1
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Del Tatto V, Fortunato G, Bueti D, Laio A. Robust inference of causality in high-dimensional dynamical processes from the Information Imbalance of distance ranks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317256121. [PMID: 38687797 PMCID: PMC11087807 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317256121] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We introduce an approach which allows detecting causal relationships between variables for which the time evolution is available. Causality is assessed by a variational scheme based on the Information Imbalance of distance ranks, a statistical test capable of inferring the relative information content of different distance measures. We test whether the predictability of a putative driven system Y can be improved by incorporating information from a potential driver system X, without explicitly modeling the underlying dynamics and without the need to compute probability densities of the dynamic variables. This framework makes causality detection possible even between high-dimensional systems where only few of the variables are known or measured. Benchmark tests on coupled chaotic dynamical systems demonstrate that our approach outperforms other model-free causality detection methods, successfully handling both unidirectional and bidirectional couplings. We also show that the method can be used to robustly detect causality in human electroencephalography data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Del Tatto
- Physics Section, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste34136, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Fortunato
- Physics Section, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste34136, Italy
| | - Domenica Bueti
- Physics Section, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste34136, Italy
| | - Alessandro Laio
- Physics Section, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste34136, Italy
- Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics Section, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste34151, Italy
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2
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Fortunato G, Togoli I, Bueti D. The more numerous the longer: how the integration between numerosity and time leads to a common neural response. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230260. [PMID: 37161323 PMCID: PMC10170217 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
If you are stuck in a traffic jam, the more numerous the queuing cars are, the longer you expect to wait. Time and numerosity are stimulus dimensions often associated in the same percept and whose interaction can lead to misjudgements. At brain level it is unclear to which extent time and numerosity recruit same/different neural populations and how their perceptual integration leads to changes in these populations' responses. Here we used high-spatial-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging with neural model-based analyses to investigate how the topographic representations of numerosity and time change when these dimensions are varied together on the same visual stimulus in a congruent (the more numerous the items, the longer the display time) or incongruent manner. Compared to baseline conditions, where only one dimension was changed at a time, the variation of both stimulus dimensions led to changes in neural population responses that became more sensitive either to the two features or to one of them. Magnitude integration led also to degradation of topographies and shifts in response preferences. These changes were more pronounced in the comparison between parietal and frontal maps. Our results while pointing to partially distinct representations of time and numerosity show a common neural response to magnitude integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Fortunato
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Irene Togoli
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Domenica Bueti
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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3
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Calcaterra I, Di Minno A, Anesi A, Cavalca V, Tripaldella M, Tremoli E, Iannuzzo Di Taranto G, Fortunato G, Di Minno M. An untargeted lipidomic analysis reveals depletion of several phospholipid classes in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia on treatment with Evolocumab®. Atherosclerosis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.06.191] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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4
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Palma D, Cardiero G, Flagiello C, Galicia-Garcia U, Larrea A, Di Taranto M, Martin C, Iannuzzo G, Di Minno M, Pipolo A, Fortunato G. Evidence of novel APO B gene complex allele causing familial hypercholesterolaemia. Atherosclerosis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.06.634] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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5
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Tsukazan M, Soares M, Miotto A, Saueressig M, Fortunato G, Camargo S, Oliveira H, Vigo A, Brand L, De Sateles S, Terra R. P06.09 Lobectomy for Lung Cancer, What Is the Brazilian reality? Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgeons Analysis. J Thorac Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2021.08.288] [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: 11/25/2022]
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6
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Furer L, Díaz Abad A, Fortunato G, Schürle-Finke S, Buerki-Thurnherr T. Novel biomimetic membranes for nanoparticle transport studies at biological barriers. Toxicol Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4274(21)00396-9] [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: 11/24/2022]
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7
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Giacobbe C, Di Taranto M, Palma D, Gelzo M, Caputo M, Cardiero G, Corso G, Guardamagna O, Fortunato G. Identification of a rare variants in ABCG5/ABCG8 genes in patients with clinical suspect of familial hyperchoelsterolemia. Atherosclerosis 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.06.144] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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8
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Di Taranto M, Giacobbe C, Buonaiuto A, Calcaterra I, Palma D, Maione G, Cardiero G, Iannuzzo G, Di Minno M, Rubba P, Fortunato G. Genetics and biochemical profile of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.10.649] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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9
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Buonaiuto A, Gentile M, Calcaterra I, Giacobbe C, Tripaldella M, Forte F, Di Minno M, Iannuzzo G, Fortunato G, Rubba P. Correlation between different LDL-R mutations and response to AB-PCSK9 therapy in a group of patient with genetic diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.10.162] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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10
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Buonaiuto A, Gentile M, Calcaterra I, Giacobbe C, Tripaldella M, Forte F, Iannuzzo G, Di Minno M, Fortunato G, Rubba P. Correlation between different LDL-R mutations and response to ab-PCSK9 therapy in a group of patient with genetic diagnosis of Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Preliminary report. Eur Heart J 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.3332] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease that leads to premature cardiovascular disease (CAD). The availability of ab-PCSK9 has changed the approach to therapy.
