, Ricci G, Fusi F, Costa M, De Luca R, Reschini M. P-760 Monozygotic twin rate among IVF centers: A multicenter analysis of data from 18 Italian units. Hum Reprod 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac107.701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study question
Could factors inherent to individual centers, related to local clinical or laboratory variables, play a role in the increased incidence of monozygotic twins in IVF?
Summary answer
The rate of MZT did not significantly vary among IVF centers
What is known already
The risk of monozygotic twins (MZT) is increased in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Several systematic reviews have investigated the possible determinants linked to IVF, but results obtained have been inconclusive. Associations have been identified with the prolonged culture at blastocyst stage and young female age. Conventional IVF compared to ICSI, and assisted hatching emerged as possible additional risk factors, but evidence is controversial. Meta-analyses, however, cannot provide robust evidence because of the difficulty in performing multivariate analyses. Moreover, available investigations were retrospective and involved relatively small sample sizes hampering the quality of the collected data.
Study design, size, duration
This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study using the Italian ART National Registry database and involving the Centers reporting data from individual IVF cycles from 2015 to 2019. Eighteen IVF centers were included with a total of 87,076 IVF cycles reported during the study period. The primary aim of the study was to investigate whether the incidence of MZT differed among centers.
Participants/materials, setting, methods
Only single embryo transfer cycles were considered. Women who had sex-discordant twin deliveries were excluded. MZT rate was calculated as the number of multiple pregnancies out of the total number of clinical pregnancies. A binomial distribution model was used to determine the 95% CI of the frequency of MZT. The rates among centers were deemed heterogeneous if the 95% CI in at least one center did not include the mean MZT rate.
Main results and the role of chance
Ten centers reported data from 2015 to 2019, eight from 2017 to 2019. An analysis of the main characteristics of the centers revealed considerable variability. The total number of clinical pregnancies fulfilling our inclusion criteria were 10,440. Of these, 7 were found to be twin pregnancies with discordant gender and were excluded, leaving 10,433 for data analyses. The number of cases included per center varied between 11 and 2,823. Overall, 162 pregnancies were found to be multiple: 48 ended in a miscarriage, 28 spontaneously reduced to singletons and 86 women delivered two or more newborns. The vast majority were twins (n = 160), one was triplet, and one was quadruplet. Considering the denominator of 10,433 pregnancies, the rate of MZT was thus 1.5% (95%CI: 1.3 - 1.8%). The MZT rate among centers varied between 0% (95%CI: 0.0 - 25.9%) and 3.2% (95%CI: 1.3 - 8.1%). All the 95%CIs of the rates of MZT include the 1.5% common rate, thus rejecting the hypothesis that this incidence significantly differed among centers. Spearman correlations between the rate of MZT and variables associated with individual center policies could not identify any significant association. Even when restricting the analyses only to the largest centers, no association emerged.
Limitations, reasons for caution
Our study was limited by its retrospective nature. Furthermore, some centers provided less than 100 cases for data analysis and were therefore poorly informative. External confirmation from larger registries is therefore required.
Wider implications of the findings
This study provides evidences that the rate of MZT did not differ among IVF centers. Furthermore, no clinical and laboratory variables inherent to individual centers were identified in the determinism of IVF-associated MZT. Further studies are needed to identify the causes of increased risk of MZT in IVF practice.
Trial registration number
not applicable
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Affiliation(s)
- V Pisaturo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Procreazione Medicalmente Assistita , Milan, Italy
| | - G Scaravelli
- National Health Institute, ART Italian National Register- National Center for Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion , Rome, Italy
| | - P.E Levi Setti
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Dept of Gynecology- Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine- Humanitas Fertility Center , Rozzano Milan, Italy
| | - F.M Ubaldi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, GeneraLife IVF , Rome, Italy
| | - C Livi
- Demetra, Assisted Reproductive Center , Florence, Italy
| | - A Borini
- Family and Fertility Center- Tecnobios Procreazione, 9.Baby , Bologna, Italy
| | - E Greco
- Villa Mafalda, Assisted Reproductive Center , Rome, Italy
| | - M.T Villani
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale- IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Dept Obstet-Gynecol , Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - M.E Coccia
- Careggi Hospital- University of Florence, Assisted Reproductive Center , Florence, Italy
| | - A Revelli
- Sant'Anna Hospital- University of Torino, Gynecology and Obstetrics 1U/2U- Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit , Torino, Italy
| | - G Ricci
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health- IRCCS Burlo Garofolo- Trieste, Dept of Medicine- Surgery and Health Sciences , Trieste, Italy
| | - F Fusi
- ASST- Papa Giovanni XXIII- Bergamo, Dept of Maternal Fetal and Pediatric Medicine , Bergamo, Italy
| | - M Costa
- Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, Dept of Reproductive Medicine , Genoa, Italy
| | - R De Luca
- National Health Institute, ART Italian National Register- National Center for Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion , Rome, Italy
| | - M Reschini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Procreazione Medicalmente Assistita , Milan, Italy
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Romano G, Insero G, Marrugat SN, Fusi F. Innovative light sources for phototherapy. Biomol Concepts 2022; 13:256-271. [DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2022-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The use of light for therapeutic purposes dates back to ancient Egypt, where the sun itself was an innovative source, probably used for the first time to heal skin diseases. Since then, technical innovation and advancement in medical sciences have produced newer and more sophisticated solutions for light-emitting sources and their applications in medicine. Starting from a brief historical introduction, the concept of innovation in light sources is discussed and analysed, first from a technical point of view and then in the light of their fitness to improve existing therapeutic protocols or propose new ones. If it is true that a “pure” technical advancement is a good reason for innovation, only a sub-system of those advancements is innovative for phototherapy. To illustrate this concept, the most representative examples of innovative light sources are presented and discussed, both from a technical point of view and from the perspective of their diffusion and applications in the clinical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence , Viale G. Pieraccini 6 , 50139 Florence , Italy
| | - Giacomo Insero
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence , Viale G. Pieraccini 6 , 50139 Florence , Italy
- National Research Council, National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO) , Via Carrara 1 , 50019 Sesto Fiorentino , FI , Italy
| | - Santi Nonell Marrugat
- Institut Quimic de Sarria, Universidad Ramon Llull , Via Augusta 390 , 08017 Barcelona , Spain
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence , Viale G. Pieraccini 6 , 50139 Florence , Italy
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Zaca’ C, Scaravelli G, Setti PL, Livi C, Ubaldi FM, Villani MT, Greco E, Coccia ME, Revelli A, Ricci G, Fusi F, Vigiliano V, Luca RD, Bolli S, Borini1 A. O-156 Fertilization rate as a novel indicator for cumulative live birth rate: multicenter retrospective cohort study of 9,394 complete IVF cycles. Hum Reprod 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab127.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study question
Does fertilization rate (FR) affect cumulative success rates in assisted reproduction cycles?
Summary answer
These data indicate a positive association between FR with CLBR suggesting the predictive clinical relevance of this parameter and its adoption as Key Performance Indicator(KPI).
What is known already
Numerous studies have aimed at characterizing outcome predictors. Maternal age is historically and correctly recognized as the single most important factor impacting on the clinical outcome of ART. More recently ovarian response has also gained interest in this respect. However, the quest for novel, more comprehensive predictive factors is not over; new relevant evidence is starting to emerge. FR is a noteworthy parameter because expressing a fundamental aspect of both oocyte and sperm developmental competence. In fact it has been adopted as a key performance indicator of the IVF laboratory, to assess laboratory, operator, and gamete competence.
Study design, size, duration
Reported data concern a retrospective cohort study carried out between 2015 to 2017 involving 7,968 couples undergoing 9,394 complete ICSI cycles, i.e. whose all embryos were transferred or disposed.All women aged between 18-42 years were included.We excluded from analysis: surgical sperm retrieval cases, cycles resulting in neither fresh or frozen–thawed embryo transfers,cycles in which live birth were not achieved, but with remaining cryopreserved embryos,cycles of PGT, cycle with fertilization failure and standard IVF cycles.
Participants/materials, setting, methods
The cohort was groupped according to fertilization rate intervals based on recommendations of the Vienna Consensus (<65% - Group 1; 65%-80% - Group 2; >80% - Group 3). Harnessing the large size of the original dataset, further cycle stratifications were carried out based on female age (<34, 35-38, 39-42 years) and number of oocytes retrieved (5-7, 8-10, >10 oocytes).
Main results and the role of chance
No significant difference in female age was observed between fertilization rate groups (p = 0.640). CLBR was progressively higher in relation fertilization rate in Groups 1, 2 and 3 (20.1%, 34.7%, 41.3%, P < 0.001, respectively). Number of recovered oocytes, embryo number per cycle, cumulative pregnancy rate followed the same trend (p < 0.001). The decrease in CLBR with increasing female age was significantly correlated with fertilization rate and CLBR in all three female age groups (P < 0.001). Finally, to further control for possible patient-specific confounding factors, maternal age, number of retrieved oocytes, percent of inseminated oocytes and fertilization rate were evaluated in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. From this assessment, fertilization rate emerged as a factor independently associated with cumulative live birth rate, to a degree equivalent or higher compared with the number or retrieved oocytes.
Limitations, reasons for caution
The study design is retrospective and requires further refinement to control for factors that may impact clinical outcome.
Wider implications of the findings
These data indicate a positive association of FR with CLBR, thereby suggesting that fertilization, in addition to representing an assay for gamete quality and laboratory performance,has an independent clinical significance.Irrespective of the number of retrieved oocytes and female age, we observed that, rates of FR are positively associated with CLBR.
