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DI Gilio A, Palmisani J, Picciariello A, Zambonin C, Aresta A, De Vietro N, Franchini SA, Ventrella G, Nisi M, Licen S, Barbieri P, Altomare D, de Gennaro G. Identification of a characteristic VOCs pattern in the exhaled breath of post-COVID subjects: are metabolic alterations induced by the infection still detectable? J Breath Res 2023. [PMID: 37379826 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ace27c] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is expected to cause metabolic alterations due to viral replication and the host immune response resulting in increase of cytokine secretion and cytolytic activity. The present prospective observational study is addressed at exploring the potentialities of breath analysis in discrimination between patients with a documented previous history of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and, at the moment of the enrollment, exhibiting a negative nasopharyngeal swab and acquired immunity (post-COVID) and healthy subjects with no evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection (no-COVID). The main purpose is to understand if traces of metabolic alterations induced during the acute phase of the infection are still detectable after negativization, in the form of a characteristic VOCs pattern. An overall number of 60 volunteers aged between 25 and 70 years were enrolled in the study (post-COVID: n.30; no-COVID: n. 30), according to well-determined criteria. Breath and ambient air samples were collected by means of an automated sampling system (Mistral) and analyzed by Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). Statistical tests (Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis test) and multivariate data analysis (Principal Component Analysis, Linear Discriminant Analysis) were performed on data sets. Among all compounds detected (76 VOCs in 90% of breath samples), 5 VOCs (1-propanol, isopropanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, propanal and 4-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenol) showed abundances in breath samples collected from post-COVID subjects significantly different with respect to those collected from no-COVID group (Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis test, p-values < 0.05). Although not completely satisfactory separation between the groups was obtained, variables showing significant differences between the two groups and higher loadings for PCA are recognized biomarkers of COVID-19, according to previous studies in literature. Therefore, based on the outcomes obtained, traces of metabolic alterations induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection are still detectable after negativization. This evidence raises questions about the eligibility of post-COVID subjects in observational studies addressed at the detection of COVID-19. (Ethical Committee Registration number: 120/AG/11).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia DI Gilio
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Arcangelo Picciariello
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazzale Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Puglia, 70124, ITALY
| | - Carlo Zambonin
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Antonella Aresta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Nicoletta De Vietro
- Department of Chemistry , Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Silvana Angela Franchini
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnolgies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Gianrocco Ventrella
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Marirosa Nisi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Sabina Licen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 34127, ITALY
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 34127, ITALY
| | - Donato Altomare
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Piazzale Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Puglia, 70124, ITALY
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
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Debiase G, Traversa A, Montemurro F, Mastrangelo M, Fiore A, Ventrella G, Brunetti G. Minimum tillage and organic fertilization for the sustainable management of Brassica carinata A. (Braun) in the Mediterranean environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:33556-33565. [PMID: 30269278 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3244-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the massive exploitation of agricultural land intended to meet growing food demand has led to a reduction in soil fertility through the depletion of nutrients and organic matter. To implement sustainable agriculture, it is necessary to reduce soil tillage and use residual biomasses that are easily available in the region as soil amendments. Furthermore, it is important to test these residual biomasses in order to exclude a possible increase of heavy metals in soils due to the incorporation of the aforementioned biomasses. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects on soil fertility and health following the application of organic fertilizers combined with different soil tillage practices and the agronomic response of Brassica carinata A. (Braun). The soil tillage treatments consisted of conventional (CT) and minimum tillage (MT), whereas the fertilization treatments were mineral fertilizer (Nmin), municipal solid waste compost (Ncomp), mixed compost and mineral fertilizer (Nmix), and sewage sludge (Nss). These treatments were compared with an unfertilized control (N0). The Ncomp and Nss treatments enhanced soil fertility, increasing the organic carbon and available phosphorus concentrations compared with N0 and Nmin, whereas no significant difference was showed between the soil tillage treatments in terms of soil fertility. In addition, Nss did not show any significant difference compared to Nmin in terms of crop biomass, whereas this parameter appeared higher in CT compared with MT. A principal component analysis showed that the concentrations of toxic elements applied by the organic amendments did not change the dynamic equilibrium of the soil-plant system. Over the short term, the replacement of CT and Nmin with MT and Nss can be achieved, thus guaranteeing the sustainable cultivation of Brassica, without significant changes in heavy metal concentration in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giambattista Debiase