Purpose
To evaluate the relationship between different types of mutations in LDLR gene and response to ab-PCSK9.
Methods
73 FH patients, 33 women and 40 men (53.9±13. yrs), in primary prevention (N=46) and secondary prevention (N=27), were recruited. This sample included patients with mutations in LDLR gene: heterozygotes for missense mutations (N=31), for null mutations (N=31), compound heterozygotes or homozygotes (N=11). At baseline, the whole sample had a maximally tolerated lipid lowering therapy (MT-LLT) without ab-PCSK9; 16 patients had MT-LLTs intolerance. After 160 days with ab-PCSK9 therapy we evaluated the achievement of a goal (LDL-C<70 mg/dL in primary prevention without Diabetes Mellitus, LDL-C<55 mg/dL).
Results
After 160 days of therapy with ab-PCSK9 (45 patients on Alirocumab, 28 patients on Evolocumab) and MT-LLT, 29/73 patients (39.7%) of the whole sample achieve the goal of LDL-C. Of them 14/29 (48.2%) were in primary prevention, 15/29 (51.7%) in secondary prevention, no difference in achievement of the goal. We then evaluated the percent of patients achieving the goal of LDL-C:
15/31 (48.3%) patients with missense mutation and 14/31 (45.1%) patients with null mutation, no significant difference among groups;
0/11 compound heterozygotes or homozygotes;
3/16 (18.7%) MT-LLTs intolerance.
The other main cardiovascular risk factors did not influence of the achievement the goal of LDL cholesterol.
Conclusions
Lack of correlation between type of mutation in heterozygous FH patients and ab-PCSK9 therapy response; response was significantly poorest in patients with compound heterozygosis or homozygosis mutation as compared to heterozygotes; the intolerance to MT-LLT was significant in the achievement of the goal of LDL-C.
Different between guideline 2016 vs 2019
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
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Affiliation(s)
- A Buonaiuto
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - M Gentile
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - I.L Calcaterra
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - C Giacobbe
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, 2Dipartimento di Medicina molecolare e Biotecnologie mediche, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Na, Napoli, Italy
| | - M Tripaldella
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - F Forte
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - G Iannuzzo
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - M.N.D Di Minno
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
| | - G Fortunato
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, 2Dipartimento di Medicina molecolare e Biotecnologie mediche, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Na, Napoli, Italy
| | - P.O.F Rubba
- ASL Napoli 1 Centre, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università “Federico II” di Napoli, Napoli, Italy, Napoli, Italy
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11
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Abstract
Auxetic materials have gained increasing interest in the last decades, fostered by auspicious applications in various fields. While the design of new auxetics has largely focused on meta-materials with deterministic, periodically arranged structures, we show here by theoretical and numerical analysis that pronounced auxetic behaviour with negative Poisson's ratios of very large magnitude can occur in random fibre networks with slender, reasonably straight fibre segments that buckle and deflect. We further demonstrate in experiments that such auxetic fibre networks, which increase their thickness by an order of magnitude and more than quintuple their volume when moderately extended, can be produced by electrospinning. Our results thus augment the class of auxetics by a large group of straightforwardly fabricable meta-materials with stochastic microstructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Domaschke
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Mechanical Systems, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - A Morel
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, 9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - G Fortunato
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, 9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - A E Ehret
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Mechanical Systems, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
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12
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Lasaponara S, Fortunato G, Dragone A, Pellegrino M, Marson F, Silvetti M, Pinto M, D'Onofrio M, Doricchi F. Expectancy modulates pupil size both during endogenous orienting and during re‐orienting of spatial attention: A study with isoluminant stimuli. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 50:2893-2904. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Lasaponara
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Umane Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta – LUMSA Roma Italy
| | | | - Alessio Dragone
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39 Sapienza Università di Roma Roma Italy
| | - Michele Pellegrino
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39 Sapienza Università di Roma Roma Italy
| | - Fabio Marson
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39 Sapienza Università di Roma Roma Italy
| | - Massimo Silvetti
- Department of Experimental Psychology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC‐CNR) National Research Council Rome Italy
| | - Mario Pinto
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39 Sapienza Università di Roma Roma Italy
| | - Marianna D'Onofrio
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39 Sapienza Università di Roma Roma Italy
| | - Fabrizio Doricchi
- Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia dell'attenzione Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Roma Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39 Sapienza Università di Roma Roma Italy
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13