Trial registration number
None
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Affiliation(s)
- C Zaca’
- 9.Baby - Family and Fertility Center, IVF laboratory unit, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Scaravelli
- National Health Institute, ART Italian National Register- National Centre for Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, Roma, Italy
| | - P.E. Levi Setti
- Humanitas Fertility Center. Humanitas Clinical and Research Center- - IRCCS, Department of Gynecology- Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Rozzano, Italy
| | - C Livi
- Demetra, Assisted Reproductive Center, Firenze, Italy
| | - F M Ubaldi
- GENERA, Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Roma, Italy
| | - M T Villani
- IRCCS, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - E Greco
- European Hospital, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Roma, Italy
| | - M E Coccia
- Careggi Hospital - University of Florence, Assisted Reproductive Center, Firenze, Italy
| | - A Revelli
- Sant’Anna Hospital, Gynecology and Obstetrics U- Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, Torino, Italy
| | - G Ricci
- IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Trieste, Italy
| | - F Fusi
- ASST - Papa Giovanni XXIII, Department of Maternal Fetal and Pediatric Medicine, Bergamo, Italy
| | - V Vigiliano
- National Health Institute, ART Italian National Register- National Centre for Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, Roma, Italy
| | - R. De Luca
- National Health Institute, ART Italian National Register- National Centre for Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, Roma, Italy
| | - S Bolli
- National Health Institute, ART Italian National Register- National Centre for Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion, Rome, Italy
| | - A Borini1
- Humanitas Fertility Center. Humanitas Clinical and Research Center- - IRCCS, Department of Gynecology- Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Rozzano, Italy
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Treghini C, Dell'Accio A, Fusi F, Romano G. Aerosol-based antimicrobial photoinactivation in the lungs: an action spectrum study. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 20:985-996. [PMID: 34275118 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-021-00066-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chronic lung infections are among the most diffused human infections, being often associated with multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this framework, the European project "Light4Lungs" aims at synthesizing and testing an inhalable light source to control lung infections by antimicrobial photoinactivation (aPDI), addressing endogenous photosensitizers only (porphyrins) in the representative case of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In the search for the best emission characteristics for the aerosolized light source, this work defines and calculates the photo-killing action spectrum for lung aPDI in the exemplary case of cystic fibrosis. This was obtained by applying a semi-theoretical modelling with Monte Carlo simulations, according to previously published methodology related to stomach infections and applied to the infected trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. In each of these regions, the two low and high oxygen concentration cases were considered to account for the variability of in vivo conditions, together with the presence of endogenous porphyrins and other relevant absorbers/diffusers inside the illuminated biofilm/mucous layer. Furthermore, an a priori method to obtain the "best illumination wavelengths" was defined, starting from maximizing porphyrin and light absorption at any depth. The obtained action spectrum is peaked at 394 nm and mostly follows porphyrin extinction coefficient behavior. This is confirmed by the results from the best illumination wavelengths, which reinforces the robustness of our approach. These results can offer important indications for the synthesis of the aerosolized light source and definition of its most effective emission spectrum, suggesting a flexible platform to be considered in further applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Treghini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Alfonso Dell'Accio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
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Placidi L, Castriconi R, Rancati T, Lecchi M, Fusi F, Russo P, Cavedon C, Fiorino C, Garibaldi C. The scientific publications of AIFM members in 2015-2019: A survey of the FutuRuS working group. Phys Med 2021; 88:111-116. [PMID: 34225239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Within the Italian Association of Medical Physics and Health Physics (AIFM) working group "FutuRuS" we carried out a survey regarding the number of the peer-reviewed articles by AIFM members. METHODS We surveyed papers published in the years 2015-2019. Data extracted from Scopus included information regarding authors, title, journal, impact factor (IF), leading or standard authorship by AIFM members, keywords, type of collaboration (monocentric/multicentric/international), area of interest [radiation oncology (RO), radiology (RAD), nuclear medicine (NM), radioprotection (RP) and professional issue (PI)] and topics. RESULTS We found 1210 papers published in peer-reviewed journals: 48%, 22%, 16%, 6%, 2 and 6% in RO, RAD, NM, RP, PI and other topics, respectively. Forty-seven percent of the papers involved monocentric teams, 31% multicentric and 22% international collaborations. Leading authorship of AIFM members was in 56% of papers, with a corresponding IF equal to 52% of the total IF (3342, IFmean = 2.8, IFmax = 35.4). The most represented journal was Physica Medica, with 15% of papers, while a relevant fraction of IF (54%) appeared in clinically oriented journals. The number of papers increased significantly between 2015 and 2016 and remained almost constant in 2017-2019. CONCLUSIONS This survey led to the first quantitative assessment of the number and theme distribution of peer-reviewed scientific articles contributed by AIFM members. It constitutes a ground basis to support future AIFM strategies and promote working groups on scientific activity of medical physicists, and to build the basis for rational comparison with other countries, first of all within Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Placidi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Rancati
- Prostate Cancer Program, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Lecchi
- Health Physics Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Russo
- Università di Napoli Federico II, Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Napoli, Italy
| | - Carlo Cavedon
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata - Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Fiorino
- Medical Physics, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Garibaldi
- Unit of Radiation Research, IEO European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
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Piffer S, Casati M, Marrazzo L, Arilli C, Calusi S, Desideri I, Fusi F, Pallotta S, Talamonti C. Validation of a secondary dose check tool against Monte Carlo and analytical clinical dose calculation algorithms in VMAT. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2021; 22:52-62. [PMID: 33735491 PMCID: PMC8035572 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.13209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patient-specific quality assurance (QA) is very important in radiotherapy, especially for patients with highly conformed treatment plans like VMAT plans. Traditional QA protocols for these plans are time-consuming reducing considerably the time available for patient treatments. In this work, a new MC-based secondary dose check software (SciMoCa) is evaluated and benchmarked against well-established TPS (Monaco and Pinnacle3 ) by means of treatment plans and dose measurements. METHODS Fifty VMAT plans have been computed using same calculation parameters with SciMoCa and the two primary TPSs. Plans were validated with measurements performed with a 3D diode detector (ArcCHECK) by translating patient plans to phantom geometry. Calculation accuracy was assessed by measuring point dose differences and gamma passing rates (GPR) from a 3D gamma analysis with 3%-2 mm criteria. Comparison between SciMoCa and primary TPS calculations was made using the same estimators and using both patient and phantom geometry plans. RESULTS TPS and SciMoCa calculations were found to be in very good agreement with validation measurements with average point dose differences of 0.7 ± 1.7% and -0.2 ± 1.6% for SciMoCa and two TPSs, respectively. Comparison between SciMoCa calculations and the two primary TPS plans did not show any statistically significant difference with average point dose differences compatible with zero within error for both patient and phantom geometry plans and GPR (98.0 ± 3.0% and 99.0 ± 3.0% respectively) well in excess of the typical 95 % clinical tolerance threshold. CONCLUSION This work presents results obtained with a significantly larger sample than other similar analyses and, to the authors' knowledge, compares SciMoCa with a MC-based TPS for the first time. Results show that a MC-based secondary patient-specific QA is a clinically viable, reliable, and promising technique, that potentially allows significant time saving that can be used for patient treatment and a per-plan basis QA that effectively complements traditional commissioning and calibration protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Piffer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN)FlorenceItaly
| | - Marta Casati
- Department of Medical PhysicsCareggi University HospitalFlorenceItaly
| | - Livia Marrazzo
- Department of Medical PhysicsCareggi University HospitalFlorenceItaly
| | - Chiara Arilli
- Department of Medical PhysicsCareggi University HospitalFlorenceItaly
| | - Silvia Calusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Isacco Desideri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Stefania Pallotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN)FlorenceItaly
- Department of Medical PhysicsCareggi University HospitalFlorenceItaly
| | - Cinzia Talamonti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN)FlorenceItaly
- Department of Medical PhysicsCareggi University HospitalFlorenceItaly
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9
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Fusi F, Mugnai P, Trezza A, Spiga O, Sgaragli G. Fine tuning by protein kinases of Ca V1.2 channel current in rat tail artery myocytes. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 182:114263. [PMID: 33035505 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Seventeen compounds, rather selective, direct or indirect inhibitors and activators of PKA, PKG, and PKC, were analysed for effects on vascular CaV1.2 channel current (ICa1.2) by using the patch-clamp technique in single rat tail artery myocytes. The aim was to investigate how PKs regulate ICa1.2 and disclose any unexpected modulation of CaV1.2 channel function by these agents. The cAMP analogues 8-Br-cAMP and 6-Bnz-cAMP partially reduced ICa1.2 in dialysed cells, while weakly increasing it under the perforated configuration. The β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol and the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin concentration-dependently increased ICa1.2; this effect was reversed by PKA inhibitors H-89 and KT5720, but not by PKI 6-22. The cGMP analogue 8-Br-cGMP, similarly to the NO-donor SNP, moderately reduced ICa1.2, this effect being reversed to a slight stimulation under the perforated configuration. Among PKG inhibitors, Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS decreased current amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner while Rp-8-Br-cGMPS was ineffective. The non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX increased ICa1.2, while H-89, KT5720, and PKI 6-22 antagonized this effect. The PKC activator PMA, but not the diacylglycerol analogue OAG, stimulated ICa1.2 in a concentration-dependent manner; conversely, the PKCα inhibitor Gö6976 markedly reduced basal ICa1.2 and, similarly to the PKCδ (rottlerin) and PKCε translocation inhibitors antagonised PMA-induced current stimulation. The ensemble of findings indicates that the stimulation of cAMP/PKA, in spite of the paradoxical effect of both 8-Br-cAMP and 6-Bnz-cAMP, or PKC pathways enhanced, while that of cGMP/PKG weakly inhibited ICa1.2 in rat tail artery myocytes. Since Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS and Gö6976 appeared to block directly CaV1.2 channel, their docking to the channel protein was investigated. Both compounds appeared to bind the α1C subunit in a region involved in CaV1.2 channel inactivation, forming an interaction network comparable to that of CaV1.2 channel blockers. Therefore, caution should accompany the use of these agents as pharmacological tools to elucidate the mechanism of action of drugs on vascular preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Fusi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - P Mugnai
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - A Trezza
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - O Spiga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - G Sgaragli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Fusi
- Medical Physics Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Medical Physics Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy.