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Via Casamassima 148, 70010, Turi, BA, Italy
| | - Andreina Traversa
- Dipartimento di Science del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Montemurro
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Mastrangelo
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Angelo Fiore
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Gianrocco Ventrella
- Dipartimento di Science del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Gennaro Brunetti
- Dipartimento di Science del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
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Murgolo S, Moreira IS, Piccirillo C, Castro PML, Ventrella G, Cocozza C, Mascolo G. Photocatalytic Degradation of Diclofenac by Hydroxyapatite⁻TiO₂ Composite Material: Identification of Transformation Products and Assessment of Toxicity. Materials (Basel) 2018; 11:ma11091779. [PMID: 30235831 PMCID: PMC6164299 DOI: 10.3390/ma11091779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Diclofenac (DCF) is one of the most detected pharmaceuticals in environmental water matrices and is known to be recalcitrant to conventional wastewater treatment plants. In this study, degradation of DCF was performed in water by photolysis and photocatalysis using a new synthetized photocatalyst based on hydroxyapatite and TiO2 (HApTi). A degradation of 95% of the target compound was achieved in 24 h by a photocatalytic treatment employing the HApTi catalyst in comparison to only 60% removal by the photolytic process. The investigation of photo-transformation products was performed by means of UPLC-QTOF/MS/MS, and for 14 detected compounds in samples collected during treatment with HApTi, the chemical structure was proposed. The determination of transformation product (TP) toxicity was performed by using different assays: Daphnia magna acute toxicity test, Toxi-ChromoTest, and Lactuca sativa and Solanum lycopersicum germination inhibition test. Overall, the toxicity of the samples obtained from the photocatalytic experiment with HApTi decreased at the end of the treatment, showing the potential applicability of the catalyst for the removal of diclofenac and the detoxification of water matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapia Murgolo
- CNR, Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Via F. De Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, Italy.
| | - Irina S Moreira
- CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, 172, 4200-374 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Clara Piccirillo
- CNR, Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecoteckne, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Paula M L Castro
- CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, 172, 4200-374 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Gianrocco Ventrella
- CNR, Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Via F. De Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti-Di.S.S.P.A., Università di Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Claudio Cocozza
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti-Di.S.S.P.A., Università di Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Mascolo
- CNR, Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Via F. De Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, Italy.
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Di Gilio A, Ventrella G, Giungato P, Tutino M, Giua R, Assennato G, de Gennaro G. An intensive monitoring campaign of PAHs for assessing the impact of a steel plant. Chemosphere 2017; 168:171-182. [PMID: 27783957 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study provided a useful approach for assessing the impact of industrial sources on surrounding, especially in a sensitive industrial area as Taranto (South of Italy). Taranto is one of the most industrialized Italian towns, where several emission sources operate simultaneously in proximity to the urban settlement. An intensive monitoring campaign of PAHs was carried out from January 28th to July 30th, 2011, in seven sites located in residential settlement around the industrial area and in the city center. The collected data were integrated with the information about wind direction and speed by means bivariate polarplot in order to characterize and localize the industrial sources. High BaP concentrations were detected especially when Benzene to Toluene ratio (B/T ratio) values excedeed 1 and all receptor sites were downwind to the steel plant. Moreover, in order to discriminate among PAH sources and quantify their contributions, a source apportionment analysis of the collected data was provided by means Principal component Analysis (PCA) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) methods. Finally, the processing of PMF5.0 output by bivariate polar plot, confirmed the impact of steel plant on both industrial sites downwind the steel plant and the city center. B[a]P apportionment was quite similar for industrial and urban sites: the traffic source contributed only 11% and 24% to B[a]P measured at two sites, respectively. Therefore, the proximity of Taranto downtown to industrial pole makes negligible all other source contributions to PAH concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Di Gilio
- Environmental Protection Agency of Apulia (ARPA), Bari, Puglia, 70126, Italy
| | - G Ventrella
- Department of Biology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Via Orabona, 4, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - P Giungato
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Via Orabona, 4, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - M Tutino
- Environmental Protection Agency of Apulia (ARPA), Bari, Puglia, 70126, Italy
| | - R Giua
- Environmental Protection Agency of Apulia (ARPA), Bari, Puglia, 70126, Italy
| | - G Assennato
- Environmental Protection Agency of Apulia (ARPA), Bari, Puglia, 70126, Italy
| | - G de Gennaro
- Environmental Protection Agency of Apulia (ARPA), Bari, Puglia, 70126, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Via Orabona, 4, 70126, Bari, Italy.