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Morel A, Domaschke S, Urundolil Kumaran V, Alexeev D, Sadeghpour A, Ramakrishna S, Ferguson S, Rossi R, Mazza E, Ehret A, Fortunato G. Correlating diameter, mechanical and structural properties of poly(l-lactide) fibres from needleless electrospinning. Acta Biomater 2018; 81:169-183. [PMID: 30273744 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The development and application of nanofibres requires a thorough understanding of the mechanical properties on a single fibre level including respective modelling tools for precise fibre analysis. This work presents a mechanical and morphological study of poly-l-lactide nanofibres developed by needleless electrospinning. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micromechanical testing (MMT) were used to characterise the mechanical response of the fibres within a diameter range of 200-1400 nm. Young's moduli E determined by means of both methods are in sound agreement and show a strong increase for thinner fibres below a critical diameter of 800 nm. Similar increasing trends for yield stress and hardening modulus were measured by MMT. Finite element analyses show that the common practice of modelling three-point bending tests with either double supported or double clamped beams is prone to significant bias in the determined elastic properties, and that the latter is a good approximation only for small diameters. Therefore, an analytical formula based on intermediate boundary conditions is proposed that is valid for the whole tested range of fibre diameters, providing a consistently low error in axial Young's modulus below 10%. The analysis of fibre morphology by differential scanning calorimetry and 2D wide-angle X-ray scattering revealed increasing polymer chains alignment in the amorphous phase and higher crystallinity of fibres for decreasing diameter. The combination of these observations with the mechanical characterisation suggests a linear relationship between Young's modulus and both crystallinity and molecular orientation in the amorphous phase. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Fibrous membranes have rapidly growing use in various applications, each of which comes with specific property requirements. However, the development and production of nanofibre membranes with dedicated mechanical properties is challenging, in particular with techniques suitable for industrial scales such as needleless electrospinning. It is therefore a key step to understand the mechanical and structural characteristics of single nanofibres developed in this process, and to this end, the present work presents changes of internal fibre structure and mechanical properties with diameter, based on dedicated models. Special attention was given to the commonly used models for analyzing Young's modulus of single nanofibers in three-point bending tests, which are shown to be prone to large errors, and an improved robust approach is proposed.
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14
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Fortunato
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience Area, Trieste (Italy)
| | - Tatiana Kénel-Pierre
- Laboratory for Investigative Neurophysiology (LINE) and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne (Switzerland)
| | - Micah Murray
- Laboratory for Investigative Neurophysiology (LINE) and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne (Switzerland)
| | - Domenica Bueti
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience Area, Trieste (Italy)
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15
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Palma D, Di Taranto M, Savoia M, de Falco R, D'Armiento F, Guercio LD, Bracale U, Fortunato G. The role of galectin-3 and LP(A) in atherosclerosis: A combined analysis of serum levels and plaque characteristics. Atherosclerosis 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.06.128] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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16
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Palareti G, Legnani C, Guazzaloca G, Frascaro M, Grauso F, De Rosa F, Fortunato G, Coccheri S. Activation of Blood Coagulation after Abrupt or Stepwise Withdrawal of Oral Anticoagulants - A Prospective Study. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1648843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryThe occurrence of a “rebound hypercoagulable state” in patients after discontinuation of oral anticoagulants is still a matter of debate and no definite recommendation can be made on the best procedure for anticoagulant withdrawal. The present study investigated the changes in the levels of markers of activated blood coagulation in 32 patients (pts) in whom warfarin treatment (for venous thromboembolic disease) was randomly withdrawn abruptly (n = 17, group A) or gradually (n = 15, group B: ⅔ of initial dose the 1st week, ⅓ the 2nd weeks and nothing from the 3rd week on). Blood was sampled at baseline, once a week for the first three weeks and after 2 months. At the 1st week group A had significantly higher F1+2 and TAT values (p <0.001); at the 2nd week F1 + 2 levels remained higher (p <0.05) though INR values were not different from those of group B. After baseline, higher than normal F1+2 levels were recorded in 32/66 (48%) controls in group A vs 15/60 (25%) in group B (p <0.01); at the 2nd week, 10/17 (59%) patients in group A vs 1/15 (7%) in group B still had higher than normal F1+2 levels (p <0.01 ). The values of areas under curve (AUC) and maximum concentrations of all variables were not statistically different in the two groups; however, very high levels were observed in a few cases of group A. Thrombotic events (one DVT recurrence and one thrombophlebitis in a varicose vein) occurred in 2 pts of group A, both with high F1+2 and TAT AUC values. In conclusion, the present study shows that withdrawal of oral anticoagulants elicits low grade transient clotting activation, which is more intense and longer lasting after abrupt discontinuation. In single cases, however, such activation is particularly intense. It is possible that these cases are at greater risk of thrombotic complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Palareti
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - C Legnani
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Guazzaloca
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Frascaro
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - F Grauso
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - F De Rosa
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Fortunato
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Coccheri
- The Department of Angiology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
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17