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11
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Benelli M, Barucci A, Zoppetti N, Calusi S, Redapi L, Della Gala G, Piffer S, Bernardi L, Fusi F, Pallotta S. Comprehensive Analysis of Radiomic Datasets by RadAR. Cancer Res 2020; 80:3170-3174. [PMID: 32540962 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative analysis of biomedical images, referred to as radiomics, is emerging as a promising approach to facilitate clinical decisions and improve patient stratification. The typical radiomic workflow includes image acquisition, segmentation, feature extraction, and analysis of high-dimensional datasets. While procedures for primary radiomic analyses have been established in recent years, processing the resulting radiomic datasets remains a challenge due to the lack of specific tools for doing so. Here we present RadAR (Radiomics Analysis with R), a new software to perform comprehensive analysis of radiomic features. RadAR allows users to process radiomic datasets in their entirety, from data import to feature processing and visualization, and implements multiple statistical methods for analysis of these data. We used RadAR to analyze the radiomic profiles of more than 850 patients with cancer from publicly available datasets and showed that it was able to recapitulate expected results. These results demonstrate RadAR as a reliable and valuable tool for the radiomics community. SIGNIFICANCE: A new computational tool performs comprehensive analysis of high-dimensional radiomic datasets, recapitulating expected results in the analysis of radiomic profiles of >850 patients with cancer from independent datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Benelli
- Bioinformatics Unit, Hospital of Prato, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Prato, Italy.
| | - Andrea Barucci
- "Nello Carrara" Institute of Applied Physics, National Research Council, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicola Zoppetti
- "Nello Carrara" Institute of Applied Physics, National Research Council, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Calusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Redapi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Della Gala
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Piffer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Bernardi
- Medical Physics Unit Pistoia Prato, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Pistoia, Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Pallotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
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12
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Baccani I, Faraoni P, Marini M, Gnerucci A, Orsini B, Pecile P, Romano G, Fusi F, Rossolini GM, Antonelli A. Synergistic effect of photodynamic therapy at 400 nm and doxycycline against Helicobacter pylori. Future Microbiol 2020; 14:1199-1205. [PMID: 31625444 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2019-0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the possible synergy between doxycycline and photodynamic therapy against Helicobacter pylori and to evaluate the possible side effects on adenocarcinoma gastric cells with and without protoporphyrin IX. Materials & methods: Three H. pylori strains (ATCC 700392, 43504 and 49503) were grown on solid medium either with, or without, doxycycline at subinhibitory concentrations, and irradiated for 10, 20 and 30 minutes with a 400 nm-peaked light source. The phototoxicity tests on AGS cells were evaluated by MTT assay. Results: The photodynamic therapy and doxycycline combination showed an antibacterial synergistic effect with no significant toxicities. Conclusion: The synergistic treatment could be considered as an interesting therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Baccani
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Faraoni
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Italy
| | - Matilde Marini
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Gnerucci
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Orsini
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pecile
- Clinical Microbiology & Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Italy
| | - Gian M Rossolini
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology & Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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13
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Fusi F, Trezza A, Tramaglino M, Sgaragli G, Saponara S, Spiga O. The beneficial health effects of flavonoids on the cardiovascular system: Focus on K+ channels. Pharmacol Res 2020; 152:104625. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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14
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Gnerucci A, Faraoni P, Calusi S, Fusi F, Romano G. Influence of stomach mucosa tissue on the efficacy of intragastric antibacterial PDT. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2020; 19:34-39. [PMID: 31799583 DOI: 10.1039/c9pp00315k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT), optimization of the in vivo therapeutic efficacy needs a comprehensive study of the photo-killing action spectrum that depends on both the photosensitizer (PS) absorption and the tissue optical properties. This is especially true in the case of gastric infections by Helicobacter pylori: PS absorption has been largely investigated in vitro, while the contribution of tissue optical properties and illumination geometry has been poorly studied, despite being parameters that reflect the specific in vivo conditions. To investigate their influence, we focussed on the case of a point-like light source positioned in the antrum. This models a therapeutic device developed by our team which consists of a LED-based ingestible pill. By a simple 3D illumination model, our approach mediates light-tissue interaction over the illuminated stomach wall surface, then calculates its average transmittance T by means of a 1D model representative of the mean gastric mucosa structure. Finally, by merging T(λ) with the photosensitizers' absorption we obtained the in vivo action spectrum. This shows two peaks at about 500 and 630 nm, indicating a noticeable influence of the tissue with respect to in vitro studies, where the action spectrum reflects PS absorption only. Our approach defines one average action spectrum for this specific therapeutic context, which reflects the need to choose one emission spectrum for the light source used. The proposed methodology could be applied to any other illumination geometry of cave organs, provided appropriate model modifications for the light source and tissue characteristics are made.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gnerucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, Florence, I-50139, Italy
| | - P Faraoni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, Florence, I-50139, Italy
| | - S Calusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, Florence, I-50139, Italy
| | - F Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, Florence, I-50139, Italy.
| | - G Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, Florence, I-50139, Italy
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15
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Calusi S, Labanca G, Zani M, Casati M, Marrazzo L, Noferini L, Talamonti C, Fusi F, Desideri I, Bonomo P, Livi L, Pallotta S. A multiparametric method to assess the MIM deformable image registration algorithm. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2019; 20:75-82. [PMID: 30924286 PMCID: PMC6448167 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.12564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
A quantitative evaluation of the performances of the deformable image registration (DIR) algorithm implemented in MIM-Maestro was performed using multiple similarity indices. Two phantoms, capable of mimicking different anatomical bending and tumor shrinking were built and computed tomography (CT) studies were acquired after applying different deformations. Three different contrast levels between internal structures were artificially created modifying the original CT values of one dataset. DIR algorithm was applied between datasets with increasing deformations and different contrast levels and manually refined with the Reg Refine tool. DIR algorithm ability in reproducing positions, volumes, and shapes of deformed structures was evaluated using similarity indices such as: landmark distances, Dice coefficients, Hausdorff distances, and maximum diameter differences between segmented structures. Similarity indices values worsen with increasing bending and volume difference between reference and target image sets. Registrations between images with low contrast (40 HU) obtain scores lower than those between images with high contrast (970 HU). The use of Reg Refine tool leads generally to an improvement of similarity parameters values, but the advantage is generally less evident for images with low contrast or when structures with large volume differences are involved. The dependence of DIR algorithm on image deformation extent and different contrast levels is well characterized through the combined use of multiple similarity indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Calusi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giusy Labanca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Margherita Zani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marta Casati
- Medical Physics Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Cinzia Talamonti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Medical Physics Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Isacco Desideri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Radiation Therapy Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Livi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Radiation Therapy Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Pallotta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Medical Physics Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
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16
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Zani M, Marrazzo L, Calusi S, Talamonti C, Scoccianti S, Greto D, Desideri I, Fusi F, Pallotta S. TomoTherapy treatments of multiple brain lesions: an in-phantom accuracy evaluation. Phys Med Biol 2019; 64:025020. [PMID: 30561374 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aaf977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Aim of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy which can be obtained with helical TomoTherapy® (HT, Accuray) systems in the case of multiple intracranial targets treatments. Set-up accuracy was measured, for different registration options and MegaVoltage CT (MVCT) slice thickness, by applying known misalignments to an ad-hoc developed phantom. End-to-end (E2E) tests were performed to assess the delivery accuracy in phantoms containing multiple targets by using radiochromic films: measured dose distribution centroids were compared with physical and calculated target positions on axial and coronal planes. A Gamma index analysis was carried out on planned and measured planar dose maps. The bone and tissue algorithm with the fine MVCT reconstruction grid gave the best results among the automatic options. The most accurate registration modality resulted to be the manual one with a sub-voxel accuracy shifts and a capability in the detection of rotations within 0.3°. For the E2E along the coronal plane (six targets), a mean deviation between measured dose distribution centroids and physical barycenters of 0.6 mm (range 0.1 mm-1.3 mm) was observed. Along the axial plane (five targets), a mean deviation of 1.2 mm (range 0.7 mm-2.1 mm) was found for the centroids shifts. Gamma index (5%, 1 mm, local) passing rates higher than 87.5% between planned and delivered dose distributions were measured. These results demonstrate that multiple brain lesion HT treatments are feasible with an accuracy at least comparable to frameless linac-based delivery, when a set-up capable to assure angular corrections and a reliable patient immobilization is employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zani
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences 'Mario Serio', Viale Morgagni, 50, 50134 Firenze. Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed
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17
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Talamonti C, Piffer S, Greto D, Mangoni M, Ciccarone A, Dicarolo P, Fantacci ME, Fusi F, Oliva P, Palumbo L, Favre C, Livi L, Pallotta S, Retico A. Radiomic and Dosiomic Profiling of Paediatric Medulloblastoma Tumours Treated with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. Computer Analysis of Images and Patterns 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29930-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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18
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Monici M, Gnerucci A, Falconi T, Bani D, Cialdai F, Fusi F, Romano G. Laser therapy penetration depth: a near-infrared study on a horse tendon model. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 2019. [DOI: 10.32098/mltj.02.2018.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Monici
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Res. DIv. and Dept. of Clinical Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A. Gnerucci
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Res. DIv. and Dept. of Clinical Experimental Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - T. Falconi
- MDV, Equine practitioner, S. Felice del Benaco, Brescia, Italy
| | - D. Bani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - F. Cialdai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - F. Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - G. Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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19
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Faraoni P, Gnerucci A, Ranaldi F, Orsini B, Romano G, Fusi F. Side effects of intra-gastric photodynamic therapy: an in vitro study. J Photochem Photobiol B 2018; 186:107-115. [PMID: 30029036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Since many years it has been acknowledged that some bacterial species, among which H. pylori, P. aeruginosa, P. acnes accumulate endogenous photosensitizers (PS) in the form of porphyrins. This makes antibacterial photodynamic therapy (PDT) easier to perform due to the possible avoidance of external PS. In this study, we focus on gastric infections associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), known to accumulate and release both protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and coproporphyrins. PDT versus H. pylori can be carried out by modified endoscopes or by new ingestible luminous devices under development. In both cases of in vitro and in vivo applications, either for therapy (PDT) or diagnosis, scientific literature lacks studies on the possible side-effects of light treatments on the surrounding tissues. To this aim we evaluated in vitro side-effects due to a possible intrinsic photosensitivity of gastric mucosa or to a photosensitization by the PS released from the bacterium itself. Photo-toxicity studies were conducted on the AGS cell line (ATCC® CRL-1739™), commonly used as a model for the stomach mucosa tissue, considering PPIX as the photosensitizing agent. After first evaluations of PPIX dark toxicity, its uptake and accumulation sites, photo-toxicity tests were conducted using a LED light source peaked at 400 nm, by varying both PPIX concentration (50 nM - 2 μM) and light dose in the range 0.6-13 J/cm2, representing different treatment procedures found in literature. The oxidative stress consequent to irradiation was investigated both in terms of ROS production and assessment of the activity of enzymes involved in ROS-related biological mechanisms. A significant phototoxic effect was found only for PPIX concentration > 100 nM for all tested light doses. This indicates that the evaluated photo-treatments do not cause side effects even with the sensitization due to PPIX released by the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Faraoni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Gnerucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Ranaldi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Orsini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy.