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Di Gilio A, de Gennaro G, Dambruoso P, Ventrella G. An integrated approach using high time-resolved tools to study the origin of aerosols. Sci Total Environ 2015; 530-531:28-37. [PMID: 26026406 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Long-range transport of natural and/or anthropogenic particles can contribute significantly to PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations and some European cities often fail to comply with PM daily limit values due to the additional impact of particles from remote sources. For this reason, reliable methodologies to identify long-range transport (LRT) events would be useful to better understand air pollution phenomena and support proper decision-making. This study explores the potential of an integrated and high time-resolved monitoring approach for the identification and characterization of local, regional and long-range transport events of high PM. In particular, the goal of this work was also the identification of time-limited event. For this purpose, a high time-resolved monitoring campaign was carried out at an urban background site in Bari (southern Italy) for about 20 days (1st-20th October 2011). The integration of collected data as the hourly measurements of inorganic ions in PM2.5 and their gas precursors and of the natural radioactivity, in addition to the analyses of aerosol maps and hourly back trajectories (BT), provided useful information for the identification and chemical characterization of local sources and trans-boundary intrusions. Non-sea salt (nss) sulfate levels were found to increase when air masses came from northeastern Europe and higher dispersive conditions of the atmosphere were detected. Instead, higher nitrate and lower nss-sulfate concentrations were registered in correspondence with air mass stagnation and attributed to local traffic source. In some cases, combinations of local and trans-boundary sources were observed. Finally, statistical investigations such as the principal component analysis (PCA) applied on hourly ion concentrations and the cluster analyses, the Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) and the Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) models computed on hourly back-trajectories enabled to complete a cognitive framework and confirm the influence of aerosol transported from heavily polluted areas on the receptor site.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Di Gilio
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; ARPA PUGLIA, Corso Trieste, 27, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - G de Gennaro
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; ARPA PUGLIA, Corso Trieste, 27, 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - P Dambruoso
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; ARPA PUGLIA, Corso Trieste, 27, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - G Ventrella
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
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Di Bello A, Buonavoglia A, Franchini D, Valastro C, Ventrella G, Greco MF, Corrente M. Periodontal disease associated with red complex bacteria in dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2014; 55:160-3. [PMID: 24450418 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Red complex bacteria (Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis) play a major role in the aetiology of periodontal disease in humans. This study was designed to evaluate the association of such bacteria with periodontal disease in dogs. METHODS Seventy-three subgingival samples taken from dogs ranging from 2 months to 12 years (median age 4 years) were tested for red complex bacteria using a polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS Thirty-six of 73 (49 · 3%) dogs were found to be positive for T. forsythia and P. gingivalis. Dogs with gingivitis or periodontitis were more likely to be infected with T. forsythia and P. gingivalis [odds ratio (OR) 5 · 4 (confidence interval (CI) 1 · 9-15 · 6), P = 0 · 002] than healthy animals. Only 3 (4 · 1%) of 73 samples were positive for red complex bacteria, but the association with periodontal disease was not significant. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results indicate that involvement of red complex bacteria in periodontal disease in dogs is similar to that observed in humans. Only the concurrent presence of T. forsythia and P. gingivalis were correlated to periodontal disease in dogs in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Di Bello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