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Pinto M, Fattorini E, Lasaponara S, D'Onofrio M, Fortunato G, Doricchi F. Visualising numerals: An ERPs study with the attentional SNARC task. Cortex 2018; 101:1-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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Weidenbacher L, Abrishamkar A, Rottmar M, Guex A, Maniura-Weber K, deMello A, Ferguson S, Rossi R, Fortunato G. Electrospraying of microfluidic encapsulated cells for the fabrication of cell-laden electrospun hybrid tissue constructs. Acta Biomater 2017; 64:137-147. [PMID: 29030306 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The fabrication of functional 3D tissues is a major goal in tissue engineering. While electrospinning is a promising technique to manufacture a structure mimicking the extracellular matrix, cell infiltration into electrospun scaffolds remains challenging. The robust and in situ delivery of cells into such biomimetic scaffolds would potentially enable the design of tissue engineered constructs with spatial control over cellular distribution but often solvents employed in the spinning process are problematic due to their high cytotoxicity. Herein, microfluidic cell encapsulation is used to establish a temporary protection vehicle for the in situ delivery of cells for the development of a fibrous, cell-laden hybrid biograft. Therefore a layer-by-layer process is used by alternating fiber electrospinning and cell spraying procedures. Both encapsulation and subsequent electrospraying of capsules has no negative effect on the viability and myogenic differentiation of murine myoblast cells. Propidium iodide positive stained cells were analyzed to quantify the amount of dead cells and the presence of myosin heavy chain positive cells after the processes was shown. Furthermore, encapsulation successfully protects cells from cytotoxic solvents (such as dimethylformamide) during in situ delivery of the cells into electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) scaffolds. The resulting cell-populated biografts demonstrate the clear potential of this approach in the creation of viable tissue engineering constructs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Infiltration of cells and their controlled spatial distribution within fibrous electrospun membranes is a challenging task but allows for the development of functional highly organized 3D hybrid tissues. Combining polymer electrospinning and cell electrospraying in a layer-by-layer approach is expected to overcome current limitations of reduced cell infiltration after traditional static seeding. However, organic solvents, used during the electrospinning process, impede often major issues due to their high cytotoxicity. Utilizing microfluidic encapsulation as a mean to embed cells within a protective polymer casing enables the controlled deposition of viable cells without interfering with the cellular phenotype. The presented techniques allow for novel cell manipulation approaches being significant for enhanced 3D tissue engineering based on its versatility in terms of material and cell selection.
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19
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Tsukazan MR, Terra R, Santoro I, Fortunato G, Meirelles G, Detterbeck F. P2.13-022 Lung Nodule Survey: One Pathology, Perspectives from Thoracic Surgeon, Pulmonologist and Radiology Point of View. J Thorac Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2017.09.1369] [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: 10/18/2022]
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20
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Frauchiger DA, Tekari A, Wöltje M, Fortunato G, Benneker LM, Gantenbein B, Gantenbein B. A review of the application of reinforced hydrogels and silk as biomaterials for intervertebral disc repair. Eur Cell Mater 2017; 34:271-290. [PMID: 29064532 DOI: 10.22203/ecm.v034a17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) within the spinal column represents a major pain source for many patients. Biological restoration or repair of the IVD using "compressive-force-resistant" and at the same time "cytocompatible" materials would be desirable over current purely mechanical solutions, such as spinal fusion or IVD implants. This review provides an overview of recent research on the repair of the inner (nucleus pulposus = NP) and the outer (annulus fibrous = AF) parts of the IVD tissue. Many studies have addressed NP repair using hydrogel-like materials. However, only a few studies have so far focused on AF repair. As the AF possesses an extremely low self-healing capacity and special attention to shear-force resistance is essential, special repair designs are required. In our review, we stated the challenges in IVD repair and highlighted the use of composite materials such as silk biomaterials and fibrin cross-linked reinforced hydrogels. We elaborated on the origin of silk and its many in tissue engineering. Furthermore, techniques such as electrospinning and 3D printing technologies allow the fabrication of versatile and functionalised 3D scaffolds. We summarised the research that has been conducted in the field of regenerative medicine over the recent years, with a special focus on the potential application and the potential of combining silk and reinforced - and thus mechanically tailored - hydrogels for IVD repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - B Gantenbein
- Tissue and Organ Mechanobiology, Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics, Stauffacherstrasse 78, 3014 Bern,
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Terra R, Salati M, Brunelli A, Fortunato G, Lauricella L, Pinto-Filho D. P-167THE USE OF EUROLUNG TO EVALUATE AND BENCHMARK ANATOMIC LUNG RESECTIONS: OUTCOMES OF THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGERY DATABASE CONTRIBUTORS. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivx280.167] [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: 11/14/2022] Open
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22
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Calluso C, Tosoni A, Fortunato G, Committeri G. Can you change my preferences? Effect of social influence on intertemporal choice behavior. Behav Brain Res 2017; 330:78-84. [PMID: 28478066 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The present study presents a novel social observation paradigm to examine whether temporal discounting (TD) can be modulated in a specific direction. In particular, after estimating a baseline discount rate, we exposed subjects to a pattern of choice that was opposite to their baseline preferences, i.e., subjects preferring immediate over delayed rewards were exposed to a farsighted pattern of behavior and vice-versa. The results showed a significant decrease of the discount rate in the discounter group and an increase in the farsighted group. The effect was mainly guided by a modification of the subjective values at short time delays and was stronger in subjects with extreme, compared to mild, baseline preferences. Importantly, the magnitude and direction of the effect predicted the baseline preferences. These findings have potentially very relevant implications for the prevention and treatment of clinical conditions, such as addition-related disorders, characterized by severe impairments of decision-making mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Calluso
- Department of Business and Management, LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Advances Biomedical Technologies, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Tosoni
- Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Advances Biomedical Technologies, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Fortunato
- CIMeC - Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Italy; Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giorgia Committeri
- Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Advances Biomedical Technologies, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
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Pazzini L, Polese D, Maiolo L, Castagnola E, Maggiolini E, Zucchini E, Marrani M, Fortunato G, Fadiga L, Ricci D. Brain stimulation and recording with ultra-flexible PEDOT-CNT-coated micro-ECoG electrode arrays. Brain Stimul 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.01.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Polgar L, Fortunato G, Araya-Hermosilla R, van Duin M, Pucci A, Picchioni F. Cross-linking of rubber in the presence of multi-functional cross-linking aids via thermoreversible Diels-Alder chemistry. Eur Polym J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Terra R, Fortunato G, Camargo S, Tsukazan M, Lauricella L, Oliveira H, Filho DP. F-056OUTCOMES OF ANATOMIC LUNG RESECTIONS IN BRAZIL: RESULTS OF A NATIONAL DATABASE FROM THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGERY. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivw260.56] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
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Guaraldi F, Di Taranto M, Giacobbe C, Fortunato G, Guardamagna O. Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in children: an Italian experience. Atherosclerosis 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.07.356] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Araya-Hermosilla R, Lima G, Raffa P, Fortunato G, Pucci A, Flores ME, Moreno-Villoslada I, Broekhuis A, Picchioni F. Intrinsic self-healing thermoset through covalent and hydrogen bonding interactions. Eur Polym J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Araya-Hermosilla R, Pucci A, Araya-Hermosilla E, Pescarmona PP, Raffa P, Polgar LM, Moreno-Villoslada I, Flores M, Fortunato G, Broekhuis AA, Picchioni F. An easy synthetic way to exfoliate and stabilize MWCNTs in a thermoplastic pyrrole-containing matrix assisted by hydrogen bonds. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra11054a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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] Open
Abstract
MWCNTs were dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer containing pyrrole units in the main chain and hydroxyl pendant groups, affording a well-distributed percolative network. The resulting soft nanocomposite shows stable conductive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Araya-Hermosilla
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - A. Pucci
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Italy
| | - E. Araya-Hermosilla
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - P. P. Pescarmona
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - P. Raffa
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - L. M. Polgar
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - I. Moreno-Villoslada
- Instituto de Ciencias Químicas
- Facultad de Ciencias
- Universidad Austral de Chile
- Chile
| | - M. Flores
- Instituto de Ciencias Químicas
- Facultad de Ciencias
- Universidad Austral de Chile
- Chile
| | - G. Fortunato
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Italy
| | - A. A. Broekhuis
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - F. Picchioni
- Department of Chemical Engineering/Product Technology
- University of Groningen
- Groningen
- The Netherlands
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Convertino A, Maiolo L, Scuderi V, Di Mauro A, Scuderi M, Nicotra G, Impellizzeri G, Fortunato G, Privitera V. A forest of SiO2 nanowires covered by a TiO2 thin film for an efficient photocatalytic water treatment. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra15986a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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] Open
Abstract
Disordered TiO2/SiO2 nanowires possess enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the synergy of morphology and light trapping properties of the NW forest.
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Araya-Hermosilla R, Fortunato G, Pucci A, Raffa P, Polgar L, Broekhuis A, Pourhossein P, Lima G, Beljaars M, Picchioni F. Thermally reversible rubber-toughened thermoset networks via Diels–Alder chemistry. Eur Polym J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Di Taranto MD, D'Agostino MN, Fortunato G. Functional characterization of mutant genes associated with autosomal dominant familial hypercholesterolemia: integration and evolution of genetic diagnosis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2015; 25:979-987. [PMID: 26165249 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2015.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most frequent dyslipidemias, the autosomal dominant form of which is primarily caused by mutations in the LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) genes, although in around 20% of patients the genetic cause remains unidentified. Genetic testing has notably improved the identification of patients suffering from FH, the most frequent cause of which is the presence of mutations in the LDLR gene. Although more than 1200 different mutations have been identified in this gene, about 80% are recognized to be pathogenic. We aim to overview the current methods used to perform the functional characterization of mutations causing FH and to highlight the conditions requiring a functional characterization of the variant in order to obtain a diagnostic report. DATA SYNTHESIS In the current review, we summarize the different types of functional assays - including their advantages and disadvantages - performed to characterize mutations in the LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 genes helping to better define their pathogenic role. We describe the evaluation of splicing alterations and two major procedures for functional characterization: 1. ex vivo methods, using cells from FH patients; 2. in vitro methods using cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Functional characterization of the LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 mutant genes associated with FH can be considered a necessary integration of its genetic diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M N D'Agostino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - G Fortunato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy; CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate S.C.a r.l., Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy.