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Viale Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, University of Florence, Italy
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Romano G, Tortora G, Orsini B, Faraoni P, Gnerucci A, Calusi S, Menciassi A, Fusi F. Ingestible capsule for minimally-invasive intragastric PDT against Helicobacter pylori. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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21
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Gnerucci A, Romano G, Ratto F, Centi S, Baccini M, Santosuosso U, Pini R, Fusi F. Statistical detection of nanoparticles in cells by darkfield microscopy. Phys Med 2016; 32:938-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Fusi F, Durante M, Spiga O, Trezza A, Frosini M, Floriddia E, Teodori E, Dei S, Saponara S. In vitro and in silico analysis of the vascular effects of asymmetrical N,N-bis(alkanol)amine aryl esters, novel multidrug resistance-reverting agents. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2016; 389:1033-43. [PMID: 27351883 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-016-1266-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Asymmetrical N,N-bis(alkanol)amine aryl esters (FRA77, GDE6, and GDE19) are potent multidrug resistance (MDR) reversers. Their structures loosely remind that of the Ca(2+) antagonist verapamil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate their vascular activity in vitro. Their effects on the mechanical activity of fresh and cultured rat aorta rings on Cav1.2 channel current (I Ca1.2) of A7r5 cells and their cytotoxicity on A7r5 and EA.hy926 cells were analyzed. Docking at the rat α1C subunit of the Cav1.2 channel was simulated in silico. Compounds tested were cytotoxic at concentrations >1 μM (FRA77, GDE6, GDE19) and >10 μM (verapamil) in EA.hy926 cells, or >10 μM (FRA77, GDE6, GDE19) and at 100 μM (verapamil) in A7r5 cells. In fresh rings, the three compounds partly antagonized phenylephrine and 60 mM K(+) (K60)-induced contraction at concentrations ≥1 and ≥3 μM, respectively. On the contrary, verapamil fully relaxed rings pre-contracted with both agents. In cultured rings, 10 μM GDE6, GDE19, FRA77, and verapamil significantly reduced the contractile response to both phenylephrine and K60. Similarly to verapamil, the three compounds docked at the α1C subunit, interacting with the same amino acids residues. FRA77, GDE6, and GDE19 inhibited I Ca1.2 with IC50 values 1 order of magnitude higher than that of verapamil. FRA77-, GDE6-, and GDE19-induced vascular effects occurred at concentrations that are at least 1 order of magnitude higher than those effectively reverting MDR. Though an unambiguous divergence between MDR reverting and vascular activity is of overwhelming importance, these findings consistently contribute to the design and synthesis of novel and potent chemosensitizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - M Durante
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - O Spiga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - A Trezza
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - M Frosini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - E Floriddia
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA-Sezione di Farmaceutica e Nutraceutica, Università di Firenze, via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - E Teodori
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA-Sezione di Farmaceutica e Nutraceutica, Università di Firenze, via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - S Dei
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA-Sezione di Farmaceutica e Nutraceutica, Università di Firenze, via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - S Saponara
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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Saccà A, Pastore AL, Roscigno M, Naspro R, Pellucchi F, Fuschi A, Maruccia S, Territo A, Pisano F, Zanga L, Capitanio E, Carbone A, Fusi F, Chinaglia D, Da Pozzo LF. Conventional testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and non-obstructive azoospermia: is there still a chance in the era of microdissection TESE? Results from a single non-academic community hospital. Andrology 2016; 4:425-9. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Saccà
- Department of Urology; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - A. L. Pastore
- Urology Unit; Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies; Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine; Sapienza University of Rome; Latina Italy
| | - M. Roscigno
- Department of Urology; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - R. Naspro
- Department of Urology; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - F. Pellucchi
- Department of Urology; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - A. Fuschi
- Urology Unit; Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies; Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine; Sapienza University of Rome; Latina Italy
| | - S. Maruccia
- Department of Urology; IRCSS Policlinico San Donato; Milano Italy
| | - A. Territo
- Department of Urology; University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; Modena Italy
| | - F. Pisano
- Department of Urology; AO Città della Salute e della Scienza; University of Torino; Torino Italy
| | - L. Zanga
- Department of Maternal and Pediatric; USSD Centro PMA; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - E. Capitanio
- Department of Maternal and Pediatric; USSD Centro PMA; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - A. Carbone
- Urology Unit; Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies; Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine; Sapienza University of Rome; Latina Italy
| | - F. Fusi
- Department of Maternal and Pediatric; USSD Centro PMA; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - D. Chinaglia
- Department of Pathology; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
| | - L. F. Da Pozzo
- Department of Urology; ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII; Bergamo Italy
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24
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Saponara S, Durante M, Spiga O, Mugnai P, Sgaragli G, Huong TT, Khanh PN, Son NT, Cuong NM, Fusi F. Functional, electrophysiological and molecular docking analysis of the modulation of Cav 1.2 channels in rat vascular myocytes by murrayafoline A. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 173:292-304. [PMID: 26493241 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The carbazole alkaloid murrayafoline A (MuA) enhances contractility and the Ca(2+) currents carried by the Cav 1.2 channels [ICa1.2 ] of rat cardiomyocytes. As only few drugs stimulate ICa1.2 , this study was designed to analyse the effects of MuA on vascular Cav 1.2 channels. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Vascular activity was assessed on rat aorta rings mounted in organ baths. Cav 1.2 Ba(2+) current [IBa1.2 ] was recorded in single rat aorta and tail artery myocytes by the patch-clamp technique. Docking at a 3D model of the rat, α1c central pore subunit of the Cav 1.2 channel was simulated in silico. KEY RESULTS In rat aorta rings MuA, at concentrations ≤14.2 μM, increased 30 mM K(+) -induced tone and shifted the concentration-response curve to K(+) to the left. Conversely, at concentrations >14.2 μM, it relaxed high K(+) depolarized rings and antagonized Bay K 8644-induced contraction. In single myocytes, MuA stimulated IBa1.2 in a concentration-dependent, bell-shaped manner; stimulation was stable, incompletely reversible upon drug washout and accompanied by a leftward shift of the voltage-dependent activation curve. MuA docked at the α1C subunit central pore differently from nifedipine and Bay K 8644, although apparently interacting with the same amino acids of the pocket. Neither Bay K 8644-induced stimulation nor nifedipine-induced block of IBa1.2 was modified by MuA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Murrayafoline A is a naturally occurring vasoactive agent able to modulate Cav 1.2 channels and dock at the α1C subunit central pore in a manner that differed from that of dihydropyridines.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Saponara
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - M Durante
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - O Spiga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - P Mugnai
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - G Sgaragli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - T T Huong
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - P N Khanh
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - N T Son
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - N M Cuong
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - F Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
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25
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Clemente AM, Rizzetto L, Castronovo G, Perissi E, Tanturli M, Cozzolino F, Cavalieri D, Fusi F, Cialdai F, Vignali L, Torcia MG, Monici M. Effects of near-infrared laser radiation on the survival and inflammatory potential of Candida spp. involved in the pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2015; 34:1999-2007. [PMID: 26173694 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-015-2443-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Candida spp. usually colonize ulcerative lesions of atrophic mucosa in patients with chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis inducing severe inflammation. The spread of antifungal-resistant strains strongly encouraged the search of complementary or alternative therapeutic strategies to cure inflamed mucosa. In this paper, we studied the effects of a near-infrared (NIR) laser system with dual-wavelength emission (808 nm + 904 nm) on the survival and inflammatory potential of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis. Laser treatment was performed with a Multiwave Locked System laser. Survival and apoptosis of fungal strains were evaluated by colony-forming units (CFU) counting and annexin V staining. Cytokine production was evaluated by ImmunoPlex array. Laser treatment significantly affected the survival of Candida spp. by inducing apoptosis and induced a lower production of inflammatory cytokines by dendritic cells compared to untreated fungi. No differences in the survival and inflammatory potential were recorded in treated or untreated Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, used as the control non-pathogenic microorganism. Laser treatment altered the survival and inflammatory potential of pathogenic Candida spp. These data provide experimental support to the use of NIR laser radiation as a co-adjuvant of antifungal therapy in patients with oral mucositis (OM) complicated by Candida infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Clemente
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - L Rizzetto
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - G Castronovo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - E Perissi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - M Tanturli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - F Cozzolino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - D Cavalieri
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - F Fusi
- Medical Physics Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - F Cialdai
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - L Vignali
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
| | - M G Torcia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy.
| | - M Monici
- ASAcampus Joint Laboratory, ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, FI, Italy
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Amadori M, Fusi F, Bilato D, Archetti IL, Lorenzi V, Bertocchi L. Disease risk assessment by clinical immunology analyses in periparturient dairy cows. Res Vet Sci 2015; 102:25-6. [PMID: 26412514 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A disease prediction system was investigated in a case-control study in the dry period of high-yielding dairy cows. Blood samples of 75 cows from 26 herds were collected before calving between -23 and -33 days (T1) and also between -2 and -6 days (T2) to investigate a panel of clinical immunology and chemistry parameters. Cows with abnormal serum lysozyme and interleukin-6 concentrations showed a greater disease prevalence until the 60th day in milk compared with non-responder cows (P<0.05 and lower at T1). Differences in disease prevalence were observed on the basis of T1 data, and also by combining the results at T1 and T2. The other laboratory parameters under study were not predictive of a disease risk. Results indicate that environmental stressors in the dry period may cause a negative imprinting of the innate immune response, underlying predisposition to later disease occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Amadori
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
| | - F Fusi
- National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - D Bilato
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - I L Archetti
- National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - V Lorenzi
- National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - L Bertocchi
- National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
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27
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Centi S, Tatini F, Ratto F, Gnerucci A, Mercatelli R, Romano G, Landini I, Nobili S, Ravalli A, Marrazza G, Mini E, Fusi F, Pini R. In vitro assessment of antibody-conjugated gold nanorods for systemic injections. J Nanobiotechnology 2014; 12:55. [PMID: 25477237 PMCID: PMC4266900 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-014-0055-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interest for gold nanorods in biomedical optics is driven by their intense absorbance of near infrared light, their biocompatibility and their potential to reach tumors after systemic administration. Examples of applications include the photoacoustic imaging and the photothermal ablation of cancer. In spite of great current efforts, the selective delivery of gold nanorods to tumors through the bloodstream remains a formidable challenge. Their bio-conjugation with targeting units, and in particular with antibodies, is perceived as a hopeful solution, but the complexity of living organisms complicates the identification of possible obstacles along the way to tumors. RESULTS Here, we present a new model of gold nanorods conjugated with anti-cancer antigen 125 (CA125) antibodies, which exhibit high specificity for ovarian cancer cells. We implement a battery of tests in vitro, in order to simulate major nuisances and predict the feasibility of these particles for intravenous injections. We show that parameters like the competition of free CA125 in the bloodstream, which could saturate the probe before arriving at the tumors, the matrix effect and the interference with erythrocytes and phagocytes are uncritical. CONCLUSIONS Although some deterioration is detectable, anti-CA125-conjugated gold nanorods retain their functional features after interaction with blood tissue and so represent a powerful candidate to hit ovarian cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Centi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche 'Mario Serio', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Francesca Tatini
- Istituto di Fisica Applicata 'Nello Carrara', Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Fulvio Ratto
- Istituto di Fisica Applicata 'Nello Carrara', Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Alessio Gnerucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche 'Mario Serio', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Raffaella Mercatelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Shiff', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche 'Mario Serio', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Ida Landini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Stefania Nobili
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Andrea Ravalli
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Shiff', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Marrazza
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Shiff', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Enrico Mini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Franco Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche 'Mario Serio', Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Roberto Pini
- Istituto di Fisica Applicata 'Nello Carrara', Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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28
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Gnerucci A, Ratto F, Centi S, Conti A, Pini R, Fusi F, Romano G. A simple method to disentangle nanoparticle optical properties by darkfield microspectroscopy. Microsc Res Tech 2014; 77:886-95. [DOI: 10.1002/jemt.22411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Gnerucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”; University of Florence; I-50139 Florence Italy
| | - Fulvio Ratto
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara,” National Research Council; I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
| | - Sonia Centi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”; University of Florence; I-50139 Florence Italy
| | - Antonio Conti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”; University of Florence; I-50139 Florence Italy
| | - Roberto Pini
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara,” National Research Council; I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”; University of Florence; I-50139 Florence Italy
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”; University of Florence; I-50139 Florence Italy
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29
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Mugnai P, Durante M, Sgaragli G, Saponara S, Paliuri G, Bova S, Fusi F. L-type Ca(2+) channel current characteristics are preserved in rat tail artery myocytes after one-day storage. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2014; 211:334-45. [PMID: 24666564 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIM To develop a cheap and simple method of storing for 24-h vascular tissue and single myocytes while preserving therein the biophysical and pharmacological characteristics of L-type Ca(2+) channels and contractile activity. METHODS Rings or vascular smooth muscle cells obtained from the rat tail main artery were used either freshly (R0h and VSMC0h) or stored for 24 h (R24h and VSMC24h) at 4 °C, to record whole-cell L-type Ca(2+) currents (IC a(L) ) or measure contractile responses. RESULTS R0h/VSMC0h and R24h/VSMC24h comparably contracted when stimulated with phenylephrine, high KCl or ATP. In both VSMC0h and VSMC24h, IC a(L) was identified and characterized as a stable inward current for at least 35 min; IC a(L) was comparably inhibited by the Ca(2+) antagonists nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem and increased by the Ca(2+) channel agonist (S)-(-)-Bay K 8644; current density and current-voltage relationships were similar; at more hyperpolarized holding potentials, IC a(L) intensity increased comparably; nifedipine shifted the steady-state inactivation curve towards more negative potentials, while verapamil blocked IC a(L) in a frequency-dependent manner and slowed down the rate of recovery from inactivation in a comparable way. CONCLUSION Findings show that smooth muscle contractile activity and the biophysical and pharmacological features of L-type Ca(2+) channels are similar in VSMC24h and VSMC0h. The fact that reproducible results were obtained in vascular myocytes up to 24 h after dissociation may facilitate vascular smooth muscle cell investigation by increasing throughput and reducing the number of animals required.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Mugnai
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università di Siena; Siena Italy
| | - M. Durante
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università di Siena; Siena Italy
| | - G. Sgaragli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università di Siena; Siena Italy
| | - S. Saponara
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università di Siena; Siena Italy
| | - G. Paliuri
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco; Università degli Studi di Padova; Padova Italy
| | - S. Bova
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco; Università degli Studi di Padova; Padova Italy
| | - F. Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università di Siena; Siena Italy
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30
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Tatini F, Landini I, Scaletti F, Massai L, Centi S, Ratto F, Nobili S, Romano G, Fusi F, Messori L, Mini E, Pini R. Size dependent biological profiles of PEGylated gold nanorods. J Mater Chem B 2014; 2:6072-6080. [DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00991f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The interactions with proteins, cytotoxicity and blood compatibility of PEGylated gold nanorods are reviewed as a function of particle size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Tatini
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”
- National Research Council
- Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
| | - Ida Landini
- Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
- University of Florence
- Firenze, 50139 Italy
| | - Federica Scaletti
- Dept. of Chemistry “Ugo Shiff”
- University of Florence
- Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
| | - Lara Massai
- Dept. of Chemistry “Ugo Shiff”
- University of Florence
- Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
| | - Sonia Centi
- Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences
- University of Florence
- Firenze, 50139 Italy
| | - Fulvio Ratto
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”
- National Research Council
- Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
| | - Stefania Nobili
- Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
- University of Florence
- Firenze, 50139 Italy
| | - Giovanni Romano
- Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences
- University of Florence
- Firenze, 50139 Italy
| | - Franco Fusi
- Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences
- University of Florence
- Firenze, 50139 Italy
| | - Luigi Messori
- Dept. of Chemistry “Ugo Shiff”
- University of Florence
- Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
| | - Enrico Mini
- Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
- University of Florence
- Firenze, 50139 Italy
| | - Roberto Pini
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”
- National Research Council
- Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
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31
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Mercatelli R, Ratto F, Centi S, Soria S, Romano G, Matteini P, Quercioli F, Pini R, Fusi F. Quantitative readout of optically encoded gold nanorods using an ordinary dark-field microscope. Nanoscale 2013; 5:9645-9650. [PMID: 23832142 DOI: 10.1039/c3nr00726j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we report on a new use for dark-field microscopy in order to retrieve two-dimensional maps of optical parameters of a thin sample such as a cryptograph, a histological section, or a cell monolayer. In particular, we discuss the construction of quantitative charts of light absorbance and scattering coefficients of a polyvinyl alcohol film that was embedded with gold nanorods and then etched using a focused mode-locked Ti:Sapphire oscillator. Individual pulses from this laser excite plasmonic oscillations of the gold nanorods, thus triggering plastic deformations of the particles and their environment, which are confined within a few hundred nm of the light focus. In turn, these deformations modify the light absorbance and scattering landscape, which can be measured with optical resolution in a dark-field microscope equipped with an objective of tuneable numerical aperture. This technique may prove to be valuable for various applications, such as the fast readout of optically encoded data or to model functional interactions between light and biological tissue at the level of cellular organelles, including the photothermolysis of cancer.
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32
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Iozzi D, Schubert R, Kalenchuk VU, Neri A, Sgaragli G, Fusi F, Saponara S. Quercetin relaxes rat tail main artery partly via a PKG-mediated stimulation of KCa 1.1 channels. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2013; 208:329-39. [PMID: 23432816 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Revised: 01/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Protein kinases, activated by vasodilator substances, affect vascular function by regulating large conductance Ca(2+) -activated K(+) (KCa 1.1) channels. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to address the hypothesis that quercetin-induced vasorelaxation is caused by a PKG-mediated stimulation of KCa 1.1 currents. METHODS Single freshly isolated myocytes and endothelium-denuded rings of the rat tail main artery were employed for electrophysiological and contractility measurements respectively. RESULTS Quercetin relaxed vessels and increased KCa 1.1 currents in a concentration-dependent manner: both effects were antagonized by the specific KCa 1.1 channel blocker iberiotoxin. Stimulation of KCa 1.1 currents was fully reversible upon drug washout, markedly reduced by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPs, a PKG-inhibitor, but not affected by catalase. Quercetin shifted by 34.3 mV the voltage dependence of KCa 1.1 channel activation towards more negative membrane potentials without affecting its slope. Under conditions of tight functional coupling between sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release sites and KCa 1.1 channels, quercetin decreased both the frequency and the amplitude of KCa 1.1 transient currents in a ryanodine-like manner. CONCLUSION The natural flavonoid quercetin relaxes the rat tail main artery partly via a PKG-mediated stimulation of smooth muscle KC a 1.1 channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Iozzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena; Italy
| | - R. Schubert
- Research Division Cardiovascular Physiology; Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM), Medical Faculty Mannheim; University Heidelberg; Mannheim; Germany
| | | | - A. Neri
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena; Italy
| | - G. Sgaragli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena; Italy
| | - F. Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena; Italy
| | - S. Saponara
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena; Italy
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33
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Saponara S, Carosati E, Mugnai P, Sgaragli G, Fusi F. The flavonoid scaffold as a template for the design of modulators of the vascular Ca(v) 1.2 channels. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 164:1684-97. [PMID: 21557738 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01476.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies have pointed to the plant flavonoids myricetin and quercetin as two structurally related stimulators of vascular Ca(v) 1.2 channel current (I(Ca1.2) ). Here we have tested the proposition that the flavonoid structure confers the ability to modulate Ca(v) 1.2 channels. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Twenty-four flavonoids were analysed for their effects on I(Ca1.2) in rat tail artery myocytes, using the whole-cell patch-clamp method. KEY RESULTS Most of the flavonoids stimulated or inhibited I(Ca1.2) in a concentration- and voltage-dependent manner with EC(50) values ranging between 4.4 µM (kaempferol) and 16.0 µM (myricetin) for the stimulators and IC(50) values between 13.4 µM (galangin) and 100 µM [(±)-naringenin] for the inhibitors. Key structural requirements for I(Ca1.2) stimulatory activity were the double bond between C2 and C3 and the hydroxylation pattern on the flavonoid scaffold, the latter also determining the molecular charge, as shown by molecular modelling techniques. Absence of OH groups in the B ring was key in I(Ca1.2) inhibition. The functional interaction between quercetin and either the stimulator myricetin or the antagonists resokaempferol, crysin, genistein, and 5,7,2'-trihydroxyflavone revealed that quercetin expressed the highest apparent affinity, in the low µM range, for Ca(v) 1.2 channels. Neither protein tyrosine kinase nor protein kinase Cα were involved in quercetin-induced stimulation of I(Ca1.2). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Quercetin-like plant flavonoids were active on vascular Ca(v)1.2 channels. Thus, the flavonoid scaffold may be a template for the design of novel modulators of vascular smooth muscle Ca(v)1.2 channels, valuable for the treatment of hypertension and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Saponara
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
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Karasu Y, Dilbaz B, Demir B, Dilbaz S, Secilmis Kerimoglu O, Ercan CM, Keskin U, Korkmaz C, Duru NK, Ergun A, de Zuniga I, Horton M, Oubina A, Scotti L, Abramovich D, Pascuali N, Tesone M, Parborell F, Bouzas N, Yang XH, Chen SL, Chen X, Ye DS, Zheng HY, Nyboe Andersen A, Lauritsen MP, Thuesen LL, Khodadadi M, Shivabasavaiah S, Mozafari R, Ansari Z, Hamdine O, Broekmans F, Eijkemans MJC, Cohlen BJ, Verhoeff A, van Dop PA, Bernardus RE, Lambalk CB, Oosterhuis GJE, Holleboom C, van den Dool-Maasland GC, Verburg HJ, van der Heijden PFM, Blankhart A, Fauser BCJM, Laven JSE, Macklon NS, Agudo D, Lopez C, Alonso M, Huguet E, Bronet F, Garcia-Velasco JA, Requena A, Gonzalez Comadran M, Checa MA, Duran M, Fabregues F, Carreras R, Ersahin A, Kahraman S, Kavrut M, Gorgen B, Acet M, Dokuzeylul N, Aybar F, Lim SY, Park JC, Bae JG, Kim JI, Rhee JH, Mahran A, Abdelmeged A, El-Adawy A, Eissa M, Darne J, Shaw RW, Amer SA, Dai A, Yan G, He Q, Hu Y, Sun H, Ferrero H, Gomez R, Garcia-Pascual CM, Simon C, Gaytan F, Pellicer A, Garcia Pascual CM, Zimmermann RC, Ferrero H, Simon C, Pellicer A, Gomez R, Madani T, Mohammadi Yeganeh L, Khodabakhshi SH, Akhoond MR, Hasani F, Monzo C, Haouzi D, Assou S, Dechaud H, Hamamah S, Amer S, Mahran M, Eissa M, Darne J, Shaw R, Lan V, Nhu G, Tuong H, Mahmoud Youssef MA, Aboulfoutouh I, Al-inany H, Van Der Veen F, Van Wely M, Zhang Q, Fang T, Wu S, Zhang L, Wang B, Li X, Yan G, Sun H, Hu Y, He Q, Ding L, Day A, Wang B, Yan G, Hu Y, Sun H, Zhang L, Fang T, Zhang Q, Wu S, Yan G, Sun H, Hu Y, Fulford B, Boivin J, Alanbay I, Ercan CM, Sakinci M, Coksuer H, Ozturk M, Tapan S, Chung CK, Chung Y, Seo S, Aksoy S, Yakin K, Caliskan S, Salar Z, Ata B, Urman B, Devroey P, Pellicer A, Nyboe Andersen A, Arce JC, Harrison K, Irving J, Osborn J, Harrison M, Fusi F, Arnoldi M, Cappato M, Galbignani E, Galimberti A, Zanga L, Frigerio L, Taghavi SA, Ashrafi M, Karimian L, Mehdizadeh M, Joghataie M, Aflatoonian R, Xu B, Cui YG, Gao LL, Diao FY, Li M, Liu XQ, Liu JY, Jiang F, Li M, Cui YG, Diao FY, Liu JY, Jee BC, Yi G, Kim JY, Suh CS, Kim SH, Liu S, Cui YG, Liu JY, Cai LB, Liu JJ, Ma X, Geenen E, Bots RSGM, Smeenk JMJ, Chang E, Lee W, Seok H, Kim Y, Han J, Yoon T, Lazaros L, Xita N, Zikopoulos K, Makrydimas G, Kaponis A, Sofikitis N, Stefos T, Hatzi E, Georgiou I, Atilgan R, Kumbak B, Sahin L, Ozkan ZS, Simsek M, Sapmaz E, Karacan M, Alwaeely FA, Cebi Z, Berberoglugil M, Ulug M, Camlibel T, Kavrut M, Kahraman S, Ersahin A, Acet M, Yelke H, Kamalak Z, Carlioglu A, Akdeniz D, Uysal S, Inegol Gumus I, Ozturk Turhan N, Regan S, Yovich J, Stanger J, Almahbobi G, Kara M, Aydin T, Turktekin N, Youssef M, Aboulfoutouh I, Al-Inany H, van der Veen F, van Wely M, Hart R, Doherty D, Frederiksen H, Keelan J, Pennell C, Newnham J, Skakkebaek N, Main K, Salem HT, Ismail AA, Viola M, Siebert TI, Steyn DW, Kruger TF, Robin G, Dewailly D, Thomas P, Leroy M, Lefebvre C, soudan B, Pigny P, Decanter C, ElPrince M, Wang F, Zhu Y, Huang H, Valdez Morales F, Vital Reyes V, Mendoza Rodriguez A, Gamboa Dominguez A, Cerbon M, Aizpurua J, Ramos B, Luehr B, Moragues I, Rogel S, Cil AP, Guler ZB, Kisa U, Albu A, Radian S, Grigorescu F, Albu D, Fica S, Al Boghdady L, Ghanem ME, Hassan M, Helal AS, Ozdogan S, Ozdegirmenci O, Dilbaz S, Demir B, Cinar O, Dilbaz B, Goktolga U, Seeber B, Tsybulyak I, Bottcher B, Grubinger T, Czech T, Wildt L, Wojcik J, Howles CM, Destenaves B, Arriagada P, Tavmergen E, Sahin G, Akdogan A, Levi R, Goker ENT, Thuesen LL, Loft A, Smitz J, Nyboe Andersen A, Ricciardi L, Di Florio C, Busacca M, Gagliano D, Immediata V, Selvaggi L, Romualdi D, Guido M, Bouhanna P, Salama S, Kamoud Z, Torre A, Paillusson B, Fuchs F, Bailly M, Wainer R, Tagliaferri V, Busacca M, Gagliano D, Di Florio C, Tartaglia C, Cirella E, Romualdi D, Guido M, Aflatoonian A, Eftekhar M, Mohammadian F, Yousefnejad F, De Cicco S, Gagliano D, Busacca M, Di Florio C, Immediata V, Campagna G, Romualdi D, Guido M, Depalo R, Lippolis C, Vacca M, Nardelli C, Selvaggi L, Cavallini A, Panic T, Mitulovic G, Franz M, Sator K, Tschugguel W, Pietrowski D, Hildebrandt T, Cupisti S, Giltay EJ, Gooren LJ, Oppelt PG, Hackl J, Reissmann C, Schulze C, Heusinger K, Attig M, Hoffmann I, Beckmann MW, Dittrich R, Mueller A, Sharma S, Singh S, Chakravarty A, Sarkar A, Rajani S, Chakravarty BN, Dilbaz S, Ozturk E, Ozdegirmenci O, Demir B, Isikoglu S, Kul S, Dilbaz B, Cinar O, Goktolga U, Eftekhar M, Aflatoonian A, Mohammadian F, Broekmans F, Hillensjo T, Witjes H, Elbers J, Mannaerts B, Gordon K, Krasnopolskaya K, Galaktionova A, Gorskaya O, Kabanova D, Venturella R, Morelli M, Mocciaro R, Capasso S, Cappiello F, Zullo F, Monterde M, Gomez R, Marzal A, Vega O, Rubio-Rubio JM, Diaz-Garcia C, Pellicer A, Gordon K, Kolibianakis E, Griesinger G, Yding Andersen C, Witjes H, Mannaerts B, Ocal P, Guralp O, Aydogan B, Irez T, Cetin M, Senol H, Erol N, Yding Andersen C, Kolibianakis E, Devroey P, Witjes H, Mannaerts B, Gordon K, Griesinger G, Rombauts L, Van Kuijk J, Mannaerts B, Montagut J, Nogueira D, Porcu G, Chomier M, Giorgetti C, Nicollet B, Degoy J, Lehert P, Alviggi C, De Rosa P, Vallone R, Picarelli S, Coppola M, Conforti A, Strina I, Di Carlo C, De Placido G, Hackl J, Cupisti S, Haeberle L, Schulze C, Hildebrandt T, Oppelt PG, Reissmann C, Heusinger K, Attig M, Hoffmann I, Dittrich R, Beckmann MW, Mueller A, Akdogan A, Demirtas O, Sahin G, Tavmergen E, Goker ENT, Fatemi H, Shapiro BS, Griesinger G, Witjes H, Gordon K, Mannaerts BM, Chimote MN, Mehta BN, Chimote NN, Nath NM, Chimote NM, Karia S, Bonifacio M, Bowman M, McArthur S, Jung J, Cho S, Choi Y, Lee B, Seo S, Lee KH, Kim CH, Kwon SK, Kim SH, Kang BM, Jung KS, Basios G, Trakakis E, Hatziagelaki E, Vaggopoulos V, Tsiavou A, Panagopoulos P, Chrelias C, Kassanos D, Sarhan A, Elsamanoudy A, Harira M, Dogan S, Bozdag G, Esinler I, Polat M, Yarali H. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY. Hum Reprod 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/27.s2.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Pantalone D, Monici M, Romano G, Cialdai F, Santi R, Fusi F, Comin C, Bechi P. Colonic and gastric cancer metastatic lymph nodes: applications of autofluorescence-based techniques. Oncol Rev 2011. [DOI: 10.4081/oncol.2010.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphadenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy are still controversial issues in surgical oncology. The detection methods for metastatic lymph nodes include lymphoscintigraphy and radiolabelled antibody, but immunohistochemical sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification is commonly used. The potential diagnostic use of cell and tissue autofluorescence (AF) is well known. Here we review our studies on the application of AF-based techniques for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes. We had previously demonstrated that AF imaging allows discrimination between hyperplastic and primary neoplastic lymph nodes. Our more recent studies show that the combination of autofluorescence microspectroscopy and multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy can be applied to the diagnosis of secondary neoplastic lymph nodes in gastric and colorectal cancer. These techniques have been validated by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Studies are in progress to select the best dye tracer for SLN identification, to improve image quality and to develop a software for automatic analysis of tissue AF to help the decision-making process during surgery.
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Pantalone D, Monici M, Romano G, Cialdai F, Santi R, Fusi F, Comin C, Bechi P. Colonic and gastric cancer metastatic lymph nodes: applications of autofluorescence-based techniques. Oncol Rev 2011. [DOI: 10.4081/oncol.2010.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphadenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy are still controversial issues in surgical oncology. The detection methods for metastatic lymph nodes include lymphoscintigraphy and radiolabelled antibody, but immunohistochemical sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification is commonly used. The potential diagnostic use of cell and tissue autofluorescence (AF) is well known. Here we review our studies on the application of AF-based techniques for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes. We had previously demonstrated that AF imaging allows discrimination between hyperplastic and primary neoplastic lymph nodes. Our more recent studies show that the combination of autofluorescence microspectroscopy and multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy can be applied to the diagnosis of secondary neoplastic lymph nodes in gastric and colorectal cancer. These techniques have been validated by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Studies are in progress to select the best dye tracer for SLN identification, to improve image quality and to develop a software for automatic analysis of tissue AF to help the decision-making process during surgery.
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Pantalone D, Monici M, Romano G, Cialdai F, Santi R, Fusi F, Comin C, Bechi P. Colonic and gastric cancer metastatic lymph nodes: applications of autofluorescence-based techniques. Oncol Rev 2011. [DOI: 10.4081/44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Romano G, Mercatelli L, Fusi F, Guasti A, Favuzza E, Monici M, Mencucci R. Colorimetric comparison of light-filtering intraocular lenses and human crystalline lenses at various ages. J Cataract Refract Surg 2011; 37:758-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2010.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Revised: 10/01/2010] [Accepted: 10/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Pantalone D, Monici M, Romano G, Cialdai F, Santi R, Fusi F, Comin C, Bechi P. Colonic and gastric cancer metastatic lymph nodes: applications of autofluorescence-based techniques. Oncol Rev 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s12156-009-0032-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Monici M, Fusi F, Paglierani M, Marziliano N, Cogoli A, Pratesi R, Bernabei PA. Modeled gravitational unloading triggers differentiation and apoptosis in preosteoclastic cells. J Cell Biochem 2009; 98:65-80. [PMID: 16365883 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.20747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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
Gravity acts permanently on organisms as either static or dynamic stimulation. Understanding the influence of gravitational and mechanical stimuli on biological systems is an intriguing scientific problem. More than two decades of life science studies in low g, either real or modeled by clinostats, as well as experimentation with devices simulating different types of controlled mechanical stimuli, have shown that important biological functions are altered at the single cell level. Here, we show that the human leukemic line FLG 29.1, characterized as an osteoclastic precursor model, is directly sensitive to gravitational unloading, modeled by a random positioning machine (RPM). The phenotypic expression of cytoskeletal proteins, osteoclastic markers, and factors regulating apoptosis was investigated using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, while the expression of the corresponding genes was analyzed using RT-PCR. A quantitative bone resorption assay was performed. Autofluorescence spectroscopy and imaging were applied to gain information on cell metabolism. The results show that modeled hypogravity may trigger both differentiation and apoptosis in FLG 29.1 cells. Indeed, when comparing RPM versus 1 x g cultures, in the former we found cytoskeletal alterations and a marked increase in apoptosis, but the surviving cells showed an osteoclastic-like morphology, overexpression of osteoclastic markers and the ability to resorb bone. In particular, the overexpression of both RANK and its ligand RANKL, maintained even after return to 1 x g conditions, is consistent with the firing of a differentiation process via a paracrine/autocrine mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Monici
- CEO--Center of Excellence in Optronics, L. Enrico Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, Italy.
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Monici M, Basile V, Romano G, Evangelisti L, Lucarini L, Attanasio M, Bertini E, Fusi F, Gensini GF, Pepe G. Fibroblast autofluorescence in connective tissue disorders: a future tool for clinical and differential diagnosis? J Biomed Opt 2008; 13:054025. [PMID: 19021405 DOI: 10.1117/1.2982533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited disorder of connective tissue due to mutations in FBN1 (90%) and TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 (5 to 10%) genes. Clinical and differential diagnosis is difficult because of the inter- and intrafamiliar marked heterogeneity and the variable onset age of clinical manifestations. Among the disorders, in differential diagnosis, thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and Ullrich scleroatonic muscular dystrophy (UCMD) are reported. We evaluate the possibility of utilizing autofluorescence (AF) analysis as a diagnostic tool in the clinical and/or differential diagnosis of MFS and related disorders and in the investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved. Both multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy (MIAM) and autofluorescence microspectroscopy (AMS) have been used to characterize AF emission of fibroblasts from patients affected by inherited connective tissue disorders. Our preliminary results show significant differences in AF emission between normal and pathological fibroblasts, suggesting possible improvement in diagnostics of connective tissue disorders by AF analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Monici
- University of Florence, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, ASAcampus, ASA Research Division, Florence, Italy.
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Rizzolio F, Pramparo T, Sala C, Zuffardi O, De Santis L, Rabellotti E, Calzi F, Fusi F, Bellazzi R, Toniolo D. Epigenetic analysis of the critical region I for premature ovarian failure: demonstration of a highly heterochromatic domain on the long arm of the mammalian X chromosome. J Med Genet 2008; 46:585-92. [PMID: 18628312 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.2007.056093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND X chromosome rearrangements defined a critical region for premature ovarian failure (POF) that extended for >15 Mb in Xq. It has been shown previously that the region could be divided into two functionally distinct portions and suggested that balanced translocations interrupting its proximal part, critical region 1 (CR1), could be responsible for POF through downregulation of ovary expressed autosomal genes translocated to the X chromosome. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION This study reports that such position effect can indeed be demonstrated by analysis of breakpoint regions in somatic cells of POF patients and by the finding that CR1 has a highly heterochromatic organisation, very different from that of the euchromatic autosomal regions involved in the rearrangements. The chromatin organisation of the POF CR1 is likely to be responsible for the epigenetic modifications observed in POF patients. The characteristics of CR1 and its downregulation in oocytes may very well explain its role in POF and the frequency of the POF phenotype in chromosomal rearrangements involving Xq. This study also demonstrates a large and evolutionary conserved domain of the long arm of the X chromosome, largely corresponding to CR1, that may have structural or functional roles, in oocyte maturation or in X chromosome inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rizzolio
- DIBIT, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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Fusi F, Agati G, Pratesi R. The role of ZZ-EZ isomerization in the photochemistry of bilirubin bound to human-serum albumin «in vitro». ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02746744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Rigacci L, Alterini R, Bernabei PA, Ferrini PR, Agati G, Fusi F, Monici M. Multispectral Imaging Autofluorescence Microscopy for the Analysis of Lymph-Node Tissues. Photochem Photobiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1562/0031-8655(2000)0710737miamft2.0.co2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Pantalone D, Andreoli F, Fusi F, Basile V, Romano G, Giustozzi G, Rigacci L, Alterini R, Monici M. Multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy in colonic and gastric cancer metastatic lymph nodes. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 5:230-6. [PMID: 17296531 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2006.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The lymphadenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy procedures have been points of controversy in surgical oncology. The methods available for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes are numerous. These include lymphoscintigraphy and radiolabeled antibody detection, but in most cancers the currently used technique is sentinel lymph node identification, performed primarily through the use of immunohistochemistry. We propose the application of autofluorescence (AF)-based techniques for lymph node evaluation in colorectal and gastric tumors. METHODS We studied 30 clinical cases: 15 colorectal cancers and 15 gastric cancers. All of the patients were in the advanced stages of the disease and were candidates for adjuvant therapy. Autofluorescence microspectroscopy and multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy have been used to analyze the AF emission of metastatic lymph node sections, excited with 365-nm wavelength radiation. The AF spectra were recorded in the range of 400-700 nm. Monochrome AF images were acquired sequentially through interference filters peaked at 450, 550, and 650 nm, and then combined together in a single red-green-blue image. The AF pattern and the emission spectrum of metastatic lymph nodes have unique characteristics that can be used to distinguish them from the normal ones. RESULTS The results, compared with standard histopathologic procedures and with specific staining methods, supplied a satisfactory validation of the proposed technique, revealing the possibility of improving the actual diagnostic procedures for malignant lymph node alterations. CONCLUSIONS With the development of appropriate instrumentation, the proposed technique could be particularly suitable in intrasurgical diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree Pantalone
- Department of Critical Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Saponara S, Testai L, Iozzi D, Martinotti E, Martelli A, Chericoni S, Sgaragli G, Fusi F, Calderone V. (+/-)-Naringenin as large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ (BKCa) channel opener in vascular smooth muscle cells. Br J Pharmacol 2006; 149:1013-21. [PMID: 17088866 PMCID: PMC2014637 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [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: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to investigate, in vascular smooth muscle cells, the mechanical and electrophysiological effects of (+/-)-naringenin. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Aorta ring preparations and single tail artery myocytes were employed for functional and patch-clamp experiments, respectively. KEY RESULTS (+/-)-Naringenin induced concentration-dependent relaxation in endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings pre-contracted with either 20 mM KCl or noradrenaline (pIC(50) values of 4.74 and 4.68, respectively). Tetraethylammonium, iberiotoxin, 4-aminopyridine and 60 mM KCl antagonised (+/-)-naringenin-induced vasorelaxation, while glibenclamide did not produce any significant antagonism. Naringin [(+/-)-naringenin 7-beta-neohesperidoside] caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of rings pre-contracted with 20 mM KCl, although its potency and efficacy were significantly lower than those of (+/-)-naringenin. In rat tail artery myocytes, (+/-)-naringenin increased large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) currents in a concentration-dependent manner; this stimulation was iberiotoxin-sensitive and fully reversible upon drug wash-out. (+/-)-Naringenin accelerated the activation kinetics of BK(Ca) current, shifted, by 22 mV, the voltage dependence of the activation curve to more negative potentials, and decreased the slope of activation. (+/-)-Naringenin-induced stimulation of BK(Ca) current was insensitive either to changes in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration or to the presence, in the pipette solution, of the fast Ca(2+) chelator BAPTA. However, such stimulation was diminished when the K(+) gradient across the membrane was reduced. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The vasorelaxant effect of the naturally-occurring flavonoid (+/-)-naringenin on endothelium-denuded vessels was due to the activation of BK(Ca) channels in myocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Saponara
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Siena Siena, Italy
| | - L Testai
- Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa Pisa, Italy
| | - D Iozzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Siena Siena, Italy
| | - E Martinotti
- Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa Pisa, Italy
| | - A Martelli
- Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa Pisa, Italy
| | - S Chericoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Bioorganica e Biofarmacia, Università degli Studi di Pisa Pisa, Italy
| | - G Sgaragli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Siena Siena, Italy
| | - F Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Siena Siena, Italy
- Author for correspondence:
| | - V Calderone
- Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Pisa Pisa, Italy
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Mencucci R, Mercatelli L, Fusi F, Ponchietti C, Monici M, Menchini U. AcrySof Natural intraocular lens optical characteristics during and after different doses of ultraviolet-visible light illumination. J Cataract Refract Surg 2006; 32:1961-5. [PMID: 17081904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2006.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2006] [Accepted: 06/25/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the optical transmission properties of a recently introduced intraocular lens (IOL) (AcrySof Natural SN60AT, Alcon Laboratories) and compare them with those of a conventional IOL (AcrySof SA60AT, Alcon Laboratories) after ultraviolet (UV)-visible light irradiation. SETTING Eye Clinic and Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, and the National Institute of Applied Optics, Florence, Italy. METHODS Two IOLs, the AcrySof Natural with a UV and blue-light filter and the AcrySof without a blue-light filter, were studied. Three IOLs of each model with different dioptric powers were examined in two experimental setups. The samples were stressed with very high irradiance to reproduce light aging, and the transmission properties of the IOLs were studied. RESULTS No significant decrease in transmission was found at a UV-visible light dose equivalent to 100 years of light aging. CONCLUSION The AcrySof Natural IOL has stable optical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Mencucci
- Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Surgical Sciences-Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Italy.
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Fusi F, Saponara S, Valoti M, Dragoni S, D'Elia P, Sgaragli T, Alderighi D, Kawase M, Shah A, Motohashi N, Sgaragli G. Cancer Cell Permeability-Glycoprotein as a Target of MDR Reverters: Possible Role of Novel Dihydropyridine Derivatives. Curr Drug Targets 2006; 7:949-59. [PMID: 16918323 DOI: 10.2174/138945006778019336] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The overexpression of permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp) and other drug transporters (ATP-binding cassette) confers a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype on cells in various diseases, including many forms of cancer. Development of MDR is one of the main reasons of failure in malignant tumour chemotherapy, as tumour cells, by increasing drug efflux, acquire cross-resistance to many structurally and functionally unrelated anticancer agents, which therefore never achieve effective intracellular concentrations. Endeavouring to find MDR-reverters is a crucial task for exploring new anti-cancer therapeutic intervention. Although many P-gp inhibitors have so far been identified, it is widely recognised that their interaction with P-gp is a complex process and, presently, the details of the mechanisms of action are still a matter of debate. These compounds turned out, however, to be of limited clinical usefulness owing to their inherent pharmacological activities (first generation compounds) and their accessory, inhibiting activity on CYP enzyme system (second generation compounds). Moreover, recent advances of the knowledge on P-gp structure and function and on the mechanisms of P-gp inhibition will prove fruitful for the development of novel therapeutically effective P-gp inhibitors. A dibenzoyl-1,4-dihydropyridine compound (DP7) has been shown to be a powerful P-gp inhibitor, almost devoid of cardiovascular effects, but capable of inhibiting liver CYP3A. DP7 is considered a lead compound for the development of novel dihydropyridines which do not affect CYP enzyme system but still retain the activity towards ABC-efflux transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Fusi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Male infertility caused by irreparable obstructive azoospermia is widely treated with MESA (Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) or TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction) or PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) followed by an Intracytoplasmatic Spermatozoa Injection (ICSI). For each procedures are claimed advantages and disadvantages. Aim of this work is to describe our technique (OESA) for sperm retrieval reporting the results. METHODS From 1998 to 2003 153 sperm retrieval procedures in azoospermic patients were performed. The technique consists in a small (1 cm.) surgical incision of scrotal wall under local or spinal anaesthesia. After inspecting the intrascrotal component to record the status of the epididymis and of the testicle, epididymal sperm aspiration was performed in the most appropriate site with 18 gauge needle. The aspirated spermatozoa were used immediately after aspiration not being permitted in our Institute cryopreservation. When no sperms were found TESE was performed. RESULTS In 78 cases aspiration from epididymis was successful (OESA). In the other patients (75) TESE was performed. Higher count of spermatozoa were retrieved in all cases of OESA. Pregnancy rate was 26.6% for OESA and 6.4% for TESE. No complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS This technique is very simple and easy allowing to obtain the advantages of microsurgical techniques (mainly choice of the most appropriate site of aspiration and immediate haemostasis if needed) with minimal invasivity (avoiding epididymal surgical incision). Moreover if OESA does not allow sperm extraction is possible to perform immediately TESE.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lania
- Department of Urology, Institute H. S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Morbidelli L, Monici M, Marziliano N, Cogoli A, Fusi F, Waltenberger J, Ziche M. Simulated hypogravity impairs the angiogenic response of endothelium by up-regulating apoptotic signals. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 334:491-9. [PMID: 16005852 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.06.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2005] [Accepted: 06/21/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Health hazards in astronauts are represented by cardiovascular problems and impaired bone healing. These disturbances are characterized by a common event, the loss of function by vascular endothelium, leading to impaired angiogenesis. We investigated whether the exposure of cultured endothelial cells to hypogravity condition could affect their behaviour in terms of functional activity, biochemical responses, morphology, and gene expression. Simulated hypogravity conditions for 72 h produced a reduction of cell number. Genomic analysis of endothelial cells exposed to hypogravity revealed that proapoptotic signals increased, while antiapoptotic and proliferation/survival genes were down-regulated by modelled low gravity. Activation of apoptosis was accompanied by morphological changes with mitochondrial disassembly and organelles/cytoplasmic NAD(P)H redistribution, as evidenced by autofluorescence analysis. In this condition cells were not able to respond to angiogenic stimuli in terms of migration and proliferation. Our study documents functional, morphological, and transcription alterations in vascular endothelium exposed to simulated low gravity conditions, thus providing insights on the occurrence of vascular tissue dysregulation in crewmen during prolonged space flights. Moreover, the alteration of vascular endothelium can intervene as a concause in other systemic effects, like bone remodelling, observed in weightlessness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Morbidelli
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular Biology and C.R.I.S.M.A., University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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