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Decaro N, Desario C, Billi M, Lorusso E, Colaianni M, Colao V, Elia G, Ventrella G, Kusi I, Bo S, Buonavoglia C. Evaluation of an in-clinic assay for the diagnosis of canine parvovirus. Vet J 2013; 198:504-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Lanzillo R, Quarantelli M, Bonavita S, Ventrella G, Lus G, Vacca G, Prinster A, Orefice G, Tedeschi G, Brescia Morra V. Natalizumab vs interferon beta 1a in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a head-to-head retrospective study. Acta Neurol Scand 2012; 126:306-14. [PMID: 22107083 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2011.01622.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [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: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND No head-to-head study has been performed yet to assess whether natalizumab is more effective than classical immunomodulators in multiple sclerosis (MS). AIM To retrospectively compare the efficacy of natalizumab vs IFN beta 1a SC (44 μg; Rebif(®) ) on clinical and radiological findings in two matched cohorts of patients with MS. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively enrolled two cohorts of 42 patients (F/M: 35/7) with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with natalizumab or IFN beta 1a for at least 12 consecutive months. Outcome measures were annualized relapse rate (ARR), changes in expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score, and number of contrast-enhancing lesions (CELs) at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS In both groups, the ARR in the 12 months of treatment was lower than in the 12 months before therapy (0.24 vs 1.50 in natalizumab-treated group, P < 0.0000; 0.55 vs 1.10 in IFN beta 1a-treated group, P = 0.0006), being the effect of natalizumab significantly stronger (P = 0.0125). EDSS reduction was significantly different between the two groups in favor of natalizumab (P = 0.0018). The frequency and number of CELs per patient were decreased in both groups. In the second year, the treatment affected ARR and EDSS progression in the two groups of patients similarly to the first year, whereas number of CELs decreased more significantly in natalizumab group (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS After 12 and 24 months of therapy, natalizumab was more effective than IFN beta 1a SC on both disease activity and disability progression. Prospective head-to-head studies would be helpful to further evaluate the differences observed in the MRI outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lanzillo
- Neurological Sciences Department, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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Lanzillo R, Di Somma C, Quarantelli M, Ventrella G, Gasperi M, Prinster A, Vacca G, Pivonello C, Orefice G, Colao A, Morra VB. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-3 serum levels in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. Eur J Neurol 2011; 18:1402-6. [PMID: 21585623 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03433.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I has a role in remyelination, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) might reduce its bioavailability. A role of IGFBP-3 in multiple sclerosis (MS) progression was hypothesized in patients with primary progressive (PP) MS. OBJECTIVE To evaluate serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS and their correlations with disease activity and progression. METHODS Sixty-three (41 RR and 22 SP) 'naive' MS patients and 60 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Patients were assessed through clinical [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale (MSSS), number of relapses] and laboratory investigations. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were similar in the two MS groups. IGFBP-3 levels were higher in patients with MS than in controls (P < 0.001), with a reduction in IGF-I/BP3 ratio (P < 0.001). Patients showing IGFBP-3 levels higher than 2SD of the normal population had a higher EDSS (mean EDSS 3.7 vs. 2.8, P = 0.021). MSSS was not related to IGF-I or IGFBP-3 serum levels. CONCLUSIONS Our patients showed high IGFBP-3 serum levels respect to controls and higher serum levels were associated with a higher EDSS, despite of comparable disease duration. Therefore, MS and higher disability seem to be associated with a reduction in bioavailability of IGF-I. MSSS score was not related to IGFBP-3 levels, suggesting that IGFBP-3 might not have the pathogenetic role previously suggested for PP MS, in the mechanism of progression in the SP form of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lanzillo
- Neurology, Hermitage Capodimonte Hospital, Naples, Italy.