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Fortunato G, Ciaravola V, Furno A, Lorenz B, Persson BNJ. General theory of frictional heating with application to rubber friction. J Phys Condens Matter 2015; 27:175008. [PMID: 25873527 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/17/175008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The energy dissipation in the contact regions between solids in sliding contact can result in high local temperatures which may strongly effect friction and wear. This is the case for rubber sliding on road surfaces at speeds above 1 mm s(-1). We derive equations which describe the frictional heating for solids with arbitrary thermal properties. The theory is applied to rubber friction on road surfaces and we take into account that the frictional energy is partly produced inside the rubber due to the internal friction of rubber and in a thin (nanometer) interfacial layer at the rubber-road contact region. The heat transfer between the rubber and the road surface is described by a heat transfer coefficient which depends on the sliding speed. Numerical results are presented and compared to experimental data. We find that frictional heating results in a kinetic friction force which depends on the orientation of the sliding block, thus violating one of the two basic Leonardo da Vinci 'laws' of friction.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fortunato
- Bridgestone Technical Center Europe, Via del Fosso del Salceto 13/15, 00128 Rome, Italy
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Kolbuk D, Guimond-Lischer S, Sajkiewicz P, Maniura-Weber K, Fortunato G. The Effect of Selected Electrospinning Parameters on Molecular Structure of Polycaprolactone Nanofibers. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2014.945209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Fortunato G, Tenniche A, Gottardo L, Hufenus R. Development of poly-(ethylene terephthalate) masterbatches incorporating highly dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles: Investigation of morphologies by optical and rheological procedures. Eur Polym J 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2014.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Shoup JP, Winkler J, Czap A, Staff I, Fortunato G, McCullough LD, Sansing LH. β-Blockers associated with no class-specific survival benefit in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. J Neurol Sci 2013; 336:127-31. [PMID: 24183854 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2013.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/21/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite the high mortality, there is currently no specific treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Research investigating optimum degree of blood pressure control in patients presenting with ICH and hypertension is ongoing. However, there is limited understanding of the potential benefits of specific classes of antihypertensive therapy. β-Adrenergic antagonists may provide neuroprotection from inflammation-induced injury by inhibiting sympathetic nervous system mediated immune activation. We examined mortality in ICH patients receiving β-adrenergic antagonists to determine whether this class of antihypertensive therapy was associated with improved survival. METHODS A retrospective analysis of a large, prospectively collected database of patients presenting with acute ICH was performed. Patients were grouped by inpatient β-blocker treatment to determine an effect on mortality during the inpatient stay and at 3 months of follow-up. Additional analysis was conducted comparing β-blocker therapy to any other antihypertensive treatment to determine a class-specific association of β-blocker treatment with mortality. RESULTS The study population included 426 patients with acute, spontaneous ICH. Inpatient β-blocker use was independently associated with decreased rates of inpatient death and mortality at 3 months of follow-up. However, univariate and multivariable analyses comparing β-blocker use to other antihypertensives failed to show any class-specific reduction in mortality at either time point. DISCUSSION Our study demonstrates that the improvement seen in patients treated with β-adrenergic antagonists is not an effect unique to this class. This supports ongoing trials to determine optimum levels of blood pressure control using multiple classes of antihypertensives.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Shoup
- The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, United States.
| | - J Winkler
- The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, United States.
| | - A Czap
- The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, United States.
| | - I Staff
- Hartford Hospital Research Department, United States.
| | - G Fortunato
- Hartford Hospital Research Department, United States.
| | - L D McCullough
- The University of Connecticut Health Center, Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, United States; The Stroke Center at Hartford Hospital, United States.
| | - L H Sansing
- The Stroke Center at Hartford Hospital, United States.
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Lorenz B, Persson BNJ, Fortunato G, Giustiniano M, Baldoni F. Rubber friction for tire tread compound on road surfaces. J Phys Condens Matter 2013; 25:095007. [PMID: 23334507 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/9/095007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We have measured the surface topography and calculated the surface roughness power spectrum for an asphalt road surface. For the same surface we have measured the friction for a tire tread compound for velocities 10(-6) m s(-1) < v < 10(-3) m s(-1) at three different temperatures (at -8 °C, 20 °C and 48 °C). The friction data was shifted using the bulk viscoelasticity shift factor a(T) to form a master curve. We have measured the effective rubber viscoelastic modulus at large strain and calculated the rubber friction coefficient (and contact area) during stationary sliding and compared it to the measured friction coefficient. We find that for the low velocities and for the relatively smooth road surface we consider, the contribution to friction from the area of real contact is very important, and we interpret this contribution as being due to shearing of a very thin confined rubber smear film.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lorenz
- IFF, FZ-Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany, EU.
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Straface G, Simbi A, Benevento B, Trevisanuto D, Dal Cengio V, Ercoli A, Fortunato G, Gattolin I, Scambia G, Zanardo V. O657 HEAD-TO-BODY DELIVERY BY ‘TWO-STEP’ APPROACH: EFFECT ON UMBILICAL ARTERY HEMATOCRIT AND PH. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7292(12)61087-x] [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: 11/25/2022]
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Vidal D, Fortunato G, Klein W, Cortizo L, Vasconcelos J, Ribeiro-dos-Santos R, Soares M, Macambira S. Alterations in pulmonary structure by elastase administration in a model of emphysema in mice is associated with functional disturbances. Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia 2012; 18:128-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rppneu.2011.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
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Guex AG, Kocher FM, Fortunato G, Körner E, Hegemann D, Carrel TP, Tevaearai HT, Giraud MN. Fine-tuning of substrate architecture and surface chemistry promotes muscle tissue development. Acta Biomater 2012; 8:1481-9. [PMID: 22266032 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2011.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2011] [Revised: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 12/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Tissue engineering has been increasingly brought to the scientific spotlight in response to the tremendous demand for regeneration, restoration or substitution of skeletal or cardiac muscle after traumatic injury, tumour ablation or myocardial infarction. In vitro generation of a highly organized and contractile muscle tissue, however, crucially depends on an appropriate design of the cell culture substrate. The present work evaluated the impact of substrate properties, in particular morphology, chemical surface composition and mechanical properties, on muscle cell fate. To this end, aligned and randomly oriented micron (3.3±0.8 μm) or nano (237±98 nm) scaled fibrous poly(ε-caprolactone) non-wovens were processed by electrospinning. A nanometer-thick oxygen functional hydrocarbon coating was deposited by a radio frequency plasma process. C2C12 muscle cells were grown on pure and as-functionalized substrates and analysed for viability, proliferation, spatial orientation, differentiation and contractility. Cell orientation has been shown to depend strongly on substrate architecture, being most pronounced on micron-scaled parallel-oriented fibres. Oxygen functional hydrocarbons, representing stable, non-immunogenic surface groups, were identified as strong triggers for myotube differentiation. Accordingly, the highest myotube density (28±15% of total substrate area), sarcomeric striation and contractility were found on plasma-coated substrates. The current study highlights the manifold material characteristics to be addressed during the substrate design process and provides insight into processes to improve bio-interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G Guex
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Inselspital Berne, University Hospital and University of Berne, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Berne, Switzerland
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Castrucci P, Del Gobbo S, Camilli L, Scarselli M, Casciardi S, Tombolini F, Convertino A, Fortunato G, De Crescenzi M. Photovoltaic response of carbon nanotube-silicon heterojunctions: effect of nanotube film thickness and number of walls. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2011; 11:9202-9207. [PMID: 22400324 DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2011.4284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report on the multiwall carbon nanotube application as energy conversion material to fabricate thin film solar cells, with nanotubes acting as photogeneration sites as well as charge separators, collectors and carrier transporters. The device consists of a semitransparent thin film of nanotubes coating a n-type crystalline silicon substrate. Under illumination electron-hole (e-h) pairs, generated in the nanotubes and in the silicon substrate underneath, are split and charges are transported through the nanotubes (electrons) and the n-Si (holes). We found that a suitable thickness of the nanotube thin film, high density of Schottky junctions between nanotubes and n-Si and lowest number of nanotube walls are all fundamental parameters to improve the device incident photon to electron conversion efficiency. Multiwall carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by chemical vapour deposition in an ultra high vacuum chamber by evaporating a given amount of iron at room temperature and then exposing the substrate kept at 800 degrees C at acetylene gas. The amount of deposited iron is found to directly affect the nanotube size distribution (inner and outer diameter) and therefore the number of walls of the nanotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Castrucci
- Dipartimento di Fisica and Unità CNISM, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 1-00133 Roma, Italy
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D'Alessio F, Mirabelli P, Gorrese M, Scalia G, Gemei M, Mariotti E, Di Noto R, Martinelli P, Fortunato G, Paladini D, Del Vecchio L. Polychromatic flow cytometry analysis of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells in cryopreserved early preterm human cord blood samples. Cytometry A 2010; 79:14-24. [DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.20989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Solarska R, Alexander B, Braun A, Jurczakowski R, Fortunato G, Stiefel M, Graule T, Augustynski J. Tailoring the morphology of WO3 films with substitutional cation doping: Effect on the photoelectrochemical properties. Electrochim Acta 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2009.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Fortunato G, Ceresa F, Sansone F, Attisani M, Rinaldi M. Acute ischemia of right superior arm: an unusual presentation of Takotsubo cardiomiopathy? Minerva Cardioangiol 2010; 58:156-157. [PMID: 20150862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
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Noia G, Ligato MS, Cesari E, Visconti D, Fortunato G, Tintoni M, Mappa I, Greco C, Caristo ME, Bonanno G, Corallo M, Minafra L, Perillo A, Terzano M, Rutella S, Leone G, Scambia G, Michejda M, Mancuso S. Source of cell injected is a critical factors for short and long engraftment in xeno-transplantation. Cell Prolif 2008; 41 Suppl 1:41-50. [PMID: 18181944 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2184.2008.00481.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate engraftment of human cord blood and foetal bone marrow stem cells after in utero transplantation via the intracoelomic route in the sheep. Here, we performed transplantation in 14 single and 1 twin sheep foetuses at 40-47 days of development, using a novel schedule for injection. (i) Single injection of CD34(+) human cord blood stem cells via the coelomic route (from 10 to 50 x 10(4)) in seven single foetuses. (ii) Single injection of CD34(+) foetal bone marrow stem cells via the intracoelomic route with further numbers of cells (20 x 10(5) and 8 x 10(5), respectively) in three single and in one twin foetuses. (iii) Double fractioned injection (20-30 x 10(6)) via the coelomic route and 20 x 10(6) postnatally, intravenously, shortly after birth of CD3-depleted cord blood stem cells in four single foetuses. In the first group, three single foetuses showed human/sheep chimaerism at 1, 8 and 14 months after birth. In the second group, the twin foetuses showed human/sheep chimaerism at 1 month after birth. In the third group, only two out of four single foetuses that underwent transplantation showed chimaerism at 1 month. While foetal bone marrow stem cells showed good short-term engraftment (1 month after birth), cord blood stem cells were able to persist longer in the ovine recipients (at 1, 8 and 14 months after birth).
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Affiliation(s)
- G Noia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
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Pascarella F, Caropreso M, Miele E, Fortunato G, Vajro P, Staiano A. Macro-creatine kinase and macro-lactate dehydrogenase in a girl with ulcerative colitis. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39:780-1. [PMID: 17045856 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2006.09.005] [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] [Received: 06/12/2006] [Revised: 09/01/2006] [Accepted: 09/05/2006] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report the case of a girl affected by ulcerative colitis with high serum levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase due to the presence of macroenzymes. Our observation suggests that the knowledge of this association may be helpful when evaluating ulcerative colitis patients with unexplained isolated elevation of one or more serum enzyme activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Pascarella
- Department of Pediatrics of the University of Naples Federico II, Italy
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Mariotti E, Mirabelli P, Di Noto R, Fortunato G, Salvatore F. Rapid detection of mycoplasma in continuous cell lines using a selective biochemical test. Leuk Res 2007; 32:323-6. [PMID: 17586045 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2007.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 03/22/2007] [Revised: 04/19/2007] [Accepted: 04/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma contamination is a deleterious event for a cell culture laboratory due to the ability of this microorganism to contaminate cell culture leading up to the production of false data or, in the worst cases, to the loss of cell culture itself. Fortunately, mycoplasma can be eradicated by the use of antibiotics, but early detection of contamination is peremptory. Here, we propose the use of a sensitive and specific biochemical test named MycoAlert. In particular, as regards cell cultures not yet treated with antibiotics, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of MycoAlert assay gave excellent scores of 100%, 97%, 89% and 100%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mariotti
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate and Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Federico II, Via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Naples, Italy
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Lübben JF, Fortunato G, Halbeisen M, Houis S, Keller M, Körner E. Characterization of synthetic fibers using the atomic force microscope. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/61/1/147] [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: 11/11/2022]
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Fortunato G, Fattoruso O, De Caterina M, Mancini A, Di Fiore R, Alfieri A, Tafuri D, Buono P. RAS and MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms in a Healthy Exercise-trained Population: Association with the MTHFR (TT) Genotype and a Lower Hemoglobin Level. Int J Sports Med 2007; 28:172-7. [PMID: 17024648 DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of ACE (I/D), AGT (M235T), AT1R (A1166C) and MTHFR (C677T) polymorphisms in a well-defined (in regards to health and nutritional status and lifestyle) population of young, healthy, exercise-trained subjects (no. 100) from the Campania region of Southern Italy. We also investigated whether there was any correlation between these polymorphisms and biochemical, hematological and hemostatic parameters in this "low-risk" population. Gene polymorphisms were analyzed with the polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis. Allele frequencies of the genotypes examined were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and agree with those reported in the Italian population. No associations were found between ACE, AGT, AT1R gene polymorphisms and anthropometric, clinical and laboratory parameters. However, the MTHFR (C677T) polymorphism was significantly associated with lower hemoglobin plasma levels in TT vs. CC + CT females (p < 0.016). This report is the first to describe the frequencies of RAS and MTHFR gene polymorphisms in young, exercise-trained volunteers from Campania and to identify an association between the MTHFR gene polymorphisms and lower hemoglobin plasma levels in young healthy females.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fortunato
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Fortunato G, Meakin DB, Migliorato P, Le Combers PG. Field-effect analysis for the determination of gap-state density and Fermi-level temperature dependence in polycrystalline silicon. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1080/13642818808211229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Fortunato
- a GEC Research Limited, Hirst Research Centre , East Lane, Wembley , Middlesex , HA9 7PP , England
- b Istituto di Elettronica della Stato Solido del CNR , Via Cineto Romano 42, 00156 , Roma , Italy
| | - D. B. Meakin
- a GEC Research Limited, Hirst Research Centre , East Lane, Wembley , Middlesex , HA9 7PP , England
| | - P. Migliorato
- a GEC Research Limited, Hirst Research Centre , East Lane, Wembley , Middlesex , HA9 7PP , England
| | - P. G. Le Combers
- a GEC Research Limited, Hirst Research Centre , East Lane, Wembley , Middlesex , HA9 7PP , England
- c Carnegie Laboratory of Physics , University of Dundee , Dundee , Scotland
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