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Vinciguerra M, D'Abramo M, Iuliano S, Arlotta F, Baldascino F, Cioffi M, Fimiani L, Mozzillo RA, Sganga V, Spadafora A, Vitagliano E, Sepolvere G, De Bellis A, Gaudio C, Greco E. Transit time flow measurement in off-pump surgery: is it a functional index of the biological graft integrity? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2024; 28:2848-2859. [PMID: 38639524 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202404_35914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Transit-time flow measurement (TTFM) represents a valid tool in the assessment of the quality of the anastomosis during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Nevertheless, a high variability limits its standardized use, lacking univocally accepted cut-off flow values. Our study analyzes TTFM data collected from a study population that underwent off-pump CABG (OP-CABG), with the aim to differentiate into subgroups according to the presence of diabetes mellitus. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients referred to the Cardiovascular Unit of S. Michele Hospital (Caserta, Italy) for coronary artery disease (CAD) and underwent OP-CABG between January 2015 and December 2019 were enrolled, and intraoperative TTFMs data were recruited and evaluated. Mean graft flow (MGF) and pulsatility index (PI) values were collected and analyzed. RESULTS The study population was composed of 342 patients who underwent OP-CABG with TTFM data regarding 824 grafts. Diabetic patients shared a higher cardiovascular risk profile. The TTFM assessment showed better results for the use of the arterial grafts in diabetic patients, especially for those insulin-dependent; conversely, venous grafts showed worse data with lower MGF and higher PI values. In particular, the anastomoses of the saphenous vein graft with marginal obtuse (MO) coronary artery showed worse MGF results in the insulin-dependent rather than normoglycemic subgroup (28.66 vs. 38.44, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Diabetic patients, especially in the insulin-dependent subgroups, have demonstrated lower MGF and higher PI values collected from venous anastomoses with, conversely, inverse results from the arterial one. These results might be correlated to an altered biological adaptability caused by the effects of the diabetic endocrine disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vinciguerra
- Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Romiti S, Vinciguerra M, D'Abramo M, Bruno N, Miraldi F, Gaudio C, Greco E. The burden of calcific aortic stenosis: what's behind? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2023; 27:7276-7288. [PMID: 37606136 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202308_33299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
In Western countries, calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAS) is widely common, representing the third cause of death among cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The burden of CAS is high, with an increasing prevalence rate related to age. An efficient medical treatment, according to guidelines, lacks to prevent the development and to reduce the progression of CAS. In this context, due to the aging population and the lack of effective medical management, the prevalence is expected to double-triple within the next decades. In our review, we aim to provide an overview of the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis and the current state of the art regarding pathophysiological insights and novel potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Romiti
- Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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D'Abramo M, Saltarocchi S, Saade W, Chourda E, De Orchi P, Miraldi F. Setting things "right": right internal mammary artery on anomalous right coronary artery - a case report. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:3000605211054438. [PMID: 34738476 PMCID: PMC8573513 DOI: 10.1177/03000605211054438] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare pathology that may cause episodic ischemia owing to possible vessel compression during systolic expansion of the aortic root. This anomaly can lead to myocardial infarction, malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Several surgical techniques have been described; however, there are no defined guidelines regarding the treatment of AAOCA. We report the case of a 47-year-old woman with ectopic origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left sinus of Valsalva, with an interarterial course of the proximal segment of the artery, running between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. Revascularization was accomplished by harvesting the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) and anastomosing it to the anomalous RCA, given the small portion of the RCA following an intramural course and our familiarity with the procedure. The RCA was ligated proximal to the anastomosis to avoid the string sign phenomenon. This procedure is safe and fast and can be considered an alternative to coronary reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D'Abramo
- Internal, Clinical, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - S Saltarocchi
- Internal, Clinical, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - W Saade
- Internal, Clinical, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - E Chourda
- Internal, Clinical, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - P De Orchi
- Internal, Clinical, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - F Miraldi
- Internal, Clinical, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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De Felice M, D'Abramo M, Mormile P, Scatigna M, Bianchi S, Fabiani L. Risk assessment of biological hazards in University laboratories: checklist and critical control points. Ann Ig 2021; 33:589-601. [PMID: 33779673 DOI: 10.7416/ai.2021.2443] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Results The results highlighted that 40 laboratories fall into the "low risk" and the remaining 2 into the "moderate risk" category. Conclusions Labs with risk factors are a minority. These were properly identified using the proposed methodology. Background and aim Biomedical research in academic settings is an important issue for Public Health and Environment protection. As workplaces, the facilities for research expose their personnel to different hazards and health risks. The University of L'Aquila (Italy) carried out a field study aimed at creating and applying a checklist intended for laboratory staff. Methods The proposed checklist was derived from the procedure illustrated in the Appendix (procedure followed for the identification of a numerical index of biological risk for university facilities) and consists of 9 items. The study was conducted in 42 laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- M De Felice
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - M D'Abramo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - P Mormile
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - M Scatigna
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - S Bianchi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - L Fabiani