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Cassinelli G, Corigli R, Orezzi P, Ventrella G, Bedeschi A, Perrone E, Borghi D, Franceschi G. Structure determination of the primary renal metabolite of the penem FCE 22101. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 1988; 41:984-7. [PMID: 3417570 DOI: 10.7164/antibiotics.41.984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G Cassinelli
- Farmitalia Carlo Erba S.p.A., Ricerca & Sviluppo, Milan, Italy
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Spadari S, Pedrali-Noy G, Focher F, Montecucco A, Bordoni T, Geroni C, Giuliani FC, Ventrella G, Arcamone F, Ciarrocchi G. DNA polymerases and DNA topoisomerases as targets for the development of anticancer drugs. Anticancer Res 1986; 6:935-40. [PMID: 3026237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Studies of a variety of compounds designed as derivatives of prototype active molecules aphidicolin and doxorubicin are reported. So far none of the aphidicolin simpler analogues is as active as the parental molecule. Ten anthracycline analogues, characterized for their cytotoxicity, antitumor activity and inhibition of the relaxing activity of purified human DNA topoisomerase II can be divided into five groups. The majority of the tested compounds shows properties very similar to those of doxorubicin. Epirubicin shows extremely high inhibitory activity toward the relaxing property of topoisomerase II but its antitumor activity and cytotoxicity are similar to those of the former group. The third group includes a compound with extremely high cytotoxicity. The fourth group is represented by a compound which shows a cytotoxicity. The fourth group is represented by a compound which shows a cytotoxicity. The fourth group is represented by a compound which shows a cytotoxicity typical of anthracyclines and good antitumor activity but which has no specific inhibitory activity on topoisomerase II. A fifth group includes a totally inactive compound. Our results suggest that the inhibition of human DNA topoisomerase II is only partially correlated with antitumor activity.
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Serafini-Fracassini A, Ventrella G, Field MJ, Hinnie J, Onyezili NI, Griffiths R. Characterization of a structural glycoprotein from bovine ligamentum nuchae exhibiting dual amine oxidase activity. Biochemistry 1981; 20:5424-9. [PMID: 6117314 DOI: 10.1021/bi00522a011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
A structural glycoprotein has been extracted from bovine ligamentum nuchae by using 5 M guanidine hydrochloride containing a disulfide bond reducing agent and purified by preparative gel electrophoresis. The isolated material appeared to be monodisperse, with a molecular weight of approximately 34000, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by analytical ultracentrifugation. It contains 10% carbohydrate comprising mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, galactose, and sialic acid in a 6:5:3:3 molar ratio. The glycoprotein has been assayed for peptidyl-lysine oxidase activity by using [3H]lysine-aortic elastin, prepared from 15- to 17-day-old chick embryos, as a substrate. In the absence of free lysine, the specific activity of the preparation over a 2-h incubation was approximately 60 X 10(4) dpm/mg of purified protein. Addition of 10 mM lysine resulted in an approximately 50% decrease in the specific activity. Free lysine was shown to act as a substrate for the glycoprotein preparation as indicated by control experiments using [3H]lysine in place of the aortic substrate. These results demonstrate that the glycoprotein exhibits a dual amine oxidase activity. In the presence of 0.27 mM beta-aminopropionitrile fumarate, a concentration which completely inhibits peptidyl-lysine oxidase activity in other lysyl oxidases, the glycoprotein preparation was inhibited by approximately 14%. In the absence of 5 M guanidine hydrochloride and reducing agent, the glycoprotein undergoes aggregation which in the presences of copper ions results in the formation of cylindrical tactoids, the diameter of which (11 nm) corresponds closely to that of the fibrils which in the majority of connective tissue matrices constitute the microfibrillar component mainly associated with elastic fibers.
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Serafini-Fracassini A, Ventrella G, Griffiths R, Hinnie J. Characterization of a self-associating glycoprotein from bovine ligamentum nuchae exhibiting dual amine oxidase activity. Connect Tissue Res 1981; 8:227-9. [PMID: 6455250 DOI: 10.3109/03008208109152380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A homogeneous preparation of glycoprotein (apparent molecular weight 34,000) has been isolated from bovine ligamentum nuchae by treatment of the tissue with 5 M guanidine HCl and 2-mercaptoethanol. The preparation exhibits amine oxidase activity which is only marginally inhibited by beta-aminopropionitrile.
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