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Lettieri R, D'Abramo M, Stella L, La Bella A, Leonelli F, Giansanti L, Venanzi M, Gatto E. Fluorescence and computational studies of thymidine phosphorylase affinity toward lipidated 5-FU derivatives. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2018; 195:84-94. [PMID: 29414586 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2018.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is an enzyme that is up-regulated in a wide variety of solid tumors, including breast and colorectal cancers. It is involved in tumor growth and metastasis, for this reason it is one of the key enzyme to be inhibited, in an attempt to prevent tumor proliferation. However, it also plays an active role in cancer treatment, through its contribution in the conversion of the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to an irreversible inhibitor of thymidylate synthase (TS), responsible of the inhibition of the DNA synthesis. In this work, the intrinsic TP fluorescence has been investigated for the first time and exploited to study TP binding affinity for the unsubstituted 5-FU and for two 5-FU derivatives, designed to expose this molecule on liposomal membranes. These molecules were obtained by functionalizing the nitrogen atom with a chain consisting of six (1) or seven (2) units of glycol, linked to an alkyl moiety of 12 carbon atoms. Derivatives (1) and (2) exhibited an affinity for TP in the micromolar range, 10 times higher than the parent compound, irrespective of the length of the polyoxyethylenic spacer. This high affinity was maintained also when the compounds were anchored in liposomal membranes. Experimental results were supported by molecular dynamics simulations and docking calculations, supporting a feasible application of the designed supramolecular lipid structure in selective targeting of TP, to be potentially used as a drug delivery system or sensor device.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lettieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - M D'Abramo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - L Stella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - A La Bella
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - F Leonelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - L Giansanti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche e Chimiche, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Aquila, Italy; CNR, Istituto di Metodologie Chimiche, Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
| | - M Venanzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - E Gatto
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
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Camps J, Carrillo O, Emperador A, Orellana L, Hospital A, Rueda M, Cicin-Sain D, D'Abramo M, Gelpi JL, Orozco M. FlexServ: an integrated tool for the analysis of protein flexibility. Bioinformatics 2009; 25:1709-10. [DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btp304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [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: 11/13/2022] Open
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Corrente M, Normanno G, Martella V, Bellacicco AL, Quaglia NC, Dambrosio A, Buonavoglia D, D'Abramo M, Buonavoglia C. Comparison of methods for the detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from food products. Lett Appl Microbiol 2007; 45:535-9. [PMID: 17916133 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2007.02226.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To compare several methods for detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from food. METHODS AND RESULTS Two hundred S. aureus isolates from food of animal origin were screened for methicillin resistance by a PCR assay specific for the mecA gene, an oxacillin agar screen test and a cefoxitin disk diffusion test. Six out of 200 strains (3%) were found to be methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by PCR. The oxacillin agar screen test detected only one of the MRSA isolates (sensitivity of 16.7%) and mischaracterized three additional strains as MRSA (specificity of 98.45%). None of the MRSA strains was detected by the cefoxitin test (sensitivity of 0%), while 15 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains were misclassified as resistant (specificity of 92.3%). Fifteen MSSA strains displayed a beta-lactamase hyperproducer-like phenotype. The six MRSA (mecA-positive) strains resembled the characteristics of heteroresistant strains. CONCLUSIONS As MRSA of animal origin may display atypical phenotypes, PCR appears to be more reliable for detection of methicillin resistance in animal strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The study stresses the need for implementing the methods of screening S. aureus from food of animal origin for methicillin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Corrente
- Department of Health and Animal Well-being, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Str. prov per Casamassima, km. 3, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
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D'Abramo M, Rinaldi AC, Bozzi A, Amadei A, Mignogna G, Di Nola A, Aschi M. Conformational behavior of temporin A and temporin L in aqueous solution: A computational/experimental study. Biopolymers 2006; 81:215-24. [PMID: 16261508 DOI: 10.1002/bip.20404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and circular dichroism (CD) experiments were carried out on aqueous temporin A and L, two short peptides belonging to an interesting class of natural substances known to be active mainly against Gram-positive/negative bacteria and fungi. Experimental results indicate the higher propensity of temporin L, with respect to temporin A, in forming alpha-helical structures. These results were revisited by long-timescale MD simulations, in which their alpha-helical propensity was investigated in the absence of trifluoroethanol. Results clearly show the higher stability of alpha-helix conformations in temporin L; moreover, an interestingly strong mechanical analogy emerges since both temporins show the same residue interval (from 7 to 10) as the most energetically accessible for alpha-helix formation. Such studies provide some intriguing structural and mechanical evidence that may help in better understanding and rationalizing the conformational behaviour of temporins in water solution and, ultimately, the inner principles of their microbial targets selectivity and mechanism of action at the level of cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D'Abramo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italia
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D'Abramo M, D'Alessandro M, Di Nola A, Roccatano D, Amadei A. Characterization of liquid behaviour by means of local density fluctuations. J Mol Liq 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2004.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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D'Abramo M, D'Alessandro M, Amadei A. On the use of the quasi-Gaussian entropy theory in the study of simulated dilute solutions. J Chem Phys 2004; 120:5226-34. [PMID: 15267394 DOI: 10.1063/1.1647530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In a recent paper [M. D'Alessandro, M. D'Abramo, G. Brancato, A. Di Nola, and A. Amadei, J. Phys. Chem. B 106, 11843 (2002)] we showed how to combine molecular dynamics simulations with the quasi-Gaussian entropy theory, in order to model the statistical mechanics and thermodynamics of ionic (water) solutions. In this paper we extend the method to treat nonspherical solutes, describe more thoroughly its theoretical basis and apply it to a set of more complex solute molecules in water (i.e., water, methane, ethane, methanol, and ethanol). Results show that this approach can really provide an excellent theoretical description of solute-solvent systems over a wide range of temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D'Abramo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- M. D'Alessandro
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy, and Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - M. D'Abramo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy, and Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - G. Brancato
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy, and Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - A. Di Nola
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy, and Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Amadei
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy, and Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 I-00133 Roma, Italy